(Continued form the thread: Turning the Tide)

The rest of the trip to town was fairly straightforward.  After finding a safe way back up the cliffs of the black sand beaches, it wasn't difficult to find a road back to Markhain.  The roads were fairly safe this close to the great harbor, so the main obstacle the party faced were the constant bathroom breaks the thirty or so children seemed to require.  Even so, by noon the party had reached the main gates of the city and it didn't take long to find the famed harbor orphanage that Eryn had heard of.  The sign on the front said Markhain Harbor Boarding School.  After a bit of inquiry, an older woman and a young man missing an arm came out to assist the group.  Rirrik offered to spend the next few days getting the kids situated in their new home so that everyone else could focus on the more important matters at hand.

What do you do?
This message was last edited by the GM at 15:38, Sat 24 Feb 2018.

First things first," said Eryn, once they had left the orphanage and were standing in the streets of Markhain. She needed to shed some weight from her pack, and had already planned what to do.

"We need to resupply, and then we need to gather information about this ritual and what we may encounter on the way to stop it. I need a new shield, and I also wish to get this vorlag skin fashioned into something useful, so I'll need to head over to a local smith for a while. Ilura, I expect you may be planning on getting some more arrows? We could do our errands first and then meet back up, or we could discuss our plans first so we know what to stock up."

She looked at the other three, each in turn.

"What do you think?"


Is there a well-stocked library or other public resource in Markhain? If so we could gather there.

"Supplies will be a challenge, given that we have little gold.  Perhaps we could sell some of the dead witch's things if we knew what they were.  But if we're going to take on the Overlord, we're going to need some sort of backing.  We don't have a whole lot of time to waste earning an income.  Does anyone know anyone in the city who might be willing to help?  I've tried to avoid civilized society as much as possible the last few years, so I'm afraid I have no contacts here.

For my arrows, I just need a bit of time and to find a butcher who works with chickens, but that's probably lower priority."

I assume that for a day of plucking I can take an ample supply of feathers and that after that it's just a question of time to fashion my own arrows.  Do I need to use an adventuring supply for a knife and thread?

Markhain is quite a large city, so you can find pretty much any type of establishment there without too much effort.  Provided it isn't something illegal.  They would certainly have a nice library or two.


You can get as many feathers as you need for 1 coin, or you can get them for free if you pluck the entire bird(s) for the butcher.  If an arrow-making kit is something you would carry with you, it would make sense to pull it from you adventuring gear.  Otherwise you could probably make a deal with a fletcher to either borrow or buy some of their arrow-making equipment.

Dragging his unseen servant along Hiran was just glad to be back in civilization and out of the cavern. He found an inn and used the main dining area to go through the various items he had come across.

he immediately decided to try and sell the pile of mushrooms he had gathered and then decide from there what else to do.  He knew he wanted to spend more time studying the magical rings, bracelet and hair pin from the hag as well as start digging in depth into the Pit of shadow which would require a trip to the library.  Assuming he had a bit of coin from the mushrooms regaining a set of rations and a few books to bring along were a top priority then all he needed from there were potions of healing though he feared he would lack coin in that regard by the time he had finished.

"I have a handful of coin to spend, but you're right - it won't go far. I guess I should check what the prices would be. I'll go handle my business; let's meet up at the library later."

With that, Eryn set off towards the square near the main harbor, where she knew a few blacksmiths and other traders put up shop for their finished goods. Some were lucky enough to have an open forge in the area, others had to move their wares back and forth each day.

The streets were busy with people, and the closer she got to the ocean the stronger the smell of fish and saltwater became. Eryn had had just about enough of fish for the time being, but she still welcomed the friendly atmosphere and the plethora of goods and services available. Harbor towns always had a certain mix of both local and foreign cultural identity that blended well with each other - unlike other cities, where the neighbors had to tolerate each others differences with the same five neighbors for years on end, the harbor saw folk of all kinds come and go each day. Meeting someone new all the time kept local relationships from becoming stale. If you met someone you didn't like... at least they were unlikely to be staying long.

The sell-sword gave a nod to a fellow hired arm as they passed each other in the street. He was walking next to a farmer with a cart full of produce, and was no doubt present to deter potential pickpockets. The two didn't know each other at all, but Eryn remembered his face from a group of Markhain-based mercenaries she had met a couple of days before. Regardless of familiarity it was common courtesy among sell-swords to acknowledge each other's existence, in case they ever needed assistance. In such a case, a silent agreement said they would also split the payment for whatever job they were working on fairly.

Eryn had taken notice of the guard's shiny new armor, and couldn't help but feel a bit jealous when she compared it to her thoroughly dirty shirt and worn chainmail. Guarding a peasant's cart wouldn't pay much, but Eryn was still reasonably certain the armor must have been the result of a recent well-paid job.

The larger cities always held the best opportunities for escorting rich folk to the next town over. Inexperienced travelers were often paranoid about being mugged on the road. Even on peaceful trips they would pay handsomely so long as you appeared friendly, strong, and capable for the duration of it, and especially if you had a few exciting tales to tell. They could be complete lies, for most couldn't tell the difference. Sell-swords made sport of outdoing each others and getting away with it in front of clueless travelers.

Reaching the square she was aiming for, Eryn took a moment to survey the area and look for a proper blacksmith. Her price range wasn't very high, but she knew from experience that she would at least have enough money to get a shield.

She suddenly became mindful of the blue sword she was carrying, and hoped the daylight would be enough to mask its nature from the crowd. Telling stories of he it came into her possession and pushing away curious blacksmiths with grabby fingers was not something she had time for this day.



I'd like to find a new shield, and unload some of the spoils I'm carrying. What options do I have?

Also, is there anything else interesting going on?

Hiran
After going off on his own and deciding on a plan of action, Hiran searched the streets for a good place to sell his mushrooms.  It didn't take the wizard long to find a respectable looking apothecary nestled between two much taller brick buildings.  The apothecary itself was a single story building with a tile roof.  It had wrought-iron doors and windows and the entire building was well shaded and surrounded by short shrubbery.  The inside was lit by candles, except for the center.  The center of the shop was open to the sky, and herbs were planted in pots, forming a small square garden in the middle of the store.  The outer walls were full of shelves holding various jars and sacks of supplies.  Some potions were even visible in a display case near a door in the back.  And in one corner there even appeared to be a brewing station set up.

"Ah, I see we have a visitor.  Traveler, must be.  You're not one of my regulars." The words came from a squat gnome, wearing a vest lined with a variety of vials containing mysterious liquids.  He had a unibrow, spectacles, and wild unkempt mutton chops.  When he smiled, a gold tooth shown proudly in his mouth.  "I'm Sovek, the owner of this fine establishment.  Let's see what you got there."

Sovek took a moment to appraise Hiran's haul of fungi. "Hmm.  Tuzzlewhisp.  Not particularly rare, but what you have here is unusually fresh!  I could give you 20 coins for the lot of it.  OR!"  Sovek gave Hiran that award winning smile that so many shopkeeps seemed to have mastered.  "Or, perhaps we could arrange a trade.  When you emptied your mushrooms, I noticed you had some jewelry in your pack with... unique, symbols on them.  Magical symbols.  Do you know what they mean? I have a small collection of books in the back, and I remember seeing symbols like that in them."  The shop keep wiggled his eyebrow up and down a bit mischievously.  "If you give me those mushrooms for free, I'll let you look through my tomes.  I promise you, they will be much more helpful than any books you can find at the public library.  At least in the public part of the public library.  What do you say?"

What do you do?

---

Eryn
After heading over to the blacksmith district, it didn't take Eryn long to find an assortment of people who could sell her what she wanted.  It took a bit longer, however, to find someone who could sell her what she wanted at a reasonable price.  Many of the sellers had displays of gold-plated platemail on display, or jewel-encrusted weaponry.  Other places looked to have pieces that were alright to the untrained eye, but Eryn could tell that the quality was poor and the items wouldn't last long after experiencing real use.  Eventually though, the warrior found a blacksmith selling quality equipment without all the gimmicks.

"Ya lookin ta buy or ta sell?" the lady asked as she pounded a horseshoe onto a horse's foot.  She hadn't even looked up.  Her red curly hair bobbed with each swing of her hammer.  "Everything's a fixed price, as marked.  I don't have time fer hagglin.  That's not the way Lady Hammersoft deals."

With one last pound to the nail in the horse's hoof, Lady Hammersoft let the foot fall and finally looked up at her customer.  "Let's see whatchya got."

What do you do?

---

Ilura and Marcus
After Eryn and Hiran went off to do their own thing, Ilura and Marcus were left to make their own choices.  As they discussed what their next move should be, it became increasingly evident that a person from the crowd was hovering ever closer to the two adventurers.  He was an older elven gentleman, sporting a tophat and an ornamental cane.  He even had an embroidered fushia cape flowing down his shoulders.  When he saw you had noticed him, he cleared his throat as if you hadn't yet.  "Excuse me, but I couldn't help but overhear you just now.  My name is Sir Ubir Grandelburry Morteltoff the Third.  Aren't you two of the individuals who just brought all of those orphans into town?  And did you say you were taking on the-"  He lowered his voice to conspiratorial tones.  "That you were taking on the Overlord?"  The elf looked over his shoulders as if he were expecting armies of undead to swoop in and snatch him up.  "You are obviously good people.  Or at the very least, not evil.  I may know of someone who could help you."

What do you do?

---

Hiran
The shop keep has offered you 20 coins for your mushrooms.  Or, if you give them to him for free, he will let you use his private library for your research.  If you use the private library, I will tell you what the magic jewelry does.  If you use the public library, you will have to roll Spout Lore for each of the three magical pieces of jewelry (with a +1 as if you used a bag of books).

Eryn
You can buy any armor at standard price.  And custom gear adds 50 coins to the base price.  She will buy the hide from you for 180 coins, since it is rare.  She'll buy the tail for 10, or make it into a proper whip for you if you pay her 10 (You would have to pick it up in the morning though).  Let me know if there is anything else you want to know.  Feel free to try and haggle if you want, even though she said she doesn't.  It would require a roll though.

Ilura and Marcus
A stranger has offered aid.  Do you decide to trust him, or is it too good to be true?

Ilura's turned to Marcus with a questioning look, then shrugged.  She had no way to evaluate whether the stranger was going to be helpful or not, but he didn't seem like the sort who could be bothered trying to mug them.  And if it meant she could get out of these over-crowded noise-filled streets, so much the better.

"Help is always welcome, friend.  What do you propose?"

"You are straight to the point mistress, that's what I like," Eryn replied. Too many of these merchants speak at length to peddle their pretty but useless scraps. I would much rather pay full price for something that will actually keep me alive."

She unlimbered the pack she was carrying and drew forth the rolled-up skin they had gathered earlier. Despite the smith being distracted with shoeing the horse, she hoped that displaying the rare leathery scales would catch the woman's interest. They had taken care with the knife to keep it free of scratches and to clear off as much of the meat and blood as they could. She was happy when the gnome seemed willing to pay full attention after all.

"Me and my companions cleared out the black caves nearby and rescued a bunch of kidnapped children. We had to kill this beast called a vorlag to do it, so I figured we might as well get something useful out of it. As I understand the creatures are pretty rare, and their skin looks tough. I was wondering if you'd like to buy some of it, and how much it would cost to fashion the thick skin into some scale armor for me. I'm also interested in turning its tail into a whip -- oh, and I need a new shield. That's actually my main priority, come to think of it."

Eryn weighed her coin pouch in her hand while holding the skin with the other, despite already being aware of how little there was. Twenty-two coins - she knew it would be enough for a shield, but she would need a good price for the skin to get anything more fancy than that.

"Fair warning - I don't have that much coin right now, so I will try not to waste your time. Depending on how much you're willing to buy for, I may have to just get a new shield and then come back some other time."


GM: Would crafting armor from the scales count as custom armor, or just regular scale armor where I supply the materials? If it's custom armor, I think I'll just sell it and buy armor she already has.

This message was last edited by the player at 20:18, Tue 27 Feb 2018.

I would say it is custom armor, but since you are supplying the bulk of the raw materials and aren't asking for fancy complicated additional details to be added, you could get it for the standard cost.  Like the whip though, you would have to pick up the finished product in the morning.

Scale armor is 50 coins, plus 10 for the whip and 15 for a shield; total 75 coins. What I can get depends on how much I get for the thin vorlag skin alone, then, so I'd like to know that before we proceed IC. :)

In reply to Game Master (msg # 7):

Hiran debated for a moment before looking back down at the gnome. "Care to throw in a few potions of healing in the deal? Ill be willing to share my research with you when I am done which I promise you is a bargain you won't get from other academics."

Hiran strongly debated testing his newest spell and trying to make this fellow his friend to aid this ordeal but the last thing he needed was magical catastrophe that ended with him in shackles so he fell to classic diplomacy hoping he could haggle a little extra from the curious and unique looking shopkeeper.

Hiran
"HA!" A spray of spittle flew from Sovek's mouth as he laughed at Hiran's proposal.  "Either you have the stones of a colossus, or you are not very skilled at haggling.  All of your mushrooms are not worth even one potion of healing at the current market rate.  Not even half of a potion.  And I am not interested in research.  All the research I am interested in is already in my books."

The shop keep put a finger to the side of his face thoughtfully and rubbed his tongue over his gold tooth. "However, you did give me a good laugh." He clasped his hands together as if he had come to a decision.  "I'll tell you what.  I will throw in a potion that cures seasickness.  How about that?"  The gnome pulled a vial from his vest.  Inside was what appeared to be exceptionally runny grey water.  "Or if you really want those two healing potions, do you have anything to trade that would be worth about a hundred coins?"

What do you do?

---

Eryn
Eryn certainly caught Lady Hammersoft's full attention when she brought out the vorlag skin and told her tale.  "That... is certainly a rare find ya got there.  I could do a lot with that.  I'll give you 90 coin fer the thick hide, and another 90 fer the thin.  I'ld say the thick skin is worth more, but ya got more of the thin to work with.  So yeah, 90 each is my offer.  I kin give you coin, or credit any purchases you want to make."

She looked the skin over admiringly. She continued taking without taking her eyes off of it. "Yeah, this should make some fine scale armor.  I'ld be happy ta make that for ya, since you brought this in to me, if that is what you decide on.  The whip shouldn't be too much trouble either.  That'll be another ten.  And let me know if any shield I have on display catches your eye.  You can try it on fer size.  Fitting it to yer arm is free, so long as you decide to buy it."  It was obvious that Lady Hammersoft was already busy designing an armor blueprint inside her head.

What do you do?

---

Ilura and Marcus
"What do I propose?" Sir Ubir Grandelburry Morteltoff the Third asked, almost as if he were surprised you were willing to hear him out.  "Well, um," he looked over his shoulders again conspiratorially.  "I know of a group.  A group that is trying to do good work for many decades now. But the Overlord's reputation with dark magic has besmirched the public's opinion about this groups... dabblings.  They continue to fight the good fight, slowly and steadily, but must now do it in secret. And it would make things much more difficult if rumors of the Overlord gaining power even after death became widespread.  I believe they would go to great lengths to see to it that the Overlord or his followers never make a comeback."

As the flighty fancy-man spoke, Marcus was busy sifting through his own memories, searching for that ridiculously long name.  The paladin knew many of the names of upper-class families throughout the land, but this was not one of them.  Either Ubir was part of one of the more obscure families, or the elf had bestowed the title upon himself.

As Marcus thought on this, his eyes wandered to a different man across the cobblestone the street. The average-looking human man was sitting on a bench, eating in the shade of a half-dead spruce tree.  Which in and of itself was not very noteworthy, except the sack he was eating out of looked awfully familiar.  The dried dates, cheeses, and nuts he was munching on were also looked suspiciously familiar.  And sure enough, when Marcus checked on his pouch full of rations, they were all missing.

Across the street, the man noticed Marcus looking at him.  He grinned with his mouth full of food and waved his fingers, then continued to munch away.

What do you do?

---

Hiran
The shop keep shot down your counter offer.  Then made a counter offer of his own.  Which was the same as his original offer with a cure seasickness potion thrown in.  Additionally, he offered to trade you healing potions for something(s) of equal or greater value.

Eryn
If I did my math correctly, you can get a shield, whip, and scale armor, then still have 105 coin left over to add to your stash.  You can add the shield to your inventory right away.  You can add the other two when you pick them up the next day.

Ilura and Marcus
All of Marcus's rations have gone missing.  Sort of.  They are across the street, being eaten.

I took the liberty of copying Marcus's roll here.
13:47, Yesterday: Marcus rolled 1 using 2d6-1.  Sprout Lore - Sir Ubir .

'I know of a group' isn't really a proposal...

How about we do this.  Let's go for a walk.  You can take us to find a representative of this group who might be able to make a concrete proposal.  On the way, you can tell us a few things.  Like the name of the group, who's part of it, exactly what sort of dabbling they do in secret and what good ends they name as justification for dabblings that create an association with the overlord in the general population."

Ilura had the feeling that this was likely to be a "the enemy of my enemy is probably also my enemy" situation, but it was at least worth digging into.  In the worst case, she'd have knowledge that could lead to shutting down this ilicit group.  In the best case, she might have a sponsor.  In either case, she'd be out of the bustle of this noisy street corner.  The ill-kempt man across the street waving at her gave her the heebie-jeebies.  She might be low on coin, but she was a long way from being that desperate...

"Excellent! Both armor and whip should be of great use to me, so if you have the time to craft those before I have to leave town tomorrow, I am more than happy to pay for your services."

Eryn carefully rolled the skin back up and handed it over to the blacksmith. She also laid the vorlag tail on the table, before she began looking over the stock of shields on display.

"I'm looking for a decently sized heater shield," she explained, "perhaps with a groove to rest a spear or lance. Although... a kite shield could also work well since it covers more of your legs. Would you say they are very heavy? I haven't carried enough of them to be able to tell what their typical weight is."



We got a deal on the vorlag skin and new gear. I'll update my inventory once I figure out what shield to get.

Just to bother you a bit more - what kind of shields are there? Wooden with metal rims, or full metal surface? Any cool patterns or designs on them? I may end up tossing this one down a ravine too, but if it look nice until then that's definitely a plus. :)

Ilura
What are some of the cool shield designs that Lady Hammersoft has available for Eryn to Choose from?

Also, I am going to wait for Marcus to post before moving your duo's segment forward.

Lady Hammersoft's wares tend more to the practical than the artistic.  She leaves the market segment looking for elegant silver engraving and realistic paintings of elven ladies and severed orc heads to other vendors.  Hers are designed for real battle and for customers who generally don't have the funds to replace or re-finish their shield the first time it comes into contact with an enemy spear or blade.

That said, her work is not aesthetically unpleasing and several designs show signs of practicality, such as exta buckles to allow easy attachment to packs, reverable straps for those who prefer to fight left-handed and even one that seems designed to multi-task as a griddle when placed over a cook-fire.  "I've tested it out.  Makes ok sausages, but make sure you've ample sand ta clean the grease before ya fight with it."

Sizes range from simple bucklers to a full-size body shield taller than Eryn's head.  While one kite is on display, most are heaters or bucklers.  "Not much market for kites anymore.  They's ok for field work an' horseback, but you've got the look o' someone that needs to cut through the odd forest and mebe into a crypt or two.  A heater's gonna wear ya out less an' won't get caught up as much.  I can cut ya a slot for yer spear"

Within her selection, most are wood-framed with a leather cover.  Iron cross-pieces add additional protection to some at the cost of heavier weight.  A few are matt black or polished silver, but most are unfinished.  "I kin paint ya anything that's in the book for the base price.  Ya want something fancier, it'll cost extra."  "The book" is a well-worn tome of relatively simple designs - stripes, skulls, swords, religious symbols, dragons, etc.  A few pages even contain magic-related images - purple bolts of power, a ball of fire, a glowing metal ring.

"Ya can chose the color too, if it's one I got."  She picked another shoe from a pile and went to work on the next hoof.

"You have a very good selection here, Lady Hammersoft. I could tell right away that you deliver quality." Eryn carefully picked down one shield at a time and held them by the straps, weighted them, and swung them a bit from side to side to test how easy they were to handle. "This one here - with the cross-guard - feels very good," she remarked. The black heater shield she was holding covered her torso and a bit more and felt like it had a similar weight to the one she had lost in the cave. "It's a tad heavier than the others, but that's no problem for me. It just needs a few tiny adjustments on the straps - perhaps some red paint on these two sections here to give it a nice pattern - and I'll take it."

She left the shield on the blacksmith's table and counted up the amount of coin they had agreed upon. Upon finishing her count, Eryn shoved the pile of money gently across the table. "That should cover the cost. Do you need me to stay for fitting the armor?"


Removed from inventory: Vorlag skin and tail (5 weight total)
Added: Shield (2 weight)

Between his inability to remember anything about the supposed noble's family and the insinuation of the dark magic put to service of good, Marcus observed the elf with scrutiny, until his eyes found the man that helped himself to the paladin's rations.

"I'll catch up with you." Marcus said to Ilura and Sir Ubir, as he took measured strides towards the bench, not paying much attention to other pedestrians or carts. "If you are in need, you should but ask." the paladin started softly before his voice grew stern "But this is not the way. When you decide to repay me, you can find me near Harbor Boarding School." his gaze lingered on the bearded man for a few more moments before Marcus turned and sought out Ilura and the elf, seeking to catch up with them.

Eryn
Lady Hammersoft had finished shoeing the horse by the time Eryn decided on a shield.  The blacksmith nodded her approval of Eryn's choice and accepted the money offered.  She then grabbed out a container of red paint and a brush from under one of her work benches.  She got right to work painting the shield the way Eryn asked.  "It would probably be a good idea ta take at least a couple o' measurements," Lady Hammersoft admitted when Eryn asked.  "I'm usually pretty good at estimating though, and it isn't often that I know exactly who the armor will be for.  It'll be adjustable to a degree too, in case ya ever lose significant weight or gain muscle mass unexpectedly."

After a surprisingly short amount of time, the shield was painted and the blacksmith set it near her forge to dry faster.  She then pulled out a measuring strip to get some of Eryn's dimensions.  After jotting down the results, Lady Hammersoft retrieved the shield and handed it to Eryn.  "Here you go," she said, "I'll set the leather in an alchemical solution right away so it can start curing.  Then me and a couple o' my kids'll get workin on that armor and whip first thing this evening.  Come by any time after sun up to collect 'em."  It looked like a thought just occurred to the blacksmith and she held up a finger.  "One last question.  Do ya want your whip to be standard, or would you rather it be deadly?  Either is no problem, but it can only one er the other."

What do you do?

---

Ilura and Marcus
As Marcus approached the man eating his rations, the guy began to look worried.  His eyes darted toward the guards nearby, almost as if he were going to call the guards on Marcus.  But the thief's posture relaxed again when it was clear Marcus only meant to scold him.  If Marcus's words had any effect on the man, unfortunately it did not show.  He continued to eat greedily the moment the paladin started to leave.

Meanwhile, Sir Ubir had begun leading Ilura down one of the side streets, further from the main crowds.  They hadn't gotten far before Marcus caught up to them again.  When he did, Ubir began telling them more information about the group, as Ilura had suggested, although it continued to be in hushed tones.

"The group's original name was NECRO.  You can probably see why that might cause problems, but it stood for the Noble Ecto-Curative Rejuvenation Organization.  Long ago they set their sights on finding a way to combine healing magics with pieces of necromancy to find a way to slow, halt, or even reverse the aging process. They have uncovered many useful magics, but are still trying to solve the big aging problem.  And with the public's negative outlook on anything even remotely related to necromancy, you can see why the Overlord's influence would only cause more problems for them."  He turned down an even narrower street now.  An alley, really. Where the rooftops nearly blocked out the sun and stagnant water formed puddles in the street.

"I myself am a member.  Sort of.  I am not one of the great minds of the organization, and I don't have much sway, but I connect them to resources, scout talent, find donors, etc.  I can set up a meeting with one of the founding members if you wish.  I am certain they would be interested in hearing what you have to say, if nothing else."  He paused next to a worn out wooden door in the side of a dilapidated stone building, then turned to face the two adventurers.  "If you are still interested, please, follow me."  The well dressed man then pulled out a key, unlocked the door, and stepped into the darkened room beyond.

What do you do?

---

Eryn
Would you like your whip to deal stun damage (standard) or regular damage (deadly)?

"My spear and my blade are deadly enough as it is. Having one that could inconvenience the enemy in other ways would be good, thanks."

Ilura followed, her hand near her sword and her senses sharp for any sign of an ambush or other risk as Thomas flew into the room.

quote:

12:28, Today: Ilura rolled 9 using 2d6.  Discern realities w/ Thomas.

Forgot the +2 for Thomas, so that's an 11

What is about to happen?
What should I be on the lookout for?
What here is not what it appears to be?

Marcus was coming to terms with what the elf told them. Even he associated necromancy exclusively with raising the dead. Yes, Dr. Krauss tried to explain subtle differences to him a while ago, but he did not listen. But it was the undead that Lusiny, and through her, Marcus, could not let stand. If there were chapters in those books that could help people, it was for the best to hear out the secretive group. And consult with Hiran. the paladin concluded his train of thought, set to have an open mind.

Secrecy or not, the location Ubir brought them to could work well for a trap. Not wishing to walk in unprepared any more than Ilura did, Marcus touched his holy symbol and invoked his goddesses name softly, rekindling the light that had shone through the stone when it transferred to the divine symbol. As his hand left his chest, silver rays raced with Thomas to pierce the darkness ahead.

21:43, Today: Marcus rolled 7 using 2d6.  Cast Light.
Let's go with "You draw unwelcome attention or put yourself in a spot. The GM will tell you how.", seems approriate

In reply to Game Master (msg # 13):

"Ill take your sea sickness potion and the research in return for the mushrooms. I am unwilling to part with possible magic items that I have yet to discern the value of myself."

Hiran proceeds with the same symbols he used in greeting of Mira previously in hopes this alchemist may be familiar with them as a friendly greeting among casters.

He then begins to take out the mushrooms and gather up the reading material and the sea sickness potion.

Hiran then heads to the library to start his research with the books he has just acquired.

OOC: Does the reading material take up weight or count as a use of bag of books? Also what is the weight of the potion?
This message was last edited by the player at 03:19, Mon 05 Mar 2018.

Hiran
"I can respect that," Sovek replied to Hiran's decision.  He was about to offer his hand for a shake to seal the deal when Hiran started using the magical-gesture greeting that spellcasters often used.  Sovek replied in kind.  Although his hands were not as precise as Hiran might expect.  They showed that Sovek knew of the greeting but probably did not cast spells himself.  Not too surprising for someone who specialized in potions rather than spells.

Once Sovek managed to pack away the fungi Hiran had traded him, Sovek went to a back room and brought out several old tomes that would be relevant to Hiran's research.  When the Dr. Hiran went to collect the books, Sovek stopped him.  "Oh no, I am afraid the books must remain in my shop.  They are my only copies.  You can have the information within, but the books themselves are not for sale.  I can provide you with parchment and a quill if you would like to copy some information though.  There is a nice bench over in the herb garden where I like to do exactly that sometimes.  Here, let me show you."

Sovek showed Hiran to a spot in the center of the shop where natural light flooded in from above.  There was a stone bench with a flat block of granite beside it that could serve as a table.  The bench was surrounded by various herbs, such as krakenweed and horseradish and violet grubblecackel.  It was quite peaceful actually.

And true to his word, it did not take long to find magical symbols within the books that matched up with the markings on some of the jewelry.  In the end, Hiran was able to determine that three of the pieces granted magical effects.  The others were just for show.

The sea witch's bracelet was the most potent.  It had an octopus-shaped ruby on the front that would change shape depending on which way you looked at it.  Its markings indicated that it could draw out the power of any sea creature touched and allow the wearer to turn into it.

The ring looked to be made of coral and was inlaid with tiny shells and countless jewels the size of sand grains.  And when worn, it seemed, would allow its owner to breathe underwater!

The hairpin appeared to be a vanity item.  When placed in one's hair, the wearer could alter the appearance of their clothes to look however they desired.  The effect was only an illusion, however, and changed only the clothe's appearance and not its material.  Cloth made to look like armor would not clank, or provide physical protection, or hinder movement.

What do you do?

---

Eryn
Lady Hammersoft nodded to Eryn.  "A standard whip it is then."  Then, with her transaction seemingly complete, the blacksmith went back to her work and began preparing the vorlag skin for Eryn's armor.

What do you do?

---

Ilura and Marcus
As Sir Ubir opened the door, it creaked as one might expect from a door in such a rundown state.  But Ilura's sharp ears also caught the sound of a couple of small pulleys squeaking as a string was pulled tight.  Her eyes caught sight of the string at the top of the door as Marcus's light illuminated the room.  It was probably set up as a signal to notify someone elsewhere if the door was ever opened.

The room itself seemed to be a dusty old storage room.  There were cobwebs all over everything.  Sealed crates, an old portrait painting with a rip in the canvas, a big mirror with a crack running through it, and other assorted items.  Thomas flew into the room, circled around quickly, and came back to land on Ilura's shoulder with his head facing back out the door.  He let out a small caw and the crow's words rang out in Ilura's head. [I saw a room behind the mirror before the light lit everything up.  And there was an air current coming from that painting.]  The crow picked at Ilura's ear a bit. [And hey, look, there is a person looking at Marcus from that window out across the alley.]  By the time Ilura could turn around to look though, whoever was there was now gone.  She could, however, see that the mirror's reflection did appear to be a bit off, and the eyes on the painting looked like they could be slid aside for someone to peek through.  Additionally, there was a line of dust on the floor that showed where some crates were often slid aside.

And Sir Ubir did exactly that.  He slid the crates aside to reveal a passage beyond.  "I will be back momentarily, if the two of you will be kind enough to wait here.  It shouldn't take me more than half an hour to set up a meeting."  As he moved to close the passage behind himself he added, "And please do not mess with anything in here.  It would be in everyone's best interests."

What do you do?

---

Hiran
Sovek will let you read his books, but will not let you take them with you outside of his shop, so they do not add to your weight or add to your bag of books.  The weight of the potion is 0.

Bracelet of the Brine
You can Shapeshift, as the Druid ability, but only into animals with a strong connection to the sea (saltwater fish, seagulls, walruses, etc.).  You must have touched a living version of that animal since putting on the bracelet.  You loose all forms if you ever take the bracelet off and must "collect" them again.

Ring of the Reef
The wearer can breath both air and water.

Hairpin of Fickle Vestments
When placed in one's hair, the wearer can alter the appearance of their clothes to look however they desire.  The effect is only an illusion, however, and changes only the clothe's appearance and not its material.  Cloth made to look like armor will not clank, or provide physical protection, or hinder movement.

Eryn
Was there anything else you would like to do in town?

Ilura and Marcus
You two are about to be left alone in a "storage room" while Sir Ubir goes to set up a meeting with a member of NECRO.  He hasn't closed the secret passage door yet though, if there was anything you wanted to say or do before he does.

What is about to happen?
More people will probably be watching you than it appears.  The mirror and the portrait seem designed to allow people to view the storage room without being seen.

What should I be on the lookout for?
Someone took note of you guys from across the alley when you entered the room.

What here is not what it appears to be?
The room is full of little secret things.  A two-way mirror, a secret passage, a secret viewing portrait, and a signal string attached to the door at the very least.

"Thank you for your time, lady, I will be back tomorrow."

Getting rid of the skins and getting some proper new gear had been the main purpose of Eryn's little excursion. From what she remembered of Markhain there would be many sights to see, but the sell-sword didn't feel like she could afford the time when there was evil afoot.


I'm not sure if I should assume we had time to clean ourselves up after getting back to town - if we didn't, Eryn will stop by a bathhouse or something and do that now. Otherwise, unless there's something particularly interesting to look for, she will go to the library and wait for the others - if she doesn't spot them/someone/something on the way there.

Ilura pulled a couple of crates over to a corner of the room out of direct view of either the mirror or the painting and plopped herself on one, gesturing for Marcus to take the other.  She thought about sharing her dream from the night before and the appearance of Lusina's symbol, but this didn't seem like the time or space for such a discussion.  Instead, she reached into her pack and pulled out some of the smoked lizard meat from the night before and tossed as small piece to the floor for Thomas before offering half of what remained to the Palidin.

"Do you spend much time in settlements like this?  So many people in one space has always felt unnatural to me..."

Just making conversation - feel free to zoom us along.

In reply to Game Master (msg # 25):

OOC: Is there any value to the other non magical jewelry?

Hiran nodded when he realized he couldn't leave the shop a minor misunderstanding but he gladly took the gnomes offer to go into his herb garden and take notes.  Hiran spent the rest of his afternoon taking notes and researching all that he could from these books trying to make sure he left no detail untouched in case he needed it in the future.

Hiran then after his careful study began to discuss the magic items to himself.  "Hmm if the others don't mind I believe ill take this ring it has the most promise for myself.  The hairpin while powerful..hmm I don't need to seem more suspicious than the others already view me and the Bracelet seems like something Ilura would fall in love with being how she loves nature.  Though something about that woman doesn't sit right with me, I still need to find what she's hiding behind that rosy facade she uses to butter up to Marcus."

He then takes the ring and puts it on his right ring finger and spends a while enjoying the herb garden taking in it's beauty and splendor before finally gathering up his things thanking the shopkeeper and leaving the establishment.  Hiran then looks to see if he can find signs of his companions to discuss what he has found so far.

His armored form still standing at the door, Marcus asked Ubir "If it will be that long, surely we can wait outside, and you can fetch us when everyone is ready." he looked around the suspicious room adding "And that way, there will be no chance for us to disrupt anything important."

OOC: If required: 19:19, Today: Marcus rolled 7 using 2d6+2.  Parley with Ubir if needed.
Sorry, Ilura, will get back to the prompt, have quite a bit running through my head, but would like to see how this plays out.

Hiran
After Hiran wraped up his research, Sovek helped him clean up his work station and assisted with any last minute transactions Hiran may have wanted to make.  Then, with a friendly goodbye, the shop-keep saw him to the door.

By now it was late afternoon and it would start getting darker in an hour or so.  Even so, the cobblestone streets were still full of people doing their shopping or merely out enjoying the nice weather.  As Hiran made his way toward the designated rendezvous point, he passed by many different shops and vendors.  The scent of freshly baked bread still wafted out of a bakery, a jewelry vendor's wares glittered fantastically in the late afternoon sun, and a kennel-master's pups barked enthusiastically as potential patrons walked past.

Eventually, however, Hiran found his way to Markhain's main public library.  The three story building covered in ivy jutted out into a large open courtyard where crowds loitered and entertainers performed for spare coin.  It didn't take long to spot Eryn across the courtyard.

As Hiran approached, however, screams rang loudly over the sounds of the crowd.  From a side street, Hiran could see smoke approaching.  As the source of the smoke rounded a corner, he could see that the smoke was coming from a small burning straw cart being pulled by a rampaging ox.  The frightened animal was charging straight toward a crowd standing in the cobblestone square.

What do you do?

---

Eryn
After finishing up with Lady Hammersoft, it didn't take Eryn long to decide it would be a good idea to clean up a bit.  Markhain had several public bathhouses scattered about, and it would be easier to freshen up in the middle of the day when the pools were less busy.  It didn't take the warrior long to find one of these cleaning pools, and the magically warmed water did wonders for her injuries and general griminess.

Once cleaned up to her satisfaction, Eryn headed over to Markhain's main public library.  After a quick look around the large ivy-covered building, she was able to determine she was probably the first to arrive.  Luckily there were a lot of entertainers putting on performances nearby, so she wouldn't get too bored while she waited for the others.  Before long though, Hiran's form could be spotted across the great cobblestone courtyard, approaching.

Right around that same time though, screams could be heard coming from a side street.  People were shouting for everyone to get out of the way.  Then, from around a corner, it appeared.  A small flaming straw cart being pulled by a rampaging ox.  And the ox was pulling the burning cart directly toward one of the crowds gathered in the cobblestone square.

What do you do?

---

Ilura and Marcus
Sir Ubir looked a bit uneasy by Marcus's question and gave it some serious consideration before replying.  "I suppose waiting outside would be alright.  Just make sure the door locks behind you.  And do NOT let anyone else in."  After one more moment of hesitation, the elven man closed the secret passage and disappeared from view.

What do you do?

---

Eryn
You are clean now!  Also, you see a rampaging ox headed for a crowd of people...

Hiran
The other jewelry would probably be worth about 70 coins if you sell it to a specialized vendor.  Or you could trade it to Sovek for a single healing potion.  Let me know what Hiran did with them (if anything) before he encountered the rampaging ox.

Ilura and Marcus
It seems like Marcus has something in mind that he wants to do, but if not, let me know when you are ready to move on.

"GET OUT OF THE WAY! OUT OF THE SQUARE!" Eryn bellowed the moment she realized what was about to happen. She had planned to show Hiran the new shield she had acquired, but now she dropped it on the grass next to herself instead and broke into a run. The paint might get smudged, but such a triviality was of no concern.

Even going as fast as she could towards the rampaging cart, Eryn already had a terrible gut feeling that she would not be in time - for an ox was far quicker than a human, and speed had never been a particular strength of hers. Plus, even if she could reach the reins there was no telling if the cart would stop before it something and set fire to everything around.

Ignoring the instinct to tackle the animal with brute force, Eryn reached into her bag as she ran and frantically searched for a vial she knew she had left somewhere near the bottom. She located it quickly enough - "Whirlpool in a bottle", it had been called. It was time to see if that claim was true, or if it was just a party trick used to stir soup in cauldrons.

Having no time to fit the bag back on properly, Eryn discarded it as well. It dropped on the cobblestone road somewhere, and the sell-sword could only hope it wouldn't get snagged by some opportunistic cretin.

With her now free hand Eryn uncorked the jar and flung it as the cart just as it was about to pass her by entirely.


Is this Volley, or some other action?

Following Ilura's gesture and taking another look around the room, Marcus nodded towards the alley outside "If we need to wait, it can at least be somewhere with fresh air." he glanced back at the once again concealed passageway as he walked out "I understand their need for secrecy if what they say is true." he considered "And even more if it isn't."

Moving to the end of the alley, Marcus accepted the piece of meat, his mind flashing to the stolen rations for a second, as he found a point from which he could see the entrance to the NECRO's lair. "As for cities, they are proof of what we can do when we do together." paladin started to answer the question Ilura asked "I grew up on my father's estate and often explored the surrounding town, Pahtain." Marcus had to pause as his voice cracked after speaking the name of the town. "Sorry, it was a while since I last thought of home. But yes, I was quite used to busy streets and narrow alleys." he looked towards the sky, barely finding it through the jumble of roofs "I knew the wonder of the wilderness as well, but I never thought to compare the two. They each had their place." he tried a smile but it didn't reach past his mouth.Taking another breath he finished "Once the Fight started, my brother and I traveled a lot, going wherever we heard of someone in need, or a resistance forming. And I never stoped."

I think a Defy Danger +Dex sounds like it would fit what you are trying to do.

"I grew up on an estate too, but the local town wasn't exactly a "friendly" place.  Too many of my father's men.

I guess I can see cities like this as a sign of man's achievement, though when I compare it to the land man has left unspoiled, I'm not sure the achievement is always a positive one."

She watched him closely for a bit, then asked gently "Would you like to tell me about your brother?"

23:03, Today: Eryn rolled 7 using 2d6.  Defy Danger (Dex), throwing whirlpool potion at burning cart.

I have removed the jar from my inventory.

Marcus nodded in understanding of Ilura's plight. His father did much worse things than hers, but the atrocity of parents standing in the path of their children was the same, regardless of scale.

"Darian was..." he gave a wistful smile "is my role model. While I heard of Lusiny often, it was him that showed me what it meant to follow the Silver." The paladin went on to shared few of the highlights from adventuring with his brother, his eyes misting over slightly, but it was clear he enjoyed the memories and opportunity to share them.

I'm guessing Ubir comes for us, or something else meaningful happens while they are talking. Don't want to bog us down with the details (and don't have the time to write more)

OOC: Hiran would sell the other jewelry for the 70 coin as he cares more about bags of books and supplies. Ill go ahead and add to my inventory now.

Hiran kept walking into the library, while certainly dangerous a flaming cart and an angry ox were hardly his expertise and besides his research was far more important in the grand scheme of saving everyone not just one small group who might be in trouble.  He watched curiously as Eryn ran by to help but that did not slow him much as he continued on in.

Eryn and Hiran
Eryn flung the magic jar at the passing cart.  It sailed through the air and landed with a satisfying shatter.  Brine sprayed outward over the cobblestones and... they got wet.  The ox kept running.

A split second later a loud roar of water, like a raging waterfall, could be heard coming from the cobblestones.  Then quite suddenly a great circle opened up on the ground, at least 30 feet wide, and water swirled within.  Even though the ox was now outside of the circle, its cart was still within and it splashed noisily into the whirlpool causing steam and saltwater to spray into the air.  Bits of smoldering straw spiraled down toward the whirlpool's center.  As the current circled, it pulled the wagon.  Which in turn caused the ox's legs to buckle and start to get pulled along with it.  In a matter of moments the beast of burden would get pulled all the way in.  The frightened animal mooed loudly as it panicked.

On the steps of the library next to where Hiran now stood, a woman gasped.  "Was that... a whirlpool in a bottle?  I thought they were just party tricks used to stir soup in cauldrons!"  Then, with much more concern, she added, "Oh no! There's someone in the water!"

And sure enough, someone must have been standing too near where Eryn had thrown the bottle.  A man who had been trying and failing to hold onto the side of the hole now swirled around the spiraling water.  He grabbed onto the back wheel of the wagon as he passed by, but who knows how much time that would buy him.

What do you do?

---

Ilura and Marcus
After at least twenty minutes or so of Marcus and Ilura relaxing and getting to know each other's histories a bit better, a voice down the alley caught their attention.  "Hey!  Magic man!  What you doin' casting spells on our turf without permission?"  The confrontational words were coming from a tall muscular man.  He had long wavy black hair and excessive stubble.  His aggressive smile had what appeared to be pointed teeth within.  He had no shirt, but on his chest was tattooed a white wolf, howling at the moon.  A silver moon, just starting to be eclipsed by a red one.

If the man wasn't intimidating enough on his own, there was another person behind each of his shoulders who were both nearly as tough looking.  And by his legs were two mangy dogs who seemed to be at least half wolf.  Then, just off to the side was a scrawny preteen boy who seemed to think he was on par with the others just by virtue of being in their proximity.

Thomas pecked gently at Ilura's cheek.  [That's the one I saw in the window,] the crow informed her, referring to the youngest member of the group.

"Little Snap-jaw here told me he saw you hanging out with that snooty top hat guy, making magic.  Ya shouldn't be hanging out with those crazies.  They're bad news.  You should come with us, if you know what's good for you."  He pointed at himself with both his thumbs.  "Let ole Snarl-maw show you what's what around here."

Just then, a creak could be heard back by the door to the storage room.  Looking over, Sir Ubir could be seen peeking out, but trying to stay out of view of the gang at the end of the alley.  Barely over a whisper, the elven man said, "The appointment is set.  Don't listen to a stitch of what those ruffians say.  Hurry on now."  He waved the two of you toward him, but didn't open the door any further.  He seemed worried about the gang down the alley getting into his storage room.  And perhaps that worry had a bit of merit since the gang was now approaching.

What do you do?

---

Eryn and Hiran
You are both safe.  Eryn is next to the whirlpool and Hiran is quite a ways off near the entrance to the library.  You can both see that the ox is about to get pulled into the whirlpool by its wagon, which a man is holding onto the rear wheel of, trying not to get sucked further down into the vortex.

Ilura and Marcus
Sir Ubir and Snarl-maw each want you to go with them.  Sir Ubir seems liable to lock the door once the gang gets too close, no matter which side of it you are on when when they do.

In normal circumstances, Ilura would have just stepped inside the door with the elf and paladin and bolted the door.  However, the image of the white wolf and moon intrigued her.

She spoke quietly to Marcus "You go with Sir Ubir.  I'll chat with this lot."

Then she walked towards the group. [are you a friend?]  The mental query went out almost by instinct, directed at the dogs.

She smiled at the shirtless man, though there was caution in her eyes.  She held her bow casually, but she could nock and loose in an instant if need be.

"My friend has an appointment, but I would be happy to learn what you might share of the situation here.  I have an affinity for the wolf whose token you bear."

Hiran continued on his path magic was dangerous in it's own right and he had no way of stopping a massive whirlpool. He hoped Eryn would see the same reason but he knew he couldn't convince her if she didn't so he chose to keep about his business entering into the library.

Marcus tensed at the words, turning as his hand moved to rest on the hilt of his blade. His eyes narrowed at the approaching group, and he was unsure of what the sign they displayed stood for. As he tried to make up his mind on how to make his stand, Ilura offered an alternative he didn't expect.

Glancing at her uneasily, he didn't like the idea of leaving her with this crowd, Marcus realized her mind was set, but her words did little to ease his concerns. "Bad new for you perhaps, but let us judge for ourselves." he retorted as he started slowly towards Ubit, not wanting to show haste or fear. "Know that Lusiny watches over her." he spoke as he neared the door, trying to sound intimidating, but it was never his strong suite, and he realized it might have been a mistake as the words left his lips.

22:48, Today: Marcus rolled 5 using 2d6+2.  I Am the Law! Don't harm Ilura.
Aaaand I was afraid that might happen. Sorry Ilura. I'll go and mark my xp while you hang around with the nice people (if they let Marcus pass...)
This message was last edited by the player at 08:20, Fri 09 Mar 2018.

I don't think they need to let you past.  We were sitting on crates right beside the door.  The friendly folks are approaching from the mouth of the alley.  I'm now standing between them and the door (I presume a good 10-15 feet away from them).  So you can go in the door and close it before they can get to you.

This is correct.

The magic released from the jar was far stronger than Eryn had anticipated. She had kept the people in the square from getting trampled or burned, but unfortunately it looked like the effect of the potion may have caused even greater damage. The experienced sell-sword knew when she had to do something, and so Eryn headed straight for the center of the chaos without hesitating for a second. She stood at the edge of the vortex and peered into it, trying to judge what the best angle of approach would be while ignoring the distraction of people yelling around her.

"Grab onto this!" she shouted to the poor man, lying down flat on the cobblestones and extending the blunt end of her spear towards him. She held onto it hard with both hands while keeping the carrying strap wrapped tightly around her right wrist. The speartip should keep it from slipping too, but she couldn't risk having the man slice his fingers open on the sharp metal.

Muddy saltwater sprayed across Eryn's newly washed self, but it would just have to be that way. A fighter like her could never stay clean for long.

Figures I can't go a moment without being covered in salt in this town, Eryn thought, quite exasperated, while hoping the man would be able to spot her and grab onto her spear in turn. The combined weight of muscles and armor should give her an edge when it came to pulling him up, but with 15 feet to the center of the whirlpool she would never be able to reach him if he drifted too far in. The ox was almost certainly a goner already.


A 30 feet sinkhole could have swallowed my late grandmother's house whole, my friend. A house-destroyer with 0 weight... I believe I'll need to purchase another of those Whirlpool bottles. :)

Eryn is trying to reach the man caught in the whirlpool by extending her spear to him, but if it feels like she'll just get dragged in too she'll stop and try a different angle (or watch him go down, I guess).

Eryn, give me a Defy Danger +Str, +Con, or +Int.  Whichever you think is most appropriate for trying to pull the man from the water in this scenario.

quote:

by powering through, +Str
by getting out of the way or acting fast, +Dex
by enduring, +Con
with quick thinking, +Int
through mental fortitude, +Wis
using charm and social grace, +Cha

I see this as a task of brute force - the biggest challenge is having to pull his weight while resisting the forces trying to drag him and the weapon out of my grasp.

17:48, Today: Eryn rolled 11 using 2d6+2.  Defy Danger (Str): Pulling a man out of the whirlpool.

Eryn
Eryn offered the blunt end of her spear to the man in the water none too soon.  No sooner had he grabbed hold than the ox fell completely into the water.  It and the wagon swirled around in circles as they drifted toward the vortex's center.  The man got buffeted a bit by the circling debris and livestock, but Eryn's might heaved him toward shore before anything catastrophic happened.

With one last burst of effort, Eryn was able to pull the man up onto the cobblestones once more.  He lay on his elbows coughing up water, but he was alive.  Shortly thereafter, the radius of the whirlpool began to shrink.  As the ox swirled around in the whirlpool and neared its center, the magical water began to close up.  At its current rate, the whirlpool would completely disappear in less than twenty seconds.  And it seemed likely that everything in the whirlpool was going to disappear right along with it.

Some nearby entertainers approached to help with the rescued man and started thanking Eryn for his rescue.  "Thank you madame!  You have saved our best juggler!  Not to mention you saved our audience from being trampled.  We are in your debt."  The woman in face paint gave a stylized bow as she thanked Eryn for saving her coworker from the whirlpool the fighter had created.

What do you do?

---

Hiran
Dr. Hiran Krauss, forever true to his nature, continued on into the library despite the commotion outside.  He had to push past a few people trying to exit to see what was going on in the square, but he soon found himself standing in the entrance to Markhain's largest library.

The inside of the building was a large open rectangle that rose up the full three stories of its height.  Natural light shone in from the windows up above, illuminating the walls lined with book after book.  Spiral staircases rose up to the walkways that lined the the walls, and long stone tables stretched along the center of the building.  There were a few alcoves that were a bit more secluded as well, and some doors marked with "no entry" signs.  And behind the main desk right next to the entrance, there were books for sale.  Copies of the library's most popular selections.

The place was mostly empty at the moment due to the outside events, but a few people who shared Dr. Hiran's devotion to research still remained.

What do you do?

---

Ilura
When Marcus made his attempt at intimidation then entered the storage room, Snarl-maw and his two cronies paused.  Then they burst out laughing.  "Haha, you hear that Quick-paw?  Night-eye?" Snarl-maw asked his companions between laughs.  Then, in an extremely condescending tone, he said, "Magic man thinks he is big and tough!  He thinks his puny words are going to make us crawl home with our tails between our legs!"  The three muscular people continued to laugh for a moment, with their scrawny tag-along joining in hesitantly.

While they did this, however, their half-wolf strays were much more kind.  When they "heard" Ilura speak to them, the two canines looked at each other and then rushed up to the ranger and happily started sniffing and giving her a lick or two.  They bombarded her with their thoughts as they did.  [Hi lady!] [What is that smell?]  [Oh! or that one!]  [You are nice, right?]  [Oh, what is that smell?]  [Do you like giving scratches?]  [Do you like giving pats?]  [I think I can smell something tasty.] [Can you get rid of fleas?]

The wolf-dogs' affection for Ilura did not go unnoticed, and Snarl-maw soon focused his attention on the ranger.  He seemed to be really sizing her up for the first time.  "You really do have an affinity for them, don't cha?"  He squinted his eyes at Ilura while he made unknown assessments.  "Ok, we'll give ya a chance.  We were hoping for a magic man, but maybe you'll do.  You can come with us."

Without any further explanation, Snarl-maw turned to head back the way he came.  With a sharp whistle and a hand motion, the wolf-dogs ran back to him and his two human companions each took a position behind Ilura.  Quick-paw, an ebony skinned woman with long kinky black hair took up position behind Ilura's left shoulder.  And Night-eye, a tanned bald man riddled with scars took up position behind her right.  It was obvious they expected Ilura to go with them whether she wanted to or not.

What do you do?

---

Marcus
After reentering the storage area, Marcus could hear himself being mocked by the gang outside.  His attempt at intimidation had obviously failed.  But there wasn't much time to dwell on it since Sir Ubir began talking almost right away in hurried tones.  "I think that in light of recent events, it would be wise of us to meet further down the passage rather than right here.  I do not want to be in this room if those feral beasts decide to break down the door."

Ubir opened the secret passage again and called down it.  "Pelra, this entrance has been compromised.  Please organize an erasure team immediately.  And notify the master that we will convene in room C instead."  Then, turning back to speak with Marcus he said, "Please, follow me," then headed down the passage.  A quick peek inside revealed a long and narrow stone corridor that continued on for at least 100 feet until disappearing into darkness.

What do you do?

---

Eryn
The Whirlpool is shrinking and the friends/coworkers of the man you saved have come over to help out.

Hiran
Any research you do while in this library gives you the bonus of using a Bag of Books without consuming a usage.  You can replenish you Bag of Books at the price of 2 coins per book.  Every 5 books you own have 2 weight.

Ilura
The gang wants you to go with them, whether you personally want to or not.

Marcus
You take -1 forward against the gang outside.  Keep it in mind if you interact with them in the future.

Sir Ubir wants you to follow him down the passage and away from the storage area.

Ilura turned and gave a short bow to each of the two toughs.

"Quick Paw?  Night Eye?  I am called Ilura"

She turned forward and crouched down slightly.  [I am nice.  I am good at giving scratches behind the ears where it is hard to scratch and lick.  I also have meat.  Would you like meat while I speak with your master?]

She waited for them to come to her and provided the promised scratches and shared some of her remaining lizard meat while whe addressed Snarl-maw.

"I'm sure I'd be very happy to come with you.  Where is it that we are going and what services do you require?"

She intended to go pretty much regardless, but she didn't want to set the precident of asceding to the leader's every demand.

The paladin pushed down the shame at his failure (of judgment more than actions), and followed after Ubir. The elf's concern gave Marcus a pause. "Who are those people?" he asked as he followed down the passage "And what is an erasure team?" But with everything happening, he paid little attention to anything but the most obvious things.

09:14, Today: Marcus rolled 4 using 2d6.  Discern Realities.

"I only did what I had to, but I'm glad your friend is safe. Shame about the animal, but it would certainly have perished in the fire too." Eryn had risen back on her feet and glanced over at the things she had dropped to confirm that they were still there. She brushed dirt off her clothing, but quickly realized there was no point in doing so. her pants were doomed to never be clean as long as she kept being an arm-for-hire.

"Juggler, you say? You are performers, then. I don't suppose you'd have any knowledge of why this commotion started." Eryn looked around at the people nearby to check if anyone in the crowd were acting noticably agitated or perhaps oddly calm. "Does anyone own a wagon or know someone who did?" she asked.


Clarification: If the whirlpool is swallowing the ox like you say, does that mean it is vanishing into thin air thanks to the magic?

Hiran began looking through the books.  When he had a stack that caught his eye he proceeded to purchase them and add them to his collection.  Hiran then went and found a comfortable yet secluded table where he could focus away from the outside commotion and any of it that was carried into the library.

Hiran then started going about studying the Pit of Shadow.  He hypothesized that his could either help empower his magic or help them find more about the next step in stopping his former master. He excitedly got to the task he so enjoyed this process, far more than the adventure itself.


OOC: Spent 4 coin for 2 more bag of books usages bringing me up to 5

Eryn
At Eryn's question, the woman in facepaint merely shrugged.  She seemed distracted as the whirlpool finished closing.  When it was only about five feet wide, the ox's head was all that stuck out of the central vortex.  It spun round and round as it sank and let out one last moo.  Then the whirlpool closed, leaving nothing but a single ox horn sticking up out of the now repaired cobblestones.  The horn then fell over, no longer attached to the rest of the animal.  Wherever things went that fell into the vortex, it wasn't here.

The woman seemed to snap out of her daze once the ox disappeared and focused on what Eryn had said once again.  "I don't know what started the fire, no.  But there are many farmers who congregate over in the direction it came from, selling their crops and livestock.  Smells bad if the wind blows wrong.  My guess is a farmer will come searching for it eventually once they realize that their animal was the source of all the commotion.  Probably won't be too happy about the results either."  She shrugged again.  "Or could be sabotage.  Who knows.  Us entertainers don't always attract the most favorable reputations.  Especially among people who are looking for someone new to hate.  We make easy targets."  Her colleagues nodded in grim agreement.

"But lets put things on a brighter note, shall we?  How can we repay you?  Treat you to a meal?  Put on a performance for you?  Bert over there is an excellent mime, if you're into the sort of thing."  Bert, who had been gathering up your things, walked over and handed them to you, then tipped an invisible hat in greeting.

What do you do?

---

Hiran
Being the seasoned researcher that he was, Dr. Hiran knew his way around a library and it did not take him long to locate a few books that might help him find the information he sought.  One particularly large and dusty tome, bound in scaly leather and written in blood red script, seemed like it might be able give him exactly the information about the Pit of Shadow he sought.

What do you do?

---

Ilura
When Ilura introduced herself, Night-eye and Quick-paw both grunted.  But whether it was a threat or a greeting was tough to say.  The wolf-dogs gladly accepted Ilura's treats and often trailed back toward her as Snarl-maw walked and asked her many inane questions without waiting for answers. But they always returned to Snarl-maw after a few seconds, not wanting to displease their leader.  Thomas remained quiet for the moment, but Ilura was picking up some serious vibes of annoyance and jealousy from him directed toward her sudden friendship with the canines.

"We are going to our den," Snarl-maw said to Ilura when asked where they were going.  "To speak with Granny-greybeard.  She needs someone who is a Moon-heart and we were tasked with finding one.  Don't know if you are one, but she will.  I think that magic man with the Lusiny symbols would have been a better bet, but the mutts have taken to you, so that's a good sign."

Snarl-maw and company lead Ilura toward the poorer part of town.  Through the slums where waste litters the dirt streets and the houses are barely sturdy enough to hold themselves up.  Eventually the group reaches an old rundown inn at the edge of town that looks like it might collapse in on itself at any moment.  In fact, half of the roof appears to have done exactly that.

What do you do?

---

Marcus
"Who are they?" Sir Ubir asked rhetorically, repeating Marcus's question.  "They are ruffians.  Scoundrels. Their "community" is constantly stirring up trouble wherever they go.  Your guess is as good as mine as to why.  But I sure wish the lawmen would get their acts together and evict the lot of them from town.  We would all be better off that way, I can assure you."  He huffed with dissatisfaction and walked in silence for a few moments before answering Marcus's other question.  Apparently thinking about the "scoundrels" got him all worked up.

The passage was rather narrow and dark.  Wide enough for two people to squeeze past each other if necessary, but not easily.  The walls, floor, and ceiling were all made from the same grey stone, illuminated primarily by Marcus's still-glowing symbol.  After a few hundred feet the passage sloped downward for a while, then leveled off again.  When the passage started to twist and turn every ten feet or so, and more branches began appearing, Sir Ubir finally spoke again.

After taking a deep breath, he said, "An erasure team is a group that will remove any trace that that storage room was a secret passage.  "Erase the evidence" so to speak.  We need to be very cautious if we ever hope to make progress."  He looked back at Marcus as he spoke.  He seemed to be enjoying sharing his information.  "These passages are designed to be hard to remember.  Hard to navigate.  There are multiple levels, false dead ends, movable walls, and other tricks I probably don't even know about.  There are even a few tra-" All at once Sir Ubir's eyes went wide as the stone under his foot made a clicking sound.  He swiveled his head to look forward and immediately ducked. "-ps."

Out of the darkness ahead, three small projectiles came into view, approaching fast.  It looked as if they would skim over Sir Ubir's head and strike the target behind.  Marcus.

What do you do?

---

Eryn
You have all of your belongings once again.  Everything that was in the whirlpool when it closed up is now gone.  It is not clear where, if anywhere, it ended up.  The crowd appears to be acting normal at a glance, but feel free to roll a Discern Realities if you want to look a bit more closely.

Hiran
Go ahead and give me your Spout Lore rolls, with a +1 as if you had used a Bag of Books.  If you wish, you can do one roll for how the pit can help empower your magic, and another roll for using the pit to figure out clues for what your next step should be toward stopping your former master.

Ilura
Have you heard of the term Moon-heart before?  If so, what do you know about it?  If not, what are you afraid it might mean?

Marcus
Three small projectiles are flying down the hall right toward you.  How do you deal with them?

And don't forget to add your xp if you haven't yet.

They are far too flippant about this whole thing, Eryn thought to herself. Something's definitely fishy here. If not with the entertainers, then with someone else. Someone must have set that cart on fire, for if it was an accident I believe its owner would be here already.

"I see," she said out loud, "I wouldn't say no to a meal. Usually I only eat trail rations, so whenever I stop by town I make sure to get something better. I'd love to hear about your performance as well."



18:54, Today: Eryn rolled 8 using 2d6.  Discern Realities, taking in the big picture in the square.
What here is not what it appears to be?

Ilura nodded and rose and moved to follow.  Her boots danced easily over the cobble-stoned streets.  The skills that allowed her to move silently through the forest made it equally easy to avoid lumps and puddles that looked questionable.  In moments, she was striding along side-by-side with Snarl-maw.  This opened up the space ahead of her and left those behind the challenge of how to flank her effectively or to accept their position as members of the pair's retinue.

"I guess we'll see what Granny-Greybeard has to say.  Did she mention *why* she needed a Moon-heart?"

[Silly bird.  You know if you want more lizard flesh, you need only ask.  I would have thought your belly full after the amount you ate at lunch.  In any case, I need your eyes to watch for an ambush.  This might well be some form of trap.]

When the group arrived at the rundown building, the ranger raised an eyebrow at the look of the structure and allowed the gang leader to proceed first, but she followed close behind with a subtle gesture asking Thomas to scout ahead.

quote:

18:40, Today: Ilura rolled 15 using 2d6+4.  Disc.

That was supposed to be "Discern Realities w/ Thomas" - not sure why it got truncated.

What is about to happen?
What should I be on the lookout for?
What here is not what it appears to be?

Marcus pondered the lack of information he had on the group Ilura left with while he walked in silence, following Ubir with little notice of the turns they took. But he gave a sigh of relief at the explanation of erasure, for he feared their presence had caused an escalation in tensions between groups.

Then the trap was sprung. Watching Ubir duck, his first instinct was to move forward and protect the elf. He realized it wasn't necessary too late to get out of the way himself.

09:59, Today: Marcus rolled 6 using 2d6.  Defy danger - Dex (deflect/dodge bolts).
Well... "Good judgment comes from experience. And experience? That comes from poor judgment." rolls

Eryn
"Great! It's settled then," the lady with the painted face exclaimed.  "We'll treat you to a home cooked meal tonight for your supper.  After sundown though.  We can't be wasting this here crowd."  She indicated the crowd that had gathered to see what all the commotion had been.  She then pulled over a small wooden box that must have been one of her props, stood upon it, and began addressing the crowds.

"Come one, come all!  Hear the tale told Mary Moppins, master storyteller!  Be witness to the terrible events that transpired here today.  A great beast of burden.  A roiling whirlpool.  A fire ablaze!  Was it an accident?  a sabotage?  Maybe even an assassination attempt?"  She looked at the crowd members conspiratorially.  "I hear there has been some rumors flying around about someone wanting to take out their competition.  "The talent in the square is too good," they say.  Come, be the judge.  Ask your neighbors if the rumor has merit.  Is it the puppeteer that is too good?"  She pointed to a man working with stringed puppets.  "Or maybe the half-drowned juggler?"  To Eryn's surprise, the man she had drug out of the whirlpool was already up and juggling a set of large knives even as water dripped from his clothes.  "Or would it be miss Mazey and her dancing poodles?  But the real question is whether..."

The longer Eryn listened and observed as Mary Moppins continued speaking, the more it seemed the entertainers of the square were oddly prepared to react to a tragic event in the square.  In fact, they seemed to be capitalizing on it.  The accident had certainly drawn in more crowds, and as Eryn had already noted, nobody seemed to be looking for their missing ox.  It was certainly extremely suspicious at the very least.

What do you do?

---

Ilura
"Yeah, she mentioned why," Snarl-maw replied to Ilura's question.  "Something about tonight and this and that and whatever.  She'll tell you."  He didn't elaborate further, but instead led the way to the front door.

Thomas flew ahead and soared over the building.  [That's neat,] he said as he let out a loud caw over the building. [Wonder what it's for.  Watch out for the other pups.  They might beg for your treats too.]  There was still a slight hint of jealousy tinging the crow's words.

As Snarl-maw led the way into the dark inn though, Thomas's words made more sense.  The building was as worn down on the inside as it was outside.  Broken furniture was strewn about and it looked like dry grass had been piled up all over for makeshift beds.  Beds largely occupied with wolves.  Real wolves.  They glared at the ranger and some even showed a flash of teeth.

[Intruder.] [Prey.] [Not a pack-mate.] These were just a few of the unsettling things Ilura could hear them muttering among themselves.  The few mutts and human children mixed in among the wolves seemed less concerned.  But despite all the tension, none of the canines approached.  Not with Snarl-maw nearby.

In addition to the wolves, another thing of note in the inn was the large structure constructed directly below the large hole in the roof.  It looked much like a cage hewn together with logs and rope.  The door to the cage was open though, and an old woman stood in the center of it, rigorously examining a book made of tree bark.

"Granny-greybeard!  We might have found you one!" Snarl-maw called across the room.

The old woman looked up.  Her hair was long and scraggly.  Despite appearing human, her ears and nose were pointier than one might expect, and the hand holding the book looked almost as if it had claws.  Her eyes were green and had a sort of feral intensity to them.  And yes, she even had a few long grey whiskers hanging from her chin.

With an appraising look, the old woman remained where she was within the cage.  "Well, what're you waiting for now?  Bring her here.  Let me have a good look at 'er."

What do you do?

---

Marcus
Marcus did his best to avoid the incoming projectiles, but to no avail.  The struck him square in the chest.  Albeit with all the force of a thrown wad of wet clay.  Plop, plop, plop.  Three small round globules stuck to his armor, harmlessly.  Or so it seemed at first.  But almost immediately they hissed and gave off an acrid odor as the globules evaporated, revealing the three small critters that were hidden within.  Delicate brown and white wings unfurled and stretched as the three moths, no bigger than Marcus's palm, woke from their slumber.

Despite their harmless appearance, Sir Ubir's eyes were wide with terror.  As he stumbled over his own feet to back away, he whispered "Bone moths," then bolted off into the darkness.

What do you do?

---

Eryn
What here is not what it appears to be?
The entertainers.  They were too prepared to capitalize on the "accident."

Ilura
What is about to happen?
You are about to be put in an open-air cage with Granny-greybeard.

What should I be on the lookout for?
The inn is full of wolves.  Not all of them look like they would be as friendly as the two with Snarl-maw.

What here is not what it appears to be?
The inn appears to be set up for some form of usage other than housing guests.  The collapsed ceiling is intentional to let in light from outside.

Marcus
You have three bone moths resting on your chest (with a range of Hand). Sir Ubir was terrified of them, but so far they haven't done anything to you.

[Not intruder.  Guest.  Not easy prey.] Ilura corrected.

Ilura approached the old woman, but stopped short of entering the cage.  She was accutely aware of those around and behind her, ready to react if anyone decided to shove her in and lock her inside.

"I am called Ilura.  How may I be of service Granny Greybeard?"

12:52, Today: Dr Hiran Krauss rolled 11 using 2d6+2.  using the pit to figure out clues.

12:52, Today: Dr Hiran Krauss rolled 10 using 2d6+2.  how the pit can help empower your magic.

What Hiran found within the library was absolutely fascinating. The lovely lady research had come through for him yet again.


OOC: Going to wait to see what i found out before I decide my next action.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:02, Thu 15 Mar 2018.

Marcus started to move his hand to brush off the globes after they hit him, but froze when the moths emerged. As Ubir took off, the paladin couldn't blame him. The moths were so named for they secreted an acid that ate through everything but the bones. Regardless, they were still night creatures and Marcus wouldn't harm them unless necessary. Knowing that like all insects they were drawn by the light, he unsheathed his sword and used it as a mirror to reflect the light form his pendant onto the wall. But as he tried to catch the moth's attention, he shone a moth of light directly on them setting them off in a flurry...

21:45, Today: Marcus rolled 3 using 2d6-1.  Defy danger Int - deal with Moths.

Realizing what was going on, Eryn frowned and tugged abruptly on Mary's sleeve, interrupting the painted woman's performance.

"I'm sorry, but I don't buy that," she said. "A burning cart and a magic spell almost kills your companion and then everyone goes straight back to singing an obviously rehearsed routine about it? Even the victim?"

She pointed at the juggler, quite annoyed by his flippant attitude after being inches from death. The experienced fighter was suddenly glad she had recovered her spear and shield while they were talking. Those knives looked sharp, and none of the people in the square seemed trustworthy after all.

"If someone wanted you dead, why is no one calling the guards? If this was an accident, where's the owner of the cart? You staged more than a play here, miss Moppins, didn't you?"

Eryn
Mary looked down at Eryn from her perch atop her box with nervous glances back toward the crowd.  With a "hold on" gesture to the gathered masses, she turned and leaned over to whisper in Eryn's ear.  With hushed agitation she said, "Shhh! What are you doing?!  Look at these crowds.  We'll be set for weeks if you don't blow our gig!  It wasn't easy to set up an accident here in the middle of the busy square, and we all knew we might get hurt.  Didn't expect a whirlpool, of course, but we knew the risks.  What?  I suppose you're wanting a cut of the profits to keep quiet?  That can be arranged."  She looked back and forth between Eryn and the crowd as if she were trying to decide if she should continue on with her performance or not.

What do you do?

---

Hiran
Hiran's research revealed that a Pit of Shadow, while always a potent ritual agent, was at its peak potency during a monthly lunar event called The Eye of Night. (Which, according to the book, would happen tonight.)  It greatly reduced dangers associated with rituals performed at these times and gave more potent results.  It did this by more efficiently drawing on the energies of the Place of Power being utilized for the ritual.

The book also mentioned that you could usually achieve a nearly identical result as a Pit of Shadows by refracting other strong energies through enough honeyed topazes. Which are found in the Jungle of Blossoms across the sea. But it was not usually seen as a practical alternative, as the topazes were rare, expensive, and dangerous to collect.

With this newfound knowledge, what do you do?

---

Ilura
When Ilura paused at the cage door, Granny-greybeard chuckled.  "Hehehe, a cautious one, eh?  You can recognize a potential trap and aren't stupid enough to walk into it.  Good."  The old woman closed the distance between herself and Ilura, stepping carefully over runes painted onto the floor in curious patterns.

When she reached Ilura, Granny Greybeard flipped through her book and said, "Do you know what tonight is?  It is the one night of the month where Cherka's blood drop passes in front of Lusiny's pearl."  She showed Ilura an illustration of the smaller red moon eclipsing the pearly white one.  "This creates the Eye of Night.  The one time The Night-mother casts her gaze upon the world of mortals that her daughters fight over.  My intention is to use this brief window of opportunity to gain her guidance.  And to do this, we must channel her words through a moon-heart.  Which Snarl-maw thinks you might be."

She let that all sink in for a moment, then gave a yellow-toothed smile and asked, "Would you like to find out if you are?"

What do you do?

---

Marcus
The three moths took to the air in a flurry, but their wings didn't even make a sound.  Their wings did, however, leave a cloudy mist in their wake that quickly filled the passage with the smell of extra-strong vinegar.  The insects fluttered all around Marcus emitting their vapors, which bit into his flesh or corroded his armor with acidic efficiency wherever it touched.  Even the stone walls seemed to be sizzling a little.

What do you do?

---

Eryn
Mary has offered to cut you in on the entertainer's profits in exchange for your silence.

Hiran
The pit will give you better results if used tonight.  You'll have to wait another month to get those same results again.

Without a Pit of Shadows, Nikadroy's people might try to collect even more honeyed topazes to substitute for it.

Ilura
Granny-greybeard wants you to be her conduit to The Night-mother, if you are a in fact a moon-heart.

Marcus
You are being enveloped in an acidic cloud.  You either take d8 damage and roll it twice, taking the higher result, OR reduce one of your armor bonuses by one (if it gets to 0, the item is beyond repair.)

Don't forget to add your XP if you haven't already.

"Are you bloody insane?" Eryn hissed through her teeth. "How would you have handled a fire in the square, and an ox mad from burning alive? You won't buy my silence with a cut of your blood money. Your generous donation to the brave warriors saving this town from undead monstrosities, however, is noted, and appreciated."


22:05, Today: Eryn rolled 6 using 2d6+1.  Parley with the performers.
Leverage: They want me to stay quiet.
What I wanted from it: All their profit.

But darn, that's a miss.

"I've been called many names and it doesn't much matter to me to have yet another.  That said, I'm willing to help one in need if the cause is just.  What is the guidance you seek?  It seems you may carry the curse (or blessing?) of the shape-shifters.  Is the guidance you seek related to that?

And what is the risk for acting as Lusiny's voice?  I'm willing to assist the goddess, but I'm not too interested in my blood being collected in a bowl or some of the other things I've heard can go along with magic rituals."

Ilura focused her gaze on the old woman and tried to determine whether she was hiding something she needed to worry about.

Is Night-Mother a name I've heard used for either goddess in the past?

quote:

15:41, Today: Ilura rolled 7 using 2d6+2.  Discern realities.

What should I be on the lookout for?

Not wanting to singe his throat and lungs, Marcus held his breath as he considered what to do. Ther was one thing besides bones that the moth's acid wouldn't eat through - glass. Sheathing his sword, the paladin retrieved a glass jar from his backpack and carefully maneuvered it to coerce one moth after the other into it, grinding his teeth as the acid continued to burn his arms. Once in an enclosed space, the concentration of their acid will increase and should return them to their dormant state.

20:26, Today: Marcus rolled 8 using 2d8, keeping the highest dice only with rolls of 3,8.  Damage from acid.
I'm guessing armor doesn't reduce this damage?

20:26, Today: Marcus rolled 9 using 2d6.  Defy danger (Dex) - catch the moths.
Used dungeon rations for the jar

"So I know where Nikadroy's people will be going, the jungle of blossoms.  Then since i'm pressed for time ill user the pit for the power is bears.  The strong myself and my allies are the better chance we have to survive." Hiran speaks quietly to himself then after coming to the decision finds a quiet spot preferably a room or private area to begin the ritual.  Hiran now knowing where his foes were going was aiming to increase his own power and potential absorbing the magical energy that resides within the Pit.


OOC: Let me know what I need to complete the ritual Hiran's going for it

Eryn
Mary looked genuinely worried by Eryn's threat and took a couple steps backward in shock.  It was clear she was not used to being the one who was exploited.  But as her heel touched her soapbox, her look of surprise turned to a look of displeasure, and the woman stood up upon her wooden crate and addressed the crowds again.  "Ladies and gentlemen!  I believe I have just unveiled our assailant!"  She pointed an accusatory finger toward Eryn.  "A ruthless warrior trying to make herself into a hero by saving everyone from her own trap.  Arrest her!"

In response to Mary's words, the other entertainers began surrounding Eryn.  The juggler juggled his knives threateningly.  The woman with the danging poodles stood behind her growling furballs.  And even the puppeteer began swinging his puppet by the strings like some sort of exotic flail.  None of them attacked, but it was clear they had no intention of letting Eryn run off.  "Don't let her try anything," Mary instructed as she picked up her soapbox and held it like a crude shield.

What do you do?

---

Hiran
As Hiran began to set up for his ritual, a librarian walked by without seeming to care what Hiran was doing at first.  The librarian then backpedaled and took a second glance at what the wizard was up to.  "Umm, is this a ritual you're setting up for?" he asked, pointing a finger around at all of the supplies Hiran was setting about.  "Because I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but you won't have any luck with that here.  This library is a place of great informational power, but no magical power.  And even if it was, rituals are unpredictable enough that we would never risk our collection by allowing rituals to take place on the premises."  The librarian gave Hiran a scolding look, implying that the Dr. should know better.  Then, with the look of an idea popping into his head, the librarian added, "However, for one gold apiece, over at the front desk they do sell one-use crystals that can direct you to the nearest place of power."

What do you do?

---

Ilura
"You are an observant one indeed."  Granny-greybeard gave a knowing smile.  "It is true that I carry a touch of lycanthropy, but I am not a full-fledged werewolf by any means.  It is both a curse and a blessing, as you say, but no, it is not why I seek the guidance of The Night Mother."

"The guidance I seek from The Night Mother is direction.  As you may have noticed, my people are currently living in poverty and squalor.  I am looking for guidance for how best to raise ourselves out of our current downward spiral.  How to get back to our roots."

"That is where the moon-heart comes in.  The Night Mother is the mother of Lusiny and Chekra, and is only connected to this world through them.  A moon-heart is a mortal with a close connection to one of the divine daughters.  A person with a spiritual link strong enough to channel the words of the goddesses."

"There isn't much you have to do for the ritual.  Just stand in the center of the cage here among the runes, under the light of the eclipsed moon, and I will do the rest."  Granny-greybeard gave Ilura a kind smile that then turned into a mischievous one.  "And they say that those who channel the words of The Night Mother are often given a great boon for their service."

What do you do?

---

Marcus
When Marcus reached for his rations to empty a jar, he was unfortunately reminded of the thief who stole them all earlier in the day.  Fortunately there was another glass container tucked into his adventuring gear.  The paladin was able to scoop up the moths rather easily (albeit painfully) and secured the lid.  The moths did in fact appear to become more docile as the acid in the jar increased.  Unfortunately the lid of the jar was not made of glass and would not last much longer before the acid ate through the lid and the bone moths were free once again.

With only a few moments to act, what do you do?

---

Eryn
The entertainers have you surrounded and are trying to hold you in place until the guards arrive shortly.

Hiran
So, for your Ritual, it seems the effect you are going for is to, "increase Hiran's power and potential by absorbing the magical energy within the Pit of Shadow."

The first thing you will need is a Place of Power.  This is a physical location with a strong concentration of magical energy tied to the location itself.  There is actually a wizard move called Self-Powered that lets people create a Place of Power.  So finding one of these places will be the first step.  The library can sell you a crystal (or several) that can lead you to the nearest Place of Power.

After that is done, here are the things the ritual will require:
You’ll have to disenchant the Pit of Shadow to do it.
Optional: First you must wait for the lunar eclipse tonight to get a more potent effect.

Ilura

quote:

Is Night-Mother a name I've heard used for either goddess in the past?

The Night Mother is the name of the mother of the twin goddesses, Lusiny and Chekra.  She is rarely ever even acknowledged because she doesn't generally influence the realm of mortals.  And because she does not favor one of her daughters over the other, she is usually viewed as a neutral force.

What should I be on the lookout for?
While Granny-greybeard seems to be telling the truth, she also seems to be downplaying potential dangers.  Whether it is to not needlessly worry Ilura, or whether it is to be purposefully misleading is unknown.

Marcus
Your shield didn't help against the acid, but your other armor did.  Its added thickness helped insulate you from some of the acid's bite.  The armor isn't so pretty anymore where the acid touched, but it continues to work.

All your Dungeon rations got stolen, so I used up one of your Adventuring Gear uses instead.  Please mark it down.  You caught all of the moths, but their acid will eat through the lid of the jar in a short while.

Also, how did Marcus come to learn so much about bone moths?  It seems there might be an interesting story there.

As the fluttering of the insects started to slow down, Marcus closed his eyes for a second, his brow furrowed, as a flashback hit him.

Shaking as the chill run down his spine, Marcus opened his eyes and considered how to proceed. While vulnerable, the stone walls would endure for a while under the assault of acid. Kneeling, he looked at the stone blocks at the floor, looking for a crevice to hold the jar in place against the wall. The organization surely had means to deal with the moths. "Sir Ubir!" the paladin called out "The danger is over for now, but the solution is temporary." he paused, hoping to get a reply.

OOC: Sorry for the mix-up, I did mark off one use of adventuring gear but mis-wrote.
Do I need a roll to find a place to wedge the jar into?

And a story it is.

"Apologies I was merely going to test if this place was even usable but I totally understand the rule i've been on the road for quite a while I completely forgot my manners."

He gave the wizards greeting gesture to the woman and went to the front desk. "Ill take five of the place of power crystals please." Hiran then placed five gold on the desk collected his crystals and went through the process of using one to find a place he could use.

OOC: Is there a process or roll ill need for the disenchantment and yes that is the effect I am aiming for.

"Calling the guards, are we? That is exactly what I want. You may not like me, but someone among the crowd is bound to verify that I was nowhere near the cart or the direction it came from until it was right upon us. I risked my own well-being to stop it. Furthermore, have the guards ask around and you will find that not only did me and my comrades return to town earlier with a whole bunch of kids we rescued, but we wiped out the undead menace that has been plaguing this town in the process. Our paladin - blessed by Luciny's grace and able to prove it - can vouch for me as well. Compared to you street urchins I am practically a saint."

Eryn narrowed her eyes at the performer trying to intimidate her.

"I suggest you back off and let me go, or perhaps I shall need to have a word with the captain of the guard myself. I have no intention of getting in a tussle with you if I don't have to, however. Stop staging dangerous accidents to earn a few coins, and I'll leave you be."



Should I roll another Parley attempt?

"So do you commonly invite strangers to come stand in a locked cage in the middle of a summoning circle on a night of high magic?

Cages and summoning circles and cryptic references to 'great boons' don't exactly inspire a lot of confidence.

I have a friend who knows much more about magic than I do who I'd need to vet whatever ritual you're intending.  He might even be able to assist.  And I wouldn't mind knowing a bit more about 'your people' - who are you and what's been happening to you and what are the 'roots' to which you wish to return?"

The ranger wasn't sure what to do.  She couldn't tell if the strange dream she'd had last night was an invitation to help these people or just a reaction to eating too much lizard meat.  Surely the symbol on her bow must mean something?

She rubbed it absently as she wished for some sort of guidance about what to do next.

quote:

15:33, Today: Ilura rolled 8 using 2d6+2.  Cast Guidance.

Unwelcome attention or put yourself in a spot seems most appropriate to the situation :)

Update regarding my current attempt at negotiating my way out of this:

15:05, Today: Eryn rolled 13 using 2d6+1.  Parley to get out of the situation, leverage is to not cause any trouble for them.

Eryn
As Eryn spoke, she could see Mary Moppins absorbing every detail and tabulating the likelihood of being able to outmatch the fighter verbally and/or physically.  Her team's column must have come up short on the winning side though, as her next words took on a different tone from her previous ones.

"It seems awfully convenient that you had all of those alibis stacked up and ready to go, but I suppose it could be true."  She looked out to the crowds to make sure they still had enough doubt about Eryn not to turn on the entertainers outright.  "The slander you press upon us is great, but luckily for you, we are used to being drug through the mud by heartless heathens and have learned how to forgive.  We will let you leave if you promise not to slander us any further.  Let's let bygones be bygones, shall we?"

With a cursory glance at the crowd, it seems they are largely undecided about who to support.  Behind the murmuring crowds, however, Eryn can see the familiar face of Hiran near the library again, doing something with a crystal on a string.

What do you do?

---

Hiran
The portly halfling woman behind the front desk happily pulled out the supplies Hiran requested and exchanged them for his coins.  The crystals were all varying pastel shades and largely see-through.  They were each attached to a cheap string to be wearable as a necklace or bracelet.  "Now they're real simple to use, Sweetie," the desk clerk said.  "There is a unique word etched in the back of each crystal.  When you touch it to your skin and say the magic word, POOF, the magic kicks in and the crystal will tug you toward your nearest magical wonder-zone.  They don't follow streets though, so careful not to bonk into any walls."

When Hiran had his first crystal gently tugging him toward his nearest Place of Power, the woman said, "Bye, bye, Hon. Take care. Don't expend them all in one place!"

Out in the square, the crystal seemed to be pulling Hiran toward the slum district of the city.  On a path past a gathered commotion involving Eryn and a bunch of the local entertainers.

What do you do?

---

Ilura
As Ilura rubbed the symbol on her bow and wished for guidance, the symbol began to glow.  Then, quite suddenly, three arrows of pale light erupted from the symbol and each arced toward the book in Granny-greybeard's hands and Ilura could feel Lusiny's urging toward the bark-clad tome.  The old woman's eyes went wide and she gasped, clutching the book tightly to her chest.  She appeared to recognize exactly what had happened.

"You- you are one.  A moon-heart!"  Her eyes darted back and forth between Ilura and the others in the room.  Snarl-maw and several of the wolves in the room stood aggressively and bared their teeth but Granny-greybeard quickly waved them off.  They still stood aggressively but did not approach.

Granny-greybeard held her book close to her for a moment as thoughts rushed through her head.  Then she spoke with words that Ilura could tell were picked with the utmost care.  "You are a moon-heart," she stated factually.  "And the fact of the matter is that we need your assistance with our ritual tonight.  Ideally your willing assistance."  She gave Ilura a serious look that confirmed that they would try to gain her unwilling assistance if necessary.

"I will not mask the truth from you any further.  This ritual has not been performed since I was a young girl and the results of that one were... potent.  The answers you seek are all contained within this text.  Who we are, the true dangers of this ritual, and more.  I will let you read it all.  I will share our deepest secrets with you and clarify anything that does not make sense to you.  I will even send my grandson, Snarl-maw, to go fetch your magic friend.  I only ask one thing of you in return."  Granny-greybeard's voice took of an uncharacteristically pleading tone.  "Agree to let The Night Mother speak through you tonight."

What do you do?

---

Marcus
After Marcus called out to Sir Ubir, there was a long bought of silence.  Then, far away, the gentleman's voice yelled out.  "You sure?  No more acid?"  Another pause, then, with nervousness still in his voice, "Well, I'm over this way...  There shouldn't be any more traps between here and there..."  He seemed to have no intention of returning to the area where the bone moths were located.

Alone, in an unfamiliar dark and winding passageway, with three bone moths barely contained, Marcus was left to navigate his own path.

As the paladin decided what to do next, the faintest of far away sounds could be heard echoing through the passageways, no louder than a whisper.  It sounded almost like... distressed mooing?

What do you do?

---

Eryn
Mary is willing to let you go about your own business without further harassment if you promise to let them go about theirs without harassment as well.

Hiran
Make sure you marked down your supplies and expenses if you haven't already.  The crystal is pulling you toward the slums.  Toward the inn Ilura is in, actually, although you can't see it yet since it is probably half a mile away.  But feel free to have the crystal take you there if that is the direction your post ends up going.

Ilura
Granny-greybeard has offered to share all of her peoples' secrets with you if you promise to be in their ritual willingly.

Marcus
I didn't want to assume you headed toward Sir Ubir rather than away, especially with the potential threat of more traps looming in the darkness.  Regardless, whether you go toward Ubir, away from him, or stay put, I will probably need some sort of Defy Danger roll. If you don't know what Danger you are Defying, you can give me a blank roll labeled as such and I'll add in an appropriate modifier.

Ilura almost dropped her bow in surprise when it suddenly illuminated.  Thomas crowed loudly and flittered through the rafters.

She raised her eyebrow in response to the grandmother's implied threat, but chose not to address it explicitly.

"I cannot make a promise to participate until I know more, but I will promise to help if I feel I can do so safely.  It appears the Silver Godess wishes me to look at your book.  If you would trust me with it, I will read and do my best to understand.  If your son would be willing to fetch my friend, that would save time."

She waited for a response, then suddenly her eyes went wide as her brain made an intuitive leap.  She spoke without thinking.  "It was you!  You were the Night Mother's voice the last time - when you were still a child."  It was a statement, not a question.  She somehow knew without a doubt this must be the case.  She continued a bit more cautiously.  "And was your current form - the lycanthropy - the boon?"

The notion set her brain spinning in circles.  Was this what the Goddess wanted from her?  Was this necessary to defeat the Overlord?  Was this a sacrifice she was willing to make?  And why her?

She backed up and eased herself down onto a log bench against the wall, shaking her head slightly.  Her life had become so complicated.  She wished she could just return to the simplicity of the forest and the animals.

"Every word I spoke is true," Eryn calmly insisted. "I have the means to verify it as well. However I understand bickering will get us nowhere, so let us part ways before any more beasts of burden go on a rampage. Goodbye."

She lazily waved goodbye over her shoulder as she began walking towards Hiran.

Well that was a waste of a dinner, she thought. I should have kept quiet until after we ate.

The sell-sword nodded to Hiran when she reached him. "Nothing like a near-death experience to get you going in the afternoon," she said. <red>"Did you found something yet?"

Not having many options, or at least none that he would consider, Marcus continued down the corridor where the elf fled down, giving a last glance at the jar and its perilous content. "I'm sure, but can you notify someone to take care of the moths?" paladin spoke his thoughts from earlier as he walked "Was that a cow?" he asked with incredulity as the mooing repeated. Suddenly dark thoughts regarding the group's work started to creep into his mind.

21:48, Today: Marcus rolled 2 using 2d6.  Defy a not-at-all-ominous Danger.
Yeap... figures

Ilura
Granny-greybeard gave a single nod when Ilura correctly guessed her involvement in the previous ritual.  "I was the voice of Cherka at the time.  Becoming one of her creations was one of my deepest desires when I was forced to be the voice of The Night Mother.  Keep in mind I was eight at the time, and full of naivete. And contempt for my clan. I didn't want to be in the ritual but the elders said it was necessary.  I see their wisdom now..."  The old woman got a wistful look in her eye before snapping her attention back to the present.

"But anyway, I was blessed with the form you see today.  Not a true lycanthrope, but no longer a true human either.  And some of the blessings live on in the younger generation." She indicated her grandson, Snarl-maw.  "For instance, if you give him something that shares your magic friend's scent, he should be able to track him down for you.  While you decide on what that may be, I'll leave this right here for you."  She set her book on the log bench next to Ilura, patted it gently, then began walking toward a back room of the inn.  "There are a few hours until the ritual must begin.  Please spend that time wisely."

What do you do?

---

Marcus
"I will notify them about the moths," Sir Ubir could be heard saying as Marcus ventured forth.  "Keep coming this direction until you find the door with the torch next to it.  I'll be right back."  The sound of a heavy door closing echoed down the passageways.

The halls dark passages got more convoluted as Marcus approached.  It became difficult to know which way to turn.  And without Sir Ubir's voice to guide him, Marcus had to do a lot of guessing.  However, the mooing sound did seem to be getting closer.

After walking down a small incline and venturing a few hundred feet down a much larger tunnel with a wet floor, Marcus could finally see torch light up ahead.  Next to a door!  Unfortunately the door was on a ledge about nine feet up and there was no ladder nearby.  A moment after spotting it, Sir Ubir reemerged and spotted Marcus.  "What are you doing down in the drainage tunnel?  You should have come down the passage over here." He pointed to a dark corridor to his left.  "You can try climbing up or go back and...

Sir Ubir trailed off as the mooing continued.  Much louder and much closer this time.  It was accompanied by a faint rumble this time.  The rumble continued after the mooing stopped and got progressively louder.  Soon great splashes could be heard and the banging of debris against stone walls.  Looking up the tunnel, a fearsome sight began to emerge from the darkness.  A powerful torrent of water was rushing toward Marcus from up ahead in the drainage tunnel.  Within the current he could spot pieces of wooden debris, a busted wagon wheel, and a one-horned ox.

With the entrance to the drainage tunnel far back in the other direction and Sir Ubir's vantage still high above him, Marcus would have to get creative to come up with a good way out of his predicament.

What do you do?

---

Eryn and Hiran
I'll let you two continue with your roleplaying on your own for the time being.  I'll chime in when I'm needed again.

Ilura
If you read the book, what is one (or more) piece of information Ilura learned that caught your interest?

Marcus
A wall of water is rushing toward you, carrying with it a half-drowned ox and a bunch of wooden debris.  There is a ledge nine feet above you where Sir Ubir is standing, and at least one exit to the drainage tunnel several hundred feet in the opposite direction the water is coming from.

Don't forget to add your XP if you haven't yet.

Ilura thought for a minute.

"I don't reallly have anything of his, but I do have something that should be pretty unusual that he would have some of too."  She offered a piece of the lizard meat.

"He's old, a bit short and will probably be carrying a book or ten.  His name is Hiran.  If you tell him I might be participating in a magical ritual, he'll come."

She wished she could say he'd come if they said she needed his help, but she wasn't totally sure he would.  He definitely wanted to fight the overlord, but he seemed to have a different set of priorities about how best to make that happen.  She was pretty sure he wouldn't qualify as a moon-heart.  At least not for Lusiny...

Hiran doesn't have a description and a quick scan didn't turn up much, so feel free to describe more of your appearance :>

"You might also find a female fighter.  Brown hair.  She carries a spear with a red ribbon.  Her name is Eryn.

The only other person who would have any is Marcus, who you've already met."

She picked up the book and began reading.  The script was faded in places but still legible.  It had also been well illuminated, making it easier to extract the meaning where the words weren't totally clear.  She immersed herself in the tale.

Granny greybeard's people had come from a land to the south.  They were a travelling folk, moving from place to place trading, offering services and generally trying to make themselves useful.  They tried to remain a neutral party, not favoring one moon or the other, but trading with all.  However a few generations ago a great darkness had come to that land.  The book didn't make clear exactly what, only that many had died and those who remained had fled north.

In this land, life was harder.  Populations were sparser, the roads less accomodating for their wagons and the people more suspicious of outsiders.  This was compounded by an illness her people were ill-prepared to fend off.  The manuscript wasn't clear, but Ilura suspected it was Kettle-skin - a horrifying disease that produced angry blisters and erruptions.  The pages showed numerous graves and weeping mothers.  It was at that point that the ritual had been performed.

Granny-greybeard had been chosen due to some unspecified crime against her people.  She had been chained to a pole in the center of the circle.  The illustrations showed a beam of light focusing on her and her face changing to shadowy stars.  The voice though, had been clear.  First, instructions on a remedy for the disease.  The second had been more controversial - to abandon their wagons and instead build homes in the town.

In the end, the elders had listened and the wagons were disassembled or burned.  Shops were set up and, in time, the community thrived.  The regular flow of visitors through the port eliminated the need to travel from place to place.  There were always new goods to trade for and those who needed things mended.  Her people had prospered.

A few of the more established merchants had tried to cause trouble - not appreciating the competition, but wild dogs had attacked them and the message soon went out that interfering with the 'wolf clan' was not good for business.

Things had changed in the time of the Overlord.  Keeping to their tradition of neutrality, the 'wolf clan' had traded equally with everyone - both the townsfolk and with the overlord's minions and his collaborators.  The townfolk took note and soon trade with the townsfolk dried up.  With the defeat of the Overlord, that side of trade also vanished.  There was no-one to send the wolves to attack there was no central organizing force to the opposition.  The 'wolf clan' now had a reputation they could not shake and they were no longer equipped to move somewhere else.

Ilura tried to understand the ritual better, but much of it was beyond her.  The criteria of needing a moon-heart were clear.  And the symbols in the pictures in the book seemed to match those painted onto the floor in the inn.  In terms of risks, she only had what had happened to Granny to go on.  Whether the effect on her would be the same or different, better or worse, she could not tell.  The ritual itself had been copied from some other book.

In normal circumstances, Ilura would have found a way to slip out of the inn.  These people needed help, but their current situation stemmed from their own choices, not an external malicious actor.  In time they could find a way forward and their burden was not hers.  But the Goddess's desire had been clear.  Her dream of the fight with the overlord had also been clear.  The Goddess's help would be essential to be victorious.

But was she willing to sacrifice her own form and perhaps even that of her children?  She hadn't thought about having children.  There had always been more important things to do and having a man would only have tied her down.  But she wasn't sure she wanted to give up on that as a possibility in the future.  And even if she was willing to offer herself up for this greater purpose, could she ask the same of her future children?

How am I supposed to decide the whole course of my life's future in only two hours??

She wished Marcus was there.  Her instinct was to listen to Lusiny, but she was afraid of the ramifications.   She didn't want to give up control of herself to some magical force - particularly one as ambivilant as the night-mother...

Hiran spoke while moving never looking in Eryn's direction. His words are audible but much quieter than usual. "I know where the overlords minions are going towards next and I know how to gain from the pit of shadow but it must be done tonight.  I am on my way to a circle of power, you may follow if you wish."

Hiran tries his best to find where it is leading him though he runs into a few pedestrians who he must apologize to and he comes face to face with a few walls he manages to reach his destination.  What looks like an old shack of some sort.



OOC: Is there anything outside of this building Ilura is in when I arrive?

OOC2: Hiran has shaggy salt and pepper hair and a thick salt and pepper beard.  His eyes are wild and dangerous looking like a man who has clearly seen too much. He has a lighter skin tone clearly someone who has spent most of his days indoors but his flesh shows his age and looks a bit ragged and unhealthy. He bares the white garments of a physician but the books and supplies of a trained spellcaster.  Hiran is quiet and contemplative and can be found seemingly talking to the air out of nowhere usually shortly after using one of his spells.

OOC3: Let me know if you'd like any more info.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:03, Thu 22 Mar 2018.

Moving forward and just wishing to be done with the long track through the deliberate maze, Marcus probably missed at least a few hints of the route he was on being a wrong one. As he looked up at Ubir and the door he was supposed to reach and then realized the peril the incoming torrent brought, the paladin's eyes went wide. "Get some rope!" Marcus almost barked at Ubir, as he moved to the other side of the tunnel. Taking a breath to steady himself, Marcus ran forward, half climbing, half jumping up the wall and managing to grip the ledge with his hands. But he was far from being safe. Hoping for any assistance, he did his best to pull himself, and the considerable weight of the gear he was carrying, away from the incoming water.

21:57, Today: Marcus rolled 8 using 2d6+1.  Defy danger (Str) - jump and climb.

Eryn and Hiran
As the fighter and the wizard approached the rundown building, Hiran's pendant made it clear that the Place of Power was within.  And now that he knew it was near, Hiran could sense a bit of the power himself.  It was different from what he was used to, but still unmistakable.

The only thing to suggest that the rundown shack with the collapsed roof was inhabited was the fact that a muscular dark-skinned woman with long wild hair stood near the entrance.  She was smoking a pipe as she watched the two approach.  Or rather, she was watching someone behind them approach.

"Found you!" a gruff male voice behind them said.  Turning around revealed the presence of a muscular man with shaggy hair, pointed teeth, and an elaborate wolf tattoo on his bare chest.  At his heels were two wolf-dog hybrids.  "Your friend Ilura sent me to track you down.  Said you would come if I told you she was going to be in a magical ritual tonight.  In there."  He pointed to the collapsing inn.  "I wouldn't have run all over town looking for you if I knew I would find you right here."  He seemed rather annoyed, but began walking toward the inn.  "Come!"  He pushed past and waved for the two of you to follow.

What do you do?

---

Ilura
Snarl-maw took a big whiff of the piece of lizard meat, then immediately headed for the door.  He knew what he was looking for.

While Ilura studied the book, Snap-jaw brought out a small platter of food.  A hard boiled egg, some full sized carrots with the leaves still attached, and a raw onion.  Snap-jaw gave an apologetic look when he set down the platter, but said nothing and walked away again.  Thomas fluttered down and landed on Ilura's head to investigate the platter.

After a while, a young wolf pup found Ilura's boot laces and wrestled with them playfully.  [Throat-ripper! Stay away from her!] one of the mother wolves scolded.  [She's not one of us.]  The young pup stepped back and looked up at Ilura, worried.

What do you do?

---

Marcus
When told to get some rope, Sir Ubir paced back and forth nervously, scanning the ground, as if he expected rope to suddenly appear before him.  It didn't.  Still, Marcus managed to get his arms up over the ledge before the water struck and Sir Ubir rushed over to help the paladin up the rest of the way.  But he wasn't quite fast enough.  The rushing water soaked Marcus with saltwater from the waist down and he was buffeted by large pieces of debris.  If it wasn't for Sir Ubir's added leverage, he might have slipped back into the water again.  Luckily the torrent of water didn't last long and Marcus was able to climb the rest of the way up the ledge without issue.

After giving Marcus a moment to catch his breath, Sir Ubir said, "Let's get you in by the fire to dry, shall we?  You deserve a good rest."  Then he mumbled, "Ruffians in the streets?  Moths in the tunnels?  Tsunamis in the sewers?  What's next?  Sheesh."

What do you do?

---

Eryn and Hiran
Snarl-maw wants you two to follow him into the rundown in, where he says Ilura is and where the crystal says a Place of Power should be.

Ilura
You are being treated with hospitality, but your very presence still has the inn's inhabitants on edge.

Marcus
You got pummeled by some floating debris as you climbed up.  Choose one: take d4 damage (scale armor counts), or lose one piece of gear that got knocked loose.

Hiran nodded and then turned to Eryn. "Come, guard my back and make a run for it if things get funny" Hiran said loud and clear to Eryn not afraid of others overhearing. Hiran then followed what he perceived is a strange homeless man. He knew it was a risk finding a guarded place of power, though if he had to face another skilled in the arcane they each could fight over the arcane power and it might give him a chance at escape if he needed it.  It is also very strange that Ilura would want him to come...perhaps shes ready to reveal what she's been hiding all along?

Ilura nodded graciously and cut the egg in half, offering one of the pieces to Thomas.  [I presume you'd prefer this to the vegetables or more lizard meat?]

When the crow had eaten his fill, the ranger reponded to the wolf.  [Peace, mother.  I will bring no harm to your cub.  With your permission, may I offer her meat?  You may smell it to see that it is safe.]

She swallowed the other piece of egg and munched on one of the carrots, eating both the root and the greens, happy to have fresh vegetables rather than just protein.  She took care to avoid getting crumbs or anything that might dirty the book as she continued to read and contemplate what was to happen next.  Hopefully Hiran could provide some guidance.

"Do we trust him?" were the first words Eryn thought to speak on the matter. "He knows Ilura's name but we have no guarantee they haven't just grabbed her to make you give up the items for the ritual."

The sell-sword stalked a few paces behind the others, silently shifting her weapon so it would be easier to ready at a moment's notice. "I've got your back, Hiran, but I can't help but think we're walking into even more trouble."

As they walked, she did her best to size up these new people in an effort to read their motives.


23:34, Today: Eryn rolled 5 using 2d6.  Discern Realities - Trying to read these new people we've met.

I guess they work in mysterious ways.

This message was last edited by the player at 21:35, Mon 26 Mar 2018.

Grinding his teeth at the pummeling rush of the torrent, Marcus gave Ubir a thankful look when the worst passed and he managed to make it up to the walkway. "Perhaps you have invested too much in secrecy and traps." he spoke dryly, wondering who would even want to come after the group, regardless of their practices. His eyes lighting up at the mention of drying off, the paladin followed, his wet boots and pants making sloshing sounds with each step. "Is the meeting here, or do we have further to go?"

13:03, Today: Marcus rolled 0 using 1d4-2.  Damage from debris.

"There are never any guarantees Eryn, especially when magic is involved." Hirans face is deadly serious in contemplation and nervous anticipation for what is to come as he enters the building.

Eryn and Hiran
When Eryn and Hiran began discussing whether or not the people near the inn were trustworthy or not, Snarl-maw glared at them with a snarl upon his maw.  But he kept quiet.  The muscular man even signaled for the woman near the front door to open it and let Hiran in.

Then his arm shot across the doorway, baring Eryn entrance as the door swung slowly shut again.  "You think we're trouble?" Snarl-maw began before Eryn could instinctively knock him out.  "If I were going to hurt you, I would have done it in the street before you knew I was there."  He squinted his eyes as if daring Eryn to doubt his sincerity.  "Ilura said we might find a brown-haired warrior with a red-ribboned spear who also smelled of the same meat as that magic man.  Eryn, right?  But she said she only needed the old man, and I don't trust you around my family in there, so you can go ahead and wait out here."  He kept his feral eyes locked on Eryn's as he studied her reaction.

Eryn, what do you do?

Hiran, continue reading in the next part.

---

Ilura and Hiran
The mother wolf sniffed the meat, took it in her mouth, then gave it to her pup herself.  Ilura could still sense tension from the mother wolf, but she did not usher her child away.  Instead she found a spot on the floor nearby and kept careful watch over her young one.

[Overprotective much?] Thomas commented from his perch atop Ilura's head.  He pecked happily away at the egg his human buddy had given him.

A short while later the front door opened up and Hiran walked in alone.  A glimpse of red ribbon could be seen outside but was quickly eclipsed by the closing door.  Hiran was greeted by a mass of feral wolves in dark alcoves of the rundown inn all standing up in unison and baring their teeth at the intruder.

Granny-greybeard emerged from the room she had been in and held up a hand to still the wolves, but she still looked over at Ilura for confirmation that this was indeed the man she had sent for.

What do you do?

---

Marcus
"That was-  I don't know what that was.  But it wasn't one of our traps." Ubir said of the saltwater tsunami.  "At least not one that anyone bothered to tell me about..."  Even now, the distressed moos of the ox could be heard as it was carried further down the drainage tunnel.

"But not to fret.  The meeting room is just through this door and down a short hall."  Sir Ubir took out a key, unlocked the door, then strained as he pulled the heavy wooden thing open.

Beyond was a stone hall about five feet wide and illuminated by lanterns hanging from the ceiling.  Roughly every ten feet on the left side of the hall there was a heavy iron door.  They had no windows and each had a different number.  Sir Ubir led Marcus to the fourth door and knocked on it in a precise rhythm and in precise places.  There was the sound of a latch turning and the door creaked open revealing the warm glow of firelight beyond.

The room was oval in design.  The walls were lined with bookshelves and a fireplace roared on the opposite side of the room.  Atop a plush carpet were two padded armchairs and a small table set with an assortment of treats.  And in the center of the room stood a person, ready to greet Marcus as he came in.  "May I have the pleasure of introducing you to our master of ligaments," Sir Ubir said with gusto. His elven ears were practically twitching with excitement. "The great and wonderful _____."

What do you do?

---

Eryn
Snarl-maw is denying you entrance to the inn.  His apparent reason is "because he can."

Hiran
You just walked into a dark, rundown inn full of wolves.  Ilura is there with an old woman, but the wolves still look ready to attack at the drop of a hat.

Ilura
Hiran has arrived, but the wolves don't seem too happy to see him barging in.

Marcus
Marcus, you are finally in the meeting room.  What is the name of the person you are meeting, and what do they look like?

"I have no quarrel with you," Eryn replied, trying not to sound annoyed. "I am the wizard's apprentice. I assist him in rituals to ensure success. When it comes to magic two people are always better than one, even when one is untrained, for magic is fickle and prone to lash out unless kept in check. My strong arm will come in handy, if you accidentally summon a demon. If you doubt me, allow me to demonstrate."

Eryn waved her hand in practiced motions and willed her spear to glow as a show of her newly learned abilities. Unfortunately, she had no way of matching Hiran's magical might, and despite her practice she could feel the magic wavering.


23:32, Today: Eryn rolled 3 using 2d6.  Cast a Spell: Light.

I have marked XP for this and the previous failure...

Eryn

Weak pulses of light traveled the length of Eryn's spear as she struggled to make it glow as intended.  Snarl-maw did not seem impressed and sighed at Eryn.  He stretched out one of his hands to lower the novice mage's spear.  "Stop embarrassing yourse- Ah!  AH!" The moment the man's fingertip touched Eryn's spear, one of the pulses of light traveled up Snarl-maw's arm, igniting it in a brilliant golden flame from fingertip to shoulder.  He shook it up and down trying to get the flames to go out.

His arm didn't seem to be burning, but it was certainly aflame.  "What did you do!?  Did you put a curse on me, witch?"  Quick-paw, the door guard, moved to help smother the flame with her hands, but Snarl-maw was already taking aim at Eryn with his burning knuckles.  "Nobody curses me!" he yelled as he took a flaming swing at Eryn.

What do you do?

Eryn
Your Light spell seems to have inadvertently lit Snarl-maw's arm on fire with a roaring golden blaze.  His arm doesn't seem to be harming him, but he is not pleased and is swinging a punch at you.

As they walked through the corridor, Marcus tried to imagine whom he would be meeting. He wasn't proud of himself that the first thing that came to his mind was a cabal of mages, dressed in black. Perhaps an assortment of nobility, like Sir Ubir, and other wealthy enough to allow themselves a luxury of such research. After all, the financing of a hideout like this was anything but cheap.

As he walked into the warm room, still dripping from his close encounter with the unlikely torrent, Marcus was drawn towards the inviting fire, but the sight of the figure waiting for him stopped him dead in his tracks. Half his hight, and a fraction of his size, he mistook the halfling for a child at first. The white hair and lines around the eyes soon made him realize his mistake.

And the eyes. They were completely black, and the paladin moved to grip his sword with his right and the holy symbol with his left. As the hands closed around the chain and the hilt, Marcus saw a sincere smile, one that reached even those haunting eyes, as Ubit introduced "The great and wonderful Doderic Ivyrun". Still gripping his weapons, Marcus looked at both figures with scrutiny, his lips moving in a hushed prayer "Through stone and dark, burnt and deluged, I walked with hope. Now I stand at the end and I need to know. What here is evil?"

Eryn took the opportunity when Snarl-maw let go of her spear to shift her pose and prepare for a scuffle. When he came in swinging, the warrior stepped to the side and allowed the guard's momentum to carry him past her.

"Hey, I said I am an apprentice. It's not my fault you grab onto a weapon clearly glowing with an unstable spell."

She raised her shield to keep the angry man at bay, but kept her weapon low and shook it in an effort to dismiss the last traces of magic light.

"If you're going to throw a fit about it, then fine, I will wait outside. Just don't blame me for your own rashness."

00:49, Today: Eryn rolled 9 using 2d6.  Defy Danger (DEX): Sidestep the punch.

[She is a mother.  It is their way]

What was unsettling were the maternal instincts the current situation had triggered in her own mind.

She looked up when the door opened and smiled as Hiran entered.  She stood and went to greet him, only to be distracted by shouts outside the door.  She hurried past him, gesturing toward the open book.  "Read that" as she hurried to the door and opened it.  Seeing Snarl-maw with his arm alight she started to draw an arrow to help defend against whoever was attacking when she realized he was trying to hit Eryn.

"STOP!  What's going on??"

Hiran looked around nervously as he entered.  Though he was far more nervous about getting permission to use this circle than he was of the wolves. I'd much rather be ripped apart than have magic full of spite and revenge used upon me...that can have eternal consequences. Hiran thought to himself with a smile as he watched one of the damned spirits that haunted him fly over his visual range.

Hiran when he entered the ritual room gave a wizard's greeting sign with his hands but said nothing and then he approached the book and immediately began reading as Ilura had requested.



00:55, Today: Dr Hiran Krauss rolled 7 using 2d6+2.  Spout Lore on Book.
OOC: It's an 8 if it's knowledge nobody else knows anything about :)

Hiran
After Ilura rushed outside and Hiran gave his wizard's greeting to the old woman, the lady gave an audible sigh of relief and returned the wizard's greeting with obvious precision and skill.  "You are the one she sent for.  Good.  If you have any questions, just ask for Granny-greybeard.  That's me."  The old woman then went around the room calming down all the wolves, pups, and human children that had gotten agitated by the arrival of yet another stranger.

As Hiran delved into the book at large, one thing became abundantly clear.  The spell information contained within was old.  Really old.  Some of the runes used were thought to originate before the dawn of man, and some of the inscriptions used grammar that was almost as old as language itself.  If the book itself were as old as the magic it contained, it surely would have disintegrated long ago.  As it stood, it was likely that this book was a copy of a copy of a copy.

What do you do?

---

Eryn, and Ilura
Outside, Eryn managed to avoid the strike of her would-be assailant and Snarl-maw stumbled to the ground.  As Eryn shook the last of her light spell from her spear, however, a small burst of golden flame erupted from its tip and seemed to only antagonize Snarl-maw further.  What's more, while Eryn focused on avoiding Snarl-maw, it gave his ally Quick-paw a chance to circle behind Eryn and pull out an ivory dagger.  Snarl-maw's hybrid-wolves kept their distance for the moment and growled loudly with barred teeth.

Just as the two wolf-clan members seemed ready to lunge at Eryn, Ilura emerged from the rundown in and made her demands.  "STOP!  What's going on??"  The two paused for half a moment, but looked like they intended to continue roughing up Eryn unless someone intervened more meaningfully.

What do you do?

---

Marcus
When Sir Ubir introduced him, Doderic Ivyrun gave a slight bow, but kept his pitch black eyes locked on Marcus's own.  And after issuing his short prayer, Marcus could see that there was evil in those eyes.  Evil that stretched back into the halfling and permeated its entire body.  The halfling was like a canteen filled with an evil liquid.

Doderic Ivyrun smiled at Marcus kindly, but with the slightest hint of sinister taint.  "I hear you may be interested helping to ensure that the Overlord is laid to rest for good? Please, come, sit.  We have much to discuss."

What do you do?

---

Hiran
You have discovered that the ritual information in the book is extremely ancient.  Much older than the book itself, or the other histories the book contains.

How do you know of such ancient things?

Eryn and Ilura
Snarl-maw and Quick-paw still seem poised to rough up Eryn for lighting Snarl-maw's arm on fire. (It is still burning with golden flame, harmlessly)  Give me a roll of some sort if you wish to convince/dissuade them not to attack somehow.  Or do whatever else you feel is appropriate.

Marcus
The halfling's body is permeated with an essence of evil.  He does not seem to be hostile at the moment though.

Ilura had gotten a good enough sense of the power dynamic here to know what leverage to apply.
"I believe Granny Greybeard wanted my cooperation.  If you think roughing up my friend is going to help your cause, you're mistaken."

quote:

18:46, Today: Ilura rolled 7 using 2d6+1.  Parley, using +1.

Yay for the +1 :)

Hiran knew of such things because of the curse that walked with him everywhere he went.  He originally thought he was binding individual souls but he never realized how bound to their past and their families these various souls were.  Hiran isn't connected to one person he experimented on hes connected to trees of family members all tethered together.  How that works he is unsure and it is truly maddening but with it comes the knowledge and experience of all these other people.  Through this connection Hiran has come across this book before.

Hiran at some point midway through reading the book looks towards Greybeard. "Miss Greybeard, i'm not sure what Ilura is here for or what this book has to do with me but I do seek use of your ritual circle on this night.  In exchange for my own personal use I may be willing to assist with whatever it is that is going on here tonight."

Eyes growing wide and hands clenched so tightly all of his knuckles whitened, Marcus struggled to come to terms with what stood before him. He wished nothing more than to move forward and slay the foul creature. But it was unlikely he would succeed, and that would do no one any good. Still cautious, he moved slowly around the halfling and towards the fire "I'd rather stand. There was some trouble in reaching you." he commented dryly.

"You know more of us than we do of you." the paladin spoke once he felt the heat of the fire on the back of his damp legs. "And not all we were told was true." he allowed himself a few seconds of not observing Ivyrun to glare at Ubir. "What do you want?"

"Ilura. You're here after all, I see. I got dragged along here without any information, and then they brought the wizard inside but tried to bar my entry. I though this would be a trap for sure."

Eryn tried to wave her fingers in a dismissive gesture behind her shield to get rid of the flame she had produced, but at the same time she didn't really feel like the situation would improve by her doing so. From experience the fighter knew fools like the ones in front of her would be all to eager to pick a fight just to prove a point. Well, so be it, she thought.

"Look, here's what we are going to do," she said, eyeing each of them in turn and moving to keep them from flanking her. "I'm only here to help my friends out. If you you let me inside without any more fuzz, and I'll stay quiet in the background with you guys. I'll even look real gruff and mean, so I blend in. The alternative is that I march in there anyway to watch their backs, you will just find the arrangement much less pleasant."

The fighter's mind was not on the talk, however. The guard had already been riled up and attempted to take a swing at her. It seemed like it would not be a matter of if they would fight, but when. Instead, Eryn was focused on sizing up her opponents, looking for any advantage or threat she could spot before they threw themselves into a real scuffle. Distracted as she were by the fading magic, however, she couldn't seem to concentrate at all...


17:23, Today: Eryn rolled 4 using 2d6.  Discern Realities (Sizing up my enemies).
This message was last edited by the player at 15:24, Tue 03 Apr 2018.

Eryn, what question were you planning to ask for your Discern Realities?  I may still use it to inform my post.

First one I was going to ask anyway, the other 2 were in case of a 10+.
  What should I be on the lookout for?
  Who’s really in control here?
  What here is not what it appears to be?

Hiran
Granny-greybeard gave Hiran a curious look.  "Oh?  You have a ritual of your own in mind?  Hmm."  She stroked the long wispy whiskers on her chin thoughtfully.  "Well, if you help us complete our ritual first, you can perform whatever else you feel like afterward as far as I am concerned.  Just don't mess with any of my markings before that though.  It took a long time to get them just right."

"As for the book and Ilura's part in the ritual, she is to be the voice of The Night Mother when the ancient goddess imparts her wisdom upon us.  Ilura wanted to have someone she trusts look over the ritual and make sure I wasn't trying to deceive her in some way.  In particular, I think she may be worried about the part where The Night Mother imparts a boon of some form upon the moon-heart, or vessel, who acts as her voice.  You were her first choice for consultation."

What do you do?

---

Eryn and Ilura
Snarl-maw gave his signature snarl and remained tensed for battle for a few more moments.  Quick-paw followed suit.  But then the feral man relaxed his pose, looked at his still flaming arm, then back at Eryn and Ilura.  He seemed particularly amused when Eryn mentioned barging into the inn by force to watch her friends' backs.  Amused like he knew exactly why that plan would fail, but decided not to reveal it to the warrior.

"Heh, okay big shots, I'll make you two a deal.  You both leave all your weapons out here with Quick-paw for safe keeping and I'll let this incident slide."  He indicated his arm.  "Granny will probably know how to fix it better than Miss Sparkle-spear here anyhow."

What do you do?

---

Marcus
As Marcus spoke, Mr. Ivyrun merely listened with a smile on his face.  A smile that slowly got wider the longer Marcus continued.  Most would find it quite unsettling.  When it was his turn to speak, Doderic remained where he was and said, "I heard about the bone moths and apologize for the... inconvenience.  And it appears some other misfortune has befallen you as well.  Hmm." He glanced down at Marcus's wet lower half.  "I am curious what Sir Ubir told you that was not true, but let's not waste time on trivialities such as that.  I can assure you, you will only receive truth from me."  He made a motion with his fingers that was a common gesture for a solemn oath.

"You must understand though," he continued as he finally made his way over to sit on one of the padded chairs.  "NECRO has managed to remain operational for as long as it has specifically because we know more of others than they know of us.  So while what I tell you will be truth, I may not answer every question you ask."  He took a sip from a bubbly drink that was on the tray of treats, then put it back.  "I can answer your first one though. "What do you want.""

"Our goal is immortality, to put it simply.  To live forever.  Live being the key word.  There are countless ways to continue existing, after you have died, but to continue living within your original body is a trickier matter.  The best we have been able to manage is to delay the process of aging, but with... side effects."  He pointed to his own black eyes.  "We are getting close to a breakthrough though, which is why we have gone to such pains to protect ourselves.  And why we are taking such a risk to meet with you.  Someone who has allegedly met and defeated one of our dear old enemy the Overlord's minions."

Doderic Ivyrun folded both hands across his lap and looked Marcus up and down, appraisingly.  "Now, you tell me.  What is it that you want?"

What do you do?

---

Eryn
What should I be on the lookout for?
Snarl-maw appeared to have a suspiciously low amount of worry when you threatened to march into the inn and do your own thing.  Almost as if there is a pack of something worth being on the lookout for in there.

Don't forget your XP!

Ilura
Snarl-maw will do what you ask.  He'll stop trying to rough up Eryn and let your friend into the inn with you. But only if the two of you leave your weapons outside with Quick-paw so that there isn't any more funny business inside the inn.

"A bit of harmless glow isn't something I'm giving up my weapon over." Eryn was adamant about this. "You need to give me a reason to trust you. I have never heard of you people before, and I've lived this long in my line of work because I don't surround myself with shady folk while unarmed." She silently noted Snarl-maw's demeanor and decided not to prod him any further on gaining entry. "But fine. I'll stay outside, so long as I get a word with my companion before she leaves again."

"Ilura, tell me what's going on here."


There are many weapons, but this one is mine. I walk, stand, eat, bathe, and sleep with it always within arm's reach. No back-alley dog will take it from me. :)

XP marked.

Ilura's unconciously traced her thumb over the mark that had appeared on her bow only that morning, though it somehow seemed much longer ago.

"This bow will not leave my hands, and I'm pretty sure my friend feels the same about her spear and sword.  If you really feel it necessary, you may have my sword and quiver so long as they stay in the main room where I can reach them.  While I'm not specifically expecting trouble, we have a powerful enemy and it's best to be prepared."

The ranger allowed her gaze to travel between the flames still licking along the tough's arms and her friend's face, an eyebrow raised quizically.

"These people have requested my aid in some sort of magic ritual.  I've asked Hiran to take a look at it.  I think Lusiny wants me to go through with it, though I'm not quite sure why.  I'll let you know if I need your assistance."  She stroked Thomas's head meaningfully.

"Marcus went to have a meeting with someone else.  We should probably have someone wait for him by the library."

She turned to Snarl-maw.  "You've seen him and smelled him.  Do you have anyone you can spare who could watch for him?"

Eryn frowned while still absentmindedly trying to put the magic flame out. "Not a ritual with that thing we dug out of the vorlag, I hope," she said. "Hiran seemed keen on using it, but he's already odd enough. Be careful so you don't get more than what you bargained for here. I still don't know who these people are."

She pondered what to do for a few moments. As a sell-sword Eryn was used to being paid to stand guard outside taverns and other meeting places, but something felt off when she was the one being denied entrance. She looked over at Snarl-maw, realized his arm was still aflame, and finally stopped moving the fingers on her left hand. Instead she drew it through her ruffled black hair and sighed.

"I'll go look for Marcus, maybe at the library. Send your bird to find me if something happens. If you tell me to - or if I don't hear from you before sunset or so for that matter - I'll come back, crack some skulls, and get you out of there."

"Sounds good?"
This message was lightly edited by the player at 22:02, Tue 03 Apr 2018.

Ilura hesitated, then nodded.  She would have liked to have Eryn at her side, but she didn't like Marcus being on his own - and having both of them here would be even better.

"The guy he went with seemed harmless enough, but no clue what the rest of them were like.  If he doesn't come, return and we'll look for him together once all this ritual stuff is done."  She'd have a hard enough time finding the place Marcus had entered herself and didn't trust herself to give directions.

She headed back through the door, conveniently forgetting to turn over her quiver and sword, though she did so if Snarl-maw made an issue of it.  She walked up to Hiran and waited for a few moments as he thumbed through the pages, an intense look on his face.

"So what do you think?  Is it safe?"

Hiran will first investigate the full book and the words of Granny Greybeard to see if anything about this ritual seems off and to find out the risks so Ilura is aware of them.  Secondly Hiran wants to make sure this first ritual won't do something to impair the very time sensitive ritual he has planned for the Pit of shadows.

This sounds like a Discern Realities attempt.  Go ahead and give me a roll for it, and ask a question even of the roll fails.

While not sure why, the NECRO's plan didn't sit well with Marcus. But most of the things he heard aligned with what Ubir told them. "My companions and I don't want to see a new Cursed Age upon the world." Marcus replied, considering how to proceed for a moment before pushing onward "And as you know, I am servant of Lusiny, so I will uphold her creed." he forced himself to gaze into the two black pits on the halfling's face as he proclaimed "And no matter what you seek to achieve, the darkness that resulted from it is not something that I can overlook. How do you plan to purge it?" he kept looking at the leader of the strange group, but the dark eyes seemed to grow wider as he watched.

11:52, Today: Marcus rolled 7 using 2d6.  Defy danger (Wis) - meet the dark gaze.

"Stay safe, then."

Eryn exchanged a discontented glance with Snarl-maw before leaving. She would have to look for Marcus, wherever he had gone, and then make the best of her time by practicing magic some more at the library. First, however, she walked down the street out of sight from Snarl-maw, rounded the corner, and went back in roughly the same direction down a parallel alley. Counting her steps, Eryn reached the back wall of a building she felt reasonably certain was the one she had just departed from.

Eryn looked around to ensure no prying eyes were watching, then she slung her spear back over her shoulder while placing the fingertips of her shield hand on the wall. Next she closed her eyes, gently placed her thumb and middle finger on top of her eyelids, and made a triangle with her index finger upon her forehead. "Medeis visus," she mumbled, trying to focus on the tingling feeling the spell would certainly produce. The budding wizard hadn't had time to practice much, but if it worked she would hopefully be able to check where Hiran was currently located. Information like that could be very useful in case of an emergency.

Unfortunately the warrior's knowledge of magic could barely fill a thimble, and so Eryn once more found herself struggling to produce the effect she wanted. She opened her eyes, unsure of whether they had been attuned to see magic or not at all.


11:59, Today: Eryn rolled 3 using 2d6.  Cast a Spell: Detect Magic (Sight).
Looking for Hiran or any other magic effect inside the building.

Welp, more XP.

This message was last edited by the player at 10:07, Wed 04 Apr 2018.

What here is not what it appears to be?

14:27, Today: Dr Hiran Krauss rolled 7 using 2d6.  Discern Realities.

"I'm still researching at the moment, once I have definitive answers ill let you know." Hiran gave Ilura a fake smile though his mind was still in the book and research oblivious to most of the dangers and unknown that surrounded him.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:32, Wed 04 Apr 2018.

Hiran and Ilura
Snarl-maw was content to let Eryn go look for Marcus and he stationed his two wolf-dogs by the front door next to Quick-paw before rushing into the inn after Ilura.  His blazing arm lit up the dim room threefold as he entered.  "Hey, hey.  Don't be thinking I've got grubs for brains.  Fork over the weapons."  He collected up Ilura's sword and arrows, then started to argue about the bow, but gave up pretty quickly when he realized it wasn't very dangerous without the arrows.  He stashed everything near the front door.

As Hiran delved even deeper into his research, he realized several things.  Firstly, the ritual needed to take place while the moons in the sky were eclipsed and would not be sustainable for long.  This meant he would have most of the rest of the night to perform his own ritual.

Secondly, Granny-greybeard's understanding of the ritual seemed to be incomplete.  She probably was just ignorant of the subtle details and discrepancies Hiran could pick out though.  For instance, anyone within the ritual chamber could gain guidance from the Night Mother as the ritual was being performed.  The caster (or casters), the vessel, and any bystanders.  It seemed anyone was allowed to ask a single question and get an answer in one form or another, so long as they were within the ritual chamber.

And lastly, it seemed the one who acted as the vessel to the Night Mother could indeed expect to be changed in some way.  Either physically, mentally, or both.  The book only says that the change is "completely up to the whims of a being greater than even the moons in the heavens."

As Hiran continued to read, the spirits surrounding him start to become agitated in a way he hadn't observed before.  Like for once their focus was not on his eternal torment, but something else entirely.  That, and he was starting to get a slight headache.

At the same time, the hairs on the back of Ilura's neck stood up and the activities of the day felt like they were finally catching up to her.  A nice nap was starting to sound good.

"Must be about to rain," Granny-greybeard commented.  "The joints in my elbow are acting up."

What do you do?

---

Eryn
Nobody stopped Eryn from leaving and the fighter was able to easily slip around the building without anyone taking notice.  As she cast her spell, it trembled in her mind, struggling to form.  But when the spell did form, it was all in a single burst that nearly overwhelmed her senses.  When the fledgling wizard opened her eyes, she could see magic.  However, that was the only thing she could see.  No walls, no ground, no sky.  Just magic.

But there was certainly magic to see.  On the other side of the wall, Eryn could spot the slight shimmery silhouettes of several magical people.  The form of Ilura and a crow were dimly illuminated.  There was a disembodied arm floating around that appeared to be aflame.  And there was an old woman and an old man also present, each with slightly stronger auras than the others.  The man was Hiran, surrounded by a wispy mass of swirling entities.  He had several bright objects in his possession, with the brightest clearly being recognizable as the Pit of Shadows.

Also of note was an entire area of the room that seemed to be brimming with magical energy.  Eryn could see the glow of magical runes in a circular area that seemed to be drawing in, folding, and twisting the latent magical energies into interesting patterns.

Then they arrived.

Eryn almost didn't notice them at first.  They were much like the wisps surrounding Hiran, but these were stronger.  Darker.  Like the shadow of a soul.

There were five in total and they floated into the room like ghosts.  They poked around the ritual area for a while, then moved toward the pit of Shadows.  And finally they began mingling among the people in the room.  When they did, Eryn could see some of the magical force within Hiran, Ilura, and the others being slowly siphoned toward the specters.  They appeared to be feeding on them!

What do you do?

---

Marcus
Doderic Ivyrun stared unblinkingly at Marcus as he contemplated what the paladin had said.  The dark orbs of his eyes seemed to be looking at more than just the man that stood before them.  They were looking... deeper.  "You speak of the spirit that possesses my body?" he finally asked.  "There is no purging it.  It is an ancient Soul-Shadow fused to my very essence.  They're drawn to strong magic and they'll drain your life force completely if you aren't careful, but this particular fused spirit feeds off of me and in turn nourishes me, creating a continuous cycle that slows my aging and imparts the spirit's memories into my mind."  He said this matter-of-factly, as if it was a piece of common knowledge.  "A bit convoluted, I know.  But the spirit's knowledge and my extended lifespan have both been a great boon for furthering NECRO's knowledge about rejuvenation."

Doderic finally blinked and broke his gaze to pick a new treat from the tray.  Marcus's eyes felt extremely dry and he realized he hadn't been blinking that entire time, as if under some form of mild hypnotic effect.

After a small nibble, Doderic continued.  "But you say you don't want to see a new Cursed Age upon the world.  Good.  That goal is the same as ours.  A new Cursed Age would strain our ability to do our research in ways I'm sure you can't even comprehend.  However," he held up a finger to emphasize his point. "While our goals do align, I do not expect you to swear allegiance to NECRO, or even allow us to hire you.  That is not what this meeting is about.  What I want to know is what our organization can do for you to help you stop that new Cursed Age from coming to pass.  Can this wicked old halfling convince you to make a deal?  To let us help you?"  His voice was jovial, but his eyes and smile still had that same unnerving quality about them.

What do you do?

---

Hiran
What here is not what it appears to be?
The book has some subtleties that you think Granny-greybeard may not have noticed.  Most notably that multiple people can ask for guidance from the Night Mother during the ritual.

Take +1 forward when acting on the answer.

Ilura
Please note that your sword and ammo are currently not in your possession.

Eryn
You can see only magic until you choose to end your spell. (Or until it ends on its own in the near future.)  You saw what appeared to be 5 evil spirits arrive inside the building and start to absorb your companions' energies.

Marcus
Staring into his eyes seemed to put you into a mild hypnosis, but as far as you can tell the only drawback was your eyes getting dry.

Oh, and he is proposing a deal where NECRO gives you aid and you stop a new Cursed Age from happening.

Standing in darkness in a world that barely seemed real was disorienting to say the least. Eryn could feel her legs wobble when vertigo set in. She wasn't certain if she was still standing upright or not, but as her vision reflected what she had been expecting to see, she had to assume as much. The apprentice wizard reached out to touch the wall again; to see if it was still there. Thankfully, it was.

The sight of raw magic was peculiar. To Eryn it felt as dim as a fading ember, and at the same time it was as bright as the sun when she focused directly on the glow. It grew bright, but did not hurt her. The light illuminated nothing else in its presence, and caused no shadows to be cast either. The result was a fuzzy but still reasonably clear silhouette of everything touched by magic in the general vicinity. Pinpricks of magic glowed far off in the distance. Someone's spell? An enchanted item? A holy man performing a cleansing ritual? Eryn couldn't tell. Instead she reached back and tipped the magic sword she was carrying forwards. The silhouette of the blade was clearly visible. This spell works better the closer you are, she silently noted to herself.

When she finally gathered herself, Eryn was able to study the shapes in front of her more closely. For the first time she saw Hiran's spirits for real. He's not just talking to himself then, she confirmed. And what's that...? A magic circle? Black ghosts?

A jolt went through her when she realized the black ghosts were latching onto her allies and leeching something off of them. None of them were reacting to it, which was worrying considering the ritual they had apparently planned but not yet gotten around to do. It was a trap after all. A trap, or a grave mistake.

Wasting no more time, Eryn closed her eyes and let go of the spell which she was barely holding onto as it was. It took several long seconds of blinking and shaking her head before the magically induced darkness faded and the warrior's normal sight returned. She dearly wished Marcus was still with them and ready to banish evil once more, but left with no time to look for him Eryn knew she had to act on her own. The fighter replaced her spear for the blue blade, knowing it was able to cut spirits and pin them in place. She would have to enter before she could hack away at any ghosts, however... and realizing that the ritual could very well be working as intended, Eryn decided to break in as silently as she could to survey the situation first.

There was no point in trying the front door. It would be far too obvious if she returned so quickly after leaving. Instead, Eryn looked around for any other potential means of entry. Seeing none, she recalled that the silhouettes she had seen were standing some distance away. With no people - no magical people, at least - present behind the wall in front of her in a secluded back alley... surely no would stop her from making her own entrance. Eryn felt along the wall until she found one of its weaker spots among the bricks, mortar, and planks, and started chipping away at it; slowly and carefully.

22:48, Today: Eryn rolled 9 using 2d6+2.  Bend Bars, Lift Gates.
* It doesn’t make an inordinate amount of noise.
* Nothing of value is damaged.

Ilura had learned to trust her instincts and, more importantly, to trust the instincts of the animals around her.  She looked at Thomas and at the wolves to see if they had picked up on anything or whether she was just overtired.

quote:

16:05, Today: Ilura rolled 9 using 2d6+4.  Discern realities w/ Thomas.

I'll go with "What is about to happen?" as closest to "Why is the hair standing up on the back of my neck?"

Paladin's eyes went wide and then narrowed at the explanation of halfling's condition. An evil spirit was never good news, but it left hope for its host. Although he'll have to consult what a Soul-Shadow is with Hiran. The situation took an unexpected turn for the better and Marcus started to relax. There was the matter of stopping the Overlord from returning, but after that, he will vow to rid Doderic Ivyrun of the possession. He'll just have to do that without his approval, as the spirit mustn't be aware of the plan.

Rubbing his eyes for a few moments, Marcus heard out the proposal, or rather offer, for help. Trusting the group's motivation more than a minute ago, and almost as much as he did when Ubir first spoke to Ilura and him, Marcus didn't want to pass an opportunity to do what will likely be the greatest service to Lusiny he ever could. "We would appreciate any help you can provide." he started with a nod and an attempt to smile back that didn't reach far "We know of the ritual that will be used, and the things needed for it to succeed. For now, we stopped his servants from obtaining the Pit of Shadows. How did you plan to help us?" he inquired, not sure how much information to give, or what to ask for.

Ilura
Ilura's instincts proved to be a potent asset.  The indicators of something being wrong were subtle, but rather obvious once she was actively looking for them.  A shudder of a wolf's shoulder here.  A yip from a pup there.  A nervous glance over Thomas's shoulder. [Huh?]

Even if she couldn't hear the animals' nervous comments, Ilura would have known something was up.  But since she could hear their comments, Ilura was able to recognize a pattern in the animals' signs of agitation.  They moved in rhythms.  Like a wave flowing over the crowd.  Like something moving over them.  And when she focused really hard on the epicenters of these waves of agitation, she could almost make out a shape.  A shadow.  No, shadows!  They glided around the room like ghosts, but always returned to the group of humans, where they lingered.  And every time they did, Ilura felt a little more sleepy.

Also of note was the small hole of light growing on the far wall next to the chimney.  A hole that the friendly face of Eryn soon appeared within.

What do you do?

---

Eryn
The wall Eryn was trying to get through seemed to be made mostly of stone and mortar and was in a state of severe disrepair.  Which, luckily for Eryn, meant that it was easy to find a spot with enough loose stones to start dismantling the structure piece by piece.  With her tremendous strength, it was easy to pry most of the stones out without too much trouble and without making a lot of noise, but it certainly took a lot of time and effort to pull them out in such a way that would not cause the entire wall of the building to collapse.

Still, before too long Eryn had a hole in the side of the building that she could see through.  Peering in revealed that she had tunneled through right next to the dilapidated inn's chimney, behind a small stack of firewood.  She could see a large common-room full of broken furniture and piles of dry grass along most of the walls.  Among the grass were canine creatures.  Wolves.  Lots of wolves.  Along with their pups and some human children.

Ilura, Hiran, Snarl-maw, and an old woman could be seen standing among the wild animals, but the wolves didn't seem to be paying them much mind.  They seemed to be distracted by something they could not quite find.

What do you do?

---

Marcus
Doderic's ears seemed to perk up at the mention of a Pit of Shadows, but he didn't comment on it.  He did, however, elaborate on how NECRO might be able to provide aid.  "There are many ways NECRO could be of service to you.  We can provide you lodging in the city, for one.  We might even be able to procure a permanent residence for you and your companions if you think it might be beneficial.  I would have to ask around though."

"Additionally, NECRO has many contacts in one form or another.  We could use those contacts to procure rare supplies for you, given enough time.  Or, perhaps more usefully, we could put you into contact with individuals willing to aid you in your quest.  Hirelings looking for a bit of adventure themselves, as it were."

"And then of course there is our vast knowledge of healing.  If you ever find yourself with an ailment or injury you are not sure how to treat, we may be able to find some way to assist."  Doderic gave Marcus another wily look as he took a swig from his drink once again.  "Do any of those services seem like they might be of interest?"

What do you do?

---

Ilura
What is about to happen?

Shadowy spirits are about to put you to sleep if left unchecked.  Also, Eryn looks like she might be about to pop in for a quick hello.

Eryn
You have gotten a hole big enough to see through.  You can keep making the hole big enough to crawl through pretty easily, but it will also be big enough for wolves to crawl through too.  They haven't noticed you yet, but likely will at any second.  No telling what will happen if/when they do.

Marcus
Doderic has offered to help you gain access to free shelter, track down rare items, and put you into contact with hirelings.  He has also offered to provide healing for unusual maladies.  Let him know what interests you.

"Shadows!  We're being attacked!  Or drained.  Or something..."

Ilura's words tapered off as she realized she had no clue what to actually *do* about these creatures.

"Eryn! We need you and your sword!"  It was apparent that Eryn was on her way in anyhow, but now at least she'd been invited, which might reduce the conflict on her arrival.  Maybe...

In the meantime, the ranger sent out a prayer to her newfound goddess.  Presumably Lusiny wasn't a big fan of these shadow creatures, much less them interfering in this ritual she seemed to want.  Ilura wasn't exactly sure how this was supposed to work, so she rubbed her thumb over the symbol engraved on her bow and sent out a mental cry of "HELP!", while trying to dodge the shadow creatures.

quote:

23:59, Today: Ilura rolled 14 using 2d6+2.  Cast a Spell.

Take *that* shadow-creatures... :>

Based on what I have memorized, I'm guessing Light would be most appropriate/useful, particularly given that I'm essentially unarmed at the moment, but I'll let "the goddess" decide :>

Let me know if I need a Defy Danger too.

This was supposed to be a covert entrance," Eryn thought to herself, but bit her tongue to avoid shouting this at Ilura. Instead, she wielded the blade she had brought, and steeled herself for an onslaught of wolves and spirit the moment any of them spotted her. She kicked down the last few bricks in her way and swiftly entered the building.

"I was about to leave, but decided to do a quick check to see if you were all right. When I sensed the same thing you did, I knew I couldn't leave you here to get drained by spirits," Eryn said, carefully shifting the longsword to adjust for the cramped space while looking for signs of aggression in her potential opponents. There would not be much room for maneuvering if a fight broke out, and with all the wolves the enemy definitely had the advantage. Shield and chainmail seldom worked well against low targets like this, and the spear she would most prefer to use to keep them at bay would leave her wide open to attacking spirits instead.

"They've latched onto you like vampires," Eryn quickly explained. "All of you," she added, looking at Snarl-maw and then people she did not know. "I don't even know if this sword can cut ghosts, so I suggest you cancel the rituals, throw some salt, and get the hell out of here. Immediately."



We already know how to cleanse cursed items, but this time I'd like to know what methods common folk use to drive out ghosts and bad spirits.
09:49, Today: Eryn rolled 6 using 2d6.  Spout Lore: Mundane ways to drive away spirits.

"It's likely our efforts will take us far and wide, so there is no need for anything permanent. And I think we're settled for now, but can discuss it with my companions." while help would be welcome, Marcus didn't want to become overly reliant on the group, especially on anything mundane they could manage for themselves.

"I'm sure Dr. Krauss will be interested in a number of items, so that's something we'll call on you." his mind automatically going to the curator of strange among them, Marcus realized there could be things all of them could profit from "But if you know of anything that could give us an upper hand against the Overlord's minions, we'd appreciate having them at disposal." the idea of hirelings didn't sit well with the paladin either. It wasn't their motivation which worried him, he knew Eryn had done a lot of mercenary work, but the ones who referred them. "And when the time comes for extra hands to help us, we'll keep you offer in mind."

His throat growing dry at the memory of the sand curse that afflicted him, Marcus moved forward and took the drink prepared for him, and nodded a thanks to his host "We did run into some trouble with magical afflictions, but worked through them. But if you can supply us with something to take with us, that would be greatly appreciate. If nothing else, something to keep trouble at bay until we come back."

Hiran finished up and pulled Ilura aside while holding his now aching head. "Granny Greybeard missed crucial bits in this book.  Anyone within the ritual can ask the night mother a question.  Secondly, and this is the most dangerous.  It says that the vessel will be changed but its quite vague merely saying 'It is completely up to the whims of a being greater than even the moons in the heavens.' Lastly I need you to watch over me as I have a ritual I seek to perform on this night as well and along with your own I am unsure of what exactly to expect."

Hiran pauses as he looks at Ilura. "Now is the time if you are hiding something to tell me.  Magic is volatile and dangerous, there can be no additional unknowns beyond the ritual itself."

OOC: Do I recognize these shadows as my own and can I see them as well? Also do these appear to be a sign based on what I know this night is supposed to be?
This message was last edited by the player at 20:43, Mon 09 Apr 2018.

Hiran, Eryn, and Ilura
As Hiran regaled Ilura with his findings, the ranger drew on the power of her newfound goddess and her bow began to glow with an intense green glow, like a forest clearing bathed in moonlight.  The spirits recoiled momentarily, but didn't seem too off-put by the magical light.  The light did, however, solidify their forms so that they were more easy to spot with the naked eye.  They were dark, vaguely humanoid, and about the size of a gnome or halfling.  They flew about the room a foot or so above everyone's heads.

"What are they?" Granny-greybeard asked as she ducked to avoid one flying by.  "I think the wall-woman is right.  We need to get out of here.  Hurry children!"  Granny-greybeard let out a shrill whistle and pointed toward the exit, then the wolves and children started heading for the door.

"The wall-woman isn't right," Snarl-maw protested. "She's the one who conjured them.  To drive us out!"  Not even he seemed to believe his own words though.  The big man stood between the spirits and the retreating masses, ready to lash out with his burning arm at any spirit that came too close.

The spirits seem to be mainly focusing on Ilura, Hiran, and Granny-greybeard at the moment though, and continually circle toward the magic users and reach toward them with their dark ghostly tendrils.

What do you do?

---

Marcus
Doderic pulled a small booklet from his vest pocket while Marcus spoke and began jotting down a few notes.  He spoke up once Marcus finished, but continued writing the whole while. "I'm afraid I wouldn't know how to give you the upper hand against the former Overlord's minions without first knowing who, or what, they are.  I can think of a handful of items we may be able to spare for your general convenience though.  I'm sure you will be able to get a bit of use from them."

He ripped a page from his book and called Sir Ubir over.  The flighty elf had been standing quietly near the entrance this entire time.  "How may I assist?" he asked Doderic.

"Gather what is on this list and bring it to expulsion point seven," Doedric said.  Sir Ubir began to leave, but Doderic halted him with a motion of his hand.  He then adressed Marcus once again. "I am sending him to pick up three healing potions I know are in my private reserves.  And a poison that is potent against physical undead entities.  And lastly, a bag that puts bodies into stasis.  If you or a companion is close to death, or even has only just died, put them in the bag and bring them back here.  We will do all that we can to save them."

Doderic put his book back into his pocket and added, "I will send Sir Ubir to gather those things. Unless you can think of anything else I should add to the list?"

What do you do?

---

Hiran
There is no mention of the spirits having any ties to either of the rituals.  They seem to be unrelated.  They are not any of the spirits that typically haunt you either.  You may Spout Lore if you thing you would know more about these spirits.  And yes, you can easily see the spirits after Ilura cast her Light spell.

Give me a Defy Danger with Wis or Con if you want to resist their draining effect.

Eryn
You know three different methods common folk use to drive out ghosts and bad spirits.  You know two of them are ineffective, and one works, but you cant remember which.  The three methods are:

• Throw salt at them and they will find someone else to haunt.
• Burn a tuft of hair and use the smoke to herd them from the room.
• Draw an arc of blood of the main entrance while reciting the prayer of St. Alma.

Ilura
Your light spell made the spirits easier to see, but that is about it.  Give me a Defy Danger with Wis or Con if you want to resist their draining effect.

Marcus
Is there anything else you would like to ask NECRO for?

Hiran tried through pure will to resist the assault of the spirits and instead he focused on his ritual.  He wasn't about to let some random spirits interrupt the reason he came to this place in the first place and though their presence was interesting he felt he had more pressing things to focus on.

OOC: Perhaps Hiran should focus more on pressing dangers :)
16:12, Today: Dr Hiran Krauss rolled 5 using 2d6+1.  Resist Spirit Draining Effect.

"They seem to be attracted to magic - I'm not sure leaving will help.  Fight them with flames or lure them to my friend.  She has a weapon that may be effective.

Hiran, get over here!"

Following her own advice, Ilura moved to the hole Eryn was making in the wall, while grabbing a torch to flail at the creatures

quote:

23:32, Today: Ilura rolled 7 using 2d6+2.  Defy Danger - Wis.

quote:

23:33, Today: Ilura rolled 8 using 2d6.  Hack & slash w/ torch (please don't light the building on fire...).

My plea to the dice was effective :>

"Get out, quickly!" Eryn commanded, while taking a step towards the floating spirits. She was grateful that they were now visible to the naked eye, for blinding herself in order to spot them with magic eyes could turn out to be catastrophic.

"If you have any salt to throw or hair to burn, do it! I don't know if such folk tale rituals will work, but they are worth a try!"

She ignored Snarl-maw badmouthing her and focused on following the spirits with her eyes until she felt reasonable confident one was in reach. She thrust the glowing sword forwards and sent the tip of it straight through the center of one of the living shadows. With any luck, the blade would be as effective on them as it had been on its original owner.


08:44, Today: Eryn rolled 12 using 2d6+2.  Hack & Slash to pin a spirit with the blue blade.
08:46, Today: Eryn rolled 3 using 1d10+1.  Dealing damage.


Edit: Spelling, dice roll.
This message was last edited by the player at 06:47, Wed 11 Apr 2018.

"Any assistance will be appreciated." Marcus replied, as the halfling's apology made him realize how little they knew of what was before them. He watched the reverence with which Ubir talked with his superior, and the hostility he had felt towards Doderic when he sensed the darkness within him ebbed a bit more.

"That is already more than I could have hoped for when Sir Ubir approached us." the paladin replied, and then a though occurred to him "But if you can provide us with a way to contact you, that would be marvelous."

Only once the elf left, did Marcus feel like he could express his gratitude. "Master Ivyrun, thank you for everything you offered. I understand that we have a same goal, but it doesn't lessen the aid you provided us with." he bowed deeply, remembering his vow to free the halfling from the evil spirit "I will do all I can to repay you one day, and hope that the world will get to know of the role that NECRO had in keeping it safe, and not judge you for the work you do."

Hiran, Eryn, and Ilura
Hiran did his best to ignore the dark spirits as he pulled out items he would need for the ritual from his basic ritual supplies.  However, the longer he tried to ignore it, the worse his headache became.  As two of the shadows circled his cranium, Hiran found it increasingly difficult to concentrate and every time a new thought came to him, it felt as it was being forcefully pulled away.  Then finally, his headache became so intrusive that the edges of his vision began to blur and the pain felt as if it was doing literal harm to his mind.

Dr. Krauss's typical choir of malevolent spirits cried out in unison as the two shadows ripped greedily at Hiran's mind.

While this was happening Granny-greybeard continued to issue orders to her people.  "Go outside kids, and wait for us near the old tannery.  Snarl-maw, go get the salt!  I got the hair!"  Snarl-maw ran off into a side room and the elderly woman drew a small knife from her pocket before unceremoniously cutting off a shaggy grey lock from her scalp.  Granny-greybeard then knelt near a support beam and began trying to light it with some flint and steel.  She seemed to be fumbling with it though as one of the shadows loomed over her.  "Damn joints don't want to work!" she mumbled as she hurried to ignite her own lock of hair.

Heading in the opposite direction with two soul-shades of her own to deal with, Ilura arced her newly acquired torch through one of the shadows several times as she moved toward Eryn.  She sliced it one.  Twice.  Three times clean through the middle.  But the mundane fire seemed to have no effect on the dark ghost.  And what's more, all the torch-swinging seemed to be making Ilura more tired.  Lethargy threatened to overtake the ranger, and her muscles felt as if they were becoming physically weaker.  Her eyes were getting really heavy too, but through sheer force of will she remained awake.

Thomas, on the other hand, did not seem to have the same mental fortitude.  He landed on a toppled chair and settled in for a nice roost.  [You got this...] he reassured Ilura lazily as he nodded off.

The lackluster valiance of the crow's impromptu nap was starkly offset by Eryn.  The fighter thrust her glowing sword with expert precision and skewered one of Ilura's orbiting spirits to a support beam.  It wiggled and squirmed like a worm just put on a hook, but for naught.  As long as the sword remained in the beam, it was stuck.

What do you do?

---

Marcus
Doderic Ivyrun sent Sir Ubir off with his modified instructions, then listened patiently as Marcus offered his tanks.  "Think nothing of it," the halfling responded.  "If you manage to accomplish the task you set out to do, it is I who will be in your debt."

Doderic then stood up from his chair, dropping a foot or so as he got off of his cushioned seat.  "Now, if you would excuse me, I still have much work to do.  I was in the middle of the most curious dissection when I was called in here to speak with you.  And I don't like to keep my patients waiting."  He flashed Marcus a smile that somehow managed to be both kind and sinister at the same time.

"Feel free to stay in this room for as long as you would like.  Eat some treats.  Read a book.  Dry your pants.  Whatever.  Just knock on the door three times when you are ready and someone will come to lead you to the exit.  Your gifts will be waiting for you there, with instructions for their use written down for you.  Farewell friend."

What do you do?

---

Hiran
Take d6+1 damage from the spirits gorging on your mind.  It ignores non-magical armor.

Eryn
You pinned the spirit and it definitely appears to have been injured by your blade.

Ilura
You managed to remain awake, but Thomas fell asleep.  And your attack definitely connected.  Several times.  But the mundane fire and torch seemed to be completely ineffective against the ghosts.  The spirits' draining is now taking a physical toll on you too.  Take d6+1 damage.  It ignores non-magical armor.

Marcus
Is there anything you would like to do or say before leaving?

"This blade can hurt them!" Eryn cried, and wasted no time on studying the effect too closely. Instead she withdrew the sword from the wall and moved swiftly towards her companions, swinging the weapon in an effort to touch the spirits without hurting anyone else. With any luck the shadows would get cut down or flee, or at least turn their attention towards her instead. If she could buy them some extra time, Eryn knew the others could figure out which of the rituals would work on the ghosts.


Attempting to strike as many spirits as possible.

There are five soul-shadows in the room.  Two by Eryn and Ilura, two by Hiran, and one by Granny-greybeard.  Roll me one Hack and Slash for each spirit you try to attack as you go about the room.  (if you attack 3, roll 3 times)

Hiran cried out in pain as he grabbed his head and his eyes felt like they were going to burst out of his skull.  He quickly realized this was a threat he could not ignore.

He immediately tried wracking his aching brain thinking back to his own spirits, how to handle them.  What did we need to do...think brain damn it think! He thought loudly to himself while he attempted to move away from the spirits that swirled about him. Though trying to avoid his own spirits and plus the new ones was becoming near impossible.

OOC: I used fount of knowledge since I don't think anyone knows anything about spirits but if that is wrong I got a 9.
OOC2: 15:26, Today: Dr Hiran Krauss rolled 10 using 2d6+3.  Spout Lore Spirits.
15:25, Today: Dr Hiran Krauss rolled 2 using 1d6+1.  spirit damage.

I will ignore the one I just hurt and attack the next one close to me. If I'm to rescue the others, I'll need to keep them off my back. Hiran would be the one with the most potent magic vs spirits, so I will aid him first.

21:42, Today: Eryn rolled 10 using 2d6+2.  Hack and Slash vs spirit next to Eryn.
21:42, Today: Eryn rolled 10 using 1d10+1.  Damage to spirit.

21:44, Today: Eryn rolled 5 using 2d6+2.  Hack and Slash vs spirit next to Hiran.
Miss. Marked XP.

I would keep going, but I'm guessing you may want to make your move first?

Side note: The shadow pin ability was to be a Dex roll, now that I read the sword's description again.

Seeing that her torch wasn't a whole lot of use against the shadows and Granny apparently needed fire for something she thought would be helpful, Ilura did her best to dodge the now-illuminated shadows and made her way over to the old woman, extending the lit torch.

"Can you use this?"

quote:

22:06, Today: Ilura rolled 8 using 2d6+2.  Defy danger - dodge spirits.

Whether it's dex to avoid or wisdom to resist, the roll is the same

The idea of an operation performed by the black eyed halfling alone would send a chill running down Marcus's spine, but combined with the smile he was given, the paladin couldn't help but shudder. As the idea of staying in the underground lair any longer didn't appeal to him in the least, he moved to join Doderic "If it's the same to you, I won't tarry any longer. There is much I need to discuss with my companions." And he hoped to check in on Ilura. The series of dangers and unexpected things kept him more than occupied, but the image of her among the ruffians slowly returned to his mind. "Farewell master Ivyrun." he greeted back and hoped that there would be someone to take him to wherever the extraction point was right away.

Eryn, Hiran, and Ilura
Eryn pulled her magic sword free from the ghost she pinned to the wall and slashed through the next one even as Ilura moved away from it.  The blade sliced through the ghost like a hot knife through butter and the spirit evaporated into a swirling wisp of dark smoke.  With her newest target eliminated, Eryn set off toward the spirits around Hiran.

Ilura, on the other hand, rushed to deliver her torch to Granny-greybeard while trying to mentally resist the hold that the remaining injured spirit still had on her.  Perhaps it was the look of determination on her face that made one of the departing wolves mistake her approach toward Granny-greybeard as an attack.  Just as Ilura was passing off her torch to the old woman, the same mother wolf from earlier came bounding toward the ranger.  [Do not strike the Alpha!] the wolf snarled as it leaped at Ilura, teeth gnashing.  The two of them went tumbling backward.

Meanwhile, Hiran did his best to move away from the two spirits that plagued him but didn't seem to have much luck. They followed him like moths drawn to a flame.  Still, even as he struggled against the spirits' mental onslaughts, Hiran remembered one piece of information about these types of beings.  They did not inhabit the physical world, and could not be affected by physical objects.  Only magic, or things imbued with magic, could affect them.

As Eryn approached to help Hiran deal with his two spirits, her muscles began to feel shaky.  Less responsive to her commands.  Each step she took seemed like it pained her more and more as her muscles tightened.  As she swung her sword at one of Hiran's spirits, her arm muscle cramped up mid-swing and the spirit was easily able to dodge out of the way.

At that point Snarl-maw returned from the room he had entered and began throwing salt into the air behind Eryn.  Apparently the spirit she had pinned earlier decided that Eryn should be its newest target, and it snuck up behind her as Eryn approached Hiran.

"Begone spirit!" Snarl-maw yelled as he threw his salt.  "It's not doing anything!" he yelled in frustration.

"This burning hair isn't doing the trick either," Granny-greybeard said with concern.  She was waving her burning tuft of hair over her head, trying to drive back the spirit that plagued her.  It just ignored her movements and enveloped the old woman's head.  "AAhhhh!"  Several of the wolves outside began howling in distress.

What do you do?

---

Marcus
Marcus didn't have to wait long before someone came to fetch him.  The door to the room opened and a little being stood there waiting for him, beckoning Marcus with a finger.  It was a small humanoid about the size of a human toddler.  It was hairless, hunched, and had pale pink skin.  It smiled at Marcus with its shark-like teeth, flapped the tiny bat wings on its back, then proceeded to limp slowly down the corridor.  It seemed to expect Marcus to follow.

The ugly little guy led Marcus through several sturdy locked doors, down a spiral staircase, across an invisible bridge over a pit of spikes, and down an incredibly long ladder.  After a long trek trough some winding cave-like tunnels, the critter led Marcus into an expansive dark cavern.  It was large enough that neither the ceiling or walls could be seen once they reached their destination.  And that destination was a small outhouse resting in the center of the expansive cavern.

Marcus's guide opened the door and grunted and pointed, urging the Paladin to enter.  Sitting next to the hole in the outhouse toilet seat was a sack of items with a note attached to the outside.  The note was instructions for the items within.  Three healing potions, one poison, one body bag of stasis, and one magic diary.

After Marcus entered the outhouse, the little guide slammed the door with surprising force.  Enough force that the door sprung back open again.  When it did, Marcus was no longer in the dark cavern.  Outside of the outhouse was a bustling marketplace full of produce vendors.  A woman and her son were standing in front of the doorway, apparently waiting for Marcus to exit.  "Come on now, handsome, don't just stand there.  My son's gotta go!"

What do you do?

---

Eryn
You slew one spirit, but the one that you pinned to the wall snuck up behind you when you went to go help Hiran and it attacked you.  Take d6 damage.  Only magical armor helps against this damage.  Also, your muscles feel like they are cramping sporadically.

Additionally, the hair burning and salt tricks for dealing with spirits don't seem to be working. (I decided randomly which one of the three methods would work.)

Hiran
You know that these spirits can only be affected by magic of items imbued with magic.  Also, the two spirits around you will harm you more soon if not dealt with.

Ilura
You got the torch to Granny-greybeard without falling asleep or drawing the attention of the spirits, but one of the wolves thought you were trying to attack Granny-greybeard and lunged at you.  You were both knocked to the ground and the wolf seems intent on trying to bite you.

Marcus
You are back in the market district of Markhain with the items that NECRO gifted to you.

3 healing potions (0 weight)

1 Fleshdust Poison (Dangerous, touch) A poison that turns flesh to dust.  Especially effective against physical undead.

Body Bag of Stasis (1 weight) An unconscious or dead body put inside stays as it is until removed.  Only preserves one thing at a time.  Holds up to one human-sized person.

Twin-Script Diary (1 weight) One book of a pair.  Whatever is written in one book appears in both.  The organization called NECRO has the other book.

"Blood and prayers it must be then! Blood I could provide, but I hope one of you follows St. Alma, for I don't know the words."

Eryn clenched her teeth against her disobedient muscles and tried to grip the hilt of her weapon more tightly in order to flex against the spirit's interference.

"I didn't... train martial skill all my life... just to be defeated by some ghost that didn't even bring a blade of their own," she said defiantly, but even as she did the warrior could tell it was not working. All of them would need to get out of here, and fast.



11:29, Today: Eryn rolled 6 using 2d6+1.  Defy Danger (CON): Trying to resist losing muscle control.

EDIT: Forgot to note damage from the spirit.
11:34, Today: Eryn rolled 4 using 1d6.  Taking damage from spirit.

This message was last edited by the player at 09:35, Sun 15 Apr 2018.

I too somehow forgot to take my damage.  Oops!

quote:

21:08, Today: Ilura rolled 5 using 1d6+1.  Damage.

[She wanted the red flower.  I would not attack the Alpha.]

The ranger's quiver was out of immediate reach and she doubted her arrows would do much to help against such insubstantial creatures.  And, while she'd heard of St. Alba, praying had never been her thing.  However, with nothing to lose, she figured it was worth a shot.  Taking care to *not* appear in any way threatening to Granny or the mother wolf, she swung her glowing bow about her head as a staff, trying to connect the only 'magical' artifact she had with the shadows.

"SILVER MOTHER, HELP US!"

quote:

21:15, Today: Ilura rolled 9 using 2d6+2.  Cast bless.

I'll go with attract attention

quote:

21:16, Today: Ilura rolled 8 using 2d6+1.  Hack and slash with glowing (and blessed?) bow.

Uneasily shuffling after the disturbing form of the critter, Marcus tried to keep better track of the route they took, but his thoughts kept returning to the meeting with Doderic Ivyrun. Although he came to expect almost anything from NECRO, the outhouse did take him by surprise. If not for his urge to leave the compound, he might even hesitate, but he didn't give himself such luxury.

Having picked up the bag and the note only to suddenly find himself in the marketplace, he left the small cabin, with an apology to the woman and her child. Shouldering the gifts he was given, Marcus started back towards the alley where he left Ilura, scolding himself for not asking to be returned to the same place.

Hiran growled in anger as his headache continued to worsen and he couldnt escape it. "What are you fools doing only magic will harm them."


Hiran realized this fight was likely going to fall to himself.  He stood straight up and tried to calm himself and focus on his own arcane power.  He called forth reddish black beams "Lotho ƒeñ daskinto" as he spoke the words to his spell and released it upon one of the spirits that harried him.  He then mentally prepared for the onslaught the other was sure to lay upon him.

09:15, Today: Dr Hiran Krauss rolled 7 using 2d4+2.  Magic Missile damage.
09:11, Today: Dr Hiran Krauss rolled 8 using 2d6+2.  Magic Missle on ghost.
OOC: Ill take attention sir :)
This message was last edited by the player at 13:17, Tue 17 Apr 2018.

Eryn, Hiran, and Ilura
When Ilur and the wold came out of their tumble, the wolf didn't attack the ranger, but it did stand guard between her and Granny-greybeard.  It snarled and barred its teeth, exuding emotions of warning. It was pretty obvious that it did not trust Ilura, or anyone else for that matter.  The spirit on Granny-greybeard continued to envelop the old woman's head, but the matron seemed to be casting some sort of spell of her own now.  It seemed she was somehow channeling the howls of the wolves outside and using them to push back against the spirit accosting her.

Not that anyone really had time to take notice.

The spirit attacking Eryn had now begun worming its way into the fighter's muscles, causing the twitches to escalate into full-blown spasms.  So when that spirit noticed Ilura pouring divine energy into her bow and start swinging it in its direction, the spirit caused Eryn's arm to spasm and fling her magical sword at Ilura, striking Ilura in a leg.  The spirit did take a hit of its own in the process though from Ilura's whirling bow.  This time it seemed the weapon was effective against its spectral form.

When struck, the spirit's shadowy form flared up like afire and it diverted even more of its focus from Eryn to Ilura.  Eryn's muscles started to feel more like they were under her control again, while Ilura's leg injury felt like it was starting to get sore and infected at a rapid pace.  It was quite a discomforting ordeal!

While the two warriors dealt with their spirit, Hiran continued to wrestle with the two that were orbiting him.  His blast of arcane might seemed to cause one of the spirits to get ripped to tatters, although not quite to the point of dismantling it completely.  The unharmed one turned dramatically in the air, then, with a burst of spectral speed, it criss-crossed through the air and through Hiran's chest cavity with near-palpable anger.  Each time the spirit passed through the wizard's body, he felt colder and more sluggish.  Almost to the point of feeling like he could get hypothermia from the cold.  It felt as if he were freezing from the inside-out.

What do you do?

---

Marcus
Once Marcus regained his bearings, it was not too difficult to locate the place he and Ilura had separated.  The alleyway looked almost exactly as it did when he left, minus Ilura and the ruffians.  There were no signs of any of them now though.  And one difference to the alley that was quite puzzling was the fact that the door he had entered was missing now.  Where the entrance to the little storage room had been earlier in the day, now there was a blank stone wall.

The only other things of note here are the homeless man digging through some junk at the end of the alley and the faint sound of howling dogs in the distance.

What do you do?

---

Eryn
The spirit caused you to throw your sword at Ilura as it continued to gain purchase over your muscles.

Hiran
Take d6+1 damage from the spirits chilling you to the bone.

Ilura
Eryn's sword was thrown at you and injured your leg.  The spirit seems to be actively trying to make the injury worse by the second.  Take d6+1 damage (armor counts for this one), and give me an appropriate Defy Danger if you want to retain use of your injured leg.

Also, roll damage you dealt to Eryn's spirit.

The spirit flowed through Hiran's body and he shuddered and shook uncontrollably followed by clinching and chattering of teeth which caused him to bite into his tongue involuntarily filling his mouth with a small amount of blood.

"Try as you might NONE of you SPIRITS will take me! I Dr Hiran Krauss cannot be defeated so easily."

Hiran called forth magic he had tried to use on his own spirits to no avail but had proven successful on spirits not tied to himself.  A forceful banishment, Hiran summoned forth an spectral door that swirled with arcane energy. Inside hands of force reached out grasping for the weakened ghost trying to wrench it piece by piece out of this realm




13:44, Today: Dr Hiran Krauss rolled 5 using 1d6+1.  Spirit chill damage.

13:46, Today: Dr Hiran Krauss rolled 13 using 2d6+2.  More Magic Missiles at weakened spirit.

13:49, Today: Dr Hiran Krauss rolled 4 using 2d4+2.  Magic Missile Damage.

"ILURA! I am sorry, it forced me to!" Eryn instinctively took a step towards where the sword had gone, but even though she desperately needed her weapon, Hiran was in far greater danger and Ilura was swinging her bow around in such a way that they might both hit or trip each other.

Seeing no other option, Eryn forced herself to focus on the numb feeling in her arm, allowing the tenseness to grow greater but letting the spiritual force yield to her will in the process. She would follow Hiran's example and force the spirit out... somehow. Words were flowing from memory. "Magicae impulsum!" she cried in rage, flexing her arm's muscles while clenching her right hand into a fist. Eryn punched in the direction of the most solid-looking spirit near the wizard's head. The magic energy was ripped from the warrior's body like ghostly flames, coalescing into a crude ball shape on its way towards its intended target.

Eryn could tell the magic wasn't entirely right. The spirit had influenced it too somehow.

It would do.

With her arm free from possession, Eryn dove for the sword she had dropped, aiming to grab it and get right back to slicing spirits. She would have to be quick about it, and avoid disturbing Ilura in the process. Weak as she was from the after-effects of the spirit magic, however, Eryn couldn't quite find her footing to do so perfectly.


22:20, Today: Eryn rolled 8 using 2d6.  Cast a Spell (Magic Missile) at the spirit harassing Hiran.
  Downside chosen: Disturb the fabric of reality, take -1 ongoing to casting spells.
22:25, Today: Eryn rolled 7 using 2d4.  Magic Missile damage.
22:26, Today: Eryn rolled 6 using 2d6.  Defy Danger (DEX): Get the dropped sword back without causing trouble.

Walking down the alley, Marcus all but gawked at the disappeared entrance to the hideout. The erasing squad surely knew their job. he thought appreciatively. Continuing onward to the homeless man, he called out "Pleasent nights." as the man's attention shifted to the paladin, Marcus inquired "Could you direct me towards the howling wolves? Or whatever the group calls themselves." he recalled that most of his supplies were gone, but he offered what he could "I don't have food to offer, but I might have something in my gear that you could find useful. And Lusiny's blessing to watch over you." He hoped that the gang wasn't feard so much that no one would help him find them.

19:24, Today: Marcus rolled 6 using 2d6+2.  Parley - supplies or spells for direcitons.

Ilura gasped as the wound in her leg began to throb.  That was one nasty sword.

"Try not to do it again!"

She'd have to get the wound tended to promptly, but first they needed to get rid of these vile creatures.  She continued to swing at the creature attacking her in the hopes of beating it back.  Unfortunately the wound had affected her balance and her strike went hopelessly wide

quote:

23:54, Today: Ilura rolled 12 using 2d6+1.  Defy danger - Con.

quote:

23:55, Today: Ilura rolled 5 using 2d6.  Hack & slash.

I've taken my XP

quote:

23:57, Today: Ilura rolled 7 using 1d6+1.

Ouch.  One more like that and I'm down for the count...

13:19, Today: Game Master, on behalf of Ilura, rolled 5 using 1d8.  Damage to spirit from earlier.

Eryn, Hiran, and Ilura
Hiran's spectral door opened and ripped the ghost asunder, dragging it into an entirely other realm.  As it did, Eryn's spell crashed through the air striking the other spirit with force.  However, some of the stray energies struck the hands of force from the other realm and a shriek of pain could be heard from the other side.  Hiran's arcane door slammed hastily shut, sending spell-echos back along the paths of both Hiran and Eryn's spells.  Hiran, being an experienced wizard, handled these echos with ease.  But Eryn could feel them rattle around inside her mind a bit, making her spell knowledge a little harder to concentrate on than before.

The spirit Eryn struck wasn't too happy about being targeted either.  Its tattered form flew away from Hiran and circled around the room.  It seemed to be looking for an opportune time to strike at the spell-slinging warrior.  As it circled, the spirit vanished from sight, becoming invisible once more.  "Where'd it go?" Snarl-maw asked, confused.

Ilura's spirit seemed set on dodging the ranger's blows after taking that first powerful wallop from her ensorcelled bow.  It kept maneuvering just out of reach as Ilura swung at it, looking for its own opportunity to strike.  So when Ilura stumbled, it swooped in for an attack.

It was at this moment that Ilura noticed two things.  The first thing she noticed was that she could get a hit in on the ghost and avoid its attack if she didn't expend the effort to stop herself from falling all the way down.  The second thing she noticed was that if she did fall all the way down, she would crash into the broken chair that Thomas was sleeping on, possibly injuring him.

What do you do?

---

Marcus
The man at the end of the alley turned to look over his shoulder at Marcus with one eye.  His clothes were tattered and moldy, barely holding together.  As Marcus drew nearer, he noticed the man smelled like a pig sty too.  When Marcus finished talking, the man replied, still talking over his shoulder as he examined a piece of junk he had just found.

"I don't need no blessings from no gods," he said as he threw his piece of junk back into the pile.  His words sounded wet, like he talked with a mouth full of saliva.  "The gods already marked ole' Bolen up good.  That's what you get when you try to claim the fish of the Black-Sand Beaches as your own."  Bolen turned to face Marcus, revealing a black and withered right arm.  He let Marcus have a good look at the accursed thing.  How he could barely bend the shriveled limb, and how the corruption spread up his neck and to the right side of his mouth.

"No, ole' Bolen doesn't need no blessings.  He needs new clothes."  Bolen wiggled the fingers of his good arm through some of the many holes in the cloth draped over him.  "Give me every stitch of clothing you own and I'll take you anywhere in the city you want to go.  Including into the thick of those hound-hooligans' hideout."

What do you do?

---

Eryn
The Ghost you hit seemed to be circling around to strike at you just before it turned invisible.

Hiran
You seem to be free of ghosts at the moment.  There is one by Ilura, one by Granny-greybeard, and one circling the room invisibly.

Ilura
You have stumbled during your attack.  You can either stay up and take d6 damage (ignoring non-magic armor), or strike at the ghost as you fall to the ground and avoid its strike (also crashing into Thomas).

Marcus
The homeless man made an odd counter offer.

Is a defy danger possible to avoid injuring Thomas or is that a given if I choose take the hit and avoid the damage?

It is a given that you would crash into him, but I will let you Defy Danger to try and minimize any damage.  Just describe how you try to do that.

Ilura wasn't sure she could afford to take another hit, and they needed to put down these creatures as soon as possible, but she didn't want to hurt her helpless feathered friend either.  She allowed herself to fall, spinning her bow to slice through the shadow and using the momentum to twist herself face down with her arms outstretched hitting the chair on either side of the crow.  The momentum of the fall sent the chair skidding across the room, but at least she'd managed to avoid crushing Thomas.

If she'd been in full form, she'd have pulled a tuck and roll and lept up in fighting position.  However her bleeding and festering leg wasn't in the mood for tucking or rolling, let alone leeping.  It was all she could manage to push herself into a kneeling position and flail about with her bow in the hopes of warding off any futher shadow attacks.

quote:

22:15, Today: Ilura rolled 7 using 2d6+1.  Hack & slash.

Not sure if this was needed or not.  If it was, thank goodness for Blessing :)

quote:

22:15, Today: Ilura rolled 4 using 1d8.

quote:

22:15, Today: Ilura rolled 13 using 2d6+2.

Hopefully that's good enough...

Hiran focused his attention on the spirit harrying Ilura.  Granny Greybeard had a wolfpack at her beckon call and was uninjured in comparison to the flailing ranger.

"Icthaos domine scorcium tinarum!" Hiran called forth a spell he usually used in the past to capture the soul of a dying humanoid in his care but instead of maintaining the hold he called the magics inward and the ripples of the magic began to rip the ghost apart piece by piece.

This magic caused the already angered spirits that surrounded Hiran to enrage and along with the exertion of magical energy some of them started to become visible and a dark reddish black aura of magical power started swelling around the elderly mage. Faces of children and adults of varied races screaming and yelling, directly at Hiran's face while flying all around him in circles.  Hiran's eyes turned bloodshot and laser focused as his whole being was so intent on the weaving of the arcane, his mind trained to focus and knock out all other distractions that could arise.
This message was last edited by the player at 04:56, Fri 20 Apr 2018.

Eryn saw the spirit vanish and knew that if hadn't fled, it would definitely strike. For a moment she thought magic sight would be useful, but with her head still spinning she could not risk blinding herself entirely to the rest of the fight going on around her.

She fumbled for the blue sword, finally reaching its hilt when Ilura took a few steps out of the way. The warrior gripped it tightly and got to her feet as quickly as possible, but with no view of her enemy it was all she could do to keep the blade vertical as a barrier between herself and the spirit in the direction she anticipated it was coming from, and brace for impact. Ilura looked harrowed by the ghosts attacking her as well. She could use some protection.


09:03, Today: Eryn rolled 10 using 2d6+1.  Defend Ilura against the spirits.
Hold 3.

If the incoming attack isn't covered by defend, I was originally planning to roll Defy Danger to sense it or endure it. Just tell me if I should roll for that.

Marcus had run-ins with people that the world had turned their back on before, but it was a while since he had seen someone in such a bad shape as the beggar. His heart sunk at the request he made and the state the man was in.

Reaching into his pack, he pulled out a raincoat he hadn't had a chance to use yet, handing it over "This is all I can give you." he said almost apologetically "But don't give up hope, or the gods." he gently reached to touch the withered arm "Marked or not, you can still do things right, and that's what matters." but the man did not wish to do the right thing, and the mark not only remained....

Using adventuring gear
13:05, Today: Marcus rolled 4 using 2d6+2.  Lay on hands - remove the Black curse.
Well.. ooops

Eryn, Hiran, and Ilura
Hiran's power welled up visibly as he cast his spell at the spirit accosting Ilura.  At the same instant, Ilura's weapon found its target.  Not only was the dark spirit struck hard, but it was also shredded to a fine mist.  There was little doubt that that spirit would not ever be making a return.

The success was only tainted by Ilura's less than graceful landing.  She crashed into Thomas's broken chair, sending it skittering into a wall with a loud crash.  Her crow woke up in the middle of the ride and flared his feathers in a panic.  [Ahh!] Crash! Thomas was a quite ruffled and laying in a feathery heap, but seemed otherwise uninjured by the collision.  [What the hell was that!?]

A moment later Eryn was by Ilura's side, ready to strike at the spirit the second it showed its face.

With no immediate threat though, a momentary quietness rang out over the battlefield/inn.  Granny-greybeard was still chanting a spell as her soul-shadow continued to try and get the upper hand over the old woman.  It was hard to tell who was winning.  The ghost seemed to be coming apart at the seams, but Granny-greybeard's seams seemed to be increasing.  That was to say, she appeared to be becoming more wrinkled than before, to the point that the spirit's magic was surely the cause.  The wolf near her tried snapping at the spirit and Snarl-maw was still trying to throw salt at it and punch it, but neither had any effect.

Then suddenly the moment of calm was over.  From the the corners of the two women's vision, the invisible spirit came screaming in toward Eryn and Ilura with breakneck speed.  "WwwrraaaHHHHHaaaahhhh!"

What do you do?

---

Marcus
Bolen took the raincoat and held it up appraisingly.  "It's something, I guess.  But if you think it will earn you-" Bolen pulled his arm away hastily as Marcus began trying to heal it.  Quick as a viper, Bolen smacked Marcus upside the head.  "I said I don't want no blessings!"  His shoulders shuddered in anger.

The beggar then threw the raincoat to the ground, stomped off a couple of paces, then turned around and walked back up to Marcus.  "Look!  Look whatchya done! See? See!"  He tilted his head to the side so Marcus could get a clear view of how the blackness had spread up to his ear now.  Not only that, but Bolen also pointed to Marcus's own hand.  The fingers he had touched Bolen with were now withered and blackened.  They had a hard time bending.

Visibly upset, Bolen turned to tromp away down the alley, leaving the raincoat where it lay on the ground.  As he left, Bolen mumbled, "Wish I still new that spear-wielding mercenary.  Erica?  Erwyn?  She'ld getchya back for me..."

What do you do?

---

Eryn
The spirit is coming in fast to attack you and/or Ilura.  You have only a moment to react.

Hiran
The spirit is coming in fast to attack Eryn and/or Ilura.  You have only a moment to react.

Ilura
No Hack and Slash was needed earlier.  Just the damage roll.

The spirit is coming in fast to attack you and/or Eryn.  You have only a moment to react.

Marcus
Your attempt to heal Bolen only seems to have worsened his condition.  Also, the condition has spread to the fingers on your hand.  Bolen smacked you too, but not enough to cause any noteworthy damage.

"Come on then!" Eryn cried, placing herself between Ilura and the malevolent spirit. The blue blade flashed through the air in an effort to cut the ghost, but with no resistance was hard to tell if it even hit.


Spent Defend hold to redirect the attack towards myself.
If possible: Spend another hold to deal damage to it (equal to my level, so 2).

Hiran called forth the same binding spell as before "Icthaos domine scorcium tinarum!" but instead turned towards Granny Greybeard.  With Eryn in protection of Ilura he thought she should be fine while he helped the old woman survive this ordeal.




OOC: Bring me some of that sweet sweet attention DM
13:41, Today: Dr Hiran Krauss rolled 8 using 2d6+2.  Attack on Granny's Spirit.
13:41, Today: Dr Hiran Krauss rolled 5 using 2d4+2.  Damage on Granny's Spirit.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:44, Fri 20 Apr 2018.

[Magic attack.  Keep your head down]

Ilura was silently relieved that her friend seemed to be ok.  She hadn't been sure what the shadows had done to him.

Her head throbbed as the cry of the attacking spirit echoed through it.  She wasn't sure she could manage an attack, and from her current position, she doubted she'd be able to do so without interfering with Eryn.  So far Lusiny had come through for her, so called out with her mind.  Please help Eryn to defend us  She was sure Marcus could have come up with a more seemly prayer, but she didn't have a lot of practice at this sort of thing, and right now, there wasn't a lot of time.

And if this didn't work, perhaps her attempting magic would distract the spirit enough that it would give her female teammate an advantage.

quote:

11:42, Today: Ilura rolled 6 using 2d6+2.  Cast Bless.

I didn't include a +1 for being blessed myself as I wasn't sure that counted for spells.  If it does, then that's actually a success.  If not, I'll take the XP I guess.  If it succeeds, I'll go for attention, as I'm trying to distract the things anyhow.  And I don't want a +1 on subsequent spells as I'm really going to cast some healing spells when this is done...

Eryn
Yes, you can use more than one Hold at the same time, but you must select a different use for each. (For instance, you can't select "deal damage equal to your level" 3 times all at once.)  The two you selected will work.

Ilura
I've got some good news and some bad news.  The good news is that the +1 from the Bless spell you cast on yourself applies when casting a new spell.  The bad news is that you take -1 forward to casting spells while you sustain your Bless spell.  So it cancels itself out for that roll and your end result is still a 6. :(  You can take your +1 XP though!

Hiran
Your damage dealt should actually be 3, correct?  Or is there actually a +2 bonus to your damage that I am missing from somewhere?  I was assuming it was just a mistake carried over from your previous roll, but I figured I would double check anyway since I was already making an OOC post.

Marcus's initial shock at his failure turned into distress. Has he misjudged the situation so badly? Has he gone against Lusiny's wishes? His eyes moved from his now black fingers to the coat lying on the ground, to Bolen and back, his gaze half empty as the thoughts troubled him.

But the mentioned name perked up his attention, and he offered desperately while crouched as he was picking up the raincoat "Eryn, the spear maiden?" standing up he continued "She's a friend of mine. And I can promise you she'll make sure I remember the foolishness I did here." his face sunk even deeper "And I seek the hooligans because our companion went with them, and I wish to check on her!" wondering whether the offer was enough, he offered cautiously "And once I do that, I will do what I can to help you out." his voice breaking he concluded "The right way."


22:14, Today: Marcus rolled 8 using 2d6+2.  If needed - Parley - I know her!
Well... that's a start?

Eryn, Hiran, and Ilura
The spirit attacking Eryn and Ilura flew in fast, but Eryn's sword was faster.  The spirit flew through the blade, getting sliced in the process.  But it wasn't defeated just yet.  After passing by, it turned and sent its dark tendrils toward Eryn's undefended back.  The spirit's touch approached just as Ilura was bestowing her blessing.

As Ilura finished her prayer, Eryn's clothes, armor, and shield all illuminated with a beautiful silvery shimmering sparkling glow.  Like moonlight dancing over water.  Eryn could feel herself revitalized.  Refreshed.  Like she had just caught her second wind.

Ilura, on the other hand, was the opposite.  The color of her clothes and armor, and even her skin and bow, dimmed.  She became like a painting made of all grey tones.  She could feel that the effect was tied to the magic sustaining Eryn, and it would only go away when she stopped empowering her friend.  She had somehow transferred her own blessings to the warrior for the time being.

Eryn, with Ilura's magical Blessing now enveloping her, could feel the spirit attempting to sap her vitality with as much force as it could muster.  The spirit seemed to be desperate.

Meanwhile, Hiran continued to build his arcane strength and the souls bound to his body continued to become louder and more visible.  When he finally unleashed his powerful arcane spell, it ripped a large chunk from the spirit attacking Granny-greybeard.  Unfortunately his attack struck at the same moment Granny-greybeard's mental endurance gave out and the old woman slumped to the floor, unconscious or worse.  With wild and panicked eyes, her grandson scanned the room and his sights landed on the old Dr. Krauss and the spirits surrounding him.

"He's conjuring more!" Snarl-maw yelled with disbelief.  The feral man turned his sights on Hiran and his cloud of haunting spirits and began charging.  "What do you have against us!" Snarl-maw demanded as he leaped to tackle Hiran.

What do you do?

---

Marcus
Bolen paused when Marcus mentioned "Eryn, the spear maiden," but waited until Marcus finished talking before he turned around and started walking back toward the paladin.  With a bit of reluctance, he said, "Fine.  I can take you to the hooligans if you promise to keep me safe, and promise to introduce me to Eryn again after.  I got another fishing story I wanted to tell her that I didn't get to tell last time we met."  The beggar held up a palm to keep Marcus from talking yet. "But first you must give me some assurance that you really do know the spear maiden.  What are the colors of her hair, eyes, and ribbon?"

As he gave Marcus a chance to reply, Bolen reached for the discarded raincoat in Marcus's hands.  Apparently it interested him again.

What do you do?

---

Eryn
You are receiving a Bless spell bonus from Ilura.

Also, choose a debility and roll a Defy Danger with the corresponding stat.  6- and you get that debility before you roll anything else.  7-9 and you have a chance to act before the debility takes effect. 10+ and the spirit's attack was completely ineffective.  (Don't forget you are Blessed when you roll your Defy Danger!)

Hiran
You and your cloud of spirits have drawn the attention of Snarl-maw.  He thinks you are conjuring more spirits and is leaping at you to try to stop you with a tackle.

Ilura
You have the penalties of sustaining both your Bless spells, but only Eryn is receiving the benefit.  You cannot dispell one without dispelling both.

Marcus
Bolen will lead you to the rundown inn where everyone else is if you agree to his promises. Feel free to move yourself there if you do agree.  Bolen will stick close by you once you get near to the inn.

Relieved at the cooperation, although he very briefly wondered if Eryn truly wished to hear the story, Marcus handed over the garment as he described the warrior, feeling as if he could see her as he spoke "The ribbon on the spear is red. Her hair is dark, as are her eyes when she is angry. They are dark brown otherwise." he indicated for him to lead the way "You will have your introduction, and I will protect you."

Marcus followed Bolen in silence, his head bowed as he considered his failure. Humbleness quickly gave way to alarm as they neared the building and he saw a group of children and wolf cubs huddling along the street. It wasn't hard to figure out where the commotion was, and the paladin rushed forward calling out "Ilura!" as he ran and struggling to hold his sword with the stiffened fingers. Not taking notice of the man following him, he tried to figure out what was happening. Clearly surprised, but also glad to see all of his companions together, his heart sank as he started to take in the details of the scene.

21:20, Today: Marcus rolled 9 using 2d6.  Discern Realities - events at the inn.
What should I be on the lookout for?

Between the blessing recieved from Ilura, and the spirit cutting itself on the blue blade, its draining spell did not manage to faze Eryn. From a look the warrior could tell that Ilura's strength was fading. Snarl-Maw was yelling nonsense again and taking a turn for the worse.

Sensing that the spirit would keep going until either one of them was dead, Eryn knew time was short. She twisted the sword and cut upwards in one smooth motion in an effort to bat the hostile spirit away.


Well, it's trying to sap my bodily strength, so I would say that's Constitution. +1 from stat and +1 from Bless.
21:43, Today: Eryn rolled 10 using 2d6+2.  Defy Danger (CON): Vs spirit drain.

21:48, Today: Eryn rolled 9 using 2d6+3.  Hack and Slash vs spirit.
21:49, Today: Eryn rolled 7 using 1d10+1.  Damage to spirit.

Welp, bless Ilura too. That spell is useful :)

The +1 damage is from the sword. Does Bless add +1 to damage too, or only to stat-based rolls?

Ilura sank down to the floor.  Eryn was better positioned to benefit from the spell than she was.  Holding the spell was consuming enough energy as it was.

"Hold your bite, Snarl-maw!  Hiran was attacking the shadow creature, not your grandmother.  If you want to help, fetch some water and cloths."

Her voice was weaker than she would have liked.  There had been a part of her that had been attracted to the idea of being the focus of some powerful magical ritual.  But at this point, she just wanted her leg stitched up, a cool glass of wine and her bed.

In reply to Game Master (msg # 152):

OOC: I think I was adding my intelligence to the damage roll like a dummy my apologies carry over from other systems

Hiran had feared something like this might happen considering how edgy the wolf men were.  When the lunging beast came at him he deftly dodged to the side. "You stupid mutt why the hell are you attacking me I am trying to help!"

Hiran was used to seeing his own spirits and was oblivious to their visibility to all around him.  This is likely the first time anyone has seen this manifestation come from Hiran's magic.

14:26, Today: Dr Hiran Krauss rolled 12 using 2d6.  Defy Danger + dex.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:30, Tue 24 Apr 2018.

"Hey, don't leave me with these wolf-mongers!" Bolen yelled after Marcus as he struggled to keep pace with the paladin.  As the two approached the inn, they could see a muscular dark-skinned woman trying to keep the pups and children in the street in some semblance of order.  From the shadows and alleys, glimpses of adult wolves could be seen as well.  Their eyes shined reflectively in the darkness and they growled as Marcus passed, but did not pursue once it was clear he was not a threat to the young ones.

Once in the doorway, Marcus paused to observe the scene and Bolen paused right behind him, breathing heavily from the short sprint.  The inside of the inn was as delapidated and run-down as the outside.  In the large common room there was broken furniture pushed to the sides and mounds of dry grass bedding along the walls.  Across the room there was a strange cage-like structure and a hole in the wall near the chimney.

Slumped against a support beam was an old woman, motionless.  A dark spirit hovered over her.  A large man with a flaming arm was running away from her toward Hiran, who was enveloped in a shroud of spirits himself.  Ilura made a plea for the fire-armed man, Snarl-maw, to hold off, but whether it was because her voice was weak and he didn't hear her or because he was in a furious rage, the man did not stop.  He leaped at Hiran in an effort to tackle the wizard.

But Hiran, being the experienced man that he was, expertly sidestepped the attack and Snarl-maw went crashing into the wall behind Hiran.  With a bloody nose, the man turned back to face Hiran, but did not stand back up.  Either the crash into the wall or Hiran's sharp words had taken the last of the fight out of him and he slumped into the corner and remained silent.  He looked like he didn't know if he should be furious or distraught.

Meanwhile, Ilura was on the floor near Eryn.  Eryn was positively sparkling with Lusiny's light, while Ilura looked drained of it completely.  There was a spirit hovering near the two of them too, but Eryn made quick work of it.  Her blade cut up into it smoothly and the spirit seemed to realize that this was the end for it.  As the dark specter began to dissipate into harmless mists, it let out one last blast of magical energy.  It wasn't much, but it was just enough to knock the wind out of Eryn for a moment or two.

The last specter hovering over the motionless Granny-greybeard seemed alarmed that it was suddenly all alone.  After one last quick pass directly through Granny-greybeard, it flew for the front door of the inn to escape into the night.

A path that would take it directly past Marcus and Bolen.  The beggar grabbed hold of Marcus's sleeve with his good hand and took cover behind the paladin.  "Ahhh!"

What do you do?

---

Eryn
The wind got knocked out of you.  And I believe your question already got answered in the OOC thread.

Marcus
What should I be on the lookout for?
The soul-shadow about to fly right past you.

Hiran took a moment to catch his breath and calm his aching body. Once he felt a little closer to normal turned to snarl maw. "I am going to go check on your den mother, if you attack me again I promise you I will not be as gentle." Hiran says this with a smirk as he turns to Granny Greybeard to see if there is any signs of life left in her.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:40, Wed 25 Apr 2018.

Paladin's eyes narrowed and his lips pressed into a thin line as he saw completley drained Ilura. He was about to start towards her, when both he and Bolen noticed the approaching shade. Squering himself and making sure the man was protected behind him, Marcus raised his holy symbol and called out "The Silver light shines upon this path and you may not take it!" hoping to deteer it both from escaping and from harming the man he swore to protect.

21:47, Today: Marcus rolled 5 using 2d6+2.  I am the law - spirit may not leave.
Aaand we're back....

Ilura waited to see what happened with the remaining spirit before dropping her spell on Eryn.  She did however clamp a hand on her thigh to slow the bleeding.

Eryn exhaled involuntarily when the spirit struck her and she stumbled for a step, but the hardy warrior managed to keep her balance. "Marcus is here," she gasped after drawing her breath, "and I think that one's the last of the spirits."

When Marcus spoke, the spirit paused and hovered before him.  It looked as if it was judging the truth of his words.  If its path truly was barred by some sort of blessing.

It must have determined that Marcus was bluffing though, because it flew straight to and through the paladin, filling his chest cavity with a pulse of dark energy.  Bolen would have been struck too if he hadn't been cowering so low.  But when the spirit's magic struck, Marcus's internal organs suddenly felt weakened. Like they all had shut down for a second or two before starting back up.  By the time the feeling passed, the spirit was outside of the inn, about to disappear into the nearly-night sky.

While this was happening, Hiran went to check on Granny-greybeard.  His ambient spirits still flared up visibly here and there, scolding Hiran's every move, but they were starting to calm back down now that the wizard was not so charged up with arcane energies.  Snarl-maw made no move to stop him.

When Hiran reached Granny-greybeard, she appeared much more withered and wrinkled than she had previously.  There were no obvious signs of life either.  No twitches, blinking, raising and lowering of the chest cavity, or anything of the sort.  The only thing of note were some pale wisps of magical energy flowing over her skin in patters.  The patterns continued getting stronger and more noticeable the longer he observed them.

The wolf that wad been standing guard over Granny-greybeard was now laying down with its head in her lap, whimpering quietly.  Ilura could detect waves of sadness radiating from the wild canine.

What do you do?

---

Marcus
Take d6 damage from the spirit's draining magic.  Only magical armor applies.  Don't forget your XP!

Everyone
The spirit seems like it has probably escaped. (Marcus might be able to catch it if he really wants to.  Or someone could try another trick if they would like.)  There are currently no other threats present in the inn.  It's just you guys, Snarl-maw, Bolen, Granny-greybeard, and one wolf.

OOC: Could I spout lore about the magic coming from granny greybeard or manipulate the magical energy exuding off of granny greybeard or possibly use some of my own to revive her but weaken myself? Assuming the magic could sustain her life or something of the sort.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:09, Thu 26 Apr 2018.

I think Spout Lore would be the option that fits best in this situation.

Ilura dropped the spell on Eryn.  It appeared the warrior no longer needed it, and she no longer had the energy to sustain it.

"Marcus, try to help the old woman"

Ilura focused on herself.  She traced her finger over the symbol on her bow while holding her other handover her still bleeding wound.  Moon mother, if it is your wish for me still to participate in this ritual, I will need your strength and healing

quote:

16:25, Today: Ilura rolled 1 using 1d8.  Healing.
16:25, Today: Ilura rolled 8 using 2d6+2.  Cure light (self).

Not sure what sort of message Lusiny is sending there... :>

I'm not sure that I want 'attention', but I think losing "cure light" or having spells harder to cast would be worse, so 'attention' it is...

Hiran inspects Granny Greybeard closely but he is completely lost why she is exuding this magic and what it means. Is she alive? Is she dead? Was she never alive to begin with?

OOC: 16:27, Today: Dr Hiran Krauss rolled 6 using 2d6+3.  Spout Lore Granny Greybeard.
Ill take my +1 XP now Marcus is rubbing off on me

Despite struggling to inhale for a few seconds, Marcus seemed to be not worse for wear from the encounter with the shade. He was about to turn when Ilura called out and directed his attention to Granny Greybeard. For a moment considering going to the aid of his friend first, in the end he nodded and rushed to the old woman's form next to Hiran, calling out to Bolen "Stay near me or Eryn."

Putting his hands gently on the still form, heedless of the strange energy surrounding her, the paladin paused for a moment. "If something happens to me, there is a special bag." he put the bundle he was given on he floor next to Hiran "It can preserve a body. Ilura will know how to look for." he grimaced as he considered the situation and hoped neither he nor the woman would need the magical item just yet.

Seeing his blackened fingers, he glanced at Bolan and then Ilura. In the moment he knew how wrong he was. He rushed to see Ilura to ease his mind and avoid feeling guilty for something bad happening to her. He wanted to prove Bolen wrong more than to help him. Did the meeting with Doderic threw him so much off that the selfishness welled in him? He met Ilura's eyes and honored her wish, knowing his prayers would be answered this time. "I had strayed off the path, but please do not let others suffer for my foolishness." he called out and let the divine energy course through him and into the venerable matron.

10:48, Today: Marcus rolled 11 using 2d6+2.  Lay on hands - Granny.
10:49, Today: Marcus rolled 4 using 1d8.  Healing.
10:49, Today: Marcus rolled 1 using 1d6.  Damage from spirit.

If nothing else, we get a good story from bad rolls. And don't worry, they trained me to mark XP quite well ^^

As the blessed light faded, Eryn felt just a tad more weary than she thought she'd be. Spirits were not her usual forte, and she had subconsciously been tensing with stress for the entire battle. Dropping the spirit-slaying sword had been bad, for without it she had felt utterly defenseless. Worse, she could do little to protect her allies when they insisted on marching straight into danger like this.

Eryn's gaze lingered on Ilura, who had certainly come close to meeting her doom for surely the third or fourth time in two days. Hiran had shown himself to carry more than just whispers around him, and a lingering knot in her stomach wondered if maybe he had something to do with the malevolent spirits. If so it must be by accident for sure, but still... rituals like these were never safe, and the wizard had been all too eager to participate in one.

Then there was Bolen. Eryn recognized his face at once. Bolen's most tell-tale trait was the horrible black infection in his arm, but the dead eye was likewise hard to forget. Why was he here? Marcus seemed the type to help out foul-smelling vagrants, but certainly the paladin wouldn't bring one along like this for no good reason.

The warrior's thoughts paused when she noticed Marcus' blackened hand. He tried to heal Bolen, she surmised, recalling the local superstition of how the black-water infection spread by touch. But if if the blackness is truly a curse from the gods...?

Eryn chose not to dwell on it. Instead she put her weapon away and strode over to join the others near Granny's still body.

"Dreadful devils, guys," she mumbled, rubbing her temple while trying to process their current standing. The magic backlash had left her feeling a bit heavy-headed. "I don't even know what's going on. There's dozens of questions... Who is this lady, really? Where did the spirits come from, and were they sent to kill us on purpose? Marcus, where did you come from? I never got so far as to tell you where to find us."

She was about to ask about the bag Marcus had brought, but caught sight of the paladin's blackened hand once more and stopped herself. She exhaled dejectedly.

"Why did you touch Bolen?" she mumbled in a low voice.

As Eryn asked her questions, Marcus's healing touch took effect on the unmoving woman.  Her pained and withered appearance melted into a more natural and calm appearance.  Like she was more at peace now.  The magical patterns continued to flow over her skin and intensify until her entire body was glowing with patterned light.  Hiran, who was studying the patterns quite rigorously, caught a glimpse of something within the glow that couldn't be unseen.  A scene of something that happened long ago.

Then, quite suddenly, the light around Granny-greybeard's body pooled into an orb above her and the woman's body crumbled into dust.  The wolf that had been resting its head on her lap leaped back in surprise and yipped, then ran over to where Snarl-maw still sat against the wall.  The floating orb of light began gravitating toward the man as well.  Whatever magic had been inside Granny-greybeard was drawn toward Snarl-maw.

It floated over to the man, circled his head once, then headed toward Ilura.  It circled her head once, then headed back toward Snarl-maw.  It continued to float back and forth between the two, as if trying to decide on one or the other.

"What kind of mess did you guys get yourself into?" Bolen asked Eryn as he sidled up beside her.  He kept the warrior between himself and the glowing orb.

What do you do?

---

Eryn
Bolen has moved from taking cover behind Marcus to taking cover behind Eryn.

Hiran
When Hiran was observing the light patterns, he caught a glimpse of something terrible from long long ago.  Something that left him physically shaky.  He gains the Shaky debility (-1 to Dex) until he has a chance to rest and recuperate.  What did Hiran see that would cause him to have such a reaction?

Ilura
Ilura is no longer bleeding, but the wound is still there.  The color has also returned to her body and she felt a small surge of revitalization.

The orb of light from Granny-greybeard is floating between Ilura and Snarl-maw, as if trying to choose one of them.

Marcus
Marcus healed the old woman's body, but could not bring back the life that was already gone from her.  She crumbled to dust, but it was definitely not because of his healing magic.

Ilura looked at the dust and shivered.  That was nearly her.

Recovering herself, she spoke to the glowing orb.

"I will help your people if I can, but I cannot be bound to them.  My path is to prevent the Overlord from reasserting his strength.  I will not be able to stay here.  My place is in the wilderness."

She felt a bit disappointed in the limited healing of her leg.  She wasn't sure if it was because the Goddess was displeased with her or because her skills were still limited.

"Silver lady, is it still your will that I participate in Granny's ritual?"

quote:

14:23, Today: Ilura rolled 5 using 2d6+2.  Cast Guidance.

The lady is not pleased with me :(

XP taken

As Granny turned for the better, Marcus turned his attention to Eryn and replied quietly "For the wrong reasons unfortunately." and added more strongly "But I will do better. For both of us." His eyes returned to the shifting magic surrounding the old woman, and his face dropped as she turned to dust. The passage, as strange as it was, seemed like something that should have happened to the paladin, and he offered a prayer for the woman he never met "May her final night be kind, and the Silver light guide her for eternity."

Echoing the homeless man, he too asked of his companions "What happened here?" taking another look at the wandering ball of light he add "And what is going on now?" carefully moving to Ilura, intent at the the wound on her leg, Marcus offered his support with a gentle touch. "May I help you?"

22:39, Today: Marcus rolled 5 using 2d6+2.  Lay on hands - Ilura.
I'll gladly match any failure you have...

"no...no no no no, not Yalshidrath..." Hiran turned to Ilura as he saw the light of Granny Greybeard floating toward her.  "You can't accept her Ilura, I don't know if its in her blood or if she worships it but she is connected with a strange deity known as Yalshidrath...an indescribable being that seeks blood and eternal war!  This....this thing drives it's followers mad with blood lust!" Hirans hands were shaking and his nerves were on edge.

It must be this way Hiran thought to himself. Hiran moved in front of Ilura and stared directly into the floating light.  "If you seek to welcome a monster then place it inside someone whose already a monster, not an innocent like Ilura" Hiran said with what he hoped was a commanding voice but it came out shaky and uncertain.

"These guys wanted the help of Hiran and Ilura to perform some sort of ritual," Eryn said, addressing both Bolen and Marcus. "Some bad spirits showed up before they could begin, so you didn't miss much."

The warrior glanced uneasily over at the glowing ball hanging in the air, then at Hiran who was being ominous as usual.

"Something tells me this is far from over. We shouldn't cast anymore spells in here - it feels almost like the spirits are latching onto the magic..."

Hiran, it sounds to me like you are "acting despite an imminent threat using charm and social grace."  Please roll me a Defy Danger + Cha.

Eryn may have had a point about not casting magic.  As Hiran stepped in front of the orb and Marcus and Ilura cast their magic, an aura of dimness emminated from the orb.  A low hum and a brisk chill filled the air.  The room began to feel a lot like that moment just before a storm where the sky was dark and the wind picked up, but the rain hadn't started to fall just yet.

At Ilura's plea for guidance, the symbol on her bow started to glow again.  But it quickly sputtered and went dull once more.  Instead of gaining insight, the ranger was gifted with a brief sensation of panic emanating from the symbol of Lusiny.

Similarly, the spark of healing magic in Marcus's palm was incredibly fleeting.  When he pulled his hand away from Ilura, a bloody hand print remained.  Which was strange considering neither himself nor Ilura were bleeding.

As Hiran and the glowing orb sized each other up, a low rumbling voice spoke from the orb, rattling the entire room.  "Yahanoosh!"  It was a word that Eryn immediately recognized from her travels.  It was from the language spoken by the tribes of the tar field wastes.

---

Eryn
What does "Yahanoosh" mean?  Do you know more of the language or about the tribes?

Hiran
Hiran, same as earlier. It sounds to me like you are "acting despite an imminent threat using charm and social grace."  Please roll me a Defy Danger + Cha.

Ilura
You didn't gain any guidance, but you did get a brief impression of panic before your spell cut out.

Marcus
Your healing magic cut out on you.  You were not able to heal Ilura, and when you removed your hand, a bloody hand print remained behind.  But the blood was not from either of you.

Everyone
Feel free to add any meaning or background information to the above scene as you feel it is appropriate.

Ilura had felt fear and somewhat out of her depth when the specter had killed her mentor, but at its core, the fear was still one of prudence and caution.  There were times in nature when you simply knew you were outmatched and the only reasonable response was retreat or non-action.

The feeling she had now was different.  If her newly found Goddess was panicking, what success could she, a lowly human, hope to achieve?  Her magic had left her.  She had no arrows - and even if her quiver was at hand, they'd be of no use against some incorporeal ball.  In her weakened state, she found herself beset by trembling that would not stop and it was all she could to keep herself from bursting into terrified tears.

She could sense the fear from the remaining wolves too.  They stood, hackles raised, but tails lowered.  The command from the mother to her cubs was clear.  [Hide!]  She could hear the little ones skittering to a hole in the wall of the old building.  Thomas was cowering quietly in a corner.

The ranger found herself wishing that she could hide too, but there was nowhere to run, and she couldn't abandon her friends.  So she remained where she was, shaking - unsure whether there was any point praying to a Goddess who herself trembled.

quote:

13:23, Today: Ilura rolled 8 using 2d6+1.  Not run away.

I know a roll wasn't required, but in her current state, running away seemed a distinct possibility.  Rolled WIS with a -1 penalty.  I figure that's enough of a success to stay where I am, but not to do much else - at least not yet.

EDIT: spelling
This message was last edited by the player at 02:14, Fri 04 May 2018.

"All of you back away, I will handle this." Hiran breathed heavily clearly nervous but waved his hands behind him trying to indicate the others to back away and leave this threat.


OOC: 21:32, Today: Dr Hiran Krauss rolled 8 using 2d6+1.  Defy Danger + Cha.

"Yahanoosh" - a term which could be loosely translated as "black sleep". It was used by tar field dwellers to refer to those unfortunate souls who got stuck in the tar and slowly dragged deeper until they drowned. Bodies encased in tar would be mummified and preserved over time, but the tar also gave them a dark discoloration which had led to the name. In order to avoid this fate, those living in the wastes used stilts and broad wading shoes to avoid sinking.

Eryn was not one to jump to conclusions, but if a spirit was hovering in front of them and using a term from the tar pits, it must have some significance. Was Granny originally from the tar pits, perhaps? Was this her own spirit, or something evil that had tagged along?

Given how central these pits were to these people's lives, they had their own set of religious beliefs in addition to the more common worship of the twin godesses. The most well-known was the tar demon, the black demon... the one that swam through the bottom of the black bog, and slowly dragged people down by their feet to their doom. Even if someone managed to escape they would still bear marks of its touch. It had wandered the wastes since ancient times and dripped so much blackness from its body that the place became the tar pits.

In the version of the story that Eryn had heard, the demon had many brothers. They were the ones that dragged people to their deaths in bogs, in shifting sands, and at sea. No matter what kind of demon it was, however, they always left a mark on those they touched. Whether it was black tar or black water, people around the world always attributed it to something evil, tainted, or cursed. Worse than black marks, however, were the marks of fresh blood... Eryn knew Marcus would not be happy about being the one to leave such a handprint.

On the other hand, none of the demons she knew of matched the description of the deity Hiran had named. The connection - if there was any - was not immediately obvious to her.

"They... could be will-o-wisps from the tar pits," Eryn said, taking a few steps back from the sight on Hiran's orders. "It just said 'black sleep' - the fate that awaits those dragged into to their deaths by a demon living in the tar. They say the demon will steal both body and soul, and leave the body sleeping while the soul wanders, filled with hate and malice."

She looked nervously around the room, then over at Hiran. "If it was such a spirit, however, it should be leaving tar, not blood, and the poor old woman would never have acted so... normal beforehand. I trust Hiran's judgement more than my own on this one."

She steeled herself and slowly drew the magic sword again.

"Tell me if you need me to strike it, wizard."
This message was last edited by the player at 08:11, Fri 04 May 2018.

Marcus stared at his palm and the bloody mark it left on Ilura, his face contorted in both confusion and horror. Something foul still remained here. Eryn's words didn't fill him with any resolve, and he looked almost helplessly at Hiran, not trusting himself to try anything else. "Tell us what you need." he implored, not liking the option of staying back any more than stepping forward.

After several more tense moments, the floating orb began to make a bubbling sound.  Like a thick stew that got too hot.  Then a thick black liquid began dripping out of the orb onto the ground.  As it dripped, it coalesced into a small humanoid form.  But it wasn't human.  It was a form that could only be described as demonic.

Once a mouth took shape, the tar-skinned demon began speaking even as it continued to form itself.  "Finally, a willing soul to release me from The Mother's bindings.  My brothers will surely be glad to have me back in the fold.  Let us spread the glory of Yalshidrath together, human!  What being do you wish to sacrifice to gain my strength?"  The demon looked hungrily among the people and animals gathered in the inn, waiting for Hiran to choose one.  As he did, the last of the black goop dripped from the floating orb.  The orb of light then dissipated into nothing.

What do you do?

---

Everyone
A demon made of tar dripped out of the glowing orb.  It asked Hiran who he wanted to sacrifice to gain his power, so that they might spread the glory of Yalshidrath together.

Ilura glanced from Eryn to Marcus and then to Hiran.  The look on her face was clear.  If Hiran tried to ally himself with this "thing", then he would have to die - even if it meant they were going to die too.

She slowly got to her feet, praying quietly as she did so.  Mother, we need your help.  Channel your strength through the warrior before me, for she will surely need it to defeat this evil

quote:

17:13, Today: Ilura rolled 10 using 2d6+2.  Bless Eryn.

Yay, I didn't suck! :)  (yet...)

Eryn, take +1 to all your rolls going forward until this combat ends.  Or you die ;)

Hiran paused and delayed for as long as he could contemplating not about who to sacrifice but on if he knew how he could bind this demon like granny had done before.  Perhaps a ritual on this night could have the effect he sought.  If not he was ready to sacrifice himself.



OOC: Hoping this is appropriate if not let me know Hiran's not sacrificing anyone for this demon.  Hoping I can bind it to the pit of shadow or some nonsense like that.


00:24, Today: Dr Hiran Krauss rolled 13 using 2d6+2.  Spout lore on demon binding.

The feeling of magic seeping into her body was unmistakable, and it came with a boost in confidence that let Eryn stand strong in her fighting stance even in the face of the twisted being in front of them. She could do little but wait and see what Hiran would do about the creature, so instead the warrior silently observed the misshapen tar demon while mentally preparing herself to defend her comrades - especially Ilura, weakened as she was.

09:17, Today: Eryn rolled 6 using 2d6+2.  Defend my comrades against the demon.
Oh dear.

Taken aback by the demon's appearance and its request, Marcus wondered if the whole day was meant to be a test of his resolve and conviction. He would meet whatever else came regardless of the will of fate and gods.

Marcus steadied himself, ready to follow up on whatever Eryn had in plan, once again deciding to follow judgment of others after he had failed so many times. Catching her glance, he nodded and prepared to bring forth his shield.

14:55, Today: Marcus rolled 10 using 2d6+1.  Aid Eryn.
There you go

Nice! In that case I will Hold 1 for Defend and not mark XP.

Ilura's magic coursed through the ranger, slowly at first.  But then she could feel a concerted effort push the magic through the "background noise" and fill Eryn with vitality. Then, with Eryn guarding Ilura, Marcus helping her, and Bolen cowering behind all of them, the tar-demon looked hungrily toward Snarl-maw and the wolf next to him.  The thug had fear in his eye as he used the wall to get to his feet.  "Don't- don't let it get me," he said to the growling wolf nervously.  The demon didn't move yet though.  He seemed to be waiting (for now) for Hiran to make his choice.  Its tar-coated skin bubbled with a pungent odor and occasionally dripped thick drops onto the floor of the inn.

Luckily for the wizard, even though demon binding was a nearly-lost art form, he happened to know a few carefully guarded secrets about the process.  Most notably, while binding a demon did require a sacrifice at a Place of Power, taking a life was overkill.  A few spoonfuls of blood from any living creature would do the trick.  And secondly (and more importantly), once a demon gives someone permission to bind it, that person gets to decide to what the demon is bound. And a demon can be bound to an item rather than a person, so long as the item had a strong personal connection to the person acting as the conduit for the ritual.  This is a piece of information that demons go to great lengths to keep secret.  They do not like to be bound to inanimate objects like some sort of bargain-bin genie.

What do you do?

---

Everyone
The demon is waiting for Hiran's choice of sacrifice, but seems to be growing increasingly impatient as time goes on.

Hiran
Demons can be bound to items rather than people with a fairly simple Ritual.  If you decide to try that, it will require a few spoonfuls of fresh blood and an item of personal significance.  The more the item means to you personally, the better the results are likely to be.

Seeing that Eryn has managed to get into a good defensive position, as good as the situation and the unknown foe allowed, Marcus couldn't ignore the man's plea. Mockery and everything else forgotten, the paladin circled the demon, making use of the time it took to examine Hiran with as much as the wizard dedicated to it. His shield still at ready, Marcus nodded at SNarl maw and the wolf, letting them retreat as he stood guard.

20:43, Today: Marcus rolled 8 using 2d6+1.  Defend Snarl-maw.
Holding 1

Hiran knew what he had to do so he thought fast and would explain later.  He pulled out his prized possession, his grimoire of spells.  The very book that has set him on this path.  He laid it down at his feet pulled out his surgical blade and sliced into his wrist dropping blood upon the book and beginning the ritual fo bind this beast before it could cause anymore harm.

"Xuthoesk valentio demasio bindalore!" Hiran summoned forth the magic calling upon the powers of the ritual circle and his own mystical power to form a cage around the demon and drive it into his spellbook.

The demon smiled maliciously as Hiran readied his blade for a sacrifice, but that smile quickly became a look of concern as Hiran used the blade on himself.  "Wait," the demon bargained as Hiran drew upon his magic, but it was already too late.

With a rush of wind, the runes carved into the nearby Place of Power flared up with a red glow.  The demon made a rush toward the exit, but didn't get two feet before the magic of the ritual caught him in his tracks.  "NOOOOO!  I just got free!" he said as he wrenched his claws into the wood floor.  Hiran's magic pulled the tar-demon toward the wizard's book in a tornado of magical energies.  The demon left sticky black streaks where he was dragged across the floor.  As the demon flailed and struggled to resist the pull, flecks of hot tar flew everywhere, but with two shield-bearers protecting everyone, they did little harm.  And any flecks of hot tar thrown Hiran's way were siphoned directly into the magical vortex and funneled into his spellbook.

Had Hiran chosen an object of less significance for his ritual, the demon may have stood a chance at escaping the pull.  But as it was, Hiran's powerful relationship to his magic tome made the binding magic proportionally strong.  As the demon was chest-deep into the book, he let out one last string of vile curse words in at least five different languages, then finished off with, "My brothers will avenge me, wizard.  You wait and see.  They'll..."  And then the demon was inside Hiran's spellbook and the ritual was complete.

When the glow of magic faded, Hiran's spellbook remained on the floor, apparently harmless, although it looked unmistakably transformed.  When the wizard next got an opportunity to leaf through it, he would find that its pages were now jet black with blood-red script. And a few demonic symbols could be found scribbled in places where they did not use to be.  More obvious though was the cover.  The outside of the book looked like it was made of hot tar now.  Although it was merely slightly warm to the touch, and was only mildly sticky.

The moment the demon was bound to the book, both Ilura and Marcus became keenly aware of a change to the room.  A non-physical change.  One not easily describable with words.  They could feel Lusiny's presence more easily now.  It was akin to being pulled out from under a pile of sand and being able to breathe properly once again.

"Is it safe?" Bolen asked meekly, peeking out from behind Eryn.

"What the hell was that?" Snarl-maw asked.  He seemed to be struggling to regain his naturally tough demeanor.  The wolf beside him continued to growl at the demonic book, hair raised.

What do you do?

Ilura had her sword partially drawn ready to strike Hiran down when he pulled the dagger across his own flesh rather than stabbing someone else.  She watched with awed amazement as the funnel formed around the demon and drew him into the book.

"I thought it was safe before.  And then those shadow things showed up.  So I don't really know..."

She walked up to the mage and put a hand on his shoulder.  "Thank you.  For doing that.  I really thought that was the end for us...

Will you be able to use it still?  Your book I mean?"

The notion of magic was still new to her, but already she had a sense of what it might mean to lose it.  She couldn't begin to imagine what it would mean to someone like Hiran who had made it his life's work.

"I think it's safe," Eryn said, and took her eyes off the grimoire lying on the floor long enough to glance over at Hiran. "It seemed desperate to escape, but could not. Nice work, wizard."

The warrior resisted the urge to skewer the corrupted book with the magic blade she was holding, and instead sheathed the weapon to make sure Snarl-maw would not sense any hostile intent from her. The loss of his ally would weigh heavily enough on him as it was.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:35, Fri 11 May 2018.

Hiran smiled as he dragged the demon into it's prison, a sense of pride and doing the right thing that frankly the old wizard wasn't used to feeling.

Then he picked up his book and began to leaf through it.  The sticky warm feeling and odd symbols gave him pause then Ilura touched his shoulder. "It's no problem Ilura, we all have particular skill sets, this just happened to be in my area of expertise." Then he looked down at his spellbook and shrugged his shoulders and gave a slightly confused smile. "I think so and I wouldn't want to leave it somewhere for someone else to free this thing from the cage I trapped it in. I guess the true answer is, we shall see."


Once things calmed down a bit Hiran then mentioned to his companions. "So I came here originally for two rituals both of which must be done tonight.  My hand hurts but there's no reason I cannot perform them still if everyone is okay with that?"

Ilura looked over at Snarl-Maw.

"I'm sorry for what happened to your mother.  Is this ritual something you still want us to go through with?"

The notion of being able to ask questions of the moon mother might help to lead them to how best to stop the Overlord.

His eyes narrow, Macram observed the binding with a tenseness that threatened to pull him apart. Fortunately, the mage knew exactly what he was doing and as the demon's last threat faded away, the paladin relaxed a bit. "Evil." he replied to Snarl-maw before moving to his friends "Pure evil."

Nodding in appreciation to the doctor, Marcus gently covered the wounded hand with his own at the plan to continue the rituals. "You have done a great service" he proclaimed as he channeled the healing light "may at least some of the price be repaid."

"As for the rituals, what are they exactly?" Marcus asked and glanced around the room and towards the door he came through "And is it wise to perform them with everything that happened?"

22:42, Today: Marcus rolled 14 using 2d6+2.  Lay on hands - Hiran.
22:42, Today: Marcus rolled 3 using 1d8.  Damage healed.

Hirans hands shook though his mind was starting to calm.  "Thank you marcus my aching body needed that.  It seems the elder woman here was either possessed or herself worshipped Yalshidrath, a deity of blood and eternal war. We must do what we can to protect my spellbook so that this thing is never released.

As for the rituals, I can't speak to the one Ilura asked me to investigate i'm not sure exactly what it is intended to do.  The ritual I wish to perform must be done tonight due to the state of the moon, if done correctly I can use the pit of shadow to improve my spellcasting capabilities. "

"The tome you are carrying looks corrupted. Will you still be able to use it?" Though she was still a fledgling apprentice, Eryn had gathered that with how complex magic spells were to prepare, a spellbook was an absolute requirement for most wizards. If Hiran's personal notes had been marred by the demon's presence, he could be severely disadvantaged until he got the opportunity to redo them all.

The wizard didn't seem too concerned at first glance, however. Hopefully that means it's nothing serious, she thought to herself whilst retrieving her own book from her bag and checking it for demonic marks... just to be sure.

Snarl-maw worked to calm down the wolf beside him as he thought about Ilura's question about continuing with the ritual.  He seemed much more somber now, but like he was either on the verge of a complete breakdown or a fit of rage.  Finally he answered calmly, "I don't know how to do the ritual.  That was Granny's thing.  So do whatever you want with the ritual area.  I don't care."  The big thug took a deep breath to calm himself, then quite suddenly flipped a table halfway across the room.  The wolf yelped in surprise. "But if you think you can still do her ritual, I could sure use some gods-damned answers!"  He clenched his fist and punched at the wall, only slowing his fist at the last possible moment to avoid breaking bones.  "Why was that demon inside her?  She wasn't no follower of Yallsbreath or whatever you said, I can tell you that.  She always let the moons guide her clan.  Well, I guess my clan now...  What'll I tell the pups and the kidos?"

---

Eryn
You find no noticeable demonic marks in your book (other than what you may have put in there yourself).

Hiran
Marcus healed you a bit.  Don't forget to mark down +3 HP!

Everyone
You have a few hours before the moons eclipse for one or more of your rituals, so feel free to come up with what you want to do to fill that time.

It should be fine Eryn but there is never certainty in magic remember that as you become more adept.  Never lose that fear it will save you from yourself.

Hiran will comb through his spellbook and the book Granny Greybeard had him look over for any signs of strangeness or concern other than what is already known.

Ilura walked over to the palidin and speaks quietly.  "Can you feel her again?  I'm wondering if she might be willing to help this space.  Would you be willing to help me with that?  I really don't want to have to deal with those shadow things again..."

Was thinking of us doing sanctuary.  Would it make sense for you to help me?

Hiran
Nothing is obviously standing out to you as odd that you hadn't already noticed before. However, you can try rolling a Discern Realities if you are trying to dig deeper into what you already discovered, or if you are taking new information into account.  I will leave that decision up to you.  I posted below what you learned the last time you Discerned Realities on the book, for easy reference.

Observing Snarl-maw with pity, Marcus tried to find words that he could speak to help the man. But the ordeals of the day depleted even his reservoirs of hope, leaving him silent, a tear forming in his eye.

Thankful for a distraction Marcus nodded at Ilura's question and proceeded to stash his shield and prepare his holy symbol, favoring the left hand. "I will follow you. he got ready to mirror the ranger's sanctification of the building, knowing that the process would likely take too long without his aid. "And thank you for doing it." he started back towards the path, but it felt right for Ilura to do the ritual.

21:36, Today: Marcus rolled 10 using 2d6+1.  Aid Ilura - Sanctuary.
No problem whatsoever ;)

Ilura wasn't really sure exactly what she should do.  The glow of her staff had reinvigorated with the disappearance of the demon.  She had heard that blessings and wardings often involved the use of water.  Acting in part through guess-work, in part through instinct, or perhaps through Lusiny's influence, she retrieved the bowl and handed her bow to Marcus, directing him to hold it and his own holy symbol close over top, the symbols centered over the middle of the bowl.  With a small prayer to the silver goddess, she poured the remaining water from her flask into the bowl, splashing over the glowing symbol.

She smiled when the water held some of the same glow.  She poured half of the water into a mug and handed it to Marcus then took the bowl herself.  She went to the door and circled one way, leaving Marcus to circle the other way.  As she walked, she dipped her hand into the bowl, flicking small droplets of water against the walls, doorways and window sills.  When the two of them met on the other side of the building, there was a subtle flash of silver light around the walls of the building that faded into the stone in a similar manner to the light that had faded into her bow the previous night.  It was hard to believe it had only been a night ago.

She smiled at the large fighter.  "Shall we go in and see if we can try again with this?", gesturing to her still obviously injured leg and the bloody hand-print on it.

quote:

22:07, Today: Ilura rolled 11 using 2d6+3.  Cast Sanctuary.

Hiran seeing the additional information they had gathered and the whole situation with the god and demon decided to take an extra look at all of the information and this ritual space to see if he could find anything else.  Otherwise it seemed like a simple spell that could use any vessel with unknown consequences good or bad.



OOC: 12:50, Today: Dr Hiran Krauss rolled 4 using 2d6+1.  Discern realities with plus 1 forward.
+1 XP yay lol

Feeling better as he walked around the building, despite the worried faces of humans and wolves gathered around it, Marcus whispered lines of scripture during the work, rebuking himself for his earlier failings when he reached advice against selfishness and pride.

"Let's." he agreed with an encouraging smile and offered to support Ilura on their way back. Once inside the building, he knelt and after a moment of consideration put his hand on the print he left before. "Shadow wounds fade against the light." he stated with certainty he didn't have before and slowly rose as the silver power did its work.

Moving to Snarl-maw, he offered a solemn "If there is anything you need from me," he looked at his friends and knew they would offer the same and corrected himself "from us, let us know. For now, we'll try to finish what we came here to do." he looked questioningly at Hiran, unsure if, and what, was decided on the topic of rituals. "May I make use of one of your rain barrels?" he asked of the night-son, gesturing at the back of the building.

21:39, Today: Marcus rolled 10 using 2d6+2.  Lay on hands - Ilura.
21:39, Today: Marcus rolled 4,2 using 1d8,1d4.  Healing.

"My knowledge of the divine arts are shaky," Eryn said. "Will this warding spell of yours shield us from spirits, should they decide to pay us another visit? And if so, will it interfere with the ritual Hiran is about to perform?"

Eryn didn't feel too comfortable with staying in a room filled with the remnants of demonic magic - especially not with a tainted individual like Bolen present for spirits to gnaw at -  but she shook the old superstitions from her mind. If Hiran and the others said it was safe, it probably was. She had seen magic in action, and knew it could be sensed.

Now that the fight was over, she decided to take a look for herself, just to be sure. Eryn closed her eyes, mumbled the incantation to herself, and focused on letting the latent magic of this place flow into her field of vision. An uncomfortable sensation caused her to open her eyes again prematurely, however. Clearly she still hadn't mastered the spell.


22:09, Today: Eryn rolled 6 using 2d6.  Cast a Spell (Detect Magic): Sight.

Ilura and Marcus's sanctification of the rundown inn went flawlessly.  The divine shielding was almost palpable.  And it was obvious from the magic's effect that nobody within the inn currently had ill intent toward anyone else inside.  Additionally, Marcus's healing magic felt more potent than usual.  Not only did it heal some of Ilura's wounds, but the bloody hand print disappeared as well.

When Marcus asked Snarl-maw about using the rain barrel, he replied, "Yeah, go for it.  Use whatever you want.  I think this is going to be the last night we use this place for anything.  I can't imagine staying in this dump anymore now that my granny died here."  He looked around the room and frowned.  "I'm going to go help the kids and pups move to another building.  I'll be back in about an hour."  Snarl-maw whistled for the wolf to follow him and headed for the door.

As Hiran reexamined the book with all of the additional clues he had recently been exposed to, he got the sense that he was missing something fairly obvious but couldn't quite put his finger on what.  If he had a week or two to study further he would no doubt be able to figure out what it was.  But he did not have that much time since the ritual would need to be started in less than two hours.  The detail he was missing probably wasn't anything noteworthy anyway...

When Eryn closed her eyes to cast her spell, the magic began flowing through her in a familiar way.  It coursed through her veins as it wove into her intended effect.  Just before the magic gave her the ability to see magic, it gave her the ability to feel it nearby instead.  And in that moment, Eryn felt a putrid wave of magical energy flow over her, causing the warrior to feel ill and open her eyes.  With her eyes opened, she could see Bolen standing in front of her, well within her personal space bubble, and he was smiling with a half-toothless grin.

"Hey, want to hear that fishing story I came to tell you?" he asked, still smiling.  His breath smelled like hot wet garbage.  He started right up with his story before Eryn could turn him down.  As he spoke, it became increasingly clear to Eryn that the sickening feeling she was sensing was coming from the cursed flesh that covered half of Bolen's body.  As long as he remained near, it seemed that sickening feeling would not go away.  And Bolen showed no signs of letting up with his stories, or showing any concerns for personal space.

What do you do?

---

Ilura and Marcus
All of your magics seem to be working perfectly at the moment.  The blessings of Lusiny are certainly present at this time!

Hiran
You feel like you are missing a detail about the ritual, but can't place what.  It's probably nothing noteworthy...

Eryn
Your botched spell made you extra sensitive to the putrid magic radiating from Bolen's cursed flesh.  As long as he is nearby (within spear range) you have the Sick condition (-1 to Con).  And he seems intent on following you around to tell you his fishing stories.

Nodding in thanks and acknowledgment to Snarl-maw, Marcus moved over to the barrel, and deciding it held enough water, started his own ritual. "Lusiny, I transgressed and assume too much." he spoke as he lifted his right arm, the taint not only covering his entire fist but tendrils of it already reaching past his elbow. "But the man who carries the curse helped despite the danger to himself, and I wish to ask for a chance to repay his kindness." submerging his whole arm into the barrel, imploring "Let my hand be an extension of your own and guide him to his redemption."

Quest: Defend Bolem from the iniquities that beset them

Boons: An unwavering sense of direction to the item or person that can lift his curse
Invulnerability to the Black Curse

Vows: ?

Hiran shrugged this wasn't the first time he had to use his magic without knowing all of the details so whats the problem with doing it that way with the rituals.

He walked over to Ilura as it got closer to the time and tapped her on the shoulder. "Ilura, do you wish to go through your ritual first or mine? I don't have a personal preference but it's almost time to get them started."

Oh please no.

The stench was horrible. Revolting. How a man could let himself slip into such a deteriorated state was unimaginable. Did Bolen eat trash straight from the bin? Did he sleep on his boat in a pile of chum? Had he ever washed or brushed his teeth, ever, in all his miserable years? Eryn didn't even want to know, and she was used to hanging out with travelers that smelled of blood, sweat and grime for days on end.

It took a few moments for her to realize that the spell she had attempted to cast had manifested after all, and that the smell was not a natural one. The magic had failed to enhance her sight, and had instead run wild and become more hindering than helpful.

Even safely back in the city, Eryn found the black beach haunting her with the foul presence of its curse. The moisture of humid decomposing flesh hung in the air. Whether real or imagined, it forced its way into her nostrils every time she inhaled. When Bolen spoke of a fish he had caught that had another still-intact fish inside it, Eryn suddenly recalled the horrible witch's brew that had made her spew seawater the day before. The sell-sword's throat cramped involuntarily, and she forced herself to swallow dryly to avoid vomiting.

Eryn knew it wasn't Bolen's fault. The smell was magical, nothing natural about it. She felt a tiny bit guilty from judging the fisherman so quickly, but the feeling vanished when she realized he was utterly blind to her discomfort. He was standing closer than any person with a common social awareness would ever do. If he was a drunken bar patron she could just have decked him, but sadly the ever-righteous Marcus had just sworn to protect this downtrodden soul against injustice... and as repulsive as he seemed at the moment, the man was just trying to be friendly.

"I need some air," she suddenly blurted out. It came out a bit more curtly than she had intended, but keeping it terse was all she could do to avoid heaving right then and there. The warrior turned and walked out the door, following Snarl-Maw and his wolf into the clean, fresh, wonderful air outside.

Eryn took a few deep breaths to clear the nausea from her system. The queasy feeling passed, but the budding wizard could tell that her miscast spell would be sticking around for a while. If Snarl-Maw's glowing arm was any indication, even failed magic could linger for a long time.

"We got off on the wrong foot, I think," she said to Snarl-Maw. She wasn't too interested in conversing with the gruff stranger, but it beat going back inside. Hopefully being engaged in a new conversation would make Bolen stay away for a blessed minute or two as well. "I'm sorry for trying to force my way past you earlier, but I was worried about my companions going into a back-alley hideout to perform magic rituals with people I don't know. It wasn't entirely unfounded, as I'm sure you noticed."

She paused.

"I'm sorry your granny died," she said, after some deliberation. "Our wizard will find out why it had to happen, and we will ensure it does not happen to anyone else. In the meantime, I seem to be the only one who's not casting any more spells tonight. If you need my help with any mundane tasks after what happened here, let me now."



GM, a few questions:
* Could I potentially dismiss the effect by (successfully) re-casting the spell, or will I just have to wait for the effect to pass?
* If she got close to him, would Eryn sense the same smell coming from the taint on Marcus' hand?
* Is Snarl-Maw's arm still glowing from the earlier failed spell?

Ilura retrieved Thomas from the corner where he'd been doing his best to keep out of the way, wondering what was likely to come next.  She stroked his feather calmingly and whispered to him quietly for a moment before placing him on her shoulder.

"I think it's probably best to ask the questions before we do your ritual.  We may learn things that would lead us to change how we wish to use the stone or what second ritual we should conduct."

She glanced over to the book the old woman had shared and back to Hiran.  "With grandmother no longer here, are you *sure* you know what steps need to be taken.  Do you understand what the runes and cage are there for?  Is there anything I need to do to prepare?"

"I've looked over the ritual and im pretty clear on the ritual.  It's not necessary to be used on you though if you don't wish it.  Anyway what questions do you have I feel like we have been over the rituals several times now?"

"Just the ones I asked - what's the cage for and do I need to do anything to prepare?"

Sensing that Hiran was in a hurry to get things under way, the ranger decided to do one last check.  She uttered a quiet prayer as she walked toward the ritual circle"Silver mother, is it still your will that I proceed with this ritual?"

She took one last walk around the cage, looking for anything that seemed out of place or anything else that might guide her actions.  [Look for dangers]

quote:

16:24, Today: Ilura rolled 11 using 2d6+2.  Cast Guidance.

16:28, Today: Ilura rolled 8 using 2d6+4.  Discern realities w/ Thomas.

What should I be on the lookout for?

When Marcus removed his arm from the rain barrel, the withered flesh on his hand seemed to inflate back to its normal state.  The blackness dripped off of him as the water did the same.  Where it fell to the floor, the tainted water drops sizzled away into harmless vapor.  The paladin could immediately feel a guiding force take root at the back of his mind, directing him unwaveringly in the general direction of the ocean, but the distance in that direction he needed to go was still unclear.  Along with that guiding force was a sense that it was extra important to be hospitable to those in need until Bolen's curse was lifted.

The vagrant fisherman seemed intent to follow Eryn outside for fresh air at fist, but stopped at the doorway when it became clear she intended to have a word with Snarl-maw.  He frowned and looked aimlessly at the floor while he waited for Eryn to return so he could finish his story.

Snarl-maw was himself busy giving instructions to Quick-paw, the woman who had been guarding the front entrance, but paused and turned his attention to Eryn when she addressed him.  "Whatever.  It doesn't matter anymore."  He said it like a someone who didn't want to admit he had made the wrong decision no matter how obvious it was that he had.  "If ya really wanna help, scrounge up enough food to feed a pack of wolves.  Granny would whack me good if she knew I let the clan's bellies go empty."  He punched his still-glowing fist into his non-glowing one and smiled a reminiscent smile to himself.  He sniffled sharply, then started walking briskly down the street.  A quick whistle and wave of his arm signaled the rest of his group to follow.  "If you can do that, I'll overlook your little transgressions from earlier."

Meanwhile, back inside, Ilura took one last glance at the caged ritual area.  Everything seemed to about as she expected, but one detail did catch her eye that had escaped notice before.  The door to the cage seemed to be designed so that it could be locked from both the inside and the outside separately.  Made both to keep people in, and to keep people out.  However, with the way the cage bars were constructed, anyone locked in would not have much difficulty climbing up and out through the open-air ceiling.  A detail Ilura was reminded of when she cast her magic.

Lusiny's symbol appeared before her as it did before.  This time though, instead of gesturing toward Granny-greybeard's magic book, the symbol shot up into the air, pointing toward the sky.  No, not to the sky.  To the moon.  Lusiny's silver moon was just coming into view.  And arriving perpendicular to it was Cherka's red one, poised to cross paths before much longer.

What do you do?

---

Eryn

quote:

GM, a few questions:
* Could I potentially dismiss the effect by (successfully) re-casting the spell, or will I just have to wait for the effect to pass?
* If she got close to him, would Eryn sense the same smell coming from the taint on Marcus' hand?
* Is Snarl-Maw's arm still glowing from the earlier failed spell?

I'll let you dismiss the effect if you can succeed on a Defy Danger +Int roll.  Eryn would smell a fainter, less noxious version of the effect if she had gone near Marcus before his curse just got healed.  And yes, Snarl-maw's arm is still glowing.

Hiran
I will let you decide if there is anything Ilura would need to do to prepare for the ritual.

Ilura
Your Guidance spell directed your attention toward Lusiny's silver moon in the sky.  What course of action does this gesture suggest to Ilura?  As in, how does Ilura interpret it?

What should I be on the lookout for?
The cage can lock people in and/or lock people out.  Perhaps so nobody goes in or out during the ritual?  Perhaps for different reasons.

Marcus
Your vow is Hospitality.  Also, your hand is cured!

That could have been clearer...

She turned back to the mage.

"Is there any chance we can tune the ritual to ask a question of Lusiny directly rather than her mother?"

"The cage isn't important other than it resides directly in the line of the eclipse which is required of whoever this ritual is being cast upon."

He ponders Ilura's question for a moment. "I could direct the words towards Lusiny herself but your adding another variable to the ritual that could have unforeseen consequences.  That and I can only do this once and still have time for my own ritual."

As he talks Hiran prepares the chalk outlines and arcane symbols standard for a basic ritual.  He then gathers the various herbs and minerals needed then begins to grind them up.  "Ilura please put a drop of blood in the bowl, it's not a requirement but it may help empower me if I need it...." Hiran pauses for a moment takes a deep breath then looks Ilura sternly in the eyes. "You may not like what you see when my magic begins, do not be afraid it is under my control...and I cannot have you panicking or being aggressive, it will only lead to additional problems.  If were in agreement then it's about time to begin."