I mean someone did burn down the local castle, they might have just graduated to 'small town'.
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Finding the Spark (Pathfinder 1E Quest)
- Thread starter DragonParadox
- Start date
- Fantasy
-
- Tags
- pathfinder
I mean someone did burn down the local castle, they might have just graduated to 'small town'.
Vote closed.
Arc 10: Post 24: A Glimpse Through the Bottle
A Glimpse Through the Bottle
28th of Kuthona 4707 A.R. (Absalom Reckoning)
"We should move on..." You add your voice to Sirim's. and after a moment Gorok agrees.
For his part Cob isn't happy at the decision. but he consoles himself by clambering atop Warty and giving the slurk a good scratch, much to the interest of Anippe, though it doesn't quite extend as far as asking for a slurk-back ride.
Still, at Mina's request Pepper sets out to have a look at the town from above. He comes back with strange and worrying news. The people of Longacre; veterans, woodsmen, and even the priest who helped you before seem to be standing in front of their houses and watching them burn. A rite perhaps? Some manner of curse? Regardless, by the time Pepper had gotten there most had started shuffling into the woods. All the more reason to quicken the pace.
Over the remainder of the day and much of the night that follows no more troubling signs show themselves as the iruxi keep on the move with all the hardiness you had come to expect of the scaled folk. Even the hatchlings, with their bright colored scales, barely chirp a complaint as they doze off on the adults' shoulders. The most commotion they make is when one of them apparently cheated at some obscure child's game played with colored river-pebbles and dry sticks of the kind children seem to invent as easily as breathing. Thankfully, their elders have the patience to untangle what had gone wrong and deal with the complaint before it gets too loud.
At Gorok's suggestion the tribe had not sent out hunters after seeing the burning village, instead making due with their supplies of dried meat, pickled eggs, and bone broth. Iruxi cuisine isn't the most flavorful, the winter-shrouded woods and half-frozen marshlands having nothing to season them with but roots and cattail stalks.
***
29th of Kuthona 4707 A.R. (Absalom Reckoning)
It's around mid-evening on the following day that you find something and it doesn't take much searching, for in a follow in by the river not far from the point where it meets the wider Iseld someone is singing very, very badly.
Be merry my hearts, and call for your quarts,
and let no liquor be lacking,
We have gold in store, we purpose to roare,
untill we set care a packing.
Then Hostis make haste, and let no time waste,
let every man have his due,
To save shooes and trouble, bring in the pots double
for he that made one, made two.
It surely has the ring of a tavern song, though there's no drinking house in sight, nothing but slimy fish in sluggish green waters and clouds of stinging things above. Cob rushes forward and finds a whether-beaten man, his dark hair slick to his scalp from the humid air, clambering to his feet, a bottle still clutched in one hand. The filigreed breastplate he's wearing certainly speaks of wealth, or at least a very competent thief, but he shows none of the arrogance that made Chelish aristocrats disliked across the inner sea long before they took up devil worship.
"F... fudge me... that's a big fucking frog you got there... Or is it a toad? Heard a toad was the same as a frog... just... just more nasty... kind a like them. Yer not one of them are ye?" The man then huffs at Cob and sprawls back on the ground with what could only generally be called intent.
Gorok would have been happy to pass the man by, counting him no threat and less use, but something about the way he first looked at Cob with bleary suspicion then seemed content to lay down in front of a goblin on a gigantic toad strikes you as odd enough to investigate, and since you don't have much confidence in him being able to string two words together you decide to look into his thoughts for what he'd meant.
More of the same filters before your mind's eye. Familiar faces turned stilted. Milkmaids trying to milk cows without milk to give. Men trying to harvest a fallow field full of weeds. Children turning 'round and 'round in games no one was winning or losing. Drawing water from dry wells.
Only Tysus and his drinking buddies were normal. then the next day one by one them too. When he'd tried to get close to one of them to shake him out of the spell he flinched and started hacking.
It was the drink... the drink kept him safe.
"Infiltration," Sirim hisses aloud. "Something's gotten at the locals. Burning it out is about what one would expect from the lords of Cheliax..."
"In cruelty, ineffectiveness, or both?" Mina asks, an uncommon edge of contempt in her voice. "We should load him into one of the carriages."
"We do not know if he is safe," Sirim's 'dragon' speaks for him, though it's clear the shade is in agreement of the fact. "He could be a plant, an unknowing bearer of a curse that has just not manifested yet."
What does Kori think?
[] Take him with you, but watch him carefully
[] Leave him
[] Stop to study his condition
-[] Write in how
[] Write in
OOC: Kori does not have the knowledge skill he would have needed to roll on figuring out what got to the locals from Tysus' memories.
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Goldfish
Friendly Spider-Fish Abomination
- Location
- Formerly of the Far Realm
Huh, that's concerning. What did Pepper and Shoffe see when they scouted the town? Chellish armsmen putting the town to the torch?
There are a few creatures that come to mind that could be replacing or puppeting the locals.
Moonflowers outright create Pod people versions of their victims.
www.d20pfsrd.com
Begedhi instead parasitize and pilot their hosts.
www.d20pfsrd.com
Plants are freaking scary, y'all. It could also be some sort of magical control. I'm not finding anything that seems relevant that would interact poorly with alcohol, though.
There are a few creatures that come to mind that could be replacing or puppeting the locals.
Moonflowers outright create Pod people versions of their victims.
Moonflower – d20PFSRD
www.d20pfsrd.com
Begedhi instead parasitize and pilot their hosts.
Begedhi, Parasite – d20PFSRD
www.d20pfsrd.com
Plants are freaking scary, y'all. It could also be some sort of magical control. I'm not finding anything that seems relevant that would interact poorly with alcohol, though.
Don't worry, Warty, you'll grow on Anippe soon enough...just like a wart.
Not sure what this was supposed to be saying, DP.
Fixed. I had missed you sent them to look.
Goldfish
Friendly Spider-Fish Abomination
- Location
- Formerly of the Far Realm
Man, I'm almost hoping it's just a Moonflowers run smock, otherwise I have no idea what could be happening. Bodysnatcher stuff has always been extra creepy to me.
Okay, we've got some idea of what's going on around here, if barely, and a drunk dude who may be a witness to it. Or he's involved and trying to set us up.
He's also a witness to our passage, which could be problematic if/when he sobers up. For now, I think we should give him a thorough examination, just in case, then bring him with us. And take a few additional precautions.
[X] One for the road
-[X] Mina uses her Slumber Hex to put the drunkard to sleep, then Kori examines him using the Detect Fiendish Presence spectacles as Sirim does the same using Detect Magic. If those are inconclusive, Mina uses Wild Arcana to cast Diagnose Disease on him. If we discover anything unusual, we'll decide how to respond depending on our findings (with another vote).
--[X] If nothing is out of the ordinary (besides his blood alcohol content), we'll load him into one of the carts and have him watched carefully.
--[X] Out of an abundance of caution, Sirim will also cast Magic Circle Against Evil then quietly move amongst the Iruxi as we travel while the group carefully observes their behavior under the spell's effect.
--[X] Mina casts an Extended Mount: Communal spell to create 6 light horses, each with a duration of 4 hours, to allow the slower elders or those burdened by carrying hatchlings or supplies to travel more easily with the rest of the group. When the spell elapses, she uses her 2nd level Pearl of Power to regain the spell, then casts another Extended version of it.
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- Location
- St. Petersburg
In more way than one, it seems. Did Tysus win at The Last of Us?
Will we get fungal stun bomb components if we go to investigate?
[x] One for the road
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- Location
- Germany
[x] One for the road
Goldfish
Friendly Spider-Fish Abomination
- Location
- Formerly of the Far Realm
If there is a Moonflower infestation back near Longacre, we got the Iruxi out just in time. It wouldn't have taken long to move on to them once the local Humans were dealt with.
On the bright side, the infestation might serve as a decent distraction for local authorities who might have otherwise ended coming after us.
Vote closed.
Arc 10: Post 25: Intoxicating Purpose
Intoxicating Purpose
29th of Kuthona 4707 A.R. (Absalom Reckoning)
Your new... 'traveling companion' doesn't seem to be possessed by any spirits beyond those he's been imbibing, and the only change after Sirim casts a ward against compulsion on him is a nervous snore and clumsy wave in your general direction. Over the next few hours you come to suspect Sirim might have preferred a duel with a devil to having to explain drunkenness to a child who has been taught extensive alchemical safety procedures and nothing about alcohol. It eventually gets to the point of: "But... but it doesn't make any sense... why don't they just use magic to feel the good parts instead of poisoning themselves?"
Which in turn leads to a very long and meandering conversation about what magic is available to the ordinary people of Golarion. Born in Nex and raised in the Nexian manner, Anippe had previously believed that the Andorans were just being 'stubborn or something' about sweeping their own streets instead of having a spell-forged servitor do it. The idea that her budding talents would be remarked upon in a town the size of ill-favored Longacre and not just for her age is something of a revelation, though she takes it with less pride and more distress than the shade had expected her to, you judge.
"People have so much potential though and everyone can learn wizardry, that's the whole point of it! Why don't more of them learn how to do it?"
To that, of course, Sirim explains there is no obvious answer; the Ulfen distrust all arcane magic, the Chelish maintain strict state control partly as a mechanism of control and partly because to be a wizard in Cheliax means to be a devil summoner with all the dangers that implies, the Taldans once held the arcane arts in almost as high of a regard as the Nexians due to the Last Azlanti's history as a spell-sword hero, though that has soured with his death, and in Ustalav where the shadows of the Tyrant linger and the ruins of his realm call out to all manner of unwholesome scholars a wizard had best be on his guard on the road and not linger too long in any village unless they have papers approved by the local clerics of Pharasma or the local lord. On and on it goes...
"Societies rarely follow the straightest path to truest ease for all, for each one looks first upon the path before their own feet... and then of course there is Nidal."
"What about Nidal?" the girl asks. She's learned enough about your shadowy companion to sound worried.
"Suffering is sacred to Zon-Kuthon," he answers without artifice. He waits expectantly for her reaction.
"Well that's very dumb of him, to make enemies like that. At least when Geb, may his name be accursed, does it that its because he gets the bones of the dead to work his fields an' stuff."
Your friend nods slowly, trailing smoke in his wake. "According to some quite reputable scholars gods are bound to their domains, meaning that for many of them personal satisfaction is power, so 'tis less 'dumb' in the way you mean it, though self-limiting. In a sense, I suppose it's somewhat like getting drunk on power itself."
Sense Motive (DC 15): 1d20+2 = 15 (Success)
***
30th of Kuthona 4707 A.R. (Absalom Reckoning)
Alas, that's not the only uncommon drink you hear of in the days to come. Next evening Pepper comes back with news of having found two of the enthralled villagers dead along the riverbank, not far from where you had set up camp, pale and bloodless.
"It could've been stirges again," Mina says, though more in hope than conviction.
Gorok follows with what all of you had been thinking. "The dead one follows, and he is no careless hunter. The bodies were left for us to find, a mark to sow fear. We should move during the day."
The thought already gives you a migraine, but that is not all that gives you pause. If the vampire indeed meant for you to find the corpses, than he had meant for you to react in some way. Might this not be how?
[] Kori agrees with Gorok that it is best to start moving during the day, for all it opens the caravan to more danger from the strange thralls and any Chelish forces
[] Kori argues that they should keep moving at night, to not let the vampire push you into rash action
[] Write in
OOC: Enjoy.
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- Location
- Germany
It's not like Zon Kuthon voluntarily became the god of torture though.
As far as I read the story, that was forced on him by some other power in the greater multiverse, that drove a till-then pretty normal deity to madness.
Helping him back would be good deed, though I think a far bigger one than even killing a god.
That is certainly a point Kori can make, but not one Sirim would bring out.
Goldfish
Friendly Spider-Fish Abomination
- Location
- Formerly of the Far Realm
It was the Vampire all along? I had not considered that at all. I guess there isn't really a number limit to their Dominate ability, they just have to use it one person at a time.
The timing of it means our precautions were completely ineffective and that we must have been followed pretty much immediately for it to reach Longacre and carry out it's plan so soon after we reached the Iruxi. That's frustrating.
The timing of it means our precautions were completely ineffective and that we must have been followed pretty much immediately for it to reach Longacre and carry out it's plan so soon after we reached the Iruxi. That's frustrating.
It was the Vampire all along? I had not considered that at all. I guess there isn't really a number limit to their Dominate ability, they just have to use it one person at a time.
The timing of it means our precautions were completely ineffective and that we must have been followed pretty much immediately for it to reach Longacre and carry out it's plan so soon after we reached the Iruxi. That's frustrating.
It can't have been the vampire from the start, not if it was the one that's after you, the timeline doesn't work. There's more than one thing in these swamps.
Goldfish
Friendly Spider-Fish Abomination
- Location
- Formerly of the Far Realm
Are we still traveling through swamplands? Or are we on a road, plains, etc?
Goldfish
Friendly Spider-Fish Abomination
- Location
- Formerly of the Far Realm
We've only got one Scrying scroll left and Mina doesn't have it prepared normally. She could prepare it to cast today, but I'm not hopeful that it would do us much good unless we get really lucky. A high level Vampire, likely a spellcaster, is going to have a good Will save.
If it works, I would advocate for an immediate Scry-and-Die attack on its location.
Unfortunately, Mina has never seen it, and Cob didn't really get a decent look at it, either, so it would be getting a +5 bonus on its Will save to resist.
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You are traveling south along the river Iseld towards the sea.
Goldfish
Friendly Spider-Fish Abomination
- Location
- Formerly of the Far Realm
Is the ground suitable for a carriage Summoned using the Conjure Carriage spell?
Goldfish
Friendly Spider-Fish Abomination
- Location
- Formerly of the Far Realm
Moving at night makes us somewhat less noticeable, but it also makes it easier for others to sneak up on our group to attack under the cover of darkness. It's a large group and we can only be in so many places at once.
If we're going to move during the day, however, we should do so as quickly as possible. If we really put some effort into it, we can cast a lot of Conjure Carriage spells, easily enough to carry a little over half the tribe at once.
Add in a Tailwind spell to allow everyone to hustle, which is the equivalent to a jog that is twice as fast as regular movement speed, without getting tired, and we should be able to outpace the thralls at the very least and keep ahead of a lot of other incidental trouble.
[X] Upping the Pace
-[X] Kori agrees with Gorok that it is best to start moving during the day, for all it opens the caravan to more danger from the strange thralls and any Chelish forces
-[X] People Moving: Between Mina, Sirim, and Kori's efforts, they will cast eight Conjure Carriage spells, each capable of carrying 6 passengers for 7 hours (or 10 with Sirim's). The slowest members of the tribe will ride in the carriages, along with as much baggage as they can accommodate. All of the carriages will be made to appear as unremarkable as possible from a distance.
--[X] Mina will prepare two Mount: Communal spells in place of Glitterdust and one of Invisibility spells. She will also prepare Conjure Carriage in place of Delay Poison: Communal.
---[X] She will cast the Mount spells staggered throughout the day using the Extend Spell Metamagic Rod so that there is always at least one of them active, using her 2nd level Pearl of Power to recover one of them in order to cast it a third time. The six light horses Summoned by each spell will each last 4 hours and be used to allow those not in the carriages to take turns resting.
----[X] She will cast Conjure Carriage, then use her 3rd level Pearl of Power to recover the spell. She will then use Wild Arcana to cast Channel the Gift in order to cast another Conjure Carriage spell without expending it. She will then use Wild Arcana to do this once more.
----[X] Sirim and Kori will also each use Wild Arcana or Inspired Spell once to cast Channel the Gift to allow Mina to Summon two more carriages. Mina will then cast Conjure Carriage one final time, for a total of six carriages.
--[X] Sirim will prepare another Shadow Conjuration spell in place of Greater Invisibility.
---[X] He will cast Shadow Conjuration twice to duplicate two Conjure Carriage spells.
-[X] Kori will use Inspired Spell to cast a Tailwind spell to allow the entire group to hustle throughout the day without worrying about fatigue.
If we're going to move during the day, however, we should do so as quickly as possible. If we really put some effort into it, we can cast a lot of Conjure Carriage spells, easily enough to carry a little over half the tribe at once.
Add in a Tailwind spell to allow everyone to hustle, which is the equivalent to a jog that is twice as fast as regular movement speed, without getting tired, and we should be able to outpace the thralls at the very least and keep ahead of a lot of other incidental trouble.
[X] Upping the Pace
-[X] Kori agrees with Gorok that it is best to start moving during the day, for all it opens the caravan to more danger from the strange thralls and any Chelish forces
-[X] People Moving: Between Mina, Sirim, and Kori's efforts, they will cast eight Conjure Carriage spells, each capable of carrying 6 passengers for 7 hours (or 10 with Sirim's). The slowest members of the tribe will ride in the carriages, along with as much baggage as they can accommodate. All of the carriages will be made to appear as unremarkable as possible from a distance.
--[X] Mina will prepare two Mount: Communal spells in place of Glitterdust and one of Invisibility spells. She will also prepare Conjure Carriage in place of Delay Poison: Communal.
---[X] She will cast the Mount spells staggered throughout the day using the Extend Spell Metamagic Rod so that there is always at least one of them active, using her 2nd level Pearl of Power to recover one of them in order to cast it a third time. The six light horses Summoned by each spell will each last 4 hours and be used to allow those not in the carriages to take turns resting.
----[X] She will cast Conjure Carriage, then use her 3rd level Pearl of Power to recover the spell. She will then use Wild Arcana to cast Channel the Gift in order to cast another Conjure Carriage spell without expending it. She will then use Wild Arcana to do this once more.
----[X] Sirim and Kori will also each use Wild Arcana or Inspired Spell once to cast Channel the Gift to allow Mina to Summon two more carriages. Mina will then cast Conjure Carriage one final time, for a total of six carriages.
--[X] Sirim will prepare another Shadow Conjuration spell in place of Greater Invisibility.
---[X] He will cast Shadow Conjuration twice to duplicate two Conjure Carriage spells.
-[X] Kori will use Inspired Spell to cast a Tailwind spell to allow the entire group to hustle throughout the day without worrying about fatigue.
