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Strange Aeons: The Thrushmoor Terror, Part 2 [IC]
This is Part 2 of this campaign's version of ...
https://images-wixmp-ed30a86b8c4ca88...ThVfpMnAGJDKl0
While the defeat of the oneirogens caused much of the mist covering the grounds to begin dissipating, the fog's grip on Briarstone didn't loosen until Zandalus' defeat. Once it’s clear that the mist is gone, though, the Apostles in Orpiment almost immediately fell apart. Many of the former patients raced onto the grounds, reveling in the return of a familiar sky and dawning sun. Some attempted to flee the island, but most had no place to go. Fortunately, Winter and her survivors, as well as Elbourne, quickly rise to lead the refugees and provide critical medical attention.
If the PCs haven’t already drawn the links between themselves and the amnesiacs described in Administrator Losandro’s notes, Winter engages them in a discussion of where they’ll head next. She draws attention to any mention in the notes of mysterious patients and that the PCs and the amnesiacs are obviously the same. In any case, now that the PCs have escaped Briarstone, they can follow the clues of their missing memories to Thrushmoor, home of the obsessive Count Haserton Lowls.
Free of the asylum, the PCs and other survivors can follow the road in front of the asylum to a dock on the southern end of the island. A boat remains tied to the pier, though it’s too small for everyone to board at the same time. One of the other survivors, Captain York, offers to go along on the first trip to Thrushmoor, and then row the boat back to Briarstone Isle to ferry the remaining survivors off the island in as many trips as are needed.
Welcome to ....
STRANGE AEONS:
THE THRUSHMOOR TERROR
https://images-wixmp-ed30a86b8c4ca88...dspQMwkNQnUts4
DRAMATIS PERSONAE
Strange Aeons 2:The Terror of Thrushmoor
Character
[Player]
|
Color
|
AL
|
Gender
|
Race
[Ethnicity]
|
Side #1
|
Side #2
|
Cesadia Wrentz
|
Indigo
|
? |
Female |
Human
[Varisian] |
??? ? |
??? ?/
Sleepless Detective ? |
Dorn Krolaeg
(St. Dorn the Protector)
[NPC, Tribute to PSinger]
|
Gray
|
LG |
M |
Holy Human
[Varisian] |
Paladin 3
[Soul Sentinel]/
LA 1 |
Saint 4
(Torag) |
Lillian Wilde
[DarkOne7141981]
|
Golden Rod
|
CN |
F |
Half-Orc
[Varisian] |
Cleric (Calistria) 5
[Divine Paragon] |
Investigator 5
[Hallucinist] |
Winter Klaczka
[DrK]
|
Dark Green
|
N |
F |
Changeling
[Varisian] |
Psychiatrist Bard? |
Cleric (Pharasma) 5 |
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Re: Strange Aeons: The Thrushmoor Terror, Part 2 [IC]
There have been no post-battle actions made, other than to verify that Jens is really gone.
The group now gets their first cursory look at the large room they're in, as they failed to have time to do so during the battle with what Flair referred to as as "hound of Tindalos."
This long hall, clad with fine wood paneling, looks like an oversized curio cabinet, with hundreds of items and art objects on display on small tables, in vitrines, and on benches. Dozens of paintings and tapestries of various sizes hang from the walls and muffle the echoes that would normally be present in this marble-floored chamber. A double door leads outside, while two other doors go deeper into the manor (one of which is the one leading to the kitchen).
What do you do?
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Re: Strange Aeons: The Thrushmoor Terror, Part 2 [IC]
Vilma shakes her head.
"Jens is dead, and our resources are drawing thin, but if we pull back now, we risk having the noble come back, and hide their tracks after hiding anything incriminating. And even if there was anything incriminating, I doubt the local tyrants would like any of us."
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Re: Strange Aeons: The Thrushmoor Terror, Part 2 [IC]
Brother Jaume gathers the group together sadly and prays for Erastil’s healing power as two burst of golden radiance suffuses the party. Afterwards, he speaks to the group.
“This challenge extracts a heavy toll. We must remain strong if we are to defeat these dangerous foes and free this town of their blight. Jens has fallen but we must not relent! Let us search this room and find the kitchen for supplies before returning to the guest house to recover. I am out of channel heals and low on spells. Who knows what other fell denizens lurk these halls. Should we press on in a weakened state, more of us may fall.”
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Re: Strange Aeons: The Thrushmoor Terror, Part 2 [IC]
A single burst is enough to fully heal Vilma and provide 14 to Dorn. He is the only one wounded, and seems to be at 75%.
Brother Jaume, will you provide a healing spell, or leave Dorn as is for now?
Something you all have noticed over time, is that Dorn seems to have some minor protection against mundane injuries, as has been noticed in many combats previously. This "hound" seems to have had the power to rip into him as easily as any other.
Dorn adds, "Then we should not tarry. Yes, there are legal issues. But legality is not going to help if everyone is dead. The only problem is that we did take prisoners, and now we have two more. This might be a better room for watching them all in, rather than split up in the college and those currently in the kitchen."
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Re: Strange Aeons: The Thrushmoor Terror, Part 2 [IC]
Flair nods, "Let's gather them all here, then. I have something I wanna try to get information from them anyway."
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Re: Strange Aeons: The Thrushmoor Terror, Part 2 [IC]
Brother Jaume, Vilma ... would you rather search this room first, or gather your prisoners here first?
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Re: Strange Aeons: The Thrushmoor Terror, Part 2 [IC]
Brother Jaume shakes his head.
“This room is not defensible. Too many exits and that creature may return from any crack or crevice. The guest house is small but close to the gate if we have to flee and it has good sight lines so we can see if enemies approach. I think it is still the best option. I say we move back there once we have supplies.”
BJ scratches his beard thoughtfully.
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Re: Strange Aeons: The Thrushmoor Terror, Part 2 [IC]
Flair pauses, cutting himself off from a snippy reply. "Good point. My point about wanting to get all our prisoners in one place so I can ask them some questions remains, however."
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Re: Strange Aeons: The Thrushmoor Terror, Part 2 [IC]
"It's already problematic," Dorn says, adding as the second wave of healing full heals him, "thanks by the way, since we have prisoners on two stories of the cottage already. That's already putting a strain on Kris' watchfulness. Regardless of 'defensible,' this way we can be more vigilant."
Now only Brother Jaume has the faintest abrasion remaining.
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Re: Strange Aeons: The Thrushmoor Terror, Part 2 [IC]
Brother Jaume nods to Dorn.
“Let us see what can be accomplished here to make it secure.”
BJ will take the time to explore the room they are currently in, paying attention to the tables and cabinets (and such) to see if a defensible position could be created.
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Re: Strange Aeons: The Thrushmoor Terror, Part 2 [IC]
Although some of the hall’s paintings have been removed from the walls and sold by Lowls in order to purchase occult tomes to fuel his research (leaving the hooks on the walls where they once hung), the collection of curios and artwork at Iris Hill remains impressive. More than quality, however, the Lowls family seems to have favored originality and oddity in their choices. Among many other things, the collection includes the following:
- Portraits in various artistic styles of the counts, their wives, and a few relatives and domestics wearing all kinds of expressions and outfits line the walls. A portrait in a freestanding picture frame on a small tea table with a single chair features Lowls as a child (“Haserton at age 5, 4681 AR,” is written on the back of the frame) posing near a kitten at the foot of a luminous window, seemingly terrified. Flair and Dorn get the hint that the painter intentionally created a frightening situation for the child and then expended great efforts to seize his wide-eyed expression.
- Marble busts of scholars from the Sincomakti School of Sciences, including three effigies of academically renowned ancestors of Lowls sit on small plinths. The sculptures with the Lowls name on their bases have been smashed against the floor and damaged.
- Small-town perspectives of Thrushmoor and a half-dozen large paintings of the surrounding landscape hang here. The large pictures include a historic piece, in which the first settlers of Thrushmoor are shown living in two clusters of huts on low hills, hard at work to reclaim the surrounding land from the swamps. The Star Stelae have been depicted almost as an afterthought.
- Statuettes of dragons, giants, and strange beasts litter the shelves. Among these is a poorly executed, 1-foot-tall, clay figurine of an elephant-legged, multi-mawed, tentacled aberration. With Vilma's help, Flair can tell that this hideous figurine is a representation of a dark young of Shub-Niggurath.
- Set on an ebony pedestal is a human skull that has been marked with elaborate carvings of geometric shapes and lines. Small, worked garnets are set in the teeth, and a thin line of silver rings the eye sockets.
- Porcelain and ceramic dishes, jugs, teapots, and vases, some of which are of excellent quality, are kept in a glass showcase. A small ceramic vial contains a silvery metallic dust. With Brother Jaume and Vilma both casting detect magic together, it is difficult, but they determine that the silvery metallic dust is actually magical, possessing a faint aura of conjuration. Once Flair is armed with that knowledge, it is pretty easy for him to determine that it is a single dose of dust of appearance.
- Worthless, bizarre, and sometimes grotesque souvenirs from across Ustalav and beyond are displayed here: coffee cups made from uncapped monkey skulls; a stuffed three-eyed bat; multicolor-dyed freshwater sponges; a mummified ogre’s ear; and more.
- A battered shield hangs on a wall, bearing the device of Mendev. According to a plaque fixed under it, the shield belonged to Fassimar Lowls, a cadet who died just beyond the northern border of Ustalav during the Second Mendevian Crusade. The shield is a nonmagical heavy steel shield.
- Finally and most garishly, a man dressed in a fine noble’s outfit appears frozen in a shimmering field of amber. According to Flair and Vima, the subject is in suspended animation after falling victim to a sepia snake sigil. it is unknown how much longer it will last.
In looking at all the items here, checking them, and looking for any other weird stuff (traps, secret doors, etc.), the party spends nearly an hour of searching, casting, and appraising. Brother Jaume's bull's strength has ended, as well as Vilma's divine favor and mutagen.
Okay, what now?
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Re: Strange Aeons: The Thrushmoor Terror, Part 2 [IC]
Flair ponders the man in the amber, addressing the rest of the party without looking at them. "Is this the lord of the manor? I don't know the local politics well enough to recognize him one way or the other." If this was the Lord, then conceivably they could recover him, return to town claiming to have rescued him and hope that he wasn't involved with the whole 'trying to summon outer gods' bit. Because if he was, that complicates everything, as he can cover everything up and/or charge the party with breaking and entering, and that would be disastrous for both the party and the town.
The tricky part is that it'll be impossible to figure out which way it'll go without talking to the man, and that could take upwards of a week for the spell to fade. The loss of Jens was even more tragic now, as his ability to create a collective would be really handy now. But most damningly, unless they were able to find the kitchen (and this find the food to feed themselves and their prisoners), they might be forced to do that anyway.
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Re: Strange Aeons: The Thrushmoor Terror, Part 2 [IC]
Dorn shakes his head. "The lord of the manor is Count Haserton Lowls IV, if I recall correctly. There is no way that boy in the picture grew up to be this man ... and the trapped man's clothing isn't up to snuff with most of the people we've beaten who weren't savages. Namely, they all seem to be wealthy such-and-sos. This man is likely upper middle class, but not nobility."
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Re: Strange Aeons: The Thrushmoor Terror, Part 2 [IC]
BJ uses his own knowledge and interviews of the other party members about their knowledge of engineering and such to determine if buy using the furniture in this room (and in the dining room) or some other method, the inner doors of this hall can be secured. If nothing else the furniture can be piled up for a barricade.
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Re: Strange Aeons: The Thrushmoor Terror, Part 2 [IC]
“It is not perfect but we can barricade the doors and make this do for now. We should check the kitchen for food and water and then return to the guest house to retrieve the prisoners.”
If there are no objections, he picks up his staff and heads for the kitchen.
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Re: Strange Aeons: The Thrushmoor Terror, Part 2 [IC]
There is some water in the dining room, but interestingly enough, no food. The cultists had finished a meal, and there are some remains of that, but the dining room has no type of larder. Note that it is more of a dining room, not a kitchen.
The group works together to put barricades in front of the double doors and unknown door as best as possible. It's not really a great obstacle so much as it is a stealth deterrent, but it's something.
Then comes the work of bringing the prisoners over from the cottage to the Manor, which goes by without any issue. The prisoners are still too weak and wounded to really offer any lip, but that means the lip they don't offer is any type of helpful information, either.
After about 45 minutes of work, this task is complete.
With Kris now also in this house, she asks, "So, what do we do with Jens?"
Dorn looks to Brother Jaume, "Do you think you can ask Erastil to watch over and protect his body until we can have him buried properly?"
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Re: Strange Aeons: The Thrushmoor Terror, Part 2 [IC]
Brother Jaume shakes his head sadly. “I am unsure if Erastil will send me aid at this point in the day but since I have not used all the blessings he granted me, it is possible that he will heed my prayers.”
Brother Jaume will kneel and pray to Erastil to help preserve their fallen friend’s body.
Spoiler: crunch
Show
pray to Erastil to swap 1st level spell “Detect evil” for “sanctify corpse”.
pray to Erastil to swap 2nd level spell “Lessor Restoration” for “Gentle Repose”.
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Re: Strange Aeons: The Thrushmoor Terror, Part 2 [IC]
Brother Jaume needs only 10 minutes ... not the full 30 minutes ... to realize that Erastil will not answer his prayers in this hall! :smalleek:
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Re: Strange Aeons: The Thrushmoor Terror, Part 2 [IC]
Brother Jaume grunts and rises from his lotus position on the floor.
“This place is blocking my connection to Erastil somehow. I will try outside.
He moves outside to try again, not going far.
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Re: Strange Aeons: The Thrushmoor Terror, Part 2 [IC]
Finally, outside, Brother Jaume feels a connection, though tenuous at first. The weather is miserable, but he is still protected by communal endure elements, so he is able to pray for a half hour and receive those substitutes he seeks (as above).
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Re: Strange Aeons: The Thrushmoor Terror, Part 2 [IC]
Vilma checks their rations.
"We should probably have someone do a quick travel to town to bring back food. We cannot let the prisoners starve."
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Re: Strange Aeons: The Thrushmoor Terror, Part 2 [IC]
Brother Jaume will cast the preservation spells on Jens body.
He gathers the others together to speak a few words about Jens.
“ Today is a sad day. Our community has lost a valuable member and we are lessened for it. Although our hearts are burdened with sorrow and loss, we must press on as Jens would have wanted. His sacrifice must not be in vain. The Chaos and Evil being visited upon the town of Thrushmore must be eradicated, no matter the personal cost.”
”Jens past sins are now forgiven and may his soul rest easy. Goodbye our friend. You will be missed!”
Later, BJ addresses the food issue. “There are provisions nearby if they were eating here. I don’t think we should send someone back to town alone. The prisoners will not starve immediately. We have time to search.”
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Re: Strange Aeons: The Thrushmoor Terror, Part 2 [IC]
You already searched the guest cottage, the dining room, and this great hall .... thoroughly. Where were you thinking of searching?
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Re: Strange Aeons: The Thrushmoor Terror, Part 2 [IC]
BJ suggests the we check the stairs off the dining room for provisions.
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Re: Strange Aeons: The Thrushmoor Terror, Part 2 [IC]
Pretty sure you attempted that already. It doesn't have a pantry or larder. Food was served there, not kept there.
By the way, I know it is probably forgotten, and you still have a barricade at the dining room door, but remember there are stairs going up in the dining room.
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Re: Strange Aeons: The Thrushmoor Terror, Part 2 [IC]
Flair exhales frustratedly. "This is getting us nowhere. I'm gonna interrogate the nobles and find out where they keep the food."
Spoiler: OOC
Show
Apparently I have to announce that in the next scene I intend to use Milo's Truth Telling on the nobles.
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Re: Strange Aeons: The Thrushmoor Terror, Part 2 [IC]
“Ask questions as you like Flair, but I will not sanction torture. My thinking is that we should definitely keep the foul seductress bound and gagged for everyone’s safety. Who knows what fell arts she possesses!”
He grabs his staff. “Anyone want to see what is upstairs of the dining room. The kitchen must be close by!”
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Re: Strange Aeons: The Thrushmoor Terror, Part 2 [IC]
"Well," says Dorn with a sigh, "we did just barricade the entrance to the dining room. But I guess we could."
Kris says (now that the prisoners have been brought over), "I'm good to go, but then someone would else would need to stay with the prisoners to guard them. I don't really care for the whole imprisonment thing, anyway. Either kill your enemies, or let them go once you've defeated them."
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Re: Strange Aeons: The Thrushmoor Terror, Part 2 [IC]
Bj will dismantle the barricade into the dining room and explore the stairs up as long as he has some company. He will pick up his staff.
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Re: Strange Aeons: The Thrushmoor Terror, Part 2 [IC]
Dorn will guard the prisoners, and Kris will go with Brother Jaume.
Flair, will you be interrogating prisoners, or going with Kris and Brother Jaume?
Vilma, what will you do?
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Re: Strange Aeons: The Thrushmoor Terror, Part 2 [IC]
Vilma will go to the potential kitchen with Jaume and Kris.
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Re: Strange Aeons: The Thrushmoor Terror, Part 2 [IC]
Flair seems genuinely insulted that Jaume would think that he would torture the prisoners. "I would never stoop so low. How dare-" He stops himself; tamping down his outrage for the time being. Once they were done with this stupid mission, he'd have a long talk with the cleric, but right now that won't help anything.
After taking a deep breath, he told the part of the party that was venturing forth to wait. "Let me try my thing before you go." He then goes to one of the prisoners and places him hand on their shoulder, asking in a slightly authoritarian voice "How do we get to the kitchens from here?" Those of you looking at Flair see worry lines spread across his brow.
Spoiler: OOC
Show
Using *Milo's Truthtelling* to get an answer from one of the prisoners. Probably the lowest ranking looking male, moving up the apparent chain of command until someone fails their save.
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Re: Strange Aeons: The Thrushmoor Terror, Part 2 [IC]
Spoiler: Flair
Show
Normally, YOU need to determine who is where on the totem pole, not me. But honestly, it doesn't matter, because ...
The second person that Flair attempts to affect with Milo's truthtelling shows that further questioning won't matter: he/she simply refuses to answer any questions.
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Re: Strange Aeons: The Thrushmoor Terror, Part 2 [IC]
Flair balled his fists. Of course there wouldn't be an easy way. Of course. He felt Flavio, the man he once was, in the back of his mind once more; all he had to do to release this frustration bubbling within him was to take it out on the prisoners. They were the cause of it, after all. Hell, that might also loosen their tongues. It was a win/win!
Except to do that would be to surrender himself to the madness; to abandon the foundation of his being and the ethos of his choices mattering. To let that stronzo win. So he instead excused himself grabbing one of the books strewn across the floor before stepping past the barricade that Kris and Jaume were about to venture forth from, hoping to break line of sight for a bit, at least to the prisoners.
He left his frustration out, slamming it against the wall as he grunted, not really caring that he was likely audible to the other room. He wanted something bigger, stronger to smash, but there was nothing as helpful as a spare plank to pick up, so he made do with what he could. After thoroughly wrecking the book's spine, he began tearing pages from it, until soon its loose pages covered the floor.
All in all, this process didn't take more than a minute or two, and it left him panting. After another deep, calming breath, he returned to the party. "Okay, let's get searching."
Spoiler: OOC
Show
Flair won't move more than 10 feet from the door, and if he sees anything approach, he will snap out of it and will call the rest of the party.
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Re: Strange Aeons: The Thrushmoor Terror, Part 2 [IC]
The party reaches the second floor of the manor via this flight of wooden stairs, which creak ominously as they make their way up.
It is dark up here, and you need light. The assumption is that, per usual, Brother Jaume casts light on his quarterstaff. The stairwell ends at a door (to the east).
Vilma, because of the tight corners of the stair well, and an unknown layout up here, will you also cast light on something of yours?
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Re: Strange Aeons: The Thrushmoor Terror, Part 2 [IC]
Waiting to advance, Vilma casts Light on her weapon.
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Re: Strange Aeons: The Thrushmoor Terror, Part 2 [IC]
Plenty of light right now in this cramped landing/ hallway.
Without even needing to try to listen, Brother Jaume, Kris, Vilma ... and even Flair (though he is 15' away ... and down the stairs by the door) all hear a strange noise from the other side of the door. It is not quiet, and it is an inhuman sound that somehow expresses or characterizes half-suppressed laughter or amusement.
What do you (plural) do?
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Re: Strange Aeons: The Thrushmoor Terror, Part 2 [IC]
Brother Jaume motions for the others to back down the stairs.
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Re: Strange Aeons: The Thrushmoor Terror, Part 2 [IC]
The party backs down the stairs, pushing Flair as they do so into the dining room.
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Re: Strange Aeons: The Thrushmoor Terror, Part 2 [IC]
“I don’t know what that is but we should rest first before taking on any new threats. Do we have any rations left?”
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Re: Strange Aeons: The Thrushmoor Terror, Part 2 [IC]
Out of al five of you, only one person has any food whatsoever .... Vilma has a half-ration of food.
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Re: Strange Aeons: The Thrushmoor Terror, Part 2 [IC]
Flair sighed. "Yeah. At least one of us gonna have to head back into town to pick up supplies. Which is going to be risky; pending our successful investigation, we're technically kidnapping these people, so we have to be subtle about this. If we tip off the constabulary before we get the evidence we need, everything falls apart."
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Re: Strange Aeons: The Thrushmoor Terror, Part 2 [IC]
Vilma nods.
"I can go get food for everyone and come back, I just need to know where would the shop for it be. Wouldn't be the first time I'm lying to authorities, if that's what you're worried about."
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Re: Strange Aeons: The Thrushmoor Terror, Part 2 [IC]
Dorn says, "I'm just used to eating at one of the two taverns."
Kris says, "I don't need to eat."
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Re: Strange Aeons: The Thrushmoor Terror, Part 2 [IC]
Brother Jaume speaks up.
“ I can run to town and back carrying food and make good time. I know it may not look like it, but I was always good in the races at the monastery. Kris can fly so she is a good choice if she wants to go. Anyone else?”
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Re: Strange Aeons: The Thrushmoor Terror, Part 2 [IC]
"Sure," says Kris.
"No more to go, though," warns Dorn. "That is just myself, Vilma, and Flair remaining."
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Re: Strange Aeons: The Thrushmoor Terror, Part 2 [IC]
"Are you sure you'll be okay ? We need food for all of us, and the prisoners, preferably for a few days. That's a lot, even with fresh food."
She asks Jaume.
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Re: Strange Aeons: The Thrushmoor Terror, Part 2 [IC]
"Let's find the food first," says Kris, her peabrain a little overwhelmed at trying to think what the end result would be. "One problem at a time."
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Re: Strange Aeons: The Thrushmoor Terror, Part 2 [IC]
“I can buy a backpack and the load shouldn’t be a problem…no armor and just a stick. Everyone pitch in some money for the provisions .”
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Re: Strange Aeons: The Thrushmoor Terror, Part 2 [IC]
Flair bites his lip throughout this exchange. He didn't want to stand around doing nothing. If they brought in unwanted attention, there was nothing he could do until it was too late. On the other hand, he had to agree that he wasn't particularly useful as far as being a pack mule went, and they needed it to be quick. "Okay. I'll stay here." He paused, arguing with himself for a few seconds before adding, "You might want to check in with Ms. Wretz.If anyone will know how to surreptitiously get supplies up here, it'll be her."
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Re: Strange Aeons: The Thrushmoor Terror, Part 2 [IC]
Kris is going with Brother Jaume, but she is completely broke.
Dorn coughs up three gold for his part.
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Re: Strange Aeons: The Thrushmoor Terror, Part 2 [IC]
"We'll probably need as much as you can carry, with the prisoners. Take this."
She hands him her last platinum coin, and 4 gold coins.
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Re: Strange Aeons: The Thrushmoor Terror, Part 2 [IC]
“I have 30 gold pieces and a platinum piece. All together it should be more than enough.”He scratches his beard thoughtfully.
“What should I say to Ms. Wrentz about what we are doing?”
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Re: Strange Aeons: The Thrushmoor Terror, Part 2 [IC]
"I'd say 'We are investigating near the town, and can't come back right now. Once it bears fruit, we'll be back. It shouldn't take too long from now on.' If she asks for more details and you think you cannot hide it from her, add where we are, and 'What we have found so far is highly suspicious, but wouldn't yet constitute proof in front of a jury, so if the inhabitants come back, the best way you could help would be by delaying them without taking risk for yourself.'. You think you'll need the details ?"
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Re: Strange Aeons: The Thrushmoor Terror, Part 2 [IC]
Brother Jaume grins sheepishly.
“Well I prefer the direct approach; I am not comfortable with subterfuge. I think we can trust her and that she has the town’s best interest at heart. I will do my best and we will see how it goes. Come on Kris! Stick with me and keep an eye out.”
He will remove the barricade from the exterior entrance and head out moving quickly but on alert.
Spoiler: crunch
Show
Double moves at 40’ each until outside the gatehouse where he will open up to full run speed back to the Sleepless Detective agency.
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Re: Strange Aeons: The Thrushmoor Terror, Part 2 [IC]
Kris has no problem keeping up, and you both get to the Sleepless Detective Agency, whereafter you knock, enter, are offered warm tea (oh, so warm) and only sit for a few minutes before Ms. Wrentz comes to greet you.
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Re: Strange Aeons: The Thrushmoor Terror, Part 2 [IC]
Brother Jaume stands and bows slightly at the waist.
“Good day to you Ms. Wentz.”
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Re: Strange Aeons: The Thrushmoor Terror, Part 2 [IC]
"Ms. .... Wrentz," she corrects Brother Jaume. "It's an older Varisian name, and you don't look Varisian, so I suppose it's forgivable. How may I help you? The Silver Wagon says that you and your friends didn't show up last night. You can bet that all sorts of worries abound in the rumor mill right now. And where are the rest of your friends?"
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Re: Strange Aeons: The Thrushmoor Terror, Part 2 [IC]
The portly friar blushes as he scratches his beard.
"My apologies, Ms. Wrentz. I am not so good with names!"
"As to your question, we have been following up on some leads and we went to visit Ivy Hill. The day before yesterday (in the rain), we walked to the manor and inquired to see the count. At the gatehouse, we were told unceremoniously through the door that we were to leave or there would be trouble. We insisted and we were attacked by several rough men; two cannibal barbarians called Kuru from Garund and a roguish gentleman. We defeated and captured all three alive. Upon inspection of his person, we learned that the rogue was some sort of follower of "The King in Yellow" by the holy symbol he carried. The King in Yellow an ancient god and not a good one. We ran into some of his followers during our time in the asylum."
"As we pushed further into the compound, we were attacked by some animated shrubs; protectors of some sort. We were able to destroy or drive them off eventually. We sought shelter in a near-by guest house and were met by two well dressed gentry. They called themselves Asa Lalith and Daelene Spence of Caliphas. The gentleman was a rogue or assassin of some skill and the woman used evil sorcery. St. Dorn and I could sense the evil in them and they attacked us. We managed to overcome them and captured the woman but her consort was killed in the exchange. We rested overnight in the guest house and continued our investigation in the morning."
"We are running low on supplies, so we headed around back of the main manor building to seek the kitchens. Trying a likely entrance, we were again accosted by three evil cultist that attacked us using channeled negative energy! They were dressed in yellow robes and were holding silver holy symbols that look like a three-armed triskelion. After a fierce battle, we were able to overcome and subdue the cultists. We moved on into the dining room and finding little of interest, we moved into an adjacent hallway. It is there that we were attacked by a horrifying creature of nightmare! We managed to drive it off and it disappeared but not before it killed our brother Jens. Flair called it a Hound of Tindalos. It seemed like if was after us specifically and was not necessarily part of the household."
"We explored the next room which housed a collection of Lowls family artworks and strangely a well dressed man in some sort of stasis spell. At that point we decided to move the captured folks to the main house and hunker down there. I was sent back with Kris to gather supplies and report in."
Brother Jaume sits down and takes a sip of tea.
"Something evil has taken root at Ivy Hill. We must get to the bottom of what is happening there for the good of the town! Do you have any advice or support to provide? Otherwise, I must gather supplies."