Adventures in Fallcrest - IC - Part III [4E]

[Mando Knight]

Aramil misses the point, as insight is not his forte. "Eltain, that's entirely the wrong kind of moping for a Drow. Shouldn't it be more of a 'woe is me, for my matron has not given me forty lashes today?'"

[Nai_Calus]

"...You've been spending entirely too much time around Lucan, Aramil. My point is, despite our best efforts, even an idiot child wouldn't believe I was a drow. Corellon defend us, one of these days I'll get us all killed." He resists the urge to facepalm.

[Hzurr]

DM Post

OOC: Ok, disguises are complete. What's the next step?

[Toric]

Zyrr looks over Lucan's disguise appreciatively. "Showoff." he says with a smirk.

...He laughs when he turns around and sees what Eltain's been up to. "Oh no, this is good." the true drow remarks. "This is too good. I've got an idea, trust me on this one. ...Now I just have one last preparation before we reveal ourselves." Zyrr removes a previously opened bottle of wine, re-opens it, and first offers it to Lucan. "One last toast to Jamil?" He then begins pouring into it a reddish liquid that dissolves rather quickly.

Spoiler

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Using Bloodroot Poison. I figure Dazed will probably be better than Immobilized if it affects the fomorian foreman in a similar way it did Shep. Plus, a drugged fey is more fun than a paralyzed fey.

Power (Consumable, Poison): Minor Action. You pour the poison into a drink or onto
a plate of food. The first creature to consume the food or drink within the next hour is
dazed until the end of its next extended rest.

[Nai_Calus]

Eltain draws himself up proudly in response to Zyrr's laughter, the air around him becoming positively icy.

"You needn't mock me. It's probably simply a combination of my height and my natural bearing. I... Am not especially good at pretending to be evil, you know." He frowns. "Also, just because I'll protect you from random murder attempts doesn't mean I trust you. What, exactly, is this idea of yours?"

[Toric]

The ever-present smile shifts to a playful grin.

"That was a laugh of joy, not of ridicule. I know, the two usually go hand-in-hand. But here's your character. You'll love it. You are an Eladrin, full-blooded, who decided his people don't know what they're talking about and ran off to join up with the Drow as soon as you could hold a sword." He presses two hands to his own chest. "My associate and I found you, somebody who looks like a drow but tries far too hard at being one. Mangles the dialect, talks overly-much about darkness and gloom, makes up hand-signals on the spot expecting them to be in use. In other words, carry on as you were. Your traveling companions think you are the most glorious joke, and keep you as entertainment while humoring your pathetic attempts at fitting in." He holds his arms out wide as the grandeur of his plan becomes clear. "It's something you'd read out of a storybook. The fomorians will love it! What do you think?"

[Mando Knight]

(Hey, wait, I think I've read that one before...)

Aramil claps slowly, amused by Zyrr's tale. "I think that if the cover involved bad acting, even I could fool the formorians."

[Toric]

((Cool, I referenced a comic I didn't even know existed!))

"It's really all about how well the rest of us pass you off as inept, so yes. Except I'd avoid having as many pseudrow as true drow." Zyrr shrugs. Then he looks over to shepherd. "Before you ask. No."

[Nai_Calus]

Eltain snickers at the ridiculousness of the idea.

"It can't work worse than me trying to pass as a true drow would. Though I'm sure any Eladrin mad and traitorous enough to try such a thing would find himself cursed by Corellon in short order and transformed into a true drow." He pauses and then glares at Zyrr. "And no, I will not test that. I don't have that pressing a need to be able to see in the dark."

(OOC: Yeah, my first thought was "So basically Eltain is Princess Dewcup.")

[Haberdashery]

The Shepherd stares at the drow blankly, his dull colored eyes dim in the glowing light of the Feydark.

"No? So you are not attempting to be a shepherd of funny-looking pointed eared people. Very well. I shall take that into account."

[Hzurr]

DM Post

Zyrr, Lucan-as-a-drow, and Eltain-as-an-Eladrin-pretending-to-be-a-drow-yet-doing-a-really-poor-job (Aeptbadydarpj) head off towards the Farm, leading Pavick, disguised as a slave. As you make your way through the last few caverns, you find yourself in a long, dark tunnel. At the far end, a crude gate nearly 25' high blocks the passage. As you approach, you can see that there is a small hole in the gate about 10' up, and a large yellow eye glares out at you. "More traders? Bloody hell..." a voice mutters, before calling out: "Halt! Who are you and what do you want?"

Perception or Nature DC 16:

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You notice a set of cart tracks on the ground. It looks like it is very recent, but only appears to be leading to the gate, not away from it.

OOC:
How are Aramil & Shep proceeding?

[DSCrankshaw]

Lucan - Half-elf Drow bard

Lucan notices the heck out of things.

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Perception - (1d20+14)[33]

[Hzurr]

DM Post

As Lucan stares at the tracks, he also notices that there again appears to be something in his shoe. He won't be able to see what it is unless he takes off his boot, but it feels like a piece of paper.

[DSCrankshaw]

Lucan - Half-elf Drow Bard

"Greetings," Lucan says, giving an elaborate bow. "We've come looking to trade with you. We have a slave to sell," he gestures at Pavick, looking appropriately miserable, "and are willing to pay good coin for any poisons you might have to sell."

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OOC: Do I need to roll a bluff every time I lie? That would get tedious.
But for this time at least:
Bluff - (1d20+13)[20]
Eh, figures. Not a terrible roll, but not as good as I'd like.

[dariathalon]

Pavick - Gnome Slave

At the last moment before approaching the gates, Pavick puts on his "disguise". He takes a moment to quickly cast a spell to change his appearance. He appears considerably less healthy, thinner, ashen cheeked. His hair a mess his clothing even appears as tattered rags. His hands are held behind his back by illusionary bolted manacles.

(Retcon): Pavick spent some time as the others were perfecting their disguises messing his hair a bit and applying dirt and makeup from his own disguise kit to make himself look a little more slave-ish. The overall effect was not too striking of a difference, but once Pavick began playing the part as well, he becomes hard to distinguish from a gnome that has spent his whole life as a slave.

Just before approaching the gate, Pavick quickly repeats an old limerick he had once been taught. It loosened his tongue, making everything he would say for the next few minutes sound more convincing. It was his hope he wouldn't have to speak, but in case he did, this could help.

As they arrived before the gate, Pavick did his best to keep his eyes turned down. He followed the others by staring at their heels as he walked. His expression was completely empty, no joy, no hatred, no sadness, just abandonment to his fate.

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Just before the group arrives at the gate, Pavick uses Disguise Self. He maintains his own general appearance, just making small tweaks to appear more slave-like. He also uses the Glib Limerick ritual.
Bluff - (1d20+19)[34] or Bluff - (1d20+19)[35]

(Retcon: The overall rolls will be 3 lower. The spell had added 5, but since he's not using it, he's using his disguise kit instead which only adds 2.)

Nature - (1d20+11)[20]

[Hzurr]

DM Post

The Cyclops eye narrows as he looks at Pavick. His gaze darts back to Lucan."Aye, we may be willing to trade, but first tell me who you are and how you know us. We don't trade with ev'ry bloody fool who buggers through here."

The guard doesn't seem to suspect that you aren't who you say you are, you suspect this is just general paranoia that comes from working for the Formorians.

OOC: Also, could I get a History or Nature check from Pavick?

[dariathalon]

Pavick - Gnome Slave

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History - (1d20+14)[32]
or
Nature - (1d20+11)[13]

[Hzurr]

DM Post

Pavick remembers that one reasons that gnomes had such a difficult time escaping Fomorian slavers, is that the mutated Fomorian eye allows the Fomorians to see nearby things as they truly are, and cannot be fooled by illusions or invisibility.

OOC: I didn't realize that you were going to cast disguise self, but you know if that you get near a Fomorian it will see through the disguise and recognize what you did. If you want to retcon your actions, feel free.

[Toric]

Zyrr

Zyrr stands in his usual black-and-purple attire, with the addition of a rather ornate silver brooch securing his cloak. He likewise bows to the cyclops.

"It's an interesting story actually. We'd just thought our venture to expand the Morvyndis trade web would be a complete bust when we were attacked by a group of emaciated elf-dwarf hybrids much like our own pet here." He gestures down to Pavick. "Apparently they thought his talents were wasted with us. We disagreed." He grins. "Vehemently. When the wild dwelves realized how stupid they'd been, they surrendered and offered to hire us to liberate some comrades hereabouts. Something about a great revolution, I wasn't paying much attention." He shrugs. "They did say this place was a farm of sorts before we killed them, and Fomorians are known for their poisons. So here we are, to bring Material goods, coins, and gnomepower in exchange for what you can offer."

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Bluff - (1d20+12)[29]

[Mando Knight]

Aramil waits. The time for his action is not now... and his allies will give him a signal for when they need his blade.

[Haberdashery]

While the Shepherd might have had ideas of his own, the Shepherd's own mind was roughly-hewn compared to the razor-sharp intellect of his elfin companion. The Shepherd sat silently amongst the stones, watching both the events transpiring before them, and Aramil beside him.

[Hzurr]

DM Post

The Cyclops pauses to think about this for a moment, but eventually nods. "Wait 'ere." The Cyclops turns and yells to someone behind him, and a few minutes later, the gate slowly opens with a groan. As you enter, you can see the two guardhouses on either side of the gate, but with windows only facing into the complex rather than out. To your left, you see a side passage that breaks off away from the main cavern. In this side passage, you see a small empty cart (clearly sized for medium creatures rather than the cyclopses) at the base of a set of stairs. You can't see what's at the top of the stairs, but it appears that wherever they lead, there is torchlight coming from above.

The cyclops that was speaking to you earlier is joined by two of his companions, both wielding thick clubs with a handful of javelins strapped across their backs. "Right then, follow me." The cyclops grunts, and turns to lead you to the main cavern on the right.

OOC: Reposting Yojend's map:

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As you head out into the fields, the cyclops navigates you past row after row of mushrooms, strange plants, and crystals that grow in neat rows with gaps every 50 feet or so. Here and there, you see the gnome slaves. Some tending the plants, some picking mushrooms and crystals and hauling them away in carts, all under the watchful eye of the cyclopses. As you pass by, they glance at Pavick with a look of pity, and more than one glares at the "Drow" leading the captured gnome.

As you approach the center of the field, the ground grows a bit more soggy, and here and there you see huge patches of mud. Growing around this mud are some of the largest mushrooms you've ever seen in your life, many of them easily dwarfing the trees you would see in Fallcrest.

Dungeoneering DC 20

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The mud is called "Primal Mud," and is famous in the Feydark for its nutritive and healing properties. While standing in Primal Mud, you can spend a healing surge as a minor action, but will completely dry out the surrounding mud in the process. A fey creature who attempts this gains an additional 1d6 HP, and a +2 bonus to speed

Standing amongst the giant mushrooms is the Fomorian. The creature towers over the cyclops, its deformed purple head twitching this way and that as it watches the nearby gnomes; using a wicked looking scourge to "encourage" any slow moving slaves. As you approach, the huge creature turns to face you, it's normal eye and deformed eye moving completely disconnected from one another as the creature examines you. "So, traders from House Morvyndis, eh? Not a house I've heard of before." The Fomorian gives a sneer, even as its oversized eye twitches towards a nearby gnome who paused in his work to stare at the newcomer. "GET BACK TO WORK! YOU STOP TO STARE AGAIN AND I'LL RIP OUT YOUR EYES FOR GLYDAX'S BREAKFAST!" He raises his hand, and brings down the scourge across the gnome's back, sending the slave to the ground, screaming in pain.

The Fomorain gives a growl of satisfaction and turns back to you. "I hear you have a slave to sell me. Let's take a look." The slaver marches forward to examine Pavick. "Hmm...looks to be in good health, but not much for physical labor, is it? Well, we can fix that..." A few of the nearby cyclopses chuckle at this.

"What's more important, is why you've got a bloody Eladrin trying to pass himself as a dark elf!" the Fomorian straightens suddenly, and both eyes fix on Eltain; and he raises the scourge again.

-------------------------------

Just down the tunnel, Aramil and the Shepherd can see the gate open up, and the others move inside, escorted by the cyclopses. Studying the gate, it does seem that it wouldn't be terribly difficult for either of you to scale from this side (or even teleport in through the eye-hole).

[Nai_Calus]

Eltain covers his disgust and anger at the beating of the gnome by complimenting the formorian's technique with entirely feigned glee.

"Ooh, you must show me how to do that," he gushes. When he's called out on his not-drowness, he pouts and looks sad.

"Oh, please don't remind me of my pathetic, inferior birth! I don't want to be an Eladrin, but I couldn't help that I was born the wrong race! When I was little I realized how wrong and stupid the ways of the Eladrin were and ran away to join the drow. All that goody-goody surface nonsense is just ridiculous, but the drow have it right, so I decided to become a drow. I suppose my disguise is a little threadbare after all this travel." He tries to look fierce and evil, but manages instead to look cute and harmless and adorable.

Bluff: (1d20+9)[10]

[DSCrankshaw]

Lucan - Half-elf Drow bard

Lucan rolls his eyes. "Now you've done it. He's going to be twice as moody and 'edgy' now. Honestly, he's trying, okay? He knows he's not a real drow, but give him a chance. If he can't manage our way of life, then we'll kill him ourselves. And if he can--you know that converts are the most zealous, right?"

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Bluff - (1d20+13)[21]

[dariathalon]

Pavick - Gnome Slave

Pavick glances up at Eltain with a look of dread. "Please sir, don't beat me more," he whimpers. "I believe you're one of them." He flinches as he casts his eyes back toward Eltain's feet.

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Bluff - (1d20+14)[18] or Bluff - (1d20+14)[16]

[Toric]

Zyrr does his best to suppress a guffaw, partly because one of the most honest actions a man can do is laugh. He pats Lucan on the back.

"You see? His lies fail even worse when he believes what he says! I believe the wager was two silver? I'll give you time to cough it up." Leaving the drower-than-drow to his devices, he sends a whispered message to the Fomorian, in this case taking the form of a very focused shout. "I wagered he'd be even more amusing as a convert. If your angry cousins decided to infiltrate you and sent this to do the job, would you ever give them reason to send a replacement? This jester's kept me in stitches since he walked up to me and asked when the next heathen curse-dance would be. The best part was learning he'd brought absolutely no clothes that weren't black leather."

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Day-saving skill check go! Bluff - (1d20+12)[28]

[Hzurr]

DM Post

The Fomorian stares at you all for a long minute. "So that's how it is, eh?" He leans down, and takes Eltain's face in his hand, staring at it with his huge, misshapen eye. The nearby cyclopses begin gathering, hands going to weapons.

There is a long moment of silence, before the Fomorian begins making a low, guttural sound. To those from the material plane, it sounds similar to a cat coughing up a hairball, but after a moment you realize that this is actually the Fomorian's laugh. A few moments later, all the cyclopses join in. "An Eladrin who wants to be a drow. That's something you don't see everyday." The Fomorian continues chuckling, but cuts off very suddenly, and gives a snarl. "Ok, we can deal. What do you want for the gnome?"

[Toric]

"That depends largely on what you have. Morvyndis is well-known in its area for brewing potions and poisons, but we need raw product. ....What about this, we agree on a price for the gnome, then we work out what you'll give to make up that price." Zyrr interlocks his fingers in front of his chest. "Two bouts of haggling for the price of one. Interested?"

Without waiting for an answer, he makes his first offer.

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I myself have no clue what a gnome goes for on the black market, but I'm hoping a Streetwise check would mean Zyrr does. Streetwise - (1d20+7)[8]

Also Dungeoneering - (1d20+3)[18]

[Hzurr]

DM Post

The Fomorian gives a grin. All deals will need to be cleared with Glydax, but I'm sure we can come to some initial arrangement... He walks over, picks up Pavick, hoisting the gnome up to eye-level to examine him. "Well fed, and good health, but scrawny. I'd say this one isn't worth more than 250 gold." He lowers Pavick, and motions for one of the Cyclopses to come and take him.

OOC: This strikes Zyrr as an exceptionally fair price.

"What kind of products are you looking for? Rare materials or bulk? He begins motioning to various areas of the farm "We've got most of your usual ware...Black Fungus, Titan spore caps, Quickling drops..." The Fomorian's evil eye spins back to look at Zyrr and Lucan What's your preference?"

[DSCrankshaw]

Lucan - Half-elf bard

Lucan thinks hard, trying to remember what a good price for fresh gnome is.

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Streetwise - (1d20+13)[23]