Midgard (PF) IC

[Inkheart]

MIDGARD (PF)

You remember the dragon attacking. The moon behind its outstretched, gossamer wings. The impact of its landing. The horrifying revelation that the black sand wafting across its wasted frame was in fact millions of spiders skittering beneath its translucent scales. You remember its spider eyes locking with yours, and then its jaw unhinging and the black motes of its breath weapon billowing over you, and then burrowing, tunneling, and cavorting under your skin.

Then blinding pain as the motes erupted from your pores as a spider swarm, and skittered back to the dragon with your life energy. You remember fear, falling, and screams muted by your own heartbeat. Then blackness. You awoke days ago, paralyzed atop the dragon’s stockpile of tangled bodies, where you still lie with humans, goblins, and reptilian beasts in a tangled mass of limbs and wide-eyed faces.

Most are conscious. All are paralyzed. Each horror-stricken face breathes with a slow asthmatic gasp, sucking air past spiders crawling from its throat. Each day, the dragon’s slave, a gnome with fiery orange hair, force feeds you water and a slurry of horse flesh and dragon bile. Each day, spiders crawl in and out of your open mouth, delivering your lifeblood to the dragon, as you stare helpless.

But something has changed. The dragon has been absent for over a day, and as the sun rose, the spiders climbed out and soon turned to dust. You’ve since shaken off your paralysis. Looking around, you see a great vulture nudging a paralyzed goblin and ripping flesh from other victims. Wind whistles through the large single opening of this massive wooden shack. Sand covers a hard, pink, mucous floor, and two large columns of the same material provide support. Seeing you move, the gnome slave fumbles for a horn you’ve heard summon the dragon before.

You have all your equipment fastened to you. weapons and other held weapons are among the body pile, out of reach.

You all are in a 30-ft square , with walls made of woods.

Your immediate concern is to convince the Gnome to not summon the dragon.

[Rattlebones]

A figure sits up among the bodies. You see a gearforged, tall with broad shoulders, mostly composed of iron with a glowing blue visor. He wears an armored coat with an embroidered symbol of Rava on the breast. He looks around with jerky movements in confusion, then settles his gaze on the gnome.

"Um," he speaks in a metallic baritone, "If anyone happens to have mind-control powers, now would be a good time to be a show-off."

[Shadowflick]

'Fingers. I can feel Fingers. Twitching, life returning to my body.' Amias thinks, blinking beneath her mask. Her body was wrapped tightly in long, piecemeal black scrapes of clothing. Layeres upon layers to make a cloak along with a suit of sort. She rises from the corpses, back cracking in sevral paces as she causes her bones to move again finally. She turns, seeing the gnome and metal man. She begins to weave foreward, body moving fluidly, almost like a specter in it's own right

"Hark There, Small fellow. THine Horn is a Beacon to cale any legged beas-" She retches, spider dust spewing from there mouth, It stands up straight shortly after "A Foolish notion if one wishes to live."

Spoiler: Rolls!

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(1d20+6)[22]

[Chromascope3D]

Well, that was altogether unpleasant experience. Would not care for that again, no sirrah!

He looks about, this man does, head swimming as he makes note of the commotion. He checks his belt. Gone, of course. He checks his horns. Still there. Excellent. His belt seems to be lying a few feet away, which was certainly rude of them. Hopefully there isn't any rot in the leather or rust in the steel, but it seems his muscles hasn't atrophied any so it's possible that his stay seemed longer than it actually was. Waiting for the gnome's attention to turn away, he grabs the belt and continues to play dead. However, as he settles back down, he repositions himself that he can get a better look at his captor. His eyes are solid black, save for their golden irises, though at the moment they are filled with naught but malice. His time will come.

Spoiler

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(1d20+7)[19] Stealth to subtly grab his weapon belt as a move action, following it up with a hypnotic stare, also as a move action.

[Hazuki]

Of course it had to be a Dragon. Prija would gladly not ever have seen a dragon again in her life, but there it came, swooping upon her like long-awaited retribution. Her end had not been so swift as she'd have liked, nor as true as most else would. Through the days of her torturous paralysis, she's had nothing but time to stew on her failures and what end was soon to come. And now that she has a chance of freedom, she's ready to run as far away from this place as she can. This memory can be buried like the rest.

There are other captives. She knows nothing of them but that they are there, and trying to stop the Gnome from blowing his horn. She's not so stupid as to grab her weapon while they're trying to calm the situation, but she is quiet, and ready, should the horn be blown. Then she can leave, whether the bastard blows it or not.

Spoiler: Action

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Readied Action to grab dat sword.

[Spore]

The darkness encroaches Naramion for ages has left his skin in a pale blue hue, his form made slender from the sparse feedings. Something in his inside was broken. He hated the dark as it sneaked into every crevice of his body but he could see better in it after the days in the darkness. How long had it been? Weeks? Months? He did not know.

A small bat was always close to his body. Its bond to him was very close but he never remembered casting the ritual to bond with a familiar. It claimed it was responsible for his freedom, and for the removal of the darkness inside him. But something in Naramion's mind would not believe it.

The elf-marked wizard could feel his new different powers well inside him. The shadowstuff was following his very grasp. It would fill any creature, leaving it crippled and helpless for a brief moment. But he also remembered his old master's teachings. He liked to ease up trade negotiations or dealing with outsiders with a simple spell. The options where there, and he saw others rise from the pile. A shadow fey was starting to enchant him, meanwhile another voice from the darkness tries reasoning, and a metallic voice simply called out for enchantment magic.

Let's do this right then. Slowly and very deliberately, Naramion rises from the pile as some spiders skitter towards the gnome. Subtly they close in on the small creature's form but suddenly they engulf him. That is when Naramion strikes. Is e mo thoil a tha annamsa! as it is followed by his soothing voice. Friend gnome! Come here, and help your old friend up and out of here. The last days where terribly confusing but I have to thank you for not allowing me to die in the dragon attack. And I heartily thank you.

Spoiler

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Misfortune (roll two d20s and take the worse of them for attacks/skill checks/saves) for one round followed up by a Charm Person spell (DC 15 will save, but he has -2 from the Hypnotic Stare power).

That followed up by a Diplomacy check: (1d20+5)[24]

[Inkheart]

The fiery orange haired gnome looks at the horns and the group of people snapping out of paralysis. Maybe it was the threat of violence, which stopped the Gnome right in its tracks or the little humanoid attempting to seize an opportunity.

"My friend...I need to find my friend! The dragon is late..." the gnome appears obviously scared of the possible return of the dragon, but your efforts seem to have at least convinced him to not blow the horn for now. As Naramion words seem to have resonated with the Gnome seeking his own friend.

Now, that you are all standing up, you can have a clearer view of the body pile and the exit. In the body pile, you notice:

-Five goblins, Four of them appears to be dead, one of them stand out with his wide-eyed expression and what seems to be glass baton grafted in his forearm.
-A comely maiden with many jewels, including a torc with silver pearls, a silver signet ring (Knowledge: Local or Nobility to know more)
-A beast with the head of giant eagle and body of a lion (Knowledge: Arcana for more details)
-some kind of a draconic serpentine, multi legged large creature (knowledge: Arcana for more details)
-A giant spider with a noticeable amount of web strand, some even used to muzzle the draconic creature.
-A dead camel

Meanwhile, for the others more curioius to peek outside, you can see on the eastern exit:

A vast desert lies 200 ft. below, and dunes stretch endlessly in every direction. You stand, not on a mountain, but atop a massive creature. Your wooden room sits between the eyestalks of a colossal slug frozen in time. Its pink mucous skin is cracked like a parched desert floor and peels away in great sunburned sheets. About 100 ft. down, the slug’s intestine-like tentacles grapple the leg of its larger rival, a skinless humanoid with a forest of leechlike heads, also frozen in time.

The rival’s hand holds a 100-ft.-long, fluted-bone pin with lines of backward-curving hooks down its length. Between the creatures and the pin extracted gore hangs from the puncture wound like floating islands of flesh and blood. Lesser creatures have lashed ramshackle structures upon the abominations. Most appear smashed. A wooden tunnel stretching between the abominations has collapsed in the middle, where a pair of dead goblins’ bodies landed on it.

Bridges formerly leading to islands of flesh dangle from ropes. No structures lead down from your perch. In fact, this exit overhangs the slug’s face, providing a view straight down to the desert floor.

Meanwhile At the base of the western wall, a missing wall board offers a view down the back of the colossal slug’s head. Forty feet down a smooth 70-degree slope, a large shelf mushroom forms a 5 ft. x 10 ft. landing. Below that, the slug’s suncracked skin peels downward in a multitude of sheets, forming a lattice of scales appearing climbable.

Spoiler: Other checks

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-Perception check to look around the room for possible resources to use or acquire
-You can attempt to unparalyze the various victims or not, up to you
-Knowledge (History) to know more about the past
-Another Knowledge (History) or (Local) to see if you know another more present fact.

[Chromascope3D]

The horned man smiles, twirling a holly dart around his fingers before setting it comfortably back between the others lining his belt. No time for mercy today, it would seem. Although, the creature does seem rather wretched besides, so perhaps mercy might not be off the table too long. He approaches the gnome, placing a hand on his shoulder (quite charitable given the filthy state of the wretch) and comforts him, "Ah, cousin! No need to panic! I'm sure everything will turn out alright!"

He kneels down, meeting the gnome's orange eyes with his gold-dappled stare, "There we are, cuz, no time to cry! Tell you what, how about a quick game to, you know, calm you down. Cheer you up, aye?

Spoiler: OOC

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For reference, Suibhne refers to all fey and their relatives as 'cousin.'

Various Skill Checks to be resolved w/e Siv gets free time:
Perception (1d20+4)[21]
Nobility (1d20+6)[24]

[Hazuki]

With the immediate threat solved, Prija...finds herself unsure of what to do next. There's nobody in charge, no threat to fight, and nothing but the pile of corpses she's just crawled out of herself. She makes sure to grab her weapons, strapping them firmly to herself, and takes a peek outside to find...something. And she thought that desert would be the most distressing thing in her sights.

With little else to do, she looks over the corpse pile more closely. She carefully pulls the maiden out of it, away from the worst, and sits her in what she hopes will be a more comfortable position. Will she wake soon? Prija doesn't know, but she should have the strength to carry her when the rest of the room's conscious occupants come up with a way down.

[Inkheart]

"I hope so...I need to find her. She was taken by Goblins and this one might be the only one with a clue. I'm Nabbit, what's your name?" As the Gnome looks up at Suib then at the only Goblin, appearing to be alive in the Body Pile and paralyzed like the others with the glass baton in his forearm.

Whenever Suib has time to help the others look around, they can gather the following: (Suib perception check was high enough)

-Pot of fresh water, 3 days worth for 4 persons
-Large pot filled with horse flesh and bile, enough food for 3 days for 4 persons
-A small wooden quarterstaff
-Two masterwork shortswords, a buckler with Gorgotha's Image
-A potion (You can attempt to taste the potion Perception check to identify it or use spellcraft)
-A Chest with four locked drawers (Disable device or you can attempt to break the chest with a sunder combat maneuver or just beat on it normally)

[Shadowflick]

The Crypt's gaze remains on the Gnome, there fist tightening as they stare him down. Swiftly, they turn, moving toward Prija and the unconscious woman "Is Thy Woman capable of walking?" The Crypt asks, looking to the woman. There voice is horse, gravely, inentionally obscuring who they might be beneath the cowl. She looks about to those who can walk "Tis Best we Move. Else thine bodies shall chip and char like the corpses we stand upon. Thine title tis The Crypt, what of ye?"

[Hazuki]

Prija stares at The Crypt as she's addressed. "She...I have not met her before now. I have rope to strap her to me if we have to climb and she doesn't wake." She explains, as she silently hopes that the Crypt is just another one of those affectations she's found among other sellswords. She once knew a man who went by The Nutcracker, although he'd apparently retired following a terribly ironic accident. The Crypt had avoided that, at least. "You may call me Prija." She explains, in her thick Mharoti accent.

[Rattlebones]

Felix retrieves his equipment, strapping a sword to his waist and tying two bags to his belt. The metal man walks over to the gnome, his footsteps clanking with each stride, and bends down until their gaze is level. "Nabbit, you can call me Felix. Back home, I am Sir Havlik, Faithforged of Rava. I am a paladin. If you have been acting against your will to save a loved one... I will help you as I can. No one deserves this fate." He lifts one cautionary finger. "I hope, for your sake, that you are telling the truth. Now, Nabbit, where do you go to get this food? Is their another shack nearby? A path to reach it?"

<waits for response>

Felix walks over and inspects the gathered equipment. He peers intently at the potion, but decides that someone who actually has a tongue may need to sip the concoction to test its effects. "We should take all of these things to help us. Especially the food and water. But that thing," he points at the buckler with the symbol of Gorgotha, "Gives me pause. If we tarry too long in this place it will affect our minds. I don't think carrying around its symbol would be prudent."

He walks over to the young woman. "If she is alive, we must escort her back to her family. It is the right thing to do. Also, they are likely the only civilized people nearby who can offer us aid in this wasteland." He calls out to the crowd. "Is anyone a healer? Can we tell if she still lives?"

[Spore]

The slender elf-marked paces the room once 'Nabbit' has calmed down a bit.

Give me that concoction. I know a bit about poisons and potions. Naramion rolls the vial around in his hand, checking how viscous the liquid is. Checking color patterns and the smell, he puts the vial away before announcing his result. I cannot tell if the noble woman is alive or not but I can test it. If she is alive, the Shadowrealm will feed on her pain and mend her wounds. Naramion goes close and puts his hand on her chest above her bosom. While channeling his healing powers, he adds. I think we should keep that buckler. If your faith prohibits you from it, I shall conceal it but we may need it to find out more about this dreaded place. He points at the chest. Can someone open this? There may be useful things inside.

Finally he meanders over to the goblin and inspects the rod. If he deems it useful, he will make quick work of the goblin and proceed to cut the rod out.

Spoiler

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Spellcraft: (1d20+9)[28]
Healing Hex: Cure Light Wounds: (1d8+1)[8]

[Inkheart]

Nabbit looks up at Felix.

"Not all of us, are diabolists* contrary to popular belief. Let me start from the beginning, Brinx, my sister and friend was captured by Goblins, a month ago. I followed her lizard familiar to here...but when I came, the dragon had already killed the familiar and took her. The Dragon didn't offer much of a choice, he wanted me to keep feeding the victims in the body pile or I would be part of the pile too..."

"As for the food, the dragon brings the food. It is a mix of horse flesh and his own bile. But, I already thoughts of escaping...come check it out."

Nabbit points at the western wall.

"We would have to climb down from the back of Gorgotha's head...we can just remove the wall boards.But I would like to get some information from the Goblin first."

The woman wasn't capable of walking until Naramion, tested his theory and with a gasp of air, the woman is no longer paralyzed, ending her rictus. She coughs and turns to the side, spitting on the ground. Before turning back to Naramion and the others present.

"Thank you for saving me...I thought that I was going to die here!" As the maiden is on the border of tears and still trying to catch her breath at the same time. "I'm Meira...who are you?"

As soon as Nabbit sees that Naramion has the power to awaken the paralyzed people, he rushes to the body pile, pointed at the goblin with the glass baton in his arm.

"Awaken this guy! He'll know where they took her!"

Naramion looks at the rod sticking out from the Goblin, it is probably useful but it looks like the Goblin grafted the baton into his arm. It would involve cutting the arm of the goblin to get it out. (Knowledge Arcana to identify the glass baton)

*=Gnomes in Midgard Setting have made many deals with Archdevils, and in general are considered evil, swindlers, kidnappers etc...and they are a minor race of the setting.

Naramion identifies a potion of cure light wounds.

[Hazuki]

"My name is Prija." Prija kindly informs the woman. "As far as I can see, we are strangers, each taken by the dragon. If you don't mind my asking, how were you captured?" She asks. A lone noblewoman seems ill-advised just for bandits, let alone dragons.

[Inkheart]

"Daiquianas, my father underling, is the one who orchestrated my capture. I heard the ruffians curse him to their last breath when the Dragon caught them in the desert and proceeded to slay them. At my return, I shall reveal his duplicity! I'm sure, my father will compensate your efforts." The maiden appears exasperated , now that she recalls the events that lead to this situation.

[Spore]

The elf marked bows to royalty. Lady Meira, a pleasure to meet you. I am Naramion Talloth, former apprentice to Master Heikhud the Forsaken, though not the most renown or famous wizard, son of the Talloth family line meant to guard the elven castle of Issedon.

Naramion's face darkens. Whatever this is, it looks useful. Can we get that rod and then revive the goblin? It sounds grueling but I am not taking any chance today. He looks at Felix who is probably the most concerned with a deed this ... selfish. Faithforged, would you do the hon...assist me? I could do it myself but the pain this one feels is far less if someone strong makes quick work of it. Whatever power bonded itself to Naramion instilled a bit of a sick sense of humor into him.

Spoiler

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Trying to cut off the arm and then heal the goblin, therefore reviving it and mending the bleeding if Felix agrees. If he does not, the goblin is revived nevertheless. (1d8+1)[8]

[Chromascope3D]

The man tsked. The gnome didn't even acknowledge his offer. Such vexed him to no end. And who were all these people up and about now? This might be a good time to duck out, he thinks to himself, wiping gunk from his hands.

Then again, he thinks, leaning against the wall of the shack and watching the others fret about, Might no' make it far in the Wastes on my own, least no' without supply. Hmm. Tricky, tha'.

His eyes trace over the maiden, and he is intrigued for a second, but begins to look past. That is, until he spies her ring.

Oh, now tha's interesting.

He makes his way over as she's awoken, kneels before her, takes her hand and places a single kiss upon that ring, "Good day, fair Meira. Of House Ortfeld, I presume? Wonderful, wonderful. The name's Suibhne Tullestry, though, I think you may call me Siv, if you like, and I am most relieved to see you well!"

Suibhne smiles and helps her to her feet, "Yes, guests of the dragon all of us. But le' us see what can be done about getting you home and justice done, aye?"

[Shadowflick]

The Crypt steps aside, allowing the Wizard access to the woman. "Returning then Hime WOuld be difficult, Lady Meira. The Wastes are most inhospitable to living creatures" Hearing the origin of what they were eating may have disturbed some..but for The Crypt, they seemed unbothered...in truth, the one beneath all of the wrappings has had to eat things just as horrid and vile in order to survive...including the blood of the living from time to time.

The Crypt's gaze darts to Siv for a moment. Sucha show of affection on sudden notice. The One beneath the cowl had been victim to such plays in the past... "Howver, Noble and brave souls seem willing to accompany the. Lucky you are. A Paladin of Metal, and a Elfmarked Wizard. Both seem powerful and willing. Greetings to you as well". The crypt begins moving to the wall boards that the Gnome was speaking of, thoush, they were soewhat suspicious of it "The goblin may have information beside they sister. Mayhaps it lived here before"

[Hazuki]

"She's not been five minutes out of torture and already you make yourself a crow." Prija chastises the slip of a man who's started pecking at Meira. She's seen enough of his sort before - and each one greasier than beef stew. "Unless you can grow wings along with it, make yourself useful elsewhere.""

[Chromascope3D]

Suibhne frowned, "Why, I was only showing the lady due courtesy, given her station."

He smiles again, and turns about, "Truly, it is a shame tha' knowledge of even basic manners are withheld from the general populace, but, I suppose it follows tha' tha' which is most precious is often least in supply, aye?"

[Hazuki]

"Rare, yet always spilling from the mouths of blackguards. Odd, that." Prija scoffs.

[Spore]

Stop it, both of you. Save your energy for something more worthwhile, like trying to survive. the elven wizard demands. While we might be unharmed, we do not know what the dragon had in mind for us. Why else would he want so many alive victims? Focus on our strengths. Which reminds me.

Kneeling next to the rod and the goblin, Naramion concentrates on his family medaillon. Now that its magical gem was stolen, it was worthless. However it seemed his soul was linked to the bat he woke up with. He mentally gave it the command to scout the immediate vicinity, and report back.

[Hazuki]

"Try to survive how, wizard? There's nothing in this room but corpses and a waste below. Unless there's an invisible foe in this room, all I can do is wait until we decide to climb down." Prija says.

[Chromascope3D]

He grins, dismissing the woman's jabs, "Is it? I'll admit tha' I have little experience with such rogues, so I'll have to defer to your better judgement on tha' front."

He sits atop a large wooden chest, and nods, "Very well, Mister Talloth, I shall be the gentler party and set this slight aside. No reason to be at each other's throats, after all."

"Sir Havlik!" He exclaimed, suddenly changing focus to the forged knight, "I must say, I have always found your kin fascinating, and I am surprised and delighted to find myself in the company of one of such noble construction. Tell, me, do you think you could crack open this box? I am bitten with curiosity to find out what's inside. Perhaps vital supplies for the journey ahead, aye?"

[Shadowflick]

The Crypt can hear the slight argument behind them...but, they choose not to interact. Instead, they look to teh wall that the gnome had mentioned, dilapitated wood planks hardly holding together. The Crypt decides to start kicking them loose, before pulling the planks from place.

[Rattlebones]

Felix walks over to Naramion. He stares at the goblin, then the elf-marked, and then the goblin again. "I don't have any personal love for goblins. There were a few bands near Zobeck that would try to steal from my father's caravans. Nasty things. But we're far away from Zobeck. I'm not keen on tearing anything out of his body. Let's try to think of ways to wake them up. Or maybe just give them a little time."

Then he walks over to the woman and gives a small bow at the waist. "Lady Meira, I am Sir Havlik, paladin of Rava. I will help escort you back to your family, with your blessing."

And then walks over to Siv. "I would be happy to try, but... I'm familiar with clockwork mechanisms, but locks are not quite the same thing." He draws a dagger from his belt. "Let's give this a go." He gingerly starts wedging where the metal lock meets the wood paneling.

[Inkheart]

At the paladin suggestion, to not harm the goblin for now, Naramion healing powers is applied to the Goblin. As the goblin begins to move, free from moving around, his first reaction, is to spit on the floor, as if out of disgust.

The Goblin looks around the room, and begins to speak in Goblin, which for all of you sounds like gibberish to say the least.

Nabbit quickly notices that the group doesn't understand what the Goblin is saying. With a disgusted look on his face, he proceeds to talk with the Goblin and back at the group.
"His name is Felking. He says that if you let him live, he'll help you Escape and..."

Listening to more of what the Goblin has to say.

"..He knows where the Goblins are holding the Gnome prisoners. He asks, also if anybody minds him summoning his familiar."

Felix meanwhile is attempting to break open the chest, it takes a little while to say the least, due to the hardness of the chest but eventually, he manages to break it open, revealing 3 glass batons similar to the one on the goblin arm, each with Two leather straps cinch this brass-filigreed, 1-ft.-long, glass tube to a forearm, and embedded wires in an attached glove control the device via finger movements. Inside the tube, a translucent blue electrolyte surrounds a copper cylinder containing an iron rod that pokes out the wrist end.

The maiden Meira meanwhile is overwhelmed with everything going on, around her but does take the time to reply politely. "Hello Sir Havlik, Sir Talloth, Sir Tullestry, lady Prija...a gearforged Paladin, fate must be smiling upon me."

The Crypt meanwhile has not much difficulty taking down the wooden planks of the western wall. Climbing down below, seems like it could be difficult but the web strand nearby from the Giant spider, could be made of good use to climb down, 40 ft below to the shelf-mushroom landing on Gorgothoga's head.

[Spore]

Can you translate this, Nabbit? Go on ahead Felking but tell us what your familiar actually is. I won't accept any fiend or monster next to Lady Meira. The human turns towards Felking. What exactly is that glass baton doing in your arm? It seems important.

Naramion then meanders over to the Griffon. You are a noble beast. I will free you, and you do not need to help us but together we may be stronger. I beg of you not to attack us because we will be forced to cut you down. He tries to stand behind the majestic beast to not be immediately pecked in the face. He thinks a few moments where to stand but with a creature this large, everywhere is in reach. So he decides to wake up the griffon.

If the griffon is revived and does not attack, he bows before the beast and asks it humbly: Can you carry this lady of noble blood? We shall protect you two with your utmost power.

Spoiler

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Healing Hex (1d8+1)[8]
Diplomacy: (1d20+5)[13]