Strange Aeons: In Search of Sanity II [IC - Group #1]

[lostsole31]

DAY 10

Spoiler: Akbar (and Heck)

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You wake up as normal, and nothing seems different about your environment. And yet, in the little corner of the sanctuary that the party has set up for themselves, other than Heck Hanley, you don't see Corbin, but you DO see a whole new batch of new faces. Or at least, new-ish. Several of them (but not all) you remember from your first terrifying dream in what seems so long ago, and there are a couple that you might recognize as having been with you before the strange dimensional shift at the Argus Wall.

Spoiler: Brother Jaume, Dorn, Jean (and Javert), and Nadya

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What the -?!?

Not only is there something slightly, ephemerally ... different ... about the sanctuary, but Björn and Gaye are missing! But there are two others in their place. Brother Jaume might recognize the red-bearded, dark-skinned (Akbar) from before the time of the Argus Wall. There is also an unknown, strangely-featured short creature that is ugly ... either a slender, misshapen dwarf, a runt human, or a mutant gnome; all might be possible.

[Blackhawk101]

The large man staggers, grabbing his head and moaning “not again! ...Agh!” He is of medium height but thickly muscled with a Pronounced gut, shorn close black hair and bushy beard. His huge hands grip a large, wooden quarterstaff. Black eyes stare out from the Sun darkened skin of his face and the laugh lines around his eyes. He is wearing a rough spun wool robe and a patched leather cloak with a brass long bow and arrow holy symbol clasp. Leather Sandals cover his feet.

[pfm1995]

Slowly pulling out of the vitriolic haze of his fevered dreams, Jean spends several minutes with his eyes closed - sitting up, and trying to put his mind back together. His grey face is a shade lighter than normal, like chalk mixed with black sand, and his beard much less tightly-trimmed than is his want. Spider-like hands work their way through meditative gestures, and after a moment, he opens his eyes.

"I am no longer dreaming, but... I do not remember you."

Spoiler: Appearance

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[lostsole31]

Upon closer inspection, one sees that the Small person is a human with dwarfism, with stubby legs, a jutting forehead, mismatched eyes of green and black, and a mixture of pale blond and black hair. His unique stare has been said to make most people uncomfortable, which you will later note he tries to use to his advantage.

Unlike the rest of you, he wears a noble's outfit - complete with a full littering of jewelry. He doesn't seem to wear armor or carry a weapon, though he does have two belt pouches. Though these pouches both seem like unremarkable coin purses, perhaps one of them acts as a poor man's spell component pouch? Time will tell.

"Akbar," he says cautiously and measured as he rises to his height of not even a full 4-1/2 feet, "do you know these people?"

Though possessed of the faintest "noble's lisp," yet there is a power in his voice. Or, maybe it's entitled arrogance.

[PSinger]

DORN

He was once a hale and hearty man, and in truth he still is. This man of 50 fifty winters has a balding, gray-white pate and gleaming hazel eyes that seemed to take in everything around it while conveying compassion. He isn't very tall, though not particularly short, either, and is of a slimmer weight (5'8", 173 lbs.). Some of that height might be because of a noticeable stoop. He doesn't appear to have any physical ailment ... no hump or anything, yet it seems he is used to stooping for some reason. There on his forehead - not a tattoo or birthmark, but a type of blue ash or paint - is the symbol of an iron hammer. The head is down and the handle up. It is simplistic design, and likely done with a type of devotional finger paint with only a few minutes of application at best. He has seen some years, and old age is not too far away.

His studded leather is simple, serviceable, even poor by comparison to the armor possibly worn by others in the party. It has seen some use. In the man's hands is a simple warhammer, and that warhammer bears some type or runes and the same upside-down hammer symbol, though a little more ornate. He wears a scholar's outfit with his studded armor. Hanging from his neck is a gleaming version of this same symbol, this time more ornate than anywhere else.


He instantly senses something off and he looks around and sees most of his companions, but Bjorn and Gaye seem to be missing. He steps up to the midget (or is it little person? or small folk?) He looks him up and down (but looking more down). "I don't know you."

He then steps over to the rotund gentleman of the vineyard-ly persuasion. "But you," he says in his gruff tenor, "I never forget a face .... Brother .... Jaume.

"Tell me, where might I find Captain York?"

[lostsole31]

A woman, likely of Varisian stock, sits simply. She looks around wide-eyed and curious. It is hard to tell that she is Varisian and only her cheekbones and jawline seem to give that much away. Otherwise, her hair, the irises of her eyes, and even her skin has a sickly, jaundiced color ... the observant among you will note that it is the same shade of yellow as the sickly yellow mist you may have encountered elsewhere. She has on the basic clothing of a Briarstone Asylum patient, and nothing else.

Those that "came with" her know her, but she is a cypher to Akbar (and Heck).

---

Next to the man with the ashen skin is a crow, but the crow is the size of a full-sized eagle!

[Swami Monsoon]

Akbar shakes his head, both as a "no" and to express his confusion. Yesterday... that wild fight and desperate escape... was that a dream? And speaking of dreams...

"I've never met them, but for some reason they look familiar."

Spoiler: Description

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Akbar is a short and stocky man who appears to be in his mid 30's. He has dark brown skin and striking bright red-orange hair, beard and eyes. His ears are slightly pointed and his teeth and nails are slightly longer and pointier than "normal." He is dressed in plain but well made traveling clothes of an Eastern style.

[PSinger]

Dorn gives a sharp nod. A pause. "Right."

He looks at the two new folks, and gestures to each of his teammates, as appropriate. "This is Brother Jaume, clerical and right hook powerhouse. Jean, pretty much our sage and good with a scimitar ... and his friend, the crow, Javert. That's Nadya Sabay; she managed to survive unseen for days ... she seems to have lightning abilities, flies, and has some minor spellcasting.

"And my name is Dorn. I came with a friend of mine who I don't see here, having been saved from being overborne by the Splatter Man in the halls of Harrowstone, only to end up in this fire. I have some minor miracles Torag grants me, backed up by a warhammer.

"Who are the two of you?"

[pfm1995]

"Raven." Jean coughs, still weak. "Javert is a raven."

[lostsole31]

The party reports to Winter earlier than normal (you still haven't done any morning routines). She doesn't seem to outwardly register any confusion, shock, or even indifference to the new batch of people in front of her. In fact, she looks to Jean and seeing that the fever broke she casts lesser restoration on him to help Jean return to fighting trim (effectively repeating the action of healing him that he experienced before this shift). In acknowledging Jean (and Brother Jaume & co.), she just as easily acknowledges Akbar and Heck.

It is as if the shift in party personnel has gone entirely unregistered by the non-party NPCs, as if each of you had always been there.

She begins. "With the dangers of the Tribals broken in the northwest and the dangerous survivors in the central north corridors, Dr. Elbourne and I have been discussing what we need. Until now it seems to have been more random and haphazard exploration. Lord Hanley has learned all that the library might tell us, so now we need experiential knowledge. You encountered an oneirogen in the tower room, but we really don't know what that means for us, just that one of these creatures belches out yellow mist.

"Instead of launching a renewed attack on what seems to have been terrified survivors to the north anyway - survivors that seem to have some stores of food - I ask that you hold off on the northern section for now. We need answers, and the best place(s) we are going to receive them is if you continue to explore the rest of the administration halls in the south section and to see what is north of the library."

She then adds, "I am curious to know if you are able to get any clues on what might have happened to Administrator Losandro."

[PSinger]

Before anyone else that "came with" Dorn can cause unnecessary confusion, Dorn pipes up quickly, "That would be great. I agree. Anyone else have any other matters before we ready ourselves for the morning?" He then stands up.

Dorn gives a hard stare to everyone in his "old" group, though without telepathy it's hard to understand what he's trying to get across.

[Blackhawk101]

“Good idea Dorn!” says Brother Jaume with a savage grin. He moves to begin his prayers and exercises.

[PSinger]

Dorn performs his morning ritual.

Spoiler

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I take it that we are having deja vu and I am re-opening what I unlocked "this" morning?

[Swami Monsoon]

Akbar looks through his possessions, checking if everything is where he remembered it...

"As far as the plan goes, with what's in each part of the building and what's been cleared out... how sure we can be about that, the way things have just been... scrambled?"

[Blackhawk101]

BJ wonders who the stranger Akbar is speaking to as he is focused on his prayers.

[lostsole31]

Spoiler: Akbar

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Your possessions are all present and accounted for.

Spoiler: Brother Jaume

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With the strange change of dramatis personae, will you keep your current spell selection?

Spoiler: Dorn

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That is correct. This morning is deja vu as far as self-discovery.

Spoiler: Jean

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Given the strangeness of late, what are you going to do with your morning setup?

[Blackhawk101]

BJ will keep his spell selection the same for today.

[pfm1995]

Jean will change nothing

[lostsole31]

Alright, Winter gave her request for what the party should explore. Also, not everyone in the party necessarily has "all the info" about what was discovered in Losandro's room.

What's the plan?

[Blackhawk101]

BJ will gather together what amounts to the new group. He says “Let’s head out to the Argus wall and then decide what to do next.”

[lostsole31]

Heck looks annoyed. "I got rid of the Argus Wall. Do you mean where it once stood?"

[Blackhawk101]

Brother Jaume smiles monkishly, his hands clasped in the sleeves of his robes. ”As you say.”

[PSinger]

"Yeah," says Dorn as he walks (towards the site where the Argus Wall stood), "We got rid of it with a mirror. What'd you do?"

[lostsole31]

Assuming everyone followed (and to move things along), everyone is now standing where the Argus Wall once stood. Denomar Winoparess is there with crossbow, guarding that vacuous "entrance" to the sanctuary areas ... this one leading to the great Admissions Hall.

Now what?

[Blackhawk101]

“There are subtle differences in this place, I think. When we “whatevered “ this time, Dorn , Jean, Nadya and I jumped to this reality. Heck and Akbar were together in this reality. How far have you explored in the area past the former Argus wall?” he asks Akbar.

[Swami Monsoon]

"We searched the library and a couple of rooms near it, got into a fight with some rat people. We made peace with them, at least for the moment... We also found an exit to an outdoor area, but that path is probably blocked. There were lots of big, dangerous looking critters moving around in the fog..."

Akbar pauses.

"Of course all of that assumes that this place is just how it was when I went to sleep last night."

[Blackhawk101]

“If the two realities really are similar, hopefully we can combine our knowledge of this place. Before this switch, we explored further North of the library and fought more Ratlings and a nasty diminutive undead before finding the Briarstone Administrator’s office and library. There is a Oneirogen there, spouting yellow mist like the kind outside. There was useful information to be gained there in the form of books and other documents. I believe I can find it again.”

[pfm1995]

"Assuming nothing has changed. Yes, we should move - and perhaps this time we can help her in some way."

[lostsole31]

What is the plan?

[PSinger]

"Here is what I recommend," says Dorn. "We do a quick reconnoiter of the few rooms we think we check previously that are south of the library: the two rooms just south (including the broom closet) and then over to the visitor's room with the taxidermy. We make sure the haunt is still defunct.

"Then, we leave the eastern set alone and go back through the library to the north. We hit the western portions of those admin offices first, and the pickled punks. Then to the right where we dealt with the other ratlings, and finally north again to the administrator's office."