The Dark Heart Chapter 3

[Human Paragon 3]

She and I left on... sort of bad terms. I'm afraid of what she'll do to me if we go to her... but... she has powerful magic. Very powerful. If anybody could help us, it's her.

[The_Werebear]

Andas

If she does know of Nagumi, she will respect my power. Recognize it at least. I vote for questioning her.

[Kesnit]

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Sorry, GJ, I don't check the boards as often on weekends because I'm not at work, bored.

It seems to be this Baba Mona is our only option. Unless anyone can think of something else?

[Xanos]

(Either I missed the link for this, or I had no idea this excisted ;p)

Issian

Issian, growning, slowly stands up. Obviously not feeling very well, he shakes his head from side to side. After a while, he looks around keenly. he sharpens his senses to get an overall sense of what's going on.
He approaches the others. "What happened, where are we?"

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Listen, Spot and Know: Religion checks. The Tangled Web is down, so I have no idea what my mods are. I think they're +1, +5 and +7 or so.

[Human Paragon 3]

Issian:

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Your sharp senses reveal all the information in the thread.

[Freshmeat]

Carlyss Aritonn

Setting himself down on the altar, Carlyss listens to what their strange guide had to say and nods approvingly.
"This 'Baba Mona' sounds like the person we need. Am I right in assuming she lives somewhere around these parts? Alone, preferably? We don't want to anger the locals with our presence."

[Human Paragon 3]

Oh yes. She live alone... very much alone. She make sure of that. But I know de way. It is near here. If you insist, I take you.

[The_Werebear]

Andas

The elf nods. Take us. I wish to see this... person who could help.

[Human Paragon 3]

Uneasily, Chami leads you through the jungle to Baba Mona's hut. The trip takes a day and a half, but nothing of interest happens along the way. The mainland is a little safer than Nagumi, Chami explains.

As the sun begins to set on the second day, Chami slows his pace. He seems to be looking for signs and landmarks.

We are almost dere, Chami says. This is de bone tree.

Looming above you is a sinister looking tree. At a glance, there is something unplaceabley wrong about it, but Ishian's sharp senses spot branches full of real bones.

Spin around three times to pass it. Otherwise... well, my uncle died this way. You don't want to become a part of the tree.

He spins in place three times before safely passing the tree, and you all do the same. Finally, as the sun dips below the horizon, you happen upon Baba Mona's hut. It's a squat construction with a hole in the roof for the noxious flume of billowing smoke. A fire outside the hut casts light over the area.

Uh... Baba Mona? Chami calls.

Chami! comes a cracked voice from inside the hut. You have a lot of nerve showing your face here again. She speaks no language you know of, but you can understand her none the less. Baba Mona emerges from her hut, bent and time-ravaged as if she decays before your very eyes. You've heard the phrase "old as the hills" before, but never has it been this apt. You truly believe that this woman is as old as the hills- is part of them. She seems inexorably rooted to the land and commands your unflapping attentions.

Matthew:

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There is strong magic present on her and around her. The hut is magic, there is a magic aura around the surrounding area including the bone tree, which radiated very strong arcane magic.

Explain yourselves, she says. Speak.

[Chineselegolas]

Matthew

Whispering to the others, Matthew said quietly "Careful, she is a powerful one" before looking at her and saying "We are here for many reasons. Partly because we were sent to find out about those who came before us, partly because we cannot go home."

[The_Werebear]

Andas

We seek a party, probably rather like ourselves. They were shipwrecked here first. I have other goals as well. Nagumi has made me her new Shaman, and seeks followers. Andas wracks his brain, trying to think of everything he just learned about this creature.

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Knowledge: Local +9

[Xanos]

Issian

Issian looks around, then focuses on the old hag. He keeps quiet, but goes to stand somewhat in the front, near Baba, ready in case anything happens.

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Spot Check +5
Detect Evil on the hag

[Human Paragon 3]

Baba Mona frowns. Well, what does that have to do with me? You want my help for that? I can tell you there's been no ships wrecked on this shore.

Upon hearing Andas: Nagumi, eh? Haven't heard that name for a long time. An old spirit... but she's long gone. All her followers are dead.

Issian:

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Baba Mona is fearsome, but not evil. There is an air of evil about the hut though, as if it contains items infused with evil, or if strong evil spirits have been present there.

[Lochar]

Stimpas

"Actually, what is left of Nagumi is on one of the islands. Andas converted to her worship in a bargain to help us on our quest."

[Kesnit]

Soondra

You have not heard about any shipwrecks? None at all?

[Human Paragon 3]

That is very interesting. Very good to know. She was a once powerful spirit with many followers, and if she's back... Baba Mona pauses a moment as she considers this. Well, since you gave me some news, I'll give you some news. I don't know what happened to the people that you're looking for, but I do know that they didn't shipwreck. Sounds to me like you need to talk with the Zakari tribe.

That's the problem, Chami speaks up. We can't go back there or we'll be killed. They'll be killed because they're foreigners, and I was banished from my tribe.

Oh, so it's my magic you want. Baba Mona smiles. Chami, you know what I want from you. The rest of you can bargain on your own terms for my help.

[Kesnit]

Soondra

What would you want from us in terms of a bargin?

[Lochar]

Stimpas

"I would offer my services as a brewer of healing potions to you for a day or two. If you have the proper materials, I can make potions that can reduce wounds lightly. In trade for your assistance."

[The_Werebear]

Andas

And I could offer the friendship and alliance of Nagumi. She will be a power here again.

[Human Paragon 3]

Baba Mona laughs loudly. Potions? The allegiance of an obsolete spirit? No, no... Those things are of no use to me. But come inside my hut and we can talk about what you can give me. There's room for two inside, myself and one other. Why don't you come in first, my little Shaman? I'm sure we'll have a lot to talk about?

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In interest of time, I'd like to conduct all of your bargains simultaneously over PMs rather than working one at a time on the thread. I'll be sending you each a PM following this post.

[Lochar]

Stimpas

Stimpas enters the hut when required and is in there but a few minutes. He exits afterward, quietly, contemplative.

[Holocron Coder]

Valtar

Valtar is in the hut but a minute or two before strolling back out, looking mildly confused but still satisfied.

[The_Werebear]

Andas

The elf staggers out after five minutes or so, looking slightly dazed. There are a pair of horizontal scars on his forearms where none were before.

[Lochar]

Stimpas

Stimpas looks to the others once he leaves the hut. "I am curious as to what each of us received. Not what was traded, but what was given to help us in our quest." Stimpas touches the symbol on his chest for a moment, head bowed in prayer.

"I was promised our safety, identities hidden from those who mean us harm."

[The_Werebear]

Andas

She was nonspecific, but said she would help. He shakes his head, seeming to recover his bearing slightly more. She also said something about me being under a curse, and it being lifted for a minute each night. I don't understand what she was talking about. If there was a curse, Nagumi would have removed it when she took me into her service. Again, there is the disturbing, loving tone. If Mona was lying to me to extract more, there will be problems...

[Lochar]

Stimpas

"We'll wait up tonight then, keeping you awake. We will see if there is a real curse."

He pauses for a moment before continuing. "I will ask Koros for magic to remove curses, just in case."

[Human Paragon 3]

Her magic is good, Chami says. Whatever help she offers will be useful enough. Whether it's worth what we traded away, that's anybody's guess.

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Still negotiating with Issian, Soondra, and Matthew

[Lochar]

Stimpas

"Since you've apparently traded with her before, what was it you were looking for, Chami? What drove you to her, that you required so badly that you traded something for it? We need to rescue those lost, in a land we don't know. I would not deal as I have if there were other options."

[Human Paragon 3]

She teach me magic. She show me where de spirits and de gods left de spells dat create de earth. My tribe didn't have any magician, and since I de storyteller, dey send me to learn.

Chami grows whistful for a moment.


Back den, I just did as she asked, I cleaned, I cooked, I told stories, I gathered food and fetched tings for her.

[Lochar]

Stimpas

"I see." Stimpas is quiet, considering.