[5e] The Power of Names (IC)

[Zergrinch]

Muttering to no one particular about "poisonous flowers" and the "Queen of all Poisons", Zaftig continues his search by fiddling with every last inch of the thresher's chest to look for a catch that opens the false bottom.

Spoiler

Show

Skill check: (1d20)[6]
If Investigation, subtract 1.
If Sleight of hand, add 2.

[Sierim]

Spoiler: Hal, Passive Religion

Show

In addition to its value as a poison, you also know the aconitum (the flower Zaftig handed you) is used in a number of rituals. Among them are those of summoning, warding, and lycanthropy. In each case, it serves as a conduit for transformation, a symbol of life and death.

The chest does not appear to have any catch or other opening mechanism, but a blade or other thin object could be used to pry the false bottom from the interior.

[Entelechy]

Song nods. She takes the sack off the end of her maul, then nods to Dame Dolnoy, "My lady. I may escort you home, but I might recogmend staying somewhere else tonight. With a relative, or a room at an inn. It's best not to be where you are expected."

[Zergrinch]

Zaftig takes a crossbow bolt and tries to pry open the false bottom.

[ronlugge]

Damarh looks around with wide eyes at the thorough investigation everyone else was managing.

[Sierim]

As Zaftig pries the false bottom from the chest interior, the strong smell of herbs wafts from below. Inside are a number of plants, including more aconitums, peppermint, and lavender organized in a delicate pattern. In addition, several small candles sit at the corners of the chest. Given how one of the candles is still stuck to the false bottom fron when Zaftig lifted it, as well as scorch marks on the other corners, it appears the candles were still alight when the board was placed over them.

The design indicates some sort of ritual, though nothing terribly malevolent from your experience, given all the materials are plant or animal byproducts.

Pressed against the side of the board, perhaps having fallen between the false bottom and inner wall earlier, is a paper note. It reads, "If the rats give you any more trouble, let me know."

~~~

Dame Dolnoy agrees to your suggestion and suggests you take her to the Inn and Out for the night. Before leaving town square, she grabs a few items from the stage chest--"For anonymity's sake," she says--and makes a simple but effective disguise for herself. It seems unlikely anyone will notice her, as she also changes her voice and gait almost naturally.

[Zergrinch]

Evidently satisfied there was nothing malevolent in the chest, Zaftig keeps the note, as well as a few acotinum flowers to later coat his weapons in.

The dwarf now focuses his attention on the journal and starts to read it.

[Entelechy]

Song raises an eyebrow. "That's a startling talent. What should I call you, now?" she asked as they walked to the Inn.

[Sierim]

Sharmae's journal relates the details of his comings and goings over the past several months. Among the things that stand out is a relationship with Dolnoy, which the entries imply is something of a secret, and a recent problem with rats. It seems Sharmae has repeatedly found rodents in his bedroom, specifically around his personal belongings. While you gather that he contacted a local druid, pages with names are missing, with several torn or entirely removed.

Near the end, after one such torn page, you read "...y's tonight and ask for advice. May get a clue what she likes. He's known her longer."

Just then, you hear the skittering of tiny feet along the sill outside.


~~~

"Call me Sin," Dolnoy says coyly. "And how else would I be? To perform, one mustn't play the part, one must become it."

As you both walk into the inn, she whispers, "If you wish me to remain unknown, keep your distance for now. Several stage hands saw you tonight, and Korgan made it clear he wished you to guard Dame Dolnoy."

[Zergrinch]

The skittering greatly annoys the dwarf, and he stomps outside to squash a few rats.

[CryWolfCorrupt]

Ahj reaches out instinctively to stop the one prying open the chest, then recoils and covers his eyes. When nothing happens, he breathes a sigh of relief. When it's his turn, he takes the journal and sits down cross-legged again to read it. As he skims through the pages, he tries to make sense of it while looking around for any remnants of the pages.

When the skittering starts, his head whips on a swivel to the door. "More rats? This doesn't sound good to me..." his voice trails off as he tosses the book onto the closest box and creeps over to the wall.

[Entelechy]

Song nods gravely. "The better solution is for us to flirt publicly. Guards become distracted all the time, and people won't find it strange for us to take a room together."

[Zergrinch]

Zaftig sees a couple of rats scurrying about. The dwarf takes out his belaying pin and clubs them to death!

[Sierim]

The pained squeak of the rats clubbed by Zaftig only seems to heighten the sound of skittering. Now they can be heard going over the roof, under the flooring, and in the walls. In addition, rats can be seen coming from other buildings toward the thresher's home.

Spoiler: Initiative!

Show

Roll for Initiative!

~~~

Inside the Inn, several dwarves are sitting at the bar, grumbling about their ill luck with the ladies, a mouthy human, and absent friends. Apart from the dwarves, the area is relatively quiet. You notice several empty bottles lying about, and a rich, soothing smell, rather than a reek of alcohol. "Sin" walks up to the barkeep and speaks with him, and returns shortly with two wine glasses holding a yellow-green liquid. "Boos for two." she says, handing Song one. The scent of the drink leaves no doubt: it's Beau. "Strong as dwarven ale without any of the unwanted side effects." She takes a sip from her glass.

[ronlugge]

Damarh snatched up his dagger and readied himself to stab a couple of rats.

Spoiler: Initiative Roll

Show

(1d20+3)[20]

[CryWolfCorrupt]

Back up against the wall, Ahj loads a bolt into his crossbow as he pulls it off his back.

Spoiler: Initiative!

Show

(1d20+3)[18]

[Zergrinch]

Zaftig hurriedly grinds one of the poisonous flowers into a paste, and coats his battleaxe in the residue.

Initiative: (1d20+2)[8]

[Entelechy]

"I have been in town a few days, Sin. You learn what Boos is pretty quick," Song said with a wink and a smile. Reaching for hers, she knocks it over onto Dame Dolnoy, "Ah Hells. Sorry, Sin, I can be clumsy. Too much strength."

[ronlugge]

Spoiler: Rolls

Show

Attack: (1d20+3)[18]
Damage: (1d4+3)[6]

Damarh stabs at the first rat to enter his reach.

[Sierim]

Damarh's repeated attacks against the swarm strike true, as four of the tiny creatures fall dead. Rather than scatter, however, the swarm wraps around his legs, scurrying upward. An especially large rat stops along the lower thigh of Damarh's right leg and attempts to bite through his clothing. Its teeth sink deep, but still fail to break through the cloth.

Spoiler: Combat Rolls and Details

Show

Attack: (1d20+3)[18]
Damage: (1d4+1)[3]
The swarm is currently in your space. All all attacks (besides your own) against the swarm attacking you will hit you on a miss. Alternatively, the damage can be negated by attacking with disadvantage.

Outside, one of the swarms rushes around a large rain barrel and sweeps across Zaftig's feet and up his legs as well. Several of the small rats scratch at his hips as they move upward toward his backpack. Their tiny claws are ineffective, however, only managing to leave white scratch marks on his clothing.

Spoiler: Combat Rolls and Details

Show

Attack: (1d20+2)[11]
Damage: (1d2+1)[3]
The swarm is currently in your space. All all attacks (besides your own) against the swarm attacking you will hit you on a miss. Alternatively, the damage can be negated by attacking with disadvantage.

Inside the house, rats can be heard moving along the rooftop and down the sides of the walls. Moments later, you hear them scampering through the walls themselves, then in the back room. The sounds of hundreds of tiny feet continue as rats begin pouring out of the mouse holes to the left of the entry door.

[Zergrinch]

Uttering several curses about these godforsaken rodents, Zaftig drops his backpack to the ground, throws his considerable bulk (261 pounds) on the swarm at his feet, and starts rolling on the ground and crushing dozens of the creatures with ease.

It probably didn't occur to the dwarf that he would likely regret such a course of action later, when he and his chain mail begin to smell like dead rats.

Spoiler

Show

I attack the rats with my magnificent bulk!

To hit: (1d20+5)[23].
Damage to be determined by DM.

[CryWolfCorrupt]

Ahj watches, horrified, as the large dwarf uses his mass to crush the swarm of rats surrounding them. Thinking quickly, he turns his head away from the window behind him and smashes it with the butt of his crossbow. As the rats begin to skitter to where he stands, he takes a few steps back before running and vaulting over the windowsill... And as he pushes off with his free hand, he performs a stunning front flip, firing his crossbow into the swarm of rats as they close in on the spot he just stood in. Landing on his feet, free hand palm open on the ground to steady himself, Ahj stands and dusts himself off before turning to assess the building infested with the vermin.

Spoiler: Acrobatics

Show

(1d20+7)[27] to see if he can pull it off...

[Zergrinch]

Puppeteering Hal Undertone, Sr. (Sent Frendle a PM days ago, he didn't reply, so I'm assuming Hal is abandoned)Hal Undertone Initiative: (1d20)[11]

"So much rodents can't be helpful to the health of the city! I am sorry, my little friends, but by fire, thou shalt be purged! I will make it quick."

The dwarven cleric hurriedly exits the dwelling, and summons the radiance of Pelor which descends on a swarm of rats that's not already attacking someone else.

Spoiler

Show

Sacred Flame: Swarm must make (1d20)[7] + DEX mod DC 13 save, else (1d8)[3] radiant damage.

Assuming that an entire swarm can make a single save, of course.

[Sierim]

The rats screech in pain from the fiery attack, and the majority of the swarm scatters away from Zaftig, only to be rounded back up by the largest in the group. There's a certain cunning in the eyes of that one.

Within the house, Ahj sees another of these large rats, which appears to give order to the smaller ones, guiding them toward specific tasks.

[Zergrinch]

Zaftig continues frolicing in the ground, squashing rats right and left. His burly backside rolls over the cunning-looking rat, and it mewls pitifully as the heavyset dwarf rolls into it and hopefully crushes it to death.

Spoiler

Show

Action/Move: Continue rolling on the ground and crushing the rats. But roll towards a wall. To hit: (1d20+5)[18]. Damage: (1d10+3)[8].

[ronlugge]

Once again Damarh lays about himself with his dagger.

Spoiler: Attack Rolls

Show

(1d20+3)[18](1d4+3)[6]

[Sierim]

As Zaftig rolls, the remaining rats scatter. The larger rat scurries out of the way, apparently aware of the dwarf's intentions. It then turns and takes advantage of Zaftig lying on the ground and bites at his neck. Zaftig's movements are too fast, however, and the rat is unable to keep enough of a grip to bite down, much less harm him.

Spoiler: Combat Rolls and Details

Show

Attack (with advantage): (1d20+5)[8], (1d20+5)[16]
Damage: (1d4+2)[5]
The rat swarm outside has dispersed, but the large rat remains. Rolling on the ground will not harm the lone rat.

The rats atop Damarh crawl into his backpack pack producing an eerie, tickling feeling along his back, while others try to slip beneath his clothes and into his boots, biting as they go. Their efforts, however, amount to little more than a painful itching.

Spoiler: Combat Rolls and Details

Show

Attack (advantage, as they still occupy Damarh's space): (1d20+5)[7], (1d20+5)[10]
Damage: (1d4+1)[4]

From the back room, the sounds of skittering across furniture can be heard, followed by irritated squeaks.

[Zergrinch]

Zaftig stands up and grabs at the bothersome rodent. If he manages to catch it with his gauntleted fists, he'll crush the life out of it.

Spoiler

Show

Grapple: Athletics check vs opponent's Athletics or Acrobatics.
For Zaftig: (1d20+5)[6]

[ronlugge]

Getting tired of the game, Damarh continues to lay about him with the dagger, wishing he had something else to do to attack.

Spoiler: ROLLS

Show

attack: (1d20+3)[15] for (1d4+3)[7] damage