Lord of Autumn - The darnedest thing happens as you touch the crake's flesh. Where you would expect to find resistance, you find none. Your hand passes, with ease, through the rake's skin as though the creature was made of thick mud (or perhaps jelly) rather than flesh and bone. Likewise, when you move to make the incision within the crake's stomach, your blade passes through the skin without causing bleeding.
You know enough about the anatomy of crakes to know that this is far from usual; could this be a side-effect of the parasite?
Perhaps put off by the bizarre discovery, your blade clumsily enters the wounded creature. Even in its weakened state, it roars with pain. Quickly removing your blade, you discover that you have slain another parasite, however, this time it was inside the beast.
Please make a further check ((this can be either Arcana, Investigation, or Nature, your choice)). The check will attempt to quickly discern the current status of the crake and the effect killing the parasite had ((it has hidden properties)).
Faila nearly holds her breath watching the exchange between the goblin and the pixie. Maud must surely be as terrible a creature as I thought, to command such.. um.. loyalty, she muses. But she breaks into a beaming smile as the goblin bows and introduces himself.
"It's nice to meet you, Aruum," she says. "My name is Faila." She carefully places the 15 or so gold pieces into his outstretched hand. "There you are. Do you want to come with me? My friends are back up on the hill. I'll take you to meet them. We have gold, and a mission!"
Faila - "Golds!" Aruum declares triumphantly before shoving the coins into his mouth. Swallowing, he lets out a raucous belch, "Delicious golds. Top-notch."
Listening to you intently, he nods his head frequently. "Yes, Faila Golds-giver. We shall meet friends, eat golds, and achieve mission," he declares before humming merrily to himself, seemingly pleased to have thrown off the yoke of his previous taskmaster.
Faila is a little shocked when the goblin gobbles down the gold coins like an exquisite dessert. At the same time, in this strange place, it doesn't seem as strange as it might in Saltmarsh. Is that why they call them "gobl"ins? Ruefully she reflects that, as rarely as she used to see gold, the poor things must often go hungry. Gold has a very different value in this realm, I guess.
"All right, Aruum Golds-eater!" she responds, with another beaming smile. "I'll introduce you." And she leads him back up the hill to where Nikita, Meresaa, Asha, and Boyd are deliberating.
Faila runs up to them in a transformed countenance, excited in stark opposition to her usual withdrawn, anxious torpor. "Look, I've made a friend! His name is Aruum."
Meresaa laughs again as she settles into the exchange with Asha. "Hardly an expert, although opinions are not something I lack! Unfortunately, my only experience passing through these portals has been quite recent. I'm still unsure if Ravnica and Saltmarsh are on the same plane, actually. I'm afraid the circumstances surrounding the gathering of the individuals of this group are still a bit mysterious. You see, I thi..." She trails off as she notices the approach of the young Faila and her new companion.
Large, unreadable eyes linger a moment on Faila, then on Aruum before going back to Faila. Her heads cocks to one side slightly, giving a quizzical tone to her bearing.
Possibly for the first time since meeting the others, the stately woman looks to the rest of the group for a cue, clearly not knowing how to react to this very confusing development.
Nikita looks uncertainly at Thumbtack, then back to Faila and the goblinoid as she tries to discern who or what the new arrival is. Nature: 18
"Hello Aruum, I am Nikita and the owl on my shoulder is Thumbtack. Our other friends here are Meresaa, Boyd and Asha. Do you live here? In what was once the city of Cendriane? If so, we would be grateful for a guide."
She glances at her druid companion. "Very resourceful, Faila. But how did you two meet just now? Were there any others?"
"I was down the hill a little ways, and as I was sitting, I heard voices, and then I saw him. He had been talking to a pixie, with wings and a red trail, that was saying she works for Maud. And Aruum was working for her. Aruum just wanted gold, though, and I had plenty of it. I thought he'd be happier with us than working for Maud." Faila is still all smiles.
"... a pixie working for Maud..." Nikita echoes weakly, attempting to keep the dismay out of her voice and her tone neutral.
Why did we ever bring that Imp with us, even if she was conjoined with Claude? Nothing good has ever come from demons and devils.
For when you gaze into the Abyss, the Abyss gazes back into you, as Iuz taught me... same I suppose for the Nine Hells.
She waits for Aruum to answer her regarding being a guide.
"And tell us about the pixie and Maud," Nikita adds to her line of questioning. "We are happy to share a bit of gold with our friends as Faila has shown."
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Recoiling from the pained yelp of the crake, the Lord of Autumn draws his blade back before causing further trauma. A moment of hope crosses his face as he gazes upon an additional parasite that had been in the direct path of the glaive. This is quickly replaced by a look of determination as he switches his focus onto the sensation in the palm touching the mottled flesh of the crake. He lets out a coo in the beast's native tongue urging patience and strength.
He brings his hand now from the belly to further up the torso and all around the immediate area, scanning for other signs of malady and plague. The silence in his investigation is pierced as he speaks aloud again to no one in particular, "Verily, this foulness is worse than it would appear." The trembling returns, though this time to his left ear. Closing his eyes, he quickly begins concentrating once more amidst the throes of the crake (Guidance: Nature)
Aruum's golden eyes gleam with mischief as bows politely after Faila introduces him to the group. "A pleasures making your acquaintancies,"he says, stroking his chin. "Friend, Faila Golds-giver, says you have mission for Aruum Golds-eater." He looks between each member of the group, paying particular attention to any coin pouches that might be showing. "Aruum will missions for golds, yes?"
Listening to Nikita, Aruum's eyes widen when he sees Thumbtack. Dropping to his knees, he plants his face flat against the ground, with his arms spread out in front. "Finally, someone that knows how to properly greet an owl," Thumbtack mumbles under her breath. "It's ok, Aruum. Please, you do not have to prostrate yourself before me. Stand and speak freely."
"Thanking you, Lady Thumble-tacks,"Aruum grovels, starting to stand. He averts his eyes, not looking at the owl directly. Turning to Nikita, he attempts to answer her questions. "I does not live in Cendrianes. Too many ghostses,"he explains. "Used to lives in mountains," he points in a direction that looks to be westward. "Now lives just outside of Cendrianes," this time he points northwards. "Aruum loves to be guides but also loves golds."
"Oh, I think we can pay you an adequate amount of gold,"Thumbtack answers, before giving Nikita a look of apology.
Letting out a gasp, Aruum once more falls to his knees. "Thank yous, Lady Thumble-tack. Aruum shall guides you and your servants."
Spluttering, Thumbtack shifts uncomfortably on Nikita's shoulder."Friends! These are my friends, Aruum. Though it may occasionally look like we're giving each other orders and the whatnot, we're all friends here."
From his position on the ground, you notice Aruum nodding along as Faila speaks. "Aruum happy to missions for golds, as Faila Golds-giver says," he respectfully explains. "Maud was not nice to Aruum or others. At firsts, she says we would gets golds... but then when we didn't find the old stuffs, she uses fires and sticks." He rubs at his back, the memory of the pain once more entering his mind. "Aruum says, 'better to use karats rather than sticks,' but Mauds doesn't listens."
At Nikita's question, you see Aruum shift on the spot. "Certainly, Lady Thumble-tack's friend. I shalls tells you alls I know, especiallys for golds!" he declares. "Small annoyings creature not pixies but pyskes, like nasty-pixies. Pyske -- Elida -- does missions for Mauds. Tries to finds old stuff. Elida is very quicks and tricksy." Aruum raises his hand above his head, his palm open.
You are certain that the creature is some variant of goblin. You vaguely recall stories of treasure goblins stealing into peoples' homes in the dead of night and taking items/treasures, only to subsequently disappear without a trace. Surely, these were creatures of fairytale and myth, not actual living creatures, yet here Aruum stands (or kneels, or falls flat on his face).
Lord of Autumn - Your encouragement in the creature's own tongue seems to lift its spirits. In fact, its health appears to have improved since you initially stabbed it with your blade. Bringing your hand to the creature's stomach once more, you note that the skin is still easily penetrated and has a thick mud-like consistency. You feel movement under the crake's skin as it unnaturally undulates, clearly the sign of additional larvae.
Unfortunately, you are at a loss as to why the crake seems to have improved. Unsure as to whether it is something you unintentionally did, or perhaps a result of the larvae's demise.
Please make an additional investigation or medicine check to attempt to discern how many of the larvae remain and whether you will be able to safely remove them.
"Hang about. Our Maud's only been here for... less than a day. You sound like you've been working for it for a while. They must be two different Mauds, right?"
When the treasure goblin prostrates himself to "Thumble-tack," Nikita manages with effort to keep her eye-roll psychic rather than physical.
Proud of Faila but worried that the party already has gained a new fey enemy in the psyke (Elida), not to mention reacquiring an old fiendish companion turned enemy in Maud, Nikita considers Boyd's objection. Here voice is a little rueful. "I know you are not going to like hearing this, Boyd, but I wonder if time works differently here in the feyrealm. Moreover, on Oerth, Maud had a potential two day head start on us through the portal, not less than a day."
To Aruum, she suggests brightly, "I hope I speak for the others in being delighted that you can guide us and we can provide you with the karats you want and deserve. Not the stick. Faila has already made a good start, and as we go, there will be more."
"But what can you tell us of Elida and Maud? Have they been here long? Are there others with them too? In truth, Maud knows us but will likely not regard us as friends. We would like to know her usual location, so we may either seek, or more likely, try to avoid them. Though that may be futile if they seek us. And what of these 'ghostses'? We hope to make for the river there to the south, then follow it east. If we can find a boat or raft, all the better."
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Furrowing his brow, the Lord of Autumn gives the crake a puzzling look at the obvious signs of improvement in the mighty creature. If the failure of his initial attempts to provide aid would have caused him distress, the Lord of Autumn did not outwardly show it. Instead, the firbolg remained stalwart with a gaze of fierce determination. "We must not ease our progress now,"he intoned to himself, outside of the beast's dialect.
The texture of the beast's skin was still quite peculiar despite the look of temporary relief in the beast. "Forsooth, these parasites seem to be at the root of the issue." He then shifted his tongue to that of the crake, asking for patience and stillness. As the beast stilled its breathing, the firbolg leaned in and put his ear to its belly. Now with his eyes staring down lengthwise, the Lord of Autumn began to look for signs of unnatural movement or pulsations across the crake's body. As he did so, he began running his again-trembling fingers in turn over the flesh, pressing gently so as to try and discern the depth and quantity of additional parasites beneath without pressing so hard as to carve his hand over its now supple flesh. (Guidance: Medicine)
"Oh right." he replies to Nikita. "Can't believe we were there for two whole days... Hope Esther's doing alright."
Boyd leans back on a ruined slab of marble and smiles at the goblin, laughing good-heartedly at the mispronunciations and his general demeanor. "Blimey - he reminds me of meself a bit." Boyd pulls 3 gold out of his pouch and flips them through the air at the goblin to see if the goblin can catch them in his mouth.
"I must confess, Aruum," Meresaa finally says. "I was quite surprised to see an individual such as you approach our group so openly and confidently. This is a misgiving I must examine and possibly remedy."
She takes a step forward and bobs her head in a casually acknowledging bow.
"Welcome. We do have need of a reliable and trustworthy guide and, should you prove to be so, we can arrange for you to be well... erm... fed with gold. As my friends here have said," she continues as she indicates Nikita and Boyd, "we've had some dealings with a being known as Maud and I'm very curious to find out if it is, in fact, the same imp. Is Maud an imp? How long have you known of them?"
Nikita - Aruum opens and closes his outstretched hand, checking whether any further coins had been placed therein. Unhappily finding his hand to be empty, he sits up, his face forlorn and his open wide, not too dissimilar to a puppy's. "Mauds and Elidas been heres for many moon-cycles. Long afore poor Aruum arrives, 'tis trues." He starts counting on his fingers, uttering strange names as he does, before settling on a number and holding up his hands. "They has this many old-stuffs-hunters,"he says holding up nine fingers before quickly putting one down. Quickly adding, "Oh, not Aruum any mores."
"Mauds is that ways,"Aruum points northwards. "Y'right, bes' avoids. Aruum doesn't like burnings, neither should Nee-kita Golds-nongiver,"he explains, seemingly focusing on the last part of the name he has given you. "Yes, could bes very fertile if she seeks yous," he says having little understanding of the word or his mistake, "especially if she takes golds."
Aruum becomes more animated at the mention of ghostses. Standing, he waves his arms around his head, clearly recreating a child-like impersonation of a ghost. "Ghostses comes, deads of night, somes of them don't knows they are ghostses.'STANDS BACKS',they cry."Begone, foul fiendses!,"that sort-a-thing. Likes they re-doings their last momentses, s'what Aruum reckons," he says, eyes-wide.
"Somes do knows they ghostses. They're bad sorts. But... I knows secrets," Aruum says, tapping his nose. "Secrets to protection against, evil ghostses." Unthinkingly, he taps at a pouch on the side of his leg.
Stroking his chin in thought, Aruum shrugs. "Boatses? Rafties? Wheres you getting these things?" he asks, perplexed. "Perhaps one falls from skies?" Just when you believe he is being sarcastic or facetious, you notice him staring up at the sky in wonder. "D'pends on the weathers, Aruum guesses."
Boyd - You are startled by the complete lack of coordination the little goblin shows as he desperately jumps up to catch the coins in his mouth: the first bumps off his head, the second bounces off his flat nose, and the third hits him squarely between the eyes. You watch as he pays no mind to being struck by the coins, as he snaps them up greedily and shoves them in his mouth.
"Delicious! Delicious! Thanks you, Boyd Golds-chucker!"Aruum says gleefully after the spectacle. "Yes! Yes! Very similars, I and you. Brothers separateds at births, Aruum thinks."
Meresaa - Aruum stares at you blankly before nodding. The frequency of his nodding triples after you mention being 'fed with gold'.
"Maud is demon-thing,"Aruum answers, his arms shooting up as he jumps on the spot, trying to show her height. It strikes you then that the height that Aruum approximates for Maud would roughly be the same height as you remember Claude being. "Little heads like imp,"he goes on to explain, "with second heads frozens likes this." It feels you with a chill as the little goblin mimics a look of fear and anguished screaming; what had become of poor Claude?"Second heads eyes moves but mouth nevers speaks just goes like this," he opens and closes his mouth multiple times before chuckling. "Jus' like fishes! GULP! GULP! GULP!"
Your fingers glide over the crake's stomach, occasionally coming across the spikes of one of the strange larvae. All-in-all, you believe you can feel three further creatures. It strikes you that, should you reach into the beast's belly with bare hands, you may risk becoming pricked by the larvaes' barbs.
High Roll!
Contemplating why the beast's health might have improved it occurs to you that if the parasites drain energy, it might be that they are somehow able to use that stored energy. When destroyed, the lifeblood of the larvae might have caused a reverse-necrosis. If what you are guessing is correct, the crake might be restored to health if you manage to concoct a way of slaying the larvae whilst they are within its stomach.
Only after Aruum finishes speaking does Nikita use her Mage Hand to pass him three gold pieces, pointing to make clear she is doing it.
"Not Nikita golds non-giver, golds-trader, Aruum. You give us information as you just have, or help guide us safely, and we give you gold in exchange. But if we come to trust each other, then maybe the friendship comes free for all of us. And Thumble-tack here can bless you with her very presence."
She turns back to the group. "We have come to a fascinating but dangerous place. Maud the fiend has an army of helpers, now numbering eight, searching for relics in this lost city. Instead of the two days' head start she had on Oerth, Maud has been here many moon cycles along with the psyke Elidas, however long that is. And there are ghosts. The ones who do not know they are dead may be those that I saw that first night with the Carnival floating eerily towards Prospect - perhaps those slain by the Sanguine Cabal and Sedgewick's harvesting of life force through the Sagacitas larvae. But it sounds as if there are other undead here as well - the ones who Aruum claims know that they are ghosts. Certainly best avoided, if we can."
She pauses, looking everyone in the eye. "The question now is whether we proceed to the river as quickly as possible, or confront Maud first. My vote is to make for the river, though Maud and Elidas may find and confront us whether we wish it or no. Either way, we should begin moving."
Nikita - Aruum greedily snatches at the proffered gold pieces. "Yes! Yes! Nikita Golds-trader!" he yells gleefully.
"Really?!" Thumbtack hisses at you under her breath. "That's correct, Aruum,"she declares to Aruum, "it pleases me greatly that you answered my friend, Nikita's, questions."
Finding himself being directly addressed by Thumbtack, Aruum falls to his face once more.
Lord of Autumn - The darnedest thing happens as you touch the crake's flesh. Where you would expect to find resistance, you find none. Your hand passes, with ease, through the rake's skin as though the creature was made of thick mud (or perhaps jelly) rather than flesh and bone. Likewise, when you move to make the incision within the crake's stomach, your blade passes through the skin without causing bleeding.
You know enough about the anatomy of crakes to know that this is far from usual; could this be a side-effect of the parasite?
Lord of Autumn's Medicine check:
Perhaps put off by the bizarre discovery, your blade clumsily enters the wounded creature. Even in its weakened state, it roars with pain. Quickly removing your blade, you discover that you have slain another parasite, however, this time it was inside the beast.
Please make a further check ((this can be either Arcana, Investigation, or Nature, your choice)). The check will attempt to quickly discern the current status of the crake and the effect killing the parasite had ((it has hidden properties)).
DM - The Call of Strahd (CoS); Feyrealm Campaign, Chapter 0 - Bleak Prospect (BP), Chapter 1 - Destination Unknown (DU)
Faila nearly holds her breath watching the exchange between the goblin and the pixie. Maud must surely be as terrible a creature as I thought, to command such.. um.. loyalty, she muses. But she breaks into a beaming smile as the goblin bows and introduces himself.
"It's nice to meet you, Aruum," she says. "My name is Faila." She carefully places the 15 or so gold pieces into his outstretched hand. "There you are. Do you want to come with me? My friends are back up on the hill. I'll take you to meet them. We have gold, and a mission!"
Faila - "Golds!" Aruum declares triumphantly before shoving the coins into his mouth. Swallowing, he lets out a raucous belch, "Delicious golds. Top-notch."
Listening to you intently, he nods his head frequently. "Yes, Faila Golds-giver. We shall meet friends, eat golds, and achieve mission," he declares before humming merrily to himself, seemingly pleased to have thrown off the yoke of his previous taskmaster.
DM - The Call of Strahd (CoS); Feyrealm Campaign, Chapter 0 - Bleak Prospect (BP), Chapter 1 - Destination Unknown (DU)
Faila is a little shocked when the goblin gobbles down the gold coins like an exquisite dessert. At the same time, in this strange place, it doesn't seem as strange as it might in Saltmarsh. Is that why they call them "gobl"ins? Ruefully she reflects that, as rarely as she used to see gold, the poor things must often go hungry. Gold has a very different value in this realm, I guess.
"All right, Aruum Golds-eater!" she responds, with another beaming smile. "I'll introduce you." And she leads him back up the hill to where Nikita, Meresaa, Asha, and Boyd are deliberating.
Faila runs up to them in a transformed countenance, excited in stark opposition to her usual withdrawn, anxious torpor. "Look, I've made a friend! His name is Aruum."
Meresaa laughs again as she settles into the exchange with Asha. "Hardly an expert, although opinions are not something I lack! Unfortunately, my only experience passing through these portals has been quite recent. I'm still unsure if Ravnica and Saltmarsh are on the same plane, actually. I'm afraid the circumstances surrounding the gathering of the individuals of this group are still a bit mysterious. You see, I thi..." She trails off as she notices the approach of the young Faila and her new companion.
Large, unreadable eyes linger a moment on Faila, then on Aruum before going back to Faila. Her heads cocks to one side slightly, giving a quizzical tone to her bearing.
Possibly for the first time since meeting the others, the stately woman looks to the rest of the group for a cue, clearly not knowing how to react to this very confusing development.
Characters currently being ruined on this forum:
Mis'tuv (Halfling Fathomless Warlock) - The Voyage of the Fallen Star
Meresaa (Vedalken Artillerist Artificer) - Destination Unknown
Hutton Crowcreek (Human Fighter) - Curse of the Crimson Throne
Nikita looks uncertainly at Thumbtack, then back to Faila and the goblinoid as she tries to discern who or what the new arrival is. Nature: 18
"Hello Aruum, I am Nikita and the owl on my shoulder is Thumbtack. Our other friends here are Meresaa, Boyd and Asha. Do you live here? In what was once the city of Cendriane? If so, we would be grateful for a guide."
She glances at her druid companion. "Very resourceful, Faila. But how did you two meet just now? Were there any others?"
Mud(Paladin2):Frandal's Scourge/Inge(Barbarian1):Krayveneer's After the Fall/Seri(Cleric1/Sorcerer1):Uhtred's Windward Isles/Shin(Wizard2):Dimir_MTG's Surviving
Dyson/Eleo(Cleric3):Vos' Beyond the Veil/Soren(Druid4):Bartjeebus' Ravenloft/Nivi(Rogue3):Raiketsu's CoS/Lyra(Warlock2/Bard2):BlameItOnWinter's Will of the Ancients
Joren(Fighter5):NotDrizzt's Simple Request/Quyen(Adept1):Constance's Nentir Vale/Rel(Warlock2):Uhtred's Phandelver/Xarian(Fighter1/Wizard1):ShieldHero's Drakkenheim
"I was down the hill a little ways, and as I was sitting, I heard voices, and then I saw him. He had been talking to a pixie, with wings and a red trail, that was saying she works for Maud. And Aruum was working for her. Aruum just wanted gold, though, and I had plenty of it. I thought he'd be happier with us than working for Maud." Faila is still all smiles.
"... a pixie working for Maud..." Nikita echoes weakly, attempting to keep the dismay out of her voice and her tone neutral.
Why did we ever bring that Imp with us, even if she was conjoined with Claude? Nothing good has ever come from demons and devils.
For when you gaze into the Abyss, the Abyss gazes back into you, as Iuz taught me... same I suppose for the Nine Hells.
She waits for Aruum to answer her regarding being a guide.
"And tell us about the pixie and Maud," Nikita adds to her line of questioning. "We are happy to share a bit of gold with our friends as Faila has shown."
Mud(Paladin2):Frandal's Scourge/Inge(Barbarian1):Krayveneer's After the Fall/Seri(Cleric1/Sorcerer1):Uhtred's Windward Isles/Shin(Wizard2):Dimir_MTG's Surviving
Dyson/Eleo(Cleric3):Vos' Beyond the Veil/Soren(Druid4):Bartjeebus' Ravenloft/Nivi(Rogue3):Raiketsu's CoS/Lyra(Warlock2/Bard2):BlameItOnWinter's Will of the Ancients
Joren(Fighter5):NotDrizzt's Simple Request/Quyen(Adept1):Constance's Nentir Vale/Rel(Warlock2):Uhtred's Phandelver/Xarian(Fighter1/Wizard1):ShieldHero's Drakkenheim
Recoiling from the pained yelp of the crake, the Lord of Autumn draws his blade back before causing further trauma. A moment of hope crosses his face as he gazes upon an additional parasite that had been in the direct path of the glaive. This is quickly replaced by a look of determination as he switches his focus onto the sensation in the palm touching the mottled flesh of the crake. He lets out a coo in the beast's native tongue urging patience and strength.
He brings his hand now from the belly to further up the torso and all around the immediate area, scanning for other signs of malady and plague. The silence in his investigation is pierced as he speaks aloud again to no one in particular, "Verily, this foulness is worse than it would appear." The trembling returns, though this time to his left ear. Closing his eyes, he quickly begins concentrating once more amidst the throes of the crake (Guidance: Nature)
Nature Check: 3
Mid-Morning - Day 1 - Fey-Prospect Grounds
Aruum's golden eyes gleam with mischief as bows politely after Faila introduces him to the group. "A pleasures making your acquaintancies," he says, stroking his chin. "Friend, Faila Golds-giver, says you have mission for Aruum Golds-eater." He looks between each member of the group, paying particular attention to any coin pouches that might be showing. "Aruum will missions for golds, yes?"
Listening to Nikita, Aruum's eyes widen when he sees Thumbtack. Dropping to his knees, he plants his face flat against the ground, with his arms spread out in front. "Finally, someone that knows how to properly greet an owl," Thumbtack mumbles under her breath. "It's ok, Aruum. Please, you do not have to prostrate yourself before me. Stand and speak freely."
"Thanking you, Lady Thumble-tacks," Aruum grovels, starting to stand. He averts his eyes, not looking at the owl directly. Turning to Nikita, he attempts to answer her questions. "I does not live in Cendrianes. Too many ghostses," he explains. "Used to lives in mountains," he points in a direction that looks to be westward. "Now lives just outside of Cendrianes," this time he points northwards. "Aruum loves to be guides but also loves golds."
"Oh, I think we can pay you an adequate amount of gold," Thumbtack answers, before giving Nikita a look of apology.
Letting out a gasp, Aruum once more falls to his knees. "Thank yous, Lady Thumble-tack. Aruum shall guides you and your servants."
Spluttering, Thumbtack shifts uncomfortably on Nikita's shoulder. "Friends! These are my friends, Aruum. Though it may occasionally look like we're giving each other orders and the whatnot, we're all friends here."
From his position on the ground, you notice Aruum nodding along as Faila speaks. "Aruum happy to missions for golds, as Faila Golds-giver says," he respectfully explains. "Maud was not nice to Aruum or others. At firsts, she says we would gets golds... but then when we didn't find the old stuffs, she uses fires and sticks." He rubs at his back, the memory of the pain once more entering his mind. "Aruum says, 'better to use karats rather than sticks,' but Mauds doesn't listens."
At Nikita's question, you see Aruum shift on the spot. "Certainly, Lady Thumble-tack's friend. I shalls tells you alls I know, especiallys for golds!" he declares. "Small annoyings creature not pixies but pyskes, like nasty-pixies. Pyske -- Elida -- does missions for Mauds. Tries to finds old stuff. Elida is very quicks and tricksy." Aruum raises his hand above his head, his palm open.
Nikita's Nature check:
You are certain that the creature is some variant of goblin. You vaguely recall stories of treasure goblins stealing into peoples' homes in the dead of night and taking items/treasures, only to subsequently disappear without a trace. Surely, these were creatures of fairytale and myth, not actual living creatures, yet here Aruum stands (or kneels, or falls flat on his face).
DM - The Call of Strahd (CoS); Feyrealm Campaign, Chapter 0 - Bleak Prospect (BP), Chapter 1 - Destination Unknown (DU)
Mid-Morning - Day 1 - Cendriane Ruins
Botched Surgery or Lucky Escape?
Lord of Autumn - Your encouragement in the creature's own tongue seems to lift its spirits. In fact, its health appears to have improved since you initially stabbed it with your blade. Bringing your hand to the creature's stomach once more, you note that the skin is still easily penetrated and has a thick mud-like consistency. You feel movement under the crake's skin as it unnaturally undulates, clearly the sign of additional larvae.
Lord of Autumn's Nature check:
Unfortunately, you are at a loss as to why the crake seems to have improved. Unsure as to whether it is something you unintentionally did, or perhaps a result of the larvae's demise.
Please make an additional investigation or medicine check to attempt to discern how many of the larvae remain and whether you will be able to safely remove them.
DM - The Call of Strahd (CoS); Feyrealm Campaign, Chapter 0 - Bleak Prospect (BP), Chapter 1 - Destination Unknown (DU)
"Hang about. Our Maud's only been here for... less than a day. You sound like you've been working for it for a while. They must be two different Mauds, right?"
When the treasure goblin prostrates himself to "Thumble-tack," Nikita manages with effort to keep her eye-roll psychic rather than physical.
Proud of Faila but worried that the party already has gained a new fey enemy in the psyke (Elida), not to mention reacquiring an old fiendish companion turned enemy in Maud, Nikita considers Boyd's objection. Here voice is a little rueful. "I know you are not going to like hearing this, Boyd, but I wonder if time works differently here in the feyrealm. Moreover, on Oerth, Maud had a potential two day head start on us through the portal, not less than a day."
To Aruum, she suggests brightly, "I hope I speak for the others in being delighted that you can guide us and we can provide you with the karats you want and deserve. Not the stick. Faila has already made a good start, and as we go, there will be more."
"But what can you tell us of Elida and Maud? Have they been here long? Are there others with them too? In truth, Maud knows us but will likely not regard us as friends. We would like to know her usual location, so we may either seek, or more likely, try to avoid them. Though that may be futile if they seek us. And what of these 'ghostses'? We hope to make for the river there to the south, then follow it east. If we can find a boat or raft, all the better."
Mud(Paladin2):Frandal's Scourge/Inge(Barbarian1):Krayveneer's After the Fall/Seri(Cleric1/Sorcerer1):Uhtred's Windward Isles/Shin(Wizard2):Dimir_MTG's Surviving
Dyson/Eleo(Cleric3):Vos' Beyond the Veil/Soren(Druid4):Bartjeebus' Ravenloft/Nivi(Rogue3):Raiketsu's CoS/Lyra(Warlock2/Bard2):BlameItOnWinter's Will of the Ancients
Joren(Fighter5):NotDrizzt's Simple Request/Quyen(Adept1):Constance's Nentir Vale/Rel(Warlock2):Uhtred's Phandelver/Xarian(Fighter1/Wizard1):ShieldHero's Drakkenheim
Furrowing his brow, the Lord of Autumn gives the crake a puzzling look at the obvious signs of improvement in the mighty creature. If the failure of his initial attempts to provide aid would have caused him distress, the Lord of Autumn did not outwardly show it. Instead, the firbolg remained stalwart with a gaze of fierce determination. "We must not ease our progress now," he intoned to himself, outside of the beast's dialect.
The texture of the beast's skin was still quite peculiar despite the look of temporary relief in the beast. "Forsooth, these parasites seem to be at the root of the issue." He then shifted his tongue to that of the crake, asking for patience and stillness. As the beast stilled its breathing, the firbolg leaned in and put his ear to its belly. Now with his eyes staring down lengthwise, the Lord of Autumn began to look for signs of unnatural movement or pulsations across the crake's body. As he did so, he began running his again-trembling fingers in turn over the flesh, pressing gently so as to try and discern the depth and quantity of additional parasites beneath without pressing so hard as to carve his hand over its now supple flesh. (Guidance: Medicine)
Medicine Check: 25
"Oh right." he replies to Nikita. "Can't believe we were there for two whole days... Hope Esther's doing alright."
Boyd leans back on a ruined slab of marble and smiles at the goblin, laughing good-heartedly at the mispronunciations and his general demeanor. "Blimey - he reminds me of meself a bit." Boyd pulls 3 gold out of his pouch and flips them through the air at the goblin to see if the goblin can catch them in his mouth.
"I must confess, Aruum," Meresaa finally says. "I was quite surprised to see an individual such as you approach our group so openly and confidently. This is a misgiving I must examine and possibly remedy."
She takes a step forward and bobs her head in a casually acknowledging bow.
"Welcome. We do have need of a reliable and trustworthy guide and, should you prove to be so, we can arrange for you to be well... erm... fed with gold. As my friends here have said," she continues as she indicates Nikita and Boyd, "we've had some dealings with a being known as Maud and I'm very curious to find out if it is, in fact, the same imp. Is Maud an imp? How long have you known of them?"
Characters currently being ruined on this forum:
Mis'tuv (Halfling Fathomless Warlock) - The Voyage of the Fallen Star
Meresaa (Vedalken Artillerist Artificer) - Destination Unknown
Hutton Crowcreek (Human Fighter) - Curse of the Crimson Throne
Mid-Morning - Day 1 - Fey-Prospect Grounds
Nikita - Aruum opens and closes his outstretched hand, checking whether any further coins had been placed therein. Unhappily finding his hand to be empty, he sits up, his face forlorn and his open wide, not too dissimilar to a puppy's. "Mauds and Elidas been heres for many moon-cycles. Long afore poor Aruum arrives, 'tis trues." He starts counting on his fingers, uttering strange names as he does, before settling on a number and holding up his hands. "They has this many old-stuffs-hunters," he says holding up nine fingers before quickly putting one down. Quickly adding, "Oh, not Aruum any mores."
"Mauds is that ways," Aruum points northwards. "Y'right, bes' avoids. Aruum doesn't like burnings, neither should Nee-kita Golds-nongiver," he explains, seemingly focusing on the last part of the name he has given you. "Yes, could bes very fertile if she seeks yous," he says having little understanding of the word or his mistake, "especially if she takes golds."
Aruum becomes more animated at the mention of ghostses. Standing, he waves his arms around his head, clearly recreating a child-like impersonation of a ghost. "Ghostses comes, deads of night, somes of them don't knows they are ghostses. 'STANDS BACKS', they cry. "Begone, foul fiendses!," that sort-a-thing. Likes they re-doings their last momentses, s'what Aruum reckons," he says, eyes-wide.
"Somes do knows they ghostses. They're bad sorts. But... I knows secrets," Aruum says, tapping his nose. "Secrets to protection against, evil ghostses." Unthinkingly, he taps at a pouch on the side of his leg.
Stroking his chin in thought, Aruum shrugs. "Boatses? Rafties? Wheres you getting these things?" he asks, perplexed. "Perhaps one falls from skies?" Just when you believe he is being sarcastic or facetious, you notice him staring up at the sky in wonder. "D'pends on the weathers, Aruum guesses."
Boyd - You are startled by the complete lack of coordination the little goblin shows as he desperately jumps up to catch the coins in his mouth: the first bumps off his head, the second bounces off his flat nose, and the third hits him squarely between the eyes. You watch as he pays no mind to being struck by the coins, as he snaps them up greedily and shoves them in his mouth.
"Delicious! Delicious! Thanks you, Boyd Golds-chucker!" Aruum says gleefully after the spectacle. "Yes! Yes! Very similars, I and you. Brothers separateds at births, Aruum thinks."
Meresaa - Aruum stares at you blankly before nodding. The frequency of his nodding triples after you mention being 'fed with gold'.
"Maud is demon-thing," Aruum answers, his arms shooting up as he jumps on the spot, trying to show her height. It strikes you then that the height that Aruum approximates for Maud would roughly be the same height as you remember Claude being. "Little heads like imp," he goes on to explain, "with second heads frozens likes this." It feels you with a chill as the little goblin mimics a look of fear and anguished screaming; what had become of poor Claude? "Second heads eyes moves but mouth nevers speaks just goes like this," he opens and closes his mouth multiple times before chuckling. "Jus' like fishes! GULP! GULP! GULP!"
DM - The Call of Strahd (CoS); Feyrealm Campaign, Chapter 0 - Bleak Prospect (BP), Chapter 1 - Destination Unknown (DU)
Mid-Morning - Day 1 - Cendriane Ruins
Lord of Autumn's Medicine check:
Your fingers glide over the crake's stomach, occasionally coming across the spikes of one of the strange larvae. All-in-all, you believe you can feel three further creatures. It strikes you that, should you reach into the beast's belly with bare hands, you may risk becoming pricked by the larvaes' barbs.
High Roll!
Contemplating why the beast's health might have improved it occurs to you that if the parasites drain energy, it might be that they are somehow able to use that stored energy. When destroyed, the lifeblood of the larvae might have caused a reverse-necrosis. If what you are guessing is correct, the crake might be restored to health if you manage to concoct a way of slaying the larvae whilst they are within its stomach.
DM - The Call of Strahd (CoS); Feyrealm Campaign, Chapter 0 - Bleak Prospect (BP), Chapter 1 - Destination Unknown (DU)
Only after Aruum finishes speaking does Nikita use her Mage Hand to pass him three gold pieces, pointing to make clear she is doing it.
"Not Nikita golds non-giver, golds-trader, Aruum. You give us information as you just have, or help guide us safely, and we give you gold in exchange. But if we come to trust each other, then maybe the friendship comes free for all of us. And Thumble-tack here can bless you with her very presence."
She turns back to the group. "We have come to a fascinating but dangerous place. Maud the fiend has an army of helpers, now numbering eight, searching for relics in this lost city. Instead of the two days' head start she had on Oerth, Maud has been here many moon cycles along with the psyke Elidas, however long that is. And there are ghosts. The ones who do not know they are dead may be those that I saw that first night with the Carnival floating eerily towards Prospect - perhaps those slain by the Sanguine Cabal and Sedgewick's harvesting of life force through the Sagacitas larvae. But it sounds as if there are other undead here as well - the ones who Aruum claims know that they are ghosts. Certainly best avoided, if we can."
She pauses, looking everyone in the eye. "The question now is whether we proceed to the river as quickly as possible, or confront Maud first. My vote is to make for the river, though Maud and Elidas may find and confront us whether we wish it or no. Either way, we should begin moving."
Mud(Paladin2):Frandal's Scourge/Inge(Barbarian1):Krayveneer's After the Fall/Seri(Cleric1/Sorcerer1):Uhtred's Windward Isles/Shin(Wizard2):Dimir_MTG's Surviving
Dyson/Eleo(Cleric3):Vos' Beyond the Veil/Soren(Druid4):Bartjeebus' Ravenloft/Nivi(Rogue3):Raiketsu's CoS/Lyra(Warlock2/Bard2):BlameItOnWinter's Will of the Ancients
Joren(Fighter5):NotDrizzt's Simple Request/Quyen(Adept1):Constance's Nentir Vale/Rel(Warlock2):Uhtred's Phandelver/Xarian(Fighter1/Wizard1):ShieldHero's Drakkenheim
Nikita - Aruum greedily snatches at the proffered gold pieces. "Yes! Yes! Nikita Golds-trader!" he yells gleefully.
"Really?!" Thumbtack hisses at you under her breath. "That's correct, Aruum," she declares to Aruum, "it pleases me greatly that you answered my friend, Nikita's, questions."
Finding himself being directly addressed by Thumbtack, Aruum falls to his face once more.
DM - The Call of Strahd (CoS); Feyrealm Campaign, Chapter 0 - Bleak Prospect (BP), Chapter 1 - Destination Unknown (DU)