Valrieth wonders aloud to the others, "It seems like we could -- if we wanted -- confuse or misdirect the other hags by sending them forged letters as though written by Granny Nightshade. Or maybe just an anonymous threat about how Zybilna will soon be restored as ruler of Prismeer?" Then thinking about how they managed to surprise Granny Nightshade, but the hag still almost escaped, she says, "But maybe it's better if we just catch them unaware and unprepared?"
Finley looks for a good place for the portable hole and sets it up, "Aye, thanks Val, ah were just worryin' about bein' tricked real good by th' hag. Also ah think ye might be right about the way they send messages, it don't make too much other sense than that." He takes a few steps back and looks around again. "Ah ain't took good at forging documents meself, but ah'm up fer tricking these hags."
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Finley Stoneshaft, Dwarf Artificer - The Wild Beyond the Witchlight, Falkas, Half-Elf Drow Warlock - Keys of Empire
If someone wants to forge a letter, then please Roll Intelligence DC 16
Valrieth put the idea out there. ("It seems like the sort of trick that makes sense in a Feywild tale!") But she leaves it to the others to decide if it's worth trying to send a forged letter to either or both of the other hangs. She gives her suggestions, but she's not confident that it's a good idea.
Even if they successfully forged a letter, Val doubts whether she's clever enough to think of anything that would actually help the party on their Quest. She'd like to get Finley out of his bargain with Bavlorna Brightstraw, but she can't think of a way to do that via a letter from Granny Nightshade.
Threatening the hags (e.g., saying that the alicorn has been taken by Zybilna's champion) might just put them on high alert, which is probably counterproductive.
Maybe it would be useful to say that Granny Nightshade found the alicorn so that the others aren't looking for it?
Or, now now that they've killed one of the hags, perhaps they should send a letter supposedly from Granny Nightshade that would make it sound like she's upset at both of the other hags. That way, they don't question why she stops answering their letters. Of course, it sounds like the hags are already constantly squabbling, and maybe it's maybe not unusual for them to stop talking to each other for a while.
If no one else feels strongly about sending a letter, Val is ready to leave the room. She says, "It seems like the portrait isn't here, and there aren't any children up here. Let's go back downstairs, and start checking the other rooms before Loomlurch collapses." She still thinks that they should stick together in case they run into any dangers.
(OOC: From the map, it looks like there are some little windows in L12 that face L17. When we're on the balcony (L17) and looking south to the next tower (L12), do we see light coming through those windows?)
ilifir doesnt have much to say about the letters plan, beyond "i don't think it will work very well, but might as well give it a try. worst case scenario. actually it might hurt to try, but paranoia wont help. do it!" he DOES suggest that they wait until after leaving the building to compose the letter, a they are clearly under a time restraint
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
This Mug immediately shared with me a transcendental tale of an Infinite Mug that anchors the Universe and keeps it from folding in on itself. I filed this report under "illogical nonsense" and asked why its sign is in Times New Roman font, when it is basic knowledge that Arial Black is a far superior font. I wondered: How did this mug even get past the assembly line with its theistic beliefs and poor font choices?
quote from Romantically Apocalyptic byVitaly S Alexius
(Reminder that the party would need one of the clockwork birds to deliver a letter)
Val says, "I don't suppose clockwork birds need air, so it should be safe to put them (still in their cages) in the portable hole." Between Spike and Ilifir, I assume that they can take down a couple of the birdcages without opening them. Val will help put them in the portable hole for later.
I think that the group is ready to go back downstairs, through the kitchen. Val listens at the door to L11. Perception22 Then she steps back for Finley of Aoife to open it, using Skabatha's keys to unlock it, if needed.
This room has three doors and a wood-carved staircase that ascends to a higher level. The walls are a dense tangle of tree roots and brambles, nestled among which are five animated portraits: one of a svelte, dark-haired woman and the others depicting hags. All of the portraits are animated and look at whoever is in the room.
A truly ancient and terrifying hag
A toadish hag -Bavlorna
A skeletal hag wearing a black, theatrical contraption resembling a dress
A hag with a wind-up key in her back, one empty eye socket, and a wooden eye held in her hand
A svelte, dark-haired woman with a commanding presence. - Those that went to the Carnival have seen a mannequin resembling this woman -Tasha
"Should ah burn th' brambles?"Finley asks out loud, but pauses momentarily, "Hmm... no, could burn down th' portrait as well." He crosses his arms and looks around at anyone around, "Should we take all o' them just because we can or do ye think tha' there's some kind o' trick in ere' where we ken only take one o' them?"
"Should ah burn th' brambles?"Finley asks out loud, but pauses momentarily, "Hmm... no, could burn down th' portrait as well." He crosses his arms and looks around at anyone around, "Should we take all o' them just because we can or do ye think tha' there's some kind o' trick in ere' where we ken only take one o' them?"
"No, you're right," Valrieth agrees. "Trying to burn the brambles could burn or at least damage the portrait...or maybe set fire to the building! It's bad enough that it's coming apart while we search for the children: we don't want it to be on fire, too!"
Val looks at the portrait of the "truly ancient and terrifying hag" and the portrait of Bavlorna, whom Val particularly dislikes. She says, "Oh! Well, I wouldn't want to keep any of the portraits. But perhaps we could use them in future bargains." Knowing that they don't have much time, Val volunteers, "Let me at least see whether I can get the portrait we need first without getting stuck in the thorns."
Val slings her shield over her back and gets close to the portrait of Skabatha. She uses her telekinesis (casts mage hand with an invisible hand) to hold the most problematic brambles back out of the way. Then she stands up on her tippy-toes and tries to take the portrait off the wall.
(OOC: Not sure whether using Mage Hand like that will help with the saving throw in any mechanical way, but I thought it was worth a try! I also decided to go ahead and add the Lucky Footwork bonus of 1 to the roll for simplicity.)
As Val reaches for the portrait and the thorny brambles twitch and move unpredictably. Through dexterous skill Val is able to grab the portrait without being pricked by the thorns.
(OOC: Not sure whether using Mage Hand like that will help with the saving throw in any mechanical way, but I thought it was worth a try! I also decided to go ahead and add the Lucky Footwork bonus of 4 to the roll for simplicity.)
DEX saving throw 18
(OOC: Well, thank goodness for Lucky Footwork! Perhaps Val was born and bred in a briar patch?)
Valrieth grabs onto the painting and lifts it up and off of the wall hook. It's a little large for her to handle, but she somehow manages it. As she turns and looks like she's all clear, a thorny vine that was caught on the frame suddenly comes loose and swings down at her. But Val somehow manages to scamper and then hop to the side, flattening her ears back on her head and out of the way of the wicked-looking thorns.
Val lets out a long sigh as though she had been holding her breath, and then she hands the portrait to Aoife so that she can help Finely spread out the portable hole.
Val doesn't want to risk getting any of the other paintings, and she's ready to focus on the children (and getting some oil from a boggle). Once they pack away the portrait, she says with a shaky voice, "I don't think that any of the other portraits are worth the risk. Those thorns seem to have the malice of Granny Nightshade in them!" She glowers at the brambles as though offended.
Mishka said that there were some children in L12, which should be right up the spiral stairs from this room.
Aoife does not find any secrets or any hidden compartments.
Valrieth wonders aloud to the others, "It seems like we could -- if we wanted -- confuse or misdirect the other hags by sending them forged letters as though written by Granny Nightshade. Or maybe just an anonymous threat about how Zybilna will soon be restored as ruler of Prismeer?" Then thinking about how they managed to surprise Granny Nightshade, but the hag still almost escaped, she says, "But maybe it's better if we just catch them unaware and unprepared?"
Finley looks for a good place for the portable hole and sets it up, "Aye, thanks Val, ah were just worryin' about bein' tricked real good by th' hag. Also ah think ye might be right about the way they send messages, it don't make too much other sense than that." He takes a few steps back and looks around again. "Ah ain't took good at forging documents meself, but ah'm up fer tricking these hags."
Finley Stoneshaft, Dwarf Artificer - The Wild Beyond the Witchlight, Falkas, Half-Elf Drow Warlock - Keys of Empire
If someone wants to forge a letter, then please Roll Intelligence DC 16
Valrieth put the idea out there. ("It seems like the sort of trick that makes sense in a Feywild tale!") But she leaves it to the others to decide if it's worth trying to send a forged letter to either or both of the other hangs. She gives her suggestions, but she's not confident that it's a good idea.
If no one else feels strongly about sending a letter, Val is ready to leave the room. She says, "It seems like the portrait isn't here, and there aren't any children up here. Let's go back downstairs, and start checking the other rooms before Loomlurch collapses." She still thinks that they should stick together in case they run into any dangers.
Aoife nods at Val. "Yes, we need to save the children. Let's keep looking."
She heads to the stairs and heads down.
Past characters:
Cariadne - Forest of Celador
Daphyra Fuffletail - The City of Cats
DM - Geek Legends - Wild beyond the Witchlight
Leela Steadystone - Adventures in the Sands
Mirri Goldenhorn - Journeys through the Radiant Citadel
Lola Smythe-Whyte - Larkin Expedition
Daphyra - Deathworld: Lost Mine of Phandelver
Vanja - Binder's Hold and the Problem with the Mine
Let me know where you head next after heading downstairs?
(OOC: From the map, it looks like there are some little windows in L12 that face L17. When we're on the balcony (L17) and looking south to the next tower (L12), do we see light coming through those windows?)
Yes, you see light from L12.
ilifir doesnt have much to say about the letters plan, beyond "i don't think it will work very well, but might as well give it a try. worst case scenario. actually it might hurt to try, but paranoia wont help. do it!" he DOES suggest that they wait until after leaving the building to compose the letter, a they are clearly under a time restraint
This Mug immediately shared with me a transcendental tale of an Infinite Mug that anchors the Universe and keeps it from folding in on itself. I filed this report under "illogical nonsense" and asked why its sign is in Times New Roman font, when it is basic knowledge that Arial Black is a far superior font. I wondered: How did this mug even get past the assembly line with its theistic beliefs and poor font choices?
quote from Romantically Apocalyptic by Vitaly S Alexius
(Reminder that the party would need one of the clockwork birds to deliver a letter)
The party can hear more shuddering noises across Loomlurch and cracks begin to form along the easter wall.
Valrieth admits to the wisdom of that idea, especially as the walls begin to crack!
Val says, "I don't suppose clockwork birds need air, so it should be safe to put them (still in their cages) in the portable hole." Between Spike and Ilifir, I assume that they can take down a couple of the birdcages without opening them. Val will help put them in the portable hole for later.
I think that the group is ready to go back downstairs, through the kitchen. Val listens at the door to L11. Perception 22 Then she steps back for Finley of Aoife to open it, using Skabatha's keys to unlock it, if needed.
The key opens the door
L11
This room has three doors and a wood-carved staircase that ascends to a higher level. The walls are a dense tangle of tree roots and brambles, nestled among which are five animated portraits: one of a svelte, dark-haired woman and the others depicting hags. All of the portraits are animated and look at whoever is in the room.
Anyone who wishes to reach for the portrait must roll Dex Save DC 15
"Should ah burn th' brambles?" Finley asks out loud, but pauses momentarily, "Hmm... no, could burn down th' portrait as well." He crosses his arms and looks around at anyone around, "Should we take all o' them just because we can or do ye think tha' there's some kind o' trick in ere' where we ken only take one o' them?"
Finley Stoneshaft, Dwarf Artificer - The Wild Beyond the Witchlight, Falkas, Half-Elf Drow Warlock - Keys of Empire
"No, you're right," Valrieth agrees. "Trying to burn the brambles could burn or at least damage the portrait...or maybe set fire to the building! It's bad enough that it's coming apart while we search for the children: we don't want it to be on fire, too!"
Val looks at the portrait of the "truly ancient and terrifying hag" and the portrait of Bavlorna, whom Val particularly dislikes. She says, "Oh! Well, I wouldn't want to keep any of the portraits. But perhaps we could use them in future bargains." Knowing that they don't have much time, Val volunteers, "Let me at least see whether I can get the portrait we need first without getting stuck in the thorns."
Val slings her shield over her back and gets close to the portrait of Skabatha. She uses her telekinesis (casts mage hand with an invisible hand) to hold the most problematic brambles back out of the way. Then she stands up on her tippy-toes and tries to take the portrait off the wall.
(OOC: Not sure whether using Mage Hand like that will help with the saving throw in any mechanical way, but I thought it was worth a try! I also decided to go ahead and add the Lucky Footwork bonus of 1 to the roll for simplicity.)
DEX saving throw 22
As Val reaches for the portrait and the thorny brambles twitch and move unpredictably. Through dexterous skill Val is able to grab the portrait without being pricked by the thorns.
You know have the portrait of Bavlorna.
(OOC: Well, thank goodness for Lucky Footwork! Perhaps Val was born and bred in a briar patch?)
Valrieth grabs onto the painting and lifts it up and off of the wall hook. It's a little large for her to handle, but she somehow manages it. As she turns and looks like she's all clear, a thorny vine that was caught on the frame suddenly comes loose and swings down at her. But Val somehow manages to scamper and then hop to the side, flattening her ears back on her head and out of the way of the wicked-looking thorns.
Val lets out a long sigh as though she had been holding her breath, and then she hands the portrait to Aoife so that she can help Finely spread out the portable hole.
Val doesn't want to risk getting any of the other paintings, and she's ready to focus on the children (and getting some oil from a boggle). Once they pack away the portrait, she says with a shaky voice, "I don't think that any of the other portraits are worth the risk. Those thorns seem to have the malice of Granny Nightshade in them!" She glowers at the brambles as though offended.
Mishka said that there were some children in L12, which should be right up the spiral stairs from this room.
(OOC: small correction - Bavlorna asked for the portrait of Skabatha: post #2368)