This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
"Ah garbage! If it speaks common it will make the whole drowning and skinning thing a whole lot more awkward... If it doesn't answer our questions of course."
The "bad guardsman, crazy guardsman," a staple tactic of this party, makes a return (this time performed by Praxx and Graxx). The tactic seems to work like a charm. Whether convinced to help or simply afraid, the Wererat begins to calm down. As he does, he returns to his human form, again, wearing only shorts, a belt, and a scabbard.
Once his human face is fully illuminated by the Driftglobe, you all recognize him as Rorin, the son of Dravag and Shandra. He says: "Don't kill me, alright?"
"I do not believe the lad is a druid. I remember the druid that was with us when we were investigating the hidden chambers under that green dragon's crypt, and he only went to wolf and back, but nothing in between."
Rorin looks apologetic: "I'm sorry sirs, I'm sorry! I'm no druid, I promise. It's a curse, this is. It's just so hard to control this rat's desires. When it comes out, its bestial natures take over and I succumb to bloodlust. I become evil, and.. and... opportunistic, and.. and.. territorial. It seems it was frightened from this one here and I was able to regain control," he says pointing at Graxx.
He looks at Utar: "This is recent. One of the new Blood Fist Guards assigned to the island turned into a huge rat and bit me when I caught him stealing food from his superior. That was but a fortnight ago. No one knows, though. Please don't tell my parents."
Finally, not yet sure of what Graxx is intending to do with him, he begins to beg. He looks at Praxx and then to Neya, hoping one of them will accept his offer: "I'll show you the hidden study, yes. I help you and you don't skin me, okay?"
He then points to a tall covered wardrobe by the wall, the one Praxx was looking at earlier. "There! Just behind the furniture." He is not really offering any groundbreaking piece of information here, as Praxx was at the cusp of discovering that hidden room himself, but he is hoping it will suffice.
Graxx smiles a bit when Rorin mentions that he scared a curse out of someone! Then when he hears about the new Black Fist guard biting this boy he stops smiling and begins plotting.
"You have no reason to fear being skinned now that I know you are a cursed man and not some beast."
Graxx then looks deathly serious.
"Now this guard that bit you. Can you tell me their name? They do have reason to fear as they are the true monster. You also seemed like my blade did not hurt you. I need to know how to hurt those with your curse so that the guard can be punished."
"Very well, we won't tell your parents. However, a curse like that is not one that would stay hidden forever. Do you have an idea what to do in the long-term?"
"I don't know these things, sir. I clean for a living. But that silver piece was the most pain I have even felt in my life. Worst than that slight burn you gave me after you hit me with you sword." Rorin says to Graxx. He adds: "His name was Nalek. I caught him eating Sergeant Grim's food."
Turning to Neya: "I don't know... I don't know..."The boy, who can't be more than 15 or 16 years old, begins to cry.
"Hmm... Maybe if I hold the coins inbetween my knuckles I can punch him to death!"
Graxx then walks over to the secret room and tries to get in while whispering to himself, "Nalek.. Nalek...Nalek..." He does not want to forget the name.
"I am so sorry for the silver piece!" Praxx says. "I honestly didn't know it was you, but now we know a very important piece of trivia about Wererats."
Praxx sees Graxx heading towards the secret room and begins following close behind.
"Graxx do you need some healing friend or do you have something that can take care of your wounds for now?" Praxx asks
Utar closes his eyes and asks Torm to guide his memories. He can't be absolutely sure if it would work, but he knows some of the more senior priests at the temple of Torm back in Phlan's mainland are able to perform a long and painful ritual that delivers the same effects of a Remove Curse spell. The ritual is expensive, around 90gp if Utar remembers it correctly, but as far as he knows, it is the best chance Rorin has. (The temple offers other cleric-based spell-rituals too, by the way.)
Rorin accepts Praxx's apology with a nod. Before the gnome can walk away, Rorin grabs his hand while looking at Utar. The boy screams loudly before releasing Praxx's hand and says. "Yes, I guess silver hurts me too, not only the rat-man."Praxx looks at his palm, still holding a silver piece, and then follows Graxx to the secret study room.
Graxx, pushes the large wardrobe out of the way to reveal the door to the secret room. The boarded over door has a few loose planks at the bottom. Just behind the barbarian, Praxx thinks that with a bit of work, he could squeeze through the opening.
Utar reaches out, placing a hand on the shoulder of the young man.
"When this is over, come with us back to Phlan. I know someone at the temple who can help with this."
Pulling his hand back, Utar cocks his head, and grimaces.
"It's, uh, not exactly pain free. But, nothing worth having is."
As he rides off his haunches, he lets out a slight noise as he straightens.
"One more thing before I leave you, Rorik. Is there anywhere on the island where we might find something to help us deal with this Nalek when we run into him?"
"I'll take any chance I get, sir, and ... humm.. It's Rorin..." he corrects Utar. Regarding dealing with Nalek, he adds "I don't know, sir. That magic the warrior there has on his sword was enough for me too feel pain... maybe other magic is too," he offers skeptically.
As Neya begins to work on removing the planks, Praxx squeezes into the room. The gnome finds himself in a well-maintained shrine. A beautiful gray statue of a one-handed blind god stands at the end of the room, a small stone altar with an old looking brass scale at its feet. Two dusty cabinets on both sides of the altar are filled with books and scrolls, mostly on law, history and philosophy judging by the titles. A beautiful reading desk of purple wood fills most of the remaining space. On the desk are a couple of open books and a journal.
(@DM_Prax: There are actual rules for squeezing through tight spaces. No need for a check of any kind, really).
"Ah garbage! If it speaks common it will make the whole drowning and skinning thing a whole lot more awkward... If it doesn't answer our questions of course."
Intimidation: 23
The "bad guardsman, crazy guardsman," a staple tactic of this party, makes a return (this time performed by Praxx and Graxx). The tactic seems to work like a charm. Whether convinced to help or simply afraid, the Wererat begins to calm down. As he does, he returns to his human form, again, wearing only shorts, a belt, and a scabbard.
Once his human face is fully illuminated by the Driftglobe, you all recognize him as Rorin, the son of Dravag and Shandra. He says: "Don't kill me, alright?"
Utar's eyes go wide as Rorin appears in place of the rat-man.
"I'll be! Rorin? Torm protect you, boy. How long have you been able to change like this?"
Graxx hops of Rorin but leaves the ropes on.
"Argh! Of all the things a druid could turn into you pick a stinking dire rat?"
"I do not believe the lad is a druid. I remember the druid that was with us when we were investigating the hidden chambers under that green dragon's crypt, and he only went to wolf and back, but nothing in between."
Extended Signature
Rorin looks apologetic: "I'm sorry sirs, I'm sorry! I'm no druid, I promise. It's a curse, this is. It's just so hard to control this rat's desires. When it comes out, its bestial natures take over and I succumb to bloodlust. I become evil, and.. and... opportunistic, and.. and.. territorial. It seems it was frightened from this one here and I was able to regain control," he says pointing at Graxx.
He looks at Utar: "This is recent. One of the new Blood Fist Guards assigned to the island turned into a huge rat and bit me when I caught him stealing food from his superior. That was but a fortnight ago. No one knows, though. Please don't tell my parents."
Finally, not yet sure of what Graxx is intending to do with him, he begins to beg. He looks at Praxx and then to Neya, hoping one of them will accept his offer: "I'll show you the hidden study, yes. I help you and you don't skin me, okay?"
He then points to a tall covered wardrobe by the wall, the one Praxx was looking at earlier. "There! Just behind the furniture." He is not really offering any groundbreaking piece of information here, as Praxx was at the cusp of discovering that hidden room himself, but he is hoping it will suffice.
Graxx smiles a bit when Rorin mentions that he scared a curse out of someone! Then when he hears about the new Black Fist guard biting this boy he stops smiling and begins plotting.
"You have no reason to fear being skinned now that I know you are a cursed man and not some beast."
Graxx then looks deathly serious.
"Now this guard that bit you. Can you tell me their name? They do have reason to fear as they are the true monster. You also seemed like my blade did not hurt you. I need to know how to hurt those with your curse so that the guard can be punished."
"Very well, we won't tell your parents. However, a curse like that is not one that would stay hidden forever. Do you have an idea what to do in the long-term?"
Extended Signature
"I don't know these things, sir. I clean for a living. But that silver piece was the most pain I have even felt in my life. Worst than that slight burn you gave me after you hit me with you sword." Rorin says to Graxx. He adds: "His name was Nalek. I caught him eating Sergeant Grim's food."
Turning to Neya: "I don't know... I don't know..." The boy, who can't be more than 15 or 16 years old, begins to cry.
Utar digs in his bags and pockets for a handkerchief of some kind, but finding only pocket lint he decides to try words.
"Don't cry, lad. I think me good turn deserves another. You've helped us out. We will help you out. I'm sure there's someone in Phlan can help..."
Utar trails off as his mind wanders trying to recall about how to deal with and lift curses.
Religion - 18
"Hmm... Maybe if I hold the coins inbetween my knuckles I can punch him to death!"
Graxx then walks over to the secret room and tries to get in while whispering to himself, "Nalek.. Nalek...Nalek..." He does not want to forget the name.
"I am so sorry for the silver piece!" Praxx says. "I honestly didn't know it was you, but now we know a very important piece of trivia about Wererats."
Praxx sees Graxx heading towards the secret room and begins following close behind.
"Graxx do you need some healing friend or do you have something that can take care of your wounds for now?" Praxx asks
Utar cocks his head, "Rorin, does silver hurt you went you aren't, you know, a rat-man?"
Graxx laughs a bit, "Ha, no music wizard. Tis' but a flesh wound, I'll be fine."
Utar closes his eyes and asks Torm to guide his memories. He can't be absolutely sure if it would work, but he knows some of the more senior priests at the temple of Torm back in Phlan's mainland are able to perform a long and painful ritual that delivers the same effects of a Remove Curse spell. The ritual is expensive, around 90gp if Utar remembers it correctly, but as far as he knows, it is the best chance Rorin has. (The temple offers other cleric-based spell-rituals too, by the way.)
Rorin accepts Praxx's apology with a nod. Before the gnome can walk away, Rorin grabs his hand while looking at Utar. The boy screams loudly before releasing Praxx's hand and says. "Yes, I guess silver hurts me too, not only the rat-man." Praxx looks at his palm, still holding a silver piece, and then follows Graxx to the secret study room.
Graxx, pushes the large wardrobe out of the way to reveal the door to the secret room. The boarded over door has a few loose planks at the bottom. Just behind the barbarian, Praxx thinks that with a bit of work, he could squeeze through the opening.
Neya is going to use her crowbar to help remove some of the boards.
Extended Signature
Utar reaches out, placing a hand on the shoulder of the young man.
"When this is over, come with us back to Phlan. I know someone at the temple who can help with this."
Pulling his hand back, Utar cocks his head, and grimaces.
"It's, uh, not exactly pain free. But, nothing worth having is."
As he rides off his haunches, he lets out a slight noise as he straightens.
"One more thing before I leave you, Rorik. Is there anywhere on the island where we might find something to help us deal with this Nalek when we run into him?"
As Neya steps by to free some of the loose boards Praxx looks at her and nods with a smile.
Praxx attempts to squeeze through the sketchy looking hole at the bottom of the door.
Acrobatics- 18
Graxx will stand silently to wait to see what Praxx reports back with.
"I'll take any chance I get, sir, and ... humm.. It's Rorin..." he corrects Utar. Regarding dealing with Nalek, he adds "I don't know, sir. That magic the warrior there has on his sword was enough for me too feel pain... maybe other magic is too," he offers skeptically.
As Neya begins to work on removing the planks, Praxx squeezes into the room. The gnome finds himself in a well-maintained shrine. A beautiful gray statue of a one-handed blind god stands at the end of the room, a small stone altar with an old looking brass scale at its feet. Two dusty cabinets on both sides of the altar are filled with books and scrolls, mostly on law, history and philosophy judging by the titles. A beautiful reading desk of purple wood fills most of the remaining space. On the desk are a couple of open books and a journal.
(@DM_Prax: There are actual rules for squeezing through tight spaces. No need for a check of any kind, really).