"Please, lady Persephone, tell me about your past. Tell me what happened to you." Gertrude softly touches the shoulder of the Medusa.

Kurma brings the woman towards the rest of the group. "My friends, this is Nadia. She just woke up form the petrification."
"I do not know about a Persephone unfortunately. I do not know for how long you have been in stasis, do you remember which  year is it ?"

Nadia: " It's...1403 by the Dalereckoning calendar...Thirteen years after the evil mage came. "

Brunella looks in wonder at the miracle Kurma performed. "This is great magic you have done, Kurma."

Kurma is blushing. “This is the power of the charm, I am merely channeling the spell. But thank you Brunella.

Kurma invites Nadia to sit. ”Nadia, you have been petrified and kept in a stone form for quite a time now. It is the year 1493, s lots of things are different.”

in a few minutes, Kurma is doing a super summary from what he recalls of the last 90 years.....”and this Nadia, that brings us to now, a mighty group in the search of a powerful curse that nullify the resurrections and is slowly killing hundreds.”

Nadia is emotionally overwhelmed by the knowledge that almost a century has passed. "I... can't stay here... where would I go now?"

Then, she continues: "In there, you can find a library, where I kept some diaries, may some are still readable, I hope. You will know what happened here."

In the library, there are indeed some books still readable. The most interesting passages are about the history that goes from the departure of Ubtao from Omu, the coming and the end of the trickster gods. Apparently, after Ubtao left the people of Omu to their fate, a kind of prosperity came back in the city. The nine trickster gods were fickle, some fighting against the other, but divine magic was once again available to cure wounds and diseases. The coming of the evil wizard changed everything for the worst. He proclaimed himself sovereign of Omu and to prove its tyranny slew singlehandedly all the trickster gods. Then, the resources of Omu, both in prime materials and slaves, were used to build the infamous tomb. Nothing more is documented since that, but it is easy to guess that Omuans died, as well as their city.

The name of the mage is reported only a few times and in all those times the handwriting had trembled for the fear. The name was Acererak.

Kurma is overwhelmed. "Nadia, this is such precious knowledge ! Can I take these books with me ? Their place is in a library... I heard of a famous library south of Baldur's Gate that could be their new home." 

OOC: how heavy is 1 book ?

OOC We can set the weight of a single book to 1 pound.

After hearing Nadia's words, Irommek sighs deeply and pulls out the flask.  Ordering up some wine, he offers it to the girl.

"I'm sorry lass.  I too have seen human friends come and go on this plane of existance.  The world changes, yet stays the same in so many different ways.  Maybe some wine will help as we figure out what to do next?"

Turning to the others he says, "Acererak.  Well, we know the name of the back side of a Duergar that's responsible for this mess now.  Though we're going to need to grow up a little and hone our battle skills if we're going to face a spell slinger that can kill gods."  

Wandering over to the next room, he puts his hand gently on Medusa's shoulder but feeling a bit awkward removes it and clears his throat.  

"She's going to be fine, just going to take a while to find her place in the world again.  If there was a way we could help your situation, we'd try.  No-one should have to suffer as amusement for a cruel god."

Taking out his map, Irommek asks a few more questions on the locations of the shrines that the Medusa knows about and then asks Gertrude about the skeleton.

"Not really going to be able to help with that orb but let me take a look at that key."

OOC: INT check on the key (2)

 "Hmmmm, not as fine quality as a dwarven key...it must be used...to unlock something."  Bending over and whispering to Gertrude, "Thinking isn't really my strong point unless it involves battle tactics.  I was just trying to impress our bagged friend here..."

The Medusa, when she is sure Nadia is out of the home, spend some time with Irommek for the locations of the shrines and a few more points of interest in the city.

Brunella speaks to Nadia. "There is one connection to your old life still here. A woman, now cursed, who has stayed for you, is here. But she is deadly to look upon. Perhaps, however, you can speak to her in the other room while not looking."

Nadia literally runs to room and finally sees her. What has she become?

After some time in private, the two woman come back, hand in hand, the medusa with the eyes closed. "We are heading south to the Shilku Bay. Maybe we will find some shred of life there. I deeply thank you for saving us. Many would simply have killed Persephone without a second thought. I hope you will succeed in your quest and give some sense back to this land. Farewell."

After those words, Nadia guiding Persephone take their leave.

Seeing the two women leave Felix will head back to the group. "So where too know?"

Kurma is watching the two women leaving, with a sense of achievement. Against all odd, something good came out of all of this. This journey might bring something positive.

”well Felix, first I’m going to pack as many books I can. These are priceless. Maybe have a look around, Persephone might have left some treasures that could help us. Here, a little help.”

Kurma is casting guidance

Felix will search the house looking for any secret door and valuables.

Investigation: 24 

Perception: 18 + 1

Felix, after a careful inspection of the house. finds a loose brick along the eastern wall. It is not trapped. Behind it, a nice looking mace (mace, +1, after identification) awaits only to be taken.

The sunlight is a bit mild in this afternoon due to a bit of fog. Inete casts a spell to create food for everybody.

Tracker

• Oniss (32/32+3)
• Musharib (67/67)
• Kurma (32/32+3)
• Inete (40/40, 1(1-4) 3(2-2))
• Felix (38/38+3)
• Gertrude (54/57+3)
• Artus (82/82)
• Brunella (60/60+3)
• Dragonbait (120/120)
• Irommek (49/49+3)

"Well this could be a good weapon for you Kurma or Irommek. He could use a little help to hit better..." He mention as he brings out the mace from the wall.

Gertrude, more than happy about the outcome, joins the others. She shows the orb and the key with the question mark. "I found these items with a skeleton, killed by the vine many years ago. Can any of you make sense of it? Why would there be a question mark on a key?"

Kurma, who is identifying the Mace, replies to Gertrude: "Leave it here, I will cast Detect magic and Identify as Ritual on them"

Casting the spells