(@Ori: Please roll to see how many hit points Peabody regains.)
Elisande is happy to hear she'll finally be heading to the big city. When Doozey points out the severed head of a dead hag, the teenager regards it for a moment and walks toward it. "Aunty Lolmetta," she says completely unfazed. "Well, dun't worry... I'll see ye in me dreams." It is hard to tell whether she understands death at all, or if she understands it very well. Doozey demands the girl's attention again and asks her for a favor. She is happy to help nurse Peabody back to health, seeming unafraid of the creature's somewhat disconcerting appearance.
Doozey then busies himself with Lolmetta's body. Going through her belongings (we can use perception, that's alright.) he finds three items that pique his interest.
The first is indeed a small statuette of a raven that looks very familiar.
The second is a lustrous black gem whose touch feels warm. Doozey can feel the nefarious magic coursing through the gem.
The third is a black sack made of stitched flesh. The magic in this item feels even crueler than the gem's.
Upon being requested to look for ships, Neya flies up high so that she can look in all directions with ease. As she suspected, there are no ships anchored or sailing near the islet. From below, Graxx can tell by the monk's reaction that his wish for a ship has not been granted.
A few feet away, Utar tries to provide Dornal with some relief but his dispelling magic proves to be no match to the hag's curse. Bigar shakes his head revealing that he won't be much help here either, so Dornal may have to deal with his curse for a while longer.
Slightly dejected at his inability to provide any respite to Dornal, Utar spends his time fussing over the dwarf a little too much.
"We'll get off this forsaken islet and get you straight to the House of the Hand, my friend. Are you comfortable? Do you need a drink? Something to eat?"
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Potion of Healing: 9 Hp.
Doozey had squinted at the remark, but otherwise carried on as intended, mentally noting to do further research and reflection on hags...
Not long after, he'd grumble something along the lines of the hags being lucky if he won't go hunting for a portal to hell just to teach them a lesson about messing with his Gravy. Yet for all of his agitation, the hunter abruptly goes still seeing and daring to touch his other two findings.
He then let out a low growl and looked about, seeming torn for a moment before eventually stuffing Gravy into his pack. As for the other two items, these he'd carry back to Bigar and seemingly offer to him. "Not to make too many presumptions, but you wouldn't happen to be able to identify these two. Both are some dark shit, to put it mildly. And honestly, I just need to know how to destroy them." If temporarily taken for study, Doozey rubs at his neck a bit, before looking up to Utar. "Might be a couple days on the road for that, Mr. Utar. Assuming our ship hasn't sailed. And if so, best we see if they've repaired that old transporter. Otherwise, we'll be staying on the isle for at least another day."
Meanwhile over with Peabody, the serpentine creature comes to shaking his head before worriedly looking about for danger. Seeing but a field of corpses however, he eventually narrows his eyes at Elisande and hisses something out.
"Live yet she does, this one sees. A mistake on his part, no doubt it may be. But such is his whim, this one will respect. For now... Though meal for later in the wake of the master's lament... if he survives long enough to enjoy such."
Though fully expecting her to not understand, he's attention drifts towards observing the others they went about their remaining business.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
Graxx reaches into his pack and pulls out his sending stone.
Graxx turns to the others.
"I will call to Aleyd and have her send word."
Graxx sits and thinks about his words for a minute or two.
"Graxx here. Threat neutralized. Stranded on island. Ship called the Alces at the docks. Tell Captain Hulbard we need to be picked up. Thank You." says Graxx.
Graxx stops counting the words on his fingers at 25 and smiles.
"I think I did it right." says Graxx to the others.
Neya flies back down and sighs, "Guess we shouldn't be surprised. That little trip through the woods we took took up a lot of time."
"Utar, do you have any magic left? I have reason to believe that those heads my have done something to Doozey. Perhaps some sort of curse they could spread?"
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
"Sounds like it, Mr. Graxx. Maybe a word a two at the end might get cut off, but I'm sure it's fine." Doozey assured the newly minted paladin, grinning weakly up at the man. Though his smile proved to be a fleeting one as Neya's news leaves him visibly taken aback for a moment. "I... They -- wha?!.... Oh! Right! Right, uh.. Shoot. There's been so such much to address I plum forgot... nevermind the blood loss..."He trailed off into muttering as wandered over to study one of the heads, and press an already over taxed mind for any Grey Hunter teachings on the creature. In a way, they reminded of comical vampires given the strange wings, Doozey started to grow visibly pale..
Arcana: 21. (If Hunter's Bane applies. Otherwise ignore second roll. Main goal being to recall relevant information on the transformed villagers and their abilities)
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
Bigar receives the two strange items form Doozey and agrees: "Hmm.. Yes, I can indeed have a look at them. Give me a moment." The greenling then finds a corner to set his magical tools in place and begins to identify the trinkets.
Trying to get someone's attention, Thokk asks from his spot next to the cauldron: "So, should I turn this over or not?"
Neya comes back down and reveals no ship is at sea waiting for them. She then changes subject to Doozey's inflammation, which has not been bothering the stoutling over the last several minutes. The second concern gets Dozzey's attention. Following up on Neya's own studies of the fiendish villager heads, Doozey finds out about the same amount of information Neya did.
@Doozey:
Your gather the villagers had been transformed into fiendish versions of themselves, perhaps through dark rituals not dissimilar to the one the hags put Elisande through. Unlike the girl, however, the villagers were most likely cursed into their new forms. You guess that their 'kissing' was likely their way of transferring their curse to others. Speaking of which, your throat is still quite inflamed, though you have not found the need to complain about it recently and, in fact, has not paid attention to it ever since Utar commanded his Driftglobe to emanate Daylight.
Graxx chooses to react to the first concern Neya brings up. With one sending stone in hand, the tribesman contacts Black Fist Captain AHB and waits for her response. He hears only a long sigh initially, which is then followed by the words "Very well, the Alces. I hope they know what you are talking about. I'll leave in a moment. Find a comfortable place to wait."
Several feet away, Peabody seems lost in [evil] thoughts. (Peabody recovers 9 HP.)
A handful of minutes pass and Bigar is ready to share his findings. He begins with the strange black gem: "This is a Heartstone. It grants its creator the power of selective etherealness, and it can also be used to repel diseases." Next, he lifts the bag made out of skin: "And this is a soul bag. It can trap evil living souls for torturous goals. It is a most vile magical item, they both are. I doubt anyone here would think of using them, but if that thought has crossed your mind, let me assure you they have been designed to work exclusively with their creator's nefarious magic. They are of no use to us and I suggest they be destroyed or discarded. I am not sure how to go about the former, so we may have to opt for the latter."
"Aleyd is sending word to the Alces. She said for us to sit tight. Maybe we should make a signal fire and keep it going to help them find us when morning comes?" says Graxx.
An absent-minded nodded is all Graxx gets out of the halfling, still lost in thought as he was at the time. Thoughts that had him rubbing his neck at one point, and then turning his gaze skyward searching for any signs of remaining sunlight. But eventually...
"Just... just be mindful not to let any of it splash on ya. I doubt it's much different than the concoction they had has drink last time, but better safe than sorry." Doozey warns after a few moments at least spent shrugging off the grim realization. "Better yet even, best we make sure there's no body or body parts in the splash zone if you would. Though I doubt its strong enough to raise the dead, none of us are in any condition for another scrap. Mr. Graxx? If you would help with that? We can see about burying and burning after which."He both further asserts as well as ask at the end. And if heeded, he'd leave them to it for a few moments more to turn and properly address a perhaps by then finished Bigar.
"I expected as much, but discarding is not an option. Not with these sorta things." He glances over to Elisande and what he hoped was Peabody minding the girl. But even if not, concern is delayed in favor of continuing. "It's too tempting for something else to wander upon no matter how thorough we think to make ourselves. Nevermind what other evils this island might yet attract after being tainted as it was."Doozey sniffs at the air and for the first time really notes the change in the atmosphere. "Though some of that evil has diminished, I'd see this land hallowed or cleansed by druidry before believing no darkness won't be pulled here again." He then holds out his hands to take up the items. "But you have my thanks all the same, Mr. Bigar. I will not leave you with the burden of needing to hold onto those until we're back in Phandalin and able to hopefully destroy them. If not the House of the Hand, could be your Harpers might have a solution." With the matter hopefully resolved for the moment and one or both hag items in hand, Doozey sets about retrieving his own discarded items, only to be given pause upon reacquiring Apostle. It is with the blade in one hand and the bag in the other that he couldn't help but wonder if -- just if, the blades purifying nature could destroy at least the bag...
(@Ori; I am sure you meant Phlan, not Phandalin. 😁. Also, Doozey would know that Apostle's cleansing effect only works on nonmagical liquids that are not poison.)
Graxx communicates that the group's next step should be to sit and wait for their ride back to Phlan. Doozey and Neya take this as an opportunity to run a few errands. Upon request, and with Thokk's help, Graxx removes any bodies or body parts from the area immediately adjacent to the cauldron, including the hags', while Utar draws some water from the nearby well to douse the flames used to boil the cauldron's contents. Once this is all done, Neya helps Thokk turn the cauldron over, spilling the liquid on the ground. Steam rises and hisses as the liquid seeps into the ground, much like an unsuspecting observer would expect. That is to say that no magical reaction is caused by the simple spilling of the witches' brew.
Meanwhile, Doozey discusses the evil magical items with Bigar. The greenling hands them over to the stoutling when requested and agrees with the explanations Doozey offers regarding what to possibly do with the items and the village/islet grounds.
Judging by the time it took CRAP to travel from Phlan to the islet, you gather that you may have to wait many hours before The Alces shows up (but not quite enough hours to make it a long rest.) With plenty of time in their hands, the group tries to busy themselves with chores. Doozey's suggestion regarding burying the dead is top of mind, so many in the group begin doing that. Dornal is unable to effectively engage in any activity and Rag simply looks completely disinterested in doing anything other than what he has been contracted to do. Bigar is eager to help as he can, and Thokk is polite and ready to do what needs to be done. Elisande makes sure no two minutes go by in perfect silence, filling the air with questions about the big city. One would not suspect the ordeal the girl just went through judging by how talkative she is. At some point Dornal manages a few words: "Ah... To be youthful again..."
After the first hour passes, Neya's ability to fly comes to and end, though at this point that is just a small loss of convenience. Much more inconveniently, Utar's Driftglobe begins to flicker as the Daylight it had been emanating has now run its course. As soon as the spell fizzles, Doozey's throat inflammation makes itself know. The ranger immediately begins to cough and salivate again, as if a sudden cold had given him a nasty case of sore-throat.
(OOC: As the group waits, please let me know how you keep yourselves busy for the next several hours. You are welcome to take a short rest.)
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
With it's light now gone, Utar retrieves his driftglobe and returns it to his pack. Digging a little deeper, he takes out a few rations, offering them to the others as well.
"Might as well eat while we can. If the Alces is coming in, best we relocate to the shore before too long."
Doozey doesn't begrudge answering Elisande's questions while toiling away with the others. If anything, he almost seemed to readily answer those that seemed at least benign, if only to distract from the grim work and circumstances at hand. But once the curse began to flare up in earnest, talking for Doozey at least becomes a scarce action. Especially not when gestures could just as well work.
Utar's offering some time later -- while met with a weak but appreciative smile -- is ultimately rejected in a short headshake. But then with a start, Doozey is back to his feet to spread generosity as well in further patching people up further before any take a short rest in earnest.
--> Using Healer's Healing on the following. Uses to be officially deducted once made clear who would accept them
Graxx's Healing(if accepted):17. Bigar's Healing(if accepted):9+relevant number of possessed Hit Die. Neya's Healing(if accepted):17. Dornal Healing(if accepted):10+relevant number of possessed Hit Die. Thokk's Healing(if accepted):6+relevant number of possessed Hit Die. Doozey's Healing:18. Peabody's Healing:18.
(OOC: Unfortunately already used Healer's healing on Utar once prior to the short rest. If he could still use some patching up after the rest though, then the below is to be applied. And not sure with the case of Elisande. If she can still benefit from it then include she's to be included below)
Elisande's Healing(if accepted): 10+relevant number of possessed Hit Die. Utar's Healing(After Short Rest-if accepted): 14.
Short Rest Healing to be added in next post:
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Doozey's SR Healing(2): 9 HP. Peabody's SR Healing(2): 9 HP.
"I think... yes, I think I'll tidy up a bit back in the village. See if any of this villagers have personal effects we can put on their graves. Might not belong to the right one, but even so... Could be we find even more fetishes of those hags to destroy while we're at it."He suggests hoarsely after the short rest. And if none had immediate need of Bigar, ask the greenling at the very least to join him, if only to have more readily the more learned knowledge of the youth at his disposal.
It is for the next hour(or two, for extra thoroughness) that Doozey is willing to keep to the search and make good on his word. But after which, unless otherwise engaged he'd spend the remaining few hours conversing with Elisande, gauging her interest in magic among other things.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
After taking a break, Neya gets up and says, "Anyone want to see if that body of that former coven member near the shore is still active? I think it be a good measure if any residual magic was still around."
A few hours are spent on burying the dead, refueling on carbs, and resting, not necessarily in that order. Doozey also performs his usual field medic work, receiving an accepting nod from most to whom he offers such healing, Elisande included:
Elisande recovers 49 HP.
Thokk recovers 64 HP.
Rag recovers 10 HP and notices he was not offered Doozey's services.
Bigar recovers 46 HP.
Dornal recovers 20 HP.
Peabody recovers 32 HP.
Neya recovers 33 HP.
Utar recovers 51 HP (this does not include Doozey's healing.)
Doozey recovers 38 HP.
Additional time is spent on retrieving whatever personal effects Doozey and Bigar can find around the village so they can be buried with the villagers. That said, there are not many things to be found. The villagers here lived a squalid life, so their belongings don't go far beyond what was absolutely necessary to survive: rags for clothes, broken baskets, cracked pottery, etc. No weapons are found despite the villager that acted as the leader, Ulburto, divvying them up when the village was attacked last time CRAP was in the islet. In fact, Ulburto himself is nowhere to be found.
When Doozey spends some time with Elisande and the coversation turns to the topic of magic, the girl shows some innate ability for cantrip casting, which is no doubt the result of some lingering magic within the girl after all she went through. Although it still takes some concentration and more than a few tries, she creates the minor illusion of her blind goat and produces some extreme cold sensation from her permanently frostbitten fingers. All the while, the goat's half-head is in her possession. By now, she has found a piece of string and tied the half-head to her waist.
Thokk accompanies Neya in checking Rentida's body near the boat landing. All remains as CRAP+ last left it. Her corpse is still mangled and strung up. Her dangling observant eyeball is still burned up and neutralized. Nothing raises additional concerns, but Thokk has a comment on the scene: "Did you say this woman was part of the coven? If so, it strikes me as a bit strange that she looks so... human. Those other hags looked much more monstrous, and there was no hiding their appearance once they bit the dust."
(OOC: I'm waiting on confirmation on whether Utar and Graxx accept additional healing from Doozey, and whether Graxx will be rolling Hit Die. Also, is the group burying Lolmetta and Exirsa? How about Rentida?)
When the subject of dealing with the hag's remains comes up in his presence, even if tangentially early on, Doozey turned upon them glaring and muttering something in sylvan. Not quite a curse, but a condemnation of some sort. A hand even went to the hilt of Apostle at one point. Yet with furrowed brows any budding destructive thoughts would've been held back in the heat of the moment. He'd search past them instead for any memory of necessary rituals to be observed to make sure no evil came from them. Or failing that, what traditionally was done by the Order.
---> History: 21. (if religion would be more appropriate, same bonus. But if arcana works add another +8)
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
(OOC Of course Utar accepts healing from Doozey.)
"By rights any glamour on their bodies should have faded... Burning might be a better way to deal with the bodies of the coven. I'm sure there's a suitable rite. Something to finish this once and for all, rid the land of its taint."
(@Ori: Please roll to see how many hit points Peabody regains.)
Elisande is happy to hear she'll finally be heading to the big city. When Doozey points out the severed head of a dead hag, the teenager regards it for a moment and walks toward it. "Aunty Lolmetta," she says completely unfazed. "Well, dun't worry... I'll see ye in me dreams." It is hard to tell whether she understands death at all, or if she understands it very well. Doozey demands the girl's attention again and asks her for a favor. She is happy to help nurse Peabody back to health, seeming unafraid of the creature's somewhat disconcerting appearance.
Doozey then busies himself with Lolmetta's body. Going through her belongings (we can use perception, that's alright.) he finds three items that pique his interest.
Upon being requested to look for ships, Neya flies up high so that she can look in all directions with ease. As she suspected, there are no ships anchored or sailing near the islet. From below, Graxx can tell by the monk's reaction that his wish for a ship has not been granted.
A few feet away, Utar tries to provide Dornal with some relief but his dispelling magic proves to be no match to the hag's curse. Bigar shakes his head revealing that he won't be much help here either, so Dornal may have to deal with his curse for a while longer.
Slightly dejected at his inability to provide any respite to Dornal, Utar spends his time fussing over the dwarf a little too much.
"We'll get off this forsaken islet and get you straight to the House of the Hand, my friend. Are you comfortable? Do you need a drink? Something to eat?"
Potion of Healing: 9 Hp.
Doozey had squinted at the remark, but otherwise carried on as intended, mentally noting to do further research and reflection on hags...
Not long after, he'd grumble something along the lines of the hags being lucky if he won't go hunting for a portal to hell just to teach them a lesson about messing with his Gravy. Yet for all of his agitation, the hunter abruptly goes still seeing and daring to touch his other two findings.
He then let out a low growl and looked about, seeming torn for a moment before eventually stuffing Gravy into his pack. As for the other two items, these he'd carry back to Bigar and seemingly offer to him. "Not to make too many presumptions, but you wouldn't happen to be able to identify these two. Both are some dark shit, to put it mildly. And honestly, I just need to know how to destroy them." If temporarily taken for study, Doozey rubs at his neck a bit, before looking up to Utar. "Might be a couple days on the road for that, Mr. Utar. Assuming our ship hasn't sailed. And if so, best we see if they've repaired that old transporter. Otherwise, we'll be staying on the isle for at least another day."
Meanwhile over with Peabody, the serpentine creature comes to shaking his head before worriedly looking about for danger. Seeing but a field of corpses however, he eventually narrows his eyes at Elisande and hisses something out.
"Live yet she does, this one sees. A mistake on his part, no doubt it may be. But such is his whim, this one will respect. For now... Though meal for later in the wake of the master's lament... if he survives long enough to enjoy such."
Though fully expecting her to not understand, he's attention drifts towards observing the others they went about their remaining business.
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
Graxx sighs...
Graxx reaches into his pack and pulls out his sending stone.
Graxx turns to the others.
"I will call to Aleyd and have her send word."
Graxx sits and thinks about his words for a minute or two.
"Graxx here. Threat neutralized. Stranded on island. Ship called the Alces at the docks. Tell Captain Hulbard we need to be picked up. Thank You." says Graxx.
Graxx stops counting the words on his fingers at 25 and smiles.
"I think I did it right." says Graxx to the others.
Graxx waits on a response.
Neya flies back down and sighs, "Guess we shouldn't be surprised. That little trip through the woods we took took up a lot of time."
"Utar, do you have any magic left? I have reason to believe that those heads my have done something to Doozey. Perhaps some sort of curse they could spread?"
Extended Signature
"Sounds like it, Mr. Graxx. Maybe a word a two at the end might get cut off, but I'm sure it's fine." Doozey assured the newly minted paladin, grinning weakly up at the man. Though his smile proved to be a fleeting one as Neya's news leaves him visibly taken aback for a moment. "I... They -- wha?!.... Oh! Right! Right, uh.. Shoot. There's been so such much to address I plum forgot... nevermind the blood loss..." He trailed off into muttering as wandered over to study one of the heads, and press an already over taxed mind for any Grey Hunter teachings on the creature. In a way, they reminded of comical vampires given the strange wings, Doozey started to grow visibly pale..
Arcana: 21. (If Hunter's Bane applies. Otherwise ignore second roll. Main goal being to recall relevant information on the transformed villagers and their abilities)
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
Wincing, Dornal nods understandingly at Utar.
Bigar receives the two strange items form Doozey and agrees: "Hmm.. Yes, I can indeed have a look at them. Give me a moment." The greenling then finds a corner to set his magical tools in place and begins to identify the trinkets.
Trying to get someone's attention, Thokk asks from his spot next to the cauldron: "So, should I turn this over or not?"
Neya comes back down and reveals no ship is at sea waiting for them. She then changes subject to Doozey's inflammation, which has not been bothering the stoutling over the last several minutes. The second concern gets Dozzey's attention. Following up on Neya's own studies of the fiendish villager heads, Doozey finds out about the same amount of information Neya did.
@Doozey:
Your gather the villagers had been transformed into fiendish versions of themselves, perhaps through dark rituals not dissimilar to the one the hags put Elisande through. Unlike the girl, however, the villagers were most likely cursed into their new forms. You guess that their 'kissing' was likely their way of transferring their curse to others. Speaking of which, your throat is still quite inflamed, though you have not found the need to complain about it recently and, in fact, has not paid attention to it ever since Utar commanded his Driftglobe to emanate Daylight.
Graxx chooses to react to the first concern Neya brings up. With one sending stone in hand, the tribesman contacts Black Fist Captain AHB and waits for her response. He hears only a long sigh initially, which is then followed by the words "Very well, the Alces. I hope they know what you are talking about. I'll leave in a moment. Find a comfortable place to wait."
Several feet away, Peabody seems lost in [evil] thoughts. (Peabody recovers 9 HP.)
A handful of minutes pass and Bigar is ready to share his findings. He begins with the strange black gem: "This is a Heartstone. It grants its creator the power of selective etherealness, and it can also be used to repel diseases." Next, he lifts the bag made out of skin: "And this is a soul bag. It can trap evil living souls for torturous goals. It is a most vile magical item, they both are. I doubt anyone here would think of using them, but if that thought has crossed your mind, let me assure you they have been designed to work exclusively with their creator's nefarious magic. They are of no use to us and I suggest they be destroyed or discarded. I am not sure how to go about the former, so we may have to opt for the latter."
Graxx smiles at hearing Aleyd's words.
"Aleyd is sending word to the Alces. She said for us to sit tight. Maybe we should make a signal fire and keep it going to help them find us when morning comes?" says Graxx.
Neya goes over to Thokk, "Yes, I think it's time to take care of it. Need some leverage?"
She takes out her crowbar, offering to help.
Extended Signature
An absent-minded nodded is all Graxx gets out of the halfling, still lost in thought as he was at the time. Thoughts that had him rubbing his neck at one point, and then turning his gaze skyward searching for any signs of remaining sunlight. But eventually...
"Just... just be mindful not to let any of it splash on ya. I doubt it's much different than the concoction they had has drink last time, but better safe than sorry." Doozey warns after a few moments at least spent shrugging off the grim realization. "Better yet even, best we make sure there's no body or body parts in the splash zone if you would. Though I doubt its strong enough to raise the dead, none of us are in any condition for another scrap. Mr. Graxx? If you would help with that? We can see about burying and burning after which." He both further asserts as well as ask at the end. And if heeded, he'd leave them to it for a few moments more to turn and properly address a perhaps by then finished Bigar.
"I expected as much, but discarding is not an option. Not with these sorta things." He glances over to Elisande and what he hoped was Peabody minding the girl. But even if not, concern is delayed in favor of continuing. "It's too tempting for something else to wander upon no matter how thorough we think to make ourselves. Nevermind what other evils this island might yet attract after being tainted as it was." Doozey sniffs at the air and for the first time really notes the change in the atmosphere. "Though some of that evil has diminished, I'd see this land hallowed or cleansed by druidry before believing no darkness won't be pulled here again." He then holds out his hands to take up the items. "But you have my thanks all the same, Mr. Bigar. I will not leave you with the burden of needing to hold onto those until we're back in Phandalin and able to hopefully destroy them. If not the House of the Hand, could be your Harpers might have a solution." With the matter hopefully resolved for the moment and one or both hag items in hand, Doozey sets about retrieving his own discarded items, only to be given pause upon reacquiring Apostle. It is with the blade in one hand and the bag in the other that he couldn't help but wonder if -- just if, the blades purifying nature could destroy at least the bag...
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
(@Ori; I am sure you meant Phlan, not Phandalin. 😁. Also, Doozey would know that Apostle's cleansing effect only works on nonmagical liquids that are not poison.)
Graxx communicates that the group's next step should be to sit and wait for their ride back to Phlan. Doozey and Neya take this as an opportunity to run a few errands. Upon request, and with Thokk's help, Graxx removes any bodies or body parts from the area immediately adjacent to the cauldron, including the hags', while Utar draws some water from the nearby well to douse the flames used to boil the cauldron's contents. Once this is all done, Neya helps Thokk turn the cauldron over, spilling the liquid on the ground. Steam rises and hisses as the liquid seeps into the ground, much like an unsuspecting observer would expect. That is to say that no magical reaction is caused by the simple spilling of the witches' brew.
Meanwhile, Doozey discusses the evil magical items with Bigar. The greenling hands them over to the stoutling when requested and agrees with the explanations Doozey offers regarding what to possibly do with the items and the village/islet grounds.
Judging by the time it took CRAP to travel from Phlan to the islet, you gather that you may have to wait many hours before The Alces shows up (but not quite enough hours to make it a long rest.) With plenty of time in their hands, the group tries to busy themselves with chores. Doozey's suggestion regarding burying the dead is top of mind, so many in the group begin doing that. Dornal is unable to effectively engage in any activity and Rag simply looks completely disinterested in doing anything other than what he has been contracted to do. Bigar is eager to help as he can, and Thokk is polite and ready to do what needs to be done. Elisande makes sure no two minutes go by in perfect silence, filling the air with questions about the big city. One would not suspect the ordeal the girl just went through judging by how talkative she is. At some point Dornal manages a few words: "Ah... To be youthful again..."
After the first hour passes, Neya's ability to fly comes to and end, though at this point that is just a small loss of convenience. Much more inconveniently, Utar's Driftglobe begins to flicker as the Daylight it had been emanating has now run its course. As soon as the spell fizzles, Doozey's throat inflammation makes itself know. The ranger immediately begins to cough and salivate again, as if a sudden cold had given him a nasty case of sore-throat.
(OOC: As the group waits, please let me know how you keep yourselves busy for the next several hours. You are welcome to take a short rest.)
With it's light now gone, Utar retrieves his driftglobe and returns it to his pack. Digging a little deeper, he takes out a few rations, offering them to the others as well.
"Might as well eat while we can. If the Alces is coming in, best we relocate to the shore before too long."
(OOC - Rolling 6 of Utar's hit dice for 51 hp)
Doozey doesn't begrudge answering Elisande's questions while toiling away with the others. If anything, he almost seemed to readily answer those that seemed at least benign, if only to distract from the grim work and circumstances at hand. But once the curse began to flare up in earnest, talking for Doozey at least becomes a scarce action. Especially not when gestures could just as well work.
Utar's offering some time later -- while met with a weak but appreciative smile -- is ultimately rejected in a short headshake. But then with a start, Doozey is back to his feet to spread generosity as well in further patching people up further before any take a short rest in earnest.
--> Using Healer's Healing on the following. Uses to be officially deducted once made clear who would accept them
Graxx's Healing(if accepted):17.
Bigar's Healing(if accepted):9+relevant number of possessed Hit Die.
Neya's Healing(if accepted):17.
Dornal Healing(if accepted):10+relevant number of possessed Hit Die.
Thokk's Healing(if accepted):6+relevant number of possessed Hit Die.
Doozey's Healing:18.
Peabody's Healing:18.
(OOC: Unfortunately already used Healer's healing on Utar once prior to the short rest. If he could still use some patching up after the rest though, then the below is to be applied. And not sure with the case of Elisande. If she can still benefit from it then include she's to be included below)
Elisande's Healing(if accepted): 10+relevant number of possessed Hit Die.
Utar's Healing(After Short Rest-if accepted): 14.
Short Rest Healing to be added in next post:
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
Doozey's SR Healing(2): 9 HP.
Peabody's SR Healing(2): 9 HP.
"I think... yes, I think I'll tidy up a bit back in the village. See if any of this villagers have personal effects we can put on their graves. Might not belong to the right one, but even so... Could be we find even more fetishes of those hags to destroy while we're at it." He suggests hoarsely after the short rest. And if none had immediate need of Bigar, ask the greenling at the very least to join him, if only to have more readily the more learned knowledge of the youth at his disposal.
It is for the next hour(or two, for extra thoroughness) that Doozey is willing to keep to the search and make good on his word. But after which, unless otherwise engaged he'd spend the remaining few hours conversing with Elisande, gauging her interest in magic among other things.
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
Neya will accept Doozey's healing.
Short rest: 13 + 3 (total: 16)
After taking a break, Neya gets up and says, "Anyone want to see if that body of that former coven member near the shore is still active? I think it be a good measure if any residual magic was still around."
Extended Signature
Rolling some hit die for the NPCs:
Dornal is not able to rest effectively. His headache is unrelenting.
A few hours are spent on burying the dead, refueling on carbs, and resting, not necessarily in that order. Doozey also performs his usual field medic work, receiving an accepting nod from most to whom he offers such healing, Elisande included:
Additional time is spent on retrieving whatever personal effects Doozey and Bigar can find around the village so they can be buried with the villagers. That said, there are not many things to be found. The villagers here lived a squalid life, so their belongings don't go far beyond what was absolutely necessary to survive: rags for clothes, broken baskets, cracked pottery, etc. No weapons are found despite the villager that acted as the leader, Ulburto, divvying them up when the village was attacked last time CRAP was in the islet. In fact, Ulburto himself is nowhere to be found.
When Doozey spends some time with Elisande and the coversation turns to the topic of magic, the girl shows some innate ability for cantrip casting, which is no doubt the result of some lingering magic within the girl after all she went through. Although it still takes some concentration and more than a few tries, she creates the minor illusion of her blind goat and produces some extreme cold sensation from her permanently frostbitten fingers. All the while, the goat's half-head is in her possession. By now, she has found a piece of string and tied the half-head to her waist.
Thokk accompanies Neya in checking Rentida's body near the boat landing. All remains as CRAP+ last left it. Her corpse is still mangled and strung up. Her dangling observant eyeball is still burned up and neutralized. Nothing raises additional concerns, but Thokk has a comment on the scene: "Did you say this woman was part of the coven? If so, it strikes me as a bit strange that she looks so... human. Those other hags looked much more monstrous, and there was no hiding their appearance once they bit the dust."
(OOC: I'm waiting on confirmation on whether Utar and Graxx accept additional healing from Doozey, and whether Graxx will be rolling Hit Die. Also, is the group burying Lolmetta and Exirsa? How about Rentida?)
When the subject of dealing with the hag's remains comes up in his presence, even if tangentially early on, Doozey turned upon them glaring and muttering something in sylvan. Not quite a curse, but a condemnation of some sort. A hand even went to the hilt of Apostle at one point. Yet with furrowed brows any budding destructive thoughts would've been held back in the heat of the moment. He'd search past them instead for any memory of necessary rituals to be observed to make sure no evil came from them. Or failing that, what traditionally was done by the Order.
---> History: 21. (if religion would be more appropriate, same bonus. But if arcana works add another +8)
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
(OOC Of course Utar accepts healing from Doozey.)
"By rights any glamour on their bodies should have faded... Burning might be a better way to deal with the bodies of the coven. I'm sure there's a suitable rite. Something to finish this once and for all, rid the land of its taint."
Religion - 23
Graxx will accept Doozey's 17 points of healing.
Graxx will take a short rest recovering: 48
Graxx will remove the heads of the hags one by one with his axe and place them on his Vicious Pike.
"Proof of deed..." says Graxx simply to anyone watching him do this.
Graxx will then help bury the hags bodies.