Sunny struggles with the sense of helplessness, "I don't think that anything my spell will cure ails him. He seems caught in a sleep he can't waken from or unconscious. "Gabriel!! Can you hear me? Your friends are here. Come back to us!" Her thoughts drift to fevers that cause distress and seizures in the height of sickness. This doesn't seem to be a sickness, but the convulsions remind her of seizures that she's seen affect the mind. If something affecting his mind, maybe he needs something to focus on. "Talk to him, try to let him hear us. I don't know if it will work but its worth a try?"
Her calls to Gabriel while firm, will not be loud. She doesn't want the commotion to attract the attention of the Ritual Caster or the Crow.
Gabriel's eyes snap open and he sits bolt upright with a start: "Gahh!"
Composing himself, breathing deeply, he looks around the faces of his friends with a look of horror mixed with hatred.
"The curse, the kotoribako, was brought upon the city in revenge for the acts and deeds of the noble houses. I saw all the vile and violent acts committed by them over the years - even the crimes of past generations of nobility. It was brought by a pact with a devil"
The healer wipes his brow with a handkerchief and then shrugs helplessly: "But I have no idea how we could stop it. Plead to the noble houses for some form of reparation or act of contrition? Should we find a library and research details of such pacts?"
He looks around them all again, a face of helpless impotence.
Sylvio watches Gabriel’s illness and seizure like shaking with pity. There is nothing he can do except perhaps… end his suffering. Just as he is about to suggest it, Gabriel springs awake. Sylvio jumps back with his hand on his scimitar.
listening to Gabriel’s blabbering makes him shake his head. “Should-a we not just-a continue with our plan of finding the buried thing and destroying it?” What does it matter where the curse came from? Shouldn’t they just destroy it?
Amadi nearly laughs. "Well, this is Waterdeep, there is no way the nobles of this city will ever come up with some sort of reparation or act of contrition. They won't even come together to even discuss such a possibility let alone come to an agreement on if it is needed. A waste of time. Nobles do as nobles do. I do not say they may not deserve this punishment. But it is in their nature, we will not stop it. That is beyond even the ability of the gods."
"We must stay the course. First we must find and destroy the box. That will hopefully put an end to the curse and stop the killings. Then perhaps we find the one responsible. The box must be destroyed first."
Sweeps does let out a short laugh “The Nobles have always rode on the backs of the working folk here. It is no surprise that they dirtied their hands to get where they are, only that someone made a deal with a devil to get back at them. Regardless, the young and innocent should not suffer for the mistakes of their forefathers, nor should the poor of our city. Sylvio and Amadi are right, let us find this box and destroy it.”
He looks at Sunny “Should we go back to the field from last night? Are you feeling up for guiding us again with your pain?”
“While Sylvio can-a understand getting back at-a the lords of this crooked city, who would-a have the motive and-a the means to make deal with a devil? I care nothing for-a the nobles but-a this thing seems to attack innocents and especially the poor women and-a children… that sort of-a indescriminate destruction….” He frowns a moment and then continues “This-a person must-a be stopped. He or she would-a burn down the world to sate their revenge. It is sloppy and has-a no style or thought of-a the consequences.”
Sunny nods sadly. "I've heard many stories told of devilish creatures bargaining with the weakened and desperate promising vengeance and retribution to their enemies only to obtain an invitation to their world to spread their influence. The bargainer may not have realized what they welcomed into the world or was too far lost to care. Time is trickling through our fingers, so I say the Box first, its owner next and then back to the Captain to tell him what we've found. That's the quest we were sent on and an honorable man would see the truth and hopefully be able to make some of this right or at least have the ear of someone who may. You have whatever is needed of me to seek its source. Let us go. We should start where we last found ourselves past the couple's home."Sunny braces herself for what is to come and looks to the others to be ready to go back to the Field Ward.
Unsure if her arcane powers would suffice in stabilizing Gabriel’s state, Sunny suggest the group as whole assumed Amadi’s strategy, called by the Aassimar, talked to him. Before anyone could answer, Bryte wakes mid tremors gasping for air. It almost looked like he was diving for a long time, despite the fact, know by both Shadeflame and the tortle, that he was breathing as normal.
The caster’s face is distorted by the pain and suffering of his visions. Rage and fear tainting his eyes and expression. Before any of his friends could speak he start to spilling, somewhat frenetically, what he could abstract from the nightmare suggesting a search for more information. Sylvio proposes the following of their original plan. Maybe it was because of his latest experience on trusting in agents of nobility, but Amadi points the chance that seeking information or help with the aristocrats would be futile, agreeing with the rogue’s thought. Sweeps voices concordance and they soon leave the inn.
Thanks to Sunny, Amadi and Chewy’s keen senses the group is sure that is not being followed. Scarpaldi speculates on the nature of who made the hellish pact while the ranger mentions that the deal may had taken a form unexpected, maybe even undesired. That or the individual was as evil as the fiendish entity he contracted, maybe pushed by the Lords. There was other possibility, Gabriel notices. The hands and voices in the dream were many. Maybe the tormented souls, incapable of finding peace and possessed by their own obsession desired to destroy anything. But such spirits could not seek a devil, let alone seal a contract with it.
It takes but a few minutes for the group to reach the point from where they retreated the night before. The feeling of nausea seems to take hold of the beastmarter’s body. The sound of flapping wings and a putrid stench permeates the air.
Notes: Map of the street in the spoiler below. The red circle represents the general area where the part is standing. In case of doubt, as always, feel free to as in the OOC chat.
@Everyone, you may now read the spoilers previously directed to Gabriel. @Everyone, make a Perception check. @Jynne, Chewy's Perception check should be made with advantage.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
As they walked towards the yard, Sylvio listens to Gabriel’s retelling of the dream. He ponders the significance of the dream… and understands the hate. “This-a city is rotten. The leadership and-a the guards abuse-a the people. Especially the poor and-a needy. Sylvio has-a seen the way the rich and-a powerful take advantage of-a the people without care. This curse… is-a deserved… but is-a clumsy and hurting even-a the poor who are-a already victims.” He shakes his head, “We now know-a why the curse is-a here, but who could have-a signed this pact?”
Internally, Sylvio begins to think about his own soul and starts to wonder if he is destined for hell. He never thought he was a bad person… even though he has done many bad things, but they have always been of necessity, and he has tried to balance his bad deeds with good… he had his own code of honor after all… this is why he tried so hard to keep children and innocents safe. Surely that counted for something? How many children on the streets still lived because of the orphanage he supported? How many of them grew up and were educated in a safe place because of him? It must count for something!
As they approach the trollyard he shakes out of his ruminations and looks about the area. 24 perception
Sweeps moves toward the front of the group, his maul resting over his shoulder. He listens with interest as Gabriel shares his dreams. He knew little about pacts with devils, or how someone would go about entering one “Be wary of the crow. We cannot kill it, so focus on finding and destroying the box.”
He walks to the corner of the nearest building, looking out in the field for any sign of the crow, or of disturbed earth that could indicate a buried box. Perception: 25 (Passive: 16)
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Amadi trudged along with the others, his hand fingering the runes on the head of the hammer that hung from his belt. He cinches his shield just a bit tighter as they hear the sound of flapping and a moment later his hammer is in his hand.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Sunny shivers as the familiar sensation creeps into her, bile soaking her tongue and causing her to clamp her Tortle beak tight lest she loose some of it. Drawing as much calm into her, she stills her breath withholding it as she searches the sky and rooftops for the source of her torment. She moves slowly using the pain like a puppet string seeking its source. "This way." She murmurs when she feels the pull of pain draw on her.
Note: Tortles can hold their breath for up to an hour, unless it aids her in discovery of any kind, she's using this to aid her in resisting the symptoms of the nausea, etc if it helps at all.
Ever single one of you moved towards this location expecting battle. You senses are sharpened by the expectation, adrenaline runs through your veins. You are ready and this shows on how you notice, immediately, that there is something wrong there. Last night there weren’t any carts or stands, any boxes. Sylvio know this better than anyone, after all he could easily hid behind such structures. Maybe it is just the time of the day, you think at first. It is the time most folk work, after all. Then you notice the silence. Despite those marks of trade and business there is no one around. Whoosh. The echoes of large wings moving through the air reach your ears. The crow, your instincts scream. Did it capture the people who worked there?
A moment passes and your minds drift towards the memory of the spectral figures in the Magnificent Mansion. Maybe it was the crow… Companions? Subordinates? You couldn’t be sure about the kind of bond the curse and the damned shared. The stench of death seems to become stronger as your dive into theories, bring you the certainty that something, something rotting, lies ahead. There is no blood in the street. At least not that you can see. The street itself was covered in stone, something of a rarity in this part of the city. It’s because of the Trollfort, you summarize. The keep is close and its commander may demand some semblance of care on the part of the district directly under his view. Either way, this meant there would be no track on sand to notice.
The question emerges in your minds: should you advance? Chances are, some undead is waiting further beyond in the street, to surround you. The crow shouldn’t be far from appearing either.
Notes: Map of the street in the spoiler below. The red circle represents the general area where the part is standing. In case of doubt, as always, feel free to as in the OOC chat.
@Everyone, your characters notice the presence of carts, boxes and tents, but there is no one around. @Everyone, your character catches the scent of corpses and deduce that further in the street you may be surrounded by undead. @Everyone, what would you like to do?
Amadi's grip on his hammer grew tighter. He steeled himself to the stench as he looked at his companions. "This is what we came here for. Let us get this done." he said as he moved forward.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Sunny draws her Shortswords and tries to take some shelter from the open air and moves along the side of one of the buildings as much as possible noticing the pull of the pain within her. "Yes, these people deserve some peace." She says letting out her breath, audibly drained from the ongoing pain. "The sooner the better." She scans the streets and sky for any signs of disturbance.
Chewy pads along next to her, attention heightened by Sunny's distressed state looking low for ground disturbances and movement only knowing that there is something buried that shouldn't be and that there is death near.
Sunny struggles with the sense of helplessness, "I don't think that anything my spell will cure ails him. He seems caught in a sleep he can't waken from or unconscious. "Gabriel!! Can you hear me? Your friends are here. Come back to us!" Her thoughts drift to fevers that cause distress and seizures in the height of sickness. This doesn't seem to be a sickness, but the convulsions remind her of seizures that she's seen affect the mind. If something affecting his mind, maybe he needs something to focus on. "Talk to him, try to let him hear us. I don't know if it will work but its worth a try?"
Her calls to Gabriel while firm, will not be loud. She doesn't want the commotion to attract the attention of the Ritual Caster or the Crow.
Gabriel's eyes snap open and he sits bolt upright with a start: "Gahh!"
Composing himself, breathing deeply, he looks around the faces of his friends with a look of horror mixed with hatred.
"The curse, the kotoribako, was brought upon the city in revenge for the acts and deeds of the noble houses. I saw all the vile and violent acts committed by them over the years - even the crimes of past generations of nobility. It was brought by a pact with a devil"
The healer wipes his brow with a handkerchief and then shrugs helplessly: "But I have no idea how we could stop it. Plead to the noble houses for some form of reparation or act of contrition? Should we find a library and research details of such pacts?"
He looks around them all again, a face of helpless impotence.
Sylvio watches Gabriel’s illness and seizure like shaking with pity. There is nothing he can do except perhaps… end his suffering. Just as he is about to suggest it, Gabriel springs awake. Sylvio jumps back with his hand on his scimitar.
listening to Gabriel’s blabbering makes him shake his head. “Should-a we not just-a continue with our plan of finding the buried thing and destroying it?” What does it matter where the curse came from? Shouldn’t they just destroy it?
Noob
Gabriel looks chastened: "I guess we could"
Amadi nearly laughs. "Well, this is Waterdeep, there is no way the nobles of this city will ever come up with some sort of reparation or act of contrition. They won't even come together to even discuss such a possibility let alone come to an agreement on if it is needed. A waste of time. Nobles do as nobles do. I do not say they may not deserve this punishment. But it is in their nature, we will not stop it. That is beyond even the ability of the gods."
"We must stay the course. First we must find and destroy the box. That will hopefully put an end to the curse and stop the killings. Then perhaps we find the one responsible. The box must be destroyed first."
Sweeps does let out a short laugh “The Nobles have always rode on the backs of the working folk here. It is no surprise that they dirtied their hands to get where they are, only that someone made a deal with a devil to get back at them. Regardless, the young and innocent should not suffer for the mistakes of their forefathers, nor should the poor of our city. Sylvio and Amadi are right, let us find this box and destroy it.”
He looks at Sunny “Should we go back to the field from last night? Are you feeling up for guiding us again with your pain?”
“While Sylvio can-a understand getting back at-a the lords of this crooked city, who would-a have the motive and-a the means to make deal with a devil? I care nothing for-a the nobles but-a this thing seems to attack innocents and especially the poor women and-a children… that sort of-a indescriminate destruction….” He frowns a moment and then continues “This-a person must-a be stopped. He or she would-a burn down the world to sate their revenge. It is sloppy and has-a no style or thought of-a the consequences.”
Noob
Sunny nods sadly. "I've heard many stories told of devilish creatures bargaining with the weakened and desperate promising vengeance and retribution to their enemies only to obtain an invitation to their world to spread their influence. The bargainer may not have realized what they welcomed into the world or was too far lost to care. Time is trickling through our fingers, so I say the Box first, its owner next and then back to the Captain to tell him what we've found. That's the quest we were sent on and an honorable man would see the truth and hopefully be able to make some of this right or at least have the ear of someone who may. You have whatever is needed of me to seek its source. Let us go. We should start where we last found ourselves past the couple's home." Sunny braces herself for what is to come and looks to the others to be ready to go back to the Field Ward.
Gabriel gets off the bed, shoulders his gear and follows his friends.
Sylvio slaps Gabriel on the back “Good to-a see you on-a your feet!”
Noob
Unsure if her arcane powers would suffice in stabilizing Gabriel’s state, Sunny suggest the group as whole assumed Amadi’s strategy, called by the Aassimar, talked to him. Before anyone could answer, Bryte wakes mid tremors gasping for air. It almost looked like he was diving for a long time, despite the fact, know by both Shadeflame and the tortle, that he was breathing as normal.
The caster’s face is distorted by the pain and suffering of his visions. Rage and fear tainting his eyes and expression. Before any of his friends could speak he start to spilling, somewhat frenetically, what he could abstract from the nightmare suggesting a search for more information. Sylvio proposes the following of their original plan. Maybe it was because of his latest experience on trusting in agents of nobility, but Amadi points the chance that seeking information or help with the aristocrats would be futile, agreeing with the rogue’s thought. Sweeps voices concordance and they soon leave the inn.
Thanks to Sunny, Amadi and Chewy’s keen senses the group is sure that is not being followed. Scarpaldi speculates on the nature of who made the hellish pact while the ranger mentions that the deal may had taken a form unexpected, maybe even undesired. That or the individual was as evil as the fiendish entity he contracted, maybe pushed by the Lords. There was other possibility, Gabriel notices. The hands and voices in the dream were many. Maybe the tormented souls, incapable of finding peace and possessed by their own obsession desired to destroy anything. But such spirits could not seek a devil, let alone seal a contract with it.
It takes but a few minutes for the group to reach the point from where they retreated the night before. The feeling of nausea seems to take hold of the beastmarter’s body. The sound of flapping wings and a putrid stench permeates the air.
Notes: Map of the street in the spoiler below. The red circle represents the general area where the part is standing. In case of doubt, as always, feel free to as in the OOC chat.
@Everyone, you may now read the spoilers previously directed to Gabriel.
@Everyone, make a Perception check.
@Jynne, Chewy's Perception check should be made with advantage.
As they walked towards the yard, Sylvio listens to Gabriel’s retelling of the dream. He ponders the significance of the dream… and understands the hate. “This-a city is rotten. The leadership and-a the guards abuse-a the people. Especially the poor and-a needy. Sylvio has-a seen the way the rich and-a powerful take advantage of-a the people without care. This curse… is-a deserved… but is-a clumsy and hurting even-a the poor who are-a already victims.” He shakes his head, “We now know-a why the curse is-a here, but who could have-a signed this pact?”
Internally, Sylvio begins to think about his own soul and starts to wonder if he is destined for hell. He never thought he was a bad person… even though he has done many bad things, but they have always been of necessity, and he has tried to balance his bad deeds with good… he had his own code of honor after all… this is why he tried so hard to keep children and innocents safe. Surely that counted for something? How many children on the streets still lived because of the orphanage he supported? How many of them grew up and were educated in a safe place because of him? It must count for something!
As they approach the trollyard he shakes out of his ruminations and looks about the area. 24 perception
Noob
Gabriel perception 19 (passive 13)
Sweeps moves toward the front of the group, his maul resting over his shoulder. He listens with interest as Gabriel shares his dreams. He knew little about pacts with devils, or how someone would go about entering one “Be wary of the crow. We cannot kill it, so focus on finding and destroying the box.”
He walks to the corner of the nearest building, looking out in the field for any sign of the crow, or of disturbed earth that could indicate a buried box. Perception: 25 (Passive: 16)
Amadi trudged along with the others, his hand fingering the runes on the head of the hammer that hung from his belt. He cinches his shield just a bit tighter as they hear the sound of flapping and a moment later his hammer is in his hand.
Perception 13 (PP-16)
Sunny shivers as the familiar sensation creeps into her, bile soaking her tongue and causing her to clamp her Tortle beak tight lest she loose some of it. Drawing as much calm into her, she stills her breath withholding it as she searches the sky and rooftops for the source of her torment. She moves slowly using the pain like a puppet string seeking its source. "This way." She murmurs when she feels the pull of pain draw on her.
Sunny perception 24 (PP 16)
Chewy perception 24 (PP 16)
Note: Tortles can hold their breath for up to an hour, unless it aids her in discovery of any kind, she's using this to aid her in resisting the symptoms of the nausea, etc if it helps at all.
Ever single one of you moved towards this location expecting battle. You senses are sharpened by the expectation, adrenaline runs through your veins. You are ready and this shows on how you notice, immediately, that there is something wrong there. Last night there weren’t any carts or stands, any boxes. Sylvio know this better than anyone, after all he could easily hid behind such structures. Maybe it is just the time of the day, you think at first. It is the time most folk work, after all. Then you notice the silence. Despite those marks of trade and business there is no one around. Whoosh. The echoes of large wings moving through the air reach your ears. The crow, your instincts scream. Did it capture the people who worked there?
A moment passes and your minds drift towards the memory of the spectral figures in the Magnificent Mansion. Maybe it was the crow… Companions? Subordinates? You couldn’t be sure about the kind of bond the curse and the damned shared. The stench of death seems to become stronger as your dive into theories, bring you the certainty that something, something rotting, lies ahead. There is no blood in the street. At least not that you can see. The street itself was covered in stone, something of a rarity in this part of the city. It’s because of the Trollfort, you summarize. The keep is close and its commander may demand some semblance of care on the part of the district directly under his view. Either way, this meant there would be no track on sand to notice.
The question emerges in your minds: should you advance? Chances are, some undead is waiting further beyond in the street, to surround you. The crow shouldn’t be far from appearing either.
Notes: Map of the street in the spoiler below. The red circle represents the general area where the part is standing. In case of doubt, as always, feel free to as in the OOC chat.
@Everyone, your characters notice the presence of carts, boxes and tents, but there is no one around.
@Everyone, your character catches the scent of corpses and deduce that further in the street you may be surrounded by undead.
@Everyone, what would you like to do?
Amadi's grip on his hammer grew tighter. He steeled himself to the stench as he looked at his companions. "This is what we came here for. Let us get this done." he said as he moved forward.
Gabriel clenches and unclenches his fists, following Amadi: "Yes, agreed - let's finish this"
Sunny draws her Shortswords and tries to take some shelter from the open air and moves along the side of one of the buildings as much as possible noticing the pull of the pain within her. "Yes, these people deserve some peace." She says letting out her breath, audibly drained from the ongoing pain. "The sooner the better." She scans the streets and sky for any signs of disturbance.
Chewy pads along next to her, attention heightened by Sunny's distressed state looking low for ground disturbances and movement only knowing that there is something buried that shouldn't be and that there is death near.
Initiative roll for pending battle:
Sunny 3 ; Chewy 11