Nikita follows Casper Brinck carefully. On guard. Wanting, willing the party to come with her to deal with whatever Sedgewick has become before the other carriages arrive. Since Brinck seems on the verge of death by Sagacitas, she asks him only one more question as she walks after him, though it does puzzle her why he said 'Malloy Unlikely'. Rosie Malloy is unlikely to what? Negotiate? Switch sides? Unlikely to have been part of the conspiracy in the first place - surely she was part of it by O'Toole's research?
Her question to Brinck: "And where are Esther Freyn and Asha Hawkes?"
To Thumbtack: Thank you again my friend. We are headed into the lion's den - only the lion is strange and extraplanar.
To the party: "Please be extremely careful in here. Thumbtack reports the plants and fungi here look dangerous, especially the ones with the spiked mouths, but really all of them. I've never heard her plead with me before. And who knows what we'll have to fight here. Besides having to destroy whatever horror Sedgewick has turned into. Or try at least."
She has her hands free, ready to draw her rapier, her longbow or cast a spell. She keeps as close an eye as possible on Brinck's briefcase, ready to snatch it if the man appears to start dying or transforming.
"I think we should remove those parasites from his body first, and apply healing magic". Ermasnietsz has been pointing her index finger at the bare part of Casper Brinck's arm. She moves near him with a swift motion and grabs the hem of his outerwear to give it a clumsy tug. "How did they infect you? Do you have any kind of remedy? Are you infected or is it just a cheeky trick? C.B, Casper Brinck there's nothing inside the briefcase."
To Faila: "You should be grateful that I've decided to send them away. Otherwise, one of us would've been dead instead of Toska."
Boyd raises his eyebrows and nods slightly at Erma's observation. Better Toska then him, indeed. Though they don't seem to be in a much better place for it. Probably better to be a cooked by a neck demon than end up like Brinck...
"So," the leatherworker starts, "We're in a house with some sort of monster and an infected man who could pop any second now. No, erm... offense." he says to Brinck. "What now? It sounds like we might have found the source of this sag.. saga... the worms. Sounds like it's this Sedgewick, eh? Mission accomplished? Or we going to try to stop it...?" He sounds a bit deflated by the last question, like he's worried of the answer.
Nikita looks at Boyd. Both determination and pleading in her eyes.
"Yes we're going to try to stop it. At least I am. They're kidnapping and killing people, Boyd. Children. This may be the best chance anyone gets to stop it. And Esther and Asha may still be in here somewhere." (She looks back again to Brinck for an answer to her question on Esther and Asha as she follows him).
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Toska is dead. Faila feels miserable. So many people have died in the last day from terrible, extraplanar creatures. Maybe I'm a terrible extraplanar creature too. I don't really belong here. In the midst of so much death and fear, she wonders if there's anything she can really do. The heavy pouch of gold still weighs on her belt. Probably together they have plenty of money to buy someone off if they need to, but it won't save the lives of the sagacitas victims. Purple alien worms don't care about gold.
Faila reaches toward Caspar Brinck as Erma grabs hold of him, feeling a tingling in her hand and up her arm. She feels, rather than sees, tissue and bone and organs and skin, chewed up by the worms, the purple things drunk on the blood they've stolen from the dead tissue. Blood is life, without it, all die. Faila's reaching hand grasps Caspar's arm, and a surge of Cure Wounds energy goes into him, knitting the flaking tissue together and pushing new capillaries into it.
Nikita - "A-A-Asha H-H-Hawkes?" Brinck asks, confused. "A-an ex-c-c-colleague o-of S-S-Sssedgewick's. I b-b-believe th-this is her f-f-family h-h-home." A bizarre whispering sound fills the air, a hushed voice, speaking as though through a dense wall. You are unable to make out the words, the whispering is so quiet it is unsettling. "W-w-what's sh-she g-got to, uhhh, d-do with a-a-any of th-this?"
"A-as f-for th-the g-g-girl?" Brinck attempts to draw himself upright but stomach cramps prevent him from maintaining this posture. "H-h-heelp m-m-me an', an', I g-g-give y-you the g-g-girl." He scratches at his flaking skin. "Q-q-quickly n-n-now be-before S-S-Sedgewick h-has a ch-ch-chance to f-f-feed."
"Th-th-this g-g-growth is un-unnatural,"Brinck says, matter-of-factly. "I-i-it has o-o-overt-taken m-m-most of the h-h-house." He lets out a pain-filled cry. "N-n-none of th-the p-p-plants a-a-attacked m-m-meee. B-b-but th-they w-w-were mmmoving m-mighty o-odd."
Brinck staggers against the wall, grabbing hold of a clump of thick ivy to right himself. "P-p-please... h-h-help!" The whites of his eyes are showing as he looks fearfully around the group.
Ermasnietsz - You notice anger flare up in Brinck's eyes, however, it is not directed at you. "T-t-told y-you th-they was t-t-trying to re-replace meee," he sneers. His anger is so palpable he shakes and tears stream down his face. "B-b-bloody S-S-Sedgewick! I-I-I,"he pauses, "f-f-first h-had m-my s-s-supicions a few d-d-days a-ago. F-f-felt d-d-drained, s-s-sick, l-le-lethar-gic... W-w-well I k-know w-w-what we h-had been d-d-doing to p-p-people... I-I'm n-not d-d-daft! B-b-bes-ides, S-S-Sedge-wick h-h-had st-sta-started b-b-becoming b-bolder."
At his point, Brinck places both of his hands against the wall, struggling to stand. "I-I m-m-mean, o-o-open-ly a-a-attack-ing th-the Carn-Carn-i-val. U-u-using m-m-my c-c-carriage, i-i-it w-was al-almo-almost l-l-like he w-was t-t-try-ing to imp-imp-impli-cate mm-mm-me! H-he g-g-got t-t-too g-g-greedy."
Boyd - Casper Brinck, still struggling to move, spits on the ground. "F-f-frankly, d-d-don't c-c-care w-what y-you d-do ab-about S-S-Sedgewick... j-j-just h-h-help mm-me!"he yells with what little energy he can muster. "A-a-also, w-w-what a-about L-L-Lexi?"
Faila - With Brinck still likely infected, your spell has little effect. Some of his skin seems to momentarily knit together before flaking off, just as before. "N-n-noo, y-y-you n-n-need t-to-to re-move it! I-i-its f-f-f-fully g-grown!" He slouches against the door to the left of the entrance. "Q-q-quick in h-h-here! I-i-it is t-the d-d-dining r-r-roooom,"Brinck pushes his way through the door and climbs on to the large dining room table. "Q-q-quickly, I d-d-don't h-h-have mmmmuch,"he stops to let out a cry of pain. His waistcoat bulges from underneath. "I c-c-c-can f-f-feel it," he whispers weakly.
Faila grits her teeth as she can feel Brinck's body continuing to fall apart despite her attempt. It's an abomination, it must be removed! She slinks after Brinck into the dining room, eyes dilated and trained on his waistcoat like a predator intent on its prey. She climbs right up on the table after him, and the claws sprout from her fingers again, wicked and deadly. Less wild than she was in the hospital tent trying to do the same thing, she tears through the waistcoat and then, as precisely as possible, through Brinck's skin into the bulging worm beneath. Kill it first!
"Faila, no!" Meresaa follows through the door and starts for the table as she sees the young girl's long claws reaching toward Brinck.
"It must be removed carefully and then dealt with! We don't want him dying on us... Not yet, at least." A scowl crosses her face for a moment as she says this last bit.
She rummages through her pockets, withdrawing a recently-acquired potion of healing to have at the ready.
Fighting back her revulsion, Nikita follows into the dining room on the left and uses her Mage Hand to helpMeresaa or anyone else that is attempting to extract the Sagacitas from Brinck. She will then step back and ready her longbow to kill the slug if and when it exists. She does not truly care for Brinck's life, but almost any dying person should be saved if possible, and the party might need him to negotiate with Lexi Rosetta.
"As soon as we do whatever can be done for Brinck, we must move to confront Sedgewick. Defeat or mitigate the threat he poses, rescue Esther if we can and then leave this house while we are able. Brinck mentioned the plants moving oddly and Thumbtack feels the threat of them too. It is almost as if Prospect has come alive and we have walked into its mouth."
Ermasnietsz quietly watches the events unfold before her eyes while maintaining a safe distance from the infected male. When she hears the proposal to exterminate the parasite, she attempts to discourage the initiative by saying, "Don't kill it. Keep it alive since we can extract energy from it. Whoever came with the idea of harvesting living organism for energy must have been a genius."
Boyd stays outside of the dining room, but peeks in once in a while to make sure everyone's still alive. He knuckles his lips, as though deep in thought, but it's probably obvious that he's just trying not to throw up. While the others work on Brinck, Boyd keeps an eye on the road for any incoming carriages.
Faila - Your claws scratch and tear through dry flesh. Brinck squeals and screams as you go, before momentarily passing out from the pain. You spot the one of the sagacitas worming its way through the man's abdomen. You attempt to grab the parasite but, sensing danger, it deftly avoids your attack.
Meresaa - Brinck, who you were sure was briefly teetering on the edge of death, opens his eyes as you feed him the potion. "I m-m-may n-n-not sssurvive, b-but p-p-promise me... y-y-you'll m-m-mmake him s-s-suffer... S-s-sedgewick." Brinck's voice is a whisper now. His eyes open wide in agony and his breathing becomes increasingly more laboured.
Ermasnietsz - Brinck seems to be unresponsive. It does not seem like he will live much longer. You notice that he no longer holds on to his briefcase and it has fallen to the side of the table.
((Prospect - Explored Sections. The hallway continues further northwards. Currently, Casper Brinck is sprawled across the dining room table (to the west). The door to the east is shut.))
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
As she sees Faila attempt to grab the Sagacitas from Brinck's abdomen, Nikita also tries to do so with her Mage Hand to remove the parasite, which she knows will only work if it is one of the small ones.
To Brinck: "If you want Sedgewick to suffer, tell us where he is and what he has become NOW."
To everyone in the group and no one in particular: "In my opinion, we are well past harvesting these. And Sedgewick may be a genius but not one I wish to emulate. His 'genius' may have even turned him into some aberrant thing if Brinck is to be believed. Save Brinck if we can, but I am planning to destroy the Sagacitas if we have no way to trap it - especially if a big one like with Preston Baines. I hope you all are too. Nick, be ready with your blast and Lady Meresaa with your fire. Others too if you can and are willing."
If we are able to extract the Sagacitas or it slips free and it is a small one, Nikita will use Shape Water to try to encase it in ice. If it's a big one that comes out, she has Thumbtack quickly fly by it to help and attacks with Booming Blade using her shortsword. ((On hit, extra 1d8 thunder damage if target subsequently moves on its own.))
Ermasnietsz leans over the infected male, eagerly praying for a miracle to happen through direct intervention from a higher power if such kind of beings exist. When she finds the briefcase near the unresponsive man, she will kick it away from the cluster of people. She doesn't seem interested in further investigation, especially regarding illegal activities.
"We need to position ourselves for another hostile encounter. I'll vote for a peaceful settlement with Rosetta first, through trickery and friendly gestures, or manipulation like this."
She has decided to accompany the rogue comrade while flicking her wand to deflect the attack on the sagacitas.(Restore Balance: Clockwork Soul)
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Boyd peers out the front window for the approaching carriage, and tries to keep his mind off the screams and whimpers of the dying man. When Erma approaches him, he nods toward the east door and tests it gingerly. If it's locked, he'll try to unlock it.
Thieves' Tools: 20
"Let's get a lay of the land, eh? Who knows what's about to happen..." He says to his strange companion, before creaking the door open for a peek inside the eastern room (assuming he opens it)
"I-i-in h-his s-study," Brinck's voice is weak and frail as he answers Nikita's question, "b-b-back of the h-h-house". He lets out a guttural moan and lies very still, the skin around his face starts to crumble away; you are sure that there is nothing you can do for the man at this point.
Entering into a fever dream of sorts, Brinck swats at imaginary insects. "D-d-didn't k-know w-what they un-covered. The fools!"his voice momentarily loses its quiver. "Portal, carved out of the rock." His eyes are wide. "All sorts of strange creatures on the other side. Sedgewick went through. Returned with more specimens when we ran out. We kept it shut most of the time. But, but, all this growth... it spilt through. P-p-perhaps." Once more he struggles to get out the words. "P-p-por-tal b-b-becoming un-un-stable..."
He lurches up and grabs Nikita by the sleeve, "y-y-you h-have to s-stop it! From opening. Arrrrgh." He lets out a cry of pain. "I-i-if th-that p-p-portal b-b-becomes perm-permanent o-open -- D-d-danger!" In horror, you watch as a small slug-like Sagacitas slips out of Brinck's eye, displacing the eyeball. Accepting his fate, Brinck lies still. "S-S-Sedgwick -- K-k-kill him, kill th-the bas-tard,"he practically mouths his last words as he expires.
The monster that was Casper Brinck, once business partner to Theodore Sedgewick and member of the Sanguine Cabal, crumbles into dust in front of your eyes. Multiple Sagacitas pour from his body, mostly infants along with a much larger specimen. Nikita's shortsword flashes, catching the adult and slicing it in two. The smaller specimens slink and slide across the vegetation-covered dining room table.
In the meanwhile, Boyd crosses to the room opposite the dining room. The door is unlocked. Curiously he opens the door. Once more the room is filled with all sorts of strange, alien flora. A rustling sound comes from inside the room - vine rubbing on vine, the crack of new growth. A strong smell permeates the air, it is of spice and honey. Spores from giant mushrooms clog the air, making it hard to breathe.
Inside the room, chairs sit in a circle in front of a large fireplace. Areas of the flooring have given way. To the north is a door, ivy has already claimed it. A strange doll's house is located in the south of the room, it is largely untouched by the invading plant life. In the centre of the floor sits a large bearskin rug, it is mangy and covered in strange growths.
Ermasnietsz waits patiently when Boyd skillfully attempts to unlock the door, leaning against the adjacent wall with her arms folded in a leisurely manner. When she realizes that the rogue comrade is successful in the manual trickery, she assumes an erect posture immediately. "Boyd, be careful!"She has somehow managed to load her crossbow within a few seconds, prepared to act if anything decides to attack the male companion.
Nikita, becoming accustomed to such horrific deaths much to her chagrin, takes a moment burn off or encase as many of the Sagacitas as she can quickly using Prestidigitation and Shape Water. Not worrying about the ones she can't get, she grabs Brinck's case and says to the others in the room with her:
"First order of business help Boyd and Ermasnietsz in the room on the other side if they need. Second, I say head immediately to Sedgewick's study in the back of the house to attempt to destroy him if we can. Third, find wherever this Portal Carved in Rock is. Not sure how we can close it but we must try. Maybe Sedgewick knows. At some point soon, Lexi Rosetta and her goons will show up and we'll have to deal with them. Perhaps bluff with whatever is in the case."
She walks out of the room accordingly to help Boyd and Erma as needed, but then wanting immediately to head to Sedgewick's study to destroy him/it.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Boyd peers in through the crack in the door. "I am. I'm always careful... I think. Hard to be sure anymore - my life just got a lot more complicated lately." He reassures Ermasnietsz without looking back at her.
If he sees some weird plants that look dangerous, he'll just groan, say "nope" and close the door.
As far as you can tell there is nothing dangerous within the room; none of the plants look particularly large and as long as you don't consume anything you shouldn't, you feel you should be fine.
Nikita follows Casper Brinck carefully. On guard. Wanting, willing the party to come with her to deal with whatever Sedgewick has become before the other carriages arrive. Since Brinck seems on the verge of death by Sagacitas, she asks him only one more question as she walks after him, though it does puzzle her why he said 'Malloy Unlikely'. Rosie Malloy is unlikely to what? Negotiate? Switch sides? Unlikely to have been part of the conspiracy in the first place - surely she was part of it by O'Toole's research?
Her question to Brinck: "And where are Esther Freyn and Asha Hawkes?"
To Thumbtack: Thank you again my friend. We are headed into the lion's den - only the lion is strange and extraplanar.
To the party: "Please be extremely careful in here. Thumbtack reports the plants and fungi here look dangerous, especially the ones with the spiked mouths, but really all of them. I've never heard her plead with me before. And who knows what we'll have to fight here. Besides having to destroy whatever horror Sedgewick has turned into. Or try at least."
She has her hands free, ready to draw her rapier, her longbow or cast a spell. She keeps as close an eye as possible on Brinck's briefcase, ready to snatch it if the man appears to start dying or transforming.
Tanis(Ranger1): Shiverquill's Tempest City | Xarian(Fighter2): NioNSwiper's Tyranny of Dragons
Dyson/Eleo(TwilightCleric4): Vos' Beyond the Veil | Soren(ShepherdDruid5): Bartjeebus' Ravenloft | Ophelia(WildMagicSorcerer4): Ashen_Age's Risen from the Sands
Joren(EchoKnightFighter6): NotDrizzt's Simple Request | Sabetha(MercyMonk3): Bedlymn's Murder Court | Seri(NatureCleric3/DivineSoulSorcerer1): Bartjeebus' Greyhawk
"I think we should remove those parasites from his body first, and apply healing magic". Ermasnietsz has been pointing her index finger at the bare part of Casper Brinck's arm. She moves near him with a swift motion and grabs the hem of his outerwear to give it a clumsy tug. "How did they infect you? Do you have any kind of remedy? Are you infected or is it just a cheeky trick? C.B, Casper Brinck there's nothing inside the briefcase."
To Faila: "You should be grateful that I've decided to send them away. Otherwise, one of us would've been dead instead of Toska."
InkedBee (Undead_Analyst)
Covetous, Dragonish Thoughts - Jenviel Tsumara: Fallen Aasimar- Monk|Crimson Sands of Time - Navarra Iltazyara: Human- Druid/Warlock| Bleak Prospect - Ermasnietsz: Reborn- Clockwork Soul Sorcerer
Boyd raises his eyebrows and nods slightly at Erma's observation. Better Toska then him, indeed. Though they don't seem to be in a much better place for it. Probably better to be a cooked by a neck demon than end up like Brinck...
"So," the leatherworker starts, "We're in a house with some sort of monster and an infected man who could pop any second now. No, erm... offense." he says to Brinck. "What now? It sounds like we might have found the source of this sag.. saga... the worms. Sounds like it's this Sedgewick, eh? Mission accomplished? Or we going to try to stop it...?" He sounds a bit deflated by the last question, like he's worried of the answer.
Nikita looks at Boyd. Both determination and pleading in her eyes.
"Yes we're going to try to stop it. At least I am. They're kidnapping and killing people, Boyd. Children. This may be the best chance anyone gets to stop it. And Esther and Asha may still be in here somewhere." (She looks back again to Brinck for an answer to her question on Esther and Asha as she follows him).
Tanis(Ranger1): Shiverquill's Tempest City | Xarian(Fighter2): NioNSwiper's Tyranny of Dragons
Dyson/Eleo(TwilightCleric4): Vos' Beyond the Veil | Soren(ShepherdDruid5): Bartjeebus' Ravenloft | Ophelia(WildMagicSorcerer4): Ashen_Age's Risen from the Sands
Joren(EchoKnightFighter6): NotDrizzt's Simple Request | Sabetha(MercyMonk3): Bedlymn's Murder Court | Seri(NatureCleric3/DivineSoulSorcerer1): Bartjeebus' Greyhawk
Toska is dead. Faila feels miserable. So many people have died in the last day from terrible, extraplanar creatures. Maybe I'm a terrible extraplanar creature too. I don't really belong here. In the midst of so much death and fear, she wonders if there's anything she can really do. The heavy pouch of gold still weighs on her belt. Probably together they have plenty of money to buy someone off if they need to, but it won't save the lives of the sagacitas victims. Purple alien worms don't care about gold.
Faila reaches toward Caspar Brinck as Erma grabs hold of him, feeling a tingling in her hand and up her arm. She feels, rather than sees, tissue and bone and organs and skin, chewed up by the worms, the purple things drunk on the blood they've stolen from the dead tissue. Blood is life, without it, all die. Faila's reaching hand grasps Caspar's arm, and a surge of Cure Wounds energy goes into him, knitting the flaking tissue together and pushing new capillaries into it.
Healing: 4
Nikita - "A-A-Asha H-H-Hawkes?" Brinck asks, confused. "A-an ex-c-c-colleague o-of S-S-Sssedgewick's. I b-b-believe th-this is her f-f-family h-h-home." A bizarre whispering sound fills the air, a hushed voice, speaking as though through a dense wall. You are unable to make out the words, the whispering is so quiet it is unsettling. "W-w-what's sh-she g-got to, uhhh, d-do with a-a-any of th-this?"
"A-as f-for th-the g-g-girl?" Brinck attempts to draw himself upright but stomach cramps prevent him from maintaining this posture. "H-h-heelp m-m-me an', an', I g-g-give y-you the g-g-girl." He scratches at his flaking skin. "Q-q-quickly n-n-now be-before S-S-Sedgewick h-has a ch-ch-chance to f-f-feed."
"Th-th-this g-g-growth is un-unnatural," Brinck says, matter-of-factly. "I-i-it has o-o-overt-taken m-m-most of the h-h-house." He lets out a pain-filled cry. "N-n-none of th-the p-p-plants a-a-attacked m-m-meee. B-b-but th-they w-w-were mmmoving m-mighty o-odd."
Brinck staggers against the wall, grabbing hold of a clump of thick ivy to right himself. "P-p-please... h-h-help!" The whites of his eyes are showing as he looks fearfully around the group.
Ermasnietsz - You notice anger flare up in Brinck's eyes, however, it is not directed at you. "T-t-told y-you th-they was t-t-trying to re-replace meee," he sneers. His anger is so palpable he shakes and tears stream down his face. "B-b-bloody S-S-Sedgewick! I-I-I," he pauses, "f-f-first h-had m-my s-s-supicions a few d-d-days a-ago. F-f-felt d-d-drained, s-s-sick, l-le-lethar-gic... W-w-well I k-know w-w-what we h-had been d-d-doing to p-p-people... I-I'm n-not d-d-daft! B-b-bes-ides, S-S-Sedge-wick h-h-had st-sta-started b-b-becoming b-bolder."
At his point, Brinck places both of his hands against the wall, struggling to stand. "I-I m-m-mean, o-o-open-ly a-a-attack-ing th-the Carn-Carn-i-val. U-u-using m-m-my c-c-carriage, i-i-it w-was al-almo-almost l-l-like he w-was t-t-try-ing to imp-imp-impli-cate mm-mm-me! H-he g-g-got t-t-too g-g-greedy."
Boyd - Casper Brinck, still struggling to move, spits on the ground. "F-f-frankly, d-d-don't c-c-care w-what y-you d-do ab-about S-S-Sedgewick... j-j-just h-h-help mm-me!" he yells with what little energy he can muster. "A-a-also, w-w-what a-about L-L-Lexi?"
Faila - With Brinck still likely infected, your spell has little effect. Some of his skin seems to momentarily knit together before flaking off, just as before. "N-n-noo, y-y-you n-n-need t-to-to re-move it! I-i-its f-f-f-fully g-grown!" He slouches against the door to the left of the entrance. "Q-q-quick in h-h-here! I-i-it is t-the d-d-dining r-r-roooom," Brinck pushes his way through the door and climbs on to the large dining room table. "Q-q-quickly, I d-d-don't h-h-have mmmmuch," he stops to let out a cry of pain. His waistcoat bulges from underneath. "I c-c-c-can f-f-feel it," he whispers weakly.
DM - The Call of Strahd (CoS); Feyrealm Campaign, Chapter 0 - Bleak Prospect (BP), Chapter 1 - Destination Unknown (DU)
Faila grits her teeth as she can feel Brinck's body continuing to fall apart despite her attempt. It's an abomination, it must be removed! She slinks after Brinck into the dining room, eyes dilated and trained on his waistcoat like a predator intent on its prey. She climbs right up on the table after him, and the claws sprout from her fingers again, wicked and deadly. Less wild than she was in the hospital tent trying to do the same thing, she tears through the waistcoat and then, as precisely as possible, through Brinck's skin into the bulging worm beneath. Kill it first!
Attack: 7 Damage: 3
"Faila, no!" Meresaa follows through the door and starts for the table as she sees the young girl's long claws reaching toward Brinck.
"It must be removed carefully and then dealt with! We don't want him dying on us... Not yet, at least." A scowl crosses her face for a moment as she says this last bit.
She rummages through her pockets, withdrawing a recently-acquired potion of healing to have at the ready.
Characters currently being ruined on this forum:
Neria Tallfellow (Halfling Rogue) - Curse of the Crimson Throne with Ashen_Age
Fighting back her revulsion, Nikita follows into the dining room on the left and uses her Mage Hand to help Meresaa or anyone else that is attempting to extract the Sagacitas from Brinck. She will then step back and ready her longbow to kill the slug if and when it exists. She does not truly care for Brinck's life, but almost any dying person should be saved if possible, and the party might need him to negotiate with Lexi Rosetta.
"As soon as we do whatever can be done for Brinck, we must move to confront Sedgewick. Defeat or mitigate the threat he poses, rescue Esther if we can and then leave this house while we are able. Brinck mentioned the plants moving oddly and Thumbtack feels the threat of them too. It is almost as if Prospect has come alive and we have walked into its mouth."
Tanis(Ranger1): Shiverquill's Tempest City | Xarian(Fighter2): NioNSwiper's Tyranny of Dragons
Dyson/Eleo(TwilightCleric4): Vos' Beyond the Veil | Soren(ShepherdDruid5): Bartjeebus' Ravenloft | Ophelia(WildMagicSorcerer4): Ashen_Age's Risen from the Sands
Joren(EchoKnightFighter6): NotDrizzt's Simple Request | Sabetha(MercyMonk3): Bedlymn's Murder Court | Seri(NatureCleric3/DivineSoulSorcerer1): Bartjeebus' Greyhawk
Ermasnietsz quietly watches the events unfold before her eyes while maintaining a safe distance from the infected male. When she hears the proposal to exterminate the parasite, she attempts to discourage the initiative by saying, "Don't kill it. Keep it alive since we can extract energy from it. Whoever came with the idea of harvesting living organism for energy must have been a genius."
InkedBee (Undead_Analyst)
Covetous, Dragonish Thoughts - Jenviel Tsumara: Fallen Aasimar- Monk|Crimson Sands of Time - Navarra Iltazyara: Human- Druid/Warlock| Bleak Prospect - Ermasnietsz: Reborn- Clockwork Soul Sorcerer
Boyd stays outside of the dining room, but peeks in once in a while to make sure everyone's still alive. He knuckles his lips, as though deep in thought, but it's probably obvious that he's just trying not to throw up. While the others work on Brinck, Boyd keeps an eye on the road for any incoming carriages.
Faila - Your claws scratch and tear through dry flesh. Brinck squeals and screams as you go, before momentarily passing out from the pain. You spot the one of the sagacitas worming its way through the man's abdomen. You attempt to grab the parasite but, sensing danger, it deftly avoids your attack.
Meresaa - Brinck, who you were sure was briefly teetering on the edge of death, opens his eyes as you feed him the potion. "I m-m-may n-n-not sssurvive, b-but p-p-promise me... y-y-you'll m-m-mmake him s-s-suffer... S-s-sedgewick." Brinck's voice is a whisper now. His eyes open wide in agony and his breathing becomes increasingly more laboured.
Ermasnietsz - Brinck seems to be unresponsive. It does not seem like he will live much longer. You notice that he no longer holds on to his briefcase and it has fallen to the side of the table.
DM - The Call of Strahd (CoS); Feyrealm Campaign, Chapter 0 - Bleak Prospect (BP), Chapter 1 - Destination Unknown (DU)
As she sees Faila attempt to grab the Sagacitas from Brinck's abdomen, Nikita also tries to do so with her Mage Hand to remove the parasite, which she knows will only work if it is one of the small ones.
Sleight of Hand if applicable: 13
To Brinck: "If you want Sedgewick to suffer, tell us where he is and what he has become NOW."
To everyone in the group and no one in particular: "In my opinion, we are well past harvesting these. And Sedgewick may be a genius but not one I wish to emulate. His 'genius' may have even turned him into some aberrant thing if Brinck is to be believed. Save Brinck if we can, but I am planning to destroy the Sagacitas if we have no way to trap it - especially if a big one like with Preston Baines. I hope you all are too. Nick, be ready with your blast and Lady Meresaa with your fire. Others too if you can and are willing."
If we are able to extract the Sagacitas or it slips free and it is a small one, Nikita will use Shape Water to try to encase it in ice. If it's a big one that comes out, she has Thumbtack quickly fly by it to help and attacks with Booming Blade using her shortsword. ((On hit, extra 1d8 thunder damage if target subsequently moves on its own.))
Attack: 15 Damage: 8
Tanis(Ranger1): Shiverquill's Tempest City | Xarian(Fighter2): NioNSwiper's Tyranny of Dragons
Dyson/Eleo(TwilightCleric4): Vos' Beyond the Veil | Soren(ShepherdDruid5): Bartjeebus' Ravenloft | Ophelia(WildMagicSorcerer4): Ashen_Age's Risen from the Sands
Joren(EchoKnightFighter6): NotDrizzt's Simple Request | Sabetha(MercyMonk3): Bedlymn's Murder Court | Seri(NatureCleric3/DivineSoulSorcerer1): Bartjeebus' Greyhawk
Ermasnietsz leans over the infected male, eagerly praying for a miracle to happen through direct intervention from a higher power if such kind of beings exist. When she finds the briefcase near the unresponsive man, she will kick it away from the cluster of people. She doesn't seem interested in further investigation, especially regarding illegal activities.
"We need to position ourselves for another hostile encounter. I'll vote for a peaceful settlement with Rosetta first, through trickery and friendly gestures, or manipulation like this."
She has decided to accompany the rogue comrade while flicking her wand to deflect the attack on the sagacitas.(Restore Balance: Clockwork Soul)
InkedBee (Undead_Analyst)
Covetous, Dragonish Thoughts - Jenviel Tsumara: Fallen Aasimar- Monk|Crimson Sands of Time - Navarra Iltazyara: Human- Druid/Warlock| Bleak Prospect - Ermasnietsz: Reborn- Clockwork Soul Sorcerer
Boyd peers out the front window for the approaching carriage, and tries to keep his mind off the screams and whimpers of the dying man. When Erma approaches him, he nods toward the east door and tests it gingerly. If it's locked, he'll try to unlock it.
Thieves' Tools: 20
"Let's get a lay of the land, eh? Who knows what's about to happen..." He says to his strange companion, before creaking the door open for a peek inside the eastern room (assuming he opens it)
Afternoon - Day #2 - A Bleaker Prospect
"I-i-in h-his s-study," Brinck's voice is weak and frail as he answers Nikita's question, "b-b-back of the h-h-house". He lets out a guttural moan and lies very still, the skin around his face starts to crumble away; you are sure that there is nothing you can do for the man at this point.
Entering into a fever dream of sorts, Brinck swats at imaginary insects. "D-d-didn't k-know w-what they un-covered. The fools!" his voice momentarily loses its quiver. "Portal, carved out of the rock." His eyes are wide. "All sorts of strange creatures on the other side. Sedgewick went through. Returned with more specimens when we ran out. We kept it shut most of the time. But, but, all this growth... it spilt through. P-p-perhaps." Once more he struggles to get out the words. "P-p-por-tal b-b-becoming un-un-stable..."
He lurches up and grabs Nikita by the sleeve, "y-y-you h-have to s-stop it! From opening. Arrrrgh." He lets out a cry of pain. "I-i-if th-that p-p-portal b-b-becomes perm-permanent o-open -- D-d-danger!" In horror, you watch as a small slug-like Sagacitas slips out of Brinck's eye, displacing the eyeball. Accepting his fate, Brinck lies still. "S-S-Sedgwick -- K-k-kill him, kill th-the bas-tard," he practically mouths his last words as he expires.
The monster that was Casper Brinck, once business partner to Theodore Sedgewick and member of the Sanguine Cabal, crumbles into dust in front of your eyes. Multiple Sagacitas pour from his body, mostly infants along with a much larger specimen. Nikita's shortsword flashes, catching the adult and slicing it in two. The smaller specimens slink and slide across the vegetation-covered dining room table.
In the meanwhile, Boyd crosses to the room opposite the dining room. The door is unlocked. Curiously he opens the door. Once more the room is filled with all sorts of strange, alien flora. A rustling sound comes from inside the room - vine rubbing on vine, the crack of new growth. A strong smell permeates the air, it is of spice and honey. Spores from giant mushrooms clog the air, making it hard to breathe.
Inside the room, chairs sit in a circle in front of a large fireplace. Areas of the flooring have given way. To the north is a door, ivy has already claimed it. A strange doll's house is located in the south of the room, it is largely untouched by the invading plant life. In the centre of the floor sits a large bearskin rug, it is mangy and covered in strange growths.
Boyd - Please make a Perception roll.
DM - The Call of Strahd (CoS); Feyrealm Campaign, Chapter 0 - Bleak Prospect (BP), Chapter 1 - Destination Unknown (DU)
Ermasnietsz waits patiently when Boyd skillfully attempts to unlock the door, leaning against the adjacent wall with her arms folded in a leisurely manner. When she realizes that the rogue comrade is successful in the manual trickery, she assumes an erect posture immediately. "Boyd, be careful!" She has somehow managed to load her crossbow within a few seconds, prepared to act if anything decides to attack the male companion.
InkedBee (Undead_Analyst)
Covetous, Dragonish Thoughts - Jenviel Tsumara: Fallen Aasimar- Monk|Crimson Sands of Time - Navarra Iltazyara: Human- Druid/Warlock| Bleak Prospect - Ermasnietsz: Reborn- Clockwork Soul Sorcerer
Nikita, becoming accustomed to such horrific deaths much to her chagrin, takes a moment burn off or encase as many of the Sagacitas as she can quickly using Prestidigitation and Shape Water. Not worrying about the ones she can't get, she grabs Brinck's case and says to the others in the room with her:
"First order of business help Boyd and Ermasnietsz in the room on the other side if they need.
Second, I say head immediately to Sedgewick's study in the back of the house to attempt to destroy him if we can.
Third, find wherever this Portal Carved in Rock is. Not sure how we can close it but we must try. Maybe Sedgewick knows.
At some point soon, Lexi Rosetta and her goons will show up and we'll have to deal with them. Perhaps bluff with whatever is in the case."
She walks out of the room accordingly to help Boyd and Erma as needed, but then wanting immediately to head to Sedgewick's study to destroy him/it.
Tanis(Ranger1): Shiverquill's Tempest City | Xarian(Fighter2): NioNSwiper's Tyranny of Dragons
Dyson/Eleo(TwilightCleric4): Vos' Beyond the Veil | Soren(ShepherdDruid5): Bartjeebus' Ravenloft | Ophelia(WildMagicSorcerer4): Ashen_Age's Risen from the Sands
Joren(EchoKnightFighter6): NotDrizzt's Simple Request | Sabetha(MercyMonk3): Bedlymn's Murder Court | Seri(NatureCleric3/DivineSoulSorcerer1): Bartjeebus' Greyhawk
Boyd peers in through the crack in the door. "I am. I'm always careful... I think. Hard to be sure anymore - my life just got a lot more complicated lately." He reassures Ermasnietsz without looking back at her.
If he sees some weird plants that look dangerous, he'll just groan, say "nope" and close the door.
Perception: 17
Boyd's Perception check:
As far as you can tell there is nothing dangerous within the room; none of the plants look particularly large and as long as you don't consume anything you shouldn't, you feel you should be fine.
DM - The Call of Strahd (CoS); Feyrealm Campaign, Chapter 0 - Bleak Prospect (BP), Chapter 1 - Destination Unknown (DU)