Nikita mentally repeats Reggie's final words with a sinking feeling. 'If Reggie knows, Sedgewick knows.'
She wants to make 100% sure with Reggie that he doesn't remember Thomas Dolan or any of the other Council members or candidates being part of the Sanguine Cabal. But now she doesn't want to ask anything further and will just hope that if they were part of it, Reggie would have mentioned them.
"Thank you Reggie Clover. I promise I, at least, will do what I can. If Sedgewick knows what you know, perhaps you shouldn't be the one to lead us there. Could you just describe the location, appearance, entrances, any other basic information? Faila, did you have any other questions for Reggie?"
If the conversation wraps up, Nikita will first make sure Reggie is taken care of if he needs food (rations) or water, leaving him in Faila's hands if necessary. She will then go back to the medical tent to let Meresaa know (trying to be as concise as possible) about the above full conversation with Reggie. Most specifically, regarding the parasites:
"Lady Meresaa - he called them Sagacitas. From another plane. Parasites that drain life energy but specifically can give it back as well, potentially to someone else than the drainee."
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Meresaa is hunched over the table in the medical tent, an odd set of spectacles on her face with multiple hinged lenses. The hood of her robe is pulled up just out of her periphery and the trim glows brightly, casting enough light to see her subject of study clearly. One of the creatures is flayed out on the table, flesh pinned back as she roots around inside with forceps searching for discernable organs or storage vessels it might use to hold whatever it takes from its hosts. Another creature is held under an upside down glass jar weighted down by a large stone. A harsh squealing sound seems to be emanating from the jar as the pitch slowly oscillates up and down, presumably checking to see if any audible frequencies cause it to react.
When Nikita enters she looks up, tools dripping purple ichor. The light is momentarily blinding and Meresaa focuses her giant, magnified eyes on the elf. A moment of self-consciousness passes over her before she shakes one leather glove from her hand and pushes back her hood, the trim darkening. She lifts the spectacles to the top of her head and has a quizzical expression.
"'Sagacitas,' you say? I've studied gates between planes to some small extent but not too much about the denizens of those other planes. I feel like I may have read or heard that name before but my memory is a bit spotty..."
Arcana or History (the same modifier): 16 to either recall something that the name might trigger or possibly be able to deduce the etymology of the word...?
Faila smiles encouragingly at Reggie. "I know it's really hard, telling us all of this, when you've been locked up and drugged for it before. It's really brave of you, Reggie. It's important information. I'm sorry that they treated you so poorly at the Temple for it. It's not your fault what's been done to you. And, I think we can help stop it. I think if you could tell us where Prospect is and how to get there, we could figure out a way to get in. There is a whole group of us and this is our job, to figure out what's going on and put a stop to it." Faila feels proud that she can say this, with a sack of way-too-heavy gold coins hanging from her belt to prove it.
"Do you need any help? Are you hungry? Nathaniel can take care of you in the medical tent if you need a safe place to stay while you recover. He's taking care of Billy, the boy that came from Prospect that collapsed out here. We found more worms in him, but we have them contained, so it's safe."
Ermasnietsz - Madame Fortuna claps her hands together breaking the quiet. "I see now that you are able to connect the truths behind the cards,"she says, clearly pleased with your interpretation. "It was my thought that they were interconnected - the artefact, the donjon, and the archmage you reference."
"Find the Broken Man and you will start unlocking the mystery,"she explains. "I have one more thing for you before you leave,"Madame Fortuna fiddles underneath the table and places two smooth stones out in front of her. They are carved in the likeness of a Skurra-vera (the face-painted Skurra you have seen around the Carnival) and fit nicely in the palm of your hand. "These are Skurrasending stones"she explains, "they will allow communication over vast distances. Give one of them to the person you wish to communicate with and speak your message into the stone. Be wary for the stones can only relay one message between them in a day. However, a warning at short notice might make the difference between life... and death." She glances between you and Boyd.
After presenting you with the gift, Madame Fortuna bids you well and beckons for you to leave.
Nikita - "Reggie will do his best... to remember,"Reggie answers. "A heavy, wrought iron fence surrounds her grounds,"he starts, "PROSPECT is written in large iron words above the gates. It was a once-grand, family residence. Though when Reggie and Asha arrived it was not in the best of condition. It had not been lived in for many years."
"That's right Reggie,"his other voice interjects.
"Thanks,"Reggie says sheepishly responding to himself. "It has a glorious ballroom that used to host all sorts of parties."
"Rich folk playing at their games, in their gowns, with their expensive jewellery. Reggie will never know that life!"the other voice says cruelly.
"No, no. Reggie doesn't need that. The ballroom is not in a good state now - all dilapidated." Reggie explains.
"That was not where Reggie spent most of his time, was it?" the other voice says accusatory.
"Correct. Reggie spent most of his time in the Workshop outback. That's where... that's where..." Reggie struggles with the words.
"Where Asha Hawkes created her device, Reggie." The overbearing voice helps out.
"Yesss! Yessss!" Reggie screams, "Yess! Brilliant! That is where the space between planes was weakest. I'll never know how Asha was able to create such a thing. It was truly remarkable!"
"She wasn't remarkable enough to save herself though, was she Reggie?"the voice mocks.
"No. Don't... I can't,"Reggie struggles for words, pining over his lost friend. "Something happened when she went through... a power surge. Reggie and Theodore... Sedgewick. Panicking, hoping to find a way to bring her back. Screams. Existing in two planes simultaneously. I could not help her. Powerless to comprehend what was happening." You get a glimpse into the man Reggie had once been - a scholar with a brilliant mind.
"What have we done?!" Reggie yells, reliving the moment. "Quick Theodore, reroute the power! The rift cannot be maintained." He looks around panicking. "HELP! HELP!"he yells at you, "it's consuming everything. SHUT IT OFF!". He starts frantically mimicking a striking, chopping motion with his hands. "It's too powerful Theo! We must break the connection. I..."
"ENOUGH!"the other voice roars.
Then silence. Reggie retreats into himself. Sitting on the wet ground without saying a word. His eyes wide in terror.
Moments pass. He sits still and strokes at his palsied face lost in thought. "I can't go back," he says after a while, his voice calm and speaking with clarity, "to the gate and no further."
Faila - Reggie looks up at you. "You must free her. I believe Asha can still be saved," as before his voice is seemingly normal as though whatever battle raging in him has briefly subsided. "I can provide you with maps of the way to Prospect and of the general set-up," he explains. "Sedgewick and his cronies are likely to know you are coming," his hands shake, "he has been using that place for the last number of years. Whatever schemes he has hatched are undoubtedly nefarious. I misjudged his ambition, as did Asha."
"The boy yet lives?" Reggie says, relieved. He rubs at his head as though his mind is beginning to cloud once more. "Reggie will go to the medical tent and sleep," he stands up and trudges in the direction of the tent, shoulders slumped.
Given the lack of proper equipment, you are able to do remarkably well when directing the lamprey-like species. As you cut into the creature a fluorescent, glowing, other-worldly fluid leaks out; an ingredient which may be able to be used to illuminate things, perhaps. You are able to tell that the purple ichor is not corrosive but is likely responsible for enabling the creature to be inserted within its target's body. You believe that if your hands were to be coated in the fluid you would likely be able to penetrate peoples skin without leaving any permanent scarring.
It is now abundantly clear to you that this species is not native to Oerth and has been somehow pulled from another dimension/plane.
The barbs along the body of the creature seem to be a defence mechanism as well as assisting with movement/climbing.
You find no storage sacks. Instead, you assume that the creature acts as a sponge of sorts, absorbing other beings' energy directly into its body and retaining it there. You believe it has basic, at best, intelligence and seeks out hosts for sustenance.
((For precise extraction of fluids you would require more advanced equipment.))
History
The name that Asha, Reggie and Theodore came up with to describe the species, Sagacitas, is likely a derivative of sagacious. Likely meaning; "of quick sense perceptions; keen-scented; skilled in following a trail". If you had to theorise, this would be in reference to the species curious ability to hunt out and find a suitable host.
Ermasnietsz quickly picks up the pair of Sending Stones and the cards from her Three-Dragon Ante set that have been placed on the deck. Then she will leave the wagon hurriedly like a wind-up toy that's been released.
"Our opponent is strong. I wonder if we're well-equipped to deal with their organized activities"- she explains to Boyd if he decides to join her outside. She seems troubled by something yet her secretive tendency prevents her from revealing everything to her colleague. In fact, she's trying to figure out if someone has been eavesdropping on the trio by searching for any kind of clue left behind.
The first thing I'm going to buy is a pair of bells, then a coil of silver strings. She's said some of the words aloud inadvertently.
Boyd looks at his companion talking about her strange shopping list, "er, okay. Whatever tickles your fancy." He shakes his head. It must be a wizard thing. He exits the wagon and sees his companions down by the edge of the carnival, talking to a strange man he saw earlier.
He turns to Erma, "Let's go meet up, eh? Maybe we can start making sense of all this."
Meresaa cleans up her workspace, putting the living sagacitas back in the half-frozen jar with the rest. She takes the flayed one out behind the tent and places it on a grassless patch of ground and incinerates it with a fire bolt.
Returning to Nikita, she picks up the jar and say, "I think we should go to the temple. They're likely to be better equipped for this and, from what I've heard, it would do the group good to follow up with some of the clergy there regarding our ongoing mystery."
With that she exits the tent, jar of purple worms in hand, and looks for any of the others who are in sight.
On the way to the others, Boyd stops suddenly and slaps his palm to his face, "Wait a second! I have string and a bell." He pulls some out of a little pocket in his vest and hands them over. "Long day, I completely for- Hey... wait a minute. Did you know I had this? You been reading my mind or something?"He still hands the materials over but narrows his eyes at his spellcaster ally, hoping for a negative answer.
"Nope, I was checking out the contents and features of your character sheet and discovered these items."
(Nevermind)
Ermasnietsz watches the offered items with bulging eyes that looks really peculiar. But the expression is immediately concealed by realization of the fact that she'd failed to keep something secret. She'd said something aloud accidentally and Boyd deserves an explanation:"My superiors in Faerûn and Kara-Tur were expert scouts or assassins. They would always find those items quite handy along with hunting traps and hourglass. So, I assumed you'd have these too."
She accepts the items but decides to return these immediately since she doesn't need any of it.
"I'd help them to keep track of time and restore balance by neutralizing instances of disadvantage. Pack-tactics. Zhents like to follow pack-tactics. We'd need that too."
"That's a great idea, Reggie," Faila says. "You get some sleep, and we'll get a map and information from you about Prospect when you're rested. Here, I'll come with you, my friends are there now. We'll get this mystery solved, and we'll try to save Asha too." Faila walks alone with Reggie approaching the tent, in time to see Meresaa exiting with a jar of purple worms. She feels her throat dry out seeing the worms in the jar, and swallows hard. Despite what she's seen them do, Faila is acclimating to them enough by now that she doesn't feel out of control with fear. She just feels her skin crawling.
"Hi, Meresaa,"she says, trying to look at her friend and not at the jar of worms. "Were you able to find anything else out about them? We met this fellow, Reggie, and he's going to tell us how to get to Prospect. From what he says, I think Prospect is where all of this is leading us."
Faila takes a moment to go into the tent with Reggie to introduce him to Nathaniel. "Hello Father, this is Reggie,"she says. "He needs some help, but he's been treated badly at the Temple. They've only tried to treat his symptoms... his symptoms? His mental problems are caused by tortures and torments, and too much magical contact with another plane, not an unbalanced or feeble mind. He was used in experiments with these worms, so be careful to keep them away from him. He is not always coherent, but he remembers a lot of important information for us to solve this mystery. Please don't be worried about his mental state and drug him. He just needs rest, and safety and understanding, so that he can recover."
Faila - You explain the situation to Nathaniel. He seems to show upset when you talk about the misdeeds of the Temple. The ex-Priest mentions that Dr Cavendish always seemed to be an able physician and that Reggie must have been mistaken about the poor treatment he received. Nonetheless, Nathaniel promises not to provide any tonics or draughts to Reggie.
As the evening sets in the group reconvenes, sharing any information gained over the course of the day. The skurra, without instruction, start bringing you all sorts of foods; from stews, to curries, to roasted meats. The cuisine is delicious though highly spiced. Many of the skurra seem more talkative now, especially given the help the party gave to Billy.
Isolde and Tindal briefly drop by to see how everyone is getting on. Although the skurra seem to be settling down for the day the Carnival is otherwise in full swing. Toska and a number of other acts from the troupers' gallery are starting to congregate near the big tent in the centre of the Carnival, preparing for the evening shows.
Nikita tries to ask the party to consult privately as a group to share everything they have learned over the course of the day, but naturally, that only works to the extent other party members are willing. Nikita is in favor of giving all of the information, at least in broad strokes, to Lady Isolde.
Nikita eats modestly, with appreciation of its quality, but not enjoyment, as her gut is churning. Esther Freyn, and Asha Hawkes for that matter, are still captive as we sit and enjoy this meal.
When Lady Isolde visits, again she would try to find a spot for a private audience with her and the party (not Tindal) to summarize all the findings, but highlighting, if the rest of the party are agreeable to it: - The evidence pointing at 'Prospect' and Theodore Sedgewick and his crew being responsible, and the hold mansion being a place where a gate to another plane may exist. - Deferring to Meresaa and Faila, but describing the nature of the Sagacitas as the (or at least one) source of the illness befalling the Carnival.
These are the main tasks of their given mission, in order, as she recalls it: first who is responsible and second, a cure. So she spends time focusing on those. She tells herself that it's not just because she wants to spend more time standing next to Lady Isolde.
Ermasnietsz refuses to eat or drink anything even though she seems to be exhausted. She sits at a corner where there's enough shadow to mask her expression as well as make it difficult for others to discern the movement of her eyes. She is either bored or lethargic because of the presence of large crowd, remaining silent most of the time when other people converse with each other.
When she watches Lady Isolde appearing within the immediate vicinity, she leaves her favorite corner and stands before the employer:
"Lady Isolde, you've heard everything from my colleague. We found the culprit and Father Nathaniel has the cure. Mission accomplished."
Faila puts her skurra cloak on again as she leaves the tent---the surrounding temperature is getting a bit frosty. She pauses for a moment gazing at the lengthening shadows, as if in contemplation. As she does so, she seems for a moment suffused in a very localized weather effect, manifesting only right over her head. (Druidcraft to predict the weather in the area for the next 24 hours, which DM can decide the information in the spell.)
As the group reconvenes with the skurra, Faila sees the many types of food being brought, and her eyes grow very large. The mad adrenaline of the day's hunt, chase, and fight kept her in her usual ready state of not considering food, but as for any good creature of nature, when food is available, it will be eaten. The underfed Faila takes helpings of any and all dishes offered to her, and second helpings, and third helpings, devouring them in record speed. Where is all of that food going? As her eating finally slows down a bit, she laughs and smiles with the skurra and her companions, although she doesn't talk much.
It is with reluctance that she joins her companions in talking to Lady Isolde, sleepy and full of food like a python having devoured its enormous weekly meal. However, the conversation quickly gets her attention, and she energetically fills in everything she knows and saw about the worms and their victims. In particular, she relays the things that she learned from Reggie, including his broken state of mind. "I think we must go to Prospect, to stop this," she concludes. Perhaps Lady Isolde will take it from here, or perhaps she will ask for their help to continue. Faila finds herself more than ready, a determined glint in her young eyes and her feet planted solidly despite the seeming weakness of her thin frame.
“Food finally!” Nick is clearly excited for the gastronomy of it all. The astute may see the way he eats is like someone who has experienced starvation before.
…
Nick decides to sing over some refreshments:
”there once was a town with terrible luck,
they found themselves bound to veritable cluck
strangers and rangers all prodding along,
Forgetinng that life is a love giving song:
Oh how the mountains sing!
oh for the love the simple things!
where May we fly if we refuse to die?
Lice of the gambler, with god rolling die(d20) !”
…
he returns to silence after his rambling song, wondering what the morrow will bring…
”so let’s compare notes…summations and conclusions welcome! Problems are only only problems if you suggest a solution, otherwise they’re just…STYLE !” Nick winks at the group….
”here’s what I’ve got, and I’ll keep it snappy.. unless you want me to make it long winded?…
he has his magehand snap it’s fingers as he says snappy, and he stands up and twosts his hip and ass forward as he suggests being long winded…
… there is a conspiracy about, and if we push ourselves like a thorn into it, it’ll eventually fall apart in front of us, like breaking bread…” he imitates breaking a loaf in two, “I mean, this isn’t rocket science!” Nick blasts a few Eldritch blasts into the sky as fireworks.
…
“dinner AND a show! What more could yah want.” Nick grins from ear to ear, and sits down to finish his meal, he looks around for reaction, and enjoys the company of those that enjoyed the show, as well those who have conclusions to share, (as opposed to not minutia and additional complexities)
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Nikita mentally repeats Reggie's final words with a sinking feeling. 'If Reggie knows, Sedgewick knows.'
She wants to make 100% sure with Reggie that he doesn't remember Thomas Dolan or any of the other Council members or candidates being part of the Sanguine Cabal. But now she doesn't want to ask anything further and will just hope that if they were part of it, Reggie would have mentioned them.
"Thank you Reggie Clover. I promise I, at least, will do what I can. If Sedgewick knows what you know, perhaps you shouldn't be the one to lead us there. Could you just describe the location, appearance, entrances, any other basic information? Faila, did you have any other questions for Reggie?"
If the conversation wraps up, Nikita will first make sure Reggie is taken care of if he needs food (rations) or water, leaving him in Faila's hands if necessary. She will then go back to the medical tent to let Meresaa know (trying to be as concise as possible) about the above full conversation with Reggie. Most specifically, regarding the parasites:
"Lady Meresaa - he called them Sagacitas. From another plane. Parasites that drain life energy but specifically can give it back as well, potentially to someone else than the drainee."
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
Meresaa is hunched over the table in the medical tent, an odd set of spectacles on her face with multiple hinged lenses. The hood of her robe is pulled up just out of her periphery and the trim glows brightly, casting enough light to see her subject of study clearly. One of the creatures is flayed out on the table, flesh pinned back as she roots around inside with forceps searching for discernable organs or storage vessels it might use to hold whatever it takes from its hosts. Another creature is held under an upside down glass jar weighted down by a large stone. A harsh squealing sound seems to be emanating from the jar as the pitch slowly oscillates up and down, presumably checking to see if any audible frequencies cause it to react.
Nature: 11
When Nikita enters she looks up, tools dripping purple ichor. The light is momentarily blinding and Meresaa focuses her giant, magnified eyes on the elf. A moment of self-consciousness passes over her before she shakes one leather glove from her hand and pushes back her hood, the trim darkening. She lifts the spectacles to the top of her head and has a quizzical expression.
"'Sagacitas,' you say? I've studied gates between planes to some small extent but not too much about the denizens of those other planes. I feel like I may have read or heard that name before but my memory is a bit spotty..."
Arcana or History (the same modifier): 16 to either recall something that the name might trigger or possibly be able to deduce the etymology of the word...?
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Neria Tallfellow (Halfling Rogue) - Curse of the Crimson Throne with Ashen_Age
Faila smiles encouragingly at Reggie. "I know it's really hard, telling us all of this, when you've been locked up and drugged for it before. It's really brave of you, Reggie. It's important information. I'm sorry that they treated you so poorly at the Temple for it. It's not your fault what's been done to you. And, I think we can help stop it. I think if you could tell us where Prospect is and how to get there, we could figure out a way to get in. There is a whole group of us and this is our job, to figure out what's going on and put a stop to it." Faila feels proud that she can say this, with a sack of way-too-heavy gold coins hanging from her belt to prove it.
"Do you need any help? Are you hungry? Nathaniel can take care of you in the medical tent if you need a safe place to stay while you recover. He's taking care of Billy, the boy that came from Prospect that collapsed out here. We found more worms in him, but we have them contained, so it's safe."
Madame Fortuna's Wagon (Boyd & Ermasnietsz)
Ermasnietsz - Madame Fortuna claps her hands together breaking the quiet. "I see now that you are able to connect the truths behind the cards," she says, clearly pleased with your interpretation. "It was my thought that they were interconnected - the artefact, the donjon, and the archmage you reference."
"Find the Broken Man and you will start unlocking the mystery," she explains. "I have one more thing for you before you leave," Madame Fortuna fiddles underneath the table and places two smooth stones out in front of her. They are carved in the likeness of a Skurra-vera (the face-painted Skurra you have seen around the Carnival) and fit nicely in the palm of your hand. "These are Skurra sending stones" she explains, "they will allow communication over vast distances. Give one of them to the person you wish to communicate with and speak your message into the stone. Be wary for the stones can only relay one message between them in a day. However, a warning at short notice might make the difference between life... and death." She glances between you and Boyd.
After presenting you with the gift, Madame Fortuna bids you well and beckons for you to leave.
DM - The Call of Strahd (CoS); Feyrealm Campaign, Chapter 0 - Bleak Prospect (BP), Chapter 1 - Destination Unknown (DU)
Carnival Periphery (Faila & Nikita)
Nikita - "Reggie will do his best... to remember," Reggie answers. "A heavy, wrought iron fence surrounds her grounds," he starts, "PROSPECT is written in large iron words above the gates. It was a once-grand, family residence. Though when Reggie and Asha arrived it was not in the best of condition. It had not been lived in for many years."
"That's right Reggie," his other voice interjects.
"Thanks," Reggie says sheepishly responding to himself. "It has a glorious ballroom that used to host all sorts of parties."
"Rich folk playing at their games, in their gowns, with their expensive jewellery. Reggie will never know that life!" the other voice says cruelly.
"No, no. Reggie doesn't need that. The ballroom is not in a good state now - all dilapidated." Reggie explains.
"That was not where Reggie spent most of his time, was it?" the other voice says accusatory.
"Correct. Reggie spent most of his time in the Workshop outback. That's where... that's where..." Reggie struggles with the words.
"Where Asha Hawkes created her device, Reggie." The overbearing voice helps out.
"Yesss! Yessss!" Reggie screams, "Yess! Brilliant! That is where the space between planes was weakest. I'll never know how Asha was able to create such a thing. It was truly remarkable!"
"She wasn't remarkable enough to save herself though, was she Reggie?" the voice mocks.
"No. Don't... I can't," Reggie struggles for words, pining over his lost friend. "Something happened when she went through... a power surge. Reggie and Theodore... Sedgewick. Panicking, hoping to find a way to bring her back. Screams. Existing in two planes simultaneously. I could not help her. Powerless to comprehend what was happening." You get a glimpse into the man Reggie had once been - a scholar with a brilliant mind.
"What have we done?!" Reggie yells, reliving the moment. "Quick Theodore, reroute the power! The rift cannot be maintained." He looks around panicking. "HELP! HELP!" he yells at you, "it's consuming everything. SHUT IT OFF!". He starts frantically mimicking a striking, chopping motion with his hands. "It's too powerful Theo! We must break the connection. I..."
"ENOUGH!" the other voice roars.
Then silence. Reggie retreats into himself. Sitting on the wet ground without saying a word. His eyes wide in terror.
Moments pass. He sits still and strokes at his palsied face lost in thought. "I can't go back," he says after a while, his voice calm and speaking with clarity, "to the gate and no further."
Faila - Reggie looks up at you. "You must free her. I believe Asha can still be saved," as before his voice is seemingly normal as though whatever battle raging in him has briefly subsided. "I can provide you with maps of the way to Prospect and of the general set-up," he explains. "Sedgewick and his cronies are likely to know you are coming," his hands shake, "he has been using that place for the last number of years. Whatever schemes he has hatched are undoubtedly nefarious. I misjudged his ambition, as did Asha."
"The boy yet lives?" Reggie says, relieved. He rubs at his head as though his mind is beginning to cloud once more. "Reggie will go to the medical tent and sleep," he stands up and trudges in the direction of the tent, shoulders slumped.
DM - The Call of Strahd (CoS); Feyrealm Campaign, Chapter 0 - Bleak Prospect (BP), Chapter 1 - Destination Unknown (DU)
Medical Tent (Meresaa)
Meresaa's Nature & History checks:
Nature:
Given the lack of proper equipment, you are able to do remarkably well when directing the lamprey-like species. As you cut into the creature a fluorescent, glowing, other-worldly fluid leaks out; an ingredient which may be able to be used to illuminate things, perhaps. You are able to tell that the purple ichor is not corrosive but is likely responsible for enabling the creature to be inserted within its target's body. You believe that if your hands were to be coated in the fluid you would likely be able to penetrate peoples skin without leaving any permanent scarring.
It is now abundantly clear to you that this species is not native to Oerth and has been somehow pulled from another dimension/plane.
The barbs along the body of the creature seem to be a defence mechanism as well as assisting with movement/climbing.
You find no storage sacks. Instead, you assume that the creature acts as a sponge of sorts, absorbing other beings' energy directly into its body and retaining it there. You believe it has basic, at best, intelligence and seeks out hosts for sustenance.
((For precise extraction of fluids you would require more advanced equipment.))
History
The name that Asha, Reggie and Theodore came up with to describe the species, Sagacitas, is likely a derivative of sagacious. Likely meaning; "of quick sense perceptions; keen-scented; skilled in following a trail". If you had to theorise, this would be in reference to the species curious ability to hunt out and find a suitable host.
DM - The Call of Strahd (CoS); Feyrealm Campaign, Chapter 0 - Bleak Prospect (BP), Chapter 1 - Destination Unknown (DU)
Ermasnietsz quickly picks up the pair of Sending Stones and the cards from her Three-Dragon Ante set that have been placed on the deck. Then she will leave the wagon hurriedly like a wind-up toy that's been released.
"Our opponent is strong. I wonder if we're well-equipped to deal with their organized activities"- she explains to Boyd if he decides to join her outside. She seems troubled by something yet her secretive tendency prevents her from revealing everything to her colleague. In fact, she's trying to figure out if someone has been eavesdropping on the trio by searching for any kind of clue left behind.
The first thing I'm going to buy is a pair of bells, then a coil of silver strings. She's said some of the words aloud inadvertently.
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 looks at his companion talking about her strange shopping list, "er, okay. Whatever tickles your fancy." He shakes his head. It must be a wizard thing. He exits the wagon and sees his companions down by the edge of the carnival, talking to a strange man he saw earlier.
He turns to Erma, "Let's go meet up, eh? Maybe we can start making sense of all this."
Meresaa cleans up her workspace, putting the living sagacitas back in the half-frozen jar with the rest. She takes the flayed one out behind the tent and places it on a grassless patch of ground and incinerates it with a fire bolt.
Returning to Nikita, she picks up the jar and say, "I think we should go to the temple. They're likely to be better equipped for this and, from what I've heard, it would do the group good to follow up with some of the clergy there regarding our ongoing mystery."
With that she exits the tent, jar of purple worms in hand, and looks for any of the others who are in sight.
Characters currently being ruined on this forum:
Neria Tallfellow (Halfling Rogue) - Curse of the Crimson Throne with Ashen_Age
Ermasnietsz abandons the task of investigating the exterior of the wagon and follows the lead of Boyd.
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
“Fire! Fire! We finally gonna eat some dinner?”
Nick claps at the display, then stands up from cloudwatch daydreaming and brushes off his clothes with mage hand, walking toward the others.
On the way to the others, Boyd stops suddenly and slaps his palm to his face, "Wait a second! I have string and a bell." He pulls some out of a little pocket in his vest and hands them over. "Long day, I completely for- Hey... wait a minute. Did you know I had this? You been reading my mind or something?" He still hands the materials over but narrows his eyes at his spellcaster ally, hoping for a negative answer.
"Nope, I was checking out the contents and features of your character sheet and discovered these items."
(Nevermind)
Ermasnietsz watches the offered items with bulging eyes that looks really peculiar. But the expression is immediately concealed by realization of the fact that she'd failed to keep something secret. She'd said something aloud accidentally and Boyd deserves an explanation:"My superiors in Faerûn and Kara-Tur were expert scouts or assassins. They would always find those items quite handy along with hunting traps and hourglass. So, I assumed you'd have these too."
She accepts the items but decides to return these immediately since she doesn't need any of it.
"I'd help them to keep track of time and restore balance by neutralizing instances of disadvantage. Pack-tactics. Zhents like to follow pack-tactics. We'd need that too."
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
"That's a great idea, Reggie," Faila says. "You get some sleep, and we'll get a map and information from you about Prospect when you're rested. Here, I'll come with you, my friends are there now. We'll get this mystery solved, and we'll try to save Asha too." Faila walks alone with Reggie approaching the tent, in time to see Meresaa exiting with a jar of purple worms. She feels her throat dry out seeing the worms in the jar, and swallows hard. Despite what she's seen them do, Faila is acclimating to them enough by now that she doesn't feel out of control with fear. She just feels her skin crawling.
"Hi, Meresaa," she says, trying to look at her friend and not at the jar of worms. "Were you able to find anything else out about them? We met this fellow, Reggie, and he's going to tell us how to get to Prospect. From what he says, I think Prospect is where all of this is leading us."
Faila takes a moment to go into the tent with Reggie to introduce him to Nathaniel. "Hello Father, this is Reggie," she says. "He needs some help, but he's been treated badly at the Temple. They've only tried to treat his symptoms... his symptoms? His mental problems are caused by tortures and torments, and too much magical contact with another plane, not an unbalanced or feeble mind. He was used in experiments with these worms, so be careful to keep them away from him. He is not always coherent, but he remembers a lot of important information for us to solve this mystery. Please don't be worried about his mental state and drug him. He just needs rest, and safety and understanding, so that he can recover."
Faila - You explain the situation to Nathaniel. He seems to show upset when you talk about the misdeeds of the Temple. The ex-Priest mentions that Dr Cavendish always seemed to be an able physician and that Reggie must have been mistaken about the poor treatment he received. Nonetheless, Nathaniel promises not to provide any tonics or draughts to Reggie.
DM - The Call of Strahd (CoS); Feyrealm Campaign, Chapter 0 - Bleak Prospect (BP), Chapter 1 - Destination Unknown (DU)
Carnival - Skurra Wagons
As the evening sets in the group reconvenes, sharing any information gained over the course of the day. The skurra, without instruction, start bringing you all sorts of foods; from stews, to curries, to roasted meats. The cuisine is delicious though highly spiced. Many of the skurra seem more talkative now, especially given the help the party gave to Billy.
Isolde and Tindal briefly drop by to see how everyone is getting on. Although the skurra seem to be settling down for the day the Carnival is otherwise in full swing. Toska and a number of other acts from the troupers' gallery are starting to congregate near the big tent in the centre of the Carnival, preparing for the evening shows.
DM - The Call of Strahd (CoS); Feyrealm Campaign, Chapter 0 - Bleak Prospect (BP), Chapter 1 - Destination Unknown (DU)
Nikita tries to ask the party to consult privately as a group to share everything they have learned over the course of the day, but naturally, that only works to the extent other party members are willing. Nikita is in favor of giving all of the information, at least in broad strokes, to Lady Isolde.
Nikita eats modestly, with appreciation of its quality, but not enjoyment, as her gut is churning. Esther Freyn, and Asha Hawkes for that matter, are still captive as we sit and enjoy this meal.
When Lady Isolde visits, again she would try to find a spot for a private audience with her and the party (not Tindal) to summarize all the findings, but highlighting, if the rest of the party are agreeable to it:
- The evidence pointing at 'Prospect' and Theodore Sedgewick and his crew being responsible, and the hold mansion being a place where a gate to another plane may exist.
- Deferring to Meresaa and Faila, but describing the nature of the Sagacitas as the (or at least one) source of the illness befalling the Carnival.
These are the main tasks of their given mission, in order, as she recalls it: first who is responsible and second, a cure. So she spends time focusing on those. She tells herself that it's not just because she wants to spend more time standing next to Lady Isolde.
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 refuses to eat or drink anything even though she seems to be exhausted. She sits at a corner where there's enough shadow to mask her expression as well as make it difficult for others to discern the movement of her eyes. She is either bored or lethargic because of the presence of large crowd, remaining silent most of the time when other people converse with each other.
When she watches Lady Isolde appearing within the immediate vicinity, she leaves her favorite corner and stands before the employer:
"Lady Isolde, you've heard everything from my colleague. We found the culprit and Father Nathaniel has the cure. Mission accomplished."
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
Faila puts her skurra cloak on again as she leaves the tent---the surrounding temperature is getting a bit frosty. She pauses for a moment gazing at the lengthening shadows, as if in contemplation. As she does so, she seems for a moment suffused in a very localized weather effect, manifesting only right over her head. (Druidcraft to predict the weather in the area for the next 24 hours, which DM can decide the information in the spell.)
As the group reconvenes with the skurra, Faila sees the many types of food being brought, and her eyes grow very large. The mad adrenaline of the day's hunt, chase, and fight kept her in her usual ready state of not considering food, but as for any good creature of nature, when food is available, it will be eaten. The underfed Faila takes helpings of any and all dishes offered to her, and second helpings, and third helpings, devouring them in record speed. Where is all of that food going? As her eating finally slows down a bit, she laughs and smiles with the skurra and her companions, although she doesn't talk much.
It is with reluctance that she joins her companions in talking to Lady Isolde, sleepy and full of food like a python having devoured its enormous weekly meal. However, the conversation quickly gets her attention, and she energetically fills in everything she knows and saw about the worms and their victims. In particular, she relays the things that she learned from Reggie, including his broken state of mind. "I think we must go to Prospect, to stop this," she concludes. Perhaps Lady Isolde will take it from here, or perhaps she will ask for their help to continue. Faila finds herself more than ready, a determined glint in her young eyes and her feet planted solidly despite the seeming weakness of her thin frame.
“Food finally!” Nick is clearly excited for the gastronomy of it all. The astute may see the way he eats is like someone who has experienced starvation before.
…
Nick decides to sing over some refreshments:
”there once was a town with terrible luck,
they found themselves bound to veritable cluck
strangers and rangers all prodding along,
Forgetinng that life is a love giving song:
Oh how the mountains sing!
oh for the love the simple things!
where May we fly if we refuse to die?
Lice of the gambler, with god rolling die(d20) !”
…
he returns to silence after his rambling song, wondering what the morrow will bring…
”so let’s compare notes…summations and conclusions welcome! Problems are only only problems if you suggest a solution, otherwise they’re just…STYLE !” Nick winks at the group….
”here’s what I’ve got, and I’ll keep it snappy.. unless you want me to make it long winded?…
he has his magehand snap it’s fingers as he says snappy, and he stands up and twosts his hip and ass forward as he suggests being long winded…
… there is a conspiracy about, and if we push ourselves like a thorn into it, it’ll eventually fall apart in front of us, like breaking bread…” he imitates breaking a loaf in two, “I mean, this isn’t rocket science!” Nick blasts a few Eldritch blasts into the sky as fireworks.
…
“dinner AND a show! What more could yah want.” Nick grins from ear to ear, and sits down to finish his meal, he looks around for reaction, and enjoys the company of those that enjoyed the show, as well those who have conclusions to share, (as opposed to not minutia and additional complexities)