With a plan in mind the party heads up the spiral stairs to B7
The walls of this dank hallway are covered with scores of portraits depicting grumpy, sad, frightened, and angry people. The figures include humans, elves, halflings, bullywugs, and goblins, among others. The portraits are rendered in a variety of mediums, including paintings, etchings, and sketches. All are displayed in gaudy, gilded frames.
A framed oval mirror two feet wide and five feet tall hangs in the middle of one wall.
Val and Finley remembers there is a secret door behind the mirror that opens to B9.
B9
A moldy scent hangs in the air in this dark, L-shaped hallway.
By the time Aoife is at the end of B9 she is 1/20th of her original size. There she sees the mouse door that leads to underneath the potions cabinet.
A framed oval mirror two feet wide and five feet tall hangs in the middle of one wall.
Val and Finley remembers there is a secret door behind the mirror that opens to B9.
Valrieth takes her notebook out of her backpack and checks her notes. She opens the secret door by looking into the mirror and saying the password: "Bandersnatch."
Before Aoifegoes that way, Val tells her to wait in the hallway and not to go through the "little mouse door" into the parlor (B10) until she hears that Finley and Val have made it into the room. Once she leaves the hallway, Aoife will return to her regular size after about 1 minute. She says, "Once Finley and I are in the room and talking to Bavlorna, her attention should be on us. Then you can sneak into the room and find a place where you can remain hidden even after you return to your normal size. The hag was wicked, but she was fundamentally lazy. I don't think that she'll attack us right away."
The door to B10 is closed and locked.
Now that Aoife is heading into the L-shaped hallway, Val will need to help Finley carry the portrait into Bavlorna's parlor. She tries to open the door for him but finds that it's locked. Val frowns. They didn't want to give Bavlorna too much warning of their arrival, but maybe now is the right time to announce their presence. Or perhaps they should maintain their secrecy for as long as possible.
Since she cannot whisper, Val looks at Finley and raises her eyebrows questioningly. She pantomimes knocking on the door and then she pantomimes looking at the keyhole and picking the lock. She looks to Finley to see what he wants to do. Once he decides, Val will cast Guidance on him. If he's picking the lock, that will help ensure that they can get into the room. If he decides to knock, they may find that they need to persuade or intimidate the hag into upholding her end of the bargain. (Val will help Finley in any negotiations, but she'll let him drive the conversation since it's his heart that's at risk.)
Finley scratches his beard and holds up his lockpicks and nods, before looking around for any traps
(OOC: IIRC, @weathervision asks for a Perception check when checking for traps. If that's true, Valrieth can check the door and lock for traps first, casting Guidance on herself.)
Valrieth checks the door for traps with a +2 from Guidance: Perception: Unable to parse dice roll.
Finely finds no traps but the lock does not budge.
Valrieth shrugs in a resigned sort of way. Sometimes Destiny doesn't take the path you hope!
Val looks at Finley questioningly and points back at the secret door to the L-shaped hallway. She wonders whether they should try following Aoife down the L-shaped hallway and enter B10 through the mouse-sized door there. But Val is inclined to stop sneaking around and just knock on the door. She thinks that they're close to Bavlorna now, and since they're already in the house, it shouldn't give the hag much time to prepare before they find her. She raises her hand to knock and looks to Finley to see whether he heads toward the L-shaped hallway instead.
Finley motions to knock on the door with a nod and a thumbs up.
Valrieth nods. She takes a deep breath as she checks to make sure that she has all of her critical gear handy and ready for a fight in case they're immediately attacked. She holds her shield in her left arm, and she raises her right hand. Then, knocking soundly on the door, she calls out loudly, "Bavlorna Brightshaw?! There's one here who returns in fulfillment of a bargain with you! We ask you to let us in and honor your side of the bargain!" Then she steps back from the door and gets ready to attack with Produce Flame if anything attacks them.
You hear a soft click and then the door swings open. Sitting in her chair is Bavlorna BlightStraw. In a horrid gurgling voice "Come into my den and let me see this painting." As you enter you notice on the other chair is a doll 3ft in height made of scrap cloths and taxidermy parts that when looked at a second time resembles Octavian.
You hear a soft click and then the door swings open. Sitting in her chair is Bavlorna BlightStraw. In a horrid gurgling voice "Come into my den and let me see this painting." As you enter you notice on the other chair is a doll 3ft in height made of scrap cloths and taxidermy parts that when looked at a second time resembles Octavian.
(OOC: @Weathervision - I don't remember which chair is Bavlorna's. Is she sitting in the red chair or on the greenish sofa in B10?)
Valrieth helps Finley carry the portrait into Bavlorna's parlor (B10). She says loudly, as though Bavlorna is hard-of-hearing, "OK. We're bringing in the portrait now." Really, it's for Aoife's benefit so that she knows that Finley and Val are now in the room with Bavlorna.
Val nods and says, "Set it down over there where she can really get a look at it." She directs Finley to prop the portrait up against the long cupboard or bookcase on the east side of the room. (She hopes that the portrait keeps Bavlorna's attention away from the west side of the room as Aoife sneaks into the room.)
Then Val tries to step back, away from both the painting and Finley, leaving Finley closer to the hag to finalize his bargain, as Val steps close to the chair with the Octavian doll. Val's breath catches as she realizes the resemblance, and she wonders whether Bavlorna killed Octavian or whether this is just a copy that she's using to wriggle out of the bargain. Val's lips purse tightly, and Finley recognizes the subtle expression as Val starting to get really angry.
Then Val says, with forced calm and politeness, "We heard that Octavian was taken here to your home. Is he nearby? Shall I go get him?" She looks around the room and at the doors and staircase, pointed ignoring the doll, as though she's looking for Octavian.
Really, Val is looking around the room and listening for any of Bavlorna's minions, like the little miniature copies of the hag that she and Finley saw the last time they were here.Perception: 13
Val sees 4 Lornlings. 2 on top on the potion's cabinet and 2 on the shelf with the broken dinnerware.
Bavlorna gives Val a wicked grin and looks at the doll then back to Val "Yes Octavian is nearby"
She scrutinizes the painting "Indeed this is what I asked for and I will honor my bargain." She looks to Finely "You are free of this bargain and your heart is still yours for now"
(OOC: Thanks! That puts Val over next to the red chair, which I don't love, but at least that means that Bavlorna is definitely facing away from the potions cabinet where Aoife will be entering the room. Now we just need to stall for 1 minute so that Aoife can get into the room, hide, and return to her regular size.)
Bavlorna then says "You may leave now unless you wish to strike another bargain?"
Valrieth says, "Not so fast! That was only part of the bargain!" She speaks slowly now, and distinctly, as though she's trying to make sure that she's not misunderstood. She taps her foot in a soft, steady rhythm and tries to keep count on the fingers of her shield hand while she talks. Really, she's just trying to take enough time and count off the seconds until Aoife can return to her normal size. "Finley would only lose his heart if he failed to return with the portrait in time. But you promised to restore Octavian's heart to him -- working just like before you took it -- in exchange for the portrait. Since Finley did deliver the portrait in time, we expect that you will honor your side of the bargain. Shall we fetch the cold chest for you? Then one where you've been keeping Octavian's heart?"
Val sees 4 Lornlings. 2 on top on the potion's cabinet and 2 on the shelf with the broken dinnerware. Bavlorna gives Val a wicked grin and looks at the doll then back to Val "Yes Octavian is nearby"
Val looks around again hopefully but dreading the answer to her next question, "And what did you mean by 'Octavian is nearby'? Do you...you don't mean this...this doll, do you? I mean, where's the real Octavian?"
Bavlorna smiles "Yes that doll is the real Octavian" a flick of her finger summons the frozen box which she opens revealing a frozen heart. She lifts it in her hand and gives it a hard squeeze causing it to beat again. She stands and moves to the doll opening its chest revealing swamp reeds, crow feathers, and dried flesh. She places the heart inside, and another flick sews shut the chest.
The dolls misshapen eyes flicker open and trembling as it looks down to its body and there is a look of absolute horror on the dolls face. It then looks to Val trying to say something, but the words would not come out. Is it free me or kill me? you are not sure.
"Aye, me footsteps aren't as loud but it'd be best if'n ye get a good luck ahead, tiny as a mouse." Finley chuckles.
Finley Stoneshaft, Dwarf Artificer - The Wild Beyond the Witchlight, Falkas, Half-Elf Drow Warlock - Keys of Empire
With a plan in mind the party heads up the spiral stairs to B7
The walls of this dank hallway are covered with scores of portraits depicting grumpy, sad, frightened, and angry people. The figures include humans, elves, halflings, bullywugs, and goblins, among others. The portraits are rendered in a variety of mediums, including paintings, etchings, and sketches. All are displayed in gaudy, gilded frames.
A framed oval mirror two feet wide and five feet tall hangs in the middle of one wall.
Val and Finley remembers there is a secret door behind the mirror that opens to B9.
B9
A moldy scent hangs in the air in this dark, L-shaped hallway.
By the time Aoife is at the end of B9 she is 1/20th of her original size. There she sees the mouse door that leads to underneath the potions cabinet.
The door to B10 is closed and locked.
Valrieth takes her notebook out of her backpack and checks her notes. She opens the secret door by looking into the mirror and saying the password: "Bandersnatch."
Before Aoife goes that way, Val tells her to wait in the hallway and not to go through the "little mouse door" into the parlor (B10) until she hears that Finley and Val have made it into the room. Once she leaves the hallway, Aoife will return to her regular size after about 1 minute. She says, "Once Finley and I are in the room and talking to Bavlorna, her attention should be on us. Then you can sneak into the room and find a place where you can remain hidden even after you return to your normal size. The hag was wicked, but she was fundamentally lazy. I don't think that she'll attack us right away."
Now that Aoife is heading into the L-shaped hallway, Val will need to help Finley carry the portrait into Bavlorna's parlor. She tries to open the door for him but finds that it's locked. Val frowns. They didn't want to give Bavlorna too much warning of their arrival, but maybe now is the right time to announce their presence. Or perhaps they should maintain their secrecy for as long as possible.
Since she cannot whisper, Val looks at Finley and raises her eyebrows questioningly. She pantomimes knocking on the door and then she pantomimes looking at the keyhole and picking the lock. She looks to Finley to see what he wants to do. Once he decides, Val will cast Guidance on him. If he's picking the lock, that will help ensure that they can get into the room. If he decides to knock, they may find that they need to persuade or intimidate the hag into upholding her end of the bargain. (Val will help Finley in any negotiations, but she'll let him drive the conversation since it's his heart that's at risk.)
Finley scratches his beard and holds up his lockpicks and nods, before looking around for any traps and then going to work on the lock.
(Investigation: 17, Lockpick: 12)
Finley Stoneshaft, Dwarf Artificer - The Wild Beyond the Witchlight, Falkas, Half-Elf Drow Warlock - Keys of Empire
Finely finds no traps but the lock does not budge.
(OOC: IIRC, @weathervision asks for a Perception check when checking for traps. If that's true, Valrieth can check the door and lock for traps first, casting Guidance on herself.)
Valrieth checks the door for traps with a +2 from Guidance: Perception: Unable to parse dice roll.
Valrieth shrugs in a resigned sort of way. Sometimes Destiny doesn't take the path you hope!
Val looks at Finley questioningly and points back at the secret door to the L-shaped hallway. She wonders whether they should try following Aoife down the L-shaped hallway and enter B10 through the mouse-sized door there. But Val is inclined to stop sneaking around and just knock on the door. She thinks that they're close to Bavlorna now, and since they're already in the house, it shouldn't give the hag much time to prepare before they find her. She raises her hand to knock and looks to Finley to see whether he heads toward the L-shaped hallway instead.
Aoife creeps down the hallway and waits at the mouse door, very very stealthily. (Stealth 18)
She looks back at the others to see what is happening.
Past characters:
Cariadne - Forest of Celador
Daphyra Fuffletail - The City of Cats
DM - Geek Legends - Wild beyond the Witchlight
Leela Steadystone - Adventures in the Sands
Mirri Goldenhorn - Journeys through the Radiant Citadel
Lola Smythe-Whyte - Larkin Expedition
Daphyra - Deathworld: Lost Mine of Phandelver
Vanja - Binder's Hold and the Problem with the Mine
Finley motions to knock on the door with a nod and a thumbs up.
Finley Stoneshaft, Dwarf Artificer - The Wild Beyond the Witchlight, Falkas, Half-Elf Drow Warlock - Keys of Empire
Valrieth nods. She takes a deep breath as she checks to make sure that she has all of her critical gear handy and ready for a fight in case they're immediately attacked. She holds her shield in her left arm, and she raises her right hand. Then, knocking soundly on the door, she calls out loudly, "Bavlorna Brightshaw?! There's one here who returns in fulfillment of a bargain with you! We ask you to let us in and honor your side of the bargain!" Then she steps back from the door and gets ready to attack with Produce Flame if anything attacks them.
You hear a soft click and then the door swings open. Sitting in her chair is Bavlorna BlightStraw. In a horrid gurgling voice "Come into my den and let me see this painting." As you enter you notice on the other chair is a doll 3ft in height made of scrap cloths and taxidermy parts that when looked at a second time resembles Octavian.
(OOC: @Weathervision - I don't remember which chair is Bavlorna's. Is she sitting in the red chair or on the greenish sofa in B10?)
Valrieth helps Finley carry the portrait into Bavlorna's parlor (B10). She says loudly, as though Bavlorna is hard-of-hearing, "OK. We're bringing in the portrait now." Really, it's for Aoife's benefit so that she knows that Finley and Val are now in the room with Bavlorna.
Val nods and says, "Set it down over there where she can really get a look at it." She directs Finley to prop the portrait up against the long cupboard or bookcase on the east side of the room. (She hopes that the portrait keeps Bavlorna's attention away from the west side of the room as Aoife sneaks into the room.)
Then Val tries to step back, away from both the painting and Finley, leaving Finley closer to the hag to finalize his bargain, as Val steps close to the chair with the Octavian doll. Val's breath catches as she realizes the resemblance, and she wonders whether Bavlorna killed Octavian or whether this is just a copy that she's using to wriggle out of the bargain. Val's lips purse tightly, and Finley recognizes the subtle expression as Val starting to get really angry.
Then Val says, with forced calm and politeness, "We heard that Octavian was taken here to your home. Is he nearby? Shall I go get him?" She looks around the room and at the doors and staircase, pointed ignoring the doll, as though she's looking for Octavian.
Really, Val is looking around the room and listening for any of Bavlorna's minions, like the little miniature copies of the hag that she and Finley saw the last time they were here.Perception: 13
(Green sofa)
Val sees 4 Lornlings. 2 on top on the potion's cabinet and 2 on the shelf with the broken dinnerware.
Bavlorna gives Val a wicked grin and looks at the doll then back to Val "Yes Octavian is nearby"
She scrutinizes the painting "Indeed this is what I asked for and I will honor my bargain." She looks to Finely "You are free of this bargain and your heart is still yours for now"
(OOC: Thanks! That puts Val over next to the red chair, which I don't love, but at least that means that Bavlorna is definitely facing away from the potions cabinet where Aoife will be entering the room. Now we just need to stall for 1 minute so that Aoife can get into the room, hide, and return to her regular size.)
After Finley has set up the portrait, he says, "Truly?" He touches his chest as if to check to see if it's there. "nothin' more to it then, aye?"
Finley Stoneshaft, Dwarf Artificer - The Wild Beyond the Witchlight, Falkas, Half-Elf Drow Warlock - Keys of Empire
Bavlorna then says "You may leave now unless you wish to strike another bargain?"
Valrieth says, "Not so fast! That was only part of the bargain!" She speaks slowly now, and distinctly, as though she's trying to make sure that she's not misunderstood. She taps her foot in a soft, steady rhythm and tries to keep count on the fingers of her shield hand while she talks. Really, she's just trying to take enough time and count off the seconds until Aoife can return to her normal size. "Finley would only lose his heart if he failed to return with the portrait in time. But you promised to restore Octavian's heart to him -- working just like before you took it -- in exchange for the portrait. Since Finley did deliver the portrait in time, we expect that you will honor your side of the bargain. Shall we fetch the cold chest for you? Then one where you've been keeping Octavian's heart?"
Val looks around again hopefully but dreading the answer to her next question, "And what did you mean by 'Octavian is nearby'? Do you...you don't mean this...this doll, do you? I mean, where's the real Octavian?"
Bavlorna smiles "Yes that doll is the real Octavian" a flick of her finger summons the frozen box which she opens revealing a frozen heart. She lifts it in her hand and gives it a hard squeeze causing it to beat again. She stands and moves to the doll opening its chest revealing swamp reeds, crow feathers, and dried flesh. She places the heart inside, and another flick sews shut the chest.
The dolls misshapen eyes flicker open and trembling as it looks down to its body and there is a look of absolute horror on the dolls face. It then looks to Val trying to say something, but the words would not come out. Is it free me or kill me? you are not sure.
Aoife creeps in and hides. (Stealth 21).
She keeps an eye on Bavlorna and will cast Hunter’s Mark if things look like they are going sideways.
Past characters:
Cariadne - Forest of Celador
Daphyra Fuffletail - The City of Cats
DM - Geek Legends - Wild beyond the Witchlight
Leela Steadystone - Adventures in the Sands
Mirri Goldenhorn - Journeys through the Radiant Citadel
Lola Smythe-Whyte - Larkin Expedition
Daphyra - Deathworld: Lost Mine of Phandelver
Vanja - Binder's Hold and the Problem with the Mine
(Great roll)
There is no indication that Bavlorna has seen Aoife