Heavy is the Head - Campaign thread

When the name Saffron Gale is spoken aloud in the darkness, Hemlock is taken aback. It made sense that Saffi's friends are as ruthless as her though.

"We do know Saffi, as it happens. We escaped the stone prison together, but she declined to stay with us, only wanting to go back and make them pay", he says as Eliza shows herself. As Fitzwhistle collapses, he turns to the gnome and moves over to his side.

"This conversation seems to be making his condition worse. He reveals more but it could cost him his life", he says, trying to examine him and see if he can perhaps make something with his herbalism kit to help.

Medicine: 18+4=22 (OOC: Can Herbalism Kit proficiency help here?)

Fitzwhistle is taking psychic damage, but in your examination you quickly notice that the hair near his temples has been torn away by repeated and regular episodes like this. You have good reason to suspect that this has happened many times before, and that he will pass out before the attack damages his brain enough to kill him or cause obvious external harm. Though his difficulty in knowing what and who is real, and in sustaining a regular conversation, are likely long-term side effects of these episodes. From what little you have learned of psychological and neurological illness, you know that such lasting effects are rarely cured, only treated. Knocking Fitzwhistle unconscious would put a stop to this painful episode, but not future ones.

You may be able to dull the pain, make him less consciously aware of what he's saying while letting him continue. A cocktail of alcohol and willow bark, with some healing potion... and you have all of that already (besides alcohol, but you can smell some among the potions)... That would be risky though, as you do not understand the magic you're dealing with.

"Wait, you know her! And you let her go back to them! Lizardboy said she escaped and was captured again. Why didn't you stop her and talk some sense into her! Why did you let her keep putting herself at risk!?" Eliza probably knows that this anger at you is unfair, but she is letting her emotions boil over at the moment.

"If you think anyone capable of persuading Saffi to change her mind once it is set, then maybe you don't know her", Hemlock says absently as he examines Fitzwhistle.

"One of you, find me some alcohol from amongst those potions", he says as he then digs into into his pack and pulls out some willow bark and one of his healing potions. "I am going to try and help him with the pain without letting him fall unconscious. Sha, you might be able to assist me if you are willing. Soairse and Lam, please would you ensure we are not interrupted?".

With that he focusses on combining the ingredients just right.

(OOC: Is Hemlock able to try and use the potion solution now? What would the roll be? Can Sha grant advantage by helping?)

It's a medicine check, advantage granted, with proficiency. But it's very difficult. It will also take you a little bit to ready the mixture, long enough for some of the others to partake in the conversation.

The humanoid construct has walked over to Hemlock and its creator, soundlessly (Fitzwhisle is a very good artificer). When it entered the soothing twilight aura around Sha, its eyes - solid pieces of ice-blue glass - began to glow in response to the magic. It is watching you touching the person who built it and who is clearly in pain, and it is poised to strike you if it interprets any action of yours as attacking Fitzwhistle. It does not seem to be intelligent, just following a program, you think... it is unnervingly humanoid, and clearly watching you.

"Yeah, that's true... still, I'm going to get her out of there, and the gnome's my best bet. Let me take a look at him. You can come, work with me to get her back. It's the least you should do." - Eliza

Ali leaps forward, drawing his shortsword along the way. He brings it down towards Fitzwhistle - and the blade stops, as the construct grabs his wrist. They stand, Ali struggling against the metal arm. (Sha, who is benefitting from temp HP in your aura?)

"No. Any knowledge of the Crown must die with him, now."

Lam, with more questions than he can count, stands stunned after hearing Saffron’s name from Eliza. What does Ali know about the crown? What is he looking to recover from Strixwell? Who told Fitzwhistle all those things that led him to this? Lam, meanwhile, is becoming agitated by Fitzwhistle’s muttering, Ali’s demeanor, the constructs poised and seemingly ready to attack. He takes a deep breath as he tries to gather his words.

When Hemlock asks him to ensure they are not distracted, Lam walks over carefully to close the distance between himself and the gnome (and everyone gathered around him, including Ali). He is still holding his greataxe, but he makes no move to lift it. He hopes they will not have to fight Ali, but he is willing to. What surprises him is the construct which moves to stop Ali from attacking Fitzwhistle. It doing that doesn’t make sense in his head, if Fitzwhistle wants to die, and he says out loud, struggling with what he wants to say to Fitzwhistle: “Why is it not… why cannot you get attacked? If you want death?” In the moment he really just doesn’t understand Fitzwhistle’s constructs, but he hopes after he asks that maybe Fitzwhistle can stop taking damage for the moment if his focus is redirected to something he is allowed to talk about- in the meantime, he watches Ali and the construct carefully, and his grip tightens around his greataxe.

Everything happens so quickly that Saoirse takes a little too long to react. Fitzwhistle's attack, Eliza revealing that she's friends with Saffron and Ali trying to put an end to the gnome's life. As soon as she recovers, and without any more hesitation, she follows Hemlock's plea, draws her rapier and moves to stand between Ali and the druid.

Thought the lizardfolk is being grabbed by one of the constrructs, she feels that is not enough and proceeds to take Ali's sword. With her rapier and his own sword both pointing at the lizardfolk neck, she says:

- You will not touch a single strand of the gnome's hair. Stay put, gods damn it! 

Though her eyes doesn't leave her current target, she answers Eliza:

- The least we should do? We owe you nothing. And we own Saffron nothing. We tried to convince her to stay with us, but she chose to steal from the people that had welcomed us and to divert from the path that we had started to walk together after we escaped Coldwater. If we help you to free her once again it will not be because "it is the least we should do", but to count with your and Saffron's help against Strixwell. Do whatever it the hells it takes to you to convince her. 

With this, she waits for Hemlock to hopefully ease some of Fitzwhistle's pain. Something they said had caused an attack stronger that usual. It couldn't have been the Crown, nor Strixwell, as they had talked about that before. It was the name of Gareth Dayne. Why would that be?

Hemlock looks to ignore all the distractions and simply make the potion.

Medicine (with Guidance, Advantage and proficiency bonus): (6,16)+6+2=24

"It sounds like whatever you're into is way bigger and more dangerous than what i want to involve myself or Saffi in. I'll help you, and I'm sure she will too, as long as it helps get her out of there and revenge on anyone who deserves it, but not if it means her life, and not beyond that." (You're invited to make an insight check, if youre not busy making a potion or disarming a ranger).

Ali does not release his sword easily. (Contested attack roll against his dex roll). Nor does he immediately back down on Saoirse's command. (Intimidation check). "The crown could command dragons, enslave or banish them with a word. It has been missing for 100 years, and any evidence that could being it back into play must be destroyed. This is even more vital than recovering the egg they stole."

The questions from Lam help to calm Fitzwhistle even before the potion is ready. The gnome focuses his face to make eye contact with Lam, willfully ignoring the conversation and confrontation around them.. It seems like this whole encounter was full of constant reminders of forbidden memories, but it is not clear that a single specific phrase triggered the attack. "Can't remember won't remem- oh. Um. The project - my project - stay there till you rot - isn't quite finished. This twilight aura might actually help with the spark of life. Don't talk to anyone outside. I can already see a change in - go back to your workshop - the construct's energy. But without a soul-binding, my mind and memories CAN'T REMEMBER nononono can't transfer to the construct. So I refuse to die ROT until I figure out a soul-binding or a blood-binding. Thank you for your curiousity, kind sir. Have you ever considered joining the society of brilli--" Hemlock approaches with his brew. "What is that potion you've distilled?"

Sha, who is benefitting from temp HP in your aura?

Hemlock, Saoirse, Lam, & myself.

Sha gently sets down the egg, and assists Hemlock.  At the mention of Saffron recaptured he pauses for a moment wincing at her there on her own.  ‘Dear Goddess please let her be unharmed.’

“It is a simple blend of willow bark, alcohol and some healing potion. It is mostly from my garden and should help with your headache. Would you like to try it?”, Hemlock asks, trying to keep his focus on the gnome and ignore the furore going on around them for the moment.

Quote from PolarisUnmoored >>

"It sounds like whatever you're into is way bigger and more dangerous than what i want to involve myself or Saffi in. I'll help you, and I'm sure she will too, as long as it helps get her out of there and revenge on anyone who deserves it, but not if it means her life, and not beyond that." (You're invited to make an insight check, if youre not busy making a potion or disarming a ranger).

 Lam notices 

"Young druid, I have tried countless concoctions go back to ease my headaches rot. This one mostly just smells of ethanol." His hand goes back to his temple and he sways slightly in pain. "But if you say it will help... you promise you won't let me die until I finish my project?

Ali bares his teeth and hisses at Saoirse and the construct who is still holding the wrist of his unarmed hand. "The Crown must never again be found. The Ansar family has sworn it. Kill him. It is a kindness, and a necessity."

Hemlock gives Fitzwhistle a firm nod and hands the concoction to him. “I will do my very best”.

- I agree that the Crown must be secured, or even destroyed, if that is even possible. But we cannot achieve that with a blindfold in our eyes. We need to know more. We need Fitzwhistle to remember. 

She then hears the gnome mumbling "you promise you won't let me die until I finish my project?", and adds:

- If the gnome has to die, it will be in his own terms. Not yours, Ali. So please, stay put. Let Hemlock do his work. Let us get to the bottom of this mess. And then we can end this menace once and for all, together.

"Listen to her, Ali. You've got to be smart about this. I'm not going up against Strixwell to get this Crown, I'm not a suicidal hero-complex type like all of you; but if she's after the crown, she's going to find it with or without Cobblepot. You need to let him live, for now."

(Eliza is giving you advantage on your persuasion).

(An 8 T_T)

Ali manages to wrestle his hand free from the construct. He carefully disengages, and leaps into the center of the room, drawing his bow as he moves. His intent is clear: he means to execute Fitzwhistle and escape.

Things are suddenly time-sensitive, so please roll initiative.

https://www.owlbear.rodeo/room/5nRs1L_uFdxM/HeavyistheHeadPBP  (The darker circle is magical darkness, the blue circle is twilight sanctuary)

- Stubborn lizardfolk, there is no need for this! - Saoirse yells, gripping her rapier firmly and throwing Ali's sword to the ground. 

Initiative: 12.

Hemlock is vaguely aware of what is happening behind him, and starts to tense up for the fight to come.

Initiative: 10+2=12

Eliza looks back and forth betwen Ali, Saoirse, and Fitzwhistle, weighing her options, goals, and paper-thin loyalties. She rolls initiative. 7

Ali's gaze is focused and unwavering, the vulnerable gnome.is in his crosshairs. He rolls initiative. 25

The humanoid construct, flybert, and cubert, all sense a threat to their creator. They execute 'code indigo:' they roll initiative. 15 19 23

Sha is prepared to charge... initiative 11