A few of the younger bugbears appear to be regarding Dev with interest but none come and approach him directly....
It is a standoff of shyness. Dev is curious about the younger bugbears in turn, but like them, does not approach directly. If he has learned any lesson throroughly, Dev has learned that youths his own age can be unpredictable, and sometimes, unpredictably cruel. ‘Still,’ he thinks, ‘maybe the kids in Drynna were the exception, and the kids here could be nice. Nicer.’
He is considering what he might say to introduce himself when Lokilia reappears.
She then goes and sits back down by Dev. "What do you think of these folks. Seem very hospitable don't you think?"
Dev nods yes, but decides not to approach the bugbears after all. “I don’t mind eating by a fire pit, but it’s nice to be… around people…”
’…especially if they’re not trying to beat you up.’
The tiefling seems about to ask a question of Lokilia when Normont speaks.
Dev had finished eating in about three minutes and is ready. He glances at Lokilia and stands up, waiting for her to also leave the table and then following her if she does.
Kiln stood up, indicating she would show them to the warehouse. Anyone who wished to remain was free to do so.
She led the way off of the barge and down the shore a short way to a low long building of wood and daub. Two young men, one bugbears and one human with overly sharp teeth, stood outside and nod respect to Kiln as she approached.
" The afflicted are within, some of them are....very much changed, those that were affected first and drank multiple times before we knew what was happening. But most are not...too different...except for their obsession with drinking again and leading others to the Black Milk."
Once Normont mentions he's ready to go, Lokilia is on her feet to follow along. She does hesitate a moment to check that Dev is coming as well, and seeing that he is, she proceeds to follow the gnome. She continues looking about as they are led from the barge to the building. When Kiln indicates for them to enter, she steps towards the entrance. "Alright. Let's go see these folks."
Normont calls Amber to him with a smile at Lumina, and then marches off after Kiln, have to scurry a little to keep up with her longer strides.
As they approach the guards, he shows the red leather that Ugart gave him, just in case Kiln being there isn't enough. He nods to Loikila and makes to walk through the door.
"I hope they are right about these people being friendly, they may react differently to strangers", he wonders as he goes.
Seeing they were heading in Kiln headed back towards the barge seemingly not wanting to be near the warehouse any longer than necessary.
Within the warehouse was dark and smelled overwhelmingly of dried fish, leather and a strange herbal pungency....there was little light within other than that which filtered between the wooden walls and a somewhat hastily erected reinforced stockade had been set up sectioning off the rear section, within it stood dozens of figures. As soon as the group entered they began crowding forward up against the stockade staring at the companions, some with two eyes....others with....more.....
Lokilia blinks at the sight before her as well as the unison greeting they had offered. "Hello," she says, trying to keep her voice pleasant and normal. "I'm Lokilia." She of course realizes this is not normal, as she notes the extra eyes and considers how they acted together - just like the chamois.
After a moment she lowers her voice, speaking to others in the party. "This seems so awful. We have to try what we can to help these folks."
Normont is fascinated by the behaviour of people, but also shares Lokilia's empathy.
"Yes, you are right. If I can examine one for a while, I might be able to glean enough information to make a plan", he says thoughtfully.
Walking closer to the stockade, he calls out, "I am looking for Gundiwr. Your sister asked us to try and help you. Please come forward".
He looks to see if there is a safe way to touch Gundiwr whilst he performs his examination. Perhaps if Lumina's brother were to reach his arm out, he could even work through Amber.
The stark contrast between the diverse individuality of the Red Badger folk and the hollow uniformity of those in the pen weighs heavily on Dev.
“It’s like they lose who they are to the black goo. They’re like zombies,” the teenager whispers. He nods vigorously in assent to Lokilia. “We have to do something. Normont, do you think we can help them somehow?”
Something about the intensity of Dev’s statement fans the flames of Normont’s penetrating intellect. (Bardic inspiration).
Lokilia blinks at the sight before her as well as the unison greeting they had offered. "Hello," she says, trying to keep her voice pleasant and normal. "I'm Lokilia." She of course realizes this is not normal, as she notes the extra eyes and considers how they acted together - just like the chamois.
After a moment she lowers her voice, speaking to others in the party. "This seems so awful. We have to try what we can to help these folks."
Normont is fascinated by the behaviour of people, but also shares Lokilia's empathy.
"Yes, you are right. If I can examine one for a while, I might be able to glean enough information to make a plan", he says thoughtfully.
Walking closer to the stockade, he calls out, "I am looking for Gundiwr. Your sister asked us to try and help you. Please come forward".
He looks to see if there is a safe way to touch Gundiwr whilst he performs his examination. Perhaps if Lumina's brother were to reach his arm out, he could even work through Amber.
The stark contrast between the diverse individuality of the Red Badger folk and the hollow uniformity of those in the pen weighs heavily on Dev.
“It’s like they lose who they are to the black goo. They’re like zombies,” the teenager whispers. He nods vigorously in assent to Lokilia. “We have to do something. Normont, do you think we can help them somehow?”
Something about the intensity of Dev’s statement fans the flames of Normont’s penetrating intellect. (Bardic inspiration).
One of the larger shapes shakes its head and moves forward, pushing through the others until it reaches the stockade, the man is a young bugbear....most definitely Ugarts son though he has the silvery hair of his mother, though his fur grades to his fathers shade further down and lacks tufts upon his ears like his sister.
Immediately the companions note a number of twitching tendrils along his right jawline and a pulsing sphincter-like orifice in his left shoulder surrounded by a ring of human-looking teeth, but his voice is very reminiscent of Greycrows....almost too soft and light for his enormous frame.
" I am Gundiwr. How is Lumi? And father? Who are you?"
Hearing Dev's plea, Normont locks eyes with the young Teifling, feeling the intensity there fortifying and encouraging him.
"Greetings Gundiwr. I am Normont, a friend of your sister", he replies to Gundiwr putting what he hopes is his best physician voice on. "She asks that we take a look at you and see if we can help with...all this", he says motioning to all the tendrils and extra orifices.
"This is Amber, she is going to take a look at you? Please hold out your hand if you agree and she will land on you", he says then motioning at Amber, and Amber very cautiously flies towards Gundiwr, ready to veer away at any moment.
If Gundiwr agrees and doesn't act aggressively, Amber will land on his hand and Normont will focus himself and start to examine him.
Intelligence Check (with guidance and Dev's Bardic Inspiration): 11+3+4+4=22 (For Arcana / Investigation +2 proficiency, no bonus for Nature)
(OOC: He will use identify as a ritual if it looks like he has time, and hopefully this might give extra information, but he will examine regardless with the above skill check. Although I am not sure exactly what that would be, so rolled Intelligence and placed the modifiers that might be relevant for you to pick from @DM)
Lokilia stays back a step but watches closely as Normont begins his examination. She stands ready to offer any help from her knowledge of Arcana if needed. (Probably not based on the rolls!) Gundiwr's appearance has her apprehensive as she sees the obvious alterations to his body.
Hearing Dev's plea, Normont locks eyes with the young Teifling, feeling the intensity there fortifying and encouraging him.
"Greetings Gundiwr. I am Normont, a friend of your sister", he replies to Gundiwr putting what he hopes is his best physician voice on. "She asks that we take a look at you and see if we can help with...all this", he says motioning to all the tendrils and extra orifices.
"This is Amber, she is going to take a look at you? Please hold out your hand if you agree and she will land on you", he says then motioning at Amber, and Amber very cautiously flies towards Gundiwr, ready to veer away at any moment.
If Gundiwr agrees and doesn't act aggressively, Amber will land on his hand and Normont will focus himself and start to examine him.
Intelligence Check (with guidance and Dev's Bardic Inspiration): 11+3+4+4=22 (For Arcana / Investigation +2 proficiency, no bonus for Nature)
(OOC: He will use identify as a ritual if it looks like he has time, and hopefully this might give extra information, but he will examine regardless with the above skill check. Although I am not sure exactly what that would be, so rolled Intelligence and placed the modifiers that might be relevant for you to pick from @DM)
Gundiwr does as asked and Normont begins his inspection.....after fifteen minutes or so he looks back towards the others. He suspects that the drive to consume more will, he hopes, fade if they are not exposed to the substance again.....and as it fades the communal drive should also fade...
The physical changes, he suspects, are not reversible....but as long as they haven't spread too far into the brain or certain other internal organs the majority could be removed surgically....though the scarring would be significant in some cases.
The most important thing he concludes is to prevent any more exposure as the poor Grey Hunter they killed had aberrant material all throughout their body and there was no way back from that without powerful magics that few had access to.
Normont looks a little crestfallen, "It is beyond my knowledge and skill to fix what has been done. However, the urge to consume the black milk will fade in time, they just have to be kept from it until then. Everyone needs to avoid consuming it in fact".
He looks back at Gundiwr and the others, "Physically, is a different matter. The mutations have not reached their vital organs yet, and so they should be able to live with them. Only surgery or powerful magics will be able to remove them, I think".
He calls Amber back over to him.
(OOC: @DM - regarding the pools of black ichor, does Nomront think they will eventually drain away now the source of it is stopped? Or wuld there be a need to try and cover them, or use Purify Food and Drink?)
( He's certain given time and adequate rainfall that the pools will be diluted enough to essentially vanish.....though thats likely to have....interesting...effects on the flora and fauna in the area. Magic could do it......fire seems to work....it just produces very nasty smoke....)
"So...," Dev says, "they're kept in these pens so they won't eat any more of the goo." Normont's crestfallen state seems to have spread to the tiefling too. "I really wish we could do something. But they just have to stay in here for their own good. And then, in a while they won't want to eat the goo any more."
Dev thinks back to the prior day, to the compulsion -- the drive -- to consume the black milk which he and the others all had to fight off. It wasn't easy. The memory of that internal battle, and how two of his companions almost fell prey to the same poison as the Grey Hunter and everyone in the pen is sobering. He scours his memory of stories or anything he knows that he could employ to help the confined Red Badger folk. Finally, he slowly shakes his head, giving in to defeat.
"I don't know what we can do," he says helplessly.
Lokilia had nodded slowly as Normont completed his evaluation of the affected people. "Surgery seems like something that can wait," she starts. Although then she pictures Gundiwr's left shoulder with the thing with a ring of teeth. She shudders just a little bit as she thinks, 'Maybe that should be removed.'
"I guess we just need to keep them away. I'd like to try to purify at least some of those pools in the morning. It probably just fixes a tiny sliver, but I'd like to do what we can," Lokilia continues. "Maybe once we're done with our current task, we can go for help with this."
"Yes, surgery is a last resort, for many reasons", Normont confirms. "Lokilia is right Dev, we can't help these people with their mutations, but we can try and make this area safe. We can try and purify one of the pools now. And we can suggest to Ugart that a controlled burning of the pools is an option, making sure the wind is blowing away from the settlement of course".
He waves goodbye to Gundiwr, and makes to leave if the others are ready.
(OOC: @Culril - DM confirmed we have finished the og rest, so no need to wait with your plan I don't think)
“A controlled burn?,” Dev asks, looking around at the others. Was he the only one whose upbringing on the lakeshore and in the alleys of Drynna made unaware of such an option? In his own past, a fire was a terrible tragedy that meant colder, draftier nights for the last ten years after the tackle shop burned and his little family moved into the old shed. And there had been fires in Drynna, too, and control was the first thing they lacked.
Normont looks around to the others, "Ok, I guess we haven't got all day, we still need to cross the river at least".
"Let's go and see what is happening in that warehouse", he says, and jumps down from his chair.
"Um, where is the warehouse?", he asks. "Can someone show us the way?".
A few of the younger bugbears appear to be regarding Dev with interest but none come and approach him directly....
It is a standoff of shyness. Dev is curious about the younger bugbears in turn, but like them, does not approach directly. If he has learned any lesson throroughly, Dev has learned that youths his own age can be unpredictable, and sometimes, unpredictably cruel. ‘Still,’ he thinks, ‘maybe the kids in Drynna were the exception, and the kids here could be nice. Nicer.’
He is considering what he might say to introduce himself when Lokilia reappears.
She then goes and sits back down by Dev. "What do you think of these folks. Seem very hospitable don't you think?"
Dev nods yes, but decides not to approach the bugbears after all. “I don’t mind eating by a fire pit, but it’s nice to be… around people…”
’…especially if they’re not trying to beat you up.’
The tiefling seems about to ask a question of Lokilia when Normont speaks.
Dev had finished eating in about three minutes and is ready. He glances at Lokilia and stands up, waiting for her to also leave the table and then following her if she does.
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries // Dev Hornd in Curious Critters // Eclipse Faraway in Gallows Dancer
Kiln stood up, indicating she would show them to the warehouse. Anyone who wished to remain was free to do so.
She led the way off of the barge and down the shore a short way to a low long building of wood and daub. Two young men, one bugbears and one human with overly sharp teeth, stood outside and nod respect to Kiln as she approached.
" The afflicted are within, some of them are....very much changed, those that were affected first and drank multiple times before we knew what was happening. But most are not...too different...except for their obsession with drinking again and leading others to the Black Milk."
" Head in, they won't harm you."
Once Normont mentions he's ready to go, Lokilia is on her feet to follow along. She does hesitate a moment to check that Dev is coming as well, and seeing that he is, she proceeds to follow the gnome. She continues looking about as they are led from the barge to the building. When Kiln indicates for them to enter, she steps towards the entrance. "Alright. Let's go see these folks."
Rabbit Sebrica, Sorcerer || Skarai, Monk || Lokilia Vaelphin, Druid || Liivi Orav, Barbarian || Vanizi, Warlock || Britari / Halila Talgeta / Jesa Gumovi || Neital Rhessil, Wizard
Iromae Quinaea, Cleric || Roxana Raincrest, Rogue || Meira Dheran, Rogue || Qirynna Thadri, Wizard || Crisaryn Melkial, Sorcerer
Normont calls Amber to him with a smile at Lumina, and then marches off after Kiln, have to scurry a little to keep up with her longer strides.
As they approach the guards, he shows the red leather that Ugart gave him, just in case Kiln being there isn't enough. He nods to Loikila and makes to walk through the door.
"I hope they are right about these people being friendly, they may react differently to strangers", he wonders as he goes.
Magnus nods his head at the old orc in thanks, "It has been a pleasure, enjoy your days." With that said Magnus gets up and follows the others.
Seeing they were heading in Kiln headed back towards the barge seemingly not wanting to be near the warehouse any longer than necessary.
Within the warehouse was dark and smelled overwhelmingly of dried fish, leather and a strange herbal pungency....there was little light within other than that which filtered between the wooden walls and a somewhat hastily erected reinforced stockade had been set up sectioning off the rear section, within it stood dozens of figures. As soon as the group entered they began crowding forward up against the stockade staring at the companions, some with two eyes....others with....more.....
" Release.....", they whispered as one.
Lokilia blinks at the sight before her as well as the unison greeting they had offered. "Hello," she says, trying to keep her voice pleasant and normal. "I'm Lokilia." She of course realizes this is not normal, as she notes the extra eyes and considers how they acted together - just like the chamois.
After a moment she lowers her voice, speaking to others in the party. "This seems so awful. We have to try what we can to help these folks."
Rabbit Sebrica, Sorcerer || Skarai, Monk || Lokilia Vaelphin, Druid || Liivi Orav, Barbarian || Vanizi, Warlock || Britari / Halila Talgeta / Jesa Gumovi || Neital Rhessil, Wizard
Iromae Quinaea, Cleric || Roxana Raincrest, Rogue || Meira Dheran, Rogue || Qirynna Thadri, Wizard || Crisaryn Melkial, Sorcerer
Normont is fascinated by the behaviour of people, but also shares Lokilia's empathy.
"Yes, you are right. If I can examine one for a while, I might be able to glean enough information to make a plan", he says thoughtfully.
Walking closer to the stockade, he calls out, "I am looking for Gundiwr. Your sister asked us to try and help you. Please come forward".
He looks to see if there is a safe way to touch Gundiwr whilst he performs his examination. Perhaps if Lumina's brother were to reach his arm out, he could even work through Amber.
The stark contrast between the diverse individuality of the Red Badger folk and the hollow uniformity of those in the pen weighs heavily on Dev.
“It’s like they lose who they are to the black goo. They’re like zombies,” the teenager whispers. He nods vigorously in assent to Lokilia. “We have to do something. Normont, do you think we can help them somehow?”
Something about the intensity of Dev’s statement fans the flames of Normont’s penetrating intellect. (Bardic inspiration).
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries // Dev Hornd in Curious Critters // Eclipse Faraway in Gallows Dancer
One of the larger shapes shakes its head and moves forward, pushing through the others until it reaches the stockade, the man is a young bugbear....most definitely Ugarts son though he has the silvery hair of his mother, though his fur grades to his fathers shade further down and lacks tufts upon his ears like his sister.
Immediately the companions note a number of twitching tendrils along his right jawline and a pulsing sphincter-like orifice in his left shoulder surrounded by a ring of human-looking teeth, but his voice is very reminiscent of Greycrows....almost too soft and light for his enormous frame.
" I am Gundiwr. How is Lumi? And father? Who are you?"
Hearing Dev's plea, Normont locks eyes with the young Teifling, feeling the intensity there fortifying and encouraging him.
"Greetings Gundiwr. I am Normont, a friend of your sister", he replies to Gundiwr putting what he hopes is his best physician voice on. "She asks that we take a look at you and see if we can help with...all this", he says motioning to all the tendrils and extra orifices.
"This is Amber, she is going to take a look at you? Please hold out your hand if you agree and she will land on you", he says then motioning at Amber, and Amber very cautiously flies towards Gundiwr, ready to veer away at any moment.
If Gundiwr agrees and doesn't act aggressively, Amber will land on his hand and Normont will focus himself and start to examine him.
Intelligence Check (with guidance and Dev's Bardic Inspiration): 11+3+4+4=22 (For Arcana / Investigation +2 proficiency, no bonus for Nature)
(OOC: He will use identify as a ritual if it looks like he has time, and hopefully this might give extra information, but he will examine regardless with the above skill check. Although I am not sure exactly what that would be, so rolled Intelligence and placed the modifiers that might be relevant for you to pick from @DM)
Lokilia stays back a step but watches closely as Normont begins his examination. She stands ready to offer any help from her knowledge of Arcana if needed. (Probably not based on the rolls!) Gundiwr's appearance has her apprehensive as she sees the obvious alterations to his body.
Rabbit Sebrica, Sorcerer || Skarai, Monk || Lokilia Vaelphin, Druid || Liivi Orav, Barbarian || Vanizi, Warlock || Britari / Halila Talgeta / Jesa Gumovi || Neital Rhessil, Wizard
Iromae Quinaea, Cleric || Roxana Raincrest, Rogue || Meira Dheran, Rogue || Qirynna Thadri, Wizard || Crisaryn Melkial, Sorcerer
Gundiwr does as asked and Normont begins his inspection.....after fifteen minutes or so he looks back towards the others. He suspects that the drive to consume more will, he hopes, fade if they are not exposed to the substance again.....and as it fades the communal drive should also fade...
The physical changes, he suspects, are not reversible....but as long as they haven't spread too far into the brain or certain other internal organs the majority could be removed surgically....though the scarring would be significant in some cases.
The most important thing he concludes is to prevent any more exposure as the poor Grey Hunter they killed had aberrant material all throughout their body and there was no way back from that without powerful magics that few had access to.
Normont looks a little crestfallen, "It is beyond my knowledge and skill to fix what has been done. However, the urge to consume the black milk will fade in time, they just have to be kept from it until then. Everyone needs to avoid consuming it in fact".
He looks back at Gundiwr and the others, "Physically, is a different matter. The mutations have not reached their vital organs yet, and so they should be able to live with them. Only surgery or powerful magics will be able to remove them, I think".
He calls Amber back over to him.
(OOC: @DM - regarding the pools of black ichor, does Nomront think they will eventually drain away now the source of it is stopped? Or wuld there be a need to try and cover them, or use Purify Food and Drink?)
( He's certain given time and adequate rainfall that the pools will be diluted enough to essentially vanish.....though thats likely to have....interesting...effects on the flora and fauna in the area. Magic could do it......fire seems to work....it just produces very nasty smoke....)
"So...," Dev says, "they're kept in these pens so they won't eat any more of the goo." Normont's crestfallen state seems to have spread to the tiefling too. "I really wish we could do something. But they just have to stay in here for their own good. And then, in a while they won't want to eat the goo any more."
Dev thinks back to the prior day, to the compulsion -- the drive -- to consume the black milk which he and the others all had to fight off. It wasn't easy. The memory of that internal battle, and how two of his companions almost fell prey to the same poison as the Grey Hunter and everyone in the pen is sobering. He scours his memory of stories or anything he knows that he could employ to help the confined Red Badger folk. Finally, he slowly shakes his head, giving in to defeat.
"I don't know what we can do," he says helplessly.
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries // Dev Hornd in Curious Critters // Eclipse Faraway in Gallows Dancer
Lokilia had nodded slowly as Normont completed his evaluation of the affected people. "Surgery seems like something that can wait," she starts. Although then she pictures Gundiwr's left shoulder with the thing with a ring of teeth. She shudders just a little bit as she thinks, 'Maybe that should be removed.'
"I guess we just need to keep them away. I'd like to try to purify at least some of those pools in the morning. It probably just fixes a tiny sliver, but I'd like to do what we can," Lokilia continues. "Maybe once we're done with our current task, we can go for help with this."
Rabbit Sebrica, Sorcerer || Skarai, Monk || Lokilia Vaelphin, Druid || Liivi Orav, Barbarian || Vanizi, Warlock || Britari / Halila Talgeta / Jesa Gumovi || Neital Rhessil, Wizard
Iromae Quinaea, Cleric || Roxana Raincrest, Rogue || Meira Dheran, Rogue || Qirynna Thadri, Wizard || Crisaryn Melkial, Sorcerer
"Yes, surgery is a last resort, for many reasons", Normont confirms. "Lokilia is right Dev, we can't help these people with their mutations, but we can try and make this area safe. We can try and purify one of the pools now. And we can suggest to Ugart that a controlled burning of the pools is an option, making sure the wind is blowing away from the settlement of course".
He waves goodbye to Gundiwr, and makes to leave if the others are ready.
(OOC: @Culril - DM confirmed we have finished the og rest, so no need to wait with your plan I don't think)
“A controlled burn?,” Dev asks, looking around at the others. Was he the only one whose upbringing on the lakeshore and in the alleys of Drynna made unaware of such an option? In his own past, a fire was a terrible tragedy that meant colder, draftier nights for the last ten years after the tackle shop burned and his little family moved into the old shed. And there had been fires in Drynna, too, and control was the first thing they lacked.
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries // Dev Hornd in Curious Critters // Eclipse Faraway in Gallows Dancer