During Doozey's moment of reflection, Neya's question comes to the forefront. Unfortunately, it only earns more silence from the imp, who is clearly not ready to betray his master's secrets just yet. It is Denae who tries to answer so that her sister is not left completely hanging: "To deal with the hag it seems, based on the little information this fiend was willing to freely divulge. I am guessing the imp was too much of a chicken to follow his own master." Pipyap hisses at Denae.
Doozey jumps back into the conversation with a conditional offer to protect Pipyap, following that up with a continuation of their back-and-forth bargaining efforts. It is a convincing tactic, and the imp agrees: "The kind you might stumble upon and not point a finger at the totally innocent fiend who was simply going about their enjoyable day? Well, in that case, I think I might want to pay a visit to that decrepit hovel over there. If you chose to follow, than that is completely on you and not at all any of my business." Pipyap looks over at Utar and suggests: "Maybe you'll find more of that delicious cheez on the way, I think."
The poorly veiled request may just be lost in Utar, who is thoroughly devoted to his own thoughts at the moment. Utar's search for a spellcasting brazier produces no results within the barn, but he arrives at a plausible hypothesis for some of his other questions: Perhaps Halvin left his familiar and journal behind because he was certain we has going to succeed/come back. It would also make sense that he would be more comfortable leaving Pipyap behind if he took his spell components with him and knew he could re-summon the imp at any time. Either that or Halvin is able to bypass the material component of his spell somehows. All possible answer, the half-orc ponders inconclusively.
Pipyap begins strolling toward the house, or so he would, were it not for the vegetation by the barn's entrance making it difficult for the imp to leave the building. "Hmm... this was not an issue before... What is happening?" He turns to face CRAP: "Are you trying to trap me inside? I thought we had an agreement. This betrayal will not go unnoticed. You'll have to pay me double the cheez and milk now!"
Doozey plays it cool and scoffs. "Nice try, Pipyap. But what would even be the point of going through all that yapping earlier only to betray ya at the door? Kind of defeats the purpose of it, wouldn't ya say?"He asks, but hardly gives the fiend more than a few seconds to contemplate an answer before adding, "Fortunately, I do know enough of the old tongue that convince'n the green to set aside it's apparently new claim on the door should be easy enough. So no trying to weasel your way into a better footing in all this just yet, aight? Now one side." Without missing a bit, he then walks over to the door, gives it a few knocks mostly for show, and then whispers in the old tongue, "You can let us out now. Including the winged one. Though if he gets violent, feel free to slap him around if you wish."
Doozey then waits a moment to see how his words are taken before trying the door again, stepping out, and then with a somewhat haphazard flourish gesturing for the imp (and everyone else by extension) to step out of the barn. But then he has a thought that leads him to looking to Utar and saying, "Mr. Utar? If ya wouldn't mind sparing the poor lad here another spot of cheese all the same for the minor inconvenience. After all, our 'friend' can't very well roam about on a half-empty stomach now can he?"
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
Picking up on Doozey's good guard, cheese giving guard routine, Utar puts his hand to another ration and digs a portion of cheese from it and hands it off to the imp. "Of course not. Our new ally needs a full belly if they're to be at their most helpful."
Freshly placated with more hard cheese, Utar hopes that the imp will be slightly more forthcoming with information. "Speaking of Halvin, did he say how long he would likely be away, Pipyip?"
(OOC Assume that by now Utar is down two rations.)
"Hmph..." Pipyap grunts at Doozey but has time to do little else as the plant(s) outside begin(s) to shift in response to the halfling's request in the old tongue. Doozey opens the door with no issue, allowing the imp and everyone else to get outside first. Pipyap brings his bloody burlap sack with him.
Pipyap is, nonetheless, compensated in dairy as requested. Utar produces another generous serving of cheese for the imp to consume. Pipyap has no self-restraint. He begins to devour the hard yellow cheese immediately, wax and all. Between bites, the winged fiend finds some time to give the half-orc another non-answer: "He didn't say when he'd be back, but he promised me he would be."
(@MB: We'll say a generous serving of cheese equals one meal. A ration is supposed to be good enough for three meals, that is, enough food for the whole day. So, one more serving of cheese for your new friend and Utar would then be down one ration.)
On the way to the decrepit house, CRAP is visually reminded that there is nothing remarkable about the structure. Neya shares that she had seen the main kitchen/dining area and one bedroom through windows, but everything else seems to have been abandoned long ago. It doesn't take much for the party to confirm the monk's suspicions. Most of the house is dim and dusty, and it doesn't look lived in at all except for the two rooms Neya had identified.
The kitchen has a table, two chairs, some cutlery, an ash-filled stove with a dirty cooking pot on top, and some cupboards. Whatever little food Halvin may have left behind has long been claimed by Pipyap. The bedroom is even emptier, containing only a simple mattress filled with hay and wood shavings, some spare woodcarver's tools, and a damaged armoire.
Neya steps forward first. The armoire opens with a creak, revealing a few sets of well-worn clothes and a bunch of woodcarvings. Although there are a few carvings of different types of humanoids or other creatures, most of the carvings are very obviously a depiction of halflings going about their day. A fair number of them illustrate stout warriors with a healthy and bushy head of hair. Most of the figurines also sport hairy bare feet. All of the items are unpainted.
"You know I never really thought about it before. But Pipyap? Do all of the fiendish persuasion, or at least most anyhow subsist on food? As in things like meat, cheese, grapes -- well, ya know, similar things to that stuff, anyhow? Or is that more a pleasure thing for ya?" Doozey ask, sounding for the first the time more genuinely curious, instead of someone forced into being polite.
But apart from awaiting an answer Doozey seemed more content to keep an eye on the fiend and follow him, seeing as part of their deal meant letting the imp roam about the place until the group "stumbled" upon the journal. Or so was how the stoutling reckoned things...
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
Pipyap is inspired by Doozey's question: "Subsist? As in... we needs it? No, we don't... But cravings... ahhh... devils crave the world and then some!"
While Neya and Doozey investigate the bedroom, Utar skips over to the kitchen. He starts his investigation of the area by looking into the cooking pot. Most of the food has been scrapped off, likely by CRAP's new winged friend. The flecks of food that remain are well-past their expiration date. The mold on them has already decayed. The smell is quite unpleasant, but not unlike what the half-orc has already inhaled today.
Seeing Utar move on to the kitchen, Pipyap decides it is time to play a game, putting emphasis on a particular word: "Is it me or is it getting WARMER here? I think the tusked one is getting WARMER."
Ignoring the fiend, Denae approaches Neya and looks over her shoulder at the armoire's contents.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Utar replaces the pot lid and thanks Torm that he didn't immediately revisit his breakfast. Given his prompting by Pipyap, Utar turns to investigate something warmer and opens the door to the stove. Peering in, his next action is to take a handaxe, and gripping the head, use the handle to search for anything left in the ashes.
"Well that 'bout figures."Doozey muttered. He'd later find himself frowning over the impish games. But apart from a soft sigh of exasperation, the stoutling remained content in the knowledge that at least the fiend appeared to be keeping to task. For the moment, at least. Meanwhile, back outside a bored Biscuit began roaming the general area at least nearby his half-orc charge, sniffing and pawing at almost everything out of curiosity more than anything else.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
@Utar: Your digging through the ashes results in nothing but dusty air and the urge to sneeze. Pipyap facepalms and continues to play his game: "A COLD front. I think you might be getting COLDER. Maybe you should aim higher."
@Doozey: Taking a moment to look outside through a window, you catch a playful Biscuit entertaining an overjoyed new friend, that is, Ferguson. The boy and the mastiff are running in circles, and making loud noises. The boy is laughing blissfully, the beast if woofing cheerfully.
@Neya (see spoiler below):
More than a few of these carvings of halflings remind you of Doozey. The rich head of hair is a dead giveaway, but so are the detail-rich facial expressions depicted in them.
Taking a moment to brush the ash from his handaxe, Year stands and gives Pipyap a hard stare. "You could just say where it is, be a lot easier..." he mutters.
"Pipyap, does the hiding place rhyme with schmupboard, or schmafters?" To emphasise his point, Utar points to the cupboard then the ceiling.
Doozey clicks his tongue and shakes his head at the pair. "Every time with me -- Hm? What was that, Ms. Neya? Have ya found the book?"He asks. Though when directed to the carvings, the stoutling goes from mildly confused yet curious to rushing over for an even closer look. "No... it... who....?"He murmurs as he tentatively reaches out to touch the depiction as if expecting it to reach out and bite him. "..... Pipyap! I-Is this... *ahem*.... This, uh, thing here? This wouldn't happen to be something Halvin made, ya?"
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
Pipyap seems angered at Utar for a moment: "You realize Halvin can look through my eyes and hear through my ears at any time right? I'm not going to incriminate myself like that! That was not the deal, you SCHMUPBOARD, you!"
IN THE BEDROOM
Neya and Denae give Doozey some space as he approached the figurines. From the kitchen, Pipyap confirms: "Yes, Halvin would spend hours carving his people. Said it reminded him of home."
Now having a better look at them, Doozey cannot deny that they all look somewhat familiar. The richness of hair atop their heads, the stern look on their faces, the slight hints of dwarven stoutness...
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Utar rolls his eyes and gets on with searching the cupboard. Sure, he thinks. Halvin can see and hear through Pipyap's senses. But surely being caught playing hotter or colder with a burly half-orc is just as suspicious, if not more so, than quickly saying 'cupboard'. In his annoyance, the half-orc forgets to call upon any divine help.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
"But I take it he... then that makes him... I... Hoi Boi-..."Doozey fell back a step rubbing his head but his eyes remained glued on the figurines with a bewildered look. Left to his own devices, a full minute or so passes before the stoutling appears to recover, though now with a more determined set to his visage. "If he's really kinfolk as all this suggest, I think I have an idea of maybe why Halvin's here. And if isn't that, well.... w-well I, er, we really need to find'em either way -- er, thanks Neya. And, uh.. y-you too, Denae, I s'pose."
With that, he departs for the kitchen, and as soon as he had eyes on Pipyap plainly asks, "I doubt ya be breaking any rules by answering this, so be frank. Did Halvin ever let ya directly handle the book? Or even out of curiosity, did ya do so anyways with his journal in recent times?"If the answer proved a positive one, Doozey simply nods before turning his nose towards sniffing about the kitchen for any lingering scents of the creature within the kitchen that seemed to best fit some overheard "hints" earlier. Even if that meant being a bit rude in trying to scamper up to Utar's shoulders without much warning just to reach any high shelve,s and what not.
-Investigation: 13. (Ignore 2nd roll if not able to apply Keen Smell/Hunter's Bane for adv to the roll)
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
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"Did Halvin have any sort of plan in place for his trip into the forest? I find it hard to believe he went there for no reason whatsoever."
Extended Signature
During Doozey's moment of reflection, Neya's question comes to the forefront. Unfortunately, it only earns more silence from the imp, who is clearly not ready to betray his master's secrets just yet. It is Denae who tries to answer so that her sister is not left completely hanging: "To deal with the hag it seems, based on the little information this fiend was willing to freely divulge. I am guessing the imp was too much of a chicken to follow his own master." Pipyap hisses at Denae.
Doozey jumps back into the conversation with a conditional offer to protect Pipyap, following that up with a continuation of their back-and-forth bargaining efforts. It is a convincing tactic, and the imp agrees: "The kind you might stumble upon and not point a finger at the totally innocent fiend who was simply going about their enjoyable day? Well, in that case, I think I might want to pay a visit to that decrepit hovel over there. If you chose to follow, than that is completely on you and not at all any of my business." Pipyap looks over at Utar and suggests: "Maybe you'll find more of that delicious cheez on the way, I think."
The poorly veiled request may just be lost in Utar, who is thoroughly devoted to his own thoughts at the moment. Utar's search for a spellcasting brazier produces no results within the barn, but he arrives at a plausible hypothesis for some of his other questions: Perhaps Halvin left his familiar and journal behind because he was certain we has going to succeed/come back. It would also make sense that he would be more comfortable leaving Pipyap behind if he took his spell components with him and knew he could re-summon the imp at any time. Either that or Halvin is able to bypass the material component of his spell somehows. All possible answer, the half-orc ponders inconclusively.
Pipyap begins strolling toward the house, or so he would, were it not for the vegetation by the barn's entrance making it difficult for the imp to leave the building. "Hmm... this was not an issue before... What is happening?" He turns to face CRAP: "Are you trying to trap me inside? I thought we had an agreement. This betrayal will not go unnoticed. You'll have to pay me double the cheez and milk now!"
Doozey plays it cool and scoffs. "Nice try, Pipyap. But what would even be the point of going through all that yapping earlier only to betray ya at the door? Kind of defeats the purpose of it, wouldn't ya say?" He asks, but hardly gives the fiend more than a few seconds to contemplate an answer before adding, "Fortunately, I do know enough of the old tongue that convince'n the green to set aside it's apparently new claim on the door should be easy enough. So no trying to weasel your way into a better footing in all this just yet, aight? Now one side." Without missing a bit, he then walks over to the door, gives it a few knocks mostly for show, and then whispers in the old tongue, "You can let us out now. Including the winged one. Though if he gets violent, feel free to slap him around if you wish."
Doozey then waits a moment to see how his words are taken before trying the door again, stepping out, and then with a somewhat haphazard flourish gesturing for the imp (and everyone else by extension) to step out of the barn. But then he has a thought that leads him to looking to Utar and saying, "Mr. Utar? If ya wouldn't mind sparing the poor lad here another spot of cheese all the same for the minor inconvenience. After all, our 'friend' can't very well roam about on a half-empty stomach now can he?"
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
Picking up on Doozey's good guard, cheese giving guard routine, Utar puts his hand to another ration and digs a portion of cheese from it and hands it off to the imp. "Of course not. Our new ally needs a full belly if they're to be at their most helpful."
Freshly placated with more hard cheese, Utar hopes that the imp will be slightly more forthcoming with information. "Speaking of Halvin, did he say how long he would likely be away, Pipyip?"
(OOC Assume that by now Utar is down two rations.)
"Hmph..." Pipyap grunts at Doozey but has time to do little else as the plant(s) outside begin(s) to shift in response to the halfling's request in the old tongue. Doozey opens the door with no issue, allowing the imp and everyone else to get outside first. Pipyap brings his bloody burlap sack with him.
Pipyap is, nonetheless, compensated in dairy as requested. Utar produces another generous serving of cheese for the imp to consume. Pipyap has no self-restraint. He begins to devour the hard yellow cheese immediately, wax and all. Between bites, the winged fiend finds some time to give the half-orc another non-answer: "He didn't say when he'd be back, but he promised me he would be."
(@MB: We'll say a generous serving of cheese equals one meal. A ration is supposed to be good enough for three meals, that is, enough food for the whole day. So, one more serving of cheese for your new friend and Utar would then be down one ration.)
On the way to the decrepit house, CRAP is visually reminded that there is nothing remarkable about the structure. Neya shares that she had seen the main kitchen/dining area and one bedroom through windows, but everything else seems to have been abandoned long ago. It doesn't take much for the party to confirm the monk's suspicions. Most of the house is dim and dusty, and it doesn't look lived in at all except for the two rooms Neya had identified.
The kitchen has a table, two chairs, some cutlery, an ash-filled stove with a dirty cooking pot on top, and some cupboards. Whatever little food Halvin may have left behind has long been claimed by Pipyap. The bedroom is even emptier, containing only a simple mattress filled with hay and wood shavings, some spare woodcarver's tools, and a damaged armoire.
Neya checks the armoire to see if there were any clues.
Investigation: 12
Extended Signature
Neya steps forward first. The armoire opens with a creak, revealing a few sets of well-worn clothes and a bunch of woodcarvings. Although there are a few carvings of different types of humanoids or other creatures, most of the carvings are very obviously a depiction of halflings going about their day. A fair number of them illustrate stout warriors with a healthy and bushy head of hair. Most of the figurines also sport hairy bare feet. All of the items are unpainted.
Utar steps forward, lifts the lid of the saucepan and takes a look inside.
(OOC Given the time since Halvin left plus his recent experiences with the cows, how high a Con Save does Utar need?)
"You know I never really thought about it before. But Pipyap? Do all of the fiendish persuasion, or at least most anyhow subsist on food? As in things like meat, cheese, grapes -- well, ya know, similar things to that stuff, anyhow? Or is that more a pleasure thing for ya?" Doozey ask, sounding for the first the time more genuinely curious, instead of someone forced into being polite.
But apart from awaiting an answer Doozey seemed more content to keep an eye on the fiend and follow him, seeing as part of their deal meant letting the imp roam about the place until the group "stumbled" upon the journal. Or so was how the stoutling reckoned things...
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
(@MB: I'll give Utar a break! 😁)
Pipyap is inspired by Doozey's question: "Subsist? As in... we needs it? No, we don't... But cravings... ahhh... devils crave the world and then some!"
While Neya and Doozey investigate the bedroom, Utar skips over to the kitchen. He starts his investigation of the area by looking into the cooking pot. Most of the food has been scrapped off, likely by CRAP's new winged friend. The flecks of food that remain are well-past their expiration date. The mold on them has already decayed. The smell is quite unpleasant, but not unlike what the half-orc has already inhaled today.
Seeing Utar move on to the kitchen, Pipyap decides it is time to play a game, putting emphasis on a particular word: "Is it me or is it getting WARMER here? I think the tusked one is getting WARMER."
Ignoring the fiend, Denae approaches Neya and looks over her shoulder at the armoire's contents.
(@Drache: please roll a perception, investigation, or insight check, your choice. Denae is giving you the help action.)
Utar replaces the pot lid and thanks Torm that he didn't immediately revisit his breakfast. Given his prompting by Pipyap, Utar turns to investigate something warmer and opens the door to the stove. Peering in, his next action is to take a handaxe, and gripping the head, use the handle to search for anything left in the ashes.
Investigation - 16 with a little extra 3 sauce from guidance
Insight: 18
Extended Signature
"Well that 'bout figures." Doozey muttered. He'd later find himself frowning over the impish games. But apart from a soft sigh of exasperation, the stoutling remained content in the knowledge that at least the fiend appeared to be keeping to task. For the moment, at least. Meanwhile, back outside a bored Biscuit began roaming the general area at least nearby his half-orc charge, sniffing and pawing at almost everything out of curiosity more than anything else.
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
@Utar: Your digging through the ashes results in nothing but dusty air and the urge to sneeze. Pipyap facepalms and continues to play his game: "A COLD front. I think you might be getting COLDER. Maybe you should aim higher."
@Doozey: Taking a moment to look outside through a window, you catch a playful Biscuit entertaining an overjoyed new friend, that is, Ferguson. The boy and the mastiff are running in circles, and making loud noises. The boy is laughing blissfully, the beast if woofing cheerfully.
@Neya (see spoiler below):
More than a few of these carvings of halflings remind you of Doozey. The rich head of hair is a dead giveaway, but so are the detail-rich facial expressions depicted in them.
Taking a moment to brush the ash from his handaxe, Year stands and gives Pipyap a hard stare. "You could just say where it is, be a lot easier..." he mutters.
"Pipyap, does the hiding place rhyme with schmupboard, or schmafters?" To emphasise his point, Utar points to the cupboard then the ceiling.
"Hey, Doozey! I think I have something, here you might be interested in!" Neya calls out to the party's permanent ranger.
Extended Signature
Doozey clicks his tongue and shakes his head at the pair. "Every time with me -- Hm? What was that, Ms. Neya? Have ya found the book?" He asks. Though when directed to the carvings, the stoutling goes from mildly confused yet curious to rushing over for an even closer look. "No... it... who....?" He murmurs as he tentatively reaches out to touch the depiction as if expecting it to reach out and bite him. "..... Pipyap! I-Is this... *ahem*.... This, uh, thing here? This wouldn't happen to be something Halvin made, ya?"
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
IN THE KITCHEN
Pipyap seems angered at Utar for a moment: "You realize Halvin can look through my eyes and hear through my ears at any time right? I'm not going to incriminate myself like that! That was not the deal, you SCHMUPBOARD, you!"
IN THE BEDROOM
Neya and Denae give Doozey some space as he approached the figurines. From the kitchen, Pipyap confirms: "Yes, Halvin would spend hours carving his people. Said it reminded him of home."
Now having a better look at them, Doozey cannot deny that they all look somewhat familiar. The richness of hair atop their heads, the stern look on their faces, the slight hints of dwarven stoutness...
Utar rolls his eyes and gets on with searching the cupboard. Sure, he thinks. Halvin can see and hear through Pipyap's senses. But surely being caught playing hotter or colder with a burly half-orc is just as suspicious, if not more so, than quickly saying 'cupboard'. In his annoyance, the half-orc forgets to call upon any divine help.
Investigation - 8
"But I take it he... then that makes him... I... Hoi Boi-..." Doozey fell back a step rubbing his head but his eyes remained glued on the figurines with a bewildered look. Left to his own devices, a full minute or so passes before the stoutling appears to recover, though now with a more determined set to his visage. "If he's really kinfolk as all this suggest, I think I have an idea of maybe why Halvin's here. And if isn't that, well.... w-well I, er, we really need to find'em either way -- er, thanks Neya. And, uh.. y-you too, Denae, I s'pose."
With that, he departs for the kitchen, and as soon as he had eyes on Pipyap plainly asks, "I doubt ya be breaking any rules by answering this, so be frank. Did Halvin ever let ya directly handle the book? Or even out of curiosity, did ya do so anyways with his journal in recent times?" If the answer proved a positive one, Doozey simply nods before turning his nose towards sniffing about the kitchen for any lingering scents of the creature within the kitchen that seemed to best fit some overheard "hints" earlier. Even if that meant being a bit rude in trying to scamper up to Utar's shoulders without much warning just to reach any high shelve,s and what not.
-Investigation: 13. (Ignore 2nd roll if not able to apply Keen Smell/Hunter's Bane for adv to the roll)
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.