Even as the married couple try to block the path of the group, Kiafra just ducks around them in a way only a halfling can, carrying on a little past Sir Comstock. He side eyes those attending to Sir Comstock as he passes, especially the automaton warhorse. His eyes then scan the direction Sir Comstock has come from, looking towards the edge of the forest to ensure nothing is following him.
"Are you being followed?", he asks Sir Comstock, as he stands like a diminutive guardian between the group and the forest watching the treeline.
He glances back as Vaalsh mentions casting a spell, but only for a very brief moment.
Perception: 7+7=14 (Passive: 17)
(OOC: Used Halfling Nimbleness to bypass the couple)
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Bryson looks up from the man, looking around at the gathered people and says, "Well, I hope one of you is better at this then I am. All I can tell is there is... something... wrong." He darts away from the fallen man and fades into the shadows, waiting to jump at any threats that emerge from the forest.
Comstock definitely has something magical affecting him. As you cast the spell, a red spectral chain makes itself visible on each of his limbs for a brief moment. One on his neck, each wrist, and each ankle. In response to Kiafra, he shakes his head. "No, I almost was. The town it was... it was... horrible. My mask broke, and...." He coughs loudly while speaking, not being able to get his last word out.
Weakly standing up, he takes hold of the staff, using it as a crutch for the time being as he walks close to the dwarf's home. Urgently, he rushes down and takes Comstock's aid as well. “It’s clear you have endured much, my child,” the respected dwarf says, “But you must come inside. You need to get to bed.” The elder nods, helping Comstock up inside of his home and shutting the door with him inside, before motioning to both Vaffra and Kiara. "You two, and whoever else you affiliate with, come here.."
Satisfied that nothing is following Sir Comstock, Kiafra turns and follows the injured man back towards the dwarven elder's home. When the elder points in his direction, he is a little taken aback.
"Do you mean me, sir?", he asks, looking about expecting someone else to be the subject of his summons. Not wanting to disrespect his elders, he cautiously approaches the dwarf, but whilst he moves he whispers under his breath, "I am not here to hunt".
Looking about at the others who ran to Sir Comstocks aid he adds more loudly, "You did as much as I did, you might want to hear what the old timer has to say too".
Vaalsh looks at some of the others that have assembled. The woman with the strange armor (Launch), the female knight (Wim), the big halfling (Kiafra), the overdressed man (Flèche) and the pirate (Bryskin) ('Wait, where did he go?'). What a strange group, but they seem like the type to rush to the help of someone in need.
She addresses them. "There is evil afoot. He is being strangled and restrained by a strange red magic." The satyr then enters the house of the Elder, following Comstock and her floating staff. On the way, she wraps her traveling coat tighter around her. Has it gotten colder somehow?
Launch Mechtune was confused and intrigued. Stumbling across a good old magical mystery was very auspicious… possibly a contagion! She could hardly contain herself. Horrible for all these poor people, of course, but an amazing opportunity!
With introspection, she suspected some of this eagerness came from the ancestor with whom she shared the astral trance.
Red Mist, corpse-like skin, protective mask, and Identify revealed magical red chains: Had she run into clues like that before?
Launch follows the crowd assisting Sir Comstock. "Bastion, stand guard. Alert me if there is trouble.".
The elder nods to Kiafra. "Yes, you. And the rest of you. Come in." clearing his throat and motioning to the magic staff. "You may talk to him, if you want... but afterwards, take your staff and clean it off. Do not get closer to him, I don't know if he's sick or diseased or something else." With another groan, Comstock starts to speak once more. "Oh, elder Crowbeak... I just want to sleep..." With a little bit of frustration, the old dwarf turns back the man. "After you tell me, and the rest of these kind people, what happened."
Just as Vaalsh grows a bit chilly, the tiny bit of daylight that came in through the window vanishes.
Launch, you can recall a few things from your trance. A fog descending from the sky, and a large building basking in the mist... what could this mean?
Flèche watched the crowd and the interactions with Comstock--who he only now recognized--carefully. He was about to offer his assistance to the strangers helping, when he noticed a hand waving at him from behind several people. Looking over he notice his younger cousin Pierre waving at him, wild-eyed and a bit excited.
Not wanting to seem inappropriate considering the situation, the bard only gave a slight smile and a wave back. Thinking a bit, he then gave a questioning look and a "what happened?" tilt of his head to the lad while pointing at Comstock. Pierre, stepping to where he could be seen through the crowd more clearly, glanced at the man, then shrugged, rolled his eyes and wagged a finger in a circle. Strange going-ons lately, apparently. Flèche raised his eyebrows and mouthed "family ok?" while holding up a thumb, to which Pierre nodded. Satisfied, Flèche nodded back, then held up a "wait here" finger as he followed everyone into the elder's residence.
"Oh, elder Crowbeak... I just want to sleep..." With a little bit of frustration, the old dwarf turns back the man. "After you tell me, and the rest of these kind people, what happened."
Turning to Comstock with a growing sense of unease, Flèche added, "Please, Comstock... tell us everything. We need to know what's going on."
Kiafra enters the dwarven elder's home, curious as to what more Sir Comstock might have to say. He is also curious about all the others that have taken an interest, and about this strange red magic that has the man restrained.
He wanders around trying to get a sense of anything else in the room with them.
"Maybe start with the mask you say broke. What sort of mask, and why did it breaking mean anything?", he asks as he walks the room, moving around the others present.
(OOC: Kiafra is using his Blindsight of 10' to check there is nothing invisible in the room, particularly close to Sir Comstock)
Wim accepts the invitation, following the group of strangers in curiously; it's difficult to tell what it is that's afflicting the man, though "ghoul" seems perhaps an overstatement. Still ... she proceeds with interest, gazing raptly at the others before returning her gaze to the strangely afflicted man. Red magic, the satyr had said; with a slow inhale, her eyes glow momentarily golden, and she opens her senses toward the man -- toward the room -- in search of what evil might lurk, if any.
After Comstock laid down, Vaalsh commands her staff back and heads over to the kitchen to wipe it down with a warm cloth and soap. She says "If he is inflicted with some kind of disease, I can help. But it seems stronger magic than that might be the cause."
She observes the female knight examine the man closer for a moment. Holy magic? Good. Her own abilities tended to be a bit unwieldy, so she was glad to leave examination in capable hands. On a hunch, Vaalsh moves to the window and looks out.
Kiafra, from what you can see in the room, there's few other things around the room. Just a housecat and a potted plant or two... though the plants are wilted. Wim, there isn't anything too unnatural in the room, from what you can tell. However... there is something that rings in your ears. The heavy, frantic, almost gurgling breathing of Comstock. It's the breathing of, well... someone who is not well. A corpse's breathing. It's sickening.
As Comstock hears the question she's being asked, he nods and starts to tell what happened. "My... my mask? We were given masks to wear when we went out for protection against the smoke... you see outside? The sun blots out sometimes thanks to the fog..." He lets out a heavy, wheezing cough. "The other men I was with... theirs broke too... but they didn't make it back safely... nor did the community that was taken by the smoke. I don't know what happened, but... I saw... something stab one of my friends. I've been feeling sick ever since a day ago... my god, I'll never forget the last thing I heard..."
Elder Crowbeak shakes his head, and puts a hand to his chin for just a moment. This is troubling.
The bard frowned. While the story had technically been told, the lack of pertinent details was a bit frustrating. "Alright, Comstock," he started slowly, trying to ensure the man could focus even through his... affliction. "Where is this community? And this fog, this smoke--what direction did it come from?"
Flèche had already considered more questions, but stopped himself from overloading the man; the poor fellow already seemed to be struggling.
Comstock slowly turns to Flèche, nodding a few times before continuing. "By the hillside and the lake long way's from here. The smoke came not too far from there as some of my men said..." He then turns to Kiafra. "Awful, awful thing... it looked white... skin that looks like melted wax, sagging face, constant wheezing and crying... people running... that's all I remember..."
The elder nods, before chiming in with his own. "He refers to the town of Corcairdhearg. Now, listen. My men have fallen to bandits on the way before, and I don't want you lot to fall as well. Go to the central city of Follasach, and tell the Founders about the nonsense that's been going on. The bastards are too busy in their fancy city and raffles that they refuse to acknowledge anythin' that happens down here. Now, these bandits call themselves the Populi. Don't listen to a damn word they say, hear me?" The dwarf leaves the room for just a moment, digging through a small cabinet and taking out six masks. All of them fitted with odd nozzles and a visor, and offering one to everyone. "Take these. Got 'em made by a witch who lives not far from here. They should protect you from the fog."
And just as he finishes his sentence, Comstock begins to writhe, clutching his neck and gagging loudly. Gasping at the noise and sight, elder Crowbeak rushes over and puts his hand on his chest, slapping him a few times. "Comstock! What's happening, my child? Answer me now!"
Comstock replies with only two words. "Can't.... breathe...."
Vaalshs ears swivel intently to catch what Comstock is saying. 'What sort of monsters are these. People turned by the fog?', she wonders.
As the elder explains how they should proceed, Vaalsh frowns. "Will these Founders help us? If all they care about is their city, they might send us away immediately, thinking us raving country bumpkins." Vaalsh looks around and reddens a bit in the face. Well, at least some of the group would be considered that.
The satyr almost drops the mask as Comstock starts gasping. She lifts her staff and does whatever she thinks may help. With a wide sweeping motion, Vaalsh casts dispel magic¹ and channels some of her healing magic² at the dying man almost in the same breath (7 healing).
¹at 5th level ²Healing light class feature, spending 2d6 of the pool
The elder frantically keeps Comstock down as he continues acting out. The healing magic certainly did help him a little bit, causing him to stop and pant for a few seconds.
During this time the elder slowly and sadly nods. "Oh, they'll think of you as worse than 'country bumpkins', trust me. Just... keep away from any officials. Y'hear?... oh, my goodness!"
... before Comstock returns right back to what he was doing. The spell keeping him in this agony is far more powerful than it originally seemed... but one of the red chains that were once visible on his legs due to her detect magic. Upon closer inspection, it's clear there's more to this than just him choking. It's... dear God, his face.... his mouth stretches out and sags like he was a melting candle. Hair slowly evaporates off his form, his body becomes as skinny as a twig, armor merging with flesh in some kind of horrific mutation. He's wailing in pain, and it's god damned sickening to lay eyes upon.
Wim, it's now very clear why his breathing was loud.
"Get out of the house! Now! One a'you, any a'you tell the people to get in their homes and lock the doors!"
As Sir Comstock describes the creature that attacked them, Kiafra thinks on whether he has come across something similar before. When the elder then mentions going to seek help from city folk he scoffs a little.
"I am no mere messenger, sir", he starts to say even as he accepts the mask. That he was grateful for as it would help him find the real quarry. "I have some experience in dealing with monsters...", he continues after Vaalsh has asked her question and been replied to.
It is then that Sir Comstock starts his transformation and he goes silent. Far from fleeing as the elder instructs, he stands and watches intently, his warhammer gripped and ready as he assesses the creature Sir Comstock is becoming.
(OOC: Kiafra will use Hunter's Sense - description in the below spoiler)
Hunter's Sense
At 3rd level, you gain the ability to peer at a creature and magically discern how best to hurt it. As an action, choose one creature you can see within 60 feet of you. You immediately learn whether the creature has any damage immunities, resistances, or vulnerabilities and what they are. If the creature is hidden from divination magic, you sense that it has no damage immunities, resistances, or vulnerabilities.
Even as the married couple try to block the path of the group, Kiafra just ducks around them in a way only a halfling can, carrying on a little past Sir Comstock. He side eyes those attending to Sir Comstock as he passes, especially the automaton warhorse. His eyes then scan the direction Sir Comstock has come from, looking towards the edge of the forest to ensure nothing is following him.
"Are you being followed?", he asks Sir Comstock, as he stands like a diminutive guardian between the group and the forest watching the treeline.
He glances back as Vaalsh mentions casting a spell, but only for a very brief moment.
Perception: 7+7=14 (Passive: 17)
(OOC: Used Halfling Nimbleness to bypass the couple)
Bryson looks up from the man, looking around at the gathered people and says, "Well, I hope one of you is better at this then I am. All I can tell is there is... something... wrong." He darts away from the fallen man and fades into the shadows, waiting to jump at any threats that emerge from the forest.
OOC: Ready my rapier against any threats.
Stealth (to hide) 22
[A paper drops out of a flash of light and drifts to the ground at your feet] -(extended sig)-
Comstock definitely has something magical affecting him. As you cast the spell, a red spectral chain makes itself visible on each of his limbs for a brief moment. One on his neck, each wrist, and each ankle. In response to Kiafra, he shakes his head. "No, I almost was. The town it was... it was... horrible. My mask broke, and...." He coughs loudly while speaking, not being able to get his last word out.
Weakly standing up, he takes hold of the staff, using it as a crutch for the time being as he walks close to the dwarf's home. Urgently, he rushes down and takes Comstock's aid as well. “It’s clear you have endured much, my child,” the respected dwarf says, “But you must come inside. You need to get to bed.” The elder nods, helping Comstock up inside of his home and shutting the door with him inside, before motioning to both Vaffra and Kiara. "You two, and whoever else you affiliate with, come here.."
“The brighter they shine, the darker the shadow grows.” - Makino Fumito
👑 King of Junior Year 👑
DND Amateur and boxing nerd.
Extended Signature.
Satisfied that nothing is following Sir Comstock, Kiafra turns and follows the injured man back towards the dwarven elder's home. When the elder points in his direction, he is a little taken aback.
"Do you mean me, sir?", he asks, looking about expecting someone else to be the subject of his summons. Not wanting to disrespect his elders, he cautiously approaches the dwarf, but whilst he moves he whispers under his breath, "I am not here to hunt".
Looking about at the others who ran to Sir Comstocks aid he adds more loudly, "You did as much as I did, you might want to hear what the old timer has to say too".
Vaalsh looks at some of the others that have assembled. The woman with the strange armor (Launch), the female knight (Wim), the big halfling (Kiafra), the overdressed man (Flèche) and the pirate (Bryskin) ('Wait, where did he go?'). What a strange group, but they seem like the type to rush to the help of someone in need.
She addresses them. "There is evil afoot. He is being strangled and restrained by a strange red magic." The satyr then enters the house of the Elder, following Comstock and her floating staff. On the way, she wraps her traveling coat tighter around her. Has it gotten colder somehow?
Launch Mechtune was confused and intrigued. Stumbling across a good old magical mystery was very auspicious… possibly a contagion! She could hardly contain herself. Horrible for all these poor people, of course, but an amazing opportunity!
With introspection, she suspected some of this eagerness came from the ancestor with whom she shared the astral trance.
Red Mist, corpse-like skin, protective mask, and Identify revealed magical red chains: Had she run into clues like that before?
Launch follows the crowd assisting Sir Comstock. "Bastion, stand guard. Alert me if there is trouble.".
Launch delving her thoughts on the intriguing mystery.
Knowledge Arcana 28
The elder nods to Kiafra. "Yes, you. And the rest of you. Come in." clearing his throat and motioning to the magic staff. "You may talk to him, if you want... but afterwards, take your staff and clean it off. Do not get closer to him, I don't know if he's sick or diseased or something else." With another groan, Comstock starts to speak once more. "Oh, elder Crowbeak... I just want to sleep..." With a little bit of frustration, the old dwarf turns back the man. "After you tell me, and the rest of these kind people, what happened."
Just as Vaalsh grows a bit chilly, the tiny bit of daylight that came in through the window vanishes.
Launch, you can recall a few things from your trance. A fog descending from the sky, and a large building basking in the mist... what could this mean?
“The brighter they shine, the darker the shadow grows.” - Makino Fumito
👑 King of Junior Year 👑
DND Amateur and boxing nerd.
Extended Signature.
Flèche watched the crowd and the interactions with Comstock--who he only now recognized--carefully. He was about to offer his assistance to the strangers helping, when he noticed a hand waving at him from behind several people. Looking over he notice his younger cousin Pierre waving at him, wild-eyed and a bit excited.
Not wanting to seem inappropriate considering the situation, the bard only gave a slight smile and a wave back. Thinking a bit, he then gave a questioning look and a "what happened?" tilt of his head to the lad while pointing at Comstock. Pierre, stepping to where he could be seen through the crowd more clearly, glanced at the man, then shrugged, rolled his eyes and wagged a finger in a circle. Strange going-ons lately, apparently. Flèche raised his eyebrows and mouthed "family ok?" while holding up a thumb, to which Pierre nodded. Satisfied, Flèche nodded back, then held up a "wait here" finger as he followed everyone into the elder's residence.
The bard supposed that meant the others; the elder knew who he was, even if not very well, just due to him visiting the town so often.
That caught his attention.
Turning to Comstock with a growing sense of unease, Flèche added, "Please, Comstock... tell us everything. We need to know what's going on."
Sterling - V. Human Bard 3 (College of Art) - [Pic] - [Traits] - in Bards: Dragon Heist (w/ Mansion) - Jasper's [Pic] - Sterling's [Sigil]
Tooltips Post (2024 PHB updates) - incl. General Rules
>> New FOW threat & treasure tables: fow-advanced-threat-tables.pdf fow-advanced-treasure-table.pdf
Kiafra enters the dwarven elder's home, curious as to what more Sir Comstock might have to say. He is also curious about all the others that have taken an interest, and about this strange red magic that has the man restrained.
He wanders around trying to get a sense of anything else in the room with them.
"Maybe start with the mask you say broke. What sort of mask, and why did it breaking mean anything?", he asks as he walks the room, moving around the others present.
(OOC: Kiafra is using his Blindsight of 10' to check there is nothing invisible in the room, particularly close to Sir Comstock)
Wim accepts the invitation, following the group of strangers in curiously; it's difficult to tell what it is that's afflicting the man, though "ghoul" seems perhaps an overstatement. Still ... she proceeds with interest, gazing raptly at the others before returning her gaze to the strangely afflicted man. Red magic, the satyr had said; with a slow inhale, her eyes glow momentarily golden, and she opens her senses toward the man -- toward the room -- in search of what evil might lurk, if any.
(And Wim will go ahead and use Divine Sense.)
After Comstock laid down, Vaalsh commands her staff back and heads over to the kitchen to wipe it down with a warm cloth and soap. She says "If he is inflicted with some kind of disease, I can help. But it seems stronger magic than that might be the cause."
She observes the female knight examine the man closer for a moment. Holy magic? Good. Her own abilities tended to be a bit unwieldy, so she was glad to leave examination in capable hands. On a hunch, Vaalsh moves to the window and looks out.
Kiafra, from what you can see in the room, there's few other things around the room. Just a housecat and a potted plant or two... though the plants are wilted. Wim, there isn't anything too unnatural in the room, from what you can tell. However... there is something that rings in your ears. The heavy, frantic, almost gurgling breathing of Comstock. It's the breathing of, well... someone who is not well. A corpse's breathing. It's sickening.
As Comstock hears the question she's being asked, he nods and starts to tell what happened. "My... my mask? We were given masks to wear when we went out for protection against the smoke... you see outside? The sun blots out sometimes thanks to the fog..." He lets out a heavy, wheezing cough. "The other men I was with... theirs broke too... but they didn't make it back safely... nor did the community that was taken by the smoke. I don't know what happened, but... I saw... something stab one of my friends. I've been feeling sick ever since a day ago... my god, I'll never forget the last thing I heard..."
Elder Crowbeak shakes his head, and puts a hand to his chin for just a moment. This is troubling.
“The brighter they shine, the darker the shadow grows.” - Makino Fumito
👑 King of Junior Year 👑
DND Amateur and boxing nerd.
Extended Signature.
The bard frowned. While the story had technically been told, the lack of pertinent details was a bit frustrating. "Alright, Comstock," he started slowly, trying to ensure the man could focus even through his... affliction. "Where is this community? And this fog, this smoke--what direction did it come from?"
Flèche had already considered more questions, but stopped himself from overloading the man; the poor fellow already seemed to be struggling.
Sterling - V. Human Bard 3 (College of Art) - [Pic] - [Traits] - in Bards: Dragon Heist (w/ Mansion) - Jasper's [Pic] - Sterling's [Sigil]
Tooltips Post (2024 PHB updates) - incl. General Rules
>> New FOW threat & treasure tables: fow-advanced-threat-tables.pdf fow-advanced-treasure-table.pdf
Kiafra’s head snaps around when he mentioned that something had stabbed his friend.
”Something stabbed your friend? Can you be a little more descriptive?”, he asks.
Now satisfied that the room is clear his attention is firmly on Sir Comstock.
Comstock slowly turns to Flèche, nodding a few times before continuing. "By the hillside and the lake long way's from here. The smoke came not too far from there as some of my men said..." He then turns to Kiafra. "Awful, awful thing... it looked white... skin that looks like melted wax, sagging face, constant wheezing and crying... people running... that's all I remember..."
The elder nods, before chiming in with his own. "He refers to the town of Corcairdhearg. Now, listen. My men have fallen to bandits on the way before, and I don't want you lot to fall as well. Go to the central city of Follasach, and tell the Founders about the nonsense that's been going on. The bastards are too busy in their fancy city and raffles that they refuse to acknowledge anythin' that happens down here. Now, these bandits call themselves the Populi. Don't listen to a damn word they say, hear me?" The dwarf leaves the room for just a moment, digging through a small cabinet and taking out six masks. All of them fitted with odd nozzles and a visor, and offering one to everyone. "Take these. Got 'em made by a witch who lives not far from here. They should protect you from the fog."
And just as he finishes his sentence, Comstock begins to writhe, clutching his neck and gagging loudly. Gasping at the noise and sight, elder Crowbeak rushes over and puts his hand on his chest, slapping him a few times. "Comstock! What's happening, my child? Answer me now!"
Comstock replies with only two words. "Can't.... breathe...."
“The brighter they shine, the darker the shadow grows.” - Makino Fumito
👑 King of Junior Year 👑
DND Amateur and boxing nerd.
Extended Signature.
Vaalshs ears swivel intently to catch what Comstock is saying. 'What sort of monsters are these. People turned by the fog?', she wonders.
As the elder explains how they should proceed, Vaalsh frowns. "Will these Founders help us? If all they care about is their city, they might send us away immediately, thinking us raving country bumpkins." Vaalsh looks around and reddens a bit in the face. Well, at least some of the group would be considered that.
The satyr almost drops the mask as Comstock starts gasping. She lifts her staff and does whatever she thinks may help. With a wide sweeping motion, Vaalsh casts dispel magic¹ and channels some of her healing magic² at the dying man almost in the same breath (7 healing).
¹at 5th level
²Healing light class feature, spending 2d6 of the pool
The elder frantically keeps Comstock down as he continues acting out. The healing magic certainly did help him a little bit, causing him to stop and pant for a few seconds.
During this time the elder slowly and sadly nods. "Oh, they'll think of you as worse than 'country bumpkins', trust me. Just... keep away from any officials. Y'hear?... oh, my goodness!"
... before Comstock returns right back to what he was doing. The spell keeping him in this agony is far more powerful than it originally seemed... but one of the red chains that were once visible on his legs due to her detect magic. Upon closer inspection, it's clear there's more to this than just him choking. It's... dear God, his face.... his mouth stretches out and sags like he was a melting candle. Hair slowly evaporates off his form, his body becomes as skinny as a twig, armor merging with flesh in some kind of horrific mutation. He's wailing in pain, and it's god damned sickening to lay eyes upon.
Wim, it's now very clear why his breathing was loud.
"Get out of the house! Now! One a'you, any a'you tell the people to get in their homes and lock the doors!"
“The brighter they shine, the darker the shadow grows.” - Makino Fumito
👑 King of Junior Year 👑
DND Amateur and boxing nerd.
Extended Signature.
As Sir Comstock describes the creature that attacked them, Kiafra thinks on whether he has come across something similar before. When the elder then mentions going to seek help from city folk he scoffs a little.
"I am no mere messenger, sir", he starts to say even as he accepts the mask. That he was grateful for as it would help him find the real quarry. "I have some experience in dealing with monsters...", he continues after Vaalsh has asked her question and been replied to.
It is then that Sir Comstock starts his transformation and he goes silent. Far from fleeing as the elder instructs, he stands and watches intently, his warhammer gripped and ready as he assesses the creature Sir Comstock is becoming.
(OOC: Kiafra will use Hunter's Sense - description in the below spoiler)
Hunter's Sense
At 3rd level, you gain the ability to peer at a creature and magically discern how best to hurt it. As an action, choose one creature you can see within 60 feet of you. You immediately learn whether the creature has any damage immunities, resistances, or vulnerabilities and what they are. If the creature is hidden from divination magic, you sense that it has no damage immunities, resistances, or vulnerabilities.
When the man began transforming into the very creature that he claimed stabbed his friend, Bryskin moves forward and going to use Panache
Persuasion: 10
[A paper drops out of a flash of light and drifts to the ground at your feet] -(extended sig)-