You know that homunculi usually can’t speak. The fact that this pair speak Common makes it likely that whoever summoned them was or were powerful magic users. Two other points of interest:
Bell's forehead... normally smooth , is deeply furrowed as she lets her mind dig deep to identify these two creatures. With an internal running dialgoue as well as muttering out loud, she finally comes to a conclusion her insides and outsides can agree upon.
She seems to be even more flustered than when she was attacked by the book chains. "... um... er... I have good news and bad news? Maybe... ?"
"Oh! Only good news I hope, my lady!," interrupts Cumin, the apron and kerchief wearing creature, as it flaps closer, a cherubic though sharp-toothed smile under crinkled quarter-moon eyes. "Why don't yer please come in! Can I get yez something to eat, or drink? We just had these little pies come out of the oven not long ago, and we've fresh cream if the cats have left any!"
The other little creature, now flapping nearer with ramrod posture and his coat properly adjusted, bows low in mid-air while gesturing to the four chairs around the kitchen table, which is somehow already cleared off. "If you please, ladies and mister," it squeaks, though at a lower pitch.
Meredith looked back towards Pepe with sad eyes but headed into the kitchen, " Oh, what sort of pies are they?"
She really didn't want to be the one that brought up the damage that had been done to the place......she did look around for any books with lettered spines that might be lying about....
She [Bell] seems to be even more flustered than when she was attacked by the book chains. "... um... er... I have good news and bad news? Maybe... ?"
Bell continues to fidget as she gives 'the news', "Good news - we are safe, sort of. These two seem to be homunculi - constructs that act as an extension of its creator, with the two [creator & creation] sharing thoughts, senses, and language through a mystical bond."
She speaks slower as she gets to the 'questionable' news.
"There are known rules about creating homunculi. NORMALLY, they never talk so, our new friends here are something special. The other odd thing is, so far as the books said, there can be only one -- one creator and one homunculi. Having TWO speaking homunculi? Either Fistandia was an exceptional person of power or we are dealing with more than 'just' Fistandia here."
"Oh... and the books said that the creation dies when the creator dies. Which seems to indicate Fistandia is NOT long dead?" Bell shrugs her shoulders after delivering the tidbit.
"That leads me to the really bad news. With these two 'alive' -- we are either looking at a very much alive Fistandia or TWO magic-users who claim this place as 'home'. Which also means that chained library we just 'escaped'... we are in SO much trouble."
"AND, since these two are 'still alive', their creator (or creators) are seeing and hearing all that we are saying right now."
“Why, apple pies, ma’am,” answers Cumin, the kerchiefed homunculus. “But if yer don’t like apple pies, I have enough in the pantry for shepherd pies or… or tossed summer greens, or erm… a custard… or what have ye!”
Coriander stands at attention as Bell speaks about him and Cumin, a picture of patient servitude.
“Erm… ma’am,” he says, addressing Bell. “NOT long dead, sez ye? Of Lady Fistandia? Has something befallen our poor Lady? Truth is, we actually can’t… erm… comminicate with either of our creators when they aren’t here in the mansion with us. It does seem as if a long time has passed since they wuz here last…”
Erudisiawanders the walls of the kitchen while Bell discusses the minutiae of the homunculi and their possible deceipt. She runs one finger through an errant patch of spice and raises it her nose to sniff it, then sneezes. It certainly seems like pepper, but so do the best illusions.
"So which of you are the homunculus of Lady Fistandia, and who created the second?" The question she does not ask aloud is 'who bound the imp into its inanimate form?' It seems a reasonable leap of logic that if one mage made their home in this extra-dimensional mansion, then perhaps the other was the one who caused their absence and bound demons into its furniture and decorations.
Erudisia ... runs one finger through an errant patch of spice and raises it her nose to sniff it, then sneezes. It certainly seems like pepper, but so do the best illusions.
"Oh dear!," calls Cumin, who rushes over to the errant patch of spice with a clean towel and wipes the counter to a shine. Indeed, the entire kitchen is pristine. And there is little room for doubt. The spice was pepper.
"So which of you are the homunculus of Lady Fistandia, and who created the second?"
"Why, I am the Lady's creation," answers Cumin, smiling.
"And I am the product of Freyot's arcane skills," Coriander says. "Oh, err..., would any of ye care to have yer clothes stiched up a bit? Looks like some kids have been playing football, with you as the ball..." Following his glance, you see rips and tears in the clothes of those who took damage in the combat with the animated chained library.
Meredith munched away happily, " Um....do you two know how to leave this place? We have a friend who is poisoned back in the.......entry hall?......and we need to get them some medical attention."
“Poisoned?? In the hall??,” the pair shout, or rather, squeak, wide-eyed. At a nod from Cumin, Coriander flits out of the room with graceless poise, passing Pepe coming into the kitchen, to be joined by another cat which had been hiding behind the tablecloth. Both cats now pad quietly to bowls of milk set out for them, Pepe turning a cold shoulder and completely ignoring everyone.
A moment later, a tiny shout of, “Oh my!, Poisoned, indeed! Matreus!,” precedes, a moment later, Coriander’s return.
“Poisoned, indeed! Matreus!,” he shouts to Cumin, again, when he has returned, and now it’s Cumin’s turn to rush out to the parlor.
“Oh dear!,” you hear her shout, and “Oh my! That evil little imp escaped! This was its doing, I’m sure!”
She returns to the kitchen with a flutter of leathery wings.
“Can none of you ladies or sir help him?,” she asks, wringing her hands.
"Alas,Miss Cumin, that is our failing. While we have studied various magics, we have neglected certain areas... to the detriment of our party. This is why we need to find a way out of Fistandia's special home and get back to Candlekeep -- to get proper help for Matreus. He does not have long before the poison is fatal." Bell's eyes water up as she explains to Cumin.
"We had hoped you might know the special words to leave. Or even had some knowledge in healing or potions which might slow down the poison for Matreus."
"Right now, all we know is -- we must recover this book from various rooms to decipher a word..."Bell pulls out one of the copies of The Joy of Extradimensional Spaces and points to the letter on the spine.
"Supposedly, we spell out a word with all the letters we collect. But we don't know where all the copies are so... time is running out forMatreus."
(A very persuasive plea! I won’t make Bell roll. Automatic success.)
”Ah! The seven lettered tomes! We’ve been instructed not to touch them, but you’ll need them to get out! We don’t know what they do or how they work but we know where they are. Don’t we, Coriander?,” says Cumin, who nods sagely.
“Aye! The first is in the parlor. Then the second’s in the laboratory. The third is in the chained library but it’s protected by that grumpy animated… oh, er…,” Coriander says, noticing Loopy hanging over Erudisia’s neck. “Correction: WAS protected by the previously animated chained library…”
“The fourth is in the trophy room… but two flying swords will attack anything that’s touched in that room,” adds Cumin.
“And a fifth one in the bedroom,” says Coriander. “The door is open to air it out. Lady Fistandia hates to sleep in a stuffy room!”
”And… there are two more in the basement but we’ve never been down there,” says Coriander.
”The basement is forbidden to us, aye. And to get down… ye gotta use a SECRET door. In the parlor. I know it must be so, although I’ve never seen it used. Have you, Coriander?,” Cumin says.
”I never have either,” answers the other with grave finality.
Various other details are mentioned and small talk is made and the clock in the parlor chimes the passing of another hour.
"It seems our next steps must be to the parlor. The more tomes we have the more like it is we can guess the word required, and if the parlor has one and the basement two more than perhaps we might be able to guess what command word shall save Matreus' life. But messrs Homunculi, have you any knowledge of potions that mighty Fistandia might have kept, antidotes or potions of healing?"
“No! Alas, we have no potions of healing or antidotes here and know of none anywhere in the mansion. Although, as we said, we at forbidden from the basement. But we don’t know anothing about what is down there…,” answers the kerchiefed female, Cumin.
Merediths eyes had filled with tears at the depth of Bells performance and she dabbed at them uselessly, she chirruped respectful goodbyes to both cats ( with a query as to whether either of them knew about the secret passage) then headed towards the Parlour.
Merediths eyes had filled with tears at the depth of Bells performance and she dabbed at them uselessly, she chirruped respectful goodbyes to both cats ( with a query as to whether either of them knew about the secret passage) then headed towards the Parlour.
Meredith’s spell duration was ten minutes for Speak with animals. She would need to recast it to ask this question. Does she?
(Erudisia’s Arcana, used her Inspiration for it — 9 and 3).
(originallly posted in the PMs) Bell Arcana Check: 17
Bell:
These two creatures are Homunculi. You can consult the monster manual listing for them.
https://www.dndbeyond.com/monsters/16926-homunculus
You know that homunculi usually can’t speak. The fact that this pair speak Common makes it likely that whoever summoned them was or were powerful magic users. Two other points of interest:
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries // Dev Hornd in Curious Critters // Eclipse Faraway in Gallows Dancer
Bell's forehead... normally smooth , is deeply furrowed as she lets her mind dig deep to identify these two creatures. With an internal running dialgoue as well as muttering out loud, she finally comes to a conclusion her insides and outsides can agree upon.
She seems to be even more flustered than when she was attacked by the book chains. "... um... er... I have good news and bad news? Maybe... ?"
"Oh! Only good news I hope, my lady!," interrupts Cumin, the apron and kerchief wearing creature, as it flaps closer, a cherubic though sharp-toothed smile under crinkled quarter-moon eyes. "Why don't yer please come in! Can I get yez something to eat, or drink? We just had these little pies come out of the oven not long ago, and we've fresh cream if the cats have left any!"
The other little creature, now flapping nearer with ramrod posture and his coat properly adjusted, bows low in mid-air while gesturing to the four chairs around the kitchen table, which is somehow already cleared off. "If you please, ladies and mister," it squeaks, though at a lower pitch.
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries // Dev Hornd in Curious Critters // Eclipse Faraway in Gallows Dancer
Meredith looked back towards Pepe with sad eyes but headed into the kitchen, " Oh, what sort of pies are they?"
She really didn't want to be the one that brought up the damage that had been done to the place......she did look around for any books with lettered spines that might be lying about....
Bell continues to fidget as she gives 'the news', "Good news - we are safe, sort of. These two seem to be homunculi - constructs that act as an extension of its creator, with the two [creator & creation] sharing thoughts, senses, and language through a mystical bond."
She speaks slower as she gets to the 'questionable' news.
"There are known rules about creating homunculi. NORMALLY, they never talk so, our new friends here are something special. The other odd thing is, so far as the books said, there can be only one -- one creator and one homunculi. Having TWO speaking homunculi? Either Fistandia was an exceptional person of power or we are dealing with more than 'just' Fistandia here."
"Oh... and the books said that the creation dies when the creator dies. Which seems to indicate Fistandia is NOT long dead?" Bell shrugs her shoulders after delivering the tidbit.
"That leads me to the really bad news. With these two 'alive' -- we are either looking at a very much alive Fistandia or TWO magic-users who claim this place as 'home'. Which also means that chained library we just 'escaped'... we are in SO much trouble."
"AND, since these two are 'still alive', their creator (or creators) are seeing and hearing all that we are saying right now."
Bell immediately slapped a hand over her mouth.
“Why, apple pies, ma’am,” answers Cumin, the kerchiefed homunculus. “But if yer don’t like apple pies, I have enough in the pantry for shepherd pies or… or tossed summer greens, or erm… a custard… or what have ye!”
Coriander stands at attention as Bell speaks about him and Cumin, a picture of patient servitude.
“Erm… ma’am,” he says, addressing Bell. “NOT long dead, sez ye? Of Lady Fistandia? Has something befallen our poor Lady? Truth is, we actually can’t… erm… comminicate with either of our creators when they aren’t here in the mansion with us. It does seem as if a long time has passed since they wuz here last…”
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries // Dev Hornd in Curious Critters // Eclipse Faraway in Gallows Dancer
Erudisia wanders the walls of the kitchen while Bell discusses the minutiae of the homunculi and their possible deceipt. She runs one finger through an errant patch of spice and raises it her nose to sniff it, then sneezes. It certainly seems like pepper, but so do the best illusions.
"So which of you are the homunculus of Lady Fistandia, and who created the second?" The question she does not ask aloud is 'who bound the imp into its inanimate form?' It seems a reasonable leap of logic that if one mage made their home in this extra-dimensional mansion, then perhaps the other was the one who caused their absence and bound demons into its furniture and decorations.
Meredith takes two of the offered apple pies and regards the other conversations with interest...
"Oh dear!," calls Cumin, who rushes over to the errant patch of spice with a clean towel and wipes the counter to a shine. Indeed, the entire kitchen is pristine. And there is little room for doubt. The spice was pepper.
"Please, sit her, ma'am," gestures Coriander, bringing the little pies to Meredith. If she takes a bite, she finds that they taste delicious.
"Why, I am the Lady's creation," answers Cumin, smiling.
"And I am the product of Freyot's arcane skills," Coriander says. "Oh, err..., would any of ye care to have yer clothes stiched up a bit? Looks like some kids have been playing football, with you as the ball..." Following his glance, you see rips and tears in the clothes of those who took damage in the combat with the animated chained library.
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries // Dev Hornd in Curious Critters // Eclipse Faraway in Gallows Dancer
Both homunculi seem very happy to serve Meredith a pair of small pies.
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries // Dev Hornd in Curious Critters // Eclipse Faraway in Gallows Dancer
Meredith munched away happily, " Um....do you two know how to leave this place? We have a friend who is poisoned back in the.......entry hall?......and we need to get them some medical attention."
“Poisoned?? In the hall??,” the pair shout, or rather, squeak, wide-eyed. At a nod from Cumin, Coriander flits out of the room with graceless poise, passing Pepe coming into the kitchen, to be joined by another cat which had been hiding behind the tablecloth. Both cats now pad quietly to bowls of milk set out for them, Pepe turning a cold shoulder and completely ignoring everyone.
A moment later, a tiny shout of, “Oh my!, Poisoned, indeed! Matreus!,” precedes, a moment later, Coriander’s return.
“Poisoned, indeed! Matreus!,” he shouts to Cumin, again, when he has returned, and now it’s Cumin’s turn to rush out to the parlor.
“Oh dear!,” you hear her shout, and “Oh my! That evil little imp escaped! This was its doing, I’m sure!”
She returns to the kitchen with a flutter of leathery wings.
“Can none of you ladies or sir help him?,” she asks, wringing her hands.
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries // Dev Hornd in Curious Critters // Eclipse Faraway in Gallows Dancer
"Alas, Miss Cumin, that is our failing. While we have studied various magics, we have neglected certain areas... to the detriment of our party. This is why we need to find a way out of Fistandia's special home and get back to Candlekeep -- to get proper help for Matreus. He does not have long before the poison is fatal." Bell's eyes water up as she explains to Cumin.
"We had hoped you might know the special words to leave. Or even had some knowledge in healing or potions which might slow down the poison for Matreus."
"Right now, all we know is -- we must recover this book from various rooms to decipher a word..." Bell pulls out one of the copies of The Joy of Extradimensional Spaces and points to the letter on the spine.
"Supposedly, we spell out a word with all the letters we collect. But we don't know where all the copies are so... time is running out for Matreus."
(A very persuasive plea! I won’t make Bell roll. Automatic success.)
”Ah! The seven lettered tomes! We’ve been instructed not to touch them, but you’ll need them to get out! We don’t know what they do or how they work but we know where they are. Don’t we, Coriander?,” says Cumin, who nods sagely.
“Aye! The first is in the parlor. Then the second’s in the laboratory. The third is in the chained library but it’s protected by that grumpy animated… oh, er…,” Coriander says, noticing Loopy hanging over Erudisia’s neck. “Correction: WAS protected by the previously animated chained library…”
“The fourth is in the trophy room… but two flying swords will attack anything that’s touched in that room,” adds Cumin.
“And a fifth one in the bedroom,” says Coriander. “The door is open to air it out. Lady Fistandia hates to sleep in a stuffy room!”
”And… there are two more in the basement but we’ve never been down there,” says Coriander.
”The basement is forbidden to us, aye. And to get down… ye gotta use a SECRET door. In the parlor. I know it must be so, although I’ve never seen it used. Have you, Coriander?,” Cumin says.
”I never have either,” answers the other with grave finality.
Various other details are mentioned and small talk is made and the clock in the parlor chimes the passing of another hour.
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries // Dev Hornd in Curious Critters // Eclipse Faraway in Gallows Dancer
"It seems our next steps must be to the parlor. The more tomes we have the more like it is we can guess the word required, and if the parlor has one and the basement two more than perhaps we might be able to guess what command word shall save Matreus' life. But messrs Homunculi, have you any knowledge of potions that mighty Fistandia might have kept, antidotes or potions of healing?"
“No! Alas, we have no potions of healing or antidotes here and know of none anywhere in the mansion. Although, as we said, we at forbidden from the basement. But we don’t know anothing about what is down there…,” answers the kerchiefed female, Cumin.
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries // Dev Hornd in Curious Critters // Eclipse Faraway in Gallows Dancer
Merediths eyes had filled with tears at the depth of Bells performance and she dabbed at them uselessly, she chirruped respectful goodbyes to both cats ( with a query as to whether either of them knew about the secret passage) then headed towards the Parlour.
Meredith’s spell duration was ten minutes for Speak with animals. She would need to recast it to ask this question. Does she?
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries // Dev Hornd in Curious Critters // Eclipse Faraway in Gallows Dancer