Ghosts of Saltmarsh (cbaer8) - Campaign Thread

Kei tiptoes forward and peers around the corner. (Stealth with advantage: 19 )

He watches as the old man disappears into another cellar door less than a block away.

Back at the hotel, Gerrard and Dwal enjoy their baths, but can't help but wonder where Kei and Peri have wondered into.

It is midafternoon. 

Peri:

Peri follows along with Kei and observes the old man enter the cellar. "Whaddya think?" he whispers. "Do we want to know where the bodies are goin' or where they're comin' from?"

Gerrard:

After a well-earned rest (spending 2 HD:  18 ), Gerrard emerges clean, groomed, and dressed in high quality but not particularly flashy clothes.

”Brother Fiercehammer, so you think we could spare the time to identify that magical amulet before dinner?  I was thinking the other two might have joined us by now, but we might need to dine without them.  I do grow worried, though—do you have any way to track them or communicate with them magically?” asks Gerrard once Dwal is finished braiding his flowing beard.

Dwal 

Dwal, once bathed, groomed and the like, will get out his chalk and draw the arcane symbols on the floor then retrieve the components and cast identify to figure out the amulet's properties.

The asymmetric metal amulet, strung with a piece of black twine, emanates pure evil. It seems to buzz with dark power. It is not from this world, Dwal learns, but rather from the fabled Abyss. It seems to hold the essence of a powerful being - a highly intelligent Glabrezu - and acts as a summoning tool for those who are foolish or desperate enough to use it. It can cast Summon Greater Demon once per day, but its powers seem stronger than that spell, as it is capable of summoning fiends beyond its normal powers (up to challenge 8, and, with practice, multiple demons.) It is unpredictable and highly dangerous, as the Glabrezu is a brilliantly wicked being who is bent upon the destruction of anyone who attempts to use this object.

Meanwhile, Peri and Kei stare at the closed cellar door, down the alley and around the corner from Aubreck's hideout, in a drab, featureless building not very different than the one Peri just climbed out of.

Dwal

Dwal reacts by taking 2 steps away from the amulet.
"That things got a connection to tha lower planes lad." he tells Gerrard. "It is used ta summon unnatural things into this world, things that want ta get a hold and destroy all it sees. I ain't tellin' ya what ta do with it but I'd find a way ta hid it. I don't know if'n ya can destroy it but ya don't want it ta fall into tha hands of someone like Kei or yer mom. They'd abuse tha power of it and become corrupted." 

Gerrard:

Joining Dwal in stepping back, Gerrard says, “You speak wisely, Brother Fiercehammer.  We should find a way to destroy this item without loosing a fiend in this world.  Do you think the temple of Procan could be trusted to enlighten us on its method of destruction?”

Kei 

"I think if we're to search where it came from we might end up in the same sack. If we take a look at where it's gone we can make a decision whether to gather Fiercebeard and His Lordship. Let's take a closer look at the building and go from there" he flaps around with his hand til it connects with Peri and then directs him towards the destination.

Dwal

"I don't know lad," Dwal says as he watches the amulet, half expecting it to jump on its own accord. "I wouldn't be paradin' it around an' lettin' folks know you have it either. I've known a few mages in my days that would give their right arm ta possess such a thing, along with a bunch of folks that call themselves nobles and all. An' undoing what's been done ain't that easy."  
Dwal is silent for a few moments then says.
"That kind of power corrupts tha soul. I wouldn't be touchin' it with bare skin or wearin' it either. Tha powers that it connects to have ways of possessin' tha bearer an' makin' them their plaything." 

Dwal takes a seat and strokes his beard. He waits for Gerrard to decide what he wants to do with the amulet. 

Kei and Peri stare at this new, closed cellar door. They stand, invisibly, in a dirty, smelly, and dark alley around the corner and across a couple of alleys from Aubreck's building. They contemplate their next move. There are a pair of barred and boarded-over windows on the ground floor over the cellar door. The windowless wooden cellar door is down a half dozen stone-and-dirt steps. It's maybe five feet tall; Kei would need to stoop to enter. The cobbled-together building is large and fills the block. The nearby open sewer emits an eye-wateringly foul smell. There is nobody to be seen except a few distant rats.

Dwal and Gerrard stare at the crude, evil amulet on the table, and contemplate what to do with it.

Gerrard:

Wrapping up the amulet tightly without touching it, Gerrard says, "Let's destroy it once we figure out how.  Until then, we need to hide it somewhere it cannot tempt those who crave power."  Hiding it on his person deep within his equipment, Gerrard adds, "Let us hope having it in my possession does not affect me like wearing it might.  Shall we head to the temple of Procan and ask some generic questions, or do you have any ideas about a secure place to hide it, Brother Fiercehammer?"

Peri:

"Sounds good to me," Peri agrees with Kei. "Do you have a trick for gettin' us inside? I don't think I can shimmy through those bars."

Dwal

Dwal strokes his beard.
"I suggest ya keep it close to ya." he replies. "I am not sure but if we leave here I figure anything left behind will be gone through. As fer tha temple, let's take a small trip there and can gauge wether these priests have any real power of are they all talk." 

Dwal will get dressed and throw his bag over his shoulder. 
"Worst case we can throw it in here for a bit to keep it out of pryin' eyes," he says as he pats the bag. With that Dwal is ready to go. 

Gerrard:

”Good idea,” says Gerrard, reasoning that the magical bag may mask the mystic aura of the evil item.  He hands over his mess kit, within which he has secreted the wrapped-up amulet.  “In the bag it goes, Brother Fiercehammer, then let us away to the temple.”

Gerrard writes a short note to let Peri and Kei know where they went should they arrive while they are gone, suggesting a time and place for dinner and drinks afterwards.

Dwal carefully places the mess kit containing the black amulet into his Bag of Holding, while Gerrard pens a beautifully styled note for their missing comrades.

Gerrard knows where Seaton's Temple of Procan was traditionally located - just a few blocks away in a nondescript building fronted by tailor shops - although he has never been inside. There are no signs or symbols designating it (or if there are, they are well-disguised.) The local temple is run by Cap'n Jane, an old salt with deep family roots in Seaton.

It's not even clear where the main entrance is, as there are shops and stalls spilling out in all directions from it. Picking the widest natural corridor to approach, Gerrard and Dwal are soon intercepted by a pair of burly men in merchant's clothing. They look a bit awkward. "Mr. Feldren," they say, looking at Gerrard's shoes. "May we assist you with something?" (Feel free to roll an insight check here.)

~*~

Meanwhile Peri and Kei study the cellar door. Investigation: 9 and 9

 It's shut, made of filthy, rotting, patched-together wood, and shoes no sign of locks or traps. Just a handle. If either of you opens it, roll Stealth (with advantage.) 

Gerrard:

Insight:  13

“Ah, good citizen,” says Gerrard brightly, “How are you this fine afternoon?”

"Very good, sir, very good. What brings you to our humble neighborhood?"

Gerrard senses that these guys are guards or bouncers of some sort. They are here to greet you and find out what you want, and likely try to stop you and steer you elsewhere.
They also fully recognize you as a Feldren, and are both deferent and quite nervous.

Gerrard:

”Ah, yes.  We have recently arrived in town after some traumatic nautical adventures, but we have been blessed to survive the trip—in no small part, I am sure, due to the favor and blessing of one Brinehald,” says Gerrard, pausing for a moment to see if that particular name is recognized.

”My companion, Brother Fiercehammer, and I were looking to pay our respects, but if I am unwelcome, I bid you accept this good dwarf that he may convey my appreciation while I continue my tour of this fair city,” he continues, apparently aware of the discomfort he is inflicting on these poor acolytes.

Kei 

He turns to Peri and whispers "Don't you have some invisble critter that does your bidding? You know, the one that helped with the sails. Can you see through its eyes?" He scans the area to make sure they are still alone. "I would send my mine, but it would take me longer than we have just to summon it. Otherwise, I say we take note of this place and the other and return at another time. I am not sure how long our veil of secrecy has left. Would hate to be caught inside with our britches down."

Peri:

"No, that thing's more of a force than an actual creature. Can't see through it or anything. I'd really like to know what's goin' on -- Aubrek and Vertheg are no ordinary merchants -- but you're probably right. A cautious approach makes sense. Plus I'm finally outta Saltmarsh and I haven't had a single drink, a bath. or a conversation with a pretty woman yet! Yeah, let's go check in with the others and maybe get us a meal!"