Erevan as female healer looks up at Iork with a pleading expression on her face, eyes wide. She points to Olwer, gesturing with her hands and mouthing words as if singing a song.
From Fez, moving about in the woods from branch to branch along the clearing's edge, come the following words in Erevan's voice: "She's asking to tend to our friend first. He is a bard of the College of New Olamn in Waterdeep and can cure ills with magic song. I don't think she can help your friend without his aid!"
(I hope I'm not wrong, but I don't see any reactions or anything to prevent you from falling unconscious)
The pair of you regain consciousness, tied up and gagged. You're still in the thicket. It looks to be much later in the day, nearly dusk. You become aware of pain and realize all your fingers have been broken, and you're gagged.
Iork stands before you. His face is pale, his eyes red. Has he been crying? He speaks in a rough, emotional voice.
"Nik's dead. Again. I don't know why you magical tricksters have chosen to torment us, made us relive this dark day a second time. But you shall pay. I've decided I don't want to hear any more of your lies. I'll just kill you, and perhaps your spell will no longer affect us."
Without any more ceremony, he slits both of your throats!
You both wake to the sound of a rooster's crow. You hear the sound of a brass band cranking up. “Roll up! Roll up for the Pudding Faire!” cries a voice from the street below. You're back in your room in the inn, in your beds. It's morning. Taro is in his bed, presumably dead. You have no injuries and feel perfectly fine and rested. Peering out your room’s window, you see a crowd of happy halflings and gnomes bustling toward a fairground on the village green.
"We should kill the sons of dogs....but it seems a bit pointless to get revenge for our murders when we aren't dead. And I don't see any sense in attempting to parley with those vicious idiots again. You? "
While Erevan decides what they ought to do todayOlwer collects all the dry pixie dust he can get from his deceased comrade's body and bedclothes. He carefully wraps the drug powder up and stows it in a small bag or flask, preferably whatever Taro had used. He then hides this on his person.
Erevan sighs as he realizes what has happened. But he's glad not to be dead, so there's that.
"Well Olwer, it seems like finding our halfling target is no longer at the top of our list of concerns. We need to figure out a way to get unstuck from this time and place. It seems to me that we should talk to that wise old Cowslip lady. And I suppose we should consider if there's any good use for that psychic as well.
"And I think that we should stay as far away from that damn clearing and that murderous man as possible!"
"I agree completely about seeing Nanny Cowslip. It seems just the thing to do."
He finishes stowing the drug on his person, and adds,
"I apologize for all that bloody mess in the woods...I thought I could talk to them, get information, help the dying man and maybe make common cause with their party. I miscalculated, badly so."
He heads downstairs after putting on his armor and sword. When he finds the innkeeper or a servant, he uses the same lies as yesterday to dissuade the staff from 'disturbing Taro' at his rest.
deception
15
Then, off to speak with Nanny Cowslip. He lets Erevan do most of the talking, if the other man is so inclined, and backs up whatever tales Erevan tells. Olwer won't fib to the old woman unless forced to do so to back up something Erevan says. If he can, he'll be honest.
This is your third encounter with Miss Buttertree and you feel the lies rolling off your tongue. You won’t need any checks if this comes up again in future.
Outside there’s a palpable feeling of bustle and excitement. Halflings and gnomes throng the streets, heading towards the faire. Everywhere you look, something interesting is happening. The same interesting things that you noted before. A group of children startle a goose, which flutters and honks, causing a nearby gnome to jump and drop a pile of cakes on the ground. You see a passing jackdaw poop on the bald pate of an aged halfling. Further up the street, a barking dog chases a cat through the legs of the crowd, tripping up the town crier (the fellow who had been bellowing this morning) and he falls into a mud puddle. These events are met with laughs and helping hands from other passersby.
Youve made it to Nanny Cowslip just at the Faire entrance and all seems to be as before. She greets you warmly but without a spark of recognition in her eye.
“It’s always nice to see out-of-towners at the Faire. What brings you to our neck of the woods?”
On the way to see Nanny Cowslip, Erevan speaks quietly in Elvish with Olwer. "As I said, I have no desire to see those men in the clearing again, but I will say that they seem to be aware of this time trap, or whatever you want to call it, unlike the natives. We may need to keep that in mind. If only they would listen to us, we might work together. But I doubt that will happen."
Once they arrive, Erevan takes a long, deep breath, trying to focus his mind on what might be happening, as he speaks with Nanny Cowslip. "Good day m'lady, we are brewers here seeking special hops," he says. "And you must be Nanny Cowslip! I have heard it said that you are the wisest halfling in the land. I have two questions for you. First, have you noticed anything strange about the Faire? Per,haps there is something amiss with, how should I put it, the flow of time and events? And my second question is simply 'Have we met before?'"
On the way to see Nanny Cowslip, Erevan speaks quietly in Elvish with Olwer. "As I said, I have no desire to see those men in the clearing again, but I will say that they seem to be aware of this time trap, or whatever you want to call it, unlike the natives. We may need to keep that in mind. If only they would listen to us, we might work together. But I doubt that will happen."
Once they arrive, Erevan takes a long, deep breath, trying to focus his mind on what might be happening, as he speaks with Nanny Cowslip. "Good day m'lady, we are brewers here seeking special hops," he says. "And you must be Nanny Cowslip! I have heard it said that you are the wisest halfling in the land. I have two questions for you. First, have you noticed anything strange about the Faire? Per,haps there is something amiss with, how should I put it, the flow of time and events? And my second question is simply 'Have we met before?'"
Before arriving at Nanny Cowslip's spot, Olwer mentions the possibility that Elsie Rumknuckle, also an outsider at the Pudding Faire, might be 'time-trapped' just as Olwer, Ervan, and Iork's band of cutthroats.
Face to face with the old Halfling, Olwer lets Erevan do the talking.
He pays close attention to the elder's face and words.
Nanny Cowslip smiles benignly and her eyes glitter as she chuckles, “Out-of-towners have strange notions sometimes. Or maybe you’ve been sampling a bit too much of your own wares? I have no idea what you’re taking about, and we’ve definitely never met. As brewers, I hope you’ll check out the cider stand. Nothing beats the crisp, fresh taste of our apples.”
Olwer, you’ve got a good read on the ancient halfling. You are sure she’s telling the truth, she doesn’t know what you’re talking about. But your words have secretly caught her attention. You’re impressed at the intelligence and awareness in her eyes, and her self-control to laugh off your comments on the surface while secretly internalizing and wondering about you, but keeping it well hidden in her smiling face.
Olwer smiles at the old woman, and assures her that he'll sample the cider.
Later, if he gets a private moment with Erevan, he says in Elvish,
""I think she's telling the truth. She doesn't know us."
He looks about warily, then whispers,
"Maybe we should try to stop Patcher Moldwarp from turning the mayor into a toad? Or question Moldwarp? Very risky, I'm sure, but we've already been murdered 'today.' Still, dangerous, I think. We could instead seek out Elsie Rumknuckle and see if she, indeed, has fallen under this curse or whatever it is, like us? If she has, then she remembers us, and will likely bolt when she lays on us if she hasn't already skipped town. But she may prove more intelligent and less violent than Iork's band. I don't care if we let her go and lose the bounty, if we get out of this pickle, and I'm prepared to cut a deal with her if you are also so inclined. Or maybe there's something else I'm not seeing? That white mole...we could catch it, I suppose. Events not caused by outsiders like us seem to be more or less happening the same as before, and there may be a way we can make use of that. I just don't know how. Your thoughts?"
"Thank you, ma'am," Erevan says. "I will be certain to try the cider. It sounds wonderful."
He turns to Olwer and motions for them to move along. Speaking quietly in Elvish he says. "I like your idea about Elsie as an outsider. The psychic also was said to be new here this year. We could probably play her game and see if she is aware of the time trap. The question would have to be properly worded of course. And we could also hire as we did in the past, but with the mission of probing thoughts about time repeating itself and things like that. What do you think?"
"Thank you, ma'am," Erevan says. "I will be certain to try the cider. It sounds wonderful."
He turns to Olwer and motions for them to move along. Speaking quietly in Elvish he says. "I like your idea about Elsie as an outsider. The psychic also was said to be new here this year. We could probably play her game and see if she is aware of the time trap. The question would have to be properly worded of course. And we could also hire as we did in the past, but with the mission of probing thoughts about time repeating itself and things like that. What do you think?"
''I think your plan is good. Let's go see Petunia. You dealt so well with her last time, I suggest you play the front man again. On the way, let's grab some of that free food at the big tent. I'm famished."
On your way to the tent, you notice that the herbalist wagon, which was there the previous two "days" at this time, is missing today.
The big tent, however, appears the same as previous. Griddle-cakes, fruit & syrup. Kids playing Yondalla's luck. The same young halfling that you saw on the first day sets a new record of 24 seconds, just as before.
On your way to the tent, you notice that the herbalist wagon, which was there the previous two "days" at this time, is missing today.
The big tent, however, appears the same as previous. Griddle-cakes, fruit & syrup. Kids playing Yondalla's luck. The same young halfling that you saw on the first day sets a new record of 24 seconds, just as before.
Olwer notes the absence of the herbalist's wagon, and mentions it to Erevan.
"Should we stop to investigate?"
IfErevan is okay with pausing, Olwer will poke about looking for wagon tracks and hoof marks.
"Had she only just arrived when you met her, Erevan? If so, perhaps she's caught in this weird trap, like us, and had woken this morning and decided not to come into town. Or maybe she was ambushed on the road by those bloody bandits. I did mention there was an herbalist at the Pudding Faire when I spoke with them the first time. Or..."
He frowns,
"Maybe she's somehow the cause of this strangeness?"
Shaking his head, he adds,
"If she's on the road....Hmmm...I doubt it, but maybe we can outrun this curse by simply getting far enough from Honeypuddle? Iork's band might have tried, but they'd have been slowed by their mortally injured man."
Erevan considers this new information. He mentally sends Fez on a fly-around of the fair, asking him to look for any noteworthy absences or changes at the various booths.
As they make their way to get some food, Erevan speaks (in Elvish of course) to Olwer. "I've asked Fez to take a look around, to see if there are any other changes of note at today's version of the fair. It's strange that the herbalist is missing. She seemed to be a regular part of the event, as everyone says. As for Nanny Cowslip, she certainly was packing some significant magic, wasn't she? It's not every day you get a free candy that turns you into a long strider or makes you invisible.
"I do think that Petunia may be our best bet. Let's start with her after we eat, and then see if we can find Elsie again. This time we'll approach her in a much more diplomatic manner, I think, to determine if she's aware of what's going on. Assuming she's actually here of course."
Assuming there's nothing of import from Fez or they don't witness anything else "weird," Erevan will head to Petunia's tent with Olwer.
"
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Erevan as female healer looks up at Iork with a pleading expression on her face, eyes wide. She points to Olwer, gesturing with her hands and mouthing words as if singing a song.
From Fez, moving about in the woods from branch to branch along the clearing's edge, come the following words in Erevan's voice: "She's asking to tend to our friend first. He is a bard of the College of New Olamn in Waterdeep and can cure ills with magic song. I don't think she can help your friend without his aid!"
Iork gives a nod at Rourke, then suddenly leaps at you with his weapons. Keeping the same initiative as before, they both attack first.
Iork:
Attack: 23 Damage: 5
Attack: 19 Damage: 4
Attack: 9 Damage: 5
Rourke:
Attack: 18 Damage: 6
Iork snarls as they attack, "I'm learning your tricky ways. You may have looked different when you came here yesterday, but I know it was you!"
(I hope I'm not wrong, but I don't see any reactions or anything to prevent you from falling unconscious)
The pair of you regain consciousness, tied up and gagged. You're still in the thicket. It looks to be much later in the day, nearly dusk. You become aware of pain and realize all your fingers have been broken, and you're gagged.
Iork stands before you. His face is pale, his eyes red. Has he been crying? He speaks in a rough, emotional voice.
"Nik's dead. Again. I don't know why you magical tricksters have chosen to torment us, made us relive this dark day a second time. But you shall pay. I've decided I don't want to hear any more of your lies. I'll just kill you, and perhaps your spell will no longer affect us."
Without any more ceremony, he slits both of your throats!
You both wake to the sound of a rooster's crow. You hear the sound of a brass band cranking up.
“Roll up! Roll up for the Pudding Faire!” cries a voice from the street below.
You're back in your room in the inn, in your beds. It's morning. Taro is in his bed, presumably dead. You have no injuries and feel perfectly fine and rested. Peering out your room’s window, you see a crowd of happy halflings and gnomes bustling toward a fairground on the village green.
Olwer rubs his eyes and curses.
"We should kill the sons of dogs....but it seems a bit pointless to get revenge for our murders when we aren't dead. And I don't see any sense in attempting to parley with those vicious idiots again. You? "
While Erevan decides what they ought to do today Olwer collects all the dry pixie dust he can get from his deceased comrade's body and bedclothes. He carefully wraps the drug powder up and stows it in a small bag or flask, preferably whatever Taro had used. He then hides this on his person.
sleight of hand
6
Erevan sighs as he realizes what has happened. But he's glad not to be dead, so there's that.
"Well Olwer, it seems like finding our halfling target is no longer at the top of our list of concerns. We need to figure out a way to get unstuck from this time and place. It seems to me that we should talk to that wise old Cowslip lady. And I suppose we should consider if there's any good use for that psychic as well.
"And I think that we should stay as far away from that damn clearing and that murderous man as possible!"
Olwer nods.
"I agree completely about seeing Nanny Cowslip. It seems just the thing to do."
He finishes stowing the drug on his person, and adds,
"I apologize for all that bloody mess in the woods...I thought I could talk to them, get information, help the dying man and maybe make common cause with their party. I miscalculated, badly so."
He heads downstairs after putting on his armor and sword. When he finds the innkeeper or a servant, he uses the same lies as yesterday to dissuade the staff from 'disturbing Taro' at his rest.
deception
15
Then, off to speak with Nanny Cowslip. He lets Erevan do most of the talking, if the other man is so inclined, and backs up whatever tales Erevan tells. Olwer won't fib to the old woman unless forced to do so to back up something Erevan says. If he can, he'll be honest.
This is your third encounter with Miss Buttertree and you feel the lies rolling off your tongue. You won’t need any checks if this comes up again in future.
Outside there’s a palpable feeling of bustle and excitement. Halflings and gnomes throng the streets, heading towards the faire. Everywhere you look, something interesting is happening. The same interesting things that you noted before. A group of children startle a goose, which flutters and honks, causing a nearby gnome to jump and drop a pile of cakes on the ground. You see a passing jackdaw poop on the bald pate of an aged halfling. Further up the street, a barking dog chases a cat through the legs of the crowd, tripping up the town crier (the fellow who had been bellowing this morning) and he falls into a mud puddle. These events are met with laughs and helping hands from other passersby.
Youve made it to Nanny Cowslip just at the Faire entrance and all seems to be as before. She greets you warmly but without a spark of recognition in her eye.
“It’s always nice to see out-of-towners at the Faire. What brings you to our neck of the woods?”
On the way to see Nanny Cowslip, Erevan speaks quietly in Elvish with Olwer. "As I said, I have no desire to see those men in the clearing again, but I will say that they seem to be aware of this time trap, or whatever you want to call it, unlike the natives. We may need to keep that in mind. If only they would listen to us, we might work together. But I doubt that will happen."
Once they arrive, Erevan takes a long, deep breath, trying to focus his mind on what might be happening, as he speaks with Nanny Cowslip. "Good day m'lady, we are brewers here seeking special hops," he says. "And you must be Nanny Cowslip! I have heard it said that you are the wisest halfling in the land. I have two questions for you. First, have you noticed anything strange about the Faire? Per,haps there is something amiss with, how should I put it, the flow of time and events? And my second question is simply 'Have we met before?'"
Before arriving at Nanny Cowslip's spot, Olwer mentions the possibility that Elsie Rumknuckle, also an outsider at the Pudding Faire, might be 'time-trapped' just as Olwer, Ervan, and Iork's band of cutthroats.
Face to face with the old Halfling, Olwer lets Erevan do the talking.
He pays close attention to the elder's face and words.
insight
20
Nanny Cowslip smiles benignly and her eyes glitter as she chuckles, “Out-of-towners have strange notions sometimes. Or maybe you’ve been sampling a bit too much of your own wares? I have no idea what you’re taking about, and we’ve definitely never met. As brewers, I hope you’ll check out the cider stand. Nothing beats the crisp, fresh taste of our apples.”
Olwer, you’ve got a good read on the ancient halfling. You are sure she’s telling the truth, she doesn’t know what you’re talking about. But your words have secretly caught her attention. You’re impressed at the intelligence and awareness in her eyes, and her self-control to laugh off your comments on the surface while secretly internalizing and wondering about you, but keeping it well hidden in her smiling face.
Olwer smiles at the old woman, and assures her that he'll sample the cider.
Later, if he gets a private moment with Erevan, he says in Elvish,
""I think she's telling the truth. She doesn't know us."
He looks about warily, then whispers,
"Maybe we should try to stop Patcher Moldwarp from turning the mayor into a toad? Or question Moldwarp? Very risky, I'm sure, but we've already been murdered 'today.' Still, dangerous, I think. We could instead seek out Elsie Rumknuckle and see if she, indeed, has fallen under this curse or whatever it is, like us? If she has, then she remembers us, and will likely bolt when she lays on us if she hasn't already skipped town. But she may prove more intelligent and less violent than Iork's band. I don't care if we let her go and lose the bounty, if we get out of this pickle, and I'm prepared to cut a deal with her if you are also so inclined. Or maybe there's something else I'm not seeing? That white mole...we could catch it, I suppose. Events not caused by outsiders like us seem to be more or less happening the same as before, and there may be a way we can make use of that. I just don't know how. Your thoughts?"
"Thank you, ma'am," Erevan says. "I will be certain to try the cider. It sounds wonderful."
He turns to Olwer and motions for them to move along. Speaking quietly in Elvish he says. "I like your idea about Elsie as an outsider. The psychic also was said to be new here this year. We could probably play her game and see if she is aware of the time trap. The question would have to be properly worded of course. And we could also hire as we did in the past, but with the mission of probing thoughts about time repeating itself and things like that. What do you think?"
''I think your plan is good. Let's go see Petunia. You dealt so well with her last time, I suggest you play the front man again. On the way, let's grab some of that free food at the big tent. I'm famished."
On your way to the tent, you notice that the herbalist wagon, which was there the previous two "days" at this time, is missing today.
The big tent, however, appears the same as previous. Griddle-cakes, fruit & syrup. Kids playing Yondalla's luck. The same young halfling that you saw on the first day sets a new record of 24 seconds, just as before.
(pausing here to see if you want to change course, as something was different than you expected)
Olwer notes the absence of the herbalist's wagon, and mentions it to Erevan.
"Should we stop to investigate?"
If Erevan is okay with pausing, Olwer will poke about looking for wagon tracks and hoof marks.
perception
15
survival, to follow tracks if he finds any
3
The wagon never arrived. Passersby report they haven’t seen the herbalist or her wagon. Usually each year she sets up here.
Olwer says in Elvish,
"Had she only just arrived when you met her, Erevan? If so, perhaps she's caught in this weird trap, like us, and had woken this morning and decided not to come into town. Or maybe she was ambushed on the road by those bloody bandits. I did mention there was an herbalist at the Pudding Faire when I spoke with them the first time. Or..."
He frowns,
"Maybe she's somehow the cause of this strangeness?"
Shaking his head, he adds,
"If she's on the road....Hmmm...I doubt it, but maybe we can outrun this curse by simply getting far enough from Honeypuddle? Iork's band might have tried, but they'd have been slowed by their mortally injured man."
Erevan considers this new information. He mentally sends Fez on a fly-around of the fair, asking him to look for any noteworthy absences or changes at the various booths.
As they make their way to get some food, Erevan speaks (in Elvish of course) to Olwer. "I've asked Fez to take a look around, to see if there are any other changes of note at today's version of the fair. It's strange that the herbalist is missing. She seemed to be a regular part of the event, as everyone says. As for Nanny Cowslip, she certainly was packing some significant magic, wasn't she? It's not every day you get a free candy that turns you into a long strider or makes you invisible.
"I do think that Petunia may be our best bet. Let's start with her after we eat, and then see if we can find Elsie again. This time we'll approach her in a much more diplomatic manner, I think, to determine if she's aware of what's going on. Assuming she's actually here of course."
Assuming there's nothing of import from Fez or they don't witness anything else "weird," Erevan will head to Petunia's tent with Olwer.
"