Session 105
General Summary
- After stabbing Dwardazik in the back, "Dazki" told him that the real Dazki is behind the door that he tried to break down, and then he left to try to rescue Kiirni, threatening to kill the real Dazki if the dwarf were to follow.
- Dwardazik broke down the door. This alerted the rest of the ship, but he did get to confirm some of what "Dazki" had said: there was another Dazki in the room... but upon examination, the damage didn't appear to be lethal, so he pursued the imposter.
- "Dazki" was able to free Kiirni from the ball and chain, but Kesmet appeared out of nowhere immediately, dispelling the polymorph on Marvin and attacking the imposter, putting pressure on him and Kiirni. Kiirni blasted a lightning bolt through a porthole and jumped out, leaving "Dazki" behind.
- Grogery came in to help, followed closely by Grimes, who had transformed into a werewolf, and Captain Orcanus wasn't far behind them. The captain, seeing the werewolf, mistook it for his lost dog, "Kraken", and attacked the party alongside it.
- Outnumbered, "Dazki" transformed into a seagull — dropping all of the real Dazki's gear on the floor — and flew away, evading the party's attempts to recapture him.
- Grogery was able to calm down everyone else, and they tended to the real Dazki, who snapped back to reality after a Remove Curse spell.
Full Recap
The ghost of Victor Thomson again opened with a summary of the previous session:It seems like everyone has secrets to hide aboard this cursed vessel. As more ugly truths are drawn out to show on the ugly surface — and illusions of honesty and control dispelled away — a conclusion is drawing maddeningly near. While some made headway making deals with a nefarious werewolf, another found himself punished for his charity towards a dark elf prisoner with a mangy coat of his own. And while some seek answers head on, others are more intent to stab in the back to keep their secrets. A blade now cursed with betrayal twice. Two-faced storytellers hiding behind the cover of their own book, begging not to be judged by what is within. Duality is a funny thing like that. But I've mused enough. Who will you trust to sniff out the truth? Invisible lines are drawn in the sand. Decide quickly, as a life can be changed or ended in a matter of seconds. And... do send me someone to talk to. It gets lonely down here, in the pits of hell!
Combat Recap / Summary: Surprise!
Editor's note: I don't really like going blow-by-blow through combat in these, but I also don't like just saying "the imposter warns the dwarf not to pursue him", especially when practically the entire session was one big combat. So I've left out a few uninteresting things like "and then he deals 10 more damage", but ultimately this should track decently well. After punching a suspicious locked door, a sharp pain in the upper shoulder draws Dwardazik's attention.Dazki, pulling the knife back out and narrowing his eyes at the dwarf: All right. So. The truth is, your elven friend is hidden behind that door. He and I are now inexorably linked, and I can steal his abilities. It's fairly painful for him, and it can be deadly. So, with the ability to do so at a thought, I would think twice about raising those fists or that axe of yours, you foolish sack of cheap beer. Dazki (cont'd): Now. We have two choices. You can chase me, try to fight me, and have your friend die because of your actions — like so many others you've cared about — or, you can take him down to the cleric, the bard, the sorcerer, or whatever, and try to break the bond. So, have fun! He leaves, heading to the room with Kiirni and a polymorphed Marvin, shutting the door behind him and stopping right next to her. Dazki: My Jewel, are you all right? Is everything OK? We need to get out of here! Kiirni informs him that she is cursed with immutability. Dazki: Ahh. OK. That's going to make it a challenge.Kiirni casts Disguise Self, making herself look like Marvin ("Marvin 1").
Dazki: Can't you summon bits of acid? You could at least use that to get rid of the ball and chain, and then we could swim to shore. Marvin 1: Acid's not gonna melt iron. Dazki: Fuck. All right, well, we'll think of something. Marvin 1: Strength? You've got to have something! Dazki: Heh! Yeah, you know, brute strength. That's always been my forté. Marvin 1: Yeah. Mine too...
Dwardazik destroys the door with a weapon attack and moves in. It seems like this area here is used primarily to hold extra ammunition for the catapult and various bolts and arrows. Everything has a tarp loosely thrown over it to protect it from dust. Also, the sound of the door breaking down has alerted everyone on the boat.
Marvin 1: You have strong "friends"? Dazki: Uh... probably not going to help, at the moment. Marvin 1: OK, yeah, but you're such a charming individual! Dazki: I appreciate that compliment. Hmm... (He pulls out a crowbar) cover the door! Using all of his strength, Dazki manages to break the chain binding Kiirni's leg to the large metal ball. Dazki, giving Marvin 1 a kiss on the cheek: We got this!Suddenly, Kesmet appears in the room, standing 10 feet away from Dazki, launching a fire bolt at him... missing. He follows it up with a quickened Dispel Magic, causing the dog to turn back into Marvin ("Marvin 2").
Kesmet: Phew! Thank God I called that right! Marvin, what the fuck?! Marvin 2: That's what I'm sayin'! Marvin 1: I'm sayin' that too! Dazki: If you can make it to the shore, blast it, and dive into the water! Marvin 1: Oh, I can get to the shore. I just need to have curses removed first. Can you dispel? Can you remove a curse? Dazki: No, I cannot. Marvin 1: Fun times as always.Marvin 1 launches an empowered Lightning Bolt towards Kesmet, dealing heavy damage, setting some of the items in the room on fire, and blasting opening the porthole on the side of the ship.
Grogery now hears lightning on the ship?! It lurches and rattles from a severe impact. He can't quite tell if it's from within or without, but shit's going down. He yells out for Kesmet, running upstairs. Smoke billows slightly, out of the door propper open to the meeting room.
Grogery: Kesmet, don't leave me behi— ...uh, 2 Marvins?! 2 Marvins! Kesmet, pointing at Marvin 1: That's the bad one! Marvin 2: Yeah, I was the one who did the whole spiel about Grogery the Mighty, at the casino! Marvin 1 points angrily at his face, as if he can't talk, and then points at Marvin 2. Grogery: Um... umm... uh?!?! Marvin 2: Also, Dazki was yellin' some shit, and he was the one who took the shackles off her! And then she used some spell to make herself look like me! Kesmet: They're both disguised! Grogery: Everybody hold still, nobody leave! I know this isn't a great time to be saying this, but I really can't handle the emotional damage of people leaving me right now!Grimes makes his way up to the lower deck and looks around confused, trying to make sense of what's happening now.
Combat Summary / Recap: Starting to Make Sense
Dwardazik rips off the tarp. Underneath it is an elf. A very pale, very unwell elf. Nonresponsive. Looks like the guy who just stabbed Dwardazik in the back, just without all the cool glows and gear that the other one had. Practically catatonic, there is a bit of blood dripping out from one of the elf's ears. He kneels down next to the unconscious body and prepares to look it over to gather more information about it.Dazki casts Slow on Kesmet, Grogery, and Marvin 2.
Dazki: They're slowed! You can jump out, and they won't be able to get you. I'll be right behind! Marvin 1: What about you? Do you have what it takes? Dazki: I can be fine! I'll be right behind. Marvin 1 hesitates. Dazki: Come on. We need to go! They outnumber us, we're not going to be able to take this in a straight fight. Running is our only option right now!Marvin 2 makes the big purple hand grapple Marvin 1, and then Kesmet begins casting a careful fireball, excluding Grogery, Marvin 2, and himself from the damage. Marvin 1 counterspells the fireball, giving him a look that's intended to convey, "what are you doing?! that one's the false Marvin!" Kesmet closes the door. Marvin 1 slips out of the hand's grasp.
Marvin 1, breaking "his" silence and revealing that "he" is actually Kiirni: I can't thank you enough, Marv, for releasing my bonds. It's been a blast, really! Marvin: You're a despicable person. Kiirni: I think the ground is going to wither and die where they bury your corpse.A terrifyingly supernatural howl is heard throughout the ship. Grimes has transformed into a werewolf. He charges the closed door, breaking it down.
Dwardazik administers a healing potion to the unconscious Dazki. Dazki doesn't respond, so Dwardazik slaps his face a little, yelling at him to wake up. No response.
Captain Orcanus has finally made it to the lower deck. Seeing the werewolf about to burst into the room, the captain simply shouts "you go get 'em, Kraken!" Dazki uses his pistol to shoot out the porthole behind him, startling Marvin enough for him to use his Hand to grapple Dazki.
Kiirni: This is a real problem. You guys are just always causing problems. Well, you've just sealed your fate, little man! Marvin: Bite me! Kiirni: I just might. Marvin: Ooh! I like it that way! Kiirni is about to leave, but hesitates seeing Dazki trapped by the Hand. Dazki: Go! I can handle this! Get out of here! (Persuasion 25) Marvin: Oh yes, please! Do whatever you want. Kiirni climbs out through the porthole. Marvin, as she leaves: I was literally trying to help you! Kiirni:Grimes enters the room, scanning around for whom to attack. He focuses all of his attention on Marvin.
Dwardazik looks Dazki over, since his health potion did nothing. (Medicine 21) Dazki still has 28 hit points. He's completely nonresponsive, probably paralyzed. The eyes don't track any movement, though they do still look around a little. Almost all of the damage that this body has taken has been internal / psychic; there are no outward signs of injury. The damage has also been nonlethal, contrary to what the other Dazki had said.
Dwardazik, murmuring to himself: He said he took his body... damn imposter! It's that fucking drow, isn't it?!?! When you start messing with my clan... Dwardazik begins running towards the meeting room, locking eyes with the captain on his way. Orcanus: Kraken the dog is going to deal with this situation, one way or the other! Dwardazik, yelling as loud as he can: WHERE'S THAT DROW?! Orcanus, entering the room: Whose ass is grass?! Kesmet, pointing at Dazki: He did it!Dazki transforms into a seagull, dropping all of his gear, and flies out the window. Marvin casts another Bigby's Hand in the air next to the bird and grapples him. Kesmet casts Fly on both himself and Grogery. Grogery is conflicted, worrying about what would happen if Kesmet gets hurt while he's flying through the air, but he ultimately decides to exit through the porthole to chase after the bird, calling out that the werewolf is actually "a good guy" and not to hurt him. As Grogery says this, Grimes unleashes a flurry of attacks at Marvin, hitting him with a bite that "immediately starts itching" and causing him to drop concentration on the Hand. Dwardazik finally makes it into the room, expecting to see the imposter Dazki. He doesn't, so instead, he lays a series of angrydwarf attacks into the werewolf.
Dwardazik: Give me the drow! Grimes: You can't have the drow, she's mine!!!Orcanus, still convinced that the werewolf is Kraken, bursts into the room and assists him in attacking Marvin, shoving him against the wall, and then commands his "ally" to make another free attack.
Seeing that Grogery has caught up with him, "Dazki" is able to disengage and fly away faster than Grogery can catch him. He's gone, disappearing among a flock of other seagulls.
Marvin, to Orcanus: Back the fuck off! Kesmet, using a Minor Illusion to amplify his voice: Everybody chill! Stop trying to kill Marvin. There are no enemies in this room! (Persuasion 21) Kesmet proceeds to start snuffing out the fire in the room, as Grogery flies to a spot just outside the window. Grogery: OK, guys. We cannot afford to be screwing around right now. (He casts Calm Emotions to try to make everyone in the room feel less like fighting each other.) Grimes doesn't want to fight anymore, but he's still mad, so he attacks a chair and breaks it. Dwardazik: Kesmet, handle the fire. Orcanus, deal with the dog. Marvin, come with me and deal with Barry. Grogery, I need you to heal Dazki right now. Get through that stupid window, and come up, forward from where Vic died. Marvin: You found Dazki?! Like, the real Dazki?! Grogery: Oh, that was someone who had transformed into Dazki? OK, that makes sense. Marvin: He had to have been! He was casting spells! Grogery: By the way, the werewolf is Grimes. Marvin: Oh, that kind of makes sense.Dwardazik leads Grogery to Dazki's body at the fore of the ship, and then circles back around to retrieve his gear that the imposter had dropped. Grogery checks out what's going on with Dazki. (Medicine 29) Dazki appears mostly unconscious, almost in a dreamlike trance. Unresponsive, can't say or do anything. Just... laying there. Almost comatose, but the eyes are still moving a little. Grogery pulls the Wand of Detect Magic from Dazki's gear to see what's going on. No signatures of magic, so Grogery proceeds to heal everybody up and then try Remove Curse as one last-ditch effort. This seems to do it: Dazki starts to come around.
Marvin: I just realized, guys... this was literally all my fault! Grogery: What do you mean? Marvin: The dog. Dwardazik: Yup. Grogery: Oh, the dog was probably a druid. Marvin: It was... something... in disguise. Dazki, rubbing his head: Ugh... ... oh, what the f-... Dwardazik, pushing everyone out of the way to get next to him: Lad! You're back! Dazki: I just had the weirdest... fuckin'... ... oh shit, that wasn't a dream... Grogery: So, what do you remember, actually? Marvin: You missed a lot! Dwardazik: Dazki! Can you hear me? Dazki: No, I didn't miss a lot. Gimme a minute. I need some water, and a minute to collect myself. Grogery: No more surprises. Marvin, retrieving him some water from the kitchen: Take all the time you need.Editor's note: not too far beyond this point, one of the players hit a technical issues with their PC. I've been asked to stop the recap here, specifically.
