Session 65
General Summary
- The Flesh Artist, whose name from "old research notes" was Doctor Vicra Lammergeyer, has a fascination with Marvin, claiming that his soul and body are not right for one another.
- Doctor Vic claims not to care about what happens to the roaming undead. According to him, they are just "side effects" of his work.
- The doctor insisted on "helping" Marvin, and would only "allow him to suffer one more night" in exchange for the return of his orb. Dazki obliged, diffusing the situation temporarily.
- Annu contacted Grogery on the cellstone, exchanging status reports (and a hint of disappointment that this is their first contact since leaving Ashport):
- Annu reported that the surgeries on those affected by The Mark of the Disfigured Man have better outcomes than just leaving it alone, and they're becoming more effective every day, but it's still a far cry from perfect.
- Grogery responded by giving a fairly complete recap of the major events of the past few days starting with Hershal's Rest, then promised to report back the next morning (giving their approximate coordinates so he could find their bodies otherwise).
- Concerned that tensions may come to a boil the next morning, the party went around doing everything they could to try to keep the circus performers safe:
- Dazki and Dwardazik tried to get Mortimer drunk enough to convince his people to barricade themselves on one side of the area, but all that did was distract his wife, Faerin, from her task of assisting with the birth of one of the circus's animals.
- So Barry promised to do what he could to protect the innocents, and (if needed) the cart. He seemed especially pleased to have that last duty.
- That turned out to be unnecessary, as Doctor Vic led a carnie out to a secluded area to do some more of his "healing". The party seized the opportunity to follow and jump the doctor.
- The doctor opened with an attack that cursed the air in a fairly large radius around him, causing those affected to have great difficulties breathing. He was taken down relatively easily, all things considered, with Marvin landing the finishing blow: a psychic blast.
Full Recap
The session opens with some members of the party engaged in conversation with The Flesh Artist and his Gnoll companion. Dazki had opened up conversation, Marvin joined in shortly after and got the Flesh Artist's attention, and Grogery joined in later. Kesmet peeked in briefly, but left shortly after. Marvin had just finished chewing out the Flesh Artist.Know Your Enemy
Marvin: If you want my soul, at least buy me dinner first! Ragman, speaking for the Flesh Artist: We care greatly about your soul. With every breath you take, we can hear it crying out. It is uncomfortable within your flesh, restricted. Marvin: Are you trying to say something about my height? Ragman: You torture it, confine it. But we can help ease its restriction. We can let you reach your full potential. Marvin: "Reach"? "REACH"? OK, I can reach the top shelf of things in my home just fine! ...this motherfucker's ableist! He doesn't like short people! Dazki: So do you two know each other, then? Marvin: I hope not! This motherfucker's talking to me like he knows me! Bitch, you don't know me! Ragman: We would like to. Marvin: Like I said, buy me dinner first before you fuck me in the ass! Dazki: So. What happens if we don't give you back your ice orb thing? Ragman: We won't do anything about it. Marvin: What a fuckin' beta. Dwardazik and Kesmet start making their way in. Ragman: Allow us to grant you what your soul was destined to pilot. A perfect fit, custom-molded to fit your soul's wants, its needs. To achieve its perfection. Marvin: You have some problem with my body. He starts rubbing his body, tantalizingly. You sure you don't like what you see? What does my body tell you right now? Ragman: We do not want to stand idly by while your soul cries out in agony. Please, allow us to help you. Marvin: OK, I'll bite. OK. I'll bite. What the fuck do you think you can do for me, you sorry excuse for a living creature? You waste of air, waste of space, not worth the dirt you stand on. Tell me, what could you possibly offer? Ragman: All the problems you face on this earthly plane are due to the soul and the body being an imperfect fit. This anger you feel now, it's illogical. Marvin: I never claimed to be smart. Also, that didn't answer the fuckin' question. You speak in rhymes and riddles. Well, riddle me this: why are you even here? Why come here? What have you done? You think you've "created" so much, but look at every thing you've destroyed! Look at that village, Hershal's Rest! Have you anything to say to that? I thought not. Ragman: We sense you misunderstand. We did not destroy Hershal's Rest. Dazki: Then what did you do? Ragman: We merely accomplished our task and moved on. Do you refer to the soulless husks vying for our attention? Feel free to eliminate them if they cause troubles. We care not. They are merely an unfortunate side effect of our work. Marvin: But you said you were helping them. What the fuck is wrong with you? You said you were helping people, yet these "soulless husks" of which you speak? "Mere side effects"? Holy shit! And here I thought there might be a chance of an enlightened creature behind this mask. Hell, you might just be walking clothes at this point. There might not be a single piece of flesh behind these clothes and that mask. You might be possessed. Dwardazik, having just arrived with Kesmet: Hmmph. So who's this? A friend of yours? Mortimer witnesses the building tension and immediately rushes in. Mort: Whoa, whoa, whoa, WHOA there, fellas! We all need to calm down, no need to fight or anything! Maybe you guys could just... ignore each other? Marvin: Friend. I know we haven't met, you and I, but... I think if you spend any time around this guy (Marvin points to the Flesh Artist) you might just end up like Hershal's Rest. You and your crew, you should probably vacate this person's vicinity ASAP. Just stop by Hershal's Rest on your way to where you're going, and you'll find out what we mean. Kesmet: Marvin, there's a storm coming, though. We kind of don't have an option. Dwardazik: So let me get this straight. You're, uh... what's your name, Mr. Doctor over here? You've got a dark air about ya. I don't know if I trust you to stay in the same camp as us, so we might as well get some pleasantries out of the way, eh? Ragman: By all means, feel free to leave. Dwardazik: That is an option, of course. The gnoll who was hiding behind the Flesh Artist jumps out. Gnoll: Yeah, and people like Vic and I, we don't have to say our names to anybody. ANYBODY! We're enigmas! Grogery: You seem to have revealed your friend's name, there... Dwardazik: The name's Dwardazik Stoneturner Boulderhearth. And what is your name? Ragman: People don't usually ask us for our name. Dwardazik: Well that's the proper way for a Dwarven introduction. How can you have a conversation if you don't respect the other party? Marvin: This party has no pleasantries for any living creature, Dwardazik. Dwardazik: That's a lot of accusations. I'd like to find out what this gentleman's name is. Marvin raises his eyebrow at Dwardazik, but then seems to understand what Dwardazik is going for. Dwardazik: I'm sorry if my friend over here has caused you too many problems. The travel has been very long, and we've had to deal with things that most citizens shouldn't have to deal with. You've seen these wandering undead around; they're quite vicious and disgusting. Ragman: Yes, the body is a disgusting work, isn't it? Dwardazik: Quite. I mean, some of these things I've been seeing recently have been almost... frankly, you couldn't call them Dwarven, Human, or really anything! They're like amalgamations. What are your thoughts on that? Ragman: The body, the flesh, it's just material. Dwardazik: Ahh, spoken like any good craftsman. You know, I've worked with stone almost all my life. Some people just call it dirt, but I can see the finer details. Why don't you and I have a drink or something? You a drinkin' man?The plague doctor entity takes its gaze off of Marvin to turn to look at Dwardazik. It extends a hand out to Dwardazik, as if to shake hands with the dwarf. Dwardazik shakes it. The fingers are knobbly and a little too long, but it's otherwise unremarkable. While they shake, the dwarf signals to Dazki with his other hand, to sneak away and figure out more about this guy while they have him distracted. Dazki sees this, and he's gone (or was he never here to begin with?).
Dwardazik: So what are your thoughts on these undead? Aren't they kind of... terrible machinations of the flesh? Ragman: They are crude but useful tools. Dwardazik: I've got a friend over here named Grogery (Grogery says "Hello") and Kesmet. Grogery's been dealing with quite a bit of these undead, actually, cleaning them up. Not very useful tools -- someone's got to clean 'em up. What are your thoughts on the undead, Grogery? Grogery: Oh, it's rather unfortunate. The cycle of life is: you're born from that which comes from the sun and soil, and you should return to that when you are gone. It's not really right to hijack a body to take it out of what could be providing for the benefit of others, for your own selfish gains. Dwardazik: And Kesmet's been finding that these bodies are quite useful kindle, is that right? Kesmet, snapping out of his mental conversation with Baxton: Huh? What? ...Yeah. Dwardazik: Ahh, don't mind him, he doesn't like being around so much grass that he can't light on fire. Kesmet: Yeah, the grass... that's the problem... Grogery: I'm curious, Mr... we really did never get your name? Mr. Whoever-it-is-here-in-this-doctor-mask-outfit-thing? You seem to have made quite a name for yourself healing various people of various ailments. As a fellow healer, myself, I'm kind of curious as to how you've been going about this craft. Is it divine in nature? Because I seriously doubt that you are worshiping Pelor. Is it arcane? Dwardazik: We've been talkin' about this, Grogery! We all know that the healing magics that he can do can surpass Pelor's magic. He can cure some of the things that I've heard have happened in the town of Ashport. You know, that whole black stuff? Grogery: Oh yeah. Let's say I have a... vested interest in learning how this healing takes place. It might be a good idea to be able to... perfect the craft, say, and not have all of these useless "side-effects". Ragman: Our name has left us long ago. Dwardazik: Well then, what do you go by? Your friend over here seemed to called you... something, I didn't quite catch it. Surely, you've got a moniker or a nickname, if nothing else? Kesmet, the one who always gets people's names wrong: Looks like a... "Bill". Ragman: Old research documents, that's where he got the name from. I suppose we can use that name for today. Dwardazik: What's that name? "Old Research Documents"? Ragman: If a name is what you request, you may call us Doctor Vicra Lammergeyer. Dwardazik: Well, thank you! So about that drink, do you want some of this dwarven ale I've got? Kesmet: Victor Lampshire. Got it. Ragman: We have other things to attend to, don't we, halfling person? Dwardazik: Now hold on just a -- but Vicra's attention has completely turned to Marvin.Marvin has taken out his mandolin and started to play a tune, ignoring Vicra. Vicra begins to approach Marvin. Dwardazik begins to intercept, but Marvin motions that he's fine, and tells the doctor very suggestively, "You should stay in your cart for the rest of the day."
Mortimer: See, now that's more like it! Dwardazik, back to Vicra: Let's say that there were some kind of plague of Turmoil. How would you cure that? That's what you're famous for.Vicra, ignoring the dwarf some more, kneels down to get closer onto eye level with Marvin. Marvin takes the opportunity to check out the plague doctor's mask: it's completely solid. The doctor also smells very strongly of incense, so Marvin begins to hold his nose.
Marvin: Dude. Holy shit. Tone it down. Man, you've got some strong shit in there. Vicra attempts to move Marvin's mandolin aside, but Marvin jumps back. Marvin: Nobody touches my fucking mandolin. I didn't give you permission to touch this. You didn't even ask! Dwardazik, taking a step forward: Hey, back off. We're just talkin' here. Mortimer, also stepping forward: Guys, like seriously, you can't fight here. ...oh god... I think I'm gonna have to ask you guys to leave, right? Like... we can't have another fight break out here! We can't! My wife is gonna kill me! Grogery: ...there was another fight? Mortimer: This always happens! Marvin puts Mortimer to sleep. Marvin: He was being really annoying. He's gonna sleep for a little bit. Dwardazik: Vicra. We're looking for a cure for Turmoil infections in the flesh. Ragman: We care not for the flesh. We care about the well-being of the soul. Dwardazik: Is a soul not tied to the flesh? Ragman: A soul is tethered helplessly to its mortal coil. Marvin, exasperated: Oh, here we fucking go. UGH. Ragman: Perhaps our sleeping friend may have had a point. Dwardazik: You have been rumored to perform such miracles. People have been suffering from this Turmoil. You have cured? How do you do it? What is the process? Ragman: We mend the body the way a mason mends stone, a blacksmith mends metal, and a carpenter mends wood. Dwardazik: Could you give us a demonstration? Marvin snaps his head at Dwardazik, in a very "what the fuck?" manner. Grogery: That might not be a good idea...Vicra stands back up. Unsnapping the top of his box, he pulls out a handraven.
Ragman: This, here, contains no soul. It is only material. Dwardazik: Isn't it moving? Is it not alive? Grogery, tell me that that's not alive! Grogery: If it breathes, it lives.Suddenly and forcefully, Vicra crushes the body part of the raven in his hand. Instead of what you might expect from somebody crushing a bird like this, it molds as if he had grabbed wet clay, gore running from the wounds made to the bird, which is now dead.
Dwardazik: Was that gruesome display really necessary? Marvin: This guy isn't... this guy... he's not alive. I'm sayin' it right now, this guy's not alive. He's either undead, or incorporeal, or some other kind of shit. Ragman: If you wish for more demonstrations, it would be best if we were to leave the camp. These souls are satisfied with their current position, and we would very much like to not disturb them. Dwardazik: You are referring to the people in this Circus? Dazki (he's back now): That is surprisingly generous of you. Perhaps we should rest for the night and talk this over in the morning, let cooler heads prevail then. Would everyone here be amenable to that? He looks directly at Marvin when saying so. Dwardazik: Sounds good to me. I could use some rest.Marvin makes some sort of gesture towards Vicra and walks back to the caravan. Vicra tries to follow Marvin, but Dazki intervenes. Marvin stops walking back as he hears this.
Dazki: Gentlemen, please. We can continue this discussion in the morning. If you wouldn't mind, we've had a bit of a day, and we would just like to get to our tents and sleep a little bit for the night, OK? We can continue this in the morning. The soul is willing, but the flesh is weak. Ragman: ...do you believe that some lives are worth more than others? Dazki: No. Dwardazik: I'd lay down my life for my clan! Ragman: Why do you delay us? Dazki: Were you not planning on spending the night here anyway? If you weren't planning on leaving, it's not really a delay. Ragman: A soul is suffering. Dazki: Suffering builds character. It builds strength. Grogery: Sometimes suffering leads to less suffering. Dwardazik: I'm not really sure I see what the suffering is. The only thing that Marvin is suffering is being annoyed by you. Not to be rude or anything, but you are kinda bugging him. And you did turn down my ale, and you know as well as I do that that's a dwarven insult. So you can just bugger off. Ragman: Maybe a token of good faith? Dwardazik: What, you want the ale? Ragman: We would like our orb back. Marvin: Oh HELL no! Dwardazik: What do we get in return? Will you reveal the secrets of curing the Turmoil from the flesh? Ragman: We will allow a soul to suffer one more night. Grogery: So let me get this straight. You're threatening to kill Marvin if we don't give you your orb back? Ragman: We do not wish to kill "Marvin". Grogery: That seems to be what you're hinting at, talking about "the soul yearns to be free", "this body is shackling it down". Dwardazik: With all your little undead friends around here... Ragman: The body of Marvin can be reshaped to suit the soul's needs, the soul's destiny. Marvin: And what is my "destiny", man? Grogery: If the body and the soul were to match, then there would be no drive to improve the world! Ragman: These are the words of a scornful father. We do not follow this stance. Dwardazik: I'm afraid I just don't understand. Ragman: Deliver us our orb, and we will allow Marvin's soul to suffer one more night. Dazki, looking at the party: OK. Who has the orb? We can deal with this in the morning. I think we need to rest. Marvin: We can't give that thing up! We don't know what kind of power that's going to give him! He might make another one of those fucking flesh demons! Dazki says something in Thieves Cant, hoping that Marvin can speak it, but nobody around does, so it just sounds like gibberish. Marvin: I don't know what the fuck you're saying... do whatever the hell you want. Grogery: We stored it in one of the barrels. Dazki goes back to the cart to retrieve it. After carefully wrapping it in something to keep the cold from affecting him too much, he brings it back and hands it over. Dazki: And now, if you'll excuse us, I bid you a good night. Marvin, shouting on his way: I hope you trip, and that thing gets wedged in your ass!! With the tension now dropped, the gnoll stammers to Vicra. Gnoll: You're just gonna give up on 'em like that? Just like that? Like, ... ughh.... Dazki: The man made a promise. He's gonna let us be for tonight. Gnoll: Shut up, you. I wasn't talkin' to you! Dazki: No, but it doesn't seem like you were intelligent enough to really understand what was going on. I thought you might need it explained to you. Gnoll: ...keep walkin'. We'll see what happens!Vicra hands the orb to the gnoll. The gnoll unwraps the orb to make sure that it is what he says it is, getting some frostbite on his hands during the process. He seems satisfied (with the orb, not with the frostbite) and carries it off somewhere, probably back to the cart. The doctor walks deeper into camp, away from you.
Two Tents for You
Marvin: I hope you guys have a plan. Grogery: It sounded like Dazki has a plan? Dazki: Oh, sorry, I assumed you could understand, since you're a regular at the Undermart. Marvin: No, I didn't really catch that. Dazki: OK. Yeah, we're gonna wait until he and his gnoll friend go to sleep (or at least his gnoll friend) and the rest of the camp is quiet, and take care of him. Marvin: I get the impression that that... thing... doesn't even sleep. Grogery: I wouldn't be surprised if it didn't. Dazki: Probably not, but we don't want the innocents in this circus to get involved, do we? Marvin: Hell no. Dazki: Unless you want to try waiting until morning to shoo the circus on? Marvin: No, we don't know what the hell he's gonna do with that orb. Grogery: By the way, Marvin, good job. Marvin: ?? I felt like I was about to snap, I don't deserve that praise. Grogery: The light shining against the darkness. Good work. Marvin: How do you guys deal with this shit? You seem to be so familiar with... I don't know... I saw Hershal's Rest, and I immediately just wanted to avenge them, or something. Grogery: Yes, that kind of happened to us a couple of times too. Kesmet: Vengeance is what keeps people's passions lit. You have to find something that you never let go. Possibly an insult someone paid you, maybe they killed your family, and you just need to let that drive you to the very ends of the earth and beyond. And along the way, you accomplish some stuff. Dazki: I was more gonna say... wait for the right moment. Marvin: Yeah, yeah. Dwardazik: Marvin, rushing into something can usually spell disaster. We found that out the hard way. And besides, as you can see, he's more than willing to discuss things. We'd rather gain as much information as possible. If we destroy the Flesh Artist, then what potential lead do we have for the next one? And several people are potentially dying; in fact, numerous people in Ashport are suffering as we speak, all because they are under some plague by Baxton and the Turmoil. If we can gain even a hint of how to cure it, by this Flesh Artist's machinations, then it would be well worth a few extra minutes of suffering his existence. Marvin, just flabbergasted: Holy shit? Grogery: We've been through a lot, we've had several weeks to take this thing in. It honestly feels like it's been over a year since we got to Ashport. So yes, Baxton stuck Turmoil bits in a lot of people as a way to control them. With Baxton gone, that Turmoil isn't behaving itself anymore. Kesmet, speaking directly to Baxton through the ring: Holy shit, Baxton, you did that? That's cold. What did they ever do to you? Grogery: So if you hear stories or rumors about a bunch of people getting taken in by the government with some sort of strange illness or marking, that's what's going on. Marvin: Gotcha. Hey Kesmet, how flammable do you think his cart is? Dazki: Well, I can tell you, since I went there to check it out. It's just wood, incense, and a snake. Marvin: How big is the snake? Dazki: Big. Kesmet: Now that (unintelligible) is probably made of liquid, so it might reduce the flammability a little, but, generally, very flammable. Dazki: Here's the thing, I think the snake is important to him, somehow or another.All of a sudden, Baxton actually responds to Kesmet, so he puts him on speakerphone:
Baxton, with a sigh: Is there a goal to your inane stream of thoughts, or do you just take pleasure in the misery of others? Kesmet: Yes, to both. Also, do you know anything about the snake? You never mentioned a snake. Baxton: You've been bothering me, for two days, because of a snake? Kesmet: Well, no, I've been bothering you for two days because you still won't tell me what you know about Dennis. You've been very tight-lipped (if that's a term that can still be applied to you, because you don't have lips), but I will wear you down! We're only about a quarter of a way through the novella! You see, I had mistaken what the flier said. It wasn't advertising a church burning, it was actually about a church that had to be rebuilt, and they were celebrating -- Baxton: What do you need of me that you would be willing to spend so much attention on me? Just Dennis? That's it? Kesmet: Yes. You, of course, worked with him. He probably hired you to do all this Turmoil stuff. I don't know to what extent he had his fingers in all of this. If a disembodied voice could roll its eyes... Baxton: I have little care of this Dennis individual. Kesmet: I don't care how much you care about him. Give me info on him, please. Baxton: He's a vengeful man who is no longer allowed in Ashport. Kesmet: What did he do?! I mean, he probably did some shit, but specifically, what got him banned? Baxton: As head of The Hounds Guild, once the House of Cards took over the area, all of the Hounds Guild, they're gone now. Kesmet: They've gone to greener pastures, I see. Baxton: The Hounds Guild loses more and more territory every day to the House of Cards. Kesmet: That's what they want you to think. Baxton: I personally think that the whole "black market" thing is useless. Kesmet: Fascinating. What can you tell me about the defenses of his estate? Where exactly is he in the kingdom? Baxton: Why... WHY... ugh. Kesmet: How did he enlist you, and how much was he paying you? What method was he using to pay you? We might be able to track him back through that. Baxton just starts singing a song in the Elven language. Those who understand the language recognize it (through Kesmet's crude phonetic pronunciation) as a nursery rhyme. Kesmet: Baxton, can you suffer a stroke if you're only a spirit?During this part, Dazki attempts to stealth away but trips. Dwardazik helps him up.
Baxton keeps just repeating it. Kesmet: OK, but you've got to give me the next stanza. I don't even know what you're saying, but you just keep on repeating it. Me, I'm here giving you an entire novel. Get on my level! Dazki: He's just saying a nursery rhyme to irritate you. Kesmet: He's failing miserably. So anyway, after we had all gotten food, the goblins attacked. We took care of them very easily -- Dazki: So, Dwardazik, do you want to come with me, then? I was gonna see if we can find Fae or Mort and maybe let them know that they should pack up and leave pretty quick in the morning. Dwardazik: Sounds like a plan. Less collateral damage that way. Grogery: So, Marvin, do you know any reason why Vicra seems to be interested in you specifically? Marvin: Maybe he just doesn't like it when people are angry? I don't fuckin' know! I really wish I did! I really wish I knew. Kesmet: I'm surprised he didn't say anything about my soul. Apparently, it tastes like smokey caramels. Marvin: I mean, you heard the man! He thinks "my soul is not fit for my body", or vice-versa? I don't fucking know. Grogery: He seems to think that something about your body is making your soul suffer. Marvin: I think he just doesn't like short people. He's racist! He's racist against dwarves, and -- Grogery: I'm as short as you are. If there's an ailment that's keeping you, then I can do quite a lot. Marvin: Not that I know of. Trust me, if I was sick, I would be seeking someone out, OK? My brain feels fucking sick, after all this shit, I'll tell you that! But not, like, in that way. Grogery: Well, if you need someone to talk to about anything, even that conversation with the plague doctor, I'd like to think I'd be a good listener. Marvin: Oh. Well, thank you, Grogery. I'll keep that in mind. But no, I don't know why... maybe he thinks I'm hot? Maybe I should take it as a compliment that he wants me so bad. Grogery: It's one of the tenets of Pelor to seek out improvement in mind and body and in the world around you, and to help the people around you improve too. Perfection can never be achieved, but by all of us working together to try to get better, we can ease the suffering of those around us. Trying to shortcut it by cheating doesn't sit right with me at all. Marvin: So you're implying that he's cheating through his work? Grogery: We know he's using Turmoil, right? It has all the hallmarks of it, like trying to get something for nothing. That's not how the world works. Nothing is free, they just doesn't care about the cost. The things that Baxton paid in order to do what he did ended up hurting a lot of innocent people, and it's still hurting a lot of innocent people. As we saw at Hershal's Rest, this is absolutely no different. Marvin: Well, then he's gotta go! Now that I've seen firsthand exactly what you guys have been dealing with these past months you've been dealing with Baxton and all this other shit, I need to help. I don't know. Grogery: Well, then welcome to "The Terrorists".
All in the Family
Dwardazik and Dazki have wandered off to talk to Mortimer and Faerin. While there's still little sign of Fae, Mort seems to be hanging out in front of a big, covered-up animal cage, nervously waiting for something.Dazki: Hail, Mort! I came over to apologize for that little incident earlier. Mort: It's no problem, it's no problem at all! Nothing happened, and so there's nothing to discuss! Dwardazik appears behind Mort and puts a hand on his shoulder. Mort: JEEPERS, MAN! Dwardazik: I was just checking around the camp, and everything's looking good. Mort: You can't just sneak up on a guy like that! Dwardazik: Just did. So anyways, since the guy over there was a bum and didn't want to share anything to drink, how about you and I? Let's have a drink, eh? What do ya say, Dazki? Dazki: What you've got is a little bit strong for me, but I will at least spend some time with the two of you gentlemen. Mort: We don't really have a lot of ale... Dwardazik: That's OK, I brought some. You're leader of the camp, right? You ought to have a little bit of luxury. I've got some dwarven ale! Mort: Yes, I am the ringmaster, and everybody listens to me, 'cause I'm really good. Dwardazik: 'cause you're in charge! That's how it should be! Mort, meekly: Yes! I am in charge, here! Dwardazik: And you know what a person in charge needs? A good old stiff drink! Dwardazik leaves to get some of his ale. He returns startlingly quickly, pouring a cup for Mort and one for himself before anyone had time to react. Dwardazik: Well, let's get this sorted, eh? Bottoms up! Why don't ya say a toast, eh? Mort: Yeah, sure! A toast is great! To... to... ... ... um... ... to... Dazki: To good fortune and excellent shows! Mort: To heavy wallets and happy people! Dwardazik: I can drink to that! I like a good ol' full coin purse! Dwardazik chugs his ale, while Mort also drinks his. Less quickly. Much less quickly. But he drinks it. Dazki: So you mentioned your wife. I haven't seen her around? Mort: Um, please don't bother her? Dazki: No, no, I didn't mean like that. You just speak so highly of her. Mort: Faerin's the best. I, I don't think we could even have this circus if it weren't for her. Dazki: Every endeavor is a partnership, huh? That's how it should be. Dwardazik: Let the women run the things, amiright? Hehehe. Mort: What? Dwardazik: Huh? Mort: No, it's equal. I'm, I'm the leader! I'm the ringmaster! Dwardazik: Right, of course, and she's probably the one doing all the bookkeeping, right? And the negotiations, and the planning, -- Mort: I don't think any of that is in a circus? Dwardazik pats him on the back, causing him to spill a bit of his drink. Dwardazik: You're the ringleader! Hey, don't you spill that, that's prime dwarven ale! Mort: ...keep it down... Dazki: Hey, listen. You know how our friend had a little bit of a heated discussion with the doctor? I think that may come to a head tomorrow, and they may end up arguing a little bit more. You and your folks might want to kind of hurry on your way to your next show pretty quick in the morning. Mort: We're stuck here until this storm passes. There ain't no way any of this is movin' in a storm. I'm surprised some of these carts still stay together. Dazki: Ah. OK. Dwardazik: Then you should gather some of your women, children, animals, and circus whatever-the-heck, and barricade yourself off to one side of the camp. 'cause I have a suspicion that your little guest over there, the guy in the black with all of the things that look like undead zombies roaming around with him? Yeah, that guy's pretty bad. Mort: I mean, sure, he looks pretty dastardly, and you guys didn't seem to get along all that bad, and I mean, that bird thing was kinda freaky... Dwardazik, putting a hand on his shoulder: He's pretty bad. Dazki: We have... significant reason... to believe he's responsible for the deaths of a large number of people at a local hunting camp. Mort: Wait, this dude, he's, like... a murderer or somethin'? Like, currently a murderer? Dazki: Something like that. Dwardazik: Are you familiar with Hershal's Rest? A small hunting camp? Everyone there has been killed by his machinations. He is a wizard who constructs undead. He manipulates the flesh under the guise of being a healer. Mort: It's been a while since we've had a necromancer... you think any of his... hiccup... you think any of his stuff... is for hire? For sale? Dazki: You don't want to hire any of his stuff. He deals in -- Mort: I think... I thinkin'... I think... I think an undead would really draw a crowd, you know? Dazki: He deals in Turmoil and mortal souls, you don't want to get involved with that. Mort: Wait, like, really? Dazki: Yeah, like, actual Turmoil. Mort: I mean, that's... I mean... super dangerous, first of all... Dwardazik: I know, it's super dangerous! And thank goodness you're agreeing to our plan of bunkering to the side of the camp! We've gotta get everyone together, and you're the chief! Everyone listens to the chief! Mort, heavily slurring now: Hey, can I tell you a secret? Dwardazik: No. Dazki: Of course! Mort: I'm a sham! Nobody listens to me! And, but (he's starting to cry) I'm the big strong leader, but, they don't think I'm the leader -- Dazki: Hey, you know what? Confidence is key. Fake it 'til you make it, my friend. Mort: How long do I have to keep faking it? Dazki: Keep pretending to be the leader, and one day, you will be! Mort: I mean, watch... you! You! He points across the camp, to one of the horses. Do a... do a trick! Dazki: It doesn't work too well with horses, I'm afraid. Mort: They'd listen to Faerin! Dwardazik slips away to pull his cloak over himself, appearing as a wandering undead. Dazki: So, where is Faerin? Mort: ...do you promise not to bother her? Dazki: I would like to meet her, but I would also like to not bother her. Mort, whispering: She's really busy. She's... inside the, the house. He points behind him to a large animal cage, covered up completely in order to keep it sheltered from the dust and wind. But you're not... supposed to... bother her. Dazki: Would it bother her if -- Dwardazik enters into Mort's line of sight in his disguise. Mort, yelping: OH, THERE'S AN UNDEAD!!! He hides behind Dazki. Dwardazik, doing his best impression of a zombie: Rrrrgh, Vicra is evil, he is my creator, rrrrrrgh. Dazki: Oh, Dwardazik...Through all this commotion, an elven lady pokes her head out of the cage.
Fae: Mort, honey, I thought you were going to keep it down? Gypsy really needs her rest. It's a difficult time! Mort: Yeah, you... I told you guys to keep it down! Fae: I, he... did you... are you drinking again? Dazki: My friend and I, we were wandering through, we just offered to share a small flagon of ale with, I'm assuming your husband, here, as a token of goodwill and friendship. Fae: You know, he really shouldn't be drinking. He's a super lightweight. But also, I'm going to need you guys to keep it down out here. Dazki: Do you mind if we have a real quick word with you first? It's fairly important. Fae looks back inside the cage, then pokes back out. Fae: I guess if you can make it quick. The evening is the most likely time for this... special thing to happen, so... Dazki: Oh, is one of your animals with child? Fae: Any second now! Dazki: Ahh, fuck, OK, I'll make this quick. Traveling healer that got let into the camp, he -- Fae: There's a traveling healer? Dazki: Yeah, a guy with a plague doctor mask and stuff like that. He's dealing in horrible unholy magics, and we are tracking him down to stop him. Fae: That's a lot... Dazki: You and yours might want to get away or close yourselves off as quickly as possible. Fae: Well, I mean, I... what do you mean? Dazki: I think there's going to be a confrontation with him in the morning. Fae: Don't have a confrontation here! Dazki: We are trying, but I don't think that there is a way around it based on what he has done. Fae: Just go somewhere else! If you gotta fight, take it outside. I'm always tellin' them, take it outside if you gotta fight! Dazki: You do see the weather, right? Fae: All the more reason why we definitely shouldn't pick up camp. Dazki, with a sigh: OK. We will try very hard to take it outside of the camp in the morning, but in case that is not doable, please try to protect yourselves and stay out of the confrontation. We don't want anyone to get hurt that isn't this Flesh Artist. Fae: That's such a cool name... Fae: Anyways! I guess I'll get 'em to do what we can, but we can't really pick up camp and move. If you're gonna off a guy, can you, um, maybe not do so super dramatically in a way that sends lightning bolts down and kills half our horses? Because that was really shitty. Dazki: I take it that has happened before? Fae: ...listen. When you're trying to get a group of, let's face it, oddballs together, things tend to go wrong fairly frequently. Dazki: Fair point. We will do our best to make sure there's not fireballs and lightning bolts and giant hammers from the heavens, and things of that nature. Fae: OK. That would be really great. And if you could keep it really calm out here, that would be even better. Dazki: Yeah. At least until morning, and we will try for longer. Fae: And now, you have to watch Mort, because he's just wandered off near that campfire, and I don't trust him with how wobbly he is, and you did this. Dazki: You have a point there, ma'am.Dazki watches over Mort for a short while.
New Cellstone, Whodis?
Annu gets Grogery's attention through the cellstone.Grogery: Hey, Marvin, have you ever heard/seen Annu before? Marvin: Never in person, no. Grogery: Well, it seems that he is hailing us, so I am going to answer this. Grogery takes out the cellstone. Marvin: Oh, you mean that Annu? Grogery: Annu Adabra. Marvin: The floating one? Grogery: Yes. Marvin: Well... OK. Annu: Procedures on the Mark of the Disfigured Man ongoing. Outcomes of the surgical option are superior to letting disorder fester, but damage and side effects are still common for both, with the most common post-operative complications being a loss of vision or eye, partial amnesia, and other low-to-middle-grade neuroses. These effects outweigh the severe pain and mental distress that have been observed in untreated cases. Efficiency in reducing complications is trending upward. You will inform me of your progress, as per our agreement. Grogery: Hershal's Rest was investigated, found to be entirely overrun. Timeline seems to be as such: 12 days ago, the Flesh Artist came through, healed some people. About 5 days ago, zombie horde came, overran the town, everybody inside is dead. Those who were healed by the Flesh Artist got back up afterward as zombies once they were killed. Possible source for the zombies roaming this area. Grogery (cont'd): While investigating town, came across a living beast that we are referring to as The Glutton of Hershal's Rest, consuming body parts, storing them in an extradimensional magic item capable of storing things at a cold temperature. Seems to belong to the Flesh Artist, whom we have now found and is camping mere feet away from us. Will give report in following morning, because we may have altercation tonight. Will send you personally if other important information occurs. Grogery (cont'd): If you don't hear from us tomorrow, something has happened on the northeastern road from Ashport. He closes with a vague description of their current location. Marvin: That's... a lot to take in, on both sides there. You guys have an arrangement with the one and only Annu Adabra? Grogery: We have a verbal contract with him as "outside advisors". Marvin: Is he... is he paying you? Grogery: We're getting paid in exposure. Grogery: He will share information with us that helps our mission, if we in turn share information with him that helps his. Marvin: And, dare I ask, what is his mission? Grogery: It's whatever the firelord wants him to do right now. Marvin: Makes sense. Grogery: I believe that he is some sort of undead item that's been magically shackled to obey the firelord somehow. Marvin: Well then. All right. So... he doesn't sound that friendly. Grogery: No. Someone who plays nice is not necessarily good, but sometimes you need to make peace with dangerous people for the greater good.Dazki and Dwardazik get back to the camp.
Grogery: Hey. Annu called. I think we've been forgetting to give him daily updates, but I have updated him on our current status and let him know that if he does not hear from us tomorrow, then he can find our bodies here. Dazki: I didn't think we were expected to give daily updates, it was just an option? Grogery: I feel like it was the implication, but with Annu being Annu... Marvin: He didn't seem too happy at the very end there, I'm not gonna lie. Dwardazik: It's good to at least have a safety net. Grogery: Wait, where is Barry? Dwardazik: I'll go get him.Dwardazik goes over to the cart.
Dwardazik: Hey, Barry, you doing all right? Barry, startled: NOTHING! Dwardazik: Uh-oh. Nope. What's going on, eh? He climbs in the cart. Barry: Nothing! Nothing's going on! Dwardazik: Oh. Thumbs-up and leaves. Dazki: Hey, Barry, I know you're not doing anything right now, but could you do something for us in the morning? Barry: Yeah! Dazki: You know all these circus performers and everything around here? Barry: No, I've just been in the cart. Well, I put the cattle over with the horses, and then all those monk people, they tried to murder me, and then I went back in the cart. Dazki: Yeah... well... there's a bunch of performers and actors and stuff like that in this camp that we're staying at right now. In the morning, there might be a fight between us and the guy with the creepy mask, I don't know if you've seen him? Barry: Yeah, the monks! By the horses! Dazki: No, no, not the monks. The guy in the mask with the beak. Barry: What, like a bird? Dazki: Kind of, yeah, like a really creepy-looking crow mask. Barry: Oh, like the crows from earlier on the road! Dazki: Yeah. So we may need to fight someone with a mask that looks kind of like that in the morning. Could you do us a favor and help protect all of the innocents? Barry: Uhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh... Dazki: We're going to try to keep the fight away from them, but if you could try to keep them away from the fight? Barry: You don't want me to fight them? Like, I can probably shoot the monks! Dazki: No, we want you to keep them safe, because civilian casualties are a really bad thing, and you're the only one that we trust to make sure that doesn't happen. Barry: I shot an ally in the ass and you're going to trust me to protect civilians? OK! Fine. Dazki: I trust that that was a mistake. We all make mistakes. I'm not basing my belief in you on past accidents, but faith in your future actions. Barry: OK, I'll protect all the weak little people roamin' around. Sure, whatever. That sounds like a great use of my resources. Dazki: Would you rather get involved in the fight? I thought you didn't want to do those things? Barry: I mean, I don't wanna kill anybody, I don't think. I mean, you guys would be all sad once you saw how good I am, so... I'll just stick to the civilians, and... but what if somebody gets into the cart while you're fighting, though? Dazki: Then you have our permission to take care of them. Barry: See, now we're speaking the same language! Dazki: Thank you, Barry, I appreciate your willingness to help out. Barry: I'm an equal member of the team! Dazki: You are, and as an equal member, you have a right to say no, so I appreciate that you aren't saying no. Barry: And I don't waste any resources! Dazki: Well, thank you. Fair warning, you're going to want to take a watch. We're doing two people on watch at all times tonight. Barry: OK, yeah. Dazki, back to the party: You got that? Nobody's awake by themselves. Agreements all around.
Night Watch
As the party is strategizing on how to divvy up watch duties, weaving in an assassination attempt somewhere in there...Dazki: Um, hey guys? Over there, before we get too much into anything, someone just wandered out into the storm. Dwardazik: Who? Dazki: Some human, reddish brown hair. I don't think we were introduced to them. Dwardazik: Trail 'em! We start now! Dazki: Does anyone see where the doctor and his lackey went? Some notice that the doctor left camp with an individual and headed into the storm. Dwardazik: OK, we're going now. This is our ambush. Kesmet: OK, I'll stay close to Dazki and make us both invisible when we get close. Barry: And I will protect the innocent people in the circus! Marvin: Hell yeah, Barry! Dwardazik: Exactly! Dazki: Yep! We're counting on you!
Outstanding in the Field
The doctor and a carnie have stopped a safe distance away from the camp so that they could speak privately, the wind doing a decent job of hiding what they would be discussing.Dwardazik: This might be our opportunity to understand how he operates, before we attack. This could be our only chance of getting any information about curing this Turmoil! Can anyone listen in? Dazki, annoyed: He doesn't have any information about how to cure the Turmoil, though! He doesn't even care! He doesn't try! We're not gonna get anything of use from him! Dwardazik: OK, then let's save that innocent! Grogery: Still, if he wishes to hide this information, then it might be useful. Perhaps send some invisible people over there to eavesdrop? Dazki: The invisibility only lasts for a moment. It would be better to use the cover of the grasses and the storm itself. Dwardazik: So what do you suggest, Dazki? Do we go in? Grogery: Possibly, Dazki can get close and see what they're talking about? If it's worth listening in, he can get that information. Dazki, pointing to his pistol: You guys remember the sound of this? Marvin: Pretty hard to forget that. Dazki: That will be the signal to attack, if I'm not discovered beforehand.Dazki sneaks up behind them, watching and listening what they're saying. The human individual, speaking to the doctor, holds his arm, which you can't really see due to his long baggy shirt.
Carnie: I don't know, but, like... is it gonna hurt? Vic: Possibly for a moment. He holds out his gnarled fingers. You can show us. You needn't be afraid here. We will not discriminate.Apprehensive, the carnie rolls up his sleeve. He has a heavily wrapped arm that looks vaguely normal at the moment, but as he goes to unwrap it, it is revealed to be some strange mutated situation. Almost like a tentacle, clearly not full of bones. A couple of fingers stick off of one of the strands of the tentacle.
Key Combat Moments
At the start of combat, rather than grasping at the bullet wound in his shoulder, the Flesh Artist grasped at his mask, quickly checking the integrity of the buckles in the back and the stitching on the side of the beak. He took a sharp and haggard inhale, to his obvious discomfort. The howling dust grew suddenly still and stagnant around him, before violently being thrust inward towards him. Otherwise, the doctor looked strangely tired. His movements were very slow and predictable. The only spell he was seen casting was a short-range teleportation spell that he used to move without triggering an attack of opportunity from Dwardazik. Oddly, he was able to cast this spell without saying anything (the plague doctor has never said anything). This created an aura around the doctor. Anyone entering this aura found it incredibly painful to breathe for a while, an effect that did not cease immediately upon exiting the radius. Grogery, in particular, found the sensation very familiar and panics, instinctively taking a breath. The negative effects seemed to stem from some sort of ability (not a spell) that affects the air in one's lungs, not from the aura itself. The doctor's gnoll companion was inside the aura, but the first opportunity that he had, he attacked himself in the chest. After doing so, he was able to run through the aura seemingly unaffected, rushing to the doctor's side and unleashing an entire murder of handravens, far more than what should have been able to fit, from his box. Dazki did manage to take out the gnoll non-lethally. The handravens swarmed Dazki and tried to grab at his weapon with their human hand parts, attempting to disarm him. The ragmen seemed not to be combat units, very much unlike Baxton's monk-like simulacra. Ultimately, Marvin was the one to take out the Flesh Artist, whispering to him, "you will never harm anyone ever again". The Flesh Artist, heavily burned and shot in the back, fell lightly and limply to the floor, the wind turning back to normal. As he hit the ground, the dust thrown up from the previous storm immediately fell down on his now lifeless body.Aftermath
Some sort of sparkly black smoke starts to leak out of the various gaps in the leather garb and mask, like a subtle hiss. It forms a shape of an ethereal vulture and slithers away in the wind, quickly fading out of sight. The body (and, Marvin, there was a body) is decaying at an incredibly rapid rate, reminiscent of what Baxton's body did for those who witnessed it. Grogery attempts to remove the mask. It's very difficult to remove, impervious to damage, but the body does decay enough to allow the mask to be removed. Within a minute and a half, the body goes from discolored, crackling flesh with dusty bones, to rich composted soil.Grogery: I have a feeling... this felt too easy. Kesmet: Well he was controlling that puppet thing. What if the actual person was the snake, and it's like a super smart snake, and it's manipulating this guy, and this guy is a puppet of the snake, and the smaller dude is a puppet of this guy, as a decoy? Fire bolt at the black misty smoke thing. Let's check out the guy up there?
Dazki goes to check out the gnoll, searching through his pockets, and then tying him up. He doesn't have a lot of useful things -- he has half of a healer's kit. His body, though, is something else. He has lots of old scars on his body, patches of missing fur. The skin is harder than it should be.
Grogery goes to the tentacle-arm carnie, who had been knocked unconscious during the fight, and stabilizes him easily. Examining his wounds, the aura around the doctor appears to have actually been generating a curse.
Kesmet loots the doctor, looking for something like the ring recovered from Baxton to help ask questions about Dennis. The doctor doesn't carry a lot on him other than his crate. The crate seems near bottomless. Dumping it out, there are some vials of some gross-looking liquid, various scraps of hide and leather from an unknown beast, a very well-stocked medical and alchemical kit, a big block of salt, and 10 pounds of very nice-quality incense, both in a big stick form and loose. It's surprising how little the doctor travel with. He doesn't have a magic weapon or any magic armor. There are no enchanted rings or jewelry, no scrolls. There are these six vials, but they're not healing potions. He's just got the mask and the box! Kesmet takes note of all the contents, then puts them back in the box and slings it over his shoulder. Because it looks cool.
