Session 68

General Summary

• As the party made it closer to where they believe Overlook to be, they encountered a rampaging beast, clearly another one of Vicra Lammergeyer's creations, engaged in combat with a group of a few other individuals.
• The party engaged in the combat as well, and both sides took heavy damage before a woman, riding on a horse, arrived, putting an abrupt stop to the action by calming down the beast.
• This group identified themselves as W.E.I.R.D.. They shared some information with the party:
• Doctor Callista Perry, daughter of Finnigan Perry (who, Callista maintains, is NOT DEAD) is their leader, of sorts.
• The rampaging beast is named E.D., after one of the few things that he has been shown to remember.
• E.D. seems to be a guardian of some sort, constantly staying near Doctor Perry for protection, which makes it difficult for her to move around.
• The Flesh Artist has been killed before; apparently, it's relevant that he was killed with psychic damage this time, because that means that he'll be resistant to psychic damage later.
• There definitely seems to be some sort of intelligent soul inside these masterpieces that the Flesh Artist creates, though he was interrupted before he could finish E.D., so it's not clear if that's just specific to E.D. or if, say, The Glutton of Hershal's Rest also had this intelligence.
• Confirming what some have suspected, Overlook seems to automatically erase people's memories (and maps) of it and it's highly resistant to scrying and divination magic, making it hard to catalog and put together a game plan.
• Doctor Perry thinks that there are several necromancers in Overlook, including a high priest of some description named "Jim Something".

Full Recap

The session opens with the party having just finished up a long rest at a campsite along a route to what is presumed to be Overlook.

Here Comes the Pain Train

Dazki and Barry up front handling the cart, Kesmet on top trying to keep a lookout as well, Marvin playing his mandolin in the back for the others.   Dazki hands the mask over to Kesmet, having identified at least some of its properties, revealing what he's learned about it so far:

Kesmet: I'm going to go ahead and leave that alone. I could probably do something to Dennis with this... I don't know.   Grogery: Do you think it causes you to age or deteriorate? It looked like that sort of things was happening to Vicra.   Dazki: If you don't want it for the magical properties, I don't think anything would be wrong with just using it for protection from diseases and gases.   Grogery: I feel like that kind of thing is going to show up in Overlook.   Kesmet: It's also a very creepy mask. I'm not going to use it.   Grogery: I have curse removal ready, in case we run into something similar to that aura that was around Vicra when we get to Overlook.   Dwardazik: I'll use it. Did you say you wanted it, Marvin?   Marvin: I didn't, but I can see how that could be advantageous. I did get the kill on him...   Dazki: Sure, if you want it, it's yours.

Marvin takes it.   Barry isn't doing too well in the heat. He switches with Marvin, and Dwardazik gets Barry some water to help cool down.

---

Bursting out from over one of the ridges covered in thornbushes is a terrified ostrich. It comes streaming towards you, squawking frantically. It's definitely running from something.   Kesmet hurls a firebolt at it, as Dwardazik tries to fire his crossbow at it from inside the cart.   Both hit the ostrich, breaking the animal form of a halfling druid, who then skids under the cart to hide from something coming over the ridge. Another form stampedes over the ridge, its gait like that of a gorilla, pounding the ground with its knuckles. Its head is shielded by plates coming off of its head like antlers. It makes light work of the thornbushes as it plows through them, slowing down briefly to let out a terrible otherworldly bellow.

Dazki, to the druid: What the fuck is going on?

Three other figures, also chasing this beast, also appear on the side of the ridge: a rough, well-tattooed dwarf, his head mostly shaved. He has an incredibly large ornate crossbow on his back, and he seems to be pulling it out. The other is a burly red dragonborn, made out of scale and muscle; under his arm, he recklessly holds another halfling.

Combat Summary

• The oxen started fighting against their barding. When they broke free, they even fought against their owners.
• The locusts also got riled up and fought as well.
• Several Bulettes also joined in the fight, enraged by the beast's roar.
• The dragonborn and two halflings spent the combat engaged with one of the bulettes, dispatching it more-or-less offscreen.
• One of the bulettes severely damaged the top of the cart. Together with collateral damage from one of Kesmet's burning hands, this damaged it more than what could be easily repaired with a simple Mending spell out in the field.
• The monster knocked Grogery unconscious, nearly killing him. Marvin revived him with a healing potion, and Dwardazik moved him away from the beast immediately after.
• Barry, an equal member of the team, just hid in a barrel the whole time, even when he was in the perfect position to run a healing potion to Grogery before even a single death save.
• A woman came riding in on a horse from a distance. She calmed the beast down by throwing a rope on it, ending combat with it (though Dazki did land another hit on it, not trusting this woman).
• Shortly after the beast calmed down, the oxen stopped attacking the party, and the bulettes were handily taken care of.

Aftermath

Grogery regains consciousness a short distance away from the beast, which is surprisingly not dead, seeing the woman next to it having taken control of it somehow.

Grogery, groggily: OK, how long has it been?   Marvin: About 12 seconds.   Dwardazik: About a minute.   Grogery, still groggy: Those are two different numbers... OK, hang on, let me... let me... hang on. I've never actually had to do this on myself, so give me a sec.   Grogery heals himself substantially, using a Channel Divinity: Restore Life.   Dwardazik: You're starting to look better. That stuff's pretty amazing.   Grogery: Yeah, I think I learned a lesson here about getting cocky.   Dwardazik: All right. Now then. WHAT THE FUCK IS GOING ON?!   Grogery: Yeah, I think I saw the woman earlier, on a horse, but --   Dwardazik, pointing at the halfling twins: WHO ARE YOU?!   Dwardazik, pointing at the mystery woman: WHO ARE YOU?!   Dwardazik, pointing at the other dwarf: WHO ARE YOU?!   Marvin: I second those questions.

The two parties reconvene around a spot, so that they can have a conversation. The beast looms over the red-haired lady, who has tied the other end of his rope to her belt and started writing furiously in a journal.

Hemsin, to Hawney : When I said "turn into a giant bird", that's not what I meant!   Hawney: Well, you gotta be more specific! In the moment, that was just the only big bird I could think of!   They bicker back and forth a bit more.   Aggromir, noticing that Dazki still seems quite damaged, adjusts his armor a bit, pulls out a red potion, and throws it to him.   Aggromir: That'll pick ya right up!   Dazki, tossing it back: I'm all right, thanks. I've had worse.   Aggromir: Suit yourself.   Dazki: You'll have to forgive me for being a bit hesitant about accepting gifts from people whom I've not been introduced to yet. Anyway, I'm Dazki. Thank you for the assistance. What's going on with this... thing?   Perry: Yeah, what exactly is going on?!   Marvin: So, lady, is this your creature?   Perry, exasperated: It's... it's a really long story.   Marvin: Why did it almost kill our friend here? Can you explain that for us? Because I would really love, LOVE, to know why you just have this creature who can potentially kill dozens and dozens of people, our cows, this fine dragonborn gentlemen, these fine couple of halflings, and the fine dwarf over here, on a rampage.   Aggromir: Ahh, yes, lad. He did quite get away from us. Sorry, Doc, we're gonna have to come up with new containment protocols. Those didn't work either.   Marvin: Oh, you don't say!!!   Dazki: Now, now. Adrenaline is running high, let's calm down a minute and actually talk things out.   Perry: I'm really terribly sorry about all this, but I really don't have time to explain right now. I need to write down anything I can remember. Hopefully the other four can fill you in?   Dwardazik: All right. Group check! Grogery, you doin' all right?   Grogery: Yeah, I'm doing fine. I've been worse than I am right now.   Dwardazik: I'm not doin' too bad. I took a few heavy blows there, but I've done worse. Dazki, that guy threw you a potion. You doin' all right?   Dazki, deliberately and obviously reloading his gun: Yeah, I'm OK.

The party looks at this ragtag bunch of weirdos to get some first impressions of them. The dragonborn approaches the red-haired woman. He must have lost his shirt during combat, because he's putting it back on as he does so. He takes her aside, and they chat about something while the other three are receptive to the party's discussion.

Aggromir: That's some real unfortunate placement you guys had, there. Real unfortunate. This is definitely a problem we need to solve for you.   Marvin: I didn't catch your name?   Aggromir: Ahh, yes, how can you say you know people if you don't know what to call 'em, right? You can call me Aggromir Kraghunter!   Dwardazik: As I live and breathe, under all the gems of Amber Falls, a Kraghunter! Aggromir, the name's Dwardazik Stoneturner Boulderhearth.   Aggromir: A Boulderhearth! What are you doin' so far out here, fellow Amber Falls man? Hey, does Dagoman's wife still run that butchery?   Dwardazik: I believe she does, but it's been some time since I've been there.   Aggromir: Best ribs underground.   Dwardazik: So can you fill me in on what's going on around here? To see someone like you out here, this must be important.   Aggromir: Aye. I'm supposed to be retired from the mines, but you know what they say: you can take a Kraghunter out of the labyrinth, but you can never take the adventure out of a Kraghunter!   Dwardazik: Ain't that true! I've got some fine dwarven ale I procured over in Ashport. We should break it out to celebrate this glorious meeting!   Aggromir: Aye, but first, you might have a lot of questions? You seem very able-bodied to be wandering around in the middle of the dust.   Grogery: One could argue that if we weren't as able-bodied, we wouldn't have been wandering around in the middle of the dust.   Aggromir: You wouldn't wander the dust without a purpose. Not dressed like that.   Grogery: You guys wouldn't be wandering the dust without a purpose, either.   Aggromir: Right.   Grogery: By the way, my name is Grogery, of the Daointaar family. Pleasure to meet all of you.   Aggromir firmly grabs Grogery's hand in a big firm handshake.   Grogery: So what brings all of you out here? Related question, what brings that (he points to the masterpiece) sort of thing out here?   Aggromir: Ahh, yes, we are the West Exignis Intelligence, Research, and Development organization.   Grogery: Is there a shorthand for that?   Hawney: You can just call us "weirdos"! By the way, my name's Hawney, and this is Hemsin. We're Quibblebits!   Dwardazik and Grogery: What's a "Quibblebit"?   Hawney: Our last name!   Dwardazik: Strongman, you are...?   Richter, snapping out of his side conversation with the lady: ...huh? OH, we're doing introductions! I love that part!   Richter takes his shirt off. He seems unable to keep it on for very long.   Richter: I am Richter Earthscale, fourth in line of the Edar'ternock sorcerous line of gods and wizards! He flexes.   Aggromir: That beast's quite a work, innit?   Dwardazik: It's pretty damn strong, but nothing we couldn't handle. Give us another minute, and that thing would be nothing but mush on the ground.   Aggromir: Good thing Perry showed up when she did then, huh? We kinda need it.   Marvin: Perry's her name? "Perry"?   Dwardazik: What would you need a thing like that for?   Aggromir: We need to understand how these things work. An opportunity like E.D. there only comes once in a lifetime.   Dazki: Seems a bit dangerous, doesn't it?   Aggromir: If it wasn't dangerous, it wouldn't be worth doin'!   Dazki: Oh, now, that's not true. There's plenty of things worth doing that aren't dangerous.   Dwardazik: Like drinkin'!   Aggromir: If we can just understand this creature and how it ticks...   Dwardazik: It doesn't seem natural. It's probably something that the Flesh Artist cooked up and released into the countryside.   Aggromir: It is! How did you know? Ahh, perhaps we can really help each other.   Dwardazik: We just heard about the Flesh Artist and his machinations roaming the countryside. Pays to be prepared.   Marvin: And so far, this is all that's left of him. He takes the mask out of his bag.   Aggromir: Ahh FUCK. Goddamnit!   Marvin: He's coming back.   Aggromir: Piece of... how did you... how did he die?   Marvin: Don't let your scrotum --   Aggromir: HOW DID HE DIE?   Marvin: I killed him.   Aggromir: With what?   Marvin: With my mind.   Aggromir: ...fuck.   Dazki: Magic, yeah.   Aggromir, calling over to the dragonborn: Hey, Richter. Mark psychic damage off the list.   Marvin: ...what?   Dwardazik: ...wut?   Dazki: I take it you've been killing him repeatedly and trying to figure out what will do it for good?   Aggromir: If you kill him with something, he's resistant to that later, and you're making it a lot harder... goddamn.   Dazki: What's on the list currently?   Aggromir: Well, we've determined that most of the mundane sources, he's already done himself or... someone else has been unfortunate enough to encounter him.   Grogery: Do you happen to know if radiant damage is on the list?   Aggromir: Yeah... you can thank us for that. That one's on me.   Marvin: Well, that's good information to have.   Aggromir: Most of the elements are still on the table, though.   Marvin: So we think we know where he's regenerating.   Aggromir: Oh, we know where he's regenerating.   Marvin: So are you guys planning on going there, or...?   Dwardazik: So how do we stop him?   Aggromir: Why don't we return to base so Perry can better deal with the information she's gathered?   Dazki: Perry, I'm a big fan of your... father, would I presume? I've read a few of his books, he's a very learned man.   Perry: Really? You don't find him to be nuts?   Dazki: Oh, no, he's completely out of it, but that doesn't mean he can't be an intelligent man at the same time.   Perry: Great! Thanks for your opinion.   Perry goes back to furiously writing in her journal.   Dwardazik: Well, why don't we go ahead and go back to base?   Aggromir: Yeah, no reason to stand around out here in the sun, baking like porkchops, when we can easily go back to the base and regroup.   Dwardazik: Anything's better than wandering the countryside. So how do you travel? Are you just walkin', or do you have a cart?   Aggromir: Well, quite frankly, we didn't expect E.D. to get out as quickly as he did this time.   Marvin: Did you... does that thing have a name? Did you just call it "Ed"?   Kesmet: You're not supposed to name it! When you name it, you start getting attached to it!   Perry: It's short for "E.D.", it's one of the only things he can remember.   Marvin: "He", oh, OK. It remembers things, it's a boy, it has a name. Do we celebrate birthdays for it as well?   Perry, glancing over at the wrecked cart: E.D., I thought we talked about this property damage thing. You know what you're supposed to do. Go do it.   E.D. walks over to Marvin, still tethered, all of his eyes focusing on him.   E.D.: I'm sorry...   Grogery: It speaks...?   Dazki: HE speaks, Grogery.   E.D. puts out a claw asking for Marvin to accept his apology.   Marvin: Grogery is the one you should be apologizing to, E.D. His tone has changed, now that he recognizes that this is a creature with at least some intelligence.   E.D. goes to do the same thing to Grogery.   Dazki: So is this behavior learned, or did it know that before it was... ... ...   Dwardazik: ...rampaging across the countryside?   Dazki: ...handled by you and your companions?   Perry: Once again, terribly long story, definitely trying to concentrate. But there's a person in there, I know it.   Marvin: Could've fooled me.   Perry: Just a horribly warped person. Occasionally, he remembers things! But...   Dazki: That would be par for the course for the Flesh Artist's MO, from what we've been able to tell.   Marvin: So, just to be clear, the Flesh Artist did make this guy, right?   Perry: Yes. Well, mostly.   Dwardazik: Mostly?   Perry: Yes, the last time we were in his laboratory, we may have interrupted something.   Dwardazik: Sounds like a story for at your base, eh?

They start fixing up the cart and heading back towards base, as Dazki puts a hand on Marvin's shoulder.

Dazki: We'll get this figured out. Don't worry about it, all right? Just deep breaths... deep breaths. Remember, none of this is intentional, they don't mean us any harm, so we'll just work together and get it figured out.   Marvin: No, I understand. I was frustrated when it seemed that they lost control of their little "experiment". Now that I know there may be an intelligent mind behind this creature, I am more sympathetic towards what's going on. Dazki, do you think we can trust these guys?   Dazki: I don't think they mean us any harm, and they seem to be pretty honest about what's going on so far.   Marvin: I get the feeling you're right. They seem to know a lot about the Flesh Artist, and they know more than we knew about the Flesh Artist just a few moments ago. Yeah, let's see what we can find out from 'em.

W.E.I.R.D. Science

There's an old outpost out here, one singular barracks that seems to have been repurposed into a makeshift little base for these guys. You can fit like 8 rooms in here, there's a little wall, pretty standard. You can tell that it can definitely fit a lot more members than the members you've already met, and yet you don't see anyone else buzzing around the outpost at all, giving you the sense that... these guys might be it, as far as this organization is concerned. A lot of the site is poorly tended to because of the low population.

Marvin: So, any reason in particular why you guys... this is pretty far removed from civilization, out here.   Perry: It's perfect for exploration. It originally started off as a halfway point, but given its proximity to Overlook, we found it very useful indeed.   Marvin: Overlook being near an anthill not too far from here, right?   Perry: Indeed. Somewhere. It's very tricky.   Marvin: But you have been there?   Perry: ...why do you guys know of the Flesh Artist?   Dazki: He's one of six avatars of Turmoil on this plane. We've eliminated one of them.   Perry: Six?   Dazki: Yeah. One of six.   Dwardazik: The first one was pretty difficult, but we got 'im. You know, I thought this Flesh Artist wasn't dead, but I was really hopin'...   Marvin: I felt it. I knew that he wasn't gone.   Perry: I mean, you definitely killed him. When we saw the birds fly out there, that's why I had to return. I couldn't even get all the way into Overlook this time.   Dazki: Ahh, sorry about that. That was our doing.   Perry: I was worried he would come back early.   Dazki: He was definitely on his way back.   Grogery: So do you all have the supplies to even get into Overlook without disrupting the ants?   Perry: They're purchasable within Overlook. Getting there the first time is the tricky part.   Grogery: So, you have been?   Perry: The trickiest part is remembering that you can get into Overlook.   Marvin: What is that supposed to mean?   Dazki: I'd assume that there's some sort of charm or something to affect memories. That's why the gnoll couldn't remember how to get in there. It makes perfect sense.   Dwardazik: Oh, Eyesore?   Perry: Did you kill the gnoll too?   Dazki: No, we didn't.   Grogery: He got away.   Perry: That one doesn't come back, I don't think. I think it's just the doctor that does that.   Dwardazik: Well, I wanted to kill Eyesore, but he managed to escape using some kind of teleportation.   Perry: What, like a ragman?   Dazki: He dropped some kind of a potion, threw at his feet, and disappeared away.   Perry: Yeah, the ragmen do that.   Dwardazik: So what does it do? Is it teleportation, invisibility, somethin'?   Perry: It just goes back to the lab. But that's interesting, because it means he wasn't carrying Turmoil. Turmoil doesn't like to be teleported.   Grogery: Oh...   Marvin: Really...   Dazki: He wasn't carrying it on him, but there was Turmoil with him.   Marvin: Oh yeah, the snake.   Dwardazik: Yeah, he was transporting a giant snake this time. Maybe that means he's trying to become immune to poison this time? I don't know.   Grogery: Maybe he just needed more Turmoil, and this is how it was being smuggled.   Perry: He has a supplier in Ashport for Turmoil.   The party, in unison and talking over one another, indicates what happened with Baxton.   Dwardazik: And Ashport might also be on high alert regarding Turmoil now.   Perry: Wait, do you guys have a beef against... you're willing to do stuff?   Dwardazik: I'm willing to destroy the Flesh Artist.   Perry: We're kinda short-staffed at the moment...   Dazki: We certainly sorta got roped into things about trying to take care of this Turmoil business.   Dwardazik: Let's discuss details about what can be done to destroy this Flesh Artist, and what strategies you're doing to approach it. Perhaps between all of our information and yours, we can come up with a solution.   Perry: Right. I like this plan.   Dwardazik: Yes, plan. Plan to kill it and be done with this bastard!   Dazki: We'll need to understand it to properly deal with it first.   Grogery: Do we know how he keeps coming back, or is it just "Turmoil shenanigans"?   Perry: He grows bodies.   Dwardazik: So destroy all the bodies.   Perry: He can only grow 'em so fast. We managed to infiltrate the lab once, which turns out to really be unfortunate right now, because it's probably been reinforced since then.   Dazki: Well, good thing you've got more people now.   Dwardazik: So do you guys know how to destroy Turmoil?   Perry: Pure... elemental energy?   Dwardazik: Have you used that on him?   Perry: On who?   Dwardazik: The Flesh Artist?   Perry: He's not only Turmoil. Here's the weird thing. What do you mean, he's transferring Turmoil within a snake?   Dazki: That's how they were smuggling it out of Ashport: in living creatures.   Perry: We've encountered similar strange phenomena. You do realize that Turmoil shouldn't be a... thing, right? Like a physical thing?   Dwardazik goes to pour himself a drink, to drink to that.   Grogery: Oh, absolutely not.   Dazki: And yet, we have encountered it as a physical thing multiple times.   Perry: And I have, too.   Dazki: We did message somebody that we know of who can deal with the Turmoil. We're expecting them to retrieve and destroy it shortly.   Perry: Yes, yes, solutions to problems. But... how?   Dazki: If I knew that, I would be a much wiser man.   Perry: That's one of the main things we're trying to figure out.   Marvin: I dunno, we could give you the cellstone and you could ask the man himself?   Grogery: The Turmoil was being shipped in through the port in Ashport. So it must be coming from somewhere. If the Flesh Artist is getting it from that chain, then the Flesh Artist isn't making this physical Turmoil. It's someone else. Maybe in this guy's lab, we'll be able to find some information about where the start of this supply chain is.   Dwardazik: True. Why don't we have Perry talk to the cellstone?   Grogery: We already used that today, to communicate stuff about the snake.   Dwardazik: Then our goal is clear: we must infiltrate the Flesh Artist's lab, figure out all of his plans and secrets, figure out a way of defeating him, and then execute it.   Dazki: That's a great plan and all, but we need more details than that. That's going to take time, and we're not going to have time once we get in there.   Perry: Very fortuitous, then: I have the plans, but can no longer really get into Overlook.   Aggromir: What do you mean, "you can't really get into Overlook"?   Grogery: It might have something to do with having to keep watch over a creature that would almost certainly stick out in Overlook?   Perry: If someone could properly contain E.D., ...   Dwardazik: Why don't we just build a pit?   Aggromir: Aye, we've built a pit. You think... the first thing I tried wasn't a pit?   Dwardazik: Well, I figured, maybe you got overruled, wouldn't let you use the pit! I think a pit is a good idea!   Aggromir: You'd think I'd get overruled, do ya, lad?   Dwardazik: I'm sure it was a mighty fine pit.   Aggromir: It was the best pit you ever laid eyes on!   Dwardazik: I would be happy to see it, I'm sure the craftsmanship on the walls was extensively refined?   Aggromir: It was filled in. Did not work.   Dwardazik: Why not fill it in with E.D. in the bottom? Oh, wait. You're trying to keep it alive. My bad.   Grogery: It... he would probably dig his way out.   Aggromir: It's like this guy is some unstoppable force. As soon as he's any distance away from Perry, he just goes nuts. Just berserk. He's imprinted on her.   Dwardazik: Perhaps the first thing these creatures see becomes their master? Is that how the Flesh Artist operates?   Perry: OK. More explanations. While we were down through the laboratory, we kind-of... interrupted an experiment. E.D., here, he may be incomplete. Which is great news for us, maybe all of this could be fixed! But right now, he seems to be a guardian. And right now, I think he thinks he's supposed to guard me.   Marvin: That doesn't sound like too bad of a deal to me.   Dwardazik: If you want a giant monster walkin' around...   Perry: I can't go to any town or anything. Every time we've tried to lock E.D. up somewhere, he finds his way back through some sort of primal rampage.   Kesmet: Can we try the bridle on him?   Grogery: He's not an animal.   Perry: He still contains a human soul. He has a name, we just don't know it.   Marvin: So what does "E.D." stand for? You said it was short for something?   Perry: We think it's his initials, "E.D.". Most of his memory is gone. They did manage to hold E.D. for a couple of days, I was able to get to the outskirts of Overlook.   Marvin: OK, so Overlook. Is Overlook an actual town, with people, or is this something the Flesh Artist made himself?   Perry: It's a town. Overlook is a place.   Marvin: So why is it right past a giant anthill?   Perry: Overlook is made primarily of people that the civilized world has forgotten, and they would prefer to have it that way.   Marvin: Ahh, a bunch of savages. Got it.   Perry: They're not savages. They're very civilized. But...   Dazki: There's a difference between people that aren't wanted and people that are... ... barbaric. Plenty of savages in cities and towns.   Marvin: Honestly, I don't see a big problem with bringing E.D. with you wherever you go, honestly. I could get pretty used to it.   Perry: Nobody else is cool with E.D. I don't know how you guys are cool with E.D., when just a second ago, he almost murdered you.   Kesmet: We've been through worse.   Grogery: We have been through... a lot.   Dwardazik: Yeah, I'd say we've been through worse.   Marvin: I was pretty pissed, but now that I know that there's an intelligent mind behind the whole thing...   Kesmet: Shit, was there an intelligent mind behind that thing with the ice orb?   Marvin: I highly doubt it.   Grogery: Actually...   Perry: Each masterpiece contains a human soul. A masterpiece is not killed in its creation, its flesh and mind merely warped by the doctor's cruelty.   Kesmet: So we committed murder... I mean... act of self-defense.   Grogery: One could argue that we were taking a stranded soul away from a horrific experience.   Marvin: That's fair. And the orb, too. That was a pretty good find. The fact that he doesn't have access to that anymore, I'm sure that will hinder his progress.   Perry: Now, I've been going through a lot of my father's research, and I did find a little about Overlook, but it's obviously very sketchy, the information. Memory of Overlook, once you've left Overlook, tends to fade heavily, and it seems to be resistant to scrying and divination. The city was originally founded by those who were exiled, lost travelers, individuals who just didn't fit into normal society. So they settled there, got married, had children, and just lived there. Away from the changes of society out here. They have some strange beliefs, but I believe the residents to be harmless. I think. I can't really remember.   Dwardazik: I'm just thinkin' about supply chains. Food, goods...   Grogery: Do you think this memory repressing thing is curse-based? The Flesh Artist seemed kind of fond of curses.   Dwardazik: That is true. You think, perhaps, the Flesh Artist... wait, I'm sorry. The Flesh Artist's lab, is it in Overlook?   Perry: It's not in Overlook.   Dazki: It's near Overlook, is what we were told.   Grogery: Do you remember how to get to Overlook? Or did you have to go through Overlook to get there?   Dwardazik: This whole idea that we can't remember where Overlook is seems kinda dumb. Just draw a map.   Perry: I did draw a map. The ink has faded.   Dwardazik: Use dwarven ink!   Perry: I would love to experiment more with the memory capabilities of Overlook, but I have difficulties getting to Overlook, E.D. being a dead giveaway.   Dwardazik: So we'll go in your stead. Do you think Overlook would have information on how to defeat the Flesh Artist, or do you think it's a distraction from his lab?   Marvin: I say we go straight to the lab. If he hasn't regenerated yet, it's a perfect opportunity to just barge right in.   Perry: The entrance to the lab changes. It uses the ant mounds as an entrance, and the ants are constantly reworking it.   Dwardazik: Surely, there's got to be some way to determine how to get in?   Perry: I'm sure the necromancers at Overlook would know.   Marvin: That's... plural? "Necromancers", plural? More than one?   Perry: Yeah. Yeah, I think so.   Dazki: You say that like it's a bad thing, or a surprise? It's just magic.   Marvin: Yes, but this feeds way more into my theory that he's a straight-up lich, OK? And we just need to find his phylactery.   Dazki: Well, according to Annu, he did extend his lifespan far beyond normal. It's not entirely unreasonable. However, the whole breathing thing makes me think, "not entirely undead".   Perry: He only does that breathing thing if you disturb him, or if he's building a masterpiece.   Dazki: Oh. He was doing both, when we killed him.   Perry: Breath is precious to him.   Grogery: So let me get this straight. We need to go to Overlook to get information about where the entrance to his lab is next?   Perry: Jim! I remembered something! She starts writing in her journal again. Something with Jim! The lead... the head... what do you call the head of a religious organization?   Grogery: The high priest?   Perry: I don't...   Dazki: It depends on the religion.   Perry: I spoke with Jim last time. Jim Something.   Dwardazik: That's a name. We can use that.   Grogery: Jim, High Priest of Something.   Dazki: Do you mind if we stay the night at your encampment and head out in the morning?   Perry: We have plenty of beds.   Dwardazik: Ahh, it'll be nice to sleep on something comfortable for once.   Marvin: That actually sounds very nice. Thank you.   Dwardazik: Aggromir! Dwarven ale! We're gonna share stories!   Aggromir: Aye! See, that's a good ending to a plan!   Dazki: I actually have a book that I think might interest you, Perry?   Perry: Yeah?   Dazki: I acquired it from another one of the six that we mentioned. It's about Turmoil, and Turmoil-related things.   Perry: Those are hard to come by, usually.   Dazki: I'll be happy to share the information in the book with you, allow you take notes from it and that until we leave.   Perry: It would definitely be good in the library.   Dazki: Better words have never been spoken.   Grogery: So, I think this would be a safe place for our equal member of the team?   Dwardazik: I agree.   Grogery, calling out to Barry: Barry, these people are safe!   Dwardazik: Yeah, get in here, Barry. Introduce yourself!   Barry, calling back: Barry's not here, just this floor!   Dwardazik: Barry, if you're trying to hide, it helps if you don't respond to the question.   Barry: You're gonna give me away!   Dwardazik: You are away! From where you need to be: right here!   Aggromir: Yeah, yeah, come on in, lad! No need to be all sneaky around here, we're all family!   Dazki: Please, come on in, Barry, and take off your hat. It'll be OK, only in here.   Barry: I'm not supposed to take off my hat.   Dwardazik: Take it off.   Dazki, removing his cloak: See, I took off my head covering. You can do it too.   Barry: I'm... ... ... not supposed to.   Kesmet: We have to clean it. It hasn't been cleaned in a while. You have to take it off so we can clean it.   Barry takes off his hat of disguise, revealing a half-elf, half-fish person.   Marvin: I knew it! I knew he smelled fishy!   Dwardazik: Yeah, that's just Barry.   Barry: So they're trying to fix that monster that can't remember stuff?   Dwardazik: Yep.   Dazki: Just like we're trying to help you, since you can't remember things.   Dwardazik: Barry, introduce yourself. It's the polite thing to do. You might be staying with these folks, since they might be able to help you as well.   Barry: What do you mean?   Dwardazik: What, you don't remember your name?   Perry: ...now, that's interesting.   Dazki: This fine gentleman was supposed to be our guide from Muckwater into Ashport. Obviously, Turmoil-related things happened.   Perry: He doesn't look like a masterpiece. Very imperfect.   Dazki: No, that area doesn't belong to the Flesh Artist. It's one of the other five that control down over that way.   Dwardazik: Muckwater. Southwest of Ashport. Small little fishing village.   Dazki: I think what happened to Barry was accidental, or at least unintentional.   Dwardazik: It was kinda weird. It seemed like Turmoil was just comin' out of the ground. Some weird corrupted stuff.   Grogery: It was infecting the mud, and causing this to happen to people who encountered too much of it.   Perry: Mudfish scale. Valuable.   Dwardazik: Do you think this might be related to how Turmoil affects people? Do you know of any kind of cure?   Perry: You have to believe me when I say I don't...   Dazki: That's actually how I found out about Finnigan.   Perry: Oh, you're on a first-name basis now?   Dazki: I'm sorry?   Perry: He was a kook to you a second ago, and now you're on a first-name basis with him?   Dazki: Forgive me, how should I refer to your father in your presence? I'm trying to be polite. "Doctor Perry"? Though I assume that you are also a "Doctor Perry"?   Perry: I am.   Dazki: So I assumed that would be a proper way to distinguish. My apologies.   Perry: Yes, my name is Doctor Callista Perry, daughter of the not late Finnigan Perry. And if you argue with me otherwise, we will not get along.   Dwardazik: So, if my memory serves, that guy you were talking about (her father) is the one who was researching the Turmoil effects, right? And the transformation stuff?   Dazki: Yeah, when he took an excursion out to The Phantasmagoria.   Dwardazik: Oh yeah, we were lookin' to meet up with him, thought he might understand a cure for what's going on over in Ashport. Where's your father at?   Dazki just glares at him.   Perry: Well, if you want to believe the tabloids, he's deceased.   Dwardazik: Well, a lot of things are weird these days. Dead comin' up, monsters roamin' the countryside... I don't think it's all that difficult to imagine that someone who's been missing is still somewhere.   Perry: I'm afraid you're in the minority, as no one else wishes to look.   Dwardazik: Ah damn, we could have used his input. Seems to be the only specialist on this subject we've been able to find.   Dazki: I'd say we found another. He motions to the definitely alive Perry who's standing nearby.   Dwardazik: OK, so as far as immediate plans go, I suppose the only things we should care about are restoring the integrity of the cart, ensuring our supplies are stable, and then making our way over to where Overlook should be.   Perry: We'll supply you with what you need. We need eyes in Overlook, and you can be those eyes.   Dazki: If this helps, we do have something on us to assist tracking. A magical beacon, if you will, but it can only be tracked if you know about it. Grogery is carrying the device on his bag. That might be a way to help locate where this place actually is, without having to go there yourselves.   Aggromir: Aye, I wish it worked that easily. I have the same ability on The Arbitrator here. He motions to his enormous arbalest. The problem is that divination is no good.   Dazki: Ahh. I figured there might be a chance with a focus for it, but clearly not.   Dwardazik: You got any gear that I can use for when I get into Overlook?   Aggromir: Yeah, we'll gear you up. Not gonna let you go in there naked.   Dwardazik: Ahh, I can handle 'em. These dwarven abs are made of stone.   Perry: Just don't... listen. I don't think Overlook is the problem.   Dwardazik: What do you mean by that? I thought we were going in there to get information?   Grogery: She thinks we're going to judge it.   Dwardazik: Good God, woman, do you know what we've had to deal with so far? Nothing about this past month has been normal! If I start actually accounting for everything weird, no pun intended, that's happened to me recently, then I'm probably gonna go straight batshit insane!   At the mention of the word "weird", the two halflings high-five.