Session 69
General Summary
- For now, at least, W.E.I.R.D. have decided to offer up their services to the party in exchange for assisting with defeating the Flesh Artist. Most pertinent (lorewise, anyway) was what Perry could offer:
- She revealed the rest of the properties of the Flesh Artist's The Mask of the Wasted Breath.
- She also gave her secret device that she used to find Overlook: a dial with a severed finger that acts as a compass needle, always twitching in the direction of its body, which is always in Overlook.
- The routine dangers that she knows about in the Flesh Artist's dungeon are acid-spitting ants and, probably, cultists that worship the Flesh Artist.
- A necromancer in there named "Jim... Something" stands out in Perry's memory.
- The town of Overlook has... different... views towards undead.
- The Flesh Artist is definitely resistant to radiant, psychic, and all forms of mundane damage. Perry speculates that he is also resistant to poison as well.
- Barry decided he doesn't want to travel with the party for this leg of the journey, preferring instead to stay with W.E.I.R.D. where it's safer.
- During the travel towards Overlook, Baxton interjected, filtered through Kesmet via the ring.
- He alluded to each of the six fragments having some sort of a "Gift", which Baxton was surprised that Vicra ("R") would use as eagerly as he does.
- Baxton says that the only way that he can make sense of it is if Vicra uses the mask to lessen the effects. He believes that the "Gift" could be more potent if the mask were taken off, but it would also be a bigger risk to Vicra himself.
- At Overlook, the party did indeed meet up with Jimson Datura, head necromancer of Overlook, who hesitantly agreed to show the party to the Flesh Artist's lair in exchange for their help patching up some Turmoil activity. They would have to use one of the older pre-firelord methods. Jim will take care of the hard part, the party just needs to take care of the dangerous part.
Full Recap
The session opens with the party wrapping up their day in the company of W.E.I.R.D. at their hidden base near Overlook.Good Things Come in Weird Packages
W.E.I.R.D. has an aside to discuss amongst themselves, and the party does the same.Dwardazik: Guys, it seems that the W.E.I.R.D. folks are having a weird meeting right now. We should probably get our situation in order and prepare our roles. I don't know if I necessarily trust these W.E.I.R.D. guys, but they seem like reasonable folks, and so far they haven't led us astray. Marvin: You did seem to be pretty buddy-buddy with that Aggromir guy... Dwardazik: Do not disrespect Aggromir! Marvin: Kraghunter, right? Dwardazik: Correct. Marvin: OK, so you like him, but the rest of 'em you don't trust? Dwardazik: I trust Aggromir with my life! Kesmet: You just met the man! Dazki: Yeah, why? You just met him! Dwardazik: He is a Kraghunter! Marvin and Dazki indicate that they don't get it. Dwardazik: He is the pride of Amber Falls! He is a hero to dwarves! You have no respect. Dazki: They say never to meet your heroes. They're never what you expect them to be. Dwardazik: Well, he had some dwarven ale with me. I expected that! Marvin: I would be more concerned if he didn't... Dwardazik: OK, maybe that's not a good metric for judging a person, but the point is that... he seems like a good guy, all right? I know a Kraghunter, he's a Kraghunter. I've been watching him, but so far, he seems like the honest deal. Dazki: I think... our goals align, for now. Dwardazik: That, I can agree with. I don't know if I necessarily trust these guys. Because, let's face it: they had this "person" named E.D. with them, and I'm not really sure their motives, or what they're willing to do with questionable sorts if they're willing to keep a beast like that. Barry: Wait, wait, wait! You guys keep a beast, too! It's like the same thing! Dwardazik: ...we do? He looks at Dazki. Dazki: Here's the thing. You can clearly communicate, and you still have most of your mental faculties. Barry: Eh... it has a name, right? That... Dwardazik: Well, just because it has a name... Dazki: I get your point, Barry. It is a person who has been corrupted by Turmoil, just like you. Dwardazik: I mean... really? I understand that Barry over here is at least humanoid-looking. His thing seems reversible. I don't know about E.D. E.D. looks like he can tear through an entire town and kill everyone there. Barry can hardly hold a dagger! Kesmet: And it seems like he would tear through an entire town and kill everyone there. Barry seems to have self-restraint. Dwardazik: Exactly! I'm just saying, I think our situations are different. Marvin: He certainly didn't restrain himself when it came to our food supplies... Dwardazik: ...yeah, you did kinda spoil a whole bunch of rations with that whole water spillin' thing, Barry. We're gonna have to deduct that from yer pay. Barry: I mean, that seems more than reasonable. Grogery: What's the Kraghunters' role in Amber Falls, anyway? Dwardazik: Oh, if you want to talk about Kraghunters, we can talk about Kraghunters! Now listen here: they were the founding clan! They mined the tunnels, explored through the depths and cleared them out of all the dangers! Rumor has it that there were dark dwarves called the Duergar deep down in the lower tunnels and mines, and the Kraghunters single-handedly defeated them and claimed Amber Falls for their own!The weirdos have finished their huddle. Perry and E.D. approach the party.
Perry: You guys, you're serious about going out into Overlook and dealing with the Flesh Artist? You're sure? Dwardazik, Grogery, and Dazki: Yeah. Kesmet: We've gotta take out Dennis's goons one way or the other, and he's one of them. Dwardazik: Why? Is there something you're not telling us? Perry: I just want to be sure that we can trust you. Dwardazik: We already killed the Flesh Artist once, we just didn't do it dang good enough. We might as well finish the job. Perry: I want to make sure that you'll follow through. Grogery: What the Flesh Artist is doing is getting a lot of innocent people hurt. After what we saw in Hershal's Rest, we're pretty committed. Dwardazik: Hershal's Rest? The whole dang city was going crazy with Turmoil! It ain't gonna stop. One city out here first, our city back home next. Perry: Well all right, then! I think it's best that W.E.I.R.D. makes sure that you're more than prepared for the challenge, then! Dazki: We appreciate the assistance.Perry nods at Aggromir, who walks over to the wall and slides a few bricks aside to complete some sort of a puzzle. This reveals a runed button, which he presses. The fountain in the room grinds against the ground, revealing a set of stone stairs leading down into a basement.
Dwardazik: Ahh. I could use some underground time. It's a little bit hot out here. Lead the way! Grogery: Where does this lead? Dwardazik: No need to be afraid of the underground, Grogery!Dimly lit grayish-brown stone brick work. It's clear that these people have moved into a previously done space, as the old ornate brick work and statuery is covered with wooden shelves of various books, trinkets, scrolls, and whatever else an adventurer would need. Mostly books. It smells of dust, though there is also a smell of cinder from a smithing forge.
Dwardazik: This is quite interesting! I wasn't expecting a structure such as this under the ground! So let me guess, this is your guys's actual hideout, eh? Aggromir: Aye, this is where all the work gets done. The top part's just recreational. Dwardazik: Excellent! And surely, you have a meeting room so that we can plan our actual assault on Overlook! Aggromir: You can talk to Doctor Perry about that. Dazki: I don't think we want to attack Overlook, the town. It's the Flesh Artist's base near the town that we want to get to. Grogery: Overlook just has people who know where that is, or can help us figure out how to get there. Aggromir: All this chit-chattin' can be done later. First, we must gear up! And you should talk to Doctor Perry for planning. If you need any consumables and alchemy services, you just talk to good ol' Aggromir Kraghunter here! You want tinkering or miscellaneous traveling equipment, talk to the twins (Hemsin + Hawney). Smithing and magical services, the big ol' scaley guy's yer best friend there. And Perry's... good with books? Perry: I have all the information and identification services that would be necessary, as well as pretty much the only information we have on Overlook, so you might want to talk to me before gathering equipment.The party has a brief aside:
Dwardazik: Do you think that, perhaps, we could get something like a mask for dealing with any kind of odors or effects that the Flesh Artist might be using? Kesmet: We have his mask that we got. It's got a weird effect on it, or something. Marvin: I'm gonna be puttin' that on when we fight him, all right? Kesmet: We should probably get that fully identified with Dr. Perry. Marvin: Yeah, we can ask her about it.They go to Perry.
Marvin: So, as long as we're preparing to... "invade" is probably the wrong word... Dazki: To go to Overlook and infiltrate the Flesh Artist's hideout. Marvin: Yeah, "infiltrate"! I like that one. Kesmet: That implies some modicum of stealth, which is about half our party. Grogery: We can be stealthy sometimes! What about that whole thing when the guards were after us? Kesmet: Which time? The time I blew them up, or the time I blew them up? Grogery: Both times! We were stealthy for part of the time. The problem was that we couldn't be stealthy for all of the time. Kesmet: Yeah, they found us. And then we had to blow them up. Marvin: I was hoping you could identify more properties on this mask that we pulled off of the Flesh Artist? He hands her the mask. Perry: Oh, you got his mask too, then, eh? He's got lots of these. Dazki: I kinda figured it was a thing that he just always wore. Perry: They're very important to him, for some reason, which is weird, considering the item is terribly cursed. Marvin: Cursed, you say? And I've been holding onto this for the past couple of days... Grogery: I think most cursed items only really do the curse when you attune to them. I guess it's a good thing none of us attuned to it, because we didn't know all the details. Dazki: So what is the curse, if you don't mind telling us? Perry: It was quite easy to figure out, if a little unfortunate. Other than the usual thing where you can't remove the mask, it...Perry pulls out what seems to be a large wooden-carved compass. Instead of a needle, however, there is a twitching human finger.Dwardazik: That... does not sound good. Good thing that we didn't put that mask on! ...not that I wanted to try it or anything... Marvin: What do you mean "becomes airtight"? How do you breathe through it? Perry: You don't, eventually. Marvin: So it just kills you? Perry: Not if you don't have to breathe. Marvin: ...oh. I'm really glad I didn't put this thing on. Dwardazik: Yes, I am equally glad I didn't put this on. Kesmet: Let's put this to a vote. I say we destroy it. Who's with me? Dwardazik: Well, can we remove the curse? Perry: None of us here know how to remove a curse. Dwardazik: Then it's worthless, unless we're gonna use it to kill someone. Kesmet: It's made of cloth. Cloth burns. Burning something is a very good way of removing a curse from it: if the item no longer exists, then the curse no longer exists, right? Grogery: Is this a curse that normal Pelor curse removal would be able to remove, or is it a little more powerful than that? Perry: The simple cleric curse removal is pretty good for people, but removing a curse from a magical item takes a lot more finesse. Grogery: If someone has a cursed sword that they can't put down because it's cursed, if you remove the curse, it doesn't necessarily remove the curse off the item, but it does let the person de-attune. Perry: Indeed, we found that out. Grogery: So we could use that if we wanted to have someone take the mask off, if they wanted to put it on for some reason. Kesmet: Just never put it on! It sounds like more trouble than it's worth. Dazki: I agree with that. We should not mess with cursed things. Marvin: I'd kind of like to keep it as a trophy, honestly. Dazki: All right. Perry: It's pretty harmless, as long as you don't attune to it. Even then, it does give you some leeway! Kesmet: I would like to cook some rations over it... Grogery: So, how long has the Flesh Artist been seen wearing one of these at a time? Longer than 4 days? Perry: I've never seen him without it. Dazki: I've got a feeling he probably does not need to breathe. Perry: Well, he did that breath thing to you guys, right? Dazki + Dwardazik: ...yeah... Perry: Yeah, he always does that. Grogery: It might be a thing where he doesn't technically need to breathe, but.. he has this weird thing about breathing. Dwardazik: Perry, are there any items or any gear that you would recommend we bring on our excursion to Overlook and our assault / siege on the Flesh Artist's lair? Perry: I have an item necessary for you to find Overlook. Dwardazik: Oh. That seems important. Perry: There's a lot of ants. Kind of near the first level, I think, they do acid, which isn't ideal. Dwardazik: Acid-spitting ants. Great. Perry: I said the word "necromancers" earlier... Marvin: Yes, you did. Perry: So, I guess, think about that as well. Marvin: We do have holy water. Perry: And I think the dungeon (which is what I'm going to call it, because let's face it, there are people imprisoned in there, and they're having a bad time), uh... pretty big, and probably worse than when I left it, though I can't remember much about it. Marvin: Why do you say it's "worse"? Dazki: If you find someone gets into your hideout, do you just leave it as-is, or do you redouble your defenses? Perry: And he's not alone. Dwardazik: There's others working for him, other than that gnoll? Perry: A "miracle worker" who heals people is going to have a following. Dwardazik: Ugh. Kesmet: The tentacle-arm dude was super eager to... get... de-tentacled. Perry: I've never heard of a "miracle worker" not get a following. Dwardazik: I suppose that's true. You think there's any chance that we'll be able to help those and convince them otherwise? Dazki: I would say slim to none. Perry: I would make sure that you have resources for the long haul, if you're going to go in there and clear it out. I don't know what all you would be able to acquire in Overlook itself. Grogery: I can help with acid protection. Perry: I've been putting some notes together, along with what I accrued from my last journey. They don't really get a lot of merchant stuff. Dazki: I imagine they wouldn't being a city that you forget shortly after you leave. Perry: I remember a lot of farmland and stuff like that. I don't know what use such people would have with gold, then, if they don't trade. Dazki: That's what bartering is for, right? Dwardazik: Is there anything we can do to gain resistance to acid? Grogery: I can do that. Dazki: Plus, we have the incense to ward off the ants, which would be helpful getting there. At least partway. Dwardazik: Then I can't think of anything else we might need, other than maybe some more rope and making sure our rations are good. Grogery: Plus any information about... anything else about Overlook that we might need to know? Perry: There's a necromancer named... "Jim", I think. Dwardazik: So we have Jim the Necromancer. What is Overlook's layout, anyway? Perry pulls out a sheet of paper where someone would draw a map on it, but it's very scarcely marked, as if someone tried to map it out but couldn't. Perry: It's a walled city surrounded by farmland. There's... trees, somehow? There shouldn't be a lot of trees in that environment. Grogery: Maybe an oasis? Dwardazik: That does sound plausible. Perry: I remember a lot of smoke coming from the various guard towers along the sides of the walls, so that might be a thing. I can't recall any names of any shops, or anything like that. Dwardazik: Do you remember anything about the guards? Security? Any enemies that we should expect? Perry: I don't think Overlook is terrible. Grogery: If they're not expecting people to just be able to wander through, they probably won't have much in the way of security. The walls would probably be enough to keep out random passersby. They don't need to protect themselves against kingdoms trying to wage war on them. Perry: There are guards that protect it. I think they wear mostly, like, chitin though. Dazki: Makes sense, with the lack of easy access to metals and the easy access to bug exoskeletons. Grogery: Would Overlook be the kind of place where Barry would be able to walk around without disguising? You mentioned that this was an understanding sort of place. Perry: I said their views are different. Grogery: Ahh, their views are different, and we should try to be understanding? Perry: They have feelings about the undead. I can't quite remember, though. It makes sense, I guess, if there's a necromancer named "Jim". Dazki: They would probably have positive feelings about the undead, if some of their leaders are powerful necromancers. All that labor with none of the need for resources to maintain it. Perry: It makes sense. Grogery: I guess that's how you deal with not having a large population of people traveling through. Well, if they don't have good access to metal, then we might be able to take metal things in as trade goods. Dazki: That's what I was thinking. Grogery: A chain might be worth a fortune to them, metal armor... I have an old set of chain mail. Marvin: Good idea. Perry: It is really frustrating not being able to keep the information you gather... Dazki: The problem is, we don't know if they would have the ability to reforge that metal into something they would need. It might be more reasonable to bring metal-tipped tools like plows, shovels, and things like that if we want something to use as trade goods. Dwardazik: You mind if I interject here, lads? It's not a bad idea. In fact, it's a fantastic idea. However, no merchant worth his salt would ever go on such a risky venture without having some kind of information. We have no idea what they might need and what they can use. I've been around the block in regards to merchant work: it's an idea, but I wouldn't recommend it. Grogery: Has anyone ever been in Overlook and tried to send a magical message to someone on the outside of Overlook? I can cast Sending, so if that sort of thing can happen, then perhaps I can send information outside of Overlook. Perry: It's something we haven't been able to try. I do know divination doesn't do well there, you just get kind of a fog. Grogery: I can give it a shot, if we're in the city and a good opportunity arises. Dwardazik: That's pretty clever. I wonder if it allows us to break whatever this mind fog is. Dazki: I guess there's one way to find out. Grogery: Who knows, maybe it'll just come across as static. I mean, if you can't draw a map of it afterwards... Perry: Hmm. You guys don't seem terribly squeamish? Grogery: We've seen... a lot of things. Perry: The method I came up with while in Overlook, which I don't fully remember, is how I've been able to re-find it, but it's... not necessarily for the faint of heart. Dazki: So I'm guessing you tattooed or carved it onto your skin? Perry: No, not like that.The Mask of the Wasted Breath
Wondrous Item
Rare Requires Attunement
This plague doctor's mask protects the wearer from any harmful fumes or vapors and grants immunity to mundane diseases In addition, any spell that requires a verbal component can be cast without needing the verbal component, as if cast by subtle spell. Mark down each time you utilize this ability. CURSE: The mask fits tightly and can't be removed. The curse is progressive, with each phase taking 24 hours. Progression also happens every two times the subtle spell is used. It is not possible to eat or drink through the mask, but speech is possible.
- The mask fits uncomfortably tight and smothering
- The mask is difficult to breathe in. You feel as if you have to gasp and struggle to get decent air. You have two levels of exhaustion.
- It is very difficult to speak or focus on anything but attempting to catch your breath. You have 4 levels of exhaustion and whenever you attempt to speak, you must roll a charisma saving throw (DC 15) in order to be understood.
- You can no longer breathe and are suffocating as if under the 'Curse of the Breathless'.
Grogery: That looks like... ... ... OK. Marvin: Is that thing moving?! Perry: I don't know who owns this finger. I probably knew at the time. But it keeps trying to go back to its owner. Marvin: Oh, it's undead. Grogery: Like what those zombies were doing. Perry: And its owner has always been within Overlook. It hasn't steered me wrong yet. Dazki: Very clever. Dwardazik: Well, you gotta do what you gotta do. Perry: Now, this is my only way to find Overlook. I will not be able to come and see you later, if you get in trouble. Dazki: Got it. When we go in, we won't have any reinforcements. Perry: And if you lose this compass, the whole mission... it's not gonna work. Dwardazik: I don't understand. Why can't we simply take a really long rope? Grogery: Too long. Plus, if they knew we were trying something like that, they would probably just cut the rope and drag half of it into the city. "Oh look, free rope." Dwardazik: Then why don't we just build a series of pillars and put torches on top? Grogery: That's a lot of effort... if these people don't want to be found, then they don't want to be found. Dwardazik: I'm just trying to think of ideas. OK, so we have a way in. It's a bit gruesome, there's no backup, and we're going in solo. Perry: Through the front gate. Dazki: Politely, and as friends. Dwardazik: Is there anything else you can think of that we might need to prepare for? Perry: A big terrible dungeon filled with ants, undead people, probably some sort of cultists, and who knows what else. Kesmet: Should we bring some fire bombs? That sounds like a place where we should bring some fire bombs. Marvin: Aren't you a walking fire bomb factory? Kesmet: I don't have infinite magic. Grogery: Do you know roughly how far away it is? Two-day journey? More? Less? Perry: Judging by how much time has passed since I left for Overlook... the benefit of this location is that it is a day's travel to Overlook from here, which is why we kinda kept this place as more of a permanent residence while we research this location. Marvin: You... took this place? Perry: It was abandoned. Marvin: Ahh, OK. Dwardazik: Can you provide us all your resources on how to kill the Flesh Artist? Perry: From what we've deduced, when his body dies, his soul goes to the ethereal plane, to almost like a lich's phylactery, except different. Marvin: I KNEW IT! Perry: He's not a lich, though. It merely stays in that form until a suitable body is found. Marvin: ...found? Perry: I believe he must grow them. Marvin: OK, so we've got to find a way to stop him growing new bodies. Grogery: If we take the phylactery, even if we don't have a way to immediately destroy it, just by getting it far enough away from his lab and helpers, we have enough time to figure out a way to destroy it. Perry: I'm not sure how long it takes before a body is... ripe, for lack of a better term. Marvin: This feels awfully similar to how there's someone else trapped in an object... right, Kesmet?Kesmet has an aside with Baxton:
Kesmet: Baxton, you're able to be in a disembodied form. Do you care to weigh in on all the stuff that you've presumably been seeing and hearing through my senses? Baxton: I think you should attune to the mask. I want to confirm my suspicions.Back to the conversation with the full group:
Kesmet: Baxton says that he's got nothing to weigh in with. He's super not helpful. He's super interested in my novel, but other than that, nothing. Marvin: Oh, so he is a good listener! Kesmet: He doesn't have much of a choice. Sometimes he tries counting, but I don't know why. I haven't set down page numbers yet, obviously. Dazki: I'm sure he's just trying to anticipate what page. Kesmet: I don't know if it was that, he was way too fast, but all right. Grogery: If he has to leave his lab for periods of time in order to go get more Turmoil, it stands to reason that whatever is growing new bodies for him kinda happens automatically. So we can mess with whatever is doing that, stop his operation, and at that point, we have a better timetable for figuring out how to destroy his phylactery. Dwardazik: Well, lads, I can't think of anything I'd like to bring with us except maybe some extra healing potions, just in case. Grogery: What elemental damage was the Flesh Artist resistant to? It's now psychic, apparently, and most of the common stuff? Perry: We do have this jotted down. The ones we know of, for sure, are: psychic, radiant, all the mundane stuff (slashing, piercing, that sort of thing). I GUESS poison as well; we haven't tried it, it just didn't seem to make sense to try to poison a plague doctor. He's also around ants all the time, so maybe he offed himself that way, I'm not sure. Grogery: Anything that he's confirmed not to be resistant to? Kesmet: I've got his resistance right here. He produces flame in both of his hands. Ain't nothin' resistant to my fire. Perry: We haven't tried any of the elemental damages yet. I feel like those would be harder for him to acquire, as well. Dwardazik: Do you have any Alchemist's Fire, then? Perry: That's a question for Aggromir. Kesmet: Before we move onto Aggromir, let's take stock... Kesmet distributes some of his healing potions to party members who have only very few. A lot of death about. I felt like this would be a good investment. Marvin: Absolutely. Dazki pulls out a book. Kesmet: Is that the book from you-know-who? Dazki: Yeah, it is. Kesmet: Are you sure you don't want his help with decoding? It might go faster. Dazki: I've got it decoded. I'm working on studying and understanding what it means, now. Kesmet: We could ask him. Dazki gives the partially decoded book to Perry. Dazki: Here's this to study and copy from. I would like it back before we leave in the morning, but until then, it is all yours to read and copy as you see fit, as promised. Perry: That's very forward. Dazki: I said I'd let you borrow it, so if we're trusting each other, then here. Also, I owe you an apology for the way I brought up your father earlier. Perry: It's fine, OK? It's fine. Dazki: OK. Well, thank you very much for your help. Be seeing you later.
Shop 'Til You Don't Shop Anymore
The party does some shopping with the NPCs around. There's not really much point in capturing all the details of this shopping segment, especially since most of the outcomes are tracked in Roll20.Aggromir has taken a liking to alchemy, as he sees a connection between that and brewing alcohol. In addition to standard alchemy supplies, he has special potions that are based on standard potions. The "Aggromir's" version of a standard potion will always yield the maximum possible effect (i.e., as if all dice rolled at their maximum value), but requires a constitution save to avoid getting poisoned. He can also spend some time to "upgrade" a standard potion to add this property to it, cheaper than buying the "Aggromir's" version of that potion.
Richter has a variety of mundane weaponry and tools. Not many copies of each individual item, but enough variety for Grogery to pick up a bunch of stuff to maybe use for bartering at Overlook. He can also enchant items, if the enchantment is simple and he has the resources: he has "the magic of many dragon sorcerers running through [his] veins... sometimes, it's too much for [him], and it goes awry".
The halfling twins serve as a general store. They repair the cart and add a hidden compartment in the floor ("the size of a footlocker, at most").
Dazki goes back over to Perry's area to check out the books she has. A lot of them are firsthand accounts, not always from either Cal or her father, not so much secondhand accounts or "philosophical bullshit" like what Baxton had. The extra context and information from these books should help in making sense of Baxton's maddening manifesto.
Night and Travel Start
The party goes back upstairs to do a nice long rest before the travel. There are multiple rooms with several beds in them. Dwardazik believes that this place was definitely designed by humans, something of an old military barracks that has been long abandoned, as the area has been cleansed of anything that one would normally fight in Exignis.Dazki: Barry, do you want to come along with us, or do you want to stick here until we get back? Barry: Uh... ... ... why's it got to be one or the other? Dazki: Because you can't be in two places at once. Kesmet: What other choice did you want? Barry: Well, I like the lady, but some of the other guys kinda freak me out. Dwardazik: I don't think you want to make the trek all by yourself, this far from the city. Barry: Why don't you just, like, teleport me or something? Dazki: We can't really do that. Kesmet: Not that far, anyway. Dwardazik: Actually, that's a good idea! Kesmet, teleport us to Overlook! Barry: I mean, I prefer to be here than out in the sun, I guess. Dazki: If you want, you can stay here, and we can come back after we take care of the Flesh Artist. Barry: This sounds safe. Dazki: It's probably the safest choice, yeah. Barry: And I'll keep an eye on all the suspicious people, and I'll report back!Dwardazik rigs up an alarm system so that they can sleep safely without worrying about intruders. In the morning, Kesmet reaches into his pouch to pull out the smokey caramels he got from the Undermart in Ashport and gives one to each of the members of W.E.I.R.D. as a show of gratitude. He offers one to E.D., who refuses, but thanks Kesmet anyway. Marvin takes the compass, being the only party member who can properly drive the cart (besides Barry, who's staying back). Dazki takes Baxton's cloak.
Following the Finger, Wherever He May Go
Making their first foray into the wilderness from camp, any semblance of what might have been a road quickly degrades, leaving a path marred with thornbushes. Thankfully, the path is at least partially worn, from travels between Overlook and this outpost, but travel is still far from smooth. Once through the densest section of thornbushes, Baxton interrupts Kesmet:Kesmet: ...and then, I tried to kill the ferret, but the damn changeling wouldn't let me! Huh, what? Baxton: I find the torture of a person to be one of the most crude and ineffective methods of long-term information gathering. Now, don't misunderstand me, I appreciate the use of cruelty and authority to achieve greater purpose. Kesmet: What does this have to do with murdering the ferret? It was just because he was pissing everywhere. It wasn't about authority or nothin'. Baxton: You choose not to attune to the mask, then? You choose to be clever? Kesmet: I heard the mask suffocates you, so I don't want that now. Baxton: I managed to find some time to think, analyze, in the briefest pauses of sanity you give me. I have insights that may interest those who wish to not jump to incorrect conclusions. Kesmet: So, the mask doesn't suffocate you? Doctor Perry was wrong? Baxton: Allow me to talk to somebody more reasonable. Kesmet: I dunno, it's going to take some time to de-attune and re-attune. I can illusion your voice so that you can almost talk directly to them. Who did you want to talk to? Dwardazik: Oh, I can give him a piece of my mind! Baxton: I will agree to these terms. Kesmet: So who do you want to talk to? Baxton: You know who I want to talk to. Dwardazik: So, you having a great time over there with your buddy, Kesmet? Kesmet: I mean, he seems super interested in the novel idea. He's talking about torture or something, though, but it's a good thing he's trapped in the ring so he can't torture anybody. Also, I think he's implying that he wants to talk to Dazki, 'cause that's, like, the person who he has a hard-on for, but I can't be 100% sure, I can only assume. Dwardazik: So, Baxton, I might not be as learned or as smart as you (*cough* not dead *cough*), but the most interesting thing, as someone who does study the arts and a couple other things, and a bit of a writer of note-taking myself... what's it like to not have to eat anymore? Do you feel hunger? Do you feel thirst? I'm just curious if it's endless torment that you're currently suffering. Baxton, still just to Kesmet: Will you deliver my notes of worth? Dazki: If he has useful information, I would certainly be willing to hear him out. Kesmet agrees to act as a medium for this conversation. Baxton: A carpenter who doesn't look after his tools isn't a carpenter for very long. A useful tool is maintained, not left to rust and dull. How can I make you understand that we have the same goals, the same desires? How? Dazki: I understand that we have the same goals. It's the methodology that differs. There are lines that I am not willing to cross that you are, and I just figured the easiest way to not have to deal with it would be to have you talk with Kesmet for a while. Besides, it's always good to hear other perspectives and get other views on the world. If one looks only at themselves, they tend to lose sight of other things. Baxton: I see more of me in you with every encounter I have. Dazki: That's fine. You have traits that are admirable. It's not a bad thing. It's just that I hope that I never cross some of the lines that you did. Baxton: A naïve perspective. Nevertheless, I do not need you dead quite so suddenly. Dazki: And you have ways, even still, that you can help with that? Baxton: I have insight. An inside perspective, protégé. And something has been troubling me. Dazki: What would that be? Baxton: During the more violent encounter with R... I think you call him "the Flesh Artist"? Garish... Dazki: It's what he calls himself. Baxton: The one where he met his untimely end, you recall it? Dazki: Yes. Yes I do. Baxton: He did not hesitate to utilize his Gift of the Mirage, and yet he did not pay the price as I had, well, attempted. At the time I couldn't help but feel envious and betrayed, but given the time to mull over the data, it only makes sense if my hypothesis is true. Dazki: And what is that hypothesis? Baxton: The lackluster display, the insistence on wearing that horrid mask, the readiness to use an otherwise risky technique, the strain, the discomfort: it's obvious he's using that mask to suppress the activation of the Gift's full potential. Somehow, he has muzzled the transformation. This leads me to only one thought: he, too, is struggling to maintain control from the Mirage, to make the deal uneven. My thought process was not unique among the disciples. Dazki: Well no, I don't imagine any of the "disciples" would want the deal as it stands. They would all try to find something to twist it to their advantage. All of you are clever and ambitious, it seems. Why wouldn't you do that? Baxton: To use a cursed item to suppress your own Gift is... inspired. That, unfortunately, means that the Gift could be unleashed in full, which would leave me short one protégé. Dazki: Well, from what we understand, he has many of said masks. Baxton: I thought myself more clever than the Mirage. If he does too, he will fall to the same error. Dazki: Perhaps. It's certainly something worth considering. Baxton: If he finds himself clever, it can be used as leverage. Somebody so clever doesn't really realize when they've been tricked. Dazki: I'm not sure if I should take that as a compliment or an insult. Baxton: You should take it as wisdom, protégé. Dazki: Well, thank you very much. I do appreciate it. I did not realize that that is what he was doing. Dwardazik: That's all fine and good, but something just makes me feel like he's trying to manipulate you into making a mistake. Baxton's information is as good as a grain of salt. Baxton: I believe my usefulness has granted me some amount of silence? Dazki: I think, at the moment, we are still useful to Baxton. After all, if we can deal with the Mirage, then he can leave that ring, should he need to, without having to pay whatever price he may need to in the afterlife. At least, that's what I'm assuming. So, his information, helping us, also helps him. Dwardazik: We'll see. Baxton: I do not wish to be a rusted tool for my carpenter. Dazki: Well, maybe learn to get along with other people, and tools would be useful in the hands of many! Kesmet: Guys, this is killing me. Dazki: Thank you, Kesmet. I appreciate the transference of information. Dwardazik: Quite a performance. A bit long-winded, but eh, the information came out. Baxton: He casts me off to my fate, I suppose? Dwardazik: You can always talk with me, if you want, if Dazki decides that your torture should just be someone who has more mundane experiences with the world. Wait, if I get drunk, does that mean you get drunk? Dazki: Again, not torture. More like a learning opportunity, for how to experience the world from the perspective of others. It may be a rough lesson, but it's not intended as torture. Dwardazik: If I get drunk... does Baxton get drunk?They spend a bit more time focusing on the road and shifting items around, then:
Dazki: So, Marvin, what did you think about that conversation? Marvin: I think Baxton's a bitch. Dazki: A little bit, yeah. Marvin: He's just beating around the bush, not getting to the meat of what he's trying to say! Dazki: Because he thinks he's clever about it. Marvin: All this mystical and cryptic wordplay... Kesmet: No, it just sounded mystical and cryptic because I had to wait for him to finish the sentence before I could repeat it. That's what all the long pauses were about. Dazki: A good idea might be to be ready to remove the mask so he can have whatever consequences come from his power. We might want to keep a Remove Curse spell in our back pocket. Grogery: What do you suppose the consequence was for Baxton? I noticed when we were fighting Baxton, he didn't do a whole lot of fighting back. I mean, some of that could be attributed to him trying not to blow his own cover, but it just seemed a little bit weird. What do you suppose the downside to his thing with the Mirage was, aside from opening up the side of his face into a giant eldritch eyeball? Kesmet asks. Baxton does not respond. Marvin: Also, he kept referring to you as his "protégé", Dazki? Dazki: Yeah, that's what he wanted. Marvin: Is this mutual? Dazki: No. Marvin: Yeah, that's kind of the impression that I got, but... Dazki: It seems like he thought it was inevitable, regardless of whether or not I wanted it. Marvin: Wow, this guy's really full of himself. I've met a lot of egotistical people, and he's... he's up there. Grogery: It seems like, of the two aspects of the Turmoil or whatever, Baxton wants to make Dazki his protégé or whatever, and Vicra wants to do... something... to Marvin. I wonder if each of us has such a personal connection to one of the aspects? Marvin: You know what's funny about that, too, is that Eyesore was saying "oh, he'll make your body fit your unluckiness!". Like, OK, that's just the shit end of both deals, then! What good does that fucking help?! Grogery: Well, judging from what happened with E.D., it looks like what the Flesh Artist does might be not just shaping the body to the soul, but also shaping the soul or the mind to whatever body he wants to make. How do we know he wasn't going to do something to your mind that was irreversible? Marvin: Exactly!The party lights the incense, but also gears up just to be safe, while passing through heavy ant territory. The incense seems to work -- the ants divert away. They don't like the smell of it at all. There is a sort of town in the distance, surrounded by purples and yellows, what you imagine to be some sort of farmland like Perry was talking about. A lot of farmland, in fact, as the terrain dips down a bit.
Dazki: Hey Grogery, I know you've had some spells left over the past few days. Have you been sending, or talking to your family at all? Grogery: A little bit. I've been too distracted the past couple of days, but I did talk to Theran while we were leaving Ashport. Dazki: Speaking of distracted couple of days, we should probably send a message to Annu. Grogery: Yeah, that would be a good idea... Dazki: Sorry, didn't mean to interrupt the conversation of the question I just asked you... Grogery: Right. Dazki: Because, you know, your younger brother's probably going to marry royalty at some point in his life. Grogery: That's a couple of decades off for him, I would think? Dazki: Yeah, just thinking. Your parents are ambitious, and he's certainly important enough. I almost... not necessarily feel bad for him, 'cause you know, arranged marriage myself, but... wish that it could be different. Grogery: I'd like to think that sometimes, arranged marriages work out. Dazki: I'm not saying it's necessarily going to be awful, just... you know... much rather not be told who I'm going to marry, and pick it for yourself. You know? Grogery: Actually being able to find someone you can get along with, and enjoy spending time with, and all that. Dazki: I'll admit, I'm a bit lucky, in that my family picked somebody who's a good friend of mine, so it's not going to be bad. She just, you know... not who I would have chosen, we'll say. Grogery: Do you ever have plans to go back there? Dazki: Yeah, absolutely. My wedding is in about 15 years, give or take, and I promised I'd be back well in advance. Grogery: It sounded like you guys wanted to have your chance to see the world before that happened. Dazki: Yeah, and that's what we're doing right now. See the world, sow wild oats, that kind of stuff.
Overlooked and Underappreciated
Outside of Overlook are massive fields of lavender and sage, and a few different types of oats. Which is odd, because harvest season has already occurred, so things should generally be quite well harvested by now, yet the field is still going strong, even in the dry season. A farmer lazily harvests one of the fields using a sickle. Big straw hat and a cloak to keep out of the sun. There's road, now, to go between the farms. He's just on the side of the road, slicing what must be wheat. His clothes seem to do a good job protecting him from the sun, though they're quite worn out and the styles mismatches a bit (obviously taken from a few different locales). Dazki notices that the farmer's movements are not terribly fluid. Even as the party passes, he does not acknowledge in any way, just continuing on with the task assigned to him.Kesmet: Something weird is going on... Dazki: Yeah. He doesn't look like he's undead, but I don't know, it could be a corpse well preserved, well protected by his clothing.As you approach the city, you notice that there is a barrier wall around the whole town. Interspersed are large guard towers made out of white stone. Atop of each, a large brazier burns, letting on a constant smoke. All you can smell is a heavy incense, similar to what you burned in the back of your cart, but also a little different. Like a stinkweed, interspersed with lavender, rosemary, and a few others. Clearly, constantly burning.
Dwardazik: That's crazy! Where would you ever get enough fuel for all of this? Dazki: Probably all of the plants that they're farming around here. Grogery: They have so much lavender and sage. They wouldn't be farming it to trade with neighboring towns, now, would they? Dwardazik: What could they possibly need all these resources for? Dazki: To keep all the ants at bay. Dwardazik: Oh. That's true. Very wise, Dazki.The gate is currently closed. Two "guards", their thick armor not really recognizable as such, stand one on each side of the gate. A bell rings within the town.
Kesmet, quietly to the party: OK, guys. This is, like, the second town we've been to -- Grogery: What about Hythe?! Kesmet: The last time we were at a town, we were labeled as terrorists because we were being manipulated by a local politician, and then we almost died multiple times. So, this one, let's be a bit more ready. Let's have an escape plan! Here's what we're going to do. Kesmet proceeds to explain a very elaborate escape plan, characterized by someone yelling out to meet back up at one gate, but then actually agreeing to meet up at the gate that's rotated 90° clockwise. Other party members agree to this idea. Grogery: Are we all just forgetting about Hythe? Kesmet: That's not a real town. Marvin: That's a story I'll need to hear about sometime. Kesmet: We didn't get labeled as terrorists, we're not banned from the city forever, we didn't have to talk to the firelord because of all the nonsense that happened to us. That doesn't count as a real town. Grogery: OK, Marvin, do you know who Oskar LaVista is? Kesmet: Oh shit, he's probably dead! Marvin: Yeah, he's that old kook that used to be a war general. Grogery: We met Oskar in Hythe, and that's about the most important thing that happened. Not that us meeting Oskar was particularly important -- obviously, the shenanigans with Baxton were a little bit more pressing -- but it was relatively early on in our journey to where we are today. Kesmet: He's currently trying to infiltrate Dennis's little drug operation, isn't he? Grogery: No, I think that storyline kind of ended. Rubic went to go rescue him.Dazki approaches the gate. It does not open.
Dazki: Hail, and well met! Might some weary travelers find refuge in your town? No movement. Dazki walks right in front of one, waving his hand in front. Dazki: Hey, is there anyone in there? No direct response, but the gate starts creaking open anyway.Overlook is a fairly normal-looking town, if you disregard the constant smell of smoky, dank incense. All buildings are built very similar to one another, a white-ish ash adobe, like brick, slanted roofs of gray overlapping tiles. A few people are about, dusting off the stoop to their little teahouse or whatever. It feels like a normal town. Townsfolk do occasionally stop what they're doing to look at the newcomers. They get somewhat distracted, however: coming down the stairs from a guard tower is a person who's obviously some sort of caster. He has two more guards with him, and two acolyte people along with him. The party goes to meet him, and he lowers the hood on his cloak out of politeness. The man is fairly pale, classic half-elven ears, minor distractions from the variety of bright red runes carved over his bald head.
Jim: It's not often we find such well-equipped visitors. Dazki: Well, if you're stumbling your way through this wilderness, it pays to be well-equipped. Apologies for the intrusion. We tried to introduce ourselves to the guards, but they didn't seem to want to speak with us. Kesmet: Well, they didn't stop us either. So I guess we were fine. Jim doesn't do a great job at hiding his several distrusting looks that he throws towards Grogery, but holds it together. Jim: What would ultimately be your business here, then? Dazki: Rest, and a bit of information. Jim: Nonsense. Nobody comes here for rest or information. Dwardazik: Are you kiddin' me? We just had to navigate past all those ants! I'm tired! Dazki: We certainly did come here for information, as well. Tell me, do you know... we were told that there is someone important around here by the name of "Jim". I'm sorry, I haven't introduced myself. I am Dazki Sylroris, and these are my companions. He motions for the others to introduce themselves. Kesmet: Yo. Kesmet. Marvin: Marvin Undersky, how the hell are ya! Dwardazik: Dwardazik Stoneturner Boulderhearth. Nice to meet you. Grogery: Grogery Daointaar. Jim: I see. Interesting that you know the name "Jim". I am Jimson Datura, head necromancer here, so you have no reason to hide your business here from me. Any information you gather will be quickly lost. Dazki: Yes, we've heard about that. That's fine. A challenge, but that's fine. Kesmet: Balderdash is what it is! Nothin' but smoke! Dazki: Marvin, do you have the mask still? Marvin: Yeah. He pulls it out. Dazki: We're looking for a man who wears this. Jim motions towards one of the guards to step forward. Marvin hands it to the guard, who examines it, nods at Jim, and gives it back to Marvin. Jim: Then what is your intent in this town? Truthfully, this time? Dazki: We were told we could find information about this gentleman here. And I use the term "gentleman" loosely, of course. Marvin: We heard he performs crazy miracles. Jim: What do you wish for this man, then? Dazki: A friend of ours, not with us at the moment, has been affected. We want to know how best to help him. Dwardazik: He's grown scales. It's quite scary. Grogery: Also, the man who owns this mask is drawing a lot of unnecessary attention to this town, so it's in your best interests for us to try to find him. Jim: You wish to find this man, to do what, exactly? Kesmet: We need his help in finding a cure for our oddly cursed friend. Dwardazik audibly groans, crosses his arms, and starts tapping his foot. Jim: I am currently uninterested in giving that fiend any more materials. Kesmet: Oh, thank God, you hate him too. Dwardazik: OK, I think we're all on the same page, then. Kesmet: I couldn't tell if you were in league with him, and we had to lie to all your faces. Dwardazik: We weren't lying to his face, we just didn't want to start a fight here in the middle of town! Marvin: Well, it is true that we want to help Barry... Kesmet: Yeah, but not with the Doctor! Dwardazik: So tell us where this guy is, so we can slay 'im! Jim: I do know where he is. I do not think it wise to tell you. Dwardazik: Uh... ... why? Dazki: He's not convinced we're strong enough to handle it. Jim: I do not trust you or your strength. Marvin: Hah! That mask? We pried it off his corpse! Kesmet: Technically, we waited for it to decay really rapidly, and then we took it. It was, like, very tightly bound to his face. Marvin: I did it once, I can do it again. Jim: Others have come here. Others have failed. Dazki: We do know someone who got close, and we have information from her. Jim: Doubtful. Dazki: A woman by the name of Callista? He describes Dr. Perry, while Kesmet does a Minor Illusion to punctuate. Jim: That spy is still snooping around, then? Dazki: She got into his stronghold and managed to get out with some things. Jim: Her disseminating this information is no good for Overlook. We prefer to be... overlooked. Dazki: The information was fading very rapidly from her. I doubt it's going to be disseminated to anyone else other than present company. Dwardazik: Look. Grogery brought up a great point earlier. If we take out this guy, there ain't gonna be no more reason for people like our friends to give out information like this! You go back to peace and quiet, and we'll deal with the thing that's been ravaging the country. Dazki: Is there something we could do to prove our strength to you? Jim: You are looking to aid Overlook, then? Dazki: Depending on what needs to be done. Without any more information, I'm not just going to go ahead and say I'll do anything. I don't want to get into a bad deal, after all. Kesmet hops down from the cart and examines Jimson really closely. Jim: There are many problems within Overlook. I do not fully trust the companionship you keep. Kesmet: Look, I've gotten a lot better at controlling my fire, all right? Jim: I am quite fine with you, sorcerer. Dazki: Given the situation, we know that there are greater challenges to be dealt with. I'm sure our cleric friend will restrain himself. You have my word on it. Jim: Words are easily forgotten. Dazki: Especially here, so it seems. Is there something I could give you as collateral? Jim: I want your blood. Dazki: And after we have performed this task, you will give back every drop I have given, without any spells or enchantments, or duplication, or anything of that nature on it? Jim: Certainly. Dazki: All right, then. Do you have a vial, or a bottle, or something that you would prefer it in? A guard comes by to handle it. Kesmet: So, Dazki, you seem pretty all right with giving your blood to someone who fancies himself a necromancer. Dwardazik: Yeah, that was a pretty fast change of tune, there. What'd you figure out? Kesmet: Did he offer you immortality, secretly, with Thieves Cant, and we didn't catch it? Dazki: No, I just think he's a man of his word. Dwardazik: Well, I guess trust goes a long way. So now that we've done this, are you gonna tell us how to get over to the guy? Dazki: We've got to help the city out first, a little bit. Kesmet: So, what do you know of Dennis? Jim: Not many tales get told here of people outside the city. Many come here to forget the outside world, not remember it. Kesmet: So... no, then. You don't know anything. Jim: Perhaps there is a way you can show me that you are both allies and also strong enough not to just throw your bodies to the Flesh Artist's experiments. Turmoil events have been occurring, no doubt a side effect of the Flesh Artist's lack of respect for it. I am currently in possession of the materials and techniques necessary for its temporary removal from the area, though the technique is rather expensive. Dwardazik: Temporary? Removal? Jim: Yes. It hearkens back to the days of the frontier. Before the firelords purified large swathes of the land, people needed ways to protect important encampments. Kesmet: How temporary? Are we talking 100 years or 10 minutes? Jim: It doesn't stop it from returning, it just removes what tumultuous energy is there currently. No doubt, removal of the doctor would be a more permanent solution. Dazki: What is it that you need of us? Jim: Nowadays, it's more of a lost art. Some of the nobility still use similar techniques. We will be using an elven one today. Unfortunately, because it is borrowed from the elves, it is both intricate and expensive. Turmoil is only fended off by pure elemental energy. The firelords use fire, but there are other elements. I can offer you the use of the Windbreaking Drill. You can use the drill to temporarily tap into the plane of air. I will need some time to finish the hard part in the preparation, and you can do the dangerous part. Dazki: Sounds fair. What would the dangerous part be? Jim: What I need is for someone to eliminate what the Turmoil has thrown into existence, and then plunge the Windbreaking Drill... (He unrolls a map and points to a location)... here. Activate the drill with a powerful strike from an elemental attack, and then... as the commoners say... get the heck out of there. Kesmet: Any elemental attack? Doesn't have to be wind-based? Jim: Any elemental attack should do, as long as it is sufficiently powerful. We use a series of runes here, also elven in design, to keep the fields running through the heat. We can utilize some of the energy within the crop circles, but we would need to jump start it with, probably, something from your sorcerer friend. Dazki: I'm sure he would be more than willing and more than capable to assist with that. Jim: Plant the Windbreaking drill at the main part of the crop circle, charge it with elemental energy, and flee. It would be extra beneficial for you to remove any of the extra... "issues"... that the Turmoil has bubbled up before then. Dazki: If we don't remove them, I'm sure they'll try to remove us. Jim: I cannot guarantee their removal with this technique, only the tumultuous energy. It will take me a few hours to prepare. I was not expecting company. Dazki: My apologies. We found it was difficult to get a message sent ahead of time. Jim: You tell jokes, occasionally? Those do well here, as many people forget the punchlines. Dazki: I see you tell jokes too? Jim: I do not, typically. Kesmet: You know what, we've been here 15 minutes, no one's tried to manipulate us (at least not obviously), no one's tried to arrest us, no one's tried to murder us, no one's blown up a building that we had to then save books from! I love this place! I feel good about this place. Jim: I do ask that you keep your cleric friend away from the undead. I think I will go have some tea.Jim walks away, entering into a nearby building, as Dazki calls after him to thank him for his assistance.
Dwardazik: So. We have a quest. Do we all agree that this is what we want to do? It doesn't seem terribly difficult, though it has some risks. Grogery: Not much riskier than what else we've been doing. Dazki: It sounds like we don't necessarily have to murder all of the things first. If we don't kill them first, the Turmoil energy may be drained from them, and they may not necessarily be as murdery to us. That is also a possibility. Grogery: It shouldn't be very difficult to get there, though. Dwardazik: We should find a place to stable the cart and find a way to get our sleeping arrangements sorted. Grogery: I can't imagine there'd be an inn in this place? Dwardazik: There's always a tavern. Kesmet: Ask Jim, he could probably put us up somewhere. Dwardazik, walking over to where Jim left to: Jim! Jim: Yes, hello? Dwardazik: Yeah, we need a place to store the cart, rest our arms, get some sleep, and get good ale. Jim: We do not drink ale here. Dwardazik turns around, walks out, and returns to the rest of the group: OK, guys, we're leavin'. I just heard from Jim that there's no alcohol here. Honestly, this quest sucked! Dazki: I'm sure we can find a place to stable our horses. They probably don't have many visitors, but there's got to be somewhere. Dwardazik: Bah. Maybe we can find a black market for ale. AHH, but it would probably be elvish, or human, or ... AHH, ANYTHING but dwarven! OK, let's just hail someone.The party looks around to see if they can find an inn or tavern on their own. Interestingly, now that they're looking at the signs, the building signs are very simple, either with just a picture of what they sell, or simply the word "Tea", or "Blacksmith". There is, in fact, one that says "Stables", where they are able to park their cart and oxen.
