IC IX

[Innana]

Innana the Fighter:

After her weapon training wih Thordin, Innana scans the camp for Semele. Innana feels very protective of Semele. "Semele, I hope you don't mind, but if we could stick closely together, and close to the others, I would feel much better. Something is not right, and at this point I am not sure if it is safe to be here."

[Grognardsw]

Aquar, cleric

Hearing Innana's troubling thoughts about the camp that day, and knowing the gods move in mysterious ways, Aquar decides he will seek divine guidance in detecting evil the next day.

My healing spell today is cast. The next morning I'll pray for Detect Evil, cast it, and walk around the camp talking to or getting in range of effect to everyone. Range: 120', Duration: One Hour.

[zebediah]

Innana the Fighter:

As she enters the camp she is able to witness the loggers unabated sneers, and glares.....and that stench. .. Innana's stomach tightens like a stone, and her heart starts to pound. "Innana leans in to Drudsa, and whispers in his ear, Drudsa, I do not trust this place. Something is wrong. Please warn Lanny who is near you.

Drudsa the dabbler

The young mage whispers back to Innana.
"Is there anything specific bothering you or is it a gut feeling? We better stay alert, this whole story is much more complicated than what was originally told to us back on Threshold. Please do nothing to alert anyone of your presence Innana, and stick close to us."

Drudsa shares Innana's comments with the group.

[thirdkingdom]

Josiah welcomes the adventurers back with open arms, "We are glad to see that you still live. But where is Jaceo? Has he fallen victim to the depredations of the fell monster?"

Okay, so through the combined efforts of Semele and Aquar Innana regains 11 hp. SHe will not be able to practice with her blade until she regains full hp. Neither Lanny nor Drudsa have had success learning their spells. All rolls are linked in the Calendar thread.

[Innana]

Innana the Fighter:

Innana follows the group in to Josia's office. She cuts between Josiah, and the group, right behind Thordin. Innana looks around he too for some clue to why she is feeling so uncomfortable.

Josiah seems so friendly, yet Innana can detect the quiver under his voice. He is hiding something... Then it hits her, that stench....rotting meat, or rotting flesh.

Aquar?! Was that you? Innana waves her hand in front of her face, and goes cross eyed. How dare you let out such a stink when we all are in such a small room! Innana starts shuffling everyone out of the office into the open air. She whispers in Bregalad's ear as she is pushing her way out, "I smell rotting flesh, be on guard, and spread the word."

Innana feels confused and itchy. That dip in the water did not help her feel better at all, and all she wants to do is itch her crevices, or kill something, but knows she has to be careful since she still not feeling strong.

[Grognardsw]

Aquar, cleric

Aquar listens with increasing concern to Innana's suspicions. He apparently cannot smell rotting flesh, but such a description sounds like undead to him. He thinks about attempting to bring his power of faith down on Josiah and see if indeed he can Turn him. Such a brash move could make him appear a fool, or confirm they are amongst undead.

"What think you all?" whispers Aquar to the others after he explains his idea.

[Innana]

Innana the Fighter:

Aquar, cleric

Aquar listens with increasing concern to Innana's suspicions. He apparently cannot smell rotting flesh, but such a description sounds like undead to him. He thinks about attempting to bring his power of faith down on Josiah and see if indeed he can Turn him. Such a brash move could make him appear a fool, or confirm they are amongst undead.

"What think you all?" whispers Aquar to the others after he explains his idea.

Innana puts her thumb and forefinger to her chin. "Hmmm, I don't think they are undead, but I could be very wrong, since I do not deal with the undead much. I do think that they kill to eat, and I believe we are invited to dinner as the main course."

[Innana]

Innana the Fighter:

As she enters the camp she is able to witness the loggers unabated sneers, and glares.....and that stench. .. Innana's stomach tightens like a stone, and her heart starts to pound. "Innana leans in to Drudsa, and whispers in his ear, Drudsa, I do not trust this place. Something is wrong. Please warn Lanny who is near you.

Drudsa the dabbler

The young mage whispers back to Innana.
"Is there anything specific bothering you or is it a gut feeling? We better stay alert, this whole story is much more complicated than what was originally told to us back on Threshold. Please do nothing to alert anyone of your presence Innana, and stick close to us."

Drudsa shares Innana's comments with the group.

Innana whispers back,I smell....rotting meat, and I sense....evil. It is so clear to me that I am astounded nobody else is picking up on it. I think that stone did something to me. I am not sure if it made my senses keener, or just crazier"

[zebediah]

Josiah welcomes the adventurers back with open arms, "We are glad to see that you still live. But where is Jaceo? Has he fallen victim to the depredations of the fell monster?"

Okay, so through the combined efforts of Semele and Aquar Innana regains 11 hp. SHe will not be able to practice with her blade until she regains full hp. Neither Lanny nor Drudsa have had success learning their spells. All rolls are linked in the Calendar thread.

Drudsa the dabbler

"We are not certain of what happened to our guide master Josiah. After being attacked by the creature we could not find Jaceo on the camp. Hopefully he is unharmed, but we could not find him and I am afraid that for the time being we can only wait and hope."

Not sure if you guys want to share with them the information on the shapeshifter, given Innana's impressions. Maybe it's better that we check if Josiah and the loggers can be trusted before we tell them more.

TK, Drudsa will continue studying the same spell and will help whoever is trying to master Mirror Image.

[frobozz]

Lanny the Elf

Lanny is also troubled by Innana's intuitions about the workers in the lumber camp. As a result, he keeps the conversation with Josiah deliberately vague.

"I assure you, Josiah, we shall continue to track the beast after a short stop to rest and resupply. Hopefully we will also reconnect with our lost guide Jaceo, I hope he is still alive... Is he a personal friend of yours?"

After the meeting, Lanny speaks directly with Innana.

"It appears that something has happened to you, Innana... either as a result of your wounds from the cat, or from the effects of the faery stone that restored your life, or both. It will be important, going forward, that you share with us exactly what you are experiencing, whether it be heightened senses or heightened mental abilities... for apparently you can detect things that the rest of us cannot."

Lanny the Elf

Ok, so, by my count, between Aquar and Semele:

Flaurmont 13 (yesterday)
2 CLW, 1 CMW on Innana (this assumes both Aquar and Semele prepared their normal repertoire of spells yesterday morning in preparation for fighting the beast)

Flaurmont 14 (today)
2 CLW, 5 CMW on Innana (this assumes both Aquar and Semele prepared all healing spells this morning)

Innana regains: (1d6+3=5, 1d6+3=6)

TK, I am a little unclear on the hp rolls. Is the 11 regained hp mentioned above in addition to the 8 regained hp mentioned earlier? I believe Innana should have gotten a total of 2 CLWs and 1 CMW on Flaurmont 13 and 2 CLWs and 5 CMWs on Flaurmont 14, per the stated healing plans of the party for both of those days, unless I missed something. Recall that we had been waiting until the end of the day on Flaurmont 13 to cast our CLWs (because at first we had planned to continue tracking the beast that day before we had a change in plans), but then we just kind of skipped over the rest of the day and proceeded directly to Flaurmont 14, so I believe we would have cast healing spells as indicated above on both of those days.

[Finglas]

Lanny the Elf

Lanny is also troubled by Innana's intuitions about the workers in the lumber camp. As a result, he keeps the conversation with Josiah deliberately vague.

"I assure you, Josiah, we shall continue to track the beast after a short stop to rest and resupply. Hopefully we will also reconnect with our lost guide Jaceo, I hope he is still alive... Is he a personal friend of yours?"

After the meeting, Lanny speaks directly with Innana.

"It appears that something has happened to you, Innana... either as a result of your wounds from the cat, or from the effects of the faery stone that restored your life, or both. It will be important, going forward, that you share with us exactly what you are experiencing, whether it be heightened senses or heightened mental abilities... for apparently you can detect things that the rest of us cannot."

Bregalad the elf

During the meeting with Josiah, Bregalad notes the boss' physical demeanor. As with the loggers, he looks for any sign of injury to his leg.

If the boss appears to be walking normally, Bregalad will join Lanny in speaking privately with Innana.

"I believe what you sense is real, Innana, and you should trust that. You appear, now, to have the acute awareness of a fae spirit. That is why they do not abide close contact with human society, especially a coarse one such as this. For although these men live amidst nature, they are mostly ignorant of it, and at times even an offense to it. You may now feel what many elves and dwarves do, only more so -- that our worlds are fading. The world of men grows and accomplishes wondrous things. But one day there may no longer be enough room for those who are tied to nature."

"If it brings you peace, we could set up our tents further along the lake and just outside of the loggers' encampment."

[frobozz]

Lanny the Elf

Lanny nods in agreement with Bregalad while speaking privately to Innana.

"Bregalad's words ring true... We were told, upon receiving the gift of the faery stone, that the person raised by its power would be "fae-touched" for life... Perhaps the 'rotting flesh' you smell is that of the fallen trees around us... For if these loggers were, in fact, undead creatures, then surely we would all be able to detect the foul odor of their rotting flesh, as we have many times before... and I think they would have targeted us on our first night here if that were the case. Yet, I think that Aquar is right to seek divine help in detecting any evil creatures embedded within this camp. If there are more dopplegangers in our midst, perhaps his detection spell will root them out."

Lanny is fine with staying at the camp tonight (although maintaining a careful watch throughout the night), but is willing to relocate a short distance away if the party deems it necessary. While here, he will be sure to check on the horses and equipment in the barn to make sure they have been receiving proper care.

[Alethan]

Rhys the Traveler

During the discussion of the 'stone', Rhys remains silent, having no information regarding it or the conditions under which it was received.

He does agree, however, that Bregalad and Lanny probably have the right of it, if the stone came from a fae of the forest and the party currently stands in the midst of a logging camp that is focusing on taking select and special trees out of the forest.

"It might be best for you to remain in your hidden state for now, Innana, at least until you've regained all of your strength..."

[Innana]

Innana the Fighter:

Innana has her hands on her hips, her head leaning in while Lanny, Rhys, and Bregalad give their advice in hushed voices. Innana looks at Bregalad as she reaches down to scratch the side of her left thigh. "So, I am turning Fae?" Innana takes a deep breath as a strand of curls blow over her eyes. "Does that mean I will be like this in a town like Threshold? Will I ever be able to go into a tavern to get a drink without thinking my fellow humans are vile?"

Innana looks to Bregalad,can you afford another invisible spell today?

Also, if the doppelgänger is amongst us, it may find an easier time of copying a non-magical being. Perhaps Thordin should be extra careful at this time as well.

[Alethan]

Innana the Fighter:


Innana looks to Bregalad,can you afford another invisible spell today?

Until you attack something, you remain invisible. It doesn't wear off.

[Innana]

Innana the a Fighter:

Innana the Fighter:


Innana looks to Bregalad,can you afford another invisible spell today?

Until you attack something, you remain invisible. It doesn't wear off.

Oh. I thought I was made visible when I practiced swords with Thordin, but then I read the post that I can't practice swords until I am full strength. "Sigh". Here I was acting like you all could see Innana.

[Finglas]

Innana the Fighter:

Innana has her hands on her hips, her head leaning in while Lanny, Rhys, and Bregalad give their advice in hushed voices. Innana looks at Bregalad as she reaches down to scratch the side of her left thigh. "So, I am turning Fae?" Innana takes a deep breath as a strand of curls blow over her eyes. "Does that mean I will be like this in a town like Threshold? Will I ever be able to go into a tavern to get a drink without thinking my fellow humans are vile?"

Bregalad the elf

Bregalad furrows his brow, upon hearing Innana's questions -- he did not expect more questions. Was his explanation not sufficient? He was so relieved to see her brought back that he did not foresee her confusion from all of these changes. And how will she react when she finally sees her own eyes? It had been a long time since the elf was so perplexed!

Hmmm, explanations may not have been the right response at this time. Is it comfort that she needs?.....

Bregalad reaches out with uncertainty for the invisible warrioress, attempting to pat her on the shoulder..... "There, there.....Everything's going to be fine...................Bregalad's here."

[thirdkingdom]

Josiah

The logging hetman is clearly discomfited. "Jaceo missing, and the Beast encountered but not slain! This bodes ill, I can feel it. But if you must rest and resupply, so be it. It is not like Jaceo to wander off, nor to get lost. He has worked for me the past fifteen years, and knows these woods like the back of my hand."

Let me know if there is anything else you want from Josiah, and I'll go ahead and fast forward as much as possible.

[frobozz]

Lanny the Elf

Lanny assures Josiah that the party will leave as soon as possible to continue pursuing the beast into the mountains. He asks him if he had noticed if Jaceo or anyone else in the camp had been acting any differently since the cat attacks first started. He suggests that they continue using the fire signals at dawn and dusk to to indicate if the beast has raided the camp. He asks if the party might be able to purchase another week's worth of rations so that they do not need to hunt for food while they pursue the beast.

Upon leaving the meeting, Lanny checks on the horses and equipment at the barn. If the animals received good care during the past week, that would speak well of the loggers, despite some lingering questions...

Let me know if there is anything else you want from Josiah, and I'll go ahead and fast forward as much as possible.

I believe it is around noon today on Flaurmont 14. Hopefully there is some time for spell study in the remainder of the day (TK, I believe Mirror Image would require 16 hours rather than 8 hours, since it is a 2nd level spell... or is it 10 hours?). I would like to see where we are at after just 1 full day of rest/study/training (Flaurmont 15) - we might actually be able to complete all (or most) of our objectives during that time:

1. Aquar can cast Detect Evil on Flaurmont 15 and scour the campsite for any evil entities.
2. Aquar and Semele combined can cast a total of 1 CLW and 4 CMWs on Innana first thing in the morning on Flaurmont 15. If Innana is fully healed by this (she is currently at 22/30) then she can spend the entire day of Flaurmont 15 in weapons training with Thordin, hopefully completing her mastery of the sword on that same day).
3. Bregalad and Lanny can spend the entire day in study of Mirror Image, continuing their study on the road if necessary (we should be sure to pack extra spell scribing supplies in the mule saddlesbags, since we might be gone for another week).

Depending on events in the camp, and what Aquar finds (or does not find), we might consider departing for the mountains on Flaurmont 16. We might not necessarily need extra rations from Josiah, assuming that everyone really did have a fully stocked week's worth of rations upon leaving Threshold (although a little extra never hurts).

[Alethan]

Rhys the Traveler

Like the others, as they move through the camp, Rhys casually keeps an eye out for anyone with a pronounced limp on the same leg as the doppleganger had wounded.

Frobozz pretty much covered everything else.