Expedition: Fingers/Treasure of Yoldessi Plains- 30 Aug 2021

[Zhym]

"So, if we want to let you go, how would we do it?" asks Fingers. "And would anything go kaboom if we do? Or curse us?"

[Alethan]

Bandy, just about ready to ask the same questions Fingers asked, pauses and waits for her response...

[Rusty Tincanne]

Winnie is amazed at how quickly the others have changed their minds about this little girl. It must be their extreme faith that "not evil" means beneficial to the world... She reserves her own final judgement until she gets more answers about what gifts she has given to people, and if those gifts worked to defile the world, and who the girl is, and where she will go, and... Winnie's mind races.

[Marullus]

It is difficult for the girl to be more specific about time, as she is trapped in a dark hole deep underground with no sun, stars, or seasons. "Centuries, yes... when they last lived here. I do not know where anyone goes, beyond up the stair. Nystoraeth too great pride in his torment of me, demanding gifts be given to all he brought to me... also, too, his servants came that I could provide meals and nourishment," she smiles, happy, it seems, just to have them to talk to, now that they aren't running away. "I liked that. Great feasts for those of the castle; his servants always seemed grateful. I like making fruit tartlets and savory breads... they smell so good in the air." She seems confused when you ask for forewarning of her gifts. "I make things... I mean, I enjoy making things, sometimes, when it isn't... enslaved. Nystoraeth often needed rare components for his work. It seems the lands here are desolate, from what they say. For his guests, he wished mostly baubles and trinkets - I enjoy blowing glass, if they weren't specific about it - or practical goods that the castle couldn't find." She thinks back on her memories of what she knows from the past. "He was quite smug about the dwarves, I remember. They wished to siege him, starve him out, but as long as he kept me a slave, they could not. He... he would hurt me if I didn't want to make them things anymore. I... well, I had no choice." Her voice cracks and falters, she takes a few minutes to begin speaking again. "There was an elf," she adds her voice husky with emotion, "he came after, much after. But HE wouldn't release me. HE wouldn't help me. I got angry and he came no more."

She is excited as Fingers asks how to release her. She weeps happily. "Oh, please! please! You need to erase the stone. His power is in the words, the words carved around me. I cannot touch them, cannot cross them, but you can. People can come and go, taking gifts, but I remain caged. Break the stones, erase them, deface them, and I can go!"

Date: 5:40pm, 03 September 2021
Light: Winnie's continual light
Effects: None
Injuries: Elmer (moderately injured); Buttercup (critically injured)

[Zhym]

"Okay, then," says Fingers. "Here goes...something." He pulls a near-forgotten short sword and uses it, experimentally, to scratch out some of the words nearest the hall. If nothing blows up, he waits to see what happens.

If a "Remove Traps" roll is needed:
Remove traps? [1d100] = 4

[Rusty Tincanne]

Winnie implore Fingers to wait a moment longer. Arora, will you stay and talk with us more after you are freed? We are new to the land and wish to heal it. We have so much to learn from you and your family. Where are you from? How can we find you again?

She offers to use a magic missile on the words. Magic to disrupt magic. It is the balanced method.

I'd love a chance to bargain with her for her gifts. Something to help against wights, gargoyles and such?

[Rusty Tincanne]

Marullus, should I roll a CHA check? If so, go ahead.

[Zhym]

"Dude!" protests Fingers. "Don't go asking the nice little girl who can blow away doors for gifts when she just said how tired she is of having gifts demanded of her! That's not nice!"

Wait until she's free and, like, totally grateful.

[Rusty Tincanne]

When Bremen made his deal with Baudhil, he still had more questions. But that stinking devil made off as soon as the warding was gone. I'd prefer to get the answers (and possible gifts) up front. A nice set of wind chimes to hang in the Sacred Grove, perhaps. Better still if they are magical and ring out whenever an intruder passes through the woods.
Or a Whistle of Turning, to make undead flee and gargoyles crumble?
Or just a nice, hot, blueberry crisp.

[Zhym]

I’m just saying she’s more likely to treat us as friends if we don’t act like her captors.

[Marullus]

Well, it is a good point, and a place to pause for OOC clarity.

If you just free her, she leaves.
She is Friendly, and when freed is also grateful. If you ask her to stay and talk, she will (where the Devil lied).
If someone is high enough level (Markd), they can recruit her for the expedition with a [2d6], or someone else can request aid for one specific task/action (same [2d6]), but not both. Whatever is chosen must be roleplayed (Markd has been silent so for, for example).

Also, narratively, you need to break the ward which is literally engraved in stone. The longsword is a poor tool. A set of thieves tools has chisels in it, though, so I have no problem with Fingers succeeding. I just want to change the coloring of it..

[Rusty Tincanne]

I'm guessing "destroy all the undead and ghouls in this place" isn't specific enough... So either we think of a great task or gift (boatloads of large diamonds?) OR we have Markd risk his CHA recruiting her.

I'm open to either and will let Onlyme and Al chime in before proceeding.

But Winnie really wants a lot of answers too. So please consider her asked to stick around after she's free. (Who is the elf!?)

Marullus, will magic missile work to destroy the engravings?

[Zhym]

I’m happy to have Fingers use his thieves tools instead of a short sword. I just didn’t want to risk damaging his good sword.

And I’m guessing this is one of those things where the less we ask for, the more likely we are not to get bitten by Monkey Paw syndrome.

[DavetheLost]

Yes, no monkey's paws here, thank you very much. I agree that we should not get greedy. "I got angry and he came no more" sounds kind of threatening. Hengist would support asking her to stick around after she is freed.

[onlyme]

OR we have Markd risk his CHA recruiting her.

I'm open to either and will let Onlyme and Al chime in before proceeding.

I have no problem having Markd ask her. I believe he is at a 3 or 4 penalty on the recruiting roll, so he has fairly weak odds. Then, even if he is successful, she would bolt at the first sign of trouble with his retainer bonus... But, it is always worth a shot. not sure the risk of a bad roll...

[Marullus]

Markd has a -2 penalty. That means he would roll [2d6] -- on a 2-3 she agrees, on a 4-6 he re-roll, on a 7+ she declines.

"destroy all the undead and ghouls in this place"

That's feasible to ask.

[Zhym]

Then let’s have someone with decent charisma ask for that. And maybe some really good dog treats for Sprinkles.

[onlyme]

Markd has a -2 penalty. That means he would roll [2d6] -- on a 2-3 she agrees, on a 4-6 he re-roll, on a 7+ she declines.

"destroy all the undead and ghouls in this place"

That's feasible to ask.

So, roughly a 1/7 chance of succeeding. probably double that of her being repulsed by the offer. Not sure if that trumps a better odds ask of doing a single thing...

[Zhym]

On the first roll, it’s 1/12 of success, 7/12 fail, 1/3 reroll. Unless I did the math wrong in my head.

[Rusty Tincanne]

Winnie has the opposite effect on people, if we want to go for a single task. Especially with the gargoyles outside. And maybe the dog treats, but enough for Mrs. Dash, too.

Let me know which way the group wants to go.