Expedition - Markd/On A Mission From Baudh - 08 May 2021

[onlyme]

Markd nods in appreciation at the ghostly guide.

"Any thought," he asks his fellow party members, "to where we should turn next? I see three options.
1) Keep messing around here looking for treasure and hidden adventures, likely getting us killed.
2) Heading to that city now that we have some guidance, or
3) Interuupt best we can the cleric and ask him for more information.

So, which one?

[Rusty Tincanne]

Fair enough. But keeping in mind the relationship of dead bodies and ghosts (kobolds, queen and now this guy on the floor), I get the feeling that, should you die in here, your spirit sticks around.

My impression was that there are no light sources in the casket room, just the candelabra in the meeting room.

Bremen is fine trying to get the cleric's attention. Just don't draw on the table they are working on. They won't be able to clean it.

[Zhym]

Olaf scratches his head. "Sure wish I could understand these folks," he says.

"Hey lady, can ye understand what I'm saying?" he asks in common. He repeats the query in dwarf, goblin, gnome, and kobold.

[Rusty Tincanne]

Captain Bremen looks admirably at Olaf because of the variety of languages he can speak. Hey Olaf. If one of those languages can be understood by one of those ghosts on the bench, maybe they could translate for us...

[Marullus]

The woman shakes her head sadly to Olaf.

[Keehnelf]

Irving, awestruck, finally chimes in. "Mayhap this story was going in reverse of the usual tales? It might be that the lovelorn fellow in the other room did himself in with poison after his lady love was slain."

He points at the old corpse lying alongside the sarcophagus.

[Zhym]

"Could be," says Olaf with a shrug. "Still can't ken what killt her, though."

[Marullus]

I'm holding until you finish discussion and resolve on the next action step.

[onlyme]

I think we are still waiting on Alethan to give input. Anyone else?

[Keehnelf]

Irving is in way over his head here.

[Alethan]

Bandy Sandybanks

Bandy shrugs, "I don't think we are going to figure out anything with these ghosts as long as we can't understand what they're saying. Let's do a quick sweep of the rest of the area, without disturbing the ghosts or those skeletons, if possible, and then head back to town. Maybe your priest friends can give us some clue as to what language they might be speaking or... Offer some device that can help us understand them."

[Rusty Tincanne]

I think it would be beneficial to try and use the mobile ghosts on the bench as go betweens. Clerical ghosts to ovoid to Olaf to us. After centuries being trapped here, maybe they've learned to communicate with one another. And as Baudh's minions I'd hope the cleric protects us a bit.

[onlyme]

Markd looks around and listens, then finally speaks.

OK. Let's quickly look behind the other doors, watching their reactions as we go to open them. Once we determine the place is relatively clear, lets be a bit more forceful in our conversations to see if one reacts to any language anyone might know.

[Zhym]

Olaf shrugs and decides to try one more thing. He steps just into the room with the robed man and clears his throat. "Er. Sorry t'interrupt," he says in Lawful. "Can any of ye understand what I'm sayin'?"

[Marullus]

The Clerical Judge expressed himself to you in Lawful when you entered, so that works. However, I want to be clear about how it works. It isn't a spoken language and is more of an easy way to relay basic concepts and intentions - "These are not spoken languages (which could be taught and learned), but instead represent an intuitive understanding and non-verbal communication cues. Effectively, any character has an ability to understand the communicated intent and simple concepts of other creatures which think and act in the same way they do." While it is sometimes easiest for us to portray this with "dialog," I am trying to use care to make sure it is conveyed within the limited bounds.

So, I'm not sure how to adjudicate this. The interrupt and apology is easy, but "can you understand what I'm saying" doesn't work because you're not technically "Saying" anything. Can you rephrase to tell me what you'd like to try to convey to him?

[Zhym]

"Greetings, fellow being of law. What's going on and how can we help?"

Something like that.

[Marullus]

Olaf steps forward and and interjects into the proceedings, trying to communicate as best he can to the Clerical Judge that you're group is here to help. The Clerical Judge halts the proceedings, his initial indifference now exchanged for a dubious expression as he looks down over his desk at the dwarf and others who now interrupt for the second time. He says several things in their unknown language, pointing sternly to the benches, then the doors. The woman cringes, then drifts away from you back to the proceedings, taking her place at the table once more.

Lawful:

This is NOT a friendly man, and he clearly does not like his proceedings being interrupted. Anger and the threat of violence again remain a clear option for him. I told you once not to interrupt. These are serious matters. You may sit on the benches with the others, or we will make you leave.

Rolls:

Charisma roll [3d6] = 13

[Zhym]

Olaf sits on a bench and watches the proceedings.

[Marullus]

All the benches have some current spectral occupants, but also room for more. Do you sit next to a group of kobolds, a fur-wearing ogre, or a youthful-looking apprentice-robed man?

[Zhym]

Let's go with the robed apprentice.

Do we have any idea what time it is?