1.2 - In Search of Sanity - The Dead Don't Dream

Feb 27, 2023 8:32 am

Winter Klazcka

"All of this from a book?" Winter says with a shake of her head, "This must be some dark magic indeed. Did you get the name of this tome?"

Feb 27, 2023 8:47 am

OOC:

@All just for clarification, and my apologies for not being clear on this, but also I know it can help to recap when much of this lore is learned over so many months - the creature deep beneath the asylum causing the earthquakes is a Bhole, but there is nothing known about how or when it came to be there.

The Tatterman / Nightmare Man, whom you saw in the opening sequence of the adventure, is the one brought to this area by the Briarstone Witch (whose name you have learned was Ariadnah) many centuries ago. Together, you have been told, they were responsible for an event called the Thrushmoor Vanishing (something you haven't looked into or learned much about yet)

@annex I'll leave this up to you. The research you do in the library is not required to move the game forward, but will yield new lore including, eventually, historical information that plays into the overarching plot of the entire adventure path. That said, you may spend another 8 hours of research now or return to camp. If you research further, you may still refresh spells/daily preparations, but you will start the day fatigued from lack of sleep.

Razhel

RageRed

Feb 27, 2023 8:49 am

Equinox Inactive for 5 months

"'The tome? I think I heard it referred to as The Chain of Nights." Razhel tells Winter.

Grim

Feb 27, 2023 8:56 pm

"I don't think I came here to Thrushmoor to work for a Hasterton Lowls." Grim confides to Winter. "I'm a Harrow-born medium. The last I can clearly remember was being asked to come to meet with agents of the Sleepless Agency."

Last edited February 27, 2023 8:58 pm

Winter Klazcka

Mar 3, 2023 10:49 am

Winter Klazcka

"The Chain of Nights," Winter says, considering, "Nothing I've heard of before. Perhaps if this book can be found, there may be something within that might dismiss the mist? "

She looks to Grim, her lips pressed tight together. "I understand there's still a lot of confusion around how you came to be here. If we can get ourselves back to Thrushmoor, I'll do what I can to help shed light on what happened. In fact, the first thing I'd want to do is visit the Sleepless Agency myself, as it was designated as our rendezvous site by Accuser Omari. I met with their leader, Cesadia Wrentz, just before taking the boat to this island. I'm sure she would have some answers for you."

Mar 6, 2023 1:15 am

"I say we pack it in, men. Getting rest in this nightmare place is hard enough without us depriving ourselves of sleep. Let's head back."

Axon took one last look around the library with his arcane sight before heading back to the stronghold. He hoped the children would like the toys he found.

Mar 6, 2023 9:13 am

Equinox Inactive for 5 months

OOC:

Axon, Elias, and Iosef make it back to camp without issue about 8 hours after Grim and Razhel left you in the library. When you return to the chapel it is early evening.

There will be a little bit of a time separation here - Grim and Razhel, go ahead and finish up your current interaction with Winter however you'd like before interacting with the others, then we'll just consider anything else after to take place later in the day.

What would you all like to do back in camp? Are there any NPC's you'd like to interact with? annex - anything you want to do before bringing the toys to the children?

Grim

Mar 6, 2023 10:11 pm

"Some straight and truthful answers would be nice." Grim replies to Winter. "If this fell book is still on these premises I don't imagine it just being found lying about. Likely, it would be in the hands of those responsible for all this trouble."

Mar 6, 2023 10:42 pm

After briefing the others on their scant library findings, Axon sat for a few minutes to look over the toys again. A crazed cultist played with them but they didn't show any signs of magic when last he checked. Still, he looked over them again both with his arcane and normal sights, and checked to see if they might be hollow.

I'd better make sure these really are innocuous, he thought.

Rolls

Perception - (1d20+1)

(12) + 1 = 13

Mar 10, 2023 8:13 am

Axon looks over the toys again, confirming no presence of magic or anything else that might be dangerous to the children.

OOC:

Reminder: these are the pair of intricately carved wooden knights you found in one of the patient rooms in the eastern portion of the Asylum.

Winter Klazcka

Mar 15, 2023 6:25 am

Winter Klazcka

"After hearing all of what you've found, and from what our own scouts have learned, you must surely be right, Grim. I would have guessed it was in the hands of Administrator Losandro, but with that certainly not the case, I can only imagine it to be with these so-called Apostles of Orpiment, likely with this Zandalus figure. It could be the answer to this mist and our escape from this island."

She gestures around, "While time is of the essence, it could be dangerous ahead. Please rest here tonight, relax some, and come tomorrow might we beg your help in getting us free of this place? I would join you, of course, but the people here need me. I can provide some healing, and if it means leaving this island, we'll outfit you with any equipment we have on hand. Check with York, he can see to that, and I'll tell him to offer a fair price for anything you find you don't need."

OOC:

Winter will make sure you are all healed up before you rest for the night. Additionally, York will buy anything you've found and don't need (check the loot list). For gear/equipment, you tell me if there's something you'd like to pick up and I'll let you know if its available - if it's remotely reasonable to explain being there, I'll allow it.

@annex do you want me to set a scene for bringing the toys to the kids?

Mar 15, 2023 3:52 pm

OOC:

I'd like to RP it if you're OK with that.

Razhel

RageRed

Mar 17, 2023 7:37 pm

"Guess we'll be back at it after a good rest." Razhel postulates. "I reckon once this Zandalus is taken down, and the ragged thing from our shared nightmares, the mist will fall and we can all walk out of here."

Mar 18, 2023 7:43 am

After confirming the pair of carved wooden knights and marionettes he found earlier are free of magic and safely mundane, Axon steps into the small office where the kids remain cloistered with their custodian, Tolman Leolies.

Tolman looks up, a protective look on his face, when Axon enters. The kids are playing - the boy Brenton has his back turned, drawing on the wall with charcoal pencil, the other boy bates is stacking books, and Maeve plays with a doll. The little girl quickly clings to Tolman's robes and draws herself close as Axon enters, but the other boys pay him no heed.

Tolman Leolies

"Good evening," he says, "It's good to see you made it back. I saw your friends in the chapel earlier, I hope that means you've all managed to stay alive out there. How can I help you?"

Mar 19, 2023 1:10 am

"It's a literal madhouse out there but the children shouldn't suffer while we figure a way out. I found these and thought the little ones might like them."

Axon handed the dolls to Tolman with the best smile he could muster.

"Make sure they share. Oh, and I discovered my name: Axon."

Last edited March 19, 2023 1:10 am

Mar 19, 2023 2:30 am

Tolman Leolies

"Axon. Axon," Tolman says, trying it out, "Well, Axon, thank you. It is not easy keeping these kids minds' focused, and they lack any real toys. These will do nicely." He turns his head and looks at the young ones. "Kids, did you hear Axon? He brought you some toys, can you say 'thank you'?"

Maeve timidly reaches out and takes one of the marionettes. She still clutches Tolman's robes and doesn't say anything, but she does offer the flash of a smile to Axon showing at least some recognition that she understands what you did.

Brenton Lieklan

Bates and Brenton both lay eyes on the wooden knights at about the same time and, while Bates smiles and slowly starts to reach for one, the expression and reaction from Brenton is explosive. Almost immediately, tears well up in his eyes and he shouts with joy. "Knights!" he yells, "Our knights!" He rushes forward and jealously rips them out of the Tolman's hands. "Thank you, Mr. Axon, thank you so much! Did you see Debis? Did you find my brother? He carved these for us to play with, before...before..." The tears are now streaming down his cheeks and he pulls back into the corner where his shadow lantern sits. You recall him obsessively playing with it when you saw him last. He smiles as he cries, clutching and hugging the knights before placing them carefully down and throwing a challenging glance at the other boy. He carries the shadow lantern over, only slightly hesitant. "Here, Mr. Axon. It were a gift from our mother and father. It always calmed Debis's nightmares, I've been worried he might have trouble sleeping. Can you take it, and if you find Debis, give it to him so he can sleep good? And can you bring him to stay with us here. Tolman's real nice and takes good care of us." He holds the lantern out, hopeful.

Mar 20, 2023 1:11 am

With tears in his eyes and a genuine smile on his face, Axon crouched down next to Brenton and accepted the shadow lantern.

"You've seen some of the bad things that are happening. I won't lie to you. I don't know if I'll make it... but I promise you that I'll do my best to bring Debis back to you. Maybe this lantern can help me sleep better while I look for him."

It wasn't the promise he wanted to make but it was honest, and there was little innocence left to protect by lying.

Axon stood and said, "I'll head back to my people, Tolman. You're doing some lord's work looking after these kids. Thank you."

OOC:

Damn. I wasn't expecting that. The kid's reply made me choke up a little.
Wait, crap. The cultist playing with the toys... He wasn't a relatively young man, was he? o.O

Mar 20, 2023 1:22 am

annex says:

OOC:

Damn. I wasn't expecting that. The kid's reply made me choke up a little.
Wait, crap. The cultist playing with the toys... He wasn't a relatively young man, was he? o.O

OOC:

Aw thanks, I enjoyed writing it up. And no, the man that was playing with the marionettes (then turned to use them as bludgeoning weapons) was likely in his 40's-50's, as disturbing as that might be.

Mar 20, 2023 1:25 am

OOC:

Any other business anyone wants to complete before getting a good night's rest and striking out again?

Rest Now?

Rest

"One more thing..."

Mar 26, 2023 11:19 am