Chapter 4: The Waters of Menehune

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Jan 21, 2025 11:28 pm
"Without a doubt," Admiral agrees. Once the imp is gone, he begins poking through the hag’s scattered treasures in search of anything valuable, trying not to let himself dwell on the imp's parting warning for Tasya.
Last edited January 21, 2025 11:32 pm
Jan 22, 2025 12:32 am
With a shake of his head, Regan looks away from where the portal had been and begins helping Admiral search the remains of the treasure trove for anything that might be valuable, useful, or important.
OOC:
Preemptively making a generic roll just so I don't hold anything up.

If it's Investigation (INT) it is the flat roll.
If it's Perception (WIS) add +4.

...and of course, ignore if not needed.

Rolls

Search roll - (1d20)

(12) = 12

Jan 22, 2025 12:36 am
OOC:
Ah, I should do that too! :)


... or maybe I shouldn't have lol
Last edited January 22, 2025 12:37 am

Rolls

Investigation (or +7 if perception) - (1d20+0)

(1) = 1

Jan 22, 2025 3:07 pm
OOC:
There's no urgency at the moment and things aren't particularity concealed here, so no roll necessary.
Items in the hag's bedchamber sprawl across the uneven algae ridden stone floor. The air is thick with the scent of mildew and salt. The imp’s earlier rampage had left much tossed carelessly about—scattered and broken scraps of human lives long since stolen.

A leather-bound journal lies waterlogged, its inked pages smeared into oblivion.

A tarnished silver locket, its clasp broken, dangles from a bedpost.

Among the debris, a wooden child’s toy sits, one arm missing, its painted surface faded and moss growing on it from damp neglect.

...

Behind the bed frame that is now almost completely reduced to flaming embers, a concealed panel in the seaweed headboard sits with a small hole burned into it, the imp’s hasty entrance to the secret chamber hidden within. Inside, it is dark, but Regan and Admiral make out more of the hag’s treasures not yet torn through by the imp.

Draped haphazardly over a pile of rotting silks is a garment of black silk interwoven with faint, silvery threads that shimmer, clinging to the air like dew on a spider’s web.

Nearby, nestled within a heap of dull trinkets and combs tangled with hair, lies a slender wand. Its polished surface gleams faintly, and a spiral of arcane runes winds its length like ivy.

Against the back wall leans a tall mirror. Similar to the one that Cordey carried earlier. Its mirror surface is dark and rippling. The carved frame is ornate, its edges etched with motifs that seem almost to writhe when not directly observed.

A small vial of milky liquid, corked tightly, rests within a shattered wooden box. The liquid swirls lazily, catching any faint light in hypnotic patterns that hint at its strange properties. There are other weathered tools within the box, perhaps a carpenter’s or furniture maker’s.

A gemstone lies within a pile of cracked and dull baubles, its polished surface outshining the mundane stones around it. Within, flecks of light seem to spark and fade like stars in the night sky, giving it an otherworldly allure.

Other treasures stand out nestled in the clutter.

A golden ring lies within a small pouch, its surface engraved with symbols that seem to pulse faintly with an invisible rhythm.

In another corner, a sword rests, its hilt simple but well-crafted. As if sensing its own dormant power, the blade hovers slightly above the ground, vibrating faintly, ready to spring to life.

A belt rests atop a jagged outcrop of stone near the edge of the secret chamber, its placement seemingly deliberate, as though the hag had been careful with this particular treasure. The belt is a striking piece of craftsmanship, made of dark, fire-blackened leather with intricate embossing that shimmers faintly in the low light. The designs decorate its surface like flames, curling and twisting in mesmerizing patterns. At its center is a gemstone, a deep, fiery orange, stone like an ember clinging to life. The stone beneath the belt is slightly blackened, as though scorched, and the faint scent of smoke lingers in its vicinity.
Jan 22, 2025 3:14 pm
As Regan looks about the assorted treasures, he says, "We should probably work to identify everything here away from the Fossergrim and the children. If any of it is dangerous... "
OOC:
Regan doesn't have Detect or Identify, so unless Admiral has those options it's short rests.
Jan 23, 2025 1:44 am
OOC:
Yeah I've got nothing :/
Admiral picks up the sparkly gemstone, admiring the way it catches the light, then glances around at the rest of the hoard. "...That may take a while. There's a lot of junk here and, I don't know about you, but I'm not exactly an expert on magical artifacts. Maybe one of our friends could help? Or perhaps the Fossergrim may have seen the Hag use some of this stuff while he was her prisoner?"
Jan 23, 2025 2:17 am
"Yeah, we can ask. I just don't want to fiddlefuck around with anything and blow up a kid, y'know? I do not need that shit on my conscious," Regan says as he curiously pokes at the floating sword with the tip of his hammer.
Jan 23, 2025 3:36 am
When Admiral picks up the gem it triggers a momentary rush of sensory overload due to unnaturally clear sight. The sensation fades quickly, leaving him slightly disoriented as Regan speaks to him.

Then when Regan pokes at the sword it pulls away from the poke and starts to hover erratically around the room, mostly keeping its distance from Regan. But sometimes hovering just out of his reach, as though taunting or daring him to chase it.
OOC:
What plan of action will you take?
Jan 23, 2025 3:41 am
With a shrug, Regan turns his attention to the leather belt.
Jan 23, 2025 3:48 am
When Regan turns away toward the belt, the sword goes back to its stationary hovering state.

Examining the belt closley Regan realizes the gemstone in the buckle glows brighter and more dimly in response to the flickering flames around the burned opening that leads back into the hag's bed chamber, almost as though it's feeding on, or is in sync with the nearby flame.
Jan 23, 2025 4:14 am
Shaking off the brief sensory overload, Admiral pockets the pretty gemstone and picks up the next shiniest thing in the room – the gold ring. "Aye, good point!" he agrees heartily, requiring no further encouragement to succumb to greed and curiosity. "We better check it all ourselves then. Wouldn't want the little ankle-biters getting themselves hurt, after all."
Jan 23, 2025 4:39 am
The ring, in Admiral's hand, feels surprisingly warm to the touch. Its golden surface is perfectly smooth except for the engraved runes along the band that seem to pulse faintly. As Admiral holds it, he feels a subtle vibration in his hand, as though the ring is testing him—or waiting.

Momentarily absorbed in the ring, Admiral hears faint whispers in the back of his mind, as though multiple voices are speaking. It's a spell incantation perhaps, but...in reverse. Despite recognizing it as an incantation, the words are incomprehensible to him, but the tone is urgent and commanding.
Jan 23, 2025 2:06 pm
OOC:
Short rest? We can use it to each identify one item. A second short rest would give us each a second item. Rinse and repeat. Also, if the item requires attunement it has to be a different short rest than the one we use to identify it (at least as far as RAW -- our GM can of course change it as it befits the story).

Side Note: I fully expect at least some of this to be cursed.

The order Regan would identify items in if we take multiple short rests:
○ Belt
○ Silk Garment
○ Sword (if he can catch it)
○ Wand
Last edited January 23, 2025 2:07 pm
Jan 24, 2025 2:39 am
OOC:
Sure! Admiral will identify the rest of the stuff then (the gemstone, the ring, the milky liquid, and the mirror). I guess at some point Admiral will also pop back into the other chamber quickly to let the NPCs know what they're up to.
Jan 24, 2025 6:32 am
Regan and Admiral settle into the damp, oppressive stillness of the hag's chambers, the flickering embers of the ruined bedframe casting uneven light across the jagged walls. Regan begins by carefully spreading the belt across his lap, its center stone syncing with the firelight.

Across the room, Admiral kneels beside the rippling mirror, his hand tracing its ornate, writhing frame.

...

Nearly for hours pass as they carefully meditate on each of the items. After which the two are fairly certain they understand the power these items hold and what attuning themselves to the items might awaken.
[ +- ] 1. Efreeti Belt
[ +- ] 2. Cloak of Arachnida
[ +- ] 3. Dancing Sword
[ +- ] 4. Wand of Polymorph
[ +- ] 5. Gem of Seeing
[ +- ] 6. Ring Of Spell Turning
[ +- ] 7. Universal Solvent
[ +- ] 8. Mirror of Life Trapping
OOC:

Ma is right. There is a chance that any of these items could be cursed. As the imp mentioned a while back regarding some items found in the hag's laboratory, she liked to sometimes curse magic items. That said, there is a chance any item you attune to could be cursed.

Spoiler: Exactly 2 items are cursed.
I numbered the items above from 1-8. I will roll 2d8 and keep the result hidden, until the time comes that one of you attune to (or use in the case of the solvent and mirror) the items that I rolled. The two numbers that I roll will determine which two item are cursed by the hag.

Rolls

Which Items Are Cursed by Hag? - (2d8)

Jan 24, 2025 1:01 pm
"Think there's a cleric back in town that can deal with curses, if any of this turns out to be too good to be true?" Regan asks as he looks around the chamber at the assorted goods. "Last thing I want is to be cursed indefinitely."
Jan 25, 2025 2:17 am
"Aye, I'd say so," Admiral says, confidently, though he honestly has no idea. "What about this mirror though? It’s a little big to be carrying around with us and I reckon… Well, it seems like there could be people trapped in there. I’d hate to leave anyone stuck in this thing." He steps closer to the mirror and knocks on the surface. "Ahoy there! Anyone home? Cell number one?"
Last edited January 25, 2025 2:23 am
Jan 25, 2025 7:07 am
Despite Admiral's direct address, the mirror's surface remains dark and rippling.
Jan 26, 2025 11:14 am
"Guess not," says Admiral, with a shrug. "Should we try to bring it with us? Seems like a bit of a hassle, but it could be a powerful weapon, under the right circumstances."
Jan 26, 2025 5:06 pm
"We could just break it... release anything trapped within, make sure it can't be used again? I can't see it being practical. Although... you have a ship. We could install it there. Just have to lure enemies to it I guess..." Regan shrugs as well, a bit at a loss for what to do with something so unweildly.
Last edited January 26, 2025 5:06 pm
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