Chapter 20: Coming Dawn

[Dave W.]

May 1, 2021 0:14:38 GMT -4 Jeff said:

Brack points to Adamant. "Warforged, please stay up, keep watch. In case it's a distraction."

“Exactly my thought, Captain.” Adamant replies. He starts very actively scanning for threats approaching the ship.

[Ken]

"Streko," says Belarin to the halfling without taking his eyes off of Kalarian, "do you have one of those prayers ready that can repel evil creatures? If so, use it on Kal."

The warlock steps forward carefully and tries to listen to what Kal is murmuring.

[Darren]

"Myfriends," Kal mutters. Tears start to leak down his face. "My friends my friends my friends..." He keeps repeating the phrase over and over, picking up speed as he goes.

[Joe]

"I am unsure what to do. Is this a magical attack, residual from his assault on the body possessed by Ulad, or it is an affliction? Is it a curse? I don't have enough information, but I might know a way to find out. I may need an offering of some type. I will let you know in a few moments."

Streko comes up to Kal and puts his hand on the human's chest. "Kalarian. How can I help you? Your friends are here. What can we do?"

Streko attempts to ascertain what is wrong with his friend, who is crying and babbling about his friends almost as if living a waking nightmare.

"I just doesn't believe I has enough information to go on just yet. I can try numerous things and could make his situation worse. I have one other action I can resort to, as I said, but it may cost us more than we have. Maybe one of you can glean something from his behavior or words. Does anyone understand the mind of a dog? Tangat would be most helpful in this situation, I think."
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Insight Check → 10

[Dave B.]

Shorak lowers his weapons. "Didn't someone say something about psionics? Perhaps his mind is being attacked somehow." He looks at Belarin and Streko. "Do either of you have magic that will defend or protect the mind?"

[Jeff]

Tangat comes in, whining, and sits right beside Kal. He licks at his face, then lays down with his head in his friend's lap. His tail swishes around anxiously.

Sem lurks at the doorway, looking worried himself. "Tangat's animal," he says, "Sort of. He's a magical beast, too. But maybe Calirataia can talk to him directly." He looks around. "Can we call her?"

[Brian]

Melethos looks about anxiously. Kal isn't responding to his call, and Belarin hasn't reported in either.

Frustrated, he tries yelling with his mind: KAL, DAMMIT! ANSWER ME! ANSWER ME!

[Joe]

May 2, 2021 8:05:33 GMT -4 Jeff said:

Sem lurks at the doorway, looking worried himself. "Tangat's animal," he says, "Sort of. He's a magical beast, too. But maybe Calirataia can talk to him directly." He looks around. "Can we call her?"

"Excellent idea, Sem! Ask her to come. If she can "speak" with Tangat in some way, we may have a better idea of how to proceed."

He looks over at Shorak, shaking his head. "I...don't know. I've never encountered such an attack that I can recall. I have no idea how to defend against it. From my little knowledge of arcana, there is little one can do against mind attacks. The Host knows we've had our share of mind-altering experiences, but nothing like this. Again, without more information, I am loathe to just start casting spells at him. I need to know more."

[Ken]

"I'll get answers," says Belarin grimly. He marches back up the ladder.

He approaches Melethos and Histra. "Something is affecting Kal's mind -- and I think our dead friend here may know what. We still have his head." He looks at the skeletal remains. "I'd like to ask him another question."

[Jeff]

Sem nods and just starts stamping his feet on the ground. "Calirataia! Can you come?"

When Belarin comes up to Histra and Melethos, the woman shakes her head. "You cannot."

Melethos hears a kind of on-again-off-again "mumble" in his mind, from Kal. Nothing coherent comes through the ring.

---

Sorry, Joe, didn't mean to ignore your last post two posts ago: I was out all day, and I'm waiting or Kal to interact more with you guys before I can do anything with Insight. Streko just doesn't have much to go on yet. Go ahead and make a Medicine check as well, though.

Ken, per the spell:

The spell fails if the corpse was the target of this spell within the last 10 days.

So basically each corpse can only be spoken to once every 10 days. Once it becomes undead, it won't even qualify.

[Darren]

Kal reaches up and touches Streko's face. He begins to smile, but there is a trail of blood now on Streko's face that has come from Kal's hand. A horrified look comes over his face as he looks at the halfling and he begins to cry. "Oh gods! My friends!" His hands drop back to his lap. "Ships," he says. "Ships and stars and stars!" He sees Streko again. "Stars?" he asks the halfling. He shakes his head and returns to looking at his hands. "Dragons," he says firmly, as though making up his mind. He gives a little nod. "Dragons."

[Jeff]

A few moments later, Calirataia emerges from the floor in front of Sem. She kneels down as he summarizes the situation. "Tangat," she calls out. When the dog doesn't come to her, she walks into the cabin (something she seldom does) and sits down beside the dog. She strokes his ears and neck and murmurs words words of druidic persuasion. Tangat lifts his head from Kal's lap and whines back at her. He makes almost comical "talking" noises, quiet half-barks and grumble-sounding growls.

"He cast a spell. One Tangat says you have all seen before. Days ago. To speak, to commune, with some power." The dryad's face shows that she clearly does not like it, neither the situation nor the magic being referred to. "But it took him 'away' instead of giving him answers."

[Ken]

May 2, 2021 20:29:20 GMT -4 Jeff said:

When Belarin comes up to Histra and Melethos, the woman shakes her head. "You cannot."

"Bonescrape's bloody jest," grumbles Belarin. But he knows Histra is correct, and he nods a few times in frustration. "I'll go back down -- I'll keep you apprised."

[Dave B.]

"Maybe we can bring him back with a shock of some sort." Shorak suggests. "A splash of cold water or maybe just a slap to the face?" He shrugs. "I can't think of anything else. Maybe Belarin or Histra might have some more insight."

[Brian]

May 3, 2021 15:11:58 GMT -4 Dave B. said:

"Maybe we can bring him back with a shock of some sort." Shorak suggests. "A splash of cold water or maybe just a slap to the face?" He shrugs. "I can't think of anything else. Maybe Belarin or Histra might have some more insight."

"Or we could hold him under water until he snaps out of it," Melethos adds with a slight grin. "He may even appreciate the directness of the solution."

He looks down at Histra as she continues to shrivel and remove flesh. This is a entirely different side of magic to which he hasn't been exposed. His stomach rolls as Histra peels off a blackened piece of Ulad's thigh, inspects it, and tosses it aside.

No, necromancy isn't for him.

[Joe]

May 3, 2021 8:58:41 GMT -4 Jeff said:

A few moments later, Calirataia emerges from the floor in front of Sem. She kneels down as he summarizes the situation. "Tangat," she calls out. When the dog doesn't come to her, she walks into the cabin (something she seldom does) and sits down beside the dog. She strokes his ears and neck and murmurs words words of druidic persuasion. Tangat lifts his head from Kal's lap and whines back at her. He makes almost comical "talking" noises, quiet half-barks and grumble-sounding growls.

"He cast a spell. One Tangat says you have all seen before. Days ago. To speak, to commune, with some power." The dryad's face shows that she clearly does not like it, neither the situation nor the magic being referred to. "But it took him 'away' instead of giving him answers."

"It just now took him away or it took him away days ago when he cast the spell?" Streko takes Kal's bloody hand into his and begins inspecting him for cuts, damage, anything physically out of the ordinary.

"I may have something that will work, but, as I said before, it may cost me...perhaps us...more than we have, just to make the attempt. Before I do, I would like everyone to be in agreement on this. Even Adamant, if he can be spared topside for a few moments."
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Sorry for the delay, computer was rebuilt and I am having to update every site I visit and passwords for everything.

Medicine Check → 25

[Ken]

Belarin gazes at Melethos as he watches Histra at work. "I can stay here and help Histra," he says. "You might be better off giving guidance to Streko. Go." He gives the tiefling a somber nod and moves closer to Histra.

[Brian]

Melethos hesitates only a moment, then nods and races across the deck. Gripping both rails with hands and feet, he slides down the ladder into the hold and hurries into Kal's cabin.

To Streko, he says, "Have you figured out what to do?"

[Jeff]

May 3, 2021 22:17:11 GMT -4 Joe said:

"It just now took him away or it took him away days ago when he cast the spell?" Streko takes Kal's bloody hand into his and begins inspecting him for cuts, damage, anything physically out of the ordinary.

"He cast the spell this night," Calirataia says. 

Aside from the minor cut on Kal's fingers, Streko sees nothing else physically threatening Kal. He can only concludes the affliction in his mind. If it is psionics, he would know nothing about it. He's not sure if magic can counter psionics, but he does possess magic that can treat debilitating effects.

[Darren]

When Melethos enters the room, Kal looks up at him with a glimmer of recognition. "Lhash-Tava!" He smiles, then continues in a conversational manner. "Dragons ships blue flames?" He sits watching Melethos, seeming to wait for a response.

[Brian]

May 4, 2021 8:53:10 GMT -4 Darren said:

When Melethos enters the room, Kal looks up at him with a glimmer of recognition. "Lhash-Tava!" He smiles, then continues in a conversational manner. "Dragons ships blue flames?" He sits watching Melethos, seeming to wait for a response.

Melethos listens as Streko explains what he has learned. "A spell he cast days ago, to commune with some power." He grows still. "The Keeper of Secrets. Why would he contact her again?" He looks at Streko. "Or did he reach out to the Keeper and found something else instead?"

Melethos kneels in front of Kal, now eye level with his friend. Kal's babbling... did he encounter something that robbed his mind, or was so terrifying he's lost his mind? And why would he cut his hand? Was it accidental, did he do it intentionally to enhance some spell, or did whatever he encountered compel him to cut himself? Who could he have encountered?

In a soft voice, almost a whisper, he says, "Argushem." He waits a few moments, then repeats the name of Lhash-Tava's mate. "Argushem, speak to me."

As he does so, his mind works furiously to recall anything that might hint at what might have happened when Kal reached out to other planes.

_______________________________________

Melethos2: D20 + 6#intelligence ( arcana ) check → 14(8 + 6)#Intelligence (Arcana) Check

[Dave W.]

Adamant is still on alert on the deck but notices Belarin come up and Melethos go below. "Belarin, what is happening? Is there an attack? Was Kal alright?"

[Darren]

Kal giggles. "Argus gem."

[Jeff]

Caliraia gives Tangat another pet, then leaves the room. Sem comes in now. "Streko, just try something. If anyone can, it's you. You know that."

Above, Histra gives Belarin some unpleasant tasks. It's obvious to him she wanted Melethos involved, possibly to educate, possibly to simply find another companion willing to assist with her rituals. Belarin finds that he has to roll and fold back withered flesh, which occasionally send up small clouds of red, decayed vapor. The odor is terrible, but it is fleeting. Unpleasant as this is, Histra is avoiding having another rotting body. He remembers her skeletons, and even those back at the ir'Serrel estate in Stormreach: clean, efficient, inhuman.

Then she instructs him gather up the fleshy remains and cast it into the river.

Adamant perceives no threats beyond the ship. Nothing that he can see or hear, anyway. Brack looks to him and nods toward the open hatch. "False alarm, then?"

[Dave B.]

Shorak watches, knowing there is nothing he can do to assist. "You can do this Streko. Listen to your instincts." He waits to see what happens next, ready to go up on deck to call down Adamant, just in case the paladin is needed.

[Joe]

Streko hears all the encouragement his friends are providing. "Well then," he says firmly, grasping both of Kal's hands in his, "time to find out if this works or not."

He studies his friend for a moment, then shakes his head. "I know not whether Kalarian is cursed or charmed by whatever he has contacted, but I am hoping that this will remove the effects."

Streko reaches out with his mind to his Goddess, asking for her help in ridding Kalarian of the debilitating effects of whatever magic is influencing him. A deep, orange glow surrounds him and bridges the space between them, following the path between the Halfling's body, though his arms, into Kal's and then surrounding the sorcerer's body before melting into it.
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Streko casts Greater Restoration on Kal.

[Darren]

Kal feels Streko's hands on the sides of his face. His own hands reach up to take those of his Halfling's friends, and a film clears from his eyes. He smiles, then presses the halfling's forehead to his own. "Bless you, Streko," he says quietly.

Looking up at the concerned looks on his friend's faces, he frowns. "I'm sorry to cause you concern, my friends. I attempted to mess with magic that I clearly do not fully understand and it...affected me." He seems to notice, for the first time, the blood on the floor and on his hand which he has accidentally smeared onto Streko's face. He retrieves Skyfang, hastily wiping his own blood from the blade and returns it to the sheath among the many straps around his leg. "I..." he begins to push himself unsteadily to his feet, reaching out to Streko to brace himself before he falls. "I am sorry."

[Brian]

"Well done," Melethos tells Streko. "Well done indeed."

Standing, he looks down at Kal. "What did you attempt?"

[Jeff]

Tangat's tail starts swishing madly. First he presses against Tal, seeking attention, then he goes after Streko's face with cold nose and wet tongue.

[Dave W.]

May 4, 2021 17:07:12 GMT -4 Jeff said:

Adamant perceives no threats beyond the ship. Nothing that he can see or hear, anyway. Brack looks to him and nods toward the open hatch. "False alarm, then?"

"Hard to say. But it appears to not be a general assault on the Dragonfly thankfully. I believe we can relax a little."