Reynald worked at the padlock on Woln’s chains, and the man collapsed to the floor. Ragnar bandaged him as best he could,while Rasha hunted round the cave and managed to scrounge up some canvas and a few poles, with which he improvised a travois.
The hunter was in a sorry state, with a strange blue liquid dribbling from his mouth; he had obviously been bitten, and had strange runes runes cut into his flesh. A flask of the blue liquid was nearby, and Ailukka took this to show to Koya.
Arranged on a table nearby was a selection of alchemical equipment, as well as what appeared to be four small fetish dolls. Looking closely they could see that two of these bore some resemblance to the human forms of the two werewolves they had fought, and one of the others looked a little like Woln.
“I think I get it” said Reynald, “This wizard or whatever he was was somehow controlling the werewolves- that is why the first one was trying to warn us away. These dolls must have had something to do with it. Witch dolls.” Ailukka nodded.
“Ja. But this means that he too has become infected”. She nodded towards the insensible Woln.
“Let’s get him to Koya” suggested Rasha. “She’s Scarzani- they know about these things.” Ungo harrumphed but the others agreed.
Ragnar said nothing. When he had tended Dinald’s wounds earlier he had noticed that he too had been bitten. He had taken care at the time to see that none of the others had noticed.
Ailukka had picked up a large tome emblazoned with some sort of grinning skull, with some distaste. She pulled out the wand she had obtained in Brinestump Marsh, and muttered a few words and then examined the book closely.
“Neither the script nor language I can read, but this book is very ancient, and very evil” she said. “It has some association with Devils, and its function is to control werewolves. There are many diagrams in here and see- cutting runes into human flesh as has been done to Woln.”
“Thaet feller what ran” growled Ungo, “He had horns.”
“He might have had Devil or Demon blood” suggested Ailukka, “What they call a Tiefling. I see a few in Kalsgaard.”
Ungo walked over carrying a chest full of assorted coins. “Look what I foond.”
“There’s more books over here” said Rasha, “Over at this desk. This is really strange- look.”
The books seemed to be several volumes labelled ’Wolf’s Ear Immigration Records’ for particular years. The years in question were 4695, 4696 and 4697. These appeared to have been studied in some detail, and the book for 4696 was open and an entry had been ringed.
“Thorin Faringdale, age 12 years- DECEASED” read Reynald. . Around this were scrawled a variety of excaimations including ‘Noooo! He has escaped!’, ‘All this time- Wasted!’ and many other indications of extreme frustration.
“Maybe these were stolen from the Sage also?” suggested Reynald.
“We should take all of this stuff back” agreed Ragnar, “but we should take Woln to our camp first to see Koya. Maybe she can suggest something for the poor man.” And so it was agreed.
Back at the Caravan Koya shook her head. “The werewolf’s bite it is not simply an illness, it is also a curse. It is beyond my poor powers to cure.”
“So what will happen to him then?” asked Dinald. “Do we need to buy a nice lead HaHa!”
Koya looked at him directly; nobody else appeared to be laughing.
“Even a man who is pure of heart
And says his prayers by Night.
Can become a wolf while the wolfbane blooms
And the moon shines Full and Bright.”
Dinald looked with incomprehension. Koya went on to explain patiently.
“The next full moon is about three weeks off on 12th October. Unless cured, he will transform into a rampaging bloodthirsty beast, which kills for sheer bloodlust and feasts on human flesh. Although possibly a good man, he will have no control over this. It will be his Nature.”
“But you say he cannot be cured?” asked Ragnar.
“Not by my magicks or any we are likely to find hereabouts. Also there is some complication-this blue potion and the runes: some other magicks have also been wound into his condition. But there may may be an old Scarzani way.” responded Koya. “Unfortunately it can only work within three nights of being bitten, and the remedy can be fatal. You are fortunate indeed that none of you were bitten in your fights with these creatures.” Ragnar said nothing, but shot a quick glance at Dinald, who was examining his nails: they seemed a little longer than he remembered.
“Perhaps we’d better try it then” said Rasha. “After all we don’t know how long ago he was bitten. What do we need to do?”
“Wolfsbane” said Koya. “You need to gather me Wolfsbane. As much of it as possible.”
“Eh but thats lethal stuff isn’t it?” asked Rasha.
“As I said” replied Koya. “The remedy is Kill or Cure.”
As Koya spoke Reynald observed Dinald closely, and saw that he went to the back of the group and sat down against the wheel of one of the wagons. Quietly he edged his way over. Dinald stood up sharply.
“Everything alright Brother mine?” asked Reynald quietly. Dinald stared down at the floor.
“Oh…I feel all right you know. Just got mauled by some idiot gent I was trying to save.” Dinald said, a hint of bitterness in his voice.He looked at his brother and started to say something, and then paused, biting his tongue.
“I’m sorry Reynald. I feel fine. Koya’s news is…disturbing however.” He looked over at the group with a strange look in his eyes. The others had not noticed their conversation yet, and were debating the whereabouts of Wolfsbane. It occured to Reynald that his brother looked… for once- well, Humble.
“Look Reynald, if it would be alright with you, I’d like to try the cure, no matter what the results. I was bitten." said Dinald quickly. "Death would be better then turning around and hurting some innocent who’s only fault was his inability to defend against my onslaught.”
“Whit yoose twa dein’ fairyboys?” asked Ungo, sauntering over and swigging from a rancid bottle. Before he could react Dinald whipped him off his feet and gave him a close hug .
“Arrg ye’ galuutin’ fee nancyboy puit me doon oor ah’ll bite ye nuts.” screamed Ungo. “Arrgh No, I didna’ mean that-ye’ll have me on the turrn too at this rate!”
Hearing the fuss the others paused and looked over; knowing both the twins well Koya was quick to discern the root of the problem. As she held her hand for silence she noted that Ragnar whispered something quietly in Dinald’s ear. As even Ungo quietened down Dinald looked straight at Koya, and with her angular face she nodded silently, and then turned to Rasha.
“I will need at least two potions.” she paused to let the effect of her words sink in. Everyone looked at Dinald. “However the more you can find the better. If you are back before nightfall I can brew the poison this evening, and then I will have to rest to prepare the magicks I will need to maximise their chances of success.”
“It might be best if one of you brings the Alchemist here to retrieve his things-maybe the Sheriff too. If this fails we don’t want to be accused of poisoning Woln. No need to otherwise spread word of what has happened though.”
An hour or so later Sheriff Starling and Yuri the Alchemist , arrived in the camp. Walking slightly behind was Brooks, the shepherd. The Sheriff frowned as he heard their story, and enquired as to the location of the cave. Yuri listened with interest to the tale of the blue potion and examined the Tome they had found, and the runes cut into Woln.
“Hmm I’d like to examine these I think. If I may….?” He and the Sheriff walked back into town-the latter to gather some men to search for the cave before nightfall. Holding his hat in his hands Brooks spoke up.
“I believe you anyway, it all fits. I’ll go and have a word with the Mayor about your reward.” he shook his head. “Poor Woln.”
Some hours later Yuri returned excitedly into the camp. “I cast a few spells and was able to make sense of some parts of the book” he said. “The potion and runes somehow alter the lycanthropy, making it easier for the victim to control the curse. The downside is it makes him very vulnerable to control by the manipulator of this”, here he held up one of the dolls. “So essentially whoever was doing this was manipulating people with lycanthropy to do his will- and seemingly to infect others. And he escaped you say?”
“Aye” said Ungo, “Jist vanished”
“Which means he is still at large”said Yuri. At this point the Sheriff returned and Yuri explained his theory.
“The cave is as you described”, he said nodding. “One of the older men knew the place as Devil’s Cave interestingly.”
“I suggest the best thing for these dolls is that you take them with you, and then dispose of them in some faraway place” said Yuri. “The magicks will have a range as regards the controller, and if he is far enough away I don’t think anything you do to them-destruction preferably – will have any effect”. Koya nodded and took the dolls.
A few hours later Rasha returned with Koyas herbs, and by the camp firelight she worked well into the night preparing the Wolfsbane.
Comments
Dinald would have loved to assist his brother and practice his own growing skills as a lock picker, but he spent most of the rest of the time in the cave retreiving his mighty and powerful Masterwork sword from the bottom of the pit.
@ Steve, OOC, who knows about Dinald’s bite wound apart from Ragnar?
you all know he was wounded so all may be suspicious; however only Ragnar knows for sure as he tended the wounds.
Reynald will do the brotherly thing and enquire as to his health, how are your wounds healing dear brother?
“Oh…I feel all right you know. Just got mauled by some idiot gent I was trying to save.” Dinald says a little too bitterly. He looks at his brother and obviously tries to control his acidic tounge.
“I’m sorry Reynald. I feel fine. The news is…disturbing however.” He looks to the group with a weird look in his eyes. Well…weird for him, humblness.
“If it would be alright with you, I’d like to try the cure, no matter what the results. Death would be better then turning around and hurting some innocent who’s only fault was his inability to defend against my onslaught.” As he says this he reaches down and hugs Ungo, that little scamp.
Where do we find Wolf’s Bane?
LOL @ anyone hugging Ungo and…
Rasha is not an Herbalist but he is a Ranger with + 8 Nature skill, so he can probably find enough to cure at least one victim…
Wolfsbane is a Forest herb; it isn’t Autumn yet so you can still find it if you search hard enough.
Decide who is searching, and if individually or in groups. Make a d20 roll using Nature DC 15 or Survival DC 18. If you don’t have points in Survival and are helping someone else you can only roll to assist- in this case a success will add +2 to your partner (with points in the skill) roll.
It is early afternoon so basically you have till sunset to search.
This is a good point to mention (Dinald) that you all have one Hero Point (ie a Karma Point). They are defined in Player Handbook but I will post a wiki at some point.
You might consider this if you survive the Wolfsbane and get your roll to combat the Disease.
rofl @ the nut biting!
Rasha rolled
Roll: 1d20
12
on his Nature + 8, so 20 vs. DC 15
ok that is enough Wolfsbane to make 2 doses. Anyone else?
Ragnar, thinking of Dinald, also has a look for some Wolfsbane.
Roll 1d20 + 4 Survival skill: 10 + 4 = 14.
Ragnar also approaches Dinald in a quiet moment. “Eh, my friend. I zink you need to do zis Szcarni medicine trick too, ja? I vill vatch you if you vish, so no need to tell ze udders, yes?”
Dinald Whispers to Ragnar “I’m the one definitivly mauled by a werewolf and everybody knows it. Do you mean to to be talking to another member of the team? I’ll keep my mouth shut about anyone else being cursed…”
Rasha, returning from herb hunting, takes note of the whispers between Dinald and the monk.
Shaking his head, he mutters under his breath, “Who am I to judge? After all my parents were mixed race. As long as they’re happy.”
Dinald I will initially need FIVE straight d20 rolls from you. I will sort out the modifiers as these may slide depending on whether you miss any.
Roll for Woln as well.
These are for the actual poisoning bit.
After that you may make another d20 roll for the Wolfsbane effect. You might decide to use your hero point at this stage, in one of two ways.
- Before you roll choose to add +8, or
-After you roll do a reroll
If you fail and become a werewolf (possibly) its not the end of your character-I am prepared for either posibility.
If you find more Wollfsabne Dinald will get another two days worth of attempts at this (unless the poison kills him first….). As Woln was bitten earlier he only gets one attempt, though because of the spells cast on him the effect won’t be identical to you.
In re: Steve’s email query, I’m good to go for Sunday.
Sounds cool. I’m going to use the Obsidian Portal Dice roller and cut + paste the results. I understand this is not the most secure method, but I’m lazy and it’s right here so you’ll have to beleive me when I say I’m not gonna cheat. Here goes. first the 5 D20 rolls…
Roll: 1d20=5
Roll: 1d20=10
Roll: 1d20=17
Roll: 1d20=11
Roll: 1d20=4
Not exactly wonderful, but…This is the Roll for Wolan
Roll: 1d20=10
Yes, I would like to use my Hero point now and add a 8 to this next Wolfsbane Effect roll (Dinald is nothing if not heroic!!)
Roll: 1d208=16 = 8[d20]+8……………..16 total
Oooo Kay…Well Dinald can live with being a werewolf. I’ve meet some really drunk chicks at bars that would go for hairy backed guys so Dinald is cool with it.
As for the future, Tim and I are thinking of going rogue. The twins have always been facinated with gaining something of value for as little effort as possible and Reynald has a skill at working devices. Dinald has been toying around with bits of wire and files and what not. Plus a + 1d6 extra damage from Sneak Attack would be nice to bring to the party.
I’ll be here for next Sundays game! Yay !
Can we cross associate through the Genre/rules system/GM lines that divide our games? All I’m saying is that Dinalds new furriness might appeal to Will and Stian, with their obsession over Grims back hair… ;)
Ok Koya cast Bears ENdurance and resistance giving +3 on Dinalds roll, I think giving +7 on Fortitude roll:
1. 5 + 7 = 12 Argh my guts are on fire! -1 CON reducing save to +6
2. 10 +6 = 16 Its eased of a bit
3. 17 +6 = 23 Is it over yet?
4. 11 +6 = 17 The cramps are easing off
5. 4 +6 = 10 Argghh (pisses his pants and vomits) -2 CON reducing save to +5
And for the biggie 8 + 8 +5 = 21. Is this enough to help Dinald beat the curse? Only the next Full moon will tell. You can take this or as a precaution do the same again (but no Hero Points left) for the next two nights.
A very weary and dishevald Dinald looks around to the group of warriors surrounding him as he briefly regains consciousness.
“Don’t tell Ailukka I pee’d meself…It would greive me so…” Then he passes out into a sweat soaked, fitful slumber.
A suggestion: take different ‘types’ of rogue (from the many archetypes in players handbook and advanced combat to add differentiation.
Updated loot page. Add the money to sheets or lose it.
Ragnar updated.
Ragnar looks sadly at Woln. “You all know me as a peaceable, funny fellow. Ve must not let zis poor man become a ravening monster. But, ve cannot just murder him. I suggest ve give him a head start and then ruthlessly hunt him down and slaughter him like ze dog he vill become, ja? Zat vay, ve give him a valorous death, and rid ze vorld of some chaos, no?”
Rasha nods approvingly at the Monks suggestion.
“Suits me. I can use the hunt to help train any of you who are interested in the basics of tracking bipeds. If he turns during the hunt, we can add a quadruped section to the lesson.”
Glancing at Woln, “Sorry, old chap, but your death will serve to help us practice our skills. It’s all good, you know?”
This will apply to Dinald also, who as far as you know is also in the same boat.
Rasha looks to Dinald.
“I know Koya has your back, so you’re fine with me.”
Pausing, nodding towards the Monk, then continuing to Dinald, “This one seemed possessed, er, obsessed though.”
Turning to the Monk, “Hey Ragnar? We hunting two, or just one?” delivered with a wink to Dinald.
Cash=Updated. I’ll take a look at thee rogue options tonight.
Cash? Cash? Dammit, we have Cash!! Rasha isn’t broke anymore! C’mon guys, we’re goin’ out for drinks! Ungo’s treat…
The next question is Rasha happy with his rolls, or does he want to undergo the same ordeal for the next two days?
not Rasha, Dinald
“Vell, I see your point,” says Ragnar in response to Rasha’s very sensible question. “However, Dinald is our friend, so ve must give him an extra five minute head start.”
It would have been a little nice if Ragnar and Rasha had their fate-sealing conversation somewhere else other then the healing wagon. Dinald irratatedly sits up from the crude bed then stands wobbily in front of them.
“No need for the planing, chaps. I’m feeling just fine.” Dinald says through clentched teeth.
“I could take the treatment again, but I think I won’t waste time. I will be hale and hearty by a fort-night and ready to continue on the journey. Yeeees, this ol’ body of mine has fought off fiercer body ailments like the ones I had contracted in the bath-houses of Magnamar!”
With that Dinald stiff legedly shambles out of the wagon and into the bright of day, a little wail of pain barley escapes his tightly held lips as he walks away.
Watching Dinald hobble away, Rasha nudges Ragnar in the ribs and says, “Maybe an extra ten minutes would be more fair?”
I’ve mixed the timing up on some of this so moved it to the next days olg.