Post by Fernleaf on Oct 12, 2024 21:32:02 GMT
I decided to go to the market today, after the experience in the feywild I wanted some sunflower seeds to snack on, and thought that pursuing the crafts might help me decide what to learn next. I spotted Erron next to a tall girl shortly before he waved me over. I joined them, as much to escape the hordes of merchants hawking their wares as because he beckoned. The girl introduces herself as Lucy, she’s a servant to a lady that lives outside town and her black cat Tinta snuck into her basket and then fled in the market. She wants our help to look for the feline.
Lucy has some trouble remembering basic things, and can’t give a firm answer about when she last saw Tinta. I use minor illusion to show her a black cat and she agrees that it looks similar, but doesn’t recall any distinguishing features. We have been joined by Zasper, who seems skeptical about it being a real cat and suggests she should ask for a refund. Dee’arna has also joined us after hearing Zasper’s querulous tones. We decide to split up and search.
—
My method of searching is to see if there has been any magic involved in the cats disappearance, or if the cat itself is magical. After ritually casting Detect Magic I follow hints of magic and come to a small crowd surrounding a goblin who is doing a spiel about his “Prestio'Papas” which are rocks he claims can clean anything for “just 5 gold 9 silver”. I am skeptical, never having heard of such a thing and not trusting thescam artist merchant not to be casting Prestidigitation (or having an associate do so) during the demonstration. I do sense transmutation magic, so know there is magic in use. Sleeze Mckueeze does not take kindly to my questions about missing cats (his wife made him cat pie near New Hillborrow) or the source of the rocks (he doesn’t answer, but I suspect they are from near his house). He gives me a rock and asks me to demonstrate. I do not wish to be part of his spectacle, but after getting nothing further from my interrogation I agreed that I would demonstrate the cleaning if he were to go 20’ away (which would at least rule him out as a caster). I used Prestidigitation myself to soil his basket for a more obvious demonstration and then ran the rock over the area. To my surprise (and Mckueeze’s) it worked, making the goblin suddenly very popular as people bought his rocks. He lost interest in me immediately, so I left. I felt guilty about being a party to what I’m sure is a scam, and tucked the rock the goblin had given me into my bandolier to examine more closely later.
—
We gather up again with Lucy, not having found a lot of information. Erron learning that the Haregon he met had heard animal screams near the Hung Rabbit seemed to be the best clue, so we decide to go there to investigate further. The barkeep at the establishment hasn’t seen a cat, and the cook suggests that if they had it would have been added to the stew. It seems cats are seen as a menu item. After some more questioning Lucy tells us that she works for Lady Verity, a name which Ronkk recalls is an exclusive fashion designer. A patron at the bar overhears us asking about a cat, and after being provided a drink tells us they saw hobgoblin and goblin with a cat and cart. With some magical Suggestion from Dee’arna he gives us detailed directions, even pointing it out on a map that she draws.
We find the warehouse easily enough, but need to know what is inside. I’ve had Otus for awhile, but have never used them on an adventure. Summoned, I send my familar forth for their first scouting mission. Once they find a way in and are settled I look through their eyes, better adapted for the dim light than my own. Inside the warehouse there are several metal cages. I’m glad I read a book at Kora’s about magical creatures, it helps me identify what has been captured. One cage has something orange and scuttling that looks like a giant fire beetle, the second what looks like a hyena which is whimpering, and a third cage with a black displacement beast kitten (is this the “cat” Lucy lost?) that has two figures standing over the creature. In the back there is an even larger cage that has a scuttling creature sparking with electricity. One figure asks about feeding a creature from the smaller cage to the bear, and is told it would damage the merchandise.
I recall Otus and slip back into my own eyeballs, a process which makes me a bit unsteady on my feet. Erron goes up on the roof to investigate, Ronnk goes around back. Peering inside the warehouse he can see a large hobgoblin holding a young tabaxi, he notifies Dee’arna with Sending and she shares this development with the rest of us. Zasper goes to the door, knocks and blows his Horn of Valor. Zasper claims to have an appointment with the Boss. He is let inside, telling the hobgoblin to leave the door open. The individual acquiesces, but stands in the middle of the opening. I cast Invisibility on Dee’arna and myself, and just barely manage to slip in the door. I start making my way across the room to the child.
The goblin has set down the tabaxi youngling and Erron has managed to manacle his hands. Zasper is talking to the orc “Boss” as they look at a large many legged beast shooting forth lightning. Dee’arna, while invisible, casts Snare which soon hoists the Hobgoblin upside down into the air. The orc grabs Zasper’s shoulder and the elf winces at the pain. Ronnk’s spell fails to force him to let go, as does Zasper’s own Suggestion. Lucy races in and breaks the cage holding the kitten with ease, scooping it up. She is no longer wearing gloves that concealed her clawed hands. I pick up the child, dropping my invisibility to avoid frightening them further. Dee’arna uses Command to get the Orc to let Zasper go and we quickly leave the warehouse. As we do so Ronnk summons a draconic spirit and tells it to free the animals.
—
We meet two soldiers as we walk back towards the walls of Daring Heights. They ask us if we know anything about the loud commotion that is coming from the warehouse we just left. We tell them no, and they do not question us further despite our odd group. I now know the largest creature to have been a Behir, not a bear. Zasper says he tried to question it in draconic but it wasn’t forthcoming. When we return to the Dawn Market Zasper demands a reward from Lucy. Lucy’s companion Todd arrives in a cart, the halfling is exasperated and flustered with the attention Lucy and the kitten are getting. The tabaxi’s father arrives, and I eagerly hand Crescent back to their dad. I am not skilled with children! Nakia gives us each gold for rescuing his child, and Todd gives us a pair of shoes from his Lady and two of the Prestio'Papas the goblin I argued with earlier was selling. The others let me take one, I will study both the stones later to try to determine how the magic works.
The rest of our party disperse, but Dee’arna and I stay to talk with Lucy and Todd. The kitten is calm in Lucy’s arms, licking her face. Todd is very anxious about the questions Dee’arna is asking, and more so when Lucy helpfully tells us she is a failed dragolth, expelled from the Angelbark, nursed back to health by a blood hag which affected her memory a bit, and then taken in by Lady Verity. The explanation is interesting, but I’m focused on Tinta, not having seen many magical creatures. I ask after the kitten's habits and how long she’s had it, and am allowed to hold the small beast. The kitten stirs to wrap its tentacles around my back, then dozes back off to sleep in my arms. It’s rather like a hug, a nice feeling. After some more discussion we bid farewell to Todd and Lucy. I hope I will see Tinta again, but suspect they will be bigger then, so I hope they remain friendly!
DM: Michael
Participants: Dee’arna, Erron, Ronkk, Zasper
Lucy has some trouble remembering basic things, and can’t give a firm answer about when she last saw Tinta. I use minor illusion to show her a black cat and she agrees that it looks similar, but doesn’t recall any distinguishing features. We have been joined by Zasper, who seems skeptical about it being a real cat and suggests she should ask for a refund. Dee’arna has also joined us after hearing Zasper’s querulous tones. We decide to split up and search.
—
My method of searching is to see if there has been any magic involved in the cats disappearance, or if the cat itself is magical. After ritually casting Detect Magic I follow hints of magic and come to a small crowd surrounding a goblin who is doing a spiel about his “Prestio'Papas” which are rocks he claims can clean anything for “just 5 gold 9 silver”. I am skeptical, never having heard of such a thing and not trusting the
—
We gather up again with Lucy, not having found a lot of information. Erron learning that the Haregon he met had heard animal screams near the Hung Rabbit seemed to be the best clue, so we decide to go there to investigate further. The barkeep at the establishment hasn’t seen a cat, and the cook suggests that if they had it would have been added to the stew. It seems cats are seen as a menu item. After some more questioning Lucy tells us that she works for Lady Verity, a name which Ronkk recalls is an exclusive fashion designer. A patron at the bar overhears us asking about a cat, and after being provided a drink tells us they saw hobgoblin and goblin with a cat and cart. With some magical Suggestion from Dee’arna he gives us detailed directions, even pointing it out on a map that she draws.
We find the warehouse easily enough, but need to know what is inside. I’ve had Otus for awhile, but have never used them on an adventure. Summoned, I send my familar forth for their first scouting mission. Once they find a way in and are settled I look through their eyes, better adapted for the dim light than my own. Inside the warehouse there are several metal cages. I’m glad I read a book at Kora’s about magical creatures, it helps me identify what has been captured. One cage has something orange and scuttling that looks like a giant fire beetle, the second what looks like a hyena which is whimpering, and a third cage with a black displacement beast kitten (is this the “cat” Lucy lost?) that has two figures standing over the creature. In the back there is an even larger cage that has a scuttling creature sparking with electricity. One figure asks about feeding a creature from the smaller cage to the bear, and is told it would damage the merchandise.
I recall Otus and slip back into my own eyeballs, a process which makes me a bit unsteady on my feet. Erron goes up on the roof to investigate, Ronnk goes around back. Peering inside the warehouse he can see a large hobgoblin holding a young tabaxi, he notifies Dee’arna with Sending and she shares this development with the rest of us. Zasper goes to the door, knocks and blows his Horn of Valor. Zasper claims to have an appointment with the Boss. He is let inside, telling the hobgoblin to leave the door open. The individual acquiesces, but stands in the middle of the opening. I cast Invisibility on Dee’arna and myself, and just barely manage to slip in the door. I start making my way across the room to the child.
The goblin has set down the tabaxi youngling and Erron has managed to manacle his hands. Zasper is talking to the orc “Boss” as they look at a large many legged beast shooting forth lightning. Dee’arna, while invisible, casts Snare which soon hoists the Hobgoblin upside down into the air. The orc grabs Zasper’s shoulder and the elf winces at the pain. Ronnk’s spell fails to force him to let go, as does Zasper’s own Suggestion. Lucy races in and breaks the cage holding the kitten with ease, scooping it up. She is no longer wearing gloves that concealed her clawed hands. I pick up the child, dropping my invisibility to avoid frightening them further. Dee’arna uses Command to get the Orc to let Zasper go and we quickly leave the warehouse. As we do so Ronnk summons a draconic spirit and tells it to free the animals.
—
We meet two soldiers as we walk back towards the walls of Daring Heights. They ask us if we know anything about the loud commotion that is coming from the warehouse we just left. We tell them no, and they do not question us further despite our odd group. I now know the largest creature to have been a Behir, not a bear. Zasper says he tried to question it in draconic but it wasn’t forthcoming. When we return to the Dawn Market Zasper demands a reward from Lucy. Lucy’s companion Todd arrives in a cart, the halfling is exasperated and flustered with the attention Lucy and the kitten are getting. The tabaxi’s father arrives, and I eagerly hand Crescent back to their dad. I am not skilled with children! Nakia gives us each gold for rescuing his child, and Todd gives us a pair of shoes from his Lady and two of the Prestio'Papas the goblin I argued with earlier was selling. The others let me take one, I will study both the stones later to try to determine how the magic works.
The rest of our party disperse, but Dee’arna and I stay to talk with Lucy and Todd. The kitten is calm in Lucy’s arms, licking her face. Todd is very anxious about the questions Dee’arna is asking, and more so when Lucy helpfully tells us she is a failed dragolth, expelled from the Angelbark, nursed back to health by a blood hag which affected her memory a bit, and then taken in by Lady Verity. The explanation is interesting, but I’m focused on Tinta, not having seen many magical creatures. I ask after the kitten's habits and how long she’s had it, and am allowed to hold the small beast. The kitten stirs to wrap its tentacles around my back, then dozes back off to sleep in my arms. It’s rather like a hug, a nice feeling. After some more discussion we bid farewell to Todd and Lucy. I hope I will see Tinta again, but suspect they will be bigger then, so I hope they remain friendly!
DM: Michael
Participants: Dee’arna, Erron, Ronkk, Zasper
