Yoshi's notes

Date

3/31/2005

17th year of the reign of King Kevin.

Thirtieth day of "July". Afternoon.

Weather: hazy and muggy.

Characters

Carric Dendreu - Male Aasimar Druid 2 (with eagle Tan-kurun)

Caelesti - Female Feytouched Rogue 1/Sorceress 1

Lady Lyonessey "Nessey" Lavena Rowana - Female Aasimar Aristocrat 1/Swashbuckler 1

Yoshi - Male Human Monk 3

Log

Carric takes Caelesti aside. "You're going to try to charm him; find out why he wanted to know when we came to town; who his sister is; information about Nessey's double; what he knows about the attempted kidnapping."

Caelesti and Blaine walk up to the front door. The rest of us hang back. Blaine knocks. Corum answers. He looks out, and says, "Come on in!" Caelesti casts her spell. Corum's eyes narrow, and he reaches into his pouch and pulls out a wand. "You just attacked me. I don't take well to that. You will leave my property now. If you cast charm person at me one more time, I will not be so kind. Leave my property." He closes the door.

Caelesti and Blaine come back. Blaine says, "You attacked him? That's illegal in this town!"

"I'm sure he was referring to my charms."

Carric says, "Why don't the three of you wait here. I'll go back with Blaine to check out of the inn, while the three of you watch Corum's movements."

Blaine says, "Miss Caelesti, Miss Nessey, do you want Carric to pack up your room for you?"

Nessey says, "I don't see why we should check out today!"

Carric says, "We need to watch Corum's movements."

Yoshi says, "Don't forget we still suspect Corum of being involved in your attempted kidnapping."

Nessey agrees, and Carric and Blaine depart. Nessey offers to help Carric, but he declines.

The three back off away from the house but keep it in eyeshot.

Meanwhile Carric and Blaine go back to the inn. They chat some. Carric packs up - doing a bad job folding the women's clothing - and returns in about an hour.

While he was away, we see the cellar door open, and a tall man - about 5'10", green clothing, soft boots - in a floppy hat steps out carrying a couple saddlebags and loads up the mule. He goes back into the cellar. He comes back out, carrying a big bundle, draping it over the mule, and ties it on. He starts walking down the path, heading down the road towards town. He notices us, but keeps on going. As he passes, Caelesti says, "You left the door open!" He doesn't respond.

We follow at 40 or 60 feet.

He passes through the center of town and gets to the west end of town.

The road ceases to be a road, and becomes a path. Eventually he stops and turns around. Yoshi waves. He comes towards us.

Caelesti, "We were wondering what you knew about Corum."

"What business is that of yours?"

"Well, he was spying on us."

"What does that have to do with me?"

"Well, we just want you to answer a few questions!"

"Hrmph. If I answer your questions, will you leave me alone?" He looks straight at Yoshi.

"Perhaps," says Yoshi, petulantly.

Caelesti casts her last charm.

"How can I help you, young lady?"

"Well, I'd like to know how long you've known Corum?"

"I'm one of his business associates. He buys stuff, I buy stuff. Sometimes I buy stuff from him."

"Have you heard him mention the name Nessey? Rowena?"

"That sounds like someone from Rowansmeade. I operate up north."

"Have you heard him mention his sister?"

"Sister? He's got a wife, but certainly no sister."

"How long have you known her?"

"She's been there on occasion."

Yoshi says, "Caelesti, perhaps we can see what he bought from Corum. We may want to buy it."

Caelesti asks about the bundle.

"That's just a bundle of rugs. I bought them on commission."

Yoshi says, "Well, could we see them, so we know what is the quality of goods you offer?"

"No! I have a buyer! How do I know you are not trying to steal from me?"

"Can you let me go? I want to meet my buyer before sundown, and frankly my business dealings are not your business dealings."

"How about if we go with you for a ways?"

"You have no social graces! You are intruding!"

"I've heard that before!"

Meanwhile, Carric returns to the house. He sees an open cellar but no Corum and no companions. He tracks us.

"We would really like to see your goods!"

Caelesti wanders over towards his mule.

The man hustles over and says, "You are being a little nosy!"

"I get that way sometimes!"

He clutches his staff. "If you take one more step towards my mule, your will have gone too far."

Nessey says, "Yoshi! Why are we doing this! I thought we weren't supposed to do this without good reason. Isn't this like Old Nell?"

Yoshi says, "No!"

He keeps imploring Caelesti to leave him be.

Yoshi starts to walk slowly towards the mule.

Yoshi: 19; Caelesti: 5; Nessey: 15.

Round 1: Yoshi walks by. "Hey! Hey!" Nessey follows Yoshi. The man steps 5' and sends a ray to hit Yoshi for 8 points of fire damage.

Yoshi says, "Ouch," turns around, and attempts to punch the man. He misses. Caelesti moves to flank the merchant and misses him with her fist. Nessey falls to the ground and lets out a scream. She says, "Watch out! There's another spellcaster around!" We think she's gone unconscious. The man takes a 5'-step, and casts his ray against Caelesti for 11 points, dropping her.

"Do you surrender?"

Yoshi says, "Very well."

"You gather your companions and get out of here. Wake up your companion and drag her away."

Yoshi complies. We pick up Caelesti and depart at ½ speed. When we are out of sight, the man continues on his way. We stop, and wait for Carric. He shows up 1 hour and 20 minutes later.

Carric cures Caelesti for 10 points. "Oh, thank you. Aw, I got scorch marks on my outfit!"

Nessey says, "Oh, I don't feel well. Can we go back to the inn?"

Carric wonders why we followed this man, instead of Corum. Maybe it was a diversion, he wonders.

Yoshi notes that there is nothing west of town. It is the great river.

We track the mule for a couple hours. Up in front of us we see the river up ahead. We see a mule standing next to the river. There is a man next to the mule. We see a boat crossing the river. The man comes back along the path; we move off it. The mule being led by the guy sort-of wanders on by. He notices us but continues walking.

After he passes, we go to the riverbank. At the far side of the river, Carric notes a boat coming to a landing and people getting out.

"It's probably what he said," says Carric. "He was selling his rugs. It was probably some sort of contraband."

Yoshi notes that, if Corum is a kidnapper, there could easily have been a victim rolled up in the carpet.

We discuss whether we should camp, and how to get a boat. There is a tower here, and we decide to camp there.

Nessey encourages us to sneak into Corum's house. Yoshi doesn't think that that's okay since we have only operated in the open, not attempting to infiltrate a private home.

We check out the tower. Like the other, it has stairs to the cellar.

While on watch, Nessey says to Caelesti, "Why don't we go off by ourselves and work on that lizard dance." The night passes uneventfully.

[August 1st] "I think we should go back to Corum's house and search for contraband. Then we'll have enough evidence to go to the constable!"

We experiment with the feather token we got. We put it next to the river, and it turns into a carrier pidgeon. After a brief discussion, we decide to write a note to Father Cathal.

"To Father Cathal: We have found Corum Trimble. We heard a reliable report that a man fitting his description was in the company of a woman who was a perfect double to Lady Lyonessey. He appears to be a respected merchant. He has acted suspiciously; he knew we were coming, and a man took away a rolled-up carpet from his house that was large enough to hide a body in. We tried to confront him, but he overcame us with spells that shot rays of fire. He apparently sold the carpet to a group that crossed the Rowan river. We do not know how to proceed. Please help."

While composing the note, Nessey starts to wander down the path. Carric says, "Wait! We really need to stick together!"

We decide to wait until noon so Carric can re-learn his spells. He will learn two speak with animals spells so that he can send Tan-kurun across the river to search for a person who is tied up or in a cage.

This accomplished, Tan-kuran flies across the river and flies around and around, and eventually comes back.

[Tan-kuran reports, but Yoshi didn't note what she said.]

Carric says, "Why don't we go back to Ginessa on our way back to town." We agree.

Ginessa invites us in. Carric relates our suspicions about Corum, and ask about the ray spell. "Ah, a scorching ray spell."

We talk a bit more, and go back to town. We find another inn where we stable Toto.

We go back to Corum's house. It looks still silent; the cellar door is still open.

Yoshi and Caelesti go to the door and listen. Hearing nothing, we go in. There is a door opposite. Yoshi motions to Carric and Nessey, who come, and mostly closes the door again.

Yoshi and Caelesti go to the door opposite. Caelesti opens the door, trying to be quiet. We both hear, in our minds, "So, what have you brought me?" Caelesti thinks, "Something really good. A surprise!" "Oh, you're new here."

Yoshi feels his liver tingle. Yoshi calls out, "I feel something has attacked me with a spell. Something spoke to me in my mind. Come!"

Yoshi: 9; Caelesti: 7; Nessey: 8; Carric: 20.

Round 2: Carric draws his scimitar and moves to look into the room. In the room are benches with glassware and alcohol lamps; perhaps a lab. There are barrels and crates. We see no creature. Yoshi steps in. It's a lab. Nessey draws her rapier and steps in, next to Yoshi. Nessey notes a jar with something moving in it. "Oooh, look at that jar over there! It has something really creepy in it!" Suddenly, Nessey is hurled off her feet into Yoshi. She misses, slams into the wall, and takes two points of damage. Caelesti draws her dagger and enters the room. Yoshi points and says, "That jar, there."

Round 3: Carric comes in to the room and looks around. Yoshi says, "That jar, there!" Carric finds the notion of a jar casting spells a bit odd and looks around the room. In the jar is a gray shriveled thing, like a brain, swimming about. Yoshi draws a shuriken and drops it. Nessey stands up, and picks up her rapier. The jar floats off the shelf. Carric becomes dominated. Caelesti tries to sleep it.

Round 4: Carric strikes at Yoshi and misses. Yoshi fires another shuriken, missing. Nessey drops her rapier, draws her bow, and fires. She hits for 6 points. Yoshi feels his liver quiver. Caelesti throws a dagger hitting for 3 points.

Round 5. Carric strikes at Yoshi again, making a critical hit for 12 points. Yoshi hits the jar for 3 points. Nessey fires another arrow, hitting well for 1 point. Yoshi takes 16 points of mental damage and becomes disabled. Caelesti throws another dagger, missing.

Round 6. Carric attacks Yoshi and hits; he is now dying. Nessey fires another arrow with a critical hit for 8 points. The jar bursts, the brain within falls to the floor, and Carric recovers his mind. Caelesti ensures the brain is dead.

Round 7: Carric cures Yoshi for 6 points. Carric gives Yoshi 7 goodberries. He then cures Yoshi for 8 more points.

Nessey says, "So what do you make of this thing?"

"Well, it is clear," Yoshi says, "that Corum has an unsavory friend. The only question is, was the friend controlling him?"

We search the wall and find a concealed door. We listen at the door and hear nothing. Yoshi opens the door. We see a small shelf with a book sitting on it.

Carric says, "Well, maybe don't touch it. I'll cast detect magic." He detects no magic.

Yoshi enters the room and grabs the book.

Yoshi: 26; Caelesti: 6; Nessey: 11; Carric: 20.

Round 1: A skeletal snake with a fanged humanoid skull appears next to Yoshi, and sways in a mesmerizing manner.

Round 2: Yoshi srikes with a flurry of blows, missing twice. Carric draws his scimitar, enters the room, and becomes dazed. Nessey delays. The snake bits Carric for 7 points. Caelesti tumbles past Carric, but the snake gets an attack of opportunity anyway, and misses. Nessey comes forth and drags Carric out.

Round 3: Yoshi strikes for 4 points of damage. Carric, no longer dazed, takes out his wand and gives himself 8 points. The snake lunges at Yoshi and misses. Caelesti misses. Nessey steps in and attacks, hitting for 8 points.

Round 4: Yoshi attacks, missing twice. Carric delays. The snake attacks Yoshi, missing. Caelesti attacks, hitting for 2 points. Nessey becomes dazed. Carric drags her out; the snake misses its attack of opportunity.

Round 5: Yoshi hits for 3 points. The snake attacks and misses Yoshi. Caelesti misses. Nessey steps back in, and misses. Carric delays.

Round 6: Yoshi hits for 4 points. The snake attacks and misses Yoshi. Barely. Caelesti misses. Nessey misses. Carric continues to delay.

Round 7: Yoshi misses. The snake attacks and misses Yoshi. Caelesti misses. Nessey misses. Carric continues to delay.

Round 8: Yoshi misses. The snake attacks and bits Yoshi for 5 points. He shrugs off some sort of mind effect. Caelesti misses. Nessey attacks and hits for 5 points. Carric continues to delay.

Round 9: Yoshi hits for 7 points. The snake (a necrophidious) falls to pieces.

Yoshi examins the book. He cannot comprehend the script. He shows it to Carric and Caelesti. Carric thinks it might be a spellbook. Caelesti determines it is a spellbook with arcane spells.

As we come out the door to the front part of the basement, we see manacles on the wall. Carric finds a golden hair intertwined with one of the chains!

We take a walk through the house. We don't find anybody. The bed is neatly made. Two bedrooms look lived in.

We decide to go back to the inn, to gather information about Corum and the man with the mule. "Yeah, I saw him [the man with the mule]. He headed out of town to the south."

Carric tells Yoshi about the hair.