Session 4 - Downtime & Gingwatzim!
10th - 17th Day of Huren (Fall) 1611
Downtime
Josef’s Downtime (Pit fighting)
Opponent is a lean wiry female Tabax named Padraliegh. She is quite able to outmaneuver you, but her stamina is no match for Josef. It comes down to a battle of strength and you are narrowly victorious. In the end you win 100gp. There are no hard feelings - its just business as usual!
Korfel's Downtime (Performance)
Korfel performed at The Rusty Anchor (former Gorik's Gamble) - supposed to clean while performing. The crowd enjoyed the maracas and he got good tips. According to the owner (Jacque, Human male), Korfel did not clean well because he did it too fast. In truth he used magic to get it done, however he was labeled as "Lazy" - made 25gp and comfortable living.
Olivine's Downtime (Relax)
After the experience in the mansion, Olivine is shaken. He parts with the party for the week with Diamond the cat (obtained with Ranala's blessing from her extradimensional mansion). Olivine, usually crashes at his place. He does spend some time with his girlfriend Sophie Hamaday (Sophie recently has recovered from the influence of the Succubi incursion at the university).
Olivine also visits with Ranala. She is doing well, focused on researching and building protections from any retribution that may be coming from the thwarted Succubi incursion. The big mystery at the moment is where is Thogit and who is he working for?
Thurmond's downtime (Work)
Thurmond has picked up a few extra shifts at the library, mainly doing thankless research (earned 25 gp). Between research he was practicing "Blade singer stuff" in a locked room. He did get out once to see Korfel perform. Otherwise he largely Kept to himself.Lane downtime (Worship)
Lane met with The Traveler (the lead cleric at the open-air temple to Fharlanghan). Lane is searching for right direction to wander. He headed out of Lorcaster to the edge of a ridge, were you can straddle the day and night. On the second day he ascended the ridge and had a light lunch. Afterward he meditates and prays. While waiting he begins to feel the presence as the sunsets - he is divinely inspired by a vision of the old man who came to him at the start of his journey. Lane feels an overwhelming sense of being (he’s changed, now level 2). The sun sets and he camps for the evening, returning to city of Lorcaster the next day. He then seeks out his compatriots. Lane earned 2 Favors (spending an inspiration to do so).
Taraxacam's Downtime (Carousing)
Taraxacam attempts to hangout with the low class, however his lack of social graces does not win him any friends or contacts.
18th Day of Huren (Fall) 1611 - Bad Books
Thurgood is approached by Krendal Vibes (his supervisor), to see if he and his group of friends would be interested in dealing with a "dangerous book" (which has reportedly threatened a patron) and to determine its origin / purpose. The offer is:
The party accepted.
After accepting, more information is given. Cole Inum (Acolyte of Pelor) traded in a book of poetry about Pelor to gain access to the University. He was seeking a book on translating Ancient writing (a fairly common thing in 100 Worlds). While in a reading area a book titled Mazfroth's Digressions began to whisper to him "feed me". Cole then reported this to the Bookkeepers and the book was sequestered in a locked room in the Library.
The Bookkeepers then did some investigation and discovered they had multiple instances (not copies, but exact duplicates) of Mazfroth's Digressions, as well as a couple of other books that seemed to be exact duplicates. All known instances were destroyed when they animated books around them (PCs saw this "animation" first hand with a book in Ranala's Extradimensional mansion).
Further research caused the Bookkeepers to trace the recent "Instances" to Yaleron Highscroll (a spellcaster of some noteriety) and Valor (a Tiefling Paladin) - both have voluntarily offered to make monetary amends for the troublesome books.
With that information, the PCs go to see the sequestered "Instance" of Mazfroth's Digressions. From the locked iron door, the book just sits on a table, Krendal wishes them well and then leaves for a safer location. Once it gets quiet, Thurgood sits down to begin casting Detect Magic. In that time the book reaches out to everybody's mind saying "feed me!". This startles Thurgood and his ritual casting fails! However he eventually regains his composure with the aid of his companions and Detect Magic is cast... the book is magic and emits "Transmutive".
Korfel begins to hurl magical insults at the book which seems to provoke it to begin to transform into a rat! The Iron door is unlocked using the key provided by Krendal Vibes. A battle ensues, and the book transforms again into a ectoplasmic ball of energy. Eventually the dangerous book is defeated and it is seemingly destroyed with no trace left behind except for a residual "creepy-ness that makes the hair on the back of assorted necks stand on end!).
Armed with the knowledge gained from the detect magic and the encounter, Thurgood sets about trying to find any history on what they just encountered. Meanwhile Lane goes to the temple of Fharlangan to make inquiries. When the party regroups, Thurgood has uncovered the most usefull bits of information:
The learned information is provided to Krendal Vibes. It is unfortunate the book was destroyed, however it was probably best. He will organize the Bookkeepers to begin sweeping the library for unexpected transmutation magic. At the suggestion of the PCs, book donations will be scrutinized in much greater detail. Krendal suggests the PCs next try to find out what they can from the places where the books were purchased. Thoinking, Krendal seems to recall the following from Yalerion and Valor:
The PCs set out that afternoon for Blue Portage. Since it is later in the day, they will need to camp at one of the ample spots on the Southern Loop. They move off the beaten patch away from other travelers and make a camp.
19th Day of Huren (Fall) 1611 - Early Morning distrubance
In the last watch (Lane's), three giant rats charge the camp of sleeping travelers. Mid battle a half-man, half-rat emerges from hiding firing his hand crossbows at the party. The giant rats are slain and the half-man, half-rat is captured after he fails to flee.
The half-man, half-rat explains he is afflicted by lycanthropy and each month he loses his mind as the full moon approaches! He says he's been affected for over two years and lacks the funds to be cured. The PCs take one look at his well kept armor, expensive hand-crossbows and highly doubt his story. The thing is bound up with plans to turn it over to the authorities in Blue Portage.
The long rest is interrupted, but the PCs can take a short rest and some do, spending HD for recovery.
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