Session 219 - A Sticky Situation

General Summary

15^th to 25^th Azura (First month of Autumn) 724TR

The story so far

While resting in the City of Aleath, the heroes have been tasked by Prince Anaflas Milaka to investigate a spy ring. They have discovered that a sergeant of the Town Guard, Hari Calmain, is a agent for a rival state and has an spy in the household of the King's likely bride.

This is the continuation of Session 218 - Princes, Priests, and Spies.

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Location -City of Aleath in the Kingdom of Kanday.

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Part 1 - A Sergeant of the Town Guard

The characters arrive at Hari Calmain's residence. Hari is a drug-addicted spy working for the Thardic Republic. Odin, using Disguise Self, appearing as Hari's drug dealer and espionage contact, knocks on the door. Appearing wounded, he staggers to a chamber to find an old man, Hari's uncle. The uncle is shocked to see who he believes is the dealer and angrily states that they should only meet at a local tavern, not at his house.

Hari Calain, art by Artbreeder

The conversation is interrupted as Hari Calmain careens into the room. He is pale, the right side of his face is twitching, eyes dilated, and he has a white-knuckled grip on his sword. The party can't miss his mouth and tongue are stained black as he speaks. He's been using the dangerous narcotic, the Potion of Right.

The drug-induced paranoia makes him very hard to fool and he senses something amiss. After a brief conversation, he draws his sword, and the party pounces. Despite his condition, he proves to be a very tough fighter. One on one, he could easily beat any of the heroes, but he is surrounded and subdued. His uncle is much easier to deal with; a quick tap on the head knocks the old man out.

Prince Analfas, art by Artbreeder

The two men are tied up and interrogated. Maybe the effects of the drugs have worn off, and Hari has entered a depressive state, or there are some last vestiges of a conscious, he tells all. Hari was duped into taking the Potion of Right and soon became addicted and manipulated. He was asked to get his mother, the household cook of Lady Dorthea Cassen, daughter of the Earl of Heroth, to provide intelligence. The intention was to use his mother as a spy in the probable event Lady Dorthea marries the King. Hari is insistent that his mother knew nothing of this plot. Some paperwork hidden under the bed seems to corroborate his story.

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The party reports back to Prince Analfas. He appreciates the heroes helping uncover the espionage attempt and will consult with the King directly about what to do about Hari Calmain and his conspirators. It is expected Hari and his uncle's fates are sealed, but his mother, as an innocent dupe, is likely to be sent home to Heroth. After pleasantries, the heroes are rewarded for their efforts.

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Location -Sarkum Road in Kingdom of Kanday.

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Part 2 - An Old Friend

Apricoris, art by Artbreeder

The party leave the city and head back to the Earldom of Sarkum. Suddenly appearing out from behind the trees, a beautiful young woman emerges. The characters immediately recognize her, Apricoris, the Dryad. When they last encountered the Dryad, she was suffering grievous injures due to a spiteful noble attempting to burn down her tree (Session 200 - A Burning Woman). They saved her life but made an enemy of the knight.

Apricoris promised to reward the heroes but has little to offer, except maybe her companionship for a year and a day. Tempted, none of the travelers are willing to take her up on her proposal. Instead, she tells them she gave a trinket of some value to a former paramour some years ago, Sir Dylan Mezena. Sir Dylan was feuding with another knight Sir Archi Peldy, "A Pointless argument over a herd of sheep," she says scornfully. The knights decided to fight it out near Lake Alata 20 years ago; however, both men were never seen again. Apricoris believes they are dead. Maybe the heroes can find this trinket, an enchanted wooden fox brooch. She gives the party a lock of hair from Sir Dylan, "Just throw it to the wind, and it will lead you to his remains if nearby."

The characters head towards Lake Alata, located a few miles west of Castle Findumon.

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Location - Lake Alata in Kingdom of Kanday.

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Part 3 - A Sticky Situation

At Lake Alata, the path is easy to follow, the characters drop some of the hair, and a bird swoops in picks it up, and flies away from a small gully half a mile away. This gully has a distinct aromatic smell, and behind a rock, they find a skeleton with rusted armor and weapons. Is he one of the missing Knights? The party cannot make out any identification.

Close by is a small cave, the source of the smell, and around it is the residue of black tacky material. Cautiously the characters make their way inside. It is filled with sticky tar. Moving across it is difficult, and bones are scattered throughout. They see a partially preserved corpse in armor. This could be the knight they are looking for, unfortunately, the tar bubbles and moves. Sticky pseudopods strike at the heroes. Remy curses having forgotten to memorize fireball (and the DM curses as well, he was looking forward to a cave being filled with molten flaming pitch). The heroes eventually destroy the Tar Ooze.

As the ooze is reduced to a smelly quivering mass, the keen-eyed characters spot ancient runes cave on the back wall. These are suspicious octagonal patterns. Remy investigates and accidentally touches one. It flares to life, and with a burst of flame, a Fire Elemental is conjured. The characters retreat immediately, gabbing the corpse as they exit. The heated tar grows sticky in the heat, but the characters make it outside and face the elemental, eventually extinguishing it.

On the body, they find the Wooden Fox Brooch. The characters then make their way to the nearest village and provide the bodies to the local clergy for identification and return to their next of kin. They then continue their travels to the Earldom of Sarkum.

To be continued.

NPC Interactions

Prince Anaflas Milaka - Brother of the King.

Apricoris - the Dryad.

Challenges Overcome

Captured 2 x Spies one being a Champion Fighter.

Destroyed 2 x Tar Ooze and 1 x Fire Elemental.

Rewards

6 x Potions of Heroism.

Wooden Fox Brooch

Created Content

Wooden Fox Brooch.

Related Reports

Kingdom of Kanday.

Stimulants.

Player Character Status

Odin - Human - Level 5 Gloom Stalker and Level 3 Battlemaster.

Abaddon - Elf - Level 8 Open-hand Monk.

Remy - Half-Elf - Level 8 Bladesinger.

Campaign

Games of the Gods

Protagonists

Remy

Abaddon

Odin

Report Date

06 Mar 2022

Potion of Right

These thumb-sized black lozenges are produced from fanosel berries (a.k.a. Choke Berry). Once taken, it produces euphoria and delusions of grandeur which last several hours. It also reduces inhibitions. Afterwards, the user becomes depressed and irritable. It is highly addictive.
Benefits
The use makes Strength, Dexterity, Constitution, and Wisdom checks with a +d8 bonus. Melee attacks are made with a +d4 bonus, although AC is reduced by 1.
Duration
Onset is within 2d6+3 minutes and duration d6 +1 hrs.
After effects
The user gains 1 level of Exhaustion and must make a Wisdom saving throw DC 5 or suffer a permanent psychological effect.
Availability
Possession of fanosel berries or these lozenges is illegal in Kaldor, Melderyn, Chybisa, and Kanday. Punishment is typically a week in the stocks or forced labor or military service. Very few apothecaries have the knowledge to make them, and possession of a written recipe is often considered evidence of the worship of the evil god of assassins Naveh.
Shelf Life
At least 5 years.
Dosage
One lozenge dissolved in the mouth or in a glass of warm liquid. The lozenge will stain the mouth and tongue black.
Cost
Proscribed - 10sp
Weight:
1/4 oz