Planning- DM Steve K Monday November 27th, 2023 2:15:43 PM
Ramirez and Nira are easily able to find the older half-elf among the celebrants at the OddHolme party, but she is unable to help. "The Witch and her Hut arrived in the early morning, and she didn't encourage questions. No one knows anything about her other than to not speak or look at her or her Hut."
With no other options, Ramirez and Nira join the others going into the not-so-Dancing Hut.
......
Hmerrin tries to enter the Hut, but cannot: he has a Dimensional Anchor! But because the spell is dismissable, a quick effort by Nira solves that problem...
When the heroes enter the Hut, all active spells vanish: Nira sees that the inside of the Hut is another plane. The heroes also immediately realize the place is much bigger on the inside than the outside! A worn crimson carpet with geometric designs covers a 50x50 foot room that smells of cinnamon, with bric-a-brac and stuff hanging on- or piled against- the walls all over the place.
Desdichado sees among the stuff a door that looks very much like the door to Tide House...
Yrul is able to find all of Yolpova’s other gear and treasure off to one side, and comes to 82,000gp for each PC! Included in the loot are some notes Witchypoo was taking, the top sheet reads: 'when I got into the Hut, I was able to find instructions that told me I had 2 hours from defeating the Hut to controlling it, or it would disappear. Once I found all the ingredients, the instructions also disappeared!'
There are eight doors leading out: one in each wall and one at each corner of the room.
………….. COUNTDOWN CHANGE: 1hr 35min (Clock to zero means the Hut spits the heroes out and vanishes) …………… Fatigued: no run, no charge, -2 STR and DEX (doesn't stack with exhausted) Exhausted: no run, no charge, -6 STR and DEX Leprosy: Danko -2CHR; Frequency 1/week, Save FortDC 12 negates, FortDC 20 to avoid effects, Effect 1d2 Cha damage; Cure 2 consecutive saves
Yrul set to work. The door clockwise upon entering was the subject of her first investigation. Was it trapped?
(Perception: 27.+3 for Trapfinding: 30)
If they were going to open the doors, it seemed prudent to ascertain if they wwee locked and trapped.
RobC - Nira Wynvyre -- AC 20/15/16 -- CMD 24 -- HP 117/138 -- DarkVision/ArcaneSight/SeeInvis d8=3 ; Monday November 27th, 2023 5:58:14 PM
Nira is really unhappy to lose her defenses, but no time to sulk now. Best she can do is work out the extent of the situation.
She casts a Read Magic cantrip to see what happens, and then a Cure Light Wounds spell on Yrul
-------------- Highlight to display spoiler: {Is the area treated as being a Dispel Magic or Mage's Disjunction? Trying to work out what happens to the Permanent Spells, as they can only dispelled by something with a CL21}
Cast Read Magic. Duration: 140mins Cast CLW. Duration: Instantaneous. Yrul might be healed for 8pts
Hmerrin (MikeK)(HP 204/217 AC:33 T:20 FF:28 CMD:42) d20+22=34 ; Monday November 27th, 2023 7:31:12 PM
"She found instructions that told her what ingredients to find...great," Hmerrin muses. "Now we just have to figure out if the instructions are in all this junk and the ingredients are behind the doors, or vice versa."
Seems prudent to check doors for traps.
So, while Yrul is doing that, Hmerrin will rummage through bric a brac, looking for something that looks like instructions. [Perception 34]
Desdichado (Ryan) [HP:193/211; AC:29/15/27 - CMD 36] d20+22=36 ; Monday November 27th, 2023 7:51:40 PM
Desdichado walks over to the door that looks like Tide House and opens it to see what's on the other side, but doesn't step through.
(Perception: 36)
Gaffer - Courtney - HP: 47/164 AC: 32(T:18/FF:27) CMD:36) Tuesday November 28th, 2023 4:46:33 AM
Gaffer does not feel great about the many doors laid out before him, but Yrul seems comfortable checking them over and that's definitely a positive.
He waits beside the door they entered through and casts a new Barkskin on himself, and a Longstrider if there's time.
Danko Pureheart (Yves) -- AC 29 (35, 37 in dragon form, 38 hasted, 40 vs evil, ) -- CMD 36 -- HP 97/132 d20+13=31 ; Tuesday November 28th, 2023 6:29:19 AM
" Ah... a mystery..... " As of it's own volation, his nose twitches ...
Danko reviews the notes as well (Knowledge Arcana 31) for clues before stepping to a door. Looks like we'll be opening all the doors before doing anything else?
" Hey, can anyone else me with this leprosy ? "
------------------
Ramirez (BrianZ) AC32/20/25 HP 148/150 CMD32 d20+17=22 ; Tuesday November 28th, 2023 7:54:48 AM The village has no information that can help us here.
So, if the witch found these instructions, hopefully we can too.
Ramirez pitches in and helps search the main room for the instructions. perception = 22 Active Effects: fatigue
Searching - DM Steve K - " Ah... a mystery..... " Tuesday November 28th, 2023 9:20:19 AM
Yrûl sets to work, checking the interior doors for locks and/or traps. She starts on the first door clockwise from where they came in. Unlocked and Untrapped… as far as she knows. (ooc: Go ahead and roll for the other 7 doors)
Nira is really unhappy to lose her defenses, but tests how magic works here. Her Read Magic cantrip works fine, so does the Cure Light Wounds. Further, her strong knowledge in other planes gives her the answer: the inside of the Hut is a demiplane, but must be so unattuned from the Wold Plane that no spell cast in the Wold functions inside the Hut. But magic cast in the Hut functions normally.
Hmerrin gets to the heart of the problem, and does his part rummaging through bric a brac, looking for something that looks like 'ritual instructions to control Baba Yaga's Hut'. In his first attempt, he finds a treatise written by an ‘Ellie Clayhanger’ on the proper way to train a dinosaur without losing fingers. Another try finds a set of instructions of manners by ‘Hugh Rhodes and John Russell’ which includes:
– “Blow not your nose on the napkin where you should wype your hands but clense it in your handkercher. Wyth your napkin you may oft wipe and make your mouth full cleene.” – “Fill not thy trenchour, I thee rid, with morsels great and large. Cram not thy mouth to full, ne yet thy stomack ouercharge.” – “But temper thou thy selfe with drinke so keepe thee from blame. Drunkenness hurteth thy honestye, and hyndreth thy good name.”
Desdichado walks over to the door that looks like Tide House. It’s just a door, no hinges or frame. There is more stuff behind it, all jumbled together: a painting of a woman in black in a rocking chair, a doll looking like Valdor Dragonsbane, a box of left-handed shoes…
Gaffer waits by the door they entered and casts a few spells on himself.
Danko realizes his leprosy is gone (ooc: courtesy of Nira post 23 Nov), but the ability damage effects are still there. (ooc: Danko still has -2 CHR) The dragonblood has his nose twitch, and reviews Witchypoo’s notes. He concludes that Yolpova said she needed three magical things to complete a ritual in order to control the Hut: a Key, a Ritual, and a set of Ingredients.
Ramirez also looks for the ritual instructions to control Baba Yaga's Hut, and finds "The Complete Scroll on Origami" by Robert J. Lang
…….…… COUNTDOWN CHANGE: 1hr 34min (Clock to zero means the Hut spits the heroes out and vanishes) …………… Fatigued: no run, no charge, -2 STR and DEX (doesn't stack with exhausted) Exhausted: no run, no charge, -6 STR and DEX Danko: -2 CHR
Hmerrin (MikeK)(HP 204/217 AC:33 T:20 FF:28 CMD:42) d20+22=30 ; d20+22=25 ; d20+15=18 ; Tuesday November 28th, 2023 7:07:39 PM
"This keeps up, we're gonna have to get really lucky," Hmerrin murmurs as he drops the book of manners back into the pile.
"Yrul, keep checking doors. I'll open this one you've cleared to see if its another plane or the Wold or something. Nira, I got a feeling every time we walk through one of these doors all the buffs are gonna get wiped."
The fighter walks over to the door Yrul cleared and opens it. He does not step through, instead looking around to see what he can see. [Perception 30 on possible threats Perception 25 on items of interest Survival 18 to figure out what he's looking at]
Desdichado (Ryan) [HP:193/211; AC:29/15/27 - CMD 36] d20+22=36 ; d20+13=20 ; Tuesday November 28th, 2023 7:16:26 PM
"So, we find ingredients to put into the cauldron? Is all the junk around here ingredients?" Desdichado steps over to take a closer look at the cauldron to see if there are any instructions there.
(Perception:35) (Know. Religion: 20)
(OOC: The antiquarian in me just had to look up the manners book. "The Boke of Nurture" - great find! :D)
---------- LoH: 15/20 remaining -2 STR/DEX -2 WIS
Ramirez (BrianZ) AC32/20/25 HP 148/150 CMD32 d20+17=27 ; d20+20=28 ; d20+16=28 ; Tuesday November 28th, 2023 7:46:59 PM
Ramirez makes a mental note to read the origami book later and try it out. In the meantime, he thinks about anything he may have heard about the hut while searching for the ritual instructions.
OOC: No internet yesterday! Not my provider's fault. Openreach decided to cut through an important cable or something of that ilk.
~~~~~~~~~~~
Yrûl moved swiftly from door to door seeking the presence of any traps that she might warn the others.
Door results: 35, 28, 30, 41, 27, 44, 43.
Danko Pureheart (Yves) -- AC 29 (35, 37 in dragon form, 38 hasted, 40 vs evil, ) -- CMD 36 -- HP 97/132 Wednesday November 29th, 2023 6:26:31 AM
Danko feels less like his usual self but having the leprocy gone is a step in the right direction.
He searches through the bobbles he took off witchypoo for something that could be a key. If that doesn't work, he attempts a locate object spell to try to locate it.
Gaffer - Courtney - HP: 47/164 AC: 32(T:18/FF:27) CMD:36) d20+29=35 ; Wednesday November 29th, 2023 6:33:29 AM
Gaffer chuckles at the finds amongst the room and joins in the search for the recipe
----- Perception: 35 (Or take 10 for 39)
Searching Reprise - DM Steve K - " Ah... a mystery..... " Wednesday November 29th, 2023 8:52:31 AM
Hmerrin tosses the book of manners back into the pile, and opens the door Yrul has cleared. He immediately notices two things. The first is that, unlike other ‘through the planes’ passages, the Fighter can easily see what is on the other side of the door. The second is the room: a 30x30’ room where everything is shades of sage, and emerald, and olive. It smells like a greenhouse with an undertone of acrid smoke. The floors, walls, and even ceiling are tiled. There are tables filling the room with only enough space for a medium sized creature to squeeze through. On all of the tables are containers made of stone, metal, glass, and pottery of various sizes; some with liquids, or powders, or herbs, or other ingredients. It appears to be a Still Room, a place for mixing medicines or potions. He sees nothing moving in the room.
Desdichado looks around for a cauldron and realizes: there isn’t one! He remembers what Nira said that ’ Baba Yaga (and apparently Yolpova) had a means to control the Hut, and it should do something with taking control of the Cauldron that is rumored to be inside the Hut.’ (ooc: Your Dm loves easter eggs from other Boards or back in history. Very pleased you like the “Boke”!)
Ramirez keeps the origami book, and looks about. He can’t think of anything he knows about the Hut: it must be a one-of-a-kind artifact to be so obscure! The bard notes the team hasn’t found a magical Key, but he does get the insight that all the things found in the Red Room (where they currently are) have been non-magical.
Yrûl moves swiftly from door to door seeking the presence of any traps that she might warn the others. The surface drow is skilled, and finds that Door #3 and Door #8 are locked with superior mechanisms (Disable Device DC 40), and that Door #6 looks like a trap: opening the door is going to cause a cloud of fungi spores! (Disable Device DC 20 i.e. anything but a “1”)
Danko feels less like his usual self but having the leprosy gone is a step in the right direction! He searches witchypools baubles, but is unable to find a key. With insight, he remembers what Yolpova wrote in her notes: ’Once I found all the ingredients, the instructions also disappeared!' and ’she needed three magical things: a Key, a Ritual, and a set of Ingredients.
Gaffer chuckles at the finds amongst the room and joins in the search for the recipe. Thinking about recipes, the druid is able to find a card labelled ’Beth’s Famous Frosted Carrot Cake’, complete with a small crate containing: 2 cups flour 2 teaspoons baking soda ½ teaspoon salt 1 ½ teaspoons ground cinnamon 1 ¼ cups vegetable oil 1 cup granulated sugar 1 cup brown sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 4 eggs 6 carrots 1 ½ cup walnuts ½ cup raisins 8 ounces cream cheese 1 ¼ cups powdered sugar 1/3 cup cream
…….…… COUNTDOWN CHANGE: 1hr 33min (Clock to zero means the Hut spits the heroes out and vanishes) …………… Main Room: Red Room o Stuff Door 1: to OddHolme Door 2: Green Room (Still Room) Door 3: (locked) Door 4 Door 5 Door 6: (spore trap) Door 7 Door 8: (locked) ……………. Tired (2) Each 15 minutes, Fort DC 15+1 per save attempt or Fatigued
Fatigued: no run, no charge, -2 STR and DEX (doesn't stack with exhausted) Exhausted: no run, no charge, -6 STR and DEX Danko: -2 CHR
RobC - Nira Wynvyre -- AC 20/15/16 -- CMD 24 -- HP 117/138 -- DarkVision/ArcaneSight/SeeInvis Wednesday November 29th, 2023 6:04:00 PM
Before the party get too far messing around with things, Nira sets to some important tasks. She uses her heal staff to get Gaffer and Yrul back to fighting fit. Seeing the books casually tossed aside is almost as distressing as losing her spells. She tries to save some of them and put them in her haversack for later.
She has seen Yrul's luck of late, so Nira's ready to gift her a little bit should she try and disable any of the traps or open any locks. "You've got this Yrul"
-------------- OOC: Sorry for missed post yesterday. Long day.
Not sure if we are in combat rounds or not yet. Nira will start casting some spells (and move actions to collect some books). I'll mark these off her sheet once confirmed they can all be done... Rnd 1: Use staff to cast Heal on Gaffer Rnd 2: Use staff to cast Heal on Yrul Rnd 3: Use SLA (Minor Spell Expertise) to cast Mage Armor on self
Use Bit of Luck ability on Yrul. For the next round Yrul gets to roll d20s twice. Nira has 15uses of this ability so will keep using them on Yrul until she gets a door open
"Thank you very much, Nira. That feels all tingly and refreshing." Yrûl gushed appreciatively, before quickly turning back to the task at hand. She pointed to two doors, each in turn. "This door and this door are locked - good locks too. That shouldn't be a problem...hopefully if Snickit and Dabz behave. Oh, and that door is trapped - looks like a nasty spore cloud type of thing. I'll tackle that first; so stand back ...just in case." Yrûl then set to work.
(OOC: Not a 1! Yippee.)
"O-kay, that's that dealt with. Now onto those pesky locks." Yrûl then set about opening the locks.
(Disable Device: 57 & 51. Both opened.)
"There! All sorted." She informed them delighedly.
Hmerrin (MikeK)(HP 204/217 AC:33 T:20 FF:28 CMD:42) d6=3 ; d20+22=27 ; d20+22=24 ; Wednesday November 29th, 2023 7:26:45 PM
"Bunch of ingredients in here," Hmerrin notes. "If we ever figure out what we need, this'll be a good place to find it."
He steps over to the now unlocked Door 3 and opens it. [Perception 27 for items of interest Perception 22 for hiding enemies.]
"Might wanna start opening some more doors," he suggests.
Desdichado (Ryan) [HP:193/211; AC:29/15/27 - CMD 36] d20+22=30 ; Wednesday November 29th, 2023 7:56:23 PM
Desdichado tries one of the freshly unlocked doors. (Perception: 30)
Ramirez (BrianZ) AC32/20/25 HP 148/150 CMD32 Wednesday November 29th, 2023 8:06:11 PM I agree with Hmerrin, I don't think we'll find anything we need in the main room. The objects are magic and the items in here don't seem to have any.
Ramirez casts detect magic and takes a look at the ingredients room.
Danko Pureheart (Yves) -- AC 29 (35, 37 in dragon form, 38 hasted, 40 vs evil, ) -- CMD 36 -- HP 97/132 d20+20=23 ; Thursday November 30th, 2023 6:57:02 AM
Danko opens one of the remaining doors and looks in.
---- Perception 23
-2 char
Doors - DM Steve K - "Day destroys the night, night divides the day..." d8=8 ; d8=7 Thursday November 30th, 2023 7:13:16 AM
Nira heals Gaffer and Yrul; all wounds and conditions are removed. She gets quite distressed about Hmerrin tossing books!, and runs to save them for later, successfully putting them into her haversack while giving a Bit O Luck to Yrul.
Yrûl, all tingly and refreshed, disposes of the Spore Trap and the Locks with the ease of exceptional skill. It takes less than a minute for her to announce all the doors are ‘clean’.
Hmerrin informs the others about the Still Room, and makes for Door #3 while suggesting the others do the same. He sees a 30x30’ bedroom where everything is shades from turquoise to navy. There is a light breeze in this room that smells like a fresh seaside. A huge four-poster ironwood and indigo bed with canopy, a sapphire eiderdown duvet and pillows, with skyblue awning and bed curtains. There are ironwood dressers lining the walls, and a standing mirror in one corner.
Desdichado tries one of the freshly unlocked doors (ooc: DM rolled randomly since which door wasn’t specified). He opens Door #8 and sees a 30x30’ bare stone room where everything is shades of alabaster to obsidian, smelling of myrrh and incense. It is bare except for a 2’ diameter sphere of absolute blackness hanging suspended in the middle of the room.
Ramirez agrees with Hmerrin that they won’t find anything we need in the main room. The bard casts detect magic and sees an Overwhelming Aura of Abjuration, and Transmutation in every room including the Red Room: Detect Magic and Arcane Sight are useless inside the Hut.
Danko tries one of the freshly unlocked doors (ooc: DM rolled randomly since which door wasn’t specified). He opens Door #7 and sees a 30x30’ music room where everything is shades of pink and rose, smelling of summer flowers. A clavichord stands at the center, a table of bells and white gloves against one wall, and an entire wall of cubbies opposite.
…….…… COUNTDOWN CHANGE: 1hr 33min (Clock to zero means the Hut spits the heroes out and vanishes) …………… Main Room: Red Room o Stuff Door 1: to OddHolme Door 2: Green Room (Still Room) Door 3: Blue Room (Bedroom) Door 4 Door 5 Door 6: (former spore trap) Door 7: Pink Room (Music Room) Door 8: Gray Room (Stone Room) ……………. Tired (2) Each 15 minutes, Fort DC 15+1 per save attempt or Fatigued
Fatigued: no run, no charge, -2 STR and DEX (doesn't stack with exhausted) Exhausted: no run, no charge, -6 STR and DEX Danko: -2 CHR
Yrûl (Nick K) HP:140140 AC:34 F:12 R:29 W:9. CMD:32 d20=7 ; Thursday November 30th, 2023 8:08:02 AM
Filled with confidence, or perhaps it was the effects of the Luck and Healing, Yrûl stepped up to door 6. It was only fair that she take the one that had been trapped. She opened the door and peered around it. It always paid to have something solid between you and whatever was inside.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Perception: 30 (32 for Traps)
Gaffer - Courtney - HP: 164/164 AC: 32(T:18/FF:27) CMD:36) Thursday November 30th, 2023 3:05:29 PM
Gaffer thinks adding carrots to a cake definitely sounds like something out of a potion but it probably isn't what they are looking for.
With his wounds healed again, curtesy of his favourite witch, he stretches for a moment before warily stretching a hand into room #2.
"I could start by checking through some of the herbs, it seems like we'll need to enter that room at some point."
If nothing happens to his hand, he'll go to step through the door, then pause. He's had a couple interdimensional experiences now. Instead, he will attempt to summon a small earth elemental into the hut, first seeing if it is possible in this space, and then sending it through the door ahead of him.
Ramirez (BrianZ) AC32/20/25 HP 148/150 CMD32 Thursday November 30th, 2023 7:47:41 PM Well the doors all seem to lead to interesting places. Ramirez opens a door that hasn't been opened yet. Maybe it's best to see what they all have to offer before searching them
Desdichado (Ryan) [HP:193/211; AC:29/15/27 - CMD 36] Friday December 1st, 2023 1:32:00 AM
Desdichado supposes touching the sphere is a Very Bad Idea, but asks if any of the more magically inclined TidePack might know what it is.
RobC - Nira Wynvyre -- AC 20/15/16 -- CMD 24 -- HP 117/138 -- DarkVision/ArcaneSight/SeeInvis Friday December 1st, 2023 5:34:00 AM
Nira casts a Barkskin spell and then follows up with a Detect Magic cantrip. She's curious what this black sphere is, but has an idea that isn't good.
"Well nothing has jumped out at us yet. That's a good sign at least"
------------ Spellcraft: 41 (Take10)
Danko Pureheart (Yves) -- AC 29 (35, 37 in dragon form, 38 hasted, 40 vs evil, ) -- CMD 36 -- HP 97/132 d20+20=23 ; d20+13=20 ; d20+20=23 ; d20+15=18 ; Friday December 1st, 2023 6:24:44 AM
Danko thinks that maybe the key in question is a musicle one...
Entering the room he tries to figure out if the clavichord is somehow connected to this mystery.
Send { Anyone know anything about clavichords? .... This may be the key... but likely there would need to be a specific piece of music or some such... }
Exploration - DM Steve K d4=2 ; Friday December 1st, 2023 7:45:14 AM
Yrûl takes the door that had been trapped, Door #6, and peers around the opened door for added protection. She sees a 30x30’ tiled room where everything is shades from lemon to gold. The smell of many animals is here: pungent reptile, sweaty mammals, bird chalk, and decaying fungi. The walls are lined with cages and containers of all sizes, shapes and materials. With her quick look, the surface drow can see a large metal cage with a gorilla, a wooden crate labeled “anaconda”, several glass boxes with spiders or ants or snakes, round wooden cages with parrot, a bat, an owl…
Gaffer stretches for a moment and tests the doorway to the green Still Room. His hand is fine, and he steps through with no effects after his small earth elemental walks through with no disruption.
Ramirez opens another interesting door to interesting places, and (DM random) picks Door #4. This 30x30’ parlor where everything is shades of sand and oats, with smells of coffee and fresh biscuits. A round table with comfortable looking chairs is in the center of the room, and wheeled carts with silver tea and coffee sets are set around the walls. There are several ghostly figures in the room, doing various acts of preparing coffee and pastry arrangements.
Desdichado supposes touching the sphere is a Very Bad Idea, but asks if any of the more magically inclined TidePack might know what it is.
Nira casts a Barkskin spell and then follows up with a Detect Magic cantrip, they both work, but the Detect Magic only sees an Overwhelming Aura of Abjuration, and Transmutation: Detect Magic and Arcane Sight are useless inside the Hut. She takes it as a good sign that nothing has attacked them … yet. The arcanist also knows what Desdichado has found… (Know Arcana DC 40: It is a Sphere of Annihilation, a minor artifact! Any matter that comes in contact with the sphere is instantly sucked into the void and utterly destroyed. Only the direct intervention of a deity can restore an annihilated character.)
Danko thinks that maybe the key in question is a musical one, and enters the pink music room. He tries to think to the others and finds the Telepathy is not working in the Hut... Checking over the clavichord, he finds it is a pretty little keyboard instrument which plays softly: good for practicing. It sounds like it is in tune. Plink plink plink. The cubbies on the far wall seem to have one object per cubby.
Hmerrin (DM interpretation from last Player post) wants to get all the doors open so they can plan. Since there is only one door left unopened, the Fighter crosses the room to Door #5 and turns the handle. He finds a library, again a 30x30’ room, this time everything is shades of lavender to plum, and smelling of orchids and books. All four walls are floor to ceiling in bookcases and books and each wall has a rolling ladder so one may push to the wanted shelf and climb to get the wanted book. A couple of very comfortable-looking chairs with continual flames for reading lights complete the scene.
…….…… COUNTDOWN: 1hr 32min (Clock to zero means the Hut spits the heroes out and vanishes)
MAP IN E-Mail …………… Main Room: Red Room o Stuff Door 1: to OddHolme Door 2: Green Room (Still Room) Door 3: Blue Room (Bedroom) Door 4: Beige Room (Parlor) Door 5: Purple Room (Library) Door 6: Yellow Room (Menagerie) Door 7: Pink Room (Music Room) Door 8: Gray Room (Stone Room) ……………. Tired (2) Each 15 minutes, Fort DC 15+1 per save attempt or Fatigued
Fatigued: no run, no charge, -2 STR and DEX (doesn't stack with exhausted) Exhausted: no run, no charge, -6 STR and DEX Danko: -2 CHR
Yrûl (Nick K) HP:140140 AC:34 F:12 R:29 W:9. CMD:32 d20=17 ; Friday December 1st, 2023 9:25:08 AM
"Quiet. Behave you two." Yrûl told her weapons in a hushed tone, before raising her voice to enquire of the others... "Do any of you speak with animals at all? I was wondering, because there's lots here and perhaps the gorilla would know what's going on and what we're looking for." Beyond that, she really didn't have much idea what she was supposed to be looking for. A key? Well, if there were any keys in here, why would all the critters still be in their cages? She entered that she might get a better look around.
Perception: 40
Ramirez (BrianZ) AC32/20/25 HP 148/150 CMD32 d20+20=30 ; Saturday December 2nd, 2023 8:28:46 PM
kn arcana= 30
Hmm, not sure what the black sphere is, but probably not a key. Well, looks like I found breakfast.
Desdichado (Ryan) [HP:193/211; AC:29/15/27 - CMD 36] Sunday December 3rd, 2023 2:42:50 PM
Desdichado's eyes shoot up when Nira mentions it's a sphere of annihilation and he steps back out of the room. "I knew it was a Very Bad Idea," he says.
He decides to go look over the objects in the cubbies in the Music Room.
Gaffer - Courtney - HP: 164/164 AC: 32(T:18/FF:27) CMD:36) d20+29=41 ; Sunday December 3rd, 2023 7:01:09 PM
Gaffer takes a caution first approach, sending the elemental to walk a full path around the room to make sure it's safe, and a few steps behind it he scans the room for any signs of a recipe, a key or movement...
RobC - Nira Wynvyre -- AC 20/15/16 -- CMD 24 -- HP 117/138 -- DarkVision/ArcaneSight/SeeInvis d20+26=34 ; d20+7=24 ; Monday December 4th, 2023 6:16:53 AM
Nira warns the group to stay away from the sphere "Don't touch it. Nothing short of Garugl's direct intervention would save you"
A Locate Object spell would be handy right now. Pity Nira doesn't have one.
In her experience, knowledge is found in books and the most likely place to find a book with a set of instructions would be the library. Nira casts a Magic Vestment spell on her shield and then enters the library.
So many books! She'll keep an eye out for anything that looks like a set of instructions, of course, any valuable books may also find their way into her haversack for later.
"Checking the library!" she calls out. Without telepathy it's important to know where everyone is.
------------ Perception: 34 Profession (Librarian): 24 in case it helps to understand the organisation of the books. Yep, she actually has ranks in this!
Danko Pureheart (Yves) -- AC 29 (35, 37 in dragon form, 38 hasted, 40 vs evil, ) -- CMD 36 -- HP 97/132 Monday December 4th, 2023 6:39:09 AM
Danko runs out and calls for Ramirez to come check out the music room. " Could this musical instrument be the key? "
--------------
Hmerrin (MikeK)(HP 204/217 AC:33 T:20 FF:28 CMD:42) Monday December 4th, 2023 10:37:53 AM
Hmerrin's shoulders slump a bit.
No cauldron. No recipe book.
Ramirez asks about a plan. "I've no idea," the fighter answers.
He also tries the library. Walking in, he sits heavily in one of the stuffed chairs. "I would like a book on controlling the hut," he announces.
Gaffer - Courtney - HP: 164/164 AC: 32(T:18/FF:27) CMD:36) Monday December 4th, 2023 5:15:22 PM
Hearing Nira's shout Gaffer adds his own. "In the Green Room!". It occurs to him that there might be some nice plants here for the rooftop garden he once started in their base. Something colourful would be nice.
Desdichado (Ryan) [HP:193/211; AC:29/15/27 - CMD 36] Monday December 4th, 2023 5:59:56 PM
Dez calls out, "It's Desdichado, in the Pink Room, with the cubbies!"
Searching for Key, Recipe, and Ingredients - DM Steve K Tuesday December 5th, 2023 8:59:38 AM
Without telepathy, the heroes are reduced to calling out, and learn something else about the Hut... they can hear each other when in different rooms. Nira surmises that the inside of the Hut is a single extra-dimensional space, so there is no barriers between the rooms.
Nira and Desdichado and Ramirez back out of the Gray Room and leave the Sphere of Annihilation alone.
Yrul calms her picks down and searches the yellow menagerie, but is unable to find anything of interest.
Desdichado works with Danko as they explore the pink music room. They find that each cubby has what appears to be a musical instrument. A bugle, a flute, a hurdygurgy, a bullroar, a set of bagpipes, a mobile full orchestra electro whocarnio flook...
Nira and Hmerrin enter the purple library. Nira searches and can see the room is immaculately taken care of and (unfortuneately) the books appear to be categorized by color: no help there. She does find a book titled "Hutt Ceremonies" and (has to make a Will DC 25 or be compelled to read the entire book immediately!) The fighter tries a magical tactic. While nothing floats to the chair, Hmerrin does get a hunch that if more people aid Nira, the correct book may be found!
Gaffer sends his earth elemental about and t doesn't get attacked, so the druid goes into the green still room himself. Scanning about, he rapidly sees he could probably find any ingredient to any spell, recipe, or any kind of alchemical reaction... as long as the recipe or spell was known.
Ramirez stands in the Red entrance room, and while the others are searching, he can hear murmuring from the beige parlor. 'it is nearly ready' 'the biscuits are ready too' 'they are busy and will need food soon' 'no hurry, but be ready when they ring.'
…….…… COUNTDOWN: 1hr 31min (Clock to zero means the Hut spits the heroes out and vanishes)
MAP IN E-Mail …………… Main Room: Red Room o Stuff Door 1: to OddHolme Door 2: Green Room (Still Room) Door 3: Blue Room (Bedroom) Door 4: Beige Room (Parlor) Door 5: Purple Room (Library) Door 6: Yellow Room (Menagerie) Door 7: Pink Room (Music Room) Door 8: Gray Room (Stone Room) ……………. Tired (2) Each 15 minutes, Fort DC 15+1 per save attempt or Fatigued
Fatigued: no run, no charge, -2 STR and DEX (doesn't stack with exhausted) Exhausted: no run, no charge, -6 STR and DEX Danko: -2 CHR
Yrûl (Nick K) HP:140140 AC:34 F:12 R:29 W:9. CMD:32 Tuesday December 5th, 2023 9:47:09 AM
"This is not the room we are looking for." Yrul waved her hand over her picks and then exited to see what help she might offer elsewhere.
"Anyone need a hand with anything? The animals in there just aren't talking." She explained poorly.
Hmerrin (MikeK)(HP 204/217 AC:33 T:20 FF:28 CMD:42) d20+22=33 ; d20+22=30 ; Tuesday December 5th, 2023 4:04:23 PM
"Yeah, we need a hand or two in here," Hmerrin answers Yrul from the purple library.
"I'm getting a feeling that if Nira gets some help searching, we may be on to something.
The fighter gets up to assist Nira. Perception 33 to Aid Another on NIra.
Desdichado (Ryan) [HP:193/211; AC:29/15/27 - CMD 36] d20+22=29 ; d20+3=7 ; d20+6=24 ; Tuesday December 5th, 2023 4:56:36 PM
Desdichado sees the hurdy-gurdy and picks it up. "Oh, I've always wanted to play one of these!" he remarks. He tries playing a few notes. (Perform: 24)
Hearing the others call from the library, he brings the instrument along with him and joins the search. (Perception: 29 for aid another) (Linguistics: 7 if anything interesting is found).
Gaffer - Courtney - HP: 164/164 AC: 32(T:18/FF:27) CMD:36) d20+18=33 ; Tuesday December 5th, 2023 5:54:33 PM "Did someone say talking animals?" Gaffer flashes Yrul a smile as he heads into the room behind her.
Calling out to the others while he glances around the room. "Just about every ingredient we might need is in the green room, just need the recipe. Or if you're missing spell components you can grab them."
Gaffer hadn't meant to ignore Yrul's earlier suggestion about speaking to the Gorilla and he looks for them amongst the cages while casting Speak With Animals on himself.
He'll start with a soothing "Hey, are you ok in there?" and try to befriend the gorilla a little before asking it any questions about what happens in the hut.
----- Wild Empathy(?) to improve animals attitude: 33
Ramirez (BrianZ) AC32/20/25 HP 148/150 CMD32 d20+17=22 ; d20+5=21 ; d20+20=34 ; Tuesday December 5th, 2023 8:52:54 PM I'm not sure Danko. I can play a few of those, and maybe I'll try them later. But it looks like the library will be the focus for now.
Upon entering the library, Ramirez informs everyone. I'm not sure who's cooking but I think breakfast is almost ready. I would have said unseen servants, but I heard voices too.
Ramirez starts looking over the books for Instructions. perception = 22 profession librarian = 21 sense motive = 34
RobC - Nira Wynvyre -- AC 20/15/16 -- CMD 24 -- HP 117/138 -- DarkVision/ArcaneSight/SeeInvis d20+18=33 ; d20+26=38 ; d20+26=42 ; d20+26=43 ; d20+26=30 ; d20+26=29 ; d20+26=46 ; d20+26=44 ; d20+26=29 ; d20+26=30 ; d20+26=27 ; Wednesday December 6th, 2023 5:21:51 AM
Nira finds the book on Hutt's to be interesting. Very interesting! A little too interesting. She hastily closes the book and tosses it towards an empty corner of the room. "I had a weird sensation while reading that book. Best leave it alone" she warns the others.
Nira will spend the next minute flipping through the books. Perhaps the book is in pristine condition having only read once? Maybe it's the most worn book here having been here since the house was created? She spends the next minute trying what she thinks to be logical attempts to find the book.
------------ Will Save vs DC25: 33=Pass!
Perception: 1min=10 checks. Best result was 46 after 36seconds
Danko Pureheart (Yves) -- AC 29 (35, 37 in dragon form, 38 hasted, 40 vs evil, ) -- CMD 36 -- HP 97/132 d20+20=28 ; Wednesday December 6th, 2023 6:28:30 AM
Danko follows Ramirez and also starts going through the books
--- Perception 28
Searching for Key, Recipe, and Ingredients - DM Steve K Wednesday December 6th, 2023 7:22:53 AM
Yrul just wants to know where she can help.
Gaffer is interested in animals and goes to the yellow menagerie room. He is able to make a convincing rapport with the gorilla in the cage, who tells the druid "ooo ooo ahhh ooooo"
Hmerrin and Desdichado Aid Another Nira, but Ramirez and Danko start looking on their own. Nira also uncharacteristically tosses a book and flips through another: "Receipts of the Hut". Ramirez is only looking over books, but Danko goes through one, "Carrot Recipes" and opens it...
Nira and Danko have to make a Will DC 25 or be compelled to read their entire book immediately!
Time is wearing on, and all the heroes feel the length of the day. All Tide heroes make a Fort DC17 or be fatigued.
…….…… COUNTDOWN: 1hr 30min (Clock to zero means the Hut spits the heroes out and vanishes)
MAP IN E-Mail …………… Main Room: Red Room o Stuff Door 1: to OddHolme Door 2: Green Room (Still Room) Door 3: Blue Room (Bedroom) Door 4: Beige Room (Parlor) Door 5: Purple Room (Library) Door 6: Yellow Room (Menagerie) Door 7: Pink Room (Music Room) Door 8: Gray Room (Stone Room) ……………. Tired (2) Each 15 minutes, Fort DC 15+1 per save attempt or Fatigued
Fatigued: no run, no charge, -2 STR and DEX (doesn't stack with exhausted) Exhausted: no run, no charge, -6 STR and DEX Danko: -2 CHR
(Fort save: 21. Yrûl has peaked! She actually made a save!)
With no one seeking her specific aid, she opted for the beige room. It was crying out for a splash of colour and she was just the person to bring that.
"Come on, you two; try to be helpful for once. We've an important clue-thing to find." She admonished her twin weapons whilst stifling a yawn.
(Perception: 26 to fi9nd something unusual that intrigues her.)
RobC - Nira Wynvyre -- AC 20/15/16 -- CMD 24 -- HP 117/138 -- DarkVision/ArcaneSight/SeeInvis d20+18=35 ; Wednesday December 6th, 2023 6:25:38 PM "Sorry, but that's as much of a search as I can do, and the books are starting to get 'hostile'" she says as she closes and tosses aside another book "Time is running out. Perhaps we should check a different room?"
------------ Will Save vs DC25: 35=Pass!
OOC: Nira's Perception check hit DC50 with her Nat20 and assistance from others and it's as high as she can get. Sorry folks!
RobC - Nira Wynvyre -- AC 20/15/16 -- CMD 24 -- HP 117/138 -- DarkVision/ArcaneSight/SeeInvis d20+17=37 ; Wednesday December 6th, 2023 6:27:00 PM OOC: Fort Save vs DC17: 37=Pass!
Ramirez (BrianZ) AC32/20/25 HP 148/150 CMD32 Wednesday December 6th, 2023 9:37:09 PM
OOC- no save rolled, Ramirez is already fatigued
With Nira calling a break on checking the books, Ramirez returns to the (beige?) room to check on the baking. He asks the invisible voices if there are recipes stored here.
Desdichado (Ryan) [HP:193/211; AC:29/15/27 - CMD 36] d20+22=36 ; Wednesday December 6th, 2023 11:17:35 PM
(Dez is also already fatigued.)
Frustrated, Desdichado walks into the Blue Room (Bedroom) and looks around. (Perception: 35)
Danko Pureheart (Yves) -- AC 29 (35, 37 in dragon form, 38 hasted, 40 vs evil, ) -- CMD 36 -- HP 97/132 d20+14=34 ; d20+16=32 ; Thursday December 7th, 2023 6:35:07 AM
Danko is entirelly unaffected by the desire to read the book ( nat 20 - 34)
Danko throws his hands up in frustration before following Ramirez.
------------------- Will 34 Fort 32 pass
Gaffer - Courtney - HP: 164/164 AC: 32(T:18/FF:27) CMD:36) d20+17=28 ; d20+31=39 ; Thursday December 7th, 2023 6:49:27 AM
Seeing that the Gorilla isn't much of a conversationist, Gaffer calls out to the room at large "Does anyone in this room know about a magic recipe?
If there is no useful response, Gaffer will shift tact and start scanning the floor and hut for signs of tracks that don't belong to the party, to see if there are marks of who else has moved through here.
Searching for Key, Recipe, and Ingredients - DM Steve K Thursday December 7th, 2023 7:53:03 AM
OOC 1: apologies, the module was written for requiring 3 Aid Another checks for PCs to do some teamwork and ignoring a high skill check. With frustrations mounting, DM will make adjustments.
OOC 2: Ramirez and Desdichado, please still roll: 2 fatigues equals exhaustion ……………
Purple Library Nira realizes that it is NOT the library getting ‘hostile’, but that the magic of the room makes EVERY book seem so very interesting! Reading titles is fine, but as soon as any book is opened, the compulsion to read kicks in. (ooc: Taking 20 would require 20 Will DC 25 saves)
With a last, 2 minutes of effort, Nira, Ramirez, Desdichado, Hmerrin, and Danko all working in the Library, the elf-girl is able to find the correct book without opening it: ”Cauldron Control Calibrations” It is a thin book, and once taken out of the Library, it gives no compulsion to read immediately.
The Tide has the Recipe! It lists 10 ingredients, and how one person needs to put them into the Cauldron in the center of the Entrance Room at 6 second intervals while chanting the incantations without interruption. It does not say where to get the ingredients nor how to find the Cauldron.
Beige Parlor Yrûl is joined by Ramirez and Danko, and she and the dragonblood search about, finding some tasty-looking biscotti and jammie dodgers, but no ingredients or key.
The bard takes the direct route and talks to the ghostly figures who whisper. ”Ah, no, no recipe here." "Visitors usually go to the Library for the recipe." "Would you like some kaffee, or tee?" "I have a nice batch of pitselle freshly baked." "Or lovely conversation: we can provide a wide assortment of amusing anecdotes or trivia to lighten your burdens.”
Blue Bedroom Desdichado walks into the Blue Room (Bedroom) and looks around. He notices that when he looks into the Mirror, there is a large chest along one wall that isn’t there when he looks at the room…
Yellow Menagerie Gaffer calls out to the room at large, but gets no answer in the Common tongue. With his Speak with Animals on (ooc: oops! DM wasn’t tracking that!), he gets a LOT of conversations, but they mostly come down to no one is hungry, tired, or bored. And no one knows anything about a Key, Recipe, or Ingredients. Checking for tracks, he spots the faint signs that one other person besides Yrul has been here recently: probably Yolpova.
…….…… COUNTDOWN: 1hr 28min (Clock to zero means the Hut spits the heroes out and vanishes)
MAP IN E-Mail …………… Main Room: Red Room o Stuff Door 1: to OddHolme Door 2: Green Room (Still Room) Door 3: Blue Room (Bedroom) Door 4: Beige Room (Parlor) Door 5: Purple Room (Library) Door 6: Yellow Room (Menagerie) Door 7: Pink Room (Music Room) Door 8: Gray Room (Stone Room) ……………. Tired (2) Each 15 minutes, Fort DC 15+1 per save attempt or Fatigued
Fatigued: no run, no charge, -2 STR and DEX (doesn't stack with exhausted) Exhausted: no run, no charge, -6 STR and DEX Danko: -2 CHR
Yrûl (Nick K) HP:140140 AC:34 F:12 R:29 W:9. CMD:32 Thursday December 7th, 2023 11:43:15 AM
"That's very kind of you." Yrul thanked the ghostly figure. "But we are sort of in a bit of hurry, actually. She then turned to Ramirez and Danko. [b]"Sorry guys, I'm not being very much help. Now, if there was some dancing to be done..."
Hmerrin (MikeK)(HP 204/217 AC:33 T:20 FF:28 CMD:42) d20+22=35 ; Thursday December 7th, 2023 4:41:26 PM
"Now we're getting somewhere!" Hmerrin claps his hands together. "What are the ingredients?"
Still need a cauldron and a key.....
Once the fighter hears what ingredients are called for, he heads back into the Green Still Room to gather up what he can. [Perception 35]
"Yrul, come here for a second, can you?" Desdichado calls out. He asks if she can also see the chest in the mirror. "Once we find the ingredients, we should examine this more," he adds.
If he hears the ingredients list, he'll also spend time helping to find some (Perception: 41).
RobC - Nira Wynvyre -- AC 20/15/16 -- CMD 24 -- HP 117/138 -- DarkVision/ArcaneSight/SeeInvis Thursday December 7th, 2023 9:22:26 PM
Nira tucks the book under her arm and follows Hmerrin to the Green room.
"Got the book!" She calls out "Heading with Hmerrin to look for the ingredients in the still room!"
Ramirez (BrianZ) AC32/20/25 HP 148/150 CMD32 d20+14=28 ; Thursday December 7th, 2023 9:43:37 PM
save vs fatigue = 28
Ramirez replies to the ghostly figures. No thank you, we're busy right now. But tea and snacks do sound good for later on
Ok, so we've made some progress and got the ingredient list. What's on it?
Danko Pureheart (Yves) -- AC 29 (35, 37 in dragon form, 38 hasted, 40 vs evil, ) -- CMD 36 -- HP 97/132 Friday December 8th, 2023 6:49:14 AM
The lesser charismatic then usual Danko sets to try to find the cauldron. He goes back to the center room and again tries a locate object spell.
" Work this time. Work I say! "
Searching for Key: Found Recipe and Ingredients - DM Steve K - "Now we're getting somewhere!" Friday December 8th, 2023 7:22:00 AM Beige Parlor Yrul and Ramirez thank the ghostly figures, but are in a bit of hurry. The ghosts are unfazed. ”Yes Madam, yes Sir. We are here to be of service in any way within our power or knowledge.”
Blue Bedroom Desdichado calls for Yrul to join him in the bedroom. Can she also see the chest? Yes she can, but only in the mirror. Then the paladin moves to helping with the ingredient gathering.
Green Stillroom Nira lists off the 10 ingredients, and Hmerrin, Desdichado, Nira, and Ramirez join Gaffer to search the Stillroom. With 5 heroes, it only takes a couple of minutes (ooc: 1 minute per ingredient divided by # heroes looking).
The Tide has all 10 ingredients!
Red Room O Stuff Danko sets to try to find the Baba Yaga Hut Cauldron. He goes back to the center room and again tries a locate object spell. The spell fails. Danko realizes that ‘attempting to find a certain item requires a specific and accurate mental image’, and he ‘cannot specify a unique item unless you have observed that particular item firsthand (not through divination).’
…….…… COUNTDOWN: 1hr 26min (Clock to zero means the Hut spits the heroes out and vanishes)
TIDE HAS: Recipe, Ingredients
MAP IN E-Mail …………… Main Room: Red Room o Stuff Door 1: to OddHolme Door 2: Green Room (Still Room) Door 3: Blue Room (Bedroom) Door 4: Beige Room (Parlor) Door 5: Purple Room (Library) Door 6: Yellow Room (Menagerie) Door 7: Pink Room (Music Room) Door 8: Gray Room (Stone Room) ……………. Tired (2) Each 15 minutes, Fort DC 15+1 per save attempt or Fatigued
Fatigued: no run, no charge, -2 STR and DEX (doesn't stack with exhausted) Exhausted: no run, no charge, -6 STR and DEX Danko: -2 CHR
Yrûl (Nick K) HP:140140 AC:34 F:12 R:29 W:9. CMD:32 Saturday December 9th, 2023 10:32:16 AM
"Oh." Remarked Yrûl upon sighting the chest. "Perhaps what we seek is in that." she postulated. "So really, it's just a matter of either - positioning myself exactly where the chest would be and seeing if I can then find it, OR, stepping through the mirror....if that's doable. let's try the reflection first as that seems easier. I'll use the mirror to slowly navigate my way to when I am directly in front of the chest - as if it were here and we'll see what happens."
She duly set about that task, all the time wondering if she'd have to find a way to step into the mirror or not.
Desdichado (Ryan) [HP:193/211; AC:29/15/27 - CMD 36] Saturday December 9th, 2023 12:46:50 PM
Desdichado agrees. He thinks the key they need might just be in that chest. He watches Yrul to see what happens next.
Ramirez (BrianZ) AC32/20/25 HP 148/150 CMD32 Saturday December 9th, 2023 5:02:23 PM Ok, ingredients in hand. So we still need a key and a cauldron. Do you think the cauldron could be in the main room with all the clutter?
Gaffer - Courtney - HP: 164/164 AC: 32(T:18/FF:27) CMD:36) Saturday December 9th, 2023 6:34:32 PM
Yrul and Des seem to have a handle on the chest they keep talking about, so Gaffer moves to the Beige room and tries to kindly ask the spirits.
"Umm, excuse me. How do you prepare the food you provide? Is there something you cook in?"
RobC - Nira Wynvyre -- AC 20/15/16 -- CMD 24 -- HP 117/138 -- DarkVision/ArcaneSight/SeeInvis Saturday December 9th, 2023 8:34:29 PM
Nira returns to the main room and checks the book for any specific instructions the party need to follow, including whether the task needs to be performed in a specific room.
Danko Pureheart (Yves) -- AC 29 (35, 37 in dragon form, 38 hasted, 40 vs evil, ) -- CMD 36 -- HP 97/132 d20+20=35 ; Monday December 11th, 2023 6:33:27 AM
Danko is frustrated. Very frustrated.
Not knowing what else to do really, he goes to the bedroom and looks around again.
------------- Perception 35 for a key, or a cauldron or something related to this puzzle
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