[DFRPG] Crawl! IC

[ajardoor]

The goblins do not have an antidote on hand, but the king comments that local herbs are the best bet, since the creeps got the poison from local plants. "That's usually how natural poisons work, right? The medicine and the killer both come from the same source?"

(OC: Anyone got Naturalist or Herb Lore skill?)

As for the caves themselves, the goblin king says that tribes living here have often come to blows even before the necromancers and the cult came - not unusual conflicts for the Hell's Throat region. In particular, the orc khanate to the north west still consider the land around the Keep to be their own sacred land, which fuels their hatred of the outpost and the surrounding waystations. He think the complex used to house a hidden temple 2 centuries ago. What exact religion, he does not know.

(OC: Anyone got Theology, Hidden Lore or Occultism skill?)

[ericthered]

Telrith has Expert Skill (Natural Philosophy) -11. It's from the summoners book. It "Provides general information about what 'science' knows in ancient/medieval style worlds". One specific use is "remember what past scholars have written about rare but 'natural' plants and animals'. So it sounds fairly applicable.



Telrith has occulitism-13 and hidden lore (magic items) -12.

[vicious Violence]

Originally Posted by ajardoor

The goblins do not have an antidote on hand, but the king comments that local herbs are the best bet, since the creeps got the poison from local plants. "That's usually how natural poisons work, right? The medicine and the killer both come from the same source?"

(OC: Anyone got Naturalist or Herb Lore skill?)

As for the caves themselves, the goblin king says that tribes living here have often come to blows even before the necromancers and the cult came - not unusual conflicts for the Hell's Throat region. In particular, the orc khanate to the north west still consider the land around the Keep to be their own sacred land, which fuels their hatred of the outpost and the surrounding waystations. He think the complex used to house a hidden temple 2 centuries ago. What exact religion, he does not know.

(OC: Anyone got Theology, Hidden Lore or Occultism skill?)

Vic rolls a successful Naturalist rol (sl 14, rolled 13)

To the King he says respectfully,

When the Riddle of Steel is present, all evil will perish, we will destroy all impurities from these caves and beyond. I think I can make enough antidote.

[ajardoor]

Telrith and Vic pool their knowledge, and realize that certain common herbs in the area could neutralize the poison used by the strange dwarf-ish hostiles. They'd need to take time out for about a day to gather the herbs and process them into a viable antidote, but it would counteract the toxic herbal alkaloid used by the enemy.

(OC: Occultism-13 reveals the following;)
Telrith also realizes that the old "hidden temple" hidden in this canyon could be the rumored hideout of a demon cult that conspired in the shadows 80 years ago, before it as exposed and driven out by crusaders. The cult was dedicated to the Archdemon of Sloth, and thus specialized in infernal magics for necromancy and poisons. Perhaps the newcomers are attempting a revival of the evil faith?

[PumpkinLorica]

Gathika checks with demonlore 14/8･:*+.\(( °ω° ))/.:+,she wants to know if the demon she banished was this one. (*´ω`*)Also she wants to recall whats needed for the revival to frustrate their works with quick wins. (＞人＜;)

[ajardoor]

Gathika recalls that the Archdemon of Sloth usually has its cultists try to undermine existing societal structures (like guilds or mercenary companies) through infiltration and subversion.

Due to a certain quirk of doctrine and legend/myth about the Archdemon of Sloth, it is common for cultists to engage in special marriages, symbolizing their Archdemon's supposed "union" or "fusion" of a man and a woman in the underworld.

They have a tendency to set up slavery rings for this or that purpose. Sometimes they use the trafficked humanoids as sacrifices.

Sacrificing humanoids and necromancy is a typical practice of Sloth infernalists, of course. Disease and poison is often their weapon of choice. Starving people to death is also a possibility, but used relatively sparingly due to the required setup of a captive.

Gathika figures that any temple to an Archdemon around here, considering the position of the leylines here and the history of the religion, it would have to feature a rather large tomb, an elaborate shrine displaying relics of the faith, an audience chamber with 3 altars for sacrifice, prison cells and a private ceremonial chapel. All of it probably cursed - decaying food, tainting water, snuffing light sources and inflicting disease. Expect the undead, too.

[PumpkinLorica]

Gathika takes breaks, and restores 3 hp to each warrior. She only fails to heal one of them, but does not want to risk it.

[ajardoor]

Originally Posted by PumpkinLorica

Gathika takes breaks, and restores 3 hp to each warrior. She only fails to heal one of them, but does not want to risk it.

(OC: come to think of it, was anyone injured?)

[PumpkinLorica]

Yes, Gathika healed the hobogoblins

[ajardoor]

With that business finished, Vic leads the party outside to the wilds surrounding the canyon.

There, he gathers the plants necessary for concocting an antidote over the course of 4 hours. His compatriots watch over him, making sure he is not bothered.

The pickings are relatively slim today. He harvests enough ingredients for only two antidote doses.

It is now afternoon. The party should probably eat their lunches.
(OC: mark off rations for the people eating.)