“Such a curse would have a cure, yes,” Granny Woodworm says. “It isn’t a cure that comes without a price. A price that you may find difficult.” She turns and walks towards the back of the room. “I need a lock of the girl’s hair. Nothing less will do.”
Anduin does indeed spot an eye-shaped object tucked inside Granny Woodworm’s robes.
Granny Woodworm eyes Anduin suspiciously. “These secrets are not beholden to outsiders,” she says. “It is necessary to break the curse, and that is all you need to know.”
*Anduin rolls his eyes. The hag would have it on her.*
The curse... Oh yes! The curse. Silly me I was momentarily lost in my thoughts when I spotted that I used to have the exact same robe when I was younger. I used to love that robe but you wear that robe with a style and panache that I just can't match... Where was I... I do have a tendency to ramble... old age... Ah yes! The curse. Tell us about the curse.
Look no one else knows that I spotted the eye... I'm role playing here... I suspect DM to make intelligence tests all round.
Vaga looks at the gnome woman. He.. she's gotten even more crazy than usual. What is she blabblering about? I? Spotted? Robe? Sigh.. what madness.. I need to see if I can spot the eye we are after.. heh, "I" want to spot the "eye".. heh.. wait a minute?
The hag looks down at the necklace in her hands and says “That manner of curse is not a simple one. It is a curse placed not upon an individual, but on a bloodline. These curses were widely used in times long past to punish those who had done wrong to someone else, usually a practitioner of the art. This girl may indeed have done such deeds in her past, though I care not. If you wish her cured, it must be with a lock of her hair.” Her fingers start running along the beads as she speaks.
From what I can gather from the hag's first story, she probably wants Keeley's lock of hair so she can complete her possession of Keeley's body. Keeley had earlier mentioned that the hag did "something" to her, but didn't mention anything about the hag taking a lock of her hair. Maybe the hag had taken her lock when Keeley was unconscious, but it's uncertain. Here's what Keeley had said earlier:
The young woman nods and replies “My name is Keeley. I am-or was, I suppose-a resident of a village nearby. One day, I was visited by an old woman. She did something to me, and I passed out. When I awoke, I was here, and the old woman was gone. I was alone and lost in this forest. Not only that, but whenever I touch something, like a tree or an animal, it withers away, like that creature just did. And recently, I’ve begun hearing the old woman’s voice in my head telling me... things.”
From this, it is very possible that the hag is lying (which should be obvious) because I don't think she would be so benevolent as to lift the curse. What we need... is the eye.
"That was... really somehing friends Gnome." *Fiora turns to the hag* "Could you lease teach me a little about this curse? I do work as a healer from time to time and curses are tricky things to be rid of."
Fiora noticed Andion and Guston's searching looks (I assume that's okay, she doesn't know if they found the eye or not), and has been trying to keep the hag distracted with conversation.
[Spoiler] That's my boy Vaga! Always succeeds when others have written him off... [/spoiler]
*Anduin looking around makes a plausible deduction on the faces visible and present. A stroke of luck that the thief in the party is invisible still. A pickpocket opportunity... If only I could let him know.*
Ah... Ah... Ah-Gustoooon!
*Anduin puts a hand to his mouth as she sneezes theatrically, in a feminine sneezle. *
Ooh. Bless me. Oh dear. I did have a nasty habit of using robes to wipe my nose. I now keep a tissue up my sleeve. I suspect you do the same to save your robe.
Fiora doesn’t notice Guston at all, as he is invisible.
Granny Wormwood seems disinterested in the party at the moment, as she removes one of the beads from the necklace and holds it between her index finger and thumb. “So many questions,” she says. “It seems you would rather dally about here than save her. That makes an old woman think that perhaps you are not what you say you are.” She gives the party a baleful glare.
"I'm sorry, sometimes my curiosity gets the better of me. I have an interest in helping all I can. I'm not entirely green when it comes to curses. Some kind of personal effect always seems to be needed to break, so I asked the poor girl for some of her hair. I also asked for nail clippings just in case but she just looked at me funny."
*Fiora rummages in her pack, stealthily pulling some loose hair from her own hairbrush*
We need you @mashedtaters . She is getting suspicious and I fear I may lose Fiora if this goes much further.
guys, you know Vaga is not the skulduggery kind.. if you don't swipe that eye soon, he''ll go right ahead and ask her for it! I can't RP him in any another way
Fiora tries to be sneaky about it, but her bag is far too cluttered, and she ends up making a lot of noise. Granny Woodworm relaxes a bit, but still seems to be on her guard. “Do not bother with that nonsense,” she says forcefully. “Go and get a real hair from the girl. I am running out of patience, and you are wearing out your welcome.”
@mashedtaters has left the building! Can we do an intelligence test or a spot check to see if he was listening and looking and maybe do a pick pocket attempt on his behalf? As for using mage hand I think the group know that if the hag dies (because it will turn into a battle)... The process will be complete and the girl will turn into the new hag... Unless the old hag is having second thoughts... Bah... Lets not overthink it. I think Ignatuis character wise would simply go for it as we are all leaving. Anduin is thinking about what to do on a return visit...
I've got an idea, @Anduin! Since you're currently also a Nanna, you can give the hag a friendly farewell hug, and in the process pluck the eye out of her robe! How does that sound?
Just use mage hand @Rik_Kirtaniya and let's try this. We can't wait for @mashedtaters to return forever. Better to keep it rolling!
If all of us agree that Guston would most likely try and swipe it then I think @nimran could roll for it. It's in character for Guston, so I don't think Mashed would object.
Vaga draws his breath, as to speak, but just before he is about to speak he hesitates.. He's a bit confused what would happen if he asked for the eye. He looks at the others to silently see if anyone else have a plan of sorts?
So the invisible Guston sneaks forward and attempts to grab the eye. As he tries to pull it out of Granny Woodworm’s robes, her hand suddenly closes around his, and she says “What a disappointment. It seems you are thieves, after all.” With a crooked smile, She holds up the bead in her hand and throws it at the party.
And the party is suddenly engulfed in flames, as the bead explodes upon impacting the ground. Fiora and Anduin manage to react quick enough to avoid some of the flames. 10 damage to Guston, Ignatius, and Vaga. 5 damage to Anduin and Fiora.
The hag seems unfazed and untouched by the flames. “It was a really nice gift,” she croaks.
Guston, coughing through the flames and he pain, tries once again to pickpocket the eye with his other hand, despite that granny hag has a grip on his hand.
Comments
A: Everyone is shocked when Anduin summons a chair out of thin air
B: As Aunduin starts to sit Vaga forms a living chair for the gnome with his keen reflexes.
Spot check: 8+3=11
Guston looks, but doesn’t find an eye anywhere.
Sooo... A lovely little place you have here.
Granny to Nanny, why would you need a lock of her hair?
Anduin does indeed spot an eye-shaped object tucked inside Granny Woodworm’s robes.
Granny Woodworm eyes Anduin suspiciously. “These secrets are not beholden to outsiders,” she says. “It is necessary to break the curse, and that is all you need to know.”
The curse... Oh yes! The curse. Silly me I was momentarily lost in my thoughts when I spotted that I used to have the exact same robe when I was younger. I used to love that robe but you wear that robe with a style and panache that I just can't match... Where was I... I do have a tendency to ramble... old age... Ah yes! The curse. Tell us about the curse.
Vaga spots it too.
The hag looks down at the necklace in her hands and says “That manner of curse is not a simple one. It is a curse placed not upon an individual, but on a bloodline. These curses were widely used in times long past to punish those who had done wrong to someone else, usually a practitioner of the art. This girl may indeed have done such deeds in her past, though I care not. If you wish her cured, it must be with a lock of her hair.” Her fingers start running along the beads as she speaks.
*Fiora turns to the hag*
"Could you lease teach me a little about this curse? I do work as a healer from time to time and curses are tricky things to be rid of."
*Anduin looking around makes a plausible deduction on the faces visible and present. A stroke of luck that the thief in the party is invisible still. A pickpocket opportunity... If only I could let him know.*
Ah... Ah... Ah-Gustoooon!
*Anduin puts a hand to his mouth as she sneezes theatrically, in a feminine sneezle. *
Ooh. Bless me. Oh dear. I did have a nasty habit of using robes to wipe my nose. I now keep a tissue up my sleeve. I suspect you do the same to save your robe.
...
Shall we get this lock of hair then?
Granny Wormwood seems disinterested in the party at the moment, as she removes one of the beads from the necklace and holds it between her index finger and thumb. “So many questions,” she says. “It seems you would rather dally about here than save her. That makes an old woman think that perhaps you are not what you say you are.” She gives the party a baleful glare.
I just said shall we go get the lock of hair? But no one listens to me. Someone grab I... I mean me, and go easy on m-eye robes
Come on Vaga, old bones, pull me up!
*Fiora rummages in her pack, stealthily pulling some loose hair from her own hairbrush*
Fiora tries to be sneaky about it, but her bag is far too cluttered, and she ends up making a lot of noise. Granny Woodworm relaxes a bit, but still seems to be on her guard. “Do not bother with that nonsense,” she says forcefully. “Go and get a real hair from the girl. I am running out of patience, and you are wearing out your welcome.”
If all of us agree that Guston would most likely try and swipe it then I think @nimran could roll for it. It's in character for Guston, so I don't think Mashed would object.
Vaga draws his breath, as to speak, but just before he is about to speak he hesitates.. He's a bit confused what would happen if he asked for the eye. He looks at the others to silently see if anyone else have a plan of sorts?
Guston, having been a little too dense on the uptake, finally manages to put together all the I clues and spots the eye in the hags robes.
He tries to pickpocket it away from granny.
So the invisible Guston sneaks forward and attempts to grab the eye. As he tries to pull it out of Granny Woodworm’s robes, her hand suddenly closes around his, and she says “What a disappointment. It seems you are thieves, after all.” With a crooked smile, She holds up the bead in her hand and throws it at the party.
Vaga: Reflex save: 4+9=13
Guston: Reflex save: 1+6=7
Ignatius: Reflex save: 3+1=4
Anduin: Reflex save: 16
And the party is suddenly engulfed in flames, as the bead explodes upon impacting the ground. Fiora and Anduin manage to react quick enough to avoid some of the flames. 10 damage to Guston, Ignatius, and Vaga. 5 damage to Anduin and Fiora.
The hag seems unfazed and untouched by the flames. “It was a really nice gift,” she croaks.