Chuq at Jaeger's Tower
Chuq sputters to wakefulness to see Jagger’s assistant, Jasper, holding a potion bottle to his lips in what appears to be a guest lodge at the gnome’s tower complex. The liquid is impossibly sweet and soothing on the way down, but as soon as it hits Chuq’s stomach there is terrible cramping and the monk pushes the man aside to double over the side of the bed and puke.
“Well, that hardly seems to have made any difference,” a voice mumbles from across the room, “although it is good to see you conscious again.” Sitting back up and steadying his head with a hand, Chuq focuses to see Jagger looking over from where he sits beside a pale and sickly Bellisente on another bed. As far as Chuq can tell, none of the other party members are here and something is very wrong with both the young cleric and himself [as with the others, both of you have lost a point of Constitution; Chuq has regained 2d8HP from the potion administered by Jasper, though].
“Your friend here has been a bit cagey about what has transpired recently,” Jagger continues, “but based on my excellent deduction skills I have concluded that your extensive burns are related to the dragons that tore past my tower yesterday heading west. That doesn’t explain what is killing you and Bellisente, though, nor how it came to be that she crash-landed a pristine ancient dwarven flying ship into my jungle – really, you need to send word ahead if you want to approach my tower directly!”
“So here are my three questions: where are the rest of your companions? Should I be expecting fire-breathing guests soon? And have you perhaps been playing with damaged dwarven artifacts leaking what my forebears would have called “stone sickness”? By the way, that last one is most important – I have a healthy bet (no pun intended) with Jasper that I’m right about that one.”
[How would Chuq like to answer Jagger?]
“It’s half past 9AM on the 23rd of Masrilden *[the same morning as the dragon attack]* and yes, you do appear to be very ill,” Jagger answers. “I have been thinking about what could be wrong with you while Jasper took his sweet time fetching the healing potion and it occurred to me that you may have encountered damaged dwarven artifacts – perhaps in a lost cloning facility? – and that led me to think of the tales my grandfather told of the stone sickness that afflicted my people, the gnomes, when they mined the deep passages of Meidia. So, could that be it? Jasper doubts my instincts and wagered me a healthy sum in his world’s currency that it was something more mundane.”
*[A detection of Jagger shows him to be evil, but without any predilection toward either lawfulness of chaos]*
“Speaking of his world, you’re very lucky to find me still at home! We’re just about transferred my household to Jasper’s dimension and you are likely one of my very last guests here. I suppose, too, it’s doubly lucky – not only do you get to enjoy my vibrant and engaging company one last time before my light is gone from this world, you also found perhaps the only being on Curmidden who can save your life. If you’re game for it, I have some texts about stone sickness in my library and a bioforging machine in my basement; combined with my grandfather’s wisdom, I might be able to fix you … assuming, of course, that it is stone sickness. I suppose anything we try could kill you if the diagnosis is wrong and then this would all be somewhat less lucky. By the way, you should make a decision quickly; the two of you will waste away in no time if I’m correct – which I am (Jagger sticks his tongue out at the back of Jasper’s head as his ‘servant’ checks on Bellisente).”
*[What is Chuq’s reaction to this?]*
“An ancient dwarven engine, eh? Very interesting! I do hope you live so we can talk more about this … although, to be honest, relocating to Jasper’s world means abandoning my Bioforging experiments and the hunt for the cloning facility. It seems that without a dwarven invasion, larger machines that draw upon trans-spatial energy cease to function. But, I would say that sounds like I’ve won the bet. Wouldn’t you agree, Jasper?”
“I suppose, sir,” answers Jasper in his long-suffering tone, “that will be demonstrated most decisively by the outcome of your surgical intervention. If Master Nourris dies, I think that we prove my point – no offense to our favorite monk, of course.”
Jagger’s mouth opens in astonishment: “Pish posh, man. Chuq’s death doesn’t prove me wrong – any number of factors or mistakes could prove lethal in the treatment. His survival, on the other hand, would show just how right I am. Really, it’s amazing you survived in your dimension before finding me with such shoddy logical facilities.”
Turning to Chuq, Jagger continues: “That’s all academic, though, since I am obviously correct even before any life-or-death experiential evidence. To answer your questions, though: I will certainly aide your friends to the best of my ability if they show up; the flying ship is resting in the jungle where it landed after my illusory defenses – illusion defenses? I mean, they are real, just not really real – prevented your faithful servant here from approaching the tower itself; and I will happily listen to any flattering attempts to change my mind about leaving once you have been treated. I should add that Ericus tells me the flying ship has ceased to float and seems inert now. Regardless of the viability of that transport, though, my recommendation would be to undergo treatment before rushing to the rescue of your friends; if they’re fighting dragons, the issue has likely already been decided one way or the other and your wasting away will not change that.”
“Indeed, Jasper and I should get things ready in the laboratory immediately; Philipot is waiting outside and can tend to you until we’re ready. Just ask him for anything you need to make yourselves comfortable. Since I am so obviously right in my diagnosis, it should only take a couple of hours to get the Bioforging machine ready to operate.”
*With that, Jagger stands and heads toward the door with Jasper. Unless you have something else to ask him, he will leave to make his preparations and Philipot will enter to see to you and Bellisente.*
Jagger turns back at the door and looks at Chuq thoughtfully. “Hmm? Increase your strength? I suppose it would be possible to combine that procedure with your treatment, although stone sickness weakens the body significantly … the cure itself doesn’t offer any means of increasing your abilities, if that’s what you mean. It simply halts their deterioration. Did you want to risk it? I suppose it would be interesting to see how your body reacts, especially given your training by the Order.”
*[Ability increases via Bioforging are available per the same formula as before; any two points of STR, DEX, or CON to gain one point of another of those attributes. You will need to make the appropriate saving throws for that, too.]*
“No, no, no … I meant the original invasion by the ancient dwarves. Something they did apparently makes this trans-spatial energy – magic, as it were – easier to access while channeling it directly into some of their more advanced constructs. As I mentioned during your last stay here, Jasper’s world never experienced the arrival of the dwarves and hence cannot support their technology.”
*[Again, let me know if there’s anything else Chuq wishes to say or do. Once Jagger and Jasper leave, Philipot will come in and provide food, drink, etc. during the wait for the Bioforge treatment.]*
Jagger smiles and gives Chuq a thumbs up as he leaves. “Very good! I admire your willingness to die in pursuit of self-improvement.”
As soon as he exits, Philipot bustles in and takes food and drink requests – he is swift and efficient, a disciple of order and neutrality through-and-through *[i.e., Lawful Neutral per Chuq’s psionic detection]*. Bellisente seems annoyed by his presence and brusquely asks for privacy once Philipot has his instructions regarding sustenance and washing supplies.
Almost as soon as he’s outside the guest lodge, Bellisente levers herself off the other bed and makes her way to Chuq on unsteady feet. “You need to leave,” she whispers while kneeling to throw open the chest next to the monk’s bed in which his equipment has been stowed *[including the items you asked about]*. “It was a mistake to come here … before they woke you, Jagger and Jasper tried their damnedest to learn anything they could about Thorfus and the others, the cloning facility, the flying ship, and the dragons. It felt like good watchman, bad watchman for a bit the way they pressed with their questions. Then they went off for a while to get the potion, came back, and carried on with you like old buddies running into each other at the market. That gnome lies easier than breathing. I don’t think I can make it, but you should go.”
Hearing Chuq’s suggestion about strength augmentation, Bellisente pauses in her gathering up of equipment: “You think we can trust either of them or their dwarven machinery? I thought maybe if you got to the river and found a boat you could make it to Vargen or Midmark before this sickness gets too much worse. It’s possible their behavior reflects nothing more than greed for knowledge, but it makes me uneasy to see them shift tone so quickly.” A fit of coughing overtakes Bellisente before she continues: “I’d like to believe they can help – I want to see Sturloc again – but it seems almost too convenient.”
*[What does Chuq want to say/do?]*
Bellisente nods slowly: “Okay, that makes sense – I didn’t tell them anything about the cloning ship or the battle, although Jagger guessed quite a bit based on your injuries and this sickness. Certainly not enough, though, to tell him anything he didn’t already suspect about the ship’s location. I hope you’re right about the two of them.”
“Anyway, after Myrientaxus was killed and you began plummeting to the ground, I launched the two flying machines across the battlefield. Our weapons struck down one of the red dragons and I was able to grab onto you – those machines are incredibly fast! Anyway, the other red dragon shadow stepped to the second flying machine and destroyed it with another blast of fire just as the blue was arriving at the tree. I knew that the dragons would destroy us if we stayed just as easily, so I continued heading west.”
“My initial plan,” Bellisente continues, “was to locate the barge and try to signal Harb or Laurente to follow me further off to rendezvous and wait for the others. However, that didn’t work out. I flew past the barge, but it was being overrun by hundreds of Undying, both regular and giants, along with those strange elves and other warriors. They were pouring out of a glowing hole in the ground. Laurente and the others were bound and the Dark King’s forces were forming up like they were going to march towards the tree. I knew then that we needed to get much further away to avoid capture.”
“So, I decided to head to Jagger’s – Vargen was a mess last time we visited and I know that Midmark isn’t safe after the dragon attack. The rest is as Jagger said; I tried to approach his tower but found myself flying away each time. Eventually, I just landed and his men found us and brought us here.
Bellisente goes quiet as Philipot returns with the food, drink, and washing supplies. He continues bustling about the room, providing whatever assistance either of you require.
*[Is there anything else Chuq wants to say/do while waiting for Jagger and Jasper to prep the Bioforge?]*
“No news, Master Nourris, which is troubling in itself. We only need re-supplying here at the tower every few weeks and that’s mostly the delicacies Master Jagger enjoys rather than necessities. The last of these shipments from Vargen never appeared, which I suppose supports Master Jagger’s decision to move us to Master Jasper’s household. I’m also sorry to say that this siege business hasn’t made its way to my ears yet. Perhaps that explains the interruption in supplies, though.”
*[Anything else Chuq wants to ask/do?]*
Philipot attends to Chuq and Bellisente for about an hour before being called away by some underlings with a question about packing foodstuff for their move. He lets the two of you know that servants are just outside if you need anything else.
Once he’s gone for a bit, Chuq makes his way out of the guest lodge to the garden area behind Jagger’s tower. A few servants are there, along with Ericus (Jagger’s captain of the guard who trained some of the party in the past). He greets Chuq, but seems otherwise engaged talking up one of the servant girls.
Looking about the compound, it is clear that there is very little left here – no smoke or sounds emanate from the blacksmiths and there are far fewer workers bustling about the area. Those who are here are mostly packing transporting crates, casks, barrels, and chests from the storage sheds into the main tower. Wymark, the head servant inside the tower, stands at the doors and checks things off on a list as each item passes inside.
*[Based on Jagger’s estimate, you probably have about a half hour more until he’s ready to operate; anything else you would like to do?]*
Ericus looks flustered as Chuq sits in the garden and the servant girl, who seems relieved to get away, takes this opportunity to hurry off on some errand she claims is related to the upcoming move. Ericus makes an effort to be friendly, but his good cheer is forced and he seems just as anxious to go (his eyes follow the serving girl longingly as she flees). Your question on training, though, focuses his attention.
“Umm … yeah, sure thing. Training shouldn’t be a problem, assuming the bosses don’t move up the departure date. I heard you’re sick or something, though, so it should wait until after Master Jagger tends to that. Your cleric friend is out of luck, on the other hand. We rely on elixirs and potions here for that healing stuff – and, if you can believe it, there are no gods or clerics in Master Jasper’s world.”
He thinks for a moment, which is clearly taxing, and then adds: “Let me go check to make sure the training equipment hasn’t been crated up yet; I will be sure to visit you when Master Jagger is done with what he needs to do.”
Ericus then leaves, coincidentally heading off in the same direction as the serving girl.
*[Chuq now has about fifteen minutes; anything else he would like to say/do?]*
After waiting another half hour, Jagger returns with Ericus to collect Chuq and Bellisente for their treatment. He listens to Chuq’s questions and seems a bit perturbed.
“I really wouldn’t recommend waiting any longer on the treatment. Of course, I won’t tell you what to do – and have no problem working on fair Bellisente first – but the speed at which stone sickness’s symptoms progress can vary greatly and a delay could prove deadly. If you are concerned about the success of the augmentation surgery, my advice would be to fix your illness now and we can revisit the other issue once that is handled. Again, though, I leave it to your discretion.”
Incidentally, Jasper is hanging around near the door during the exchange looking uncomfortable as usual (he snorts when Jagger mentions stone sickness, so he doesn’t seem convinced). He is a dark abyss of greed and violence when Chuq detects his alignment (chaotic evil).
If Chuq mentions training for Bellisente, Jagger will shrug: “Yes, Ericus mentioned something along those lines. Unfortunately, there is no one here who can help with her studies.”
“Now, everything is ready in the basement for your treatment. Are we doing it now or did you need to think through your options a bit more?”
*[Do Chuq and Bellisente accompany Jagger and his entourage into the tower now, or did you want to delay this treatment?]*
Jagger looks a bit sheepish as he replies: "Well, it's all fairly theoretical at this point." Jasper harrumphs pointedly at that. "Yes, yes, Jasper, we all know you doubt both the diagnosis and the remedy but something needs to be done. This may not be ideal, but I will not have their deaths on my hands; they were very good dinner guests, after all."
Turning back to Chuq, Jagger continues: "In short, I have not tried the treatment. It's based on some notes in ancient gnomish texts collected by my forebears along with some (rather inspired in my opinion) insights into how that knowledge could be combined with Bioforging. You and Bellisente will be given a drink that should help my machine isolate the infection and excise it with minimal damage to the surrounding tissues." You may detect a bit of doubt underneath his bravado as he asserts this.
He thinks for a moment before continuing. "There should not be any noticeable side effects and, in fact, it should be much safer than the augmentation surgeries you have already undergone with almost no recover time needed. The real question is whether it will be effective. I don't want to offer false hope here, but I stand by my recommendation to not delay." His pleading looks seems sincere enough.
*[Mechanically, there has been no effect since Chuq and Bellisente lost that first point of CON; both of you do feel very tired, though, and it seems obvious that something is wrong with your health.]*
Bellisente pales a bit, then nods nervously. Jagger claps his hands, “Excellent, then! Let’s move to the Bioforging chamber and get you fixed up!” Under his breath, Chuq hears Jasper add: “Or killed.”
With Jagger and Jasper leading the way, you and Bellisente cross the yard in company with Ericus and Philipot (who joins you in the gardens). At the door, the group is met by Wymark and Philipot bids you good luck and adds that he hopes to see you again real soon – a comment that gets a glare from both Wymark and Jagger.
From there, it is a short trek through some hallways and libraries to the winding stairs that lead to the basement. Once there, you cross the silent chamber to the operating room where the Bioforge machine waits like some monstrous spider with razor-sharp claws. A side table has two milky potion bottles on it and Jasper passes one to Bellisente.
“My dear,” Jagger says says as he moves to the control pedestal for the machine, “please drink the entirety of that bottle and then we can begin the surgical component of the treatment. Master Nourris, you should wait until just before your surgery to drink the other bottle. One question for you both: the treatment requires great precision and you will both need to remain very still – even if there is a bit of … discomfort. I leave it up to you whether you wish to be bound to the table to prevent any unfortunate accidents caused by involuntary movement.”
Bellisente finishes the bottle and opts for the restraints: “I’m nervous enough that I’m not sure I could be still even without any pain,” she explains. Jasper leaves for a moment and returns with shackles that can be fitted to bolt-holes on the table to hold various numbers and sizes of appendages. Jagger clears his throat: “Ahem, it will also be necessary to remove your garments – the machine will need to be able to make incisions freely over the entirety of your bodies.”
This gives Bellisente pause, but she steels herself and begins removing her garments (both Jagger and Jasper busy themselves looking elsewhere). Finally, at Jagger’s prompting, Bellisente hops up on the table and Jasper proceeds to restrain her limbs and head with these implements.
“Alright then … let’s roll the dice and see if this works!” Jagger exclaims, placing his hand on the pedestal to activate the machine. Immediately, the spidery limbs of the automaton whirl to life and descend on Bellisente, moving almost too fast to process. What is clear is that they are repeatedly making small incisions at what seem to be random spots on her body and removing miniscule bits of tissue. Bellisente grimaces, catches her breath, but the restraints hold her and the machine completes its business in about twenty minutes.
As the Bioforge machine goes still, Jasper steps forward to undo the bindings and hand Bellisente her clothes. She rises gingerly from the table, but seems otherwise unharmed. Jagger appears happy: “Well! That could have gone much worse. We will need to observe you for a bit, but your color already seems much improved.” Chuq sees that this is true enough; Bellisente has regained a bit of color and her movements show none of the weakness from earlier.
“That was unpleasant, but I do feel a bit better” Bellisente declares once she has dressed.
“Ready for your go?” Jagger asks Chuq.
*[Let me know if you’re still committed to undergoing the surgery; also, are you delaying the augmentation procedure until a later date?]*
Bellisente appreciates your concern and listens closely to your instructions; while she still arches an eyebrow at the Evenkeel comments, she remains silent and nods when Chuq finishes: “I am certain you will survive. However, if you do die here, I will do everything in my power to find any other surviving members of our group and complete the quest to stop Xeno’Tel.”
Jagger meanwhile nods quickly at Chuq’s suggestion of delaying the augmentation. “That’s almost certainly the right choice given how well the cure seems to be working for Bellisente,” he comments. “Your ring and bracers are likely small enough to have no effect on the machine’s ability to operate – especially the ring. If they increase your confidence in a positive outcome, I won’t argue against you wearing them.”
*[Quick clarification: did you want to ask the question about the machine’s power after the operation? If so, does Chuq elect to be restrained or does he rely on his own ability to remain still? Is there anything else he wants to say or do before hopping up on the table?]*
Jagger considers for a moment, then nods. “Yes, yes … there will be time for questions afterwards. Let’s get the immediate threat dealt with, though, before there is any more permanent damage.”
Chuq downs the milky liquid and removes his garments, electing to keep the ring and bracers, and climbs onto the operating table (Bellisente, who has been given a chair, just leans her head back on the wall with her eyes closed). Jasper reattaches the same restraints used during Bellisente’s treatment and then signals to Jagger that everything is ready.
Jagger looks over at Chuq with a somewhat rueful half-smile: “Well, here goes nothing. Regardless of the outcome of this operation, I want you to know that it’s been a pleasure meeting you Master Nourris. You were an exemplary guest and demonstrated nothing but the best manners and a delightful wit. I don’t know if you arriving when you did was fortunate or not – one hopes you will have time to decide that for yourself later. Under the circumstances, though, I hope you can see that this is the best help that I’m able to supply.” Jasper glances at Jagger and chuckles softly, earning a hard stare in return. With that, Jagger places his hand to the control pedestal …
There’s a blur of motion in the periphery of your sight as the automaton’s manipulators dart forward, followed by darkness and pain. Accompanying this, although you barely register it in the moment, comes a soft chant in Jasper’s voice sounding something like a lullaby …
*[Can you please roll a d20 on Roll20 and post the results here?]*
The pain recedes slightly but the darkness remains – Jasper’s whispering goes quiet and he sighs exasperatedly, “Oh, bother. Can you call your man in Jagger to help?”
Bellisente’s voice cuts in from Chuq’s other side: “What’s happening? That doesn’t look right at all … stop the machine! He’s been hurt!”
Jagger, seeming to ignore her comment, answers Jasper instead: “I’ve rung for Ericus; he should have been waiting in the stairwelland ready to help. Can I trust that you have abandoned that foolishness, Jasper? Let’s not make this any more complicated or dangerous than it needs to be.”
“Hey, what’s going on with Chuq? Are you listening to me?”
There is the sound of the door opening.“Please keep back from the table, Bellisente,” Jagger answers, “the machine can be dangerous. Ericus, will you see to the problem?”
*[Can you roll 2d6 and post the results here.]*
There are heavy footsteps rushing towards the table followed by two thuds in quick succession. “Excellent timing, Ericus. Could you please make sure there is no permanent damage,” Jagger says, “and then move her somewhere safe and out of the way?”
“Follow me, young man!” Jasper commands. “I assume you can take care of the rest of this procedure on your own, Jagger?” At this point, Chuq’s sense of pain has numbed considerably and he can only faintly feel the jabbing of the BioForge unit’s tools. Right now, the activity seems random and superficial.
“It’s just about finished, although I’ll need to suture and check the wounds. Please, Jasper, be sensible about this and leave well enough alone.” There’s no answer, but footsteps retreat and the door closes again as the machine slows its manipulations and seems to come to a stop.
Suddenly, Jagger’s voice is at Chuq’s ear: “I’m fairly certain this chamber is shielded from prying eyes, but I will keep this brief all the same. Shortly after you and Bellisente arrived, I had some unwelcome guests in the form of a sizable hunting party in the service of that so-called Dark King. They were surveilling my tower after determining your group spent time here and had seen that ship crash-land.”
“I wanted to play dumb and delay, but Jasper saw no reason to risk anything for some ‘tiresome adventurers’ [he mimics Jasper’s tone here] and told this war leader everything, even offering to kill you and Bellisente. We argued it a bit and came to a compromise: you would be handed over and Bellisente allowed to go free … damn, it’s still too much to explain and I need to do a couple of things before anyone interrupts. Here’s the quick version:”
“You and Bellisente truly were both sick when you arrived. It was the war leader who told us that it was stone sickness, though, and provided an elixir that supposedly cures the disease. This warrior, Ilsske, had instructions that we were to claim an operation was necessary in addition to the elixir in order to prepare you for captivity – she was very specific about having your eyeballs removed to prevent shadow stepping, proving this Dark King character is more ruthless than even Jasper.”
“Hold your questions and recriminations, though! Jasper plans to take Bellisente with us as slave and/or test subject when we cross over to his world and then implode the rift to prevent anyone following … you know, I’m seem to be a bit of an ass in a world where gnomes don’t exist and I’m human. Anyway, I’m not pleased with how things are going but don’t particularly want to die here at the hands of either that psychotic or Ilsske and her people or in a fiery apocalypse.”
“So here’s my solution: I’m going to reattach your eyes now but stitch everything shut so it looks like they’re still missing – luckily there were some other volunteers in storage to provide spare eyeballs in case anyone asks where yours are – and then I’m going to implant a bit of Jasper’s world under your skin in your arm. Your magic user friend, Edan, or someone like him, should be able to use this material to reopen the rift between worlds and follow after to save Bellisente if I can’t convince Jasper to leave her behind … I mean, I threw her and that husband of hers a wedding party just a few weeks ago, I’m not about to separate them for all eternity. You’re going with this Ilsske lady, I’m afraid, but I trust you’re resourceful enough to survive that, fix your eyes, and make your way back here.”
“Anyway, I must complete two delicate surgeries before anyone interrupts, so there’s not a lot of time for chit-chat. I won’t ask right now if we’re good, but do we understand each other at least?”
Over the sound of shuffling around Jagger responds: “I take that as a compliment – it seems the only real weakness of both Jasper and the Dark King is an inability to believe anyone is smarter or more devious then themselves. Now, the reattachment of the eyeballs is a bit of a dicey proposition, but past experiments with some of my … creations in the jungle prove it can be done successfully. If Ericus keeps Jasper occupied a bit longer I can try the augmentation at the same time, too, but there’s a chance you could end up dead. That would likely hinder any rescue attempts for Bellisente since the only other people who know she might be leaving with us are Ilsske and her warriors. On the other hand, this is likely your last chance for such an operation, so perhaps it is worthwhile. Still up for it, even knowing the risks? Either way, I need to start the machine now.”
*[As before, Chuq would need to make a system shock roll to avoid death, a save vs. death with any Constitution bonuses to avoid -2 Charisma, and get a week of rest afterwards before adventuring [being a prisoner would probably suffice for this]; the trade-off is still 2-to-1 between Dexterity, Strength, and Constitution. In addition, regardless of augmentation, I need a separate save vs. death with Constitution bonuses.]*
Chuq’s mouth feels a bit numb, but he manages to instruct the gnome to proceed with both the reattachment of his eyeballs and strength augmentation. Jagger sounds concerned but not surprised: “Well, you’re certainly far braver than I am – let’s hope you stick around to make use of that bravery in saving Bellisente.”
With that, Chuq hears the click of the control pedestal and whirl of the machine’s manipulators … those are the last sounds he hears before his consciousness slips away ….
[Chuq has died on Jagger’s operating table; Ilsske will take the body and Bellisente – the Dark King wants someone living to interrogate; the Dark King will also take Chuq’s body to use since it is an improvement over the native islander chieftain he currently uses.]