A Gasp of Rot

A Gasp of Rot
Date	7/19/25
Storyteller	Doug
Tier	Expert
Player Characters	Phyl, Uravas, Arumi, Willow, Swaying Petals, Samara
Rewards	300 exp, Deathdrinking rune, Bleeding Canines graft, Flaying Knife, 800 gp
Result	Success
Author	Tire
Downtime	15

Log

Day 5

After some traveling we arrived at our arranged destination. We were to investigate a shipment that resulted in dead guards. When we arrived, we saw the scene in full view - 5 dead guards, a dead donkey, and the cart in question.

I'm not sure what exactly the others' thought processes were, but they decided to directly investigate the cart. The cart that contained a box that, when slightly opened, apparently killed several guards nearly instantly. I went to investigate the surroundings. After my last expedition, I wanted to examine the wildlife, to see if there was any changes in their behaviors or physiology. My investigation turned out as I expected - wildlife in the area were suffering from a disease, I would learn later they exhibited the same disease the guards seemed to be afflicted with. Arumi and Willow joined me shortly after as the cart investigation had seemingly turned a bit too "in depth" for the two of them, and aided the local wildlife. Arumi provided food and spoke with the animals magically, and both Arumi and Willow used their abilities to temper their affliction.

The birds inform Arumi that they saw what happened - the crate opened and a swarm of shadow-like, bug-like creatures swarmed them, entering their orifices and killing them. They then flew to the south. This is the direction the shipment originally came from. The others inform us that the cart had the same occultic symbols associated with the burning piles of corpses in the forest. We offer a tasteful ceremony for the dead guards and donkey and disturb the symbol. While my back was turned, Arumi cast a spell on a fox and put it to sleep, seemingly at request of some birds. Uravas seemed excited at the prospect of another pet. This behavior is unusual to me and Willow, of course birds would want a predator to be gone, but this is a disturbance of the natural cycle... one fox shouldn't hurt, and it's ultimately tertiary-at-best to the problem at hand.

My Analysis: There is a cult operating somewhere that is obsessed with the spread of disease. Based on Arumi's own hypotheses, this may in fact be a cult surrounding the Rider of Pestilence, Apollyon. They possess the ability to rapidly advance disease and make even relatively-mundane diseases potentially harder, if not impossible to stave off. Our current countermeasures may not be enough.

Day 10

We head back to the city in order to retrieve a boat that Father Jude rented for us. Uravas self-styles himself as a "pirate", though it seems he mostly just plays pretend based on our prior interactions and the fact that when he took the helm, it became clear immediately that he had no clue how to pilot a boat. Unfortunately for all of us, he seemed to be our best bet, but luckily Arumi's knowledge of constructions came in handy and could interpret what her brother wanted to do. I may need to study up on some more practical skills in my off time... On the journey, we all took various positions, though it seemed like some were just enjoying the trip. I stationed myself as a lookout in the crow's nest of the ship, Samara seemed sea sick and fearful (considering she is supposedly made of sugar, this is understandable), Arumi and Uravas worked the steering while Willow and Petals seemed to idly pass the time.

In the distance I note an entire island seems to be engulfed in a black fog, and also things moving at us in the water. I alert the crew, giving us precious few seconds of preparations before the entire vessel is rocked. I make use of the height advantage to observe the situation and to attack from unseen angles. Weresharks attack our vessel, climbing up swiftly. I watch one by Uravas throw what appeared to be a coconut at the wannabe pirate, which seemed to interfere with his spellcasting ability somehow. The weresharks bark at us and each other that we are "infected", in particular pointing out Samara. Willow does a good job protecting Petals and Samara, while Arumi takes the opportunity to teleport to the crow's nest with me. The weresharks are just as vulnerable to attacks, but as I observe the unfolding battle, I notice a familiar face... and rest of their body, as well. Climbing on the leader of the weresharks menacing Uravas was Kiara, the red panda poppet!

I take the opportunity to rapidly de-escalate the situation, re-introducing myself to the poppet. It's been nearly 2 years since we last saw each other, but she's directed a few poppets towards Onadbyr's way. The 'coconut' was another poppet, in the shape of a remarkably round monkey. I'm sure there's a grand story as to how she came to the company of a tribe of weresharks, but we both had more pressing concerns. The tribe attacks ships in this area, as usually ships contain the "infected", indicating to me that we were, unfortunately, on the right path. They sink as much as they can, but can't get them all. We're informed that the Isle of Vol is currently engulfed, but the cloud seems to be moving along. They would not help us on our journey, but would offer their home as a way-station. Understandably, they'd want us to quarantine to our ship, but it is a safe haven nonetheless.

Bestiary update

Weresharks: Nothing unusual about these specimens, they are a tribe of weresharks native to these waters. Connection to The Father's werecreature camp unknown. They may prove to be an ally in this region. Deft of hand, both striking with their tridents in close quarters combat and at distance by throwing things.

My analysis: While the black smoke that emerged from the crate near the city was described like a swarm of insects, it is noteworthy that there seems to be an infectious black cloud on these waters. While there was no good sign of what the goods from the crate were, I believe that the smoke is corrupting and infecting organic matter. The insects may be a byproduct, which then returns to the cloud. But for what purpose? If their goal was to spread disease, would it not want to spread out from the diseased "vector"? We need more information. I have the shape of a hypothesis in my mind, barely an outline, but I really hope I'm wrong...

Later

We departed from the weresharks, apparently now sure of our route. As much as it makes me nervous, it is right that we should be investigating. We approach the Isle of Vol, the black cloud looming ominously. Uravas and Arumi manage a maneuver to get us close enough to the cloud that we could attempt to analyze it. Arumi sends a magic clone of herself and they manage to scoop up some of this cloud using one of Miss Samara's apparently infinite glass vials. These don't appear to be insects, but upon analysis, we are able to deduce that the cloud has some maligned influence on disease, but is not a disease vector itself. Cold comforts, even with the antiplagues so graciously provided for our journey. The cloud was thin and shallow here, so we ventured even closer, spotting a pair of humanoid figures on the island itself. Also of note, raging green fires. If this is anything like the Golarian Thrush incident, those fires may be even more vile than expected. We did not simply want to moor the ship on the shore, so Willow and I put our heads together and we managed to drop anchor and camouflage the ship against the island. Arumi cast magic on us to let us walk upon water invisibly.

On the shore we were able to get a closer look upon the two humans. One was gaunt, almost as if he were completely dried out. The other featured grotesque tumor-like growths - two of them, both would normally appear to be inhibiting of movement, in particular the tumor upon his neck, but he displayed no signs of impediment. The two are collecting what appears to be writhing worms and insects, stuffing them into crates. This reminds me of something, which is better suited for my analysis. As this is occurring, we are alerted to the approach of a ship - or, more accurately, half of a ship. It moors upon the shore, and we give it space. Two figures jump out (see Bestiary Update below) and begin a discussion with the locals. As I'm taking notes about the shipment and their conversation, a streak of flame - Arumi has ended the invisibility we enjoyed, launching a Fireball and alerting the figures to our presence.

The fight is grueling. In recognition of the enemy spellcaster, I see it prudent to focus on him before any disastrously beneficial spells are cast on the daemon's behalf. We weren't quite fast enough, but Arumi and I were able to stop him from performing too many spells, leaving us alone with the daemon as the humans look on. In spite of our overwhelming numbers, many of our party are academics, and unsuited for close quarters combat. It seemed to recognize this, and after the death of the Inquisitor, it used some teleportation spell to teleport past the rest of the party to attack Arumi in the back, who is knocked out easily. The rest of the party rushes to her aid as I desperately try to lodge any arrows in its hide, but I found myself lacking in the face of an aspect of death and disease. Willow is instrumental in ensuring everyone's safety thanks to her Timber Sentinels, and Arumi is able to be resuscitated Thanks to Arumi's new horse companion and Uravas, we were able to terminate the daemon, and we took the opportunity to flee with the information we've gathered. We boarded our boat and returned to Onadbyr.

Bestiary Update

Inquisitor: Both the locals and his own self referred to him thusly as Inquisitor. Humanoid, but mutated (fleshwarped? more info needed). Possesses a third appendage featuring a mouth, and a lot of tentacles, seemingly floating. He appeared to be surrounded by mosquitoes, though it was noted that these were unusually mutated mosquitoes, of course. Appeared to be some kind of religious figure (if it wasn't apparent from his title), as the two "common" humans showed deference to him. Practiced some form of occult magecraft in support of the Hulking Leukodaemon, and seemed to attempt to make some form of defensive formation with the larger creature before an untimely yet auspicious death. There may be more inquisitors in service of this cult of pestilence.

Hulking Leukodaemon: Arumi is assured that, fundamentally, this creature was a leukodaemon, the deacons of the Pestilence Rider Apollyon. Based on our combined knowledge, this creature looks horrifically mutated, compared to the "common" leukodaemon variant. It leaks pus and other bodily fluids, which it seems capable of using as a spray to afflict some kind of disease upon us. It is capable of some kind of teleportation magic. As expected of a daemon, it retains a weakness to Holy energy. Most distressingly, it seemed to have an ability to even infect inorganic matter.

My analysis: There was something that I came across once upon a time, a method once said to be used by a mad poisoner to concentrate a powerful venom by trapping various venomous creatures in a box, who would then inevitably begin predating each other, either out of the natural prey cycle, or simply out of the natural hunger response. The remaining creature would be the most venomous creature of the bunch. The process would be repeated until, supposedly, the most potent venom of all would be produced as each batch's "last creature standing" would then "compete" with each other in a form of "battle royale" to create a complex and incredibly potent poison or venom. I have a sinking suspicion, with the fact that diseased goods are being sent into the world, and then being recalled back to this cloud, that something similar is happening - especially since the islanders are collecting insects and other diseased material to ship out into the world. This could explain why a relatively mundane disease like Scarlet Fever could be so rapidly deadly. It is my recommendation that all shipments to Onadbyr are rigorously inspected even more.