Wayward Expeditions - Rise of the Runelords - Episode 11

 	Intro: For much of written history world events followed chartered routes. Oracles and seers mapped out the future in the stars above and their prophecies always gave a reliable view of the ages to come. Until a god died a century ago. No one saw that coming. And now the old prophecies are failing, oracles go mad and seers desperately tried to account for the loss of the future. While some cry out that the world is at an end, they've been doing so for a hundred years now and the world is still here, it's just unclear where things are going. The future of Golarian is open, ready to receive the triumphs and failures of a new generation of heroes. Welcome to Rise of the Runelords!

GM: Markus, while you're in the Curious Goblin talking to the proprietor, you hear some talk about the heroes going on a shopping spree in the market.

Markus: Ok. And at this point, he's kind of noticed that the tensions around town are somewhat ratcheting up.

GM: Yeah, there's a lot of rumor mongering going on. You can see straight down Sand Street, there's a bunch of guards around the goblin, goblin works [laughs] the Glassworks.

Taury: And he said the shot wasn't having an effect, sure.

Markus: Ok Markus will have been doing what he can to set people's minds at ease, quashing some of the, utterly more ridiculous rumors before they get out of hand when he's got the opportunity, but hearing that, he will politely excuse himself from the bookstore owner. "Perhaps I ought to go see what my companions are doing, they seem to be, not helping matters with all these rumors. I look forward to continuing this conversation later."

GM: "Oh sure, sure."

Markus: "Thank you. It's been most illuminating, anyway I, I must go." And with that he heads for the door.

GM: You easily make your way down to the market, it is busy today but you easily find your friends as well.

Markus: "Well, hello."

Loyal: "How did the meeting go?"

Markus: "Which one?"

Loyal: "I didn't know there were more than one, but the one involving the sheriff the, the mayor and various others."

Markus: He pauses to think about that. "About as well as can be expected."

Loyal: "Well, that's good at the very least, it seems the town for a bit of chaos right now." 

Markus: "Yes, what were you doing?"

Loyal: "We weren't really doing anything for the most part we, ah well we got Ameiko out of there, she was in the Glassworks, I'm sure you've heard. And then we went back and confirmed that." And he kind of lowers his voice and kind of mutters under breath that her father is dead. "And after that, we went to try and attend this meeting but we got there right about when it had ended. We have information involving Thistletop, I believe, and I think this is where the goblins and the various other allies are operating from, as well as, the sheriff asked us to re-investigate the ruins that you all had found underneath town."

Markus: "Yeah. Wait, the sheriff wants us to do that?"

Loyal: "He says that they can't ah, well guard every entrance at once and they're running low on guards, is what he's saying."

Markus: "Of course they are."

Loyal: "So I'm, I mainly just buying alchemical items to possibly help with that."

Markus: "That would be great. It would be great if we could, you know, afford to do that in like a couple of days time, so that some of the people I've been talking to quietly might have a chance to, you know, get back to me with the answers to certain questions but no, ok."

Loyal: "Well I'd suppose-" 

Markus: "Apparently, this is urgent enough that it needs doing now, if the town is short of guards."

Loyal: "Well I think we should all, at the very least, retire to the Rusty Dragon and figure out what our next move is. There are a lot of options right now."

Markus:  "Yes."

Loyal: "Oh, and if if you didn't know, Ameiko is allowing us to stay at the Rusty Dragon, room and board for free forever, is what she said."

Markus: "Oh, oh well yes, that's, that's good I wasn't aware of that. Now, I found you all because, shopping spree?"

Loyal: Well I'd- we've figured well- oh, I suppose and I had a package from ah what was her name? It was  Hindmarch, Hidlemarch, something like that. She gave me a package before I came on the boat to get here and to deliver it to the heros of Sandpoint and inside was apparently, information on some Thassilonian ruins in the Nettlewood-" 

Markus: "Wait what?"

Loyal: "As well as some money to help fund the journey." And who has the, who has the package right now, actually?

Morana: I believe I still did.

Loyal: Yeah,I think I gave it to Morana, so.

Markus: "That can't be coincidence."

Morana: Morana will show Markus the letter.

Markus: Markus will glance around and make sure that there's nobody in immediate hearing distance other than the group, and lower his voice so it doesn't carry. "Can't be coincidence that she's in a place with Thassilonian ruins, and her fiancee was using a smuggling tunnel of Thassilonian ruins. Unknown Thassilonian ruins in this part of the world? They're all but unheard of, they're all explored."

Loyal: "Well, I think at the very least, we should finish up our shopping here as well as ah and then go back and discuss this somewhere more private like The Rusty Dragon. Probably don't, there's enough rumors going around right now I'd imagine?"

Markus: "Yeah, I've been trying to do something about that but, you know how rumors work."

Loyal: "Yeah, and I think that we probably have some money if you want to do some shopping." I kind of gesture to Morana and say. "There should be money in that package that we all split amongst ourselves?"

Morana: Yeah, she'll hand Markus his share of it.

Loyal: I think it's 50, yeah it was 50 gold each, essentially, so.

Fenwarin: "Ah yes and Markus here's another coin for you that we got from Brodert as well." And I hand him over one of the platinum coins.

Markus: "Oh, ok thank you. Well, I can always use money for equipment. I think as a group we're probably still, rather under equipped but yes, um I'll join you at the Rusty Dragon if you're heading there shortly. I need to buy some things."

Loyal: "Ah yes it's probably where I'll head after this, I have some potions I would like to finish as well, some alchemical items." Loyal will just go back to shopping for all the various things he needs.

Morana: Morana's already pretty much got what she was looking for here. She's going to go get some lunch.

Taury: Taury's probably gonna join Morana.

Fenwarin: Fenwarin's just gonna go with the group.

Taury: The group is splitting.

GM: "Well uh, lunch sounds good then."

Loyal: Loyal's finishing shopping then heading back to the Rusty Dragon, it won't take them long, he's mostly bought what he needs by now.

Markus: Ok, so is anyone else staying around while Markus, does shopping or is everyone else disappearing?

Loyal: Yeah, Loyal is there for a bit longer.

Markus: Ok, Markus will be looking around for various items, doesn't seem to find exactly what he's looking for and settles on picking up some specialty inks, some reagents and like."

GM: Alright. After you've acquired everything you needed, had your food, took some time to brew some potions and whatnot, you all reconvene for dinner in the Rusty Dragon, having gone about your various businesses between lunch and now.

Morana: That sounds about right.

Markus: "So what's the plan?"

Loyal: "Well I guess we have a couple options. Well first, there was, of course, waiting a couple of days, as you had, people with answers that you wanted, we could head back down into those ruins under town that were mentioned or, we could attempt to deal with the issue at Thistletop."

Markus: "No, not yet."

Loyal: "That was my thought as well, it seems like Thistletop we might want to have at least some more backup before we head there."

Markus: "Thistletop we go to after we've dealt with the allies that she's trying to gather. We stop them getting to her to reinforce her before we go there. Otherwise, we'll be fighting an entire army when we go there."

Loyal: "That's fair."

Morana: "I'm sure that would be fine if we knew where they were all coming from. I'm assuming she's pulling them from multiple different sources."

Markus: "True enough, but we have leads on some of them."

Loyal: "And to be fair, if she's undergone some sort of transformation according to that journal like to a demon or whatever, then there may be other worldly allies. But there is that possibility."

Markus: "I think..."

Taury: "There is perhaps the chance that she may already have a small portion, but if we wait, she will have a much larger portion. We should strike now."

Loyal: "Yes, time is certainly of the essence."

Markus: "True enough. Well, if we're going to do stuff immediately, you said the sheriff didn't have enough guards?"

Loyal: "Yes, they're just trying to post guards at every possible entrance into the city and whatnot, and there are so many entrances into that tunnel system and those ruins that, he wants us to deal with that."

Markus: "Oh, yes, we found some of them yes, not good."

Taury: "The guards are posted at the raiding points."

Markus: "Ah, that make sense, yes. Can we afford to wait a couple of days?"

Taury: "Perhaps, but by then, there could be another raid."

Loyal: "Possible."

Morana: "Or something could get out of the tunnels."

Loyal: "What is it exactly you're waiting for as far as answers? What answers are you waiting for?"

Markus: "I asked questions about well, about those things we found out there." 

Loyal: "Yes." 

Markus: "And about some of the things mentioned in the journal. I was hoping some of the other scholarly folk in town who generally have a good head on their shoulders might be able to, you know, get us answers to things we don't already know. I didn't have a chance to talk to everyone yet and apparently, we don't really have time for the ones I was most interested in finding more about before we set foot down there again but... Sorry, I'm- I, I dislike not knowing things and being, being unprepared doesn't help."

Loyal: "I can agree with the preparedness part certainly, there's a lot we don't know right now, and I agree that, having more information could be helpful, but we also have information that time is of the essence so...  I'm not exactly sure what the best course of action is here."

Taury: "What good is the knowing before they are dead?"

Loyal: "Well, knowing might help us, kill them at the very least, they might have particular weaknesses we could exploit or strengths that we may be playing right into."

Taury: "We won't find that in a book."

Markus: "Depends whether or not someone's encountered them before." 

Morana: "Unfortunately, sometimes time frames move far too quickly to allow, I suppose, research? Sometimes you just have to learn by doing."

Taury: "Hear, hear." And Taury is going to lift up her drink, pat Morana on the back.

Morana: "And if unfortunate things occur well, that's just when they were meant to happen."

Loyal: "At the very least, I'd like to prevent more death to the town, that's for sure."

Markus: "So it sounds like we're all mostly in accordance about heading back down into those ruins?"

Loyal: "If the town- if it'll allow the town to be better guarded, that would be ideal, certainly. And who knows, you might find something down there that could help us at Thistletop?"

Markus: "I'm sure we'll find plenty of things down there. I'm just not entirely certain how directly beneficial they will be."

Taury: "Markus, my dear friend, you are beginning to sound an awful lot like Fenwarin."

Fenwarin: "That's mean, come on."

Markus: "Sorry. I shall try to restrain myself from such impulses in the future."

Taury: "There is no place for fear in being a hero Markus."

Markus: "You're assuming I ever wanted to be one?"

Taury: "Want is not a question, you are now.  You hear the people talking. We must give them a show."

Markus: "No, we really don't have to, but I suppose we do need to save to them, if nothing else."

Taury: "You would prefer to read about it than fight about it?"

Markus: "In general? Yes. Here, now? That that changes things, there's definitely more immediacy."

Morana: "The fact of the matter is that, you know, preventing death doesn't really happen, we can stave it off for a while, though."

Loyal: "As, as an alchemist who worked as a healer for a while, I beg to differ but preventing is often better than dealing with the aftermath I'll say the least."

Markus: "I believe Morana is referring to, everybody dies?"

Morana: "It's, it's going to catch up eventually."

Markus: "Technically, not entirely, but I imagine Loyal perhaps knows what I'm talking about, but ah never mind."

Loyal: "I, I think I know what you're trying to say, yes."

Taury: Taury is just grinning at Morana.

Morana: Yeah, Morana just gives that wide eyed look and smiles and nods.

Markus: "The elixir, yes?"

Loyal: "Yes, there are things like that that exist. Though, much out of my comprehension currently. Ideally, I'll be able to make something like that in the future."

Markus: "I very much look forward to that day. Hardly relevant now, but I did meet some alchemist's once that were, trying to recreate that formula so yeah, I wish you all the luck in the world, you'll need it."

Loyal: "Oh, I uh, I certainly will. Well, I've had a fair bit of luck in my life at least."

Morana: "I would just recommend caution because accidents always happen."

Loyal: "That's something I can agree with."

Markus: "Yes." 

Morana: "Same here."

Loyal: Loyal thinks back to when he was trying to get the ring off of the finger and accidentally broke off an arm. Just thinking about that like, "yep. accidents happen."

Markus: "Yes they, do don't they?" And Markus is looking at Morana.

Morana: And Morana is looking back at him.

Loyal: Loyal's looking at the two who are staring awkwardly.

Morana: "Something on your mind?"

Markus: "A thought." 

Morana: Just kind of tilts her head, still giving that wide eyed innocent look, blinks a couple times.

Markus: "Um not relevant now but, at some point when we have a few moments, I would definitely appreciate a chance to talk."

Taury: "No, no, spit it out Markus in front of the group."

Markus: "No."

Morana: "If you'd like, we could step aside for a moment."

Loyal: "Seems like a personal issue, so are, are we content on meeting in those ruins tomorrow morning? Are we good to take our leave for the night?"

Markus: "Well yes, we can certainly head in there tomorrow. Fenwarin, you've been quiet."

Fenwarin: "I'm sorry, just eating, very good food."

Markus: "Fair enough, I take it you don't have any particular opinions about the matters discussed?"

Fenwarin: "Well, I'd definitely like to go down there again, and look at the adventure board or something. I want to get going, it's been too much downtime."

Markus: "Oh there are certainly things on the adventure board, and I think, if we need better equipment, that might be a good source of coin but-"

Fenwarin: "Uh hmm, exactly."

Markus: "It's a question of, time versus urgency."

Loyal: "I feel, if after we deal with these ruins then we feel the town can better, better protect itself afterwards then, perhaps we could do that in order to gear up or so for Thistletop."

Markus: "Also, I believe someone wanted help with some of the goblins, so a different tribe. That, that might lead to some useful information, so."

Taury: Taury gets up to leave.

Loyal: And seeing Taury he says "I think I'll take my leave as well I've, ah the fight with the goblins ah, still haven't fully recovered." And he kind of, he walks away clutching his lower left. Like, you see the bandage kind of wrapped around his midriff, and he's clutching like his lower left ah, torso.

Taury: His spleen.

Loyal: Yeah. And he will head to his room.

Taury: Yeah Taury has gone to her room as well.

Morana: Morana sits back with a glass of wine.

Fenwarin: Yeah Fenwarin is just going to enjoy this a little bit more before getting up.

Markus: Yeah, Markus's attention hadn't been on his food, but now that conversations mostly concluded he's eating.

Loyal: And resting for the night, Loyal will actually burn one of his sets of healing myrrh, which is just a thing to get some extra hit points back.

GM: Alright.

Markus: Is Fenwarin planning on staying long term? Or is he planning on disappearing at some point?

Morana: He might find another meal that entices him.

Fenwarin: [laughs] you mean stay at the Rusty Dragon or?

Markus: Yeah.

Fenwarin:  No I'm just, finishing up the meal and then off I go.

Markus: At which point that would leave Markus and Morana by themselves. "Morana, something did occur to me."

Morana: "Do tell."

Markus: "I don't know if you spotted it? Things were happening rather quickly."

Morana: "Things have been happening quickly for days. You'll need to be somewhat more specific."

Markus: "When we were chasing Tsuto, right before he went through that door, there was a moment, could have been luck, could've been an accident, when an item got snagged on my axe, a pouch of his."

Morana: "Ok, go on."

Markus: "That's not the first time something I would consider to be implausible has happened. And you keep talking about such matters."

Morana: "The universe does as the universe will."

Markus: "Yes, it does. But you seem to express that in ways that hmm, let's just say, I haven't heard anyone else in town talking about that."

Morana: "Well no. When, how to word this? When the universe does enough things, it comes to a point where you either accept it or go mad. So far, I've chosen to accept it. It seemed better than the alternative."

Markus: He nods at that. "I can, yeah I would imagine so. It's also occurred to me that perhaps my lessons in life haven't prepared me as well as I might hope for adventuring."

Morana: "I don't know that adequate life lessons exist for such things."

Markus: "You're not entirely incorrect there."

Morana: "I mean this is something that has been rather foisted upon me as well." 

Markus: "Oh good, I'm glad I'm not the only one that feels that way. Sorry, I was asking around about people that, that might be familiar with the fundamental techniques that I use to connect with some of the spirits. And to, to increase those connections to, to form bonds with more at the same time. They didn't know anyone exactly but your name did come up as someone who might know?"

Morana: "I may have some general experience in that field. Not, I wouldn't say the explicit, it's not entirely what I do, it's sort of a, I guess you could call it a byproduct." She kind of looks at the doll, "a side effect? whatever."

Markus: "Yes".

Morana: "Tangental, yes."

Markus: "Our magics certainly don't work quite the same way but perhaps the fundamentals might be enough. Would you be willing to, for us to have an extended conversation about this? Would you be willing to help me?"

Morana: "Well I could do what I can, I'm not really versed in explaining things. I, yeah I could try."

Markus: "Thank you, I appreciate it."

Morana: "No, not a problem."

Markus: "Also, I have to ask, do the others know what you can do yet?"

Morana: "I mean, they've seen me casting. They know I can do things."

Markus: "I meant, the thing that convinced Tsuto to surrender?"

Morana: "Ah it [muttering] hmm, not to, just. No, they have not seen that yet." Out of character, you also notice that since you've met up with everyone at the market, she actually is wearing a belt across her chest that has five daggers stuck in it now.

Markus: "Ok." 

Morana: "But some things- it's um, they'll find out, it'll be fine, don't worry about it."

Markus: "Ah yes, you've been, cagey is perhaps not the right word, but close enough, about your own capabilities. Would you rather I not mention it directly to the others?"

Morana: Morana sits back and takes a sip of her wine. And in spite of the absolutely just breathtaking innocence in her eyes, the smirk kind of belies it, and she says, "Why ruin surprises? It was a surprise to me when it happened."

Markus: "Really?" 

Morana: "Yeah and then I started thinking, how could I best use this and I said oh, wait yes, that'll work nicely."

Markus: "Fascinating." 

Morana: "Like I said, sometimes things happen."

Markus: "Yes. Well, I will do my best not to spoil the surprise."

Morana: "That's all I can ask."

Markus: "Thank you, for what you've agreed to do and for coming after me. I think things would have ended very differently if you hadn't been there."

Morana: "Well there's that, there is that potential. But you never know what would have happened in an alternate, no." She kind of looks at her doll. "But not alternate, that's not, no, just alternate ah path, no? Whatever." (Turns back to Markus), "Yes. We don't know what would have happened if we had done things differently, but things worked out for the best."

Markus: "Better than I expected. So, thank you."

Morana: She nods, takes another drink.

Markus: "Well um, do you have any particular plans this evening?"

Morana: "No?"

Markus: "Then do you mind if we, perhaps get started on that conversation?"

Morana: "Um sure, I can tell you what I can I suppose. It's not something I've explicitly researched it's just ah, things that have happened to happen, I guess you could say."

GM: Alright. As the evening darkens, storm clouds roll in. You hear thunder rumbling in with them. It's very clear that you'll probably have rain tomorrow if it doesn't rain itself out tonight. Morana, are you heading back to your own home or are you staying here this evening?

Morana: It's a long walk, she's got a free room, she might as well use it.

GM: Alright.

Loyal: Loyal's probably gonna down one of those potions that he made, just purely because it's kind of low, on his [mumbles]. Might as well just roll this. Nice.

GM: Well done. Ah, Morana.

Morana: Yes.

GM: As you as you enter your room for the evening, what should be the wardrobe closet, the door looks like a regular door to another room. And on it is a small sign that says 'Felix's curios'.

Morana: She kind of blinks. "What?"

GM: As you blink, it's a normal cupboard again.

Morana: "That's just odd." Opens door?

GM: It is a wardrobe.

Morana: She kind of looks at her doll for a second. "Am I seeing things? I don't, I no I'm not going to ask if you saw too, whatever. I hmm..." does that name strike any kind of connection in her mind is there, hmm. Arcana maybe? That seems a little out of the ordinary. I'm guessing it's definitely not a local. [Laughs] 

GM: It is not, it would be a Knowledge planes.

Morana: That was my second guess.

GM: You have no clue what this is or what it could be.

Morana: "Well that's..." she scratches the back of her hand. "That's annoyingly unhelpful." but ah I might as well try to Detect magic. Not expecting much, but it's worth a shot, I guess.

GM: Alright.

Morana: Stare at the door for a minute.

GM: Ok, you are knocked out from an overwhelming magical presence.

Morana: Welp. 

Markus: Oops. 

Taury: Is that karma? 

Morana: "Well that's wei-" I sleep.

GM: The next morning, rain is coming down in sheets. Thunder strikes periodically. The only lightning rod in the town, the Rusty Dragon's own Rusty Dragon on top of the roof, is catching a few of them as they strike. As you come down for breakfast Ameiko is back in the kitchen preparing food.

Loyal: This is certainly a foreboding the rain and whatnot.

Morana: Morana comes down, she looks mildly disheveled, will kind of crack her neck, "Ow, ow."

Loyal: "Didn't sleep well?"

Morana: "Um, ah ever sleep on the floor."

Loyal: "Oh. You ah have a bed, not sure why you decided to sleep on the floor but each to their own I guess?"

Morana: "I didn't say by choice I just, I thought I could have sworn I, never mind. Whatever. Things happened."

Loyal: "You saying someone knocked you out? "

Morana: "No, I don't know, nothing."

Loyal: "Put to sleep by something?"

Morana: "Ah it's just, it was something weird. I don't know, I'll figure it out later. I'll be fine." Cracks her neck.

Loyal: "Alright. If you have trouble sleeping, I can probably make something to help with that."

Morana: "Trust me, sleep is not something I have a problem with."

Loyal: "Alright then." And he will look a little like, 'ok that was odd', and go to sit down for breakfast.

Taury: Taury is just eating silently.

Morana: Morana sits down to eat and keeps muttering to herself. She's trying to puzzle something out in her head.

Loyal: "Did you sleep well Taury?"

Taury: Shrugs.

Loyal: "The rain wasn't- well it was loud to say the least, but yesterday was tiring, so I slept relatively well."

Taury: "I have slept through worse."

Loyal: "Anyways," and he pulls out two potions of cure light wounds and says, "I made these yesterday. Who wants them? Who do you think needs them? Or would you rather I keep them on my person?"

Taury: Taury grabs one.

Loyal: "Alright."

Taury: Just in the middle of your sentence.

Loyal: "That answers that question. Anyone else?"

Morana: "Yeah it does seem like the right choice. I'd probably, no I wouldn't be needing one."

Taury: She slides her hand out to go grab the second one.

Loyal: "Take it, it's fine."

Fenwarin: Well, Fenwarin is just making his way to the table and sits down and yawns, and just tries to wake up a little bit more.

Loyal: Loyal is waiting for breakfast.  Loyal would probably just say, "As far as concoctions, anything anyone desires down there? I'm making one for myself personally just so I can carry all of this with better ease, but ah, I have a few things, some that might disguise you, some that would make your strikes more accurate or a strike more accurate to be exact. One that could have you more ready for battle. A simple, simple healing potion. Anyone have any preference?"

Fenwarin: "You got anything to amplify magic?"

Loyal: "Ah, not currently, no."

Fenwarin: "Ah well, alright then."

Markus: And at this point, Markus will make his way over to join. "Ah morning everyone."

GM: "Morning Markus."

Loyal: "Morning. Sleep well?"

Markus: "Mostly yeah, it was a bit of a late night, I had some reading to do."

Loyal: "Fair enough."

Morana: Morana continues eating with an absent minded wave.

Markus: "Oh, did, I don't suppose any of you fetched my coat the other day, did you?"

Taury: Taury looks dumbfounded.

Fenwarin: "Ah your coat?"

Markus: "Never mind I'll go fetch it later. I suspect I'll need it in the ruins. Oh, which way we going down, via the Glassworks or via the secret door?"

Loyal: "I haven't been down there, so I suppose it's up to the rest of you. I have no preference."

Morana: "That I don't know."

Markus: "Well, there were some things in the tunnels as well that we probably ought to check out but, it's a question of, do you want to do that before or after the ruins?"

Loyal: "Well, the sheriff asked us to deal with the ruins, so I suppose we should probably take care of those first."

Taury: "How secret is this secret door?"

Markus: "Which particular secret door?"

Taury: "The only one you mentioned."

Markus: "Oh, it's the one we went down before that they found after they started looking around at The Old Light, the one we stuck a rock on top of so nobody else could open it, Hopefully."

Taury: She continues eating.

Markus: "Yeah, at The Old Light."

Morana: "Is that where we're going then?"

Morana: "To be fair, we could go in the alternate entrance because whatever's down there may, may potentially expect if we tried to go down the same way."

Fenwarin: "That's true, yeah."

Markus: "That's a good thought, yeah."

Loyal: "That's certainly up to you all. I don't really have much experience with these entrances or anything, so."

Taury: "Perhaps it is wise to go the way we know?"

Markus: "Well we know two routes, that's the whole purpose of the debate."

Taury: "Well, the one most traveled."

Markus: "Most travelled by us?"

Taury: "Well, obviously, Markus."

Markus: "Because there are other denizens, which is why I wanted to clarify that."

Taury: She just rolls her eyes.

Morana: "If we take the way we haven't before, they may not be aware that we know of it and we may be able to take them by surprise via the alternate entrance."

Markus: "I do like that idea, catching them off guard."

Morana: "Therefore, I do say we go  via the route under the Glassworks."

Loyal: "Sounds good enough for me. What about you all?

Fenwarin: "Oh, certainly sounds fine to me."

Markus: "Ok, well it'll take, well for myself it will take me a little while to prepare this morning, so."

Taury: Another eye roll from Taury.

Markus: "What do you expect? I used all my spells yesterday."

Morana: "I should take some time as well, I wasn't able to when I first woke up."

Loyal: "Well, if we're heading to the Glassworks entrance anyway, you might be able to grab your coat there Markus since I believe that's where you left it yes?"

Markus: "It is indeed yeah."

Loyal: "Well, there we go then. If you're doing to prepare I might as well, I might as well prepare my alchemical potions and whatnot, extracts."

Fenwarin: And Fenwarin will prepare his spells for this.

Taury: And while you're all preparing spells, Taury has her cards out again, waiting.

Loyal: Mines like, it takes like, it takes me like three minutes, cause I just have to prepare three things. So I'm down there pretty soon. I'd probably do it at the table, honestly, I don't need like a full alchemy lab or anything.

Markus: Markus would definitely have retreated to his room to prepare today.

Taury: Quote unquote, 'prepare' sharpening his battle axe?

Markus: No comment.

Taury: That was a serious statement.

GM: Alright, you work your way through the Glassworks, no problem, Markus you pick up your coat. You go down, go through the catacombs. The guards that are there tell you that they cleared out a group of mites that were in the tunnels below. You run into no obstacles or interference on your way down through the tunnels, you go through the secret passage to the goblin bedroom cave area, and then follow the tunnel from there, there's two passages off of that, one goes to a dead end 400 feet down that tunnel, and the other leads you to here.

Taury: Ok. So did you say there was a blocked entrance? Or a blocked like pathway?

GM: Ah back the other direction.

Taury: Oh backwards, ok

GM: Yeah.

Taury: Yeah.

GM: That was a different tunnel. This tunnel leads you to here.

Taury: Ok.

GM: As you step there...

Loyal: Shit.

Fenwarin: Uh oh.

Taury: Yeah, I'm gonna straight up assume that was not supposed to be stealthy because Taury's not stealthy.

GM: Alright. You notice it. It notices you.

Taury: Can I charge it? [Laughs]

GM:  We'll find out soon, on who gets to charge who.

Taury: Watch me fucking crit fail on the fucking initiative. Just fucking watch it.

Loyal: [Laughs] 

Fenwarin: Oh, my God!

Loyal: Another one of these things!

Fenwarin: This is horrible.

Taury: [Laughs] Oh, Jesus Christ.

Loyal: Oh it rolled the worse than all of us to be fair, so.

Taury: Well got to have a high AC, that's all I'm gonna say. yeah it's the most unluckiest of horrors.

Fenwarin: Oh, nice.

Loyal: Until he says says the other one didn't though.

GM: There it is.

Taury: Oh, boy.

GM: Alright. Markus, you see Taury round the corner. How do you react Taury?

Taury: Ah it's just a grimace, like a growl almost.

GM: Alright. You are first to act Markus. In response to this.

Markus: Ok, which direction is she actually facing when she does that?

Taury: To the east.

Markus: Ah right, right, right.

Taury: Here comes the battle axe boys! Get hyped.

Markus: No, no, no. Here comes something else.

Taury: Another battle axe, he's dual wielding 'em.[Laughs]

Loyal: Dual wielding battle axe?! [Laughs]

Taury: He does a total of 4 damage![Laughs]

Markus: Markus is not currently wielding the battle axe.

Taury: Sorry, carry on.

GM: That will hit.

Markus: Ok, yeah. You see Markus step forward, see this thing, then glance around and gesture towards one of the shadows and sort of like, it starts pulling towards him and he picks up a bit of it and throws it at this creature. And I believe it entangles it.

GM: Ah, you're using that ability, yes.

Taury: What does what does he throw at it?

Morana: Interesting.

GM: It is not just entangled, it is immobilized by shadows that wrap around it and grapple it to the spot.

Taury: Shadow glue is what it is. It's shadow glue.

Loyal: Shadow glue.

Taury: Magical Pritt stick.

Loyal: Hmm.

Morana: Is he is he out of my line of sight?

GM: Markus is not.

Morana: Hmm, interesting. Can I try and figure out what that was? Because that was neat.

GM: Knowledge arcana.

Morana: Damn! Well if, if I make it and he wants to preserve the mystery of it, you can DM it to me.

GM: That's fine, you did not.

Morana: Nah, I didn't think so.

Markus: I was just gonna say. Is that enough?

GM: It is not enough.

Taury: So Morana also thinks it's just magic glue.

GM: Alright, so that was Markus's full turn.

Markus: Yeah, that was move in standard action, so.

GM: Ok, Morana it is now your turn.

Morana: Ok, since I can't see, is there a spot ahead of me where I can get a line of sight?

GM: There is, I will move you there.

Morana: Thank you. Ah well, I didn't really want to be in the front but, you know, thank you. I suppose. 

All: [Laugh]

GM: I can move you back here as well, that's another option. Is that preferred?

Morana: Yeah, that, that that works for me.

Taury: I mean, this is not like chess, once you let go of the piece, that's it, you're just fucking there.

Morana: If I was the one who had moved to the character, I would accept that, but I wasn't. Also it needs to make a DC15 will save.

GM: Is this mind affecting?

Taury: Here cometh the bullshit.

Morana: Ah yeah.

Fenwarin: Oh, my!

GM: Yep, no save needed.

Morana: Ok.

Loyal: Eehee.

GM: Just no effect.

Morana: Alright well, that won't work then, noted. Morana looks irritated but never mind. Thats a move and a standard. That's it.

GM: Ok. Loyal, it is now your turn.

Loyal: Alright, I guess I'll step- Ok it's right there, cool. Step right there, I'll pull up my crossbow since we can do that while, moving now and I'll fire it. Bah!

Taury: Nice.

GM: That hits.

Loyal: Nice, 4 points piercing. And then I do that, I do, 5, 10, 15 and I have to drink Ant Haul, because I didn't specify I drank Ant Haul. So I guess I'll just stay there, it's all I can really do, I can't move into other spaces right?

GM: Alright. Taury. It's your turn.

Taury: Cool. You can run through other Characters yeah?

GM: You can move through, but not charge.

Taury: Yeah yeah yeah, cool. So she's gonna draw her switch scythe and the blade will come out of the staff as she runs towards it and swings at it, and totally won't meet it's AC.

GM: That will miss.

Markus: Even with it entangled? 

GM: Yeah.

Markus: Ah shucks.

Taury: Yes, because it's a fucking 9.

Loyal: It's a 10.

GM: Fenwarin. I'm going to move you on to the battle map now. There you go.

Fenwarin: Thank you. 

GM: There you go.

Fenwarin: I can see! Ok, I move up to Loyal and Morana. Ok so I can, can I fire from here? Or is this some kind of detriment here?

GM: You can. It is currently en- encased, enwrapped in grappling shadow forms. It's kind of radiating a darkness to it. It's really hard for you to make out what's going on.

Fenwarin: Hmm, I'm just gonna go ahead and cast mage armor on Loyal.

Loyal: Well, I'm wearing armor currently, but I guess it probably, I'm wearing leather underneath everything.

Fenwarin: Your are, ok so it's not going to help him at all or?

Loyal: Probably will.

GM: Leather I think is a +2, mage armor is a +4, so you'd get a +2 bonus to his AC.

Fenwarin: Ok yeah and then, yeah, let's do that.

GM: Alright, it's turn. It will attempt to attack Taury.

Taury: I'm shocked.

GM: Bite... will miss, correct?

Taury:  Yeah, no that misses.

GM: Claw and claw.

Taury: Hmm, that didn't help.

Loyal: It doesn't confirm, doesn't confirm, though.

GM: Second claw attack actually, because of this darkness radiating from it. It needs to make a Mischance save.

Loyal: Oh?

Markus: Really?

Taury: Quiet, don't you dare cancel this, I swear to God!

Fenwarin: Quiet's like, 'objection'! [Laughs].

GM: Oh wait! Sorry no, it does have dark vision. It can see through the radiating darkness.

Markus: I was gonna say! Creatures of darkness?!

Taury: Thanks Quiet! Thanks! Couldn't just fucking let it slide? He would have not known any different.

Fenwarin: Fission mailed.

GM: Thank you for being on my side Quiet.

Taury: Hey, I'm benevolent ok.

Fenwarin: I see how it is, Markus.

Markus: It was more a: Wait, there are creatures in the darkness that don't actually have dark vision?!

Taury: It's alright, I'm writing in my death note, it's fine.

All: [Laugh]

GM: Taury have 2 points of damage.

Loyal: 2 so could be worse.

GM: That's its turn.

Taury: Yeah, if Quiet had his way, it would be way worse.

Loyal: Would have crit confirmed.

GM: Markus. It's your turn.

Markus: Right yeah. Um, the shadows will start dissipating, unfortunately.

GM: Alright.

Markus: Yeah, let's do that- ah no, he's in melee now isn't he? 

GM: Yep. 

Markus: And there's no way for me to get in melee to help Taury without provoking? 

Taury: Alright, now you want to help Taury? Ok.

GM: You can move to here.

Markus: What, you mean there? 

GM: Yeah. 

Markus: How?

GM: Carefully.

Fenwarin: Carefully? [Laughs]

Taury: The question is not how, the question is, should you? And the answer is no.

GM: You can attempt an Acrobatics check.

Markus: Oh right yeah, no.

GM: Carefully yeah.

Taury: Yeah, last time you fucking did that I fell in a hole so ah? [Laughs]

Fenwarin: In old cartoon fashion.

Taury: Yeah, the word 'carefully' means 'don't do it!'

Markus: Yeah, I will cast resistance on Taury.

GM: Alright. Morana.

Morana: Hmm, so I can't occupy that square to the right of Markus, right?

GM: Correct.

Morana: Hmm, cant get there, can't get there. Ah hell with it! Nothing fancy, just, I'm gonna try a normal hucking of a dagger. Because  why not?

GM: Roll to confirm.

Morana: Oof! Did that confirm?

GM: It did.

Morana: [Laughs] Ok, so that's ah... will be 2D4 -2 then? 

GM: Yup.

Morana: Well I hit it, it's all that matters [Laughs].

Loyal: That could have been a zero.

GM: Alright. Loyal.

Loyal: Ok, there's a penalty if you fire at something with ranged, if it's in melee combat with an ally yeah, or something like that? 

GM: Yep.

Loyal: Ok, hmm, I mean screw it, why not I guess. There's no risk of hitting your ally there usually no?

GM: No.

Loyal: Ok, in that case then, I'll use my move action, reload the crossbow, standard action fire it.

GM: Ok.

Loyal: Don't wanna waste a bomb on this guy, ah doesn't hit.

GM: It does not. Taury.

Taury: Cool, so casting spells a full action yeah? It's your standard action?

GM: Standard action, unless specified otherwise.

Taury: Yeah.

GM: Yeah. You are correct. You can not attack and cast, unless you're a Magus.

Taury: Alrighty, so... Well, I'm going to take another crack at it with my scythe.

GM: Ok.

Loyal: Hey.

GM: So that's a- that is a crit chance, but not a confirm. Which is very sad because that crit damage was beautiful.

Loyal: 31?! 

Taury: [Laughs] Fucking, yeah, that would have been so fucking sweet!

Loyal: What?!

Taury: It just explodes or something.

Loyal: How much does your weapon crit for?!

GM: It is a times 3, I believe.

Loyal: Jesus!

GM: But the minimum damage of what you actually did of only 4 points, [Laughs] on the converse of that, it's sad.

Loyal: That's a shame [Laughs].

Taury: Yeah, it would have just fucking turned to like, fucking liquid, you know, like those fucking bombs which liquefies shit. It would have just have evaporated

Markus: Also .It's  a scythe, it's times 4.

Loyal: Oh, God!

Taury: Well, I'm taking my- I'm taking my step. Wait, that way.

GM: Ok. Fenwarin.

Fenwarin: Yep.

Taury: A 31 man?

Loyal: That would have been so good.

Taury: I'm sad now.

Loyal: That's would have ended the fight here.

Taury: I'm genuinely sad.

Loyal: [Laughs] One day it's going to happen.

Fenwarin: That would have been beautiful.

Taury: Yeah but watch it be like on a fucking goblin or something with like 5HP or some bullshit.

Loyal: [Laughs] yeah.

Fenwarin: I'm gonna cast magic missile on it. 

GM: Certainly. 3 points of force damage.

Fenwarin: Yeah.

GM: Alright. It's gonna step there. And attack Loyal.

Loyal: Ah yeah.

GM: Because Loyal looks... Loyal looks squishy.

Loyal: With mage armor.

GM: That is a no. 

Loyal: Yeah

GM: And claw and a claw... All misses. 

Fenwarin: Nice. 

GM: Markus.

Morana: Looks are apparently deceiving.

Taury: Yeah, this is like a fucking baby or something.
 
Markus : Ok, draw my battle axe and be ineffectual at melee.

GM: I'm looking forward to it.

Taury: Just melee? Ok, never mind [laughs].

Loyal: Wow!

GM: Yeah, that will miss.

Markus : Yeah. 

GM: Morana.

Morana: Hey, you know, that whole dagger thing worked so well. I think I want to try it again.

GM: Ok. That will hit...

Fenwarin: Oh! 

GM: For 1 point of damage.

Taury: It's the new Markus!

Loyal: [Laughing] Oh, my God.

Morana: You keep thinking that.

GM: It'd be really funny if that killed it, but it didn't.

Morana: I know that's what I was thinking.

GM: [Laughing] Loyal.

Loyal: Ok, I guess I'll draw a dagger. It's not going to end well, and I'll swing, ah cool.

GM: Crit chance not confirmed. 1 point of damage.

Loyal: Cool.

Morana: We're going death by a thousand cuts here.

GM: Yeah.

Loyal: Yeah,

GM: You're rolling a lot of crits.

Loyal: We're wasting all of our crits right now.

GM: Taury.

Taury: Yeah, we're gonna take another swing at it.

Morana: Can, can I make a suggestion?

Taury: Yeah. 

Morana: Five foot step down for a flanking bonus.

Taury: Would it?

Markus : Yes.

Morana: Yes.

Fenwarin: Yep.

Taury: Yeah.

Markus : Loyal drew his dagger so, yeah he's threatening melee.

Taury: Ok, cool, cool. Well, I will do that then.

GM: You now have a +2 to attack, from flanking.

Taury: That doesn't make it to does it?

GM: Yeah sorry. Fenwarin.

Fenwarin: Yup, how did a force missile work again?

Markus : The ability?

Fenwarin: Huh hum, the per day?

Markus : It also hits like magic missile so.

Fenwarin: Oh it does, ok.

GM: Yeah it's just like a magic missile, it's just, you get a number of them per day for free, essentially.

Fenwarin: Ok, so I'll just I'll just direct at the ugly thing, shoot him with it.

GM: Alright. Roll that beautiful damage.

Fenwarin: And that's a 3.

GM: 3 points of force damage.

Loyal: Ah, did it!

Fenwarin: Ah nice!

GM: You drop the creature.

Morana: Gonna go pick up my daggers.

Loyal: Pick up my crossbow that I just kind of threw on the ground to pick up my dagger, reload it.

Markus : Well, that could have gone worse.

Loyal: Yeah. Reminds me I need to drink this and I will drink my Ant Haul extract so I'm not at an encumbrance penalty all the time now.

Taury: That like a wall at the end of the corridor?

GM: Yeah, that's just the end of the cave.

Markus : "Do we want to try scouting to see if we, we know there's likely to be more of these down here?"

Loyal: "Might be worth a shot."

Markus : "Anyone else feel particularly sneaky?"

Taury: Taury just looks at you like.

Morana: "No."

Loyal: "I'm not awful at it."

Markus : "Not awful, or good?"

Loyal: "In between."

Markus : "Right ok, I could, I know it's useful. Ok, wait here. Oh, uh and can someone hold my coat for me?"

Fenwarin: "Sure, I can hold your coat."

Markus : "Thank you." So Markus shrugs out of his coat and coaxes his little friend to come up and ride on his shoulder. It looks rather- it chitters at him. It sounds angry chitters and you'll hear him say to it "I know I'm sorry, but I need your eyes as well." And with that he'll go sneaking forwards.

Loyal: Loyal will join him. He's actually not too bad at this, especially after he no longer is encumbered.

Markus : I'm assuming at some point the GM is going to want us to roll stealth?

Loyal: That's my guess.

Fenwarin: Yeah.

Loyal: Do that now?

GM: Now would be fabulous.

Loyal: Cool... Fuck!

Taury: Because right around the fucking corner there's like 20 of those things.

Loyal: [Laughs] God damn it.

Markus : Oh, look!

Taury: Oh wow!

All: [Laugh]

Loyal: I mean the difference!

Fenwarin: Oh, shit!

Taury: Oh, you fucking cuntdem, Jesus!

Fenwarin: It was like that crit before. It's just so a big difference. +66.

Loyal: It's +5, it's not awful. Its just-

GM: Markus goes forward and you don't even hear his footfalls Loyal as he begins to go off. You try to mimic this and step in exactly the same spots and just all the gravel moves underneath each foot and you're just crunching behind him.

Loyal: Eh.

Taury: Loyal's about as stealthy at Taury.

Markus : Yeah, how obvious would that be to me?

GM: Extremely.

Markus : Yeah Markus will just put a finger to his lips and gesture at Loyal to to go, he is shooing him off kind of thing.

Loyal: Loyal just kind of like shakes his head, a bit defeated, steps back.

GM: Alright, continue on Markus. Where are you headed? You've got a branching path here, you can either head north or east.

Markus : Ah initially east.

GM: East ok. The original purpose of this chamber is unclear, but large mounds of rubble line strewn on its floor. The wall to the west has been torn down to reveal a tunnel leading to the west, which is how you came in.

Markus : I'm assuming that's a door? 

GM: It is. 

Markus : Markus will return, and you may or may not see him slip north... Oh, right I recognize that.

GM: As you peek around the tunnel entrance to the catacombs, you see the familiar red statue of Alaznist.

Markus : He nods to himself and- does the tunnel actually dead end? It's not entirely clear on the map? 

GM: It does. 

Markus : Ok. Markus, will come back. "Ok, well, this connects to- definitely connects to, where we were before, pointing east. There's a room off that way with a door, I didn't want to, you know, go through that ahead, to that way," pointing north. "It reconnects up with a room with a statue we were in before."

Loyal: "We have our bearings at the very least."

Markus : "Yes. So, we know where we are and there doesn't seem to be anything else in the immediate vicinity, so obviously, once we start opening doors and things, we might find more." And he'll take his coat back and put it on, and his little friend will scurry into one of its pockets and just disappear from view.

Loyal: And Loyal actually kind of take off one of the extracts from his various like pouches and whatnot and hand it to Taury. Says "Here, take this if, before an attack, if you drink it before you make an attack, then it will grant you a lot of preciseness in said attack. It is an extract or an infusion in this case of true strike."

Taury: She just shoves it into her like coat pocket, as it were, or probably cloak pocket.

Loyal: Basically it's standard action to drink it. And if you on your next round, if you make an attack, you get a +20.

Taury: Sweet. 

GM: Alright.

Markus : Oh and Markus will also, if nobody else has already done it, will take a moment to see if this creature that we just killed is actually carrying anything on it. "We already fought a couple of these things." and he'll gesture at the thing his currently examining.

GM: The only gear the sinspawn is carrying is a ranseur, which this one had dropped pretty much immediately.

Markus : Yeah ok.

Loyal: "Well you said there's no enemies ahead, at the very least that's reassuring."

Markus : "At least not until we start opening doors. If no one's got a better suggestion, east then?"

Loyal: "Seems fine to me."

Fenwarin: "Yeah, I think so."

Taury: Yeah, Taury starts walking that way.

Loyal: There we go, it's confirmed when Taury starts walking that way, every time.[laughs]

Taury: Yeah, like the split second he finished his sentence she was walking. And this is a door is it? What does this door look like?"

GM: It looks like a stone door.

Taury: Cool.

Loyal: Take my crossbow out. Just have it in my hands.

Taury: Cool. Well, she's gonna just try and open it. I'm going to go ahead and say at this point, Taury would be attempting to be stealthy.

GM: Alright. Roll me a stealth check.

Loyal: Guess I'll do the same.

Taury: Purely because Markus decided it was a scout mission.

Loyal: Ah hey.

Taury: Otherwise, there's no way this would be a stealth mission. Yep, that went about as well as I expected. And as she's walking forward, she basically gets yea far and then stands there tapping her foot, waiting for everyone else to catch up.

GM: Ok.

Loyal: I don't like these narrow hallways at all.

Taury: There is something poking out of the edge of that darkness and can I roll a perception check to see what that is? Or can I not see that? 

GM: Right here? 

Taury: Yeah.

GM: He he he he he.

Fenwarin: Uh oh.

Taury: I didn't even see that! I didn't even see that. That's the thing, I was like I, I saw the other thing first and I was like oh I'm going to see if I can see that, because like, that's technically within her vision. 

GM: Yeah, go ahead and roll perception on that.

Taury: Yeah and then it and then it just kills me while I'm trying to perceive. Yeah, dead before she even gets think about it. Oh boy.

Loyal: Ah there's was another one.

Taury: Well, I saw it first. [laughs] Definitely.

GM: Yes, you see this thing which you, after squinting for a second go, "oh, that's that's that's sculpture, that's that red marble."

Taury: Why does it have a perception check then Furtive? Why does it have a perception check this fucking statue?

GM: I don't know what you're talking about.

Loyal: It has a name, it has a name.

Taury: Oh, I don't mind if it has a name, it has a perception check and that's what I'm concerned about.

GM: How do you know that what I'm pinging on right now is what's making a perception check?

Taury: Because it literally says a name on it. 

Loyal: [Laughs] 

GM: And? 

Fenwarin: It's alive!

Loyal: That's, a good point. That could- that might not necessarily be what's rolling the perception check.

Taury: A hundred percent this is what's going to attempt to kill me.[Laughs]

GM: Alright, so you've got two paths, you've got north and you've got east.

Taury: Oh, boy. Ah yeah.

GM: You've been north, you know what's there, you've not been east yet.

Taury: What do I see on my perception check exactly? My 21?

GM: Well, you see that the hallway to your east goes down quite a ways. And from that direction, you can hear splashing, lapping water?

Taury: I don't like question mark at the end of that.

GM: And in front of you, you see the door that you had gone through and faught the sinspawn before, which you had left open, is closed.

Loyal: Hmm.

Taury: Ok, so Taury is going to turn around and like, do, you know, combat gestures to point 'thing over there, be very quiet,' kind of deal.

Loyal: Also, this is out of me version. But wasn't there (Loyal doesn't know this), but wasn't there like a pool of water with skulls around it back towards the beginning, which would in theory, be back that way?

Taury: Yeah there was, that was further back though, no?  

Markus : That's past the statue and east.

Loyal: Ok.

GM: And that was still water. 

Taury: Mmm, it was actually. 

Markus : Yeah. 

Fenwarin: Hmm

GM: Yeah. Where you're hearing the water from is down this hallway. This direction.

Taury: To my right yeah?

Loyal: "Guess we got to clear out whatever's down here at the very least."

Taury: Ok. Taury is gonna gesture right, and gesture that they keep quiet and we're gonna go this way. And she's going to point up that way, up north to sort of say like 'don't go that way.'

GM: Ah, go ahead and give me a stealth check.

Taury: Great. It's coming behind us. [Laughs] That's what that means.

Fenwarin: All of us?

Markus : Everyone?

GM: Yeah.

Taury: Yeah. That's what happened last time.

Fenwarin: Oh, man.

Loyal: Ah yeah that's about what I expect. Very consistent 15's from this guy huh?

Taury: Yeah, I don't like that.

Loyal: He has a +1. Come on!

GM: Are you sure that's a plus?

Loyal: Never mind its a minus 1, come on! 

GM: Ah huh!

Markus : There's also distance modifiers that I suspect Furtive might be adding in his head.

GM: This is truth, however...

Loyal: Don't like that. [Laughs]

GM: Taury has rolled a little low enough that the distance modifier no longer means you have been undetected.

Taury: Ah huh.

Loyal: Yeah, about what I expected.

Markus : Yep, I like that I rolled a natural 1 and it's still more than double Taury.

Loyal: Triple Taury's!

All: [Laugh]

Taury: Yeah well, the thing about it is, Markus is like 'let's do stealthy' and that is so not how Taury is built.

Markus : Yeah, I know. It's wonderful.

Taury: It's like, it's horrific.

Loyal: Maybe there's a potion I can, that can help with that later on or something, I don't know?

Taury: I don't know, but it's it's gonna kill us eventually.

GM: Alright let's see here.

Taury: Let's hope there's just 1. Oh, no. I think that's a dead end in front of us too.

GM: Ok, yeah, so this is going to go straight into combat.

Taury: Do we get to roll initiative?

GM: You do.

Taury: That's not comforting, I don't know why I even asked.

GM: But he will act first, regardless of.

Markus : Do we not even get a chance to spot him?

Taury: He gets a surprise.

GM: No, because he's detected you. And what I'm reading here is he attacks first.

Markus : Ok. 

GM: He takes his job as guardian seriously and immediately attacks anyone.

Loyal: Oh boy.

GM: Yeah. Alright. This little guy comes rounding in the corner, ends there.

Loyal: Whaa?! It's a goblin.

GM: This is what you see charging you.

Loyal: Ah it's not a goblin, oh it kind of is. Eh that sword looks kind of fun.

Taury: It's almost cute, but not.

Loyal: It looks like a combination of a goblin and Uma from The Witcher Three.

Taury: It looks like something your cat would throw up.

Markus : True.

Loyal: Three arms.

Fenwarin: It looks like a goblin and a gremlin made it.

Taury: But just green.

GM: This misshapen, deformed goblin is hunchbacked with three arms, a weapon in each arm.

Loyal: Oh my God and he gets any gets 3 attacks I guess.

GM: He charges here, and then, you see him stop and like start to take a deep breath.

Taury: Oh, I don't like that.

Markus : Oh ok.

Loyal: Oh God! 

Markus : Right ok yeah. 

Loyal: We're in a line!

Taury: Does he fucking spit fire or some bullshit or is he going to fucking charge?

Loyal: In a line or some shit?

Taury: I hate these narrow fucking corridors, it makes me so mad.

Loyal: That is the worst, the worst.

Fenwarin: Oh. What the hell?!

Taury: Yeah. He spits fire.

Loyal: Yeah. Ok well, he rolled min damage at the very least. Oh, and it could only hit Taury to be fair I guess. That's better.

Taury: Oh, that's great!

All: [Laugh] 

Taury: Your only tank! It's fine.

Loyal: That's what you're supposed to do, you're supposed to tank ok?

Taury: He's  gonna kill me and then he's going to eat all of you in one turn.

Morana: Well it's just you doing your job.

Loyal: It's only 4 damage and if you make the same.

Taury: He'll kill me in, like 3 or 4 turns and he'll kill all of you in 1.

Loyal: It's only 4 damage.

Fenwarin: It's a reflex.

Taury: Ah huh.

GM: This little mutant goblin takes a deep breath and then exhales a line of acid right at Taury.

Taury: Great, do I get to save on that?

GM: You get a reflex save.

Taury: Don't I still have resistance, so I have a +1 to that?

GM: Yes. 

Taury: Ok cool.

Markus : It lasts a minute, so.

Taury: Yeah, so it's a reflex save?

GM: Yep. 

Taury: Oh, boy.

GM: Alright. You will take half damage so 2 points of acid damage.

Taury: Ok.

Loyal: Ah see you're fine.

Taury: Don't ever say fine. [Laughs]

GM: And that's how he greet you.

Taury: I mean he's friendly, we can't say he's not friendly.

GM: Hmm, that takes us to the top now with Fenwarin.

Fenwarin: Alright. So I can't see him right now, right?

GM: If you can't actually see him on the map, then no, he is too far away for you to see.

Taury: But you probably heard him.

Fenwarin: Even with a dim light, I guess?

GM: Ah yeah, he is too far away for you then.

Fenwarin: Ok, ok.

Markus : What are you using as a light source by the way? Are you using anything as a light source? That's potentially important.

Fenwarin: I forgot to say that I'm using a torch so. 

GM: Alright.

Markus: So that's 20 foot right, 20 foot to-

GM: With 10 foot.

Markus: Oh, is it 10 foot dim? 

Fenwarin: Ah huh.

GM: Yeah, 10 foot dim. Yeah, that's what I've got him set out for, his visibility.

Markus: Ah ok.

Fenwarin: What kind of negative am I looking at if I try to send a force missile right down the corridor, see if I hit something?

GM: Well, you can't. You have to be able to see your target for that.

Fenwarin: I can't yeah, yeah ok, I figured.

GM: You need line of a line of sight, which you don't have. Even though you know he's there and he could attempt to throw one, magic missile always hits, but you don't know where to hit so-

Taury: You have no auto aim basically.

Fenwarin: Yep guess I'm just gonna go on and do this. Moving to that corner right there.

Taury: Oh, don't do that. Taury said, don't go there. Why you no listen?

Fenwarin: And then I'm pulling out my cross bow, getting that ready.

Markus: It'll be fine.

Taury: It's not going to be fine, we're gonna carry his dead body out again.

Fenwarin: We're gonna be fine.

Taury: No, I'm going to carry his dead body out actually. [Laughs]

GM: Markus.

Markus: Ok. What would be the appropriate skill to know things about this particular creature?

GM: Hmm, that would be a local.

Markus: Really?

GM: Yep.

Taury: So he comes here often?

Markus: Damn it, ok.

Fenwarin: [Laughs] Are you trying to pick him up?

Markus: No, it's the one knowledge skill that we've seen be relevant so far that I haven't put any skill points in yet because I had other priorities.

GM: Alright.

Markus: Ok, in which case.

Taury: So Markus doesn't come here often.

All: [Laughs].

Taury: Sorry.

Markus: Yeah, it can make a Will save please.

GM: Will save, is this fear based? 

Markus: No. 

GM: Alright. Ah so it fails.

Markus: Yeah, and that DC should be 1 higher as well.

GM: Ok.

Taury: What did you do?

Markus: Markus begins obviously casting a spell. Instead of sort of like, sort of humming and singing to the wind, he's doing something quite different this time. He's actually intoning almost hissing words. Yeah and this thing's, I'm not sure it would actually be visible because the light from the torch is quite far away.

GM: Yep. 

Markus: Yeah, he makes gestures pointing at this creature and, yeah.

GM: Alright. Loyal.

Loyal: Ok. Step up right here and just going to throw a bomb at him. Go. Bah! Cool. Not great damage, but I did it.

GM: Ok. Alright, Taury it's now your turn.

Taury: Ok and like, it's thing that it attacked with it, it like fucking spat that. That was ranged right?

GM: It was a line of acid.

Taury: I mean, we're in a corridor that's unhelpful.

GM: Yeah,  what I'm saying is it's an area attack, anyone in that line will take the damage.

Taury: Ok. 

GM: You just happened to be the only one there at that moment.

Taury: Ah hum.

Taury: Can I technically pass Loyal at this point?

GM: Yes.

Taury: Yeah ok. Well I was just thinking because it's so narrow.

GM: Could always move through friendly squares.

Taury: Yeah, yeah yeah. Ok so she's gonna draw her two gandasas in either hand and run at it to attack.

GM: Alright. You will have one attack.

Taury: Yeah.

Markus: Interesting.

Taury: Is that- I don't know if that's done properly on the sheet. We'll see what it does.

GM: That does hit. Another 6 points of damage. Ok, it's turn. Taury, you see the gashes that you just put on it begin to close.

Loyal: Ah!

Taury: Great, that's great.

Loyal: The firebomb did nothing?!

Markus: Quickly or slowly? 

GM: Well... Uh...

Loyal: It's a very un-ideal situation for us to be in.

Taury: Mmm.

GM: Quicker than you'd like.

Loyal: [Laughs].

Markus: Ok.

GM: Not slowly enough for you to feel good.

Taury: Can I also roll the local check to just see?

GM: You may.

Taury: Yeah.

Loyal: No.

GM: You have no idea what this creature is, you're not even sure it's a goblin.

Loyal: Don't like being in this corridor right now.

Taury: Mmm hmm.

GM: Tactically disadvantageous.

Loyal: Very tactically disadvantageous [Laughs], not great.

GM: That's why it's so good. Alright, so yeah it attacks Taury.

Loyal: It's a +1! Shit!

GM: No with a long sword and hits.

Loyal: Oh, no!

Taury: Yes, it does.

GM: It, then stabs at you with a dagger and misses and then brings down his hand axe and hits.

Loyal: Oh, fucking hell! Glad I gave you the healing potions.

Taury: Ooh, that's what, 15? 15 damage just then?

GM: 15 points of damage.

Loyal: Yeah, could have been 20 if it hit with the dagger.

Taury: Oh, boy.

Loyal: No, I don't like this at all, I like this at all.

Taury: I don't, I don't like this at all.

GM: I will now roll the D4 to see when its breath weapon recharges... Ok, next round it will be ready to breathe again.

Loyal: Oh, my God.

GM: Fun.

Loyal: Sucks. Oh no.

Taury: No, I no that's not fun!

GM: Morana.

Morana: Alright, Knowledge local.

GM: You identify a deformed version of the goblin hero known as Korovus.

Loyal: Hero?

GM: This was one of the goblins that Shalelu warned you about.

Morana: Alright, did she give any kind of information on him or?

GM: He's presumed dead!

Morana: Ah huh.

GM: No goblins have seen him for a while, but he has a +1 sword, a magic sword that he took from a hero he slew and it's his pride and joy.

Loyal: Disarm, disarm, disarm! Quite literally take his arm off.

GM: That's all you know about him from what Shalelu told you. You get 4 questions about what he is now, as you can see him.

Morana: Ok, you said 'presumed' dead? 

GM: Ah-ha. 

Morana: Could he potentially be undead?

GM: He is not. I won't even count that as a question.

Morana: Ah, so I figured.

Taury: That's really unfortunate.

GM: He's pretty clearly alive, just hideously mutated.

Morana: Ah, like- Does it seem like an alchemical mutation, magical-?

Loyal: That's what I'm worried about.

Morana: I don't know how to word that in a way that, you know, she would know, but could- basically, can she tell how he's been mutated? Are there any signs?

GM: No. No signs.

Morana: Okay, we can't, probably can't tell how he's healing like that?

GM: Ah, that is a question that I can answer: That is a defensive trait. He has Fast healing.

Morana: Ok.

Markus: Do we not get the number after that?

GM: Oh no, I'm not giving you that much info.

Morana: Ah, weaknesses?

GM: No weaknesses.

Morana: Of course not. 

Loyal: Shit.

Morana: Ah, any immunities?

GM: He is immune to acid, mind-affecting effects, paralysis, and poison.

Loyal: Fucking hell! Ok. Don't throw the acid at him. That was my next idea, actually.

Markus: Well, Ok. [Laughs]

Taury: So he's immune to Taury? 

All: [Laugh]

Loyal: Not immune to sword. Hit him with sword.

GM: You still have a question...or questions, plural?

Morana: Ah yeah, I think I've got one left.

GM: Alright. 

Morana: The point is- Ah... I can't really think of any other ones. I mean, basically just ecology, just give, get what I can about him. Any special attacks aside from the breath weapon?

GM: Breath weapon is it.

Morana: Ok.

GM: Once every 1D4 rounds, he can spew a 20-foot long line of foul-smelling, acidic blood from his mouth.

Loyal: Oh!

Morana: Ok. She will be relaying.

GM: Any creatures in the area take 2D4 points of acid damage, reflex for half. The creature that takes damage from the acid must also make a Fortitude save or then become nauseated for a round. Oh, I forgot the nauseation for you! Take that as a gift.

Taury: I don't think that there are 'gifts' after you throw something with 3 arms at us. 

All: [Laugh]

GM: I am benevolent, have a gift.

Fenwarin: Do you mean forgetful? 

Taury: Bullshit! 

Loyal: [Laughs]

Taury: Yeah, hungover! 

All: [Laugh]

Loyal: Forgetful, benevolent: Same thing.

Taury: Hungover! The only reason we're not dead right now. [Laughs]

Morana: With that, Morana is going to move to here and-

Taury: I'm on 8 HP, by the way.

Loyal: [Laughs] At least I gave you the healing potions.

Morana: Yes, I'm making a Ranged touch attack, as Morana holds out a hand and a glowing black line shoots this thing in the chest.

GM: Alright, Touch attack does hit.

Morana: How'd you- I haven't rolled it yet.

Loyal: Oh.

Fenwarin: Sherbert! 

GM: Oh

Loyal: That, that, yeah-

GM: That was your Knowledge local. Right.

Loyal: Should've gone with it.

Morana: Mother fuck!

Loyal: Damn. You should've gone with it! You should have just-

Taury: You should've just fucking lied!

Loyal: You should have let him, let him- Ah!

Taury: Fuck! You take advantage of the hangover, God damnit!

Loyal: We need it!

Taury: [Laughs]

Morana: No, I won't. That's how I do things.

GM: Hungover? I'm not hungover,

Taury: Ah-huh? Ah-huh?

GM: I'm just not with it. Is that all you're doing, Morana?

Morana: Nah, I mean, I moved, I made a Standard. Yeah, I got nothing else I can do.

GM: Alright, Fenwarin.

Fenwarin: Yes. A quick question: Can I move and then throw the torch down the corridor so I can have a better view of this thing?

GM: Sure, that'll be an attack. 

Fenwarin: Alright.

Taury: And there's no way that can hit Taury, right? 

Loyal: [Laughs]

Taury: Before he does it.

Fenwarin: Well, how far can I throw? That's my question.

Loyal: What are you trying to throw?

Fenwarin: My torch. 

Loyal: Ah.

GM: Are you keeping a torch? Are you throwing your only torch?

Fenwarin: No, no, I have torches. I just want to throw the lit one.

GM: Right, but if you throw the lit one, you don't have a lit one anymore.

Fenwarin: No, but at least I can see down the corridor and maybe hit what I'm-

Taury: But you should probably light the torch in your hand with the torch that's lit and then throw the one that's not lit, or that is lit, the other one, the second one.

Fenwarin: Can I do that in the same move, and action that?

GM: Oh no, that'll be a full round. 

Fenwarin: Ah-ha.

Taury: Yeah.

GM: You could 5 foot and then- with all that.

Fenwarin: And can I throw it far away then, to do that? How far can I throw?

GM: Throwing distance is determined by your roll.

Fenwarin: Ok. So I do a five foot and then do the- light the other torch and then throw the one I have in my hand? 

GM: Yeah. 

Fenwarin: Ok.

GM: Alright. Give me a Strength check?

Loyal: Hit Taury in the back of the head? [Laughs]

Taury: Hmmm.

Fenwarin: And she dies. [Laughs]

Taury: Takes off the 8 HP that she currently has. Fucken Fenwarin takes it. [Laughs] 

Fenwarin: 13.

Taury: She's now on fire. [Laughs]

GM: How's that work for you?

Fenwarin: That works really, really well. Yeah.

GM: Yeah. Ah, Loyal a lit torch hits-

Fenwarin: Oh, no! [Laughs]

Loyal: Great. [Laughs]

Taury: Here we go!

GM: -it hits the ceiling of the corridor, right behind you, and then falls down, just missing your shoulder. Like, at your feet now, is this lit torch. You just look back and you see Fenwarin holding a torch.

Fenwarin: "It wasn't me, I'm holding my torch." [Laughs]

Loyal: If you needed light, you could have asked! 

Taury: [Laughs]

GM: Alright, Markus.

Markus: Ah, will begin...yeah, will begin casting a spell, that's not going to finish immediately.

GM: Alright, Loyal.

Loyal: Hmm. I guess, I don't want to hit it, I'm not, I refuse to directly hit it with a bomb here, I don't wanna kill Taury. Ah, I could try and- What can I do here? I'm going to try and throw, try and throw a bomb, like, behind it, essentially, to where it gets hit by the splash.

GM: Ok. Roll your attack.

Loyal: Go. Bah! Okay, I can do that.

GM: Yup, that hits. So 6 points of splash damage.

Loyal: And, then- So, how the attack works is, if I make the attack I can't do anything, or can I attack and then move?

GM: You can attack and then move.

Loyal: Ok.

GM: You can move and attack, attack and then move, you just can't put them in-between each other.

Loyal: Cool. Gotcha. Don't want to be in the line.

GM: Actions must resolve.

Loyal: Gotcha. Cool. That's my turn.

GM: Alright. Taury.

Taury: Welp. Ok, so with fervor, I should be able to heal on a swift action. So, I'm going to do that.

GM: This doesn't provoke attacks of opportunity, correct?

Taury: Ah, so standard action to use on others, swift on self, standard action on undead provokes an attack of opportunity. No saving throws, cancels positive energy.

GM: Alright. So, only if you're trying to use it on undead? Yep. 

Taury: Ah-ha. 

GM: Cool.

Taury: So that is 1D6. 

GM: Ok.

Loyal: It's good. It's good.

Taury: So that's 5 points of healing.

GM: That may help you survive the next round.

Taury: Aaah! I don't think so, but ok.

Markus: Useful and other people are going to help

Taury: I mean, it did 15 points of damage in one attack, 

Loyal: It missed-

Taury: -Like one round.

Loyal: It missed one of the attacks.

Taury: And it missed one. So it would have killed me if it hit me with that one. So, we will see. Aah, Ok. See, if I drink said potion, I feel like it's just all that HP is going to be gone before I ever get to move.

Loyal: But you could.

Markus: The other option is attacking.

Loyal: That's also an option, see if we can kill it.

Taury: Yeah, but it doesn't really seem to do anything when I attack it unless I crit. But, anyway.

Loyal: Just to be fair, that 10 damage was also kind of a high roll. He kind of high-rolled the damage, looking at it.

Taury: Ah, so, I'll drop the second axe, to draw...my staff. Ahhh... oh boy, attack and run! Yeah, I'm a fucking swing at it. Fuck it! 

Loyal: God damn!

GM: That will miss. Of course it does!

Loyal: You've got the True Strike thing, if you want to drink it at some point too, but.

Taury: Yeah. But I mean,

Loyal: It's better if we survive til then.

Taury: Yeah, I don't know if it's this helpful in this situation. But, and a five-foot step backwards. 

GM: Alright.

Taury: I'm already preparing her gravestone. 

GM: His turn. 

Markus: Oh no! 

Loyal: It's not-

GM: He will five-foot forward.

Loyal: Yeah, I figured.

Taury: I mean, look, where was I gonna go? Like, look how narrow this fucking corridor is, I have- Where was I gonna go?

Loyal: God! It can hit 4 of us, can't it?

Markus: Well, it depends where it starts.

Loyal: Well, if it's 20-foot, maybe 3.

Taury: Well, it can hit more than 1.

Markus: Yeah, so it's 3 of us.

Taury: We've got to make them saves, yeah?

Loyal: Ok, well, low damage. Actually, this is probably better than it going 3 attacks on you.

Taury: Did I technically have to use Resistance, or is that a choice, or does it just automatically trigger when I make a Reflex save?

GM: Using it is a choice, I believe. Either that or it's automatic in your first one, once the spell's active.

Taury: Ok. Well, technically, I would have used it then.

Markus: Take- take the +1 bonus.

GM: Have a +1.

Taury: Sure.

GM: For now.

Taury: I don't need it, apparently. That's another 20.

GM: Alright.

Taury: That's 22, technically, if I took this one.

GM: Loyal is just out of that range, correct?

Loyal: Thank God. That's it! That's why I backed up.

Markus: I would have been, if Taury had not taken a step back.

Taury: Where was I going to go, man? [Laughs]

Fenwarin: Yep.

Markus: 'Cause

GM: Okay.

Taury: I mean, I wasn't gonna hug it.

Markus: Yeah. 20 foot gets 3 of us.

GM: Alright. So all of you took 2 points of damage because you all saved. And you need a Fortitude save now to not be nauseated.

Taury: I don't like this guy. Can we just-? I don't like him.

GM: Markus is nauseated. Taury is not. Morana is not.

Loyal: Could've been worse.

Taury: Oh, we both rolled 18s!

Markus: Ah, what does nauseated do?

GM: When you are nauseous, you can only take a move action.

Loyal: Fucking hell!

Fenwarin: Oh my God!.

Loyal: That's awful.

Taury: Fuck this guy!

GM: Ok, Markus, you also had a spell that was ongoing? 

Loyal: Oh!

Markus: Being cast. Yeah.

GM: I need a Concentration check, or you lose it. Concentration check... 

Markus: That should be enough. 

GM: ... Passed. Alright, so you don't lose your spell, it'll still go off, but you can actually not do any actions this next turn. 

Markus: Yep, that's fine.

Taury: It's not, it's so not fine.

Loyal: [Laughs] We need actions.

GM: Korovus will then take a defensive stance.

Markus: How far did it-? Sorry, point of clarification: How far did it actually move? Was it just five feet?

GM: Just a 5-foot step.

Markus: Yeah. Um, now that the torch is there, just as a point of clarification, the shadow for this creature- 

GM: Yep?

Markus: -Seems to be pulling it back. It seems to be, like, it's, it's almost fighting against its shadow to stand where it is. 

GM: Ah-

Markus: It lasts two rounds.
 
Taury: Fight him with your bullshit, do it! 

Loyal: [Laughs]

GM: No, you're good. I believe you. You have shenanigans. Morana.

Morana: Ah, hmm. Alright, I've got one more shot at this, so another attempt at a ranged touch, another glowing black line.

GM: That's the new saving throw.

Loyal: Oh, good!

Taury: Well, that worked.

Loyal: That's good.

GM: Ok. That does hit.

Loyal: Two things I like to see: bad enemy rolls and good ally rolls.

Morana: Alright, then, it's going to need to make a Fortitude save. Ah, DC-

Markus: Yes, yes.

Morana: I think it's fif- Nah, it made it, but it will still...ah, it loses 2 strength.

Loyal: Ooh!

Markus: Yep. 

GM: Ok.

Morana: This glowing black line just slams it in the chest, it kind of shrivels a little.

Loyal: That's good. It's good for Taury actually, 'cause if it starts engaging melee-

Taury: Well, right now it seems determined to fucking spit on us.

Loyal: Which honestly, in a lot of these situations, I'll take over it wailing on you.

Taury: It's better.

Loyal: Yeah.

Taury: It's better, it's better. With these good saves that we have, it's better, but-

Loyal: Yeah, because-

Taury: Maybe we don't have good saves for the whole thing-

Loyal: Because, Yeah.

Taury: So we'll see.

Morana: And ah, that'll be all she does. Well, no, no. Um, those of you behind Morana, which means everyone except Taury, sees something really weird happen. Suddenly in the blink of an eye, her hair grows to a length of about 10 feet. Like that. [Snaps] And starts moving around.

GM: Fenwarin, it's now your turn.

Fenwarin: Alright. Um, attempting a forced missile on him, is there going to be a penalty because of so many others in the way?

GM: Nope, you can see him now.

Fenwarin: Nice. Yeah. Alright, I'll do that... Ah!

Loyal: Arg! Damage is damage.

Markus: How does that, how does that, only do 1 point in damage?

GM: 'Cause it's the Force missile.

Markus: Plus the damage from your intense spells evocation power? Did you give up intense spells?

Fenwarin: No, no, no-no.

Markus: The first missile deals 1D4 points for damage, plus the damage from your intense spells evocation power.

GM: Oh! 

Fenwarin: Ah!

Markus: So that should be at least +1.

Fenwarin: I see, so it's 1 + 1 then, 2? 

All: [Laugh]

Loyal: Yeah!

All: [Laugh]

Loyal: We got that extra 1 damage.

Markus: Hey, hey.

Fenwarin: Wow!

Markus: Rules lawyering: Doubling your damage.

Loyal: It's fair.

Taury: I- I just, it was, it was the only maths I could do, I took the opportunity, you know? Do it for you.

Fenwarin: I didn't know that. Sorry, I didn't know that.

Fenwarin: [Laughs] God damn it.

GM: Alright. Markus, your spell goes off.

Markus: Yes, and I shall summon a hawk behind him.

GM: A hawk? 

Markus: Or an eagle, sorry, mechanically the same thing.

Taury: Is the eagle holding a knife so I can get a flank bonus? 

All: [Laugh]

Markus: No, no.

Taury: Is it from New York?

Markus: He's got a beak, 2 claws, so it's got better than just a knife.

Taury: Alright. 

Markus: So, well, let's start with it doing its full attack. I'm guessing that second talon with, particularly with, flanking will-?

GM: Yes. Just barely.

Loyal: I don't like this at all.

Fenwarin: That fast healing has me concerned.

Loyal: Yep, that's, yeah. Ah, I can't bomb anything now, I'll hit the eagle! [Laughs] 

Fenwarin: [Laughs]

Loyal: God damnit.

Markus: And, I'll step back to give people more room to maneuver. 

GM: Sure.

Taury: Yeah, because we have so much room now. [Laughs]

GM: It is now your turn, Loyal.

Loyal: Ok, I guess I'll take out the crossbow and fire. Got a penalty. What's the penalty for firing with someone who's engaged?

GM: -4.

Loyal: Ah, fun! So I basically have a +0. Go! Bah-jeah! 

Taury: Ooh, fuck yeah!

Loyal: It probably doesn't confirm, but it hits!

GM: It does not confirm.

Fenwarin: -4.

Loyal: Yeah, but 2 points of damage.

GM: Two more points! You guys are all about the nickel and dime victory. 

Fenwarin: [Laughs]

Loyal: Yeah.

Markus: Apparently so, yeah.

GM: Ok, Taury.

Taury: Ok, so drinking something is a full action, yeah?

GM: Drinking something is a standard action.

Taury: Yeah, but...

Loyal: It probably provokes too, yeah?

Taury: Yeah.

GM: It does. Retrieving something from your pack to get the thing to drink out, is a move action that provokes, so you could provoke twice.

Taury: No, no, no, I'm not doing it. I was just asking whether it was like a, my actual action or not? Because I know that. Yeah, no, I'm not doing that. That's a terrible idea. 

Loyal: Ok. [Laughs] 

Taury: [Laughs] It's a horrible idea. I'm already going to get attacked, like, three times in the next turn.

Markus: Might I suggest Swift action, heal yourself?

Loyal: Yeah, yeah.

Taury: Yeah, yeah, I'm getting there. I'm fucking getting there son.

Loyal: [Laughs]

Taury: Give me a minute? I was literally pasting it in the chat. Give me a second. Yeah. So, I'm going to use my last Fervor to heal myself, hopefully for something decent. 3? I'll take that. I'll take it. Okey doke.

Markus: Sorry, Furtive: on my turn, the Entangle would have worn off.

Taury: [Whispering] Why are you doing this to us, Quiet? Why the fuck are you doing this?

Markus: Sorry. The plan was to put it back, but I got nauseated, so.

Taury: [Whispering] Could you say it after my turn? [Laughs] Anyway. Ah, so, yeah, I'm going to take a swing at it.

GM: That misses.

Taury: Of course it does.

GM: Yep. Had he still been entangled, it would have hit.

Loyal: Hmm.

Taury: Yeah, Markus! 

All: [Laugh]

Taury: Yeah, so if I move out of here, that eagle gets flank if I stay here, doesn't it? 

Markus: Yeah.

GM: The eagle does get flank if you stay.

Taury: I mean, it's- there's no benefit to me moving, really.

Loyal: It'll just walk up to you if it wants to hit you. I mean, I guess-

Taury: Yes, I'll just-

Loyal: If it walks up to you, or I could just 5-foot step up to you, so nevermind. Yeah.

Taury: That's the thing, it doesn't matter, it's going to it me. So yeah, I'll just end my turn there. There's no point.

Loyal: If it wants to hit you, it's going to hit you.

GM: Alright, its turn. Some of its wounds close up, heal over, boon- burn marks slowly disappear, and then it will attack Taury.

Loyal: Oy. Ok.

Taury: It's going to miss.

Loyal: Ok, well, but-

Taury: That hits.

Loyal: Not- It's the attack we wanted to hit, if any of them. 

Taury: Mmmm.

GM: And the 17 misses because it's at negative 1 because of the strength damage. 

Taury: Oh!

Loyal: Oh, thank God!

Taury: Yeah.

Morana: That's right. 

Taury: Fuckin sweet, because that would have been 2 hits otherwise. 

Markus: Well done!

Taury:  Nice.

GM: So he stabs you with the silver dagger- 

Loyal: Lutch!

GM: Misses with the other two.

Taury: So I basically just lost the healing- 

Loyal: Yeah.

GM: The healing.

Taury: That I did.

GM: Yeah.

Taury: That's it. So that's OK. I'll take that.

Loyal: That negative 1 strength. Clutch.

Taury: Ooh, that one, though. Nice. Savage.

GM: Morana, it is now your turn.

Morana: Alright, Morana is going to 5-foot step forward, poke Taury in the back. You get those hit points back. That's about all I can do this round then.

Taury: I'll take that. 

GM: Ok. 

Morana: Also, Furtive, I've DM-ed you a question.

GM: Ok, the answer to your question is 'yes'.

Morana: Hmm-mmm-mmm. Neat!

GM: Fenwarin.

Fenwarin: Yeah, I mean, not much else to do, but to fire another force missile at it.

Taury: Does that have a splash damage rate, radius or anything? 

Markus: No, no. 

Taury: Ok, thanks.

Fenwarin: No, no, it doesn't. [Laughs] Come on! Another 2.

Taury: So, so- so what you're saying is, you and Markus are the same character?

Fenwarin: Basically, I guess.

Taury: Even in rolls.

GM: Markus, it's now your turn.

Markus: Ah, am I still nauseated?

GM: No, it only lasted one round.

Markus: Excellent. Okay. Ah, he's not in dim light, but he's got a fairly high AC. Yeah, he can make a Will save again please? Okay. You guys actually see this a little clearer this time. Markus begins chanting a spell and this creature's shadow actually starts sort of like grabbing onto it and restraining it, entangling it.

GM: Ok, is that all you are doing? Yeah. The eagle as well?

Markus: Yeah, I'm far enough away. Yeah, that's all Markus will do, and the eagle will technically do-

GM: Alright, 4 points of damage total from three attacks, drops it.

Fenwarin: Oh! [Laughs]

Taury: Sweet.

Fenwarin: Didn't think that would be possible.

Loyal: Oh God! I thought that was going to be a lot worse. 

Fenwarin: Yeah.

GM: You are out of combat. 

Loyal: [Sighs]

Taury: Well, that could- that could have gone worse, to be fair. 

Loyal: Yeah, it could have. 

Fenwarin: Hmmm-mmm

Markus: "Huh, Ok."

Morana: Hair retracts back under the hood.

Taury: Don't fuck with my weave.

Markus: "Um, somebody want to make sure that thing's actually dead and it's not going to just regenerate on us?"

Taury: Is that a Heal check? 

Loyal: I can do that. I'm good at that. Going to make sure it's not going to come back or something or heal. Go!

GM: It is dead.

Loyal: "Definitely dead. But just to make sure I'm going to put a crossbow bolt in its head." [Laughs] 

GM: Alright.

Markus: "Well, um, interesting! Um, anyone know what that thing was?"

Loyal: "Your guess is as good as mine."

Morana: "Some form of mutated goblin, I'm not sure how it mutated. Um, Shalelu had mentioned him, but I don't think this was what she had in mind when she did. Supposedly, he was dead already. Clearly, this was not the case. But, he is at least dead now. We could probably take the corpse to study it."

Markus: "Possibly not the worst idea. Yeah."

Morana: "Should at least take the ears".

Markus: "Also, I can't quite get there, but does someone want to see what he was carrying? I don't suppose a creature like that's exactly going to be carrying another journal, but you never know?" 

Loyal: "Never know"

Taury: Taury's going to search him.

Loyal: Loyal will help search as well. He's right next to it.

GM: The only thing he's carrying is a +1 longsword, a silver dagger and a masterwork hand axe.

Loyal: Fun weapons.

Markus: How obvious is it that the sword is a +1?

Loyal: Um, it's kind of glowing.

GM: Yeah, it glows reddish and it, like, omits a smoke.

Markus: Ok. This is one of those weapons that actually glows, Ok.

GM: Yep, it glows with the strength of about a candle.

Taury: What's the info on the axe?

GM: The axe is masterwork.

Taury: What does that mean?

GM: Masterwork is a good version of a weapon. It- A masterwork weapon is the base requirement before it can be enchanted to become a magical weapon.

Loyal: Oh, I see!

Taury: Oh, Ok.

Markus: It's also +1 to hit, but not +1 damage.

Loyal: Yeah, gotcha.

GM: Correct.

Taury: Ok. 

GM: Masterwork armor gives you a bonus on your Armor check penalty. It reduces the penalty by 1 point. Masterwork is a better version of an item, but is still a mundane item. 

Taury: Ok, cool.

Markus: "So, interesting sword. You seem to favor the scythe, Taury, but do you think you could use something like that?"

Taury: And she picks it up and she sort of looks at it and eyes it. Looks at, like, the two small axes that she has, kind of weighing the two up against each other. Nods to Markus, drops the two small axes and picks up the big axe.

Markus: The masterwork hand axe?

Taury: Yes, not the sword. 

Markus: Ok. Dropping both of them?

Taury: Yeah, they're fucking heavy. [Laughs]

Markus: Ok.

Loyal: "So, who wants the sword?"

Fenwarin: "Anyone able to properly wield it?"

Loyal: "Certainly not me. At the very least, we should take it with us and sell it if need be."

Fenwarin: "Yeah, agreed."

Markus: "I suppose it's, in the short term, it's better than my axe if I need a melee weapon."

Fenwarin: "How about the silver dagger?"

Loyal: "Well, I think for the most part, all of us can wield daggers." Does a silver dagger, have any, like, alchemical uses, et cetera, or would be used for alchemical things?

GM: You'll have to do a check on that.

Loyal: Like, actual check or just me physically check to see if it does anything?

GM: Ah, an actual check, an Appraise check.

Loyal: Ok, cool. Appraise. I'm good at those. 

GM: Alright.

Markus: Yeah, you are quite good at those.

GM: A silver dagger is a dagger that has been alchemically treated to have a silver coating. It does 1 point less damage than normal, but has the benefit of being silvered. So, if you need to use silver-specific weapons on a creature, this is silver.

Loyal: "Well, these are chemically treated. I might as well take it in case we come across anything that might need silver." I just kind of pick up the dagger, put it in my belt somewhere.

GM: Ok. 

Loyal: Silver dagger.

GM: You guys headed this way next, or you headed back that way? Right or left, east or west?

Loyal: "Might as well finish checking this corridor."

Fenwarin: "I think so, too, yeah." 

Markus: "Yeah, let's."

GM: Ok. The tunnel widens here into what appears to have once been a small shrine, for to the north east, steps lead up to a platform of gray stone. Sitting atop the platform is an ancient altar, little more than a jagged block of black marble with a shallow concavity on top of it. This basin is filled with what appears to be filthy water.

Loyal: Gonna a step in, can I identify who the shrine is to?

GM: Knowledge religion.

Loyal: Let's go.

Markus: Yeah, I'm also going to try that.

Morana: Dittos.

Fenwarin: Same here.

GM: Alright, Markus and Morana both recognize some markings that denote this as a shrine to Lamashtu.

Morana: "That's- that's only slightly troubling."

GM: The demon queen, the mother of monsters.

Markus: "It's Goblin, so? Or, it was, so-"

Loyal: Loyal, just, kind of, takes like- Just kinda is, just kind of is looking at it, after you say who it's to, just like, pondering it almost, thinking about something.

Markus: Out of character question: There is no correlation that I would be aware of between Lamashtu and Thassilon is there?

GM: Ah, not directly. I mean, Lamashtu may have achieved godhood back that far. This isn't really your forte of knowledge.

Markus: Yeah, Ok. But she wasn't a widely worshipped god at the time or something like that? That I'm aware of?

GM: Not that is in your mind at the moment, no.

Markus: Yeah, that's fine. "Well, if nothing else, it seems that, yeah, this is probably more recent than the rest of these structures."

Morana: You said there was another water basin in here? Like where we first came in?

GM: Yeah, there's water in this. As you're looking at it, there's a gurgling, some bubbles of this black water, and the water level of it rises a bit.

Morana: Yeah I'll drop a quick Detect magic.

Loyal: That's concerning.

Markus: Yeah, that was my initial reaction as well.

GM: Alright, it radiates Conjuration magic.

Markus: Can we identify it, more specifically than that or not?

GM: Yeah, faint Conjuration magic and moderate Divination.

Morana: Ah, spellcraft?

GM: Sure. The Conjuration is Create Water and the Divination you think might be Commune.

Morana: Oh, ah-oh! "Just take a step away from that."

Markus: "Ah, why?"

Morana: "Um, so there's, there's, there's a Create Water like there was in the one in the entranceway. It also seems to possibly be able to be used to communicate with...something."

Markus: "Oh, right. Yes." Would Knowledge arcana let me identify the spells as well? Or is it just Spellcraft?

GM: You would need a Spellcraft.

Markus: Yeah, I'm guessing I don't get the second spell?

GM: No, you do not.

Markus: But that is enough for the Create Water, I think? 

GM: Yeah. 

Markus: Yeah.

Fenwarin: Can I also attempt that?

GM: Sure. Those of you that identified the Create Water, normally Create Water makes pristine, crystal clear, pure water. This water is black.

Morana: Yeah, that ain't right.

GM: It's almost oil-slicked in how it appears.

 	That's all the time we have for now. To learn more about the show, the cast, etc. head over to http://wayward-expeditions.com/ .