Wayward Expeditions - Rise of the Runelords - Episode 2
 	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: Alright, 22 is where you are at Markus. When we last left you, you were perusing the bookstore,The Curious Goblin. 

Markus: I was, yes.  

GM: You were looking at the stacks when an elderly gentleman sitting in one of the overstuffed chairs reading a book notices you and kind of lowers the book and peers over.

GM: "What are you doing?"

Markus: "I'm looking to see what's here."

GM: "There's books here." 

Markus: "More precisely to see which particular books are part of the collection."

GM: He raises the book to continue reading. 

Markus: If I'm remembering right, the proprietor was buying Pathfinder volume from somebody.

GM: Yes.

Markus: Is this... Is this the same person or is it somebody else?

GM: This is a different gentleman. You think he might be a patron but he seems very familiar here. Let me rephrase that. He seems as if he thinks he owns it, there is a sense of belonging from him.

Markus: Ah, yeah okay. 

GM: That makes more sense or is explained better. I'm going to have a hard time with words today I can feel it.

Markus: Oh, that's okay. "I take it you're a regular here?"

GM: He lowers the book, puts his finger in a page and closes and lays it down on his lap, readjusts in the chair. "No,no I just like to come and enjoy the atmosphere of idiots."

Markus: "Ah, so you're not one that believes that people who seek knowledge and to better themselves are inherently on a noble quest?" 

GM: "Well sure they are, but they don't do it here. Anyone who knows anything worth knowing are the people that write the books." 

Markus: Markus will nod slightly at that. "That's not an unreasonable point. But those of us who come after have to start somewhere." 

GM: "I suppose I understand what you're saying but I don't agree with it. Everyone starts at the same spot. Nowhere."

Markus: "I can see where that argument will come from yes. We start as children knowing nothing of the world. We are taught by others and by our own experiences." 

GM: "And there you have it, experiences. Books aren't experience. It's just knowledge, knowledge without knowing what to do with it isn't worth a damn."

Markus: "Yes. You're not entirely wrong. Part of I suppose, for want of a better word, wisdom is in knowing how to use the knowledge you have."

GM: He nods.

Markus: "So if you don't mind a slightly personal question given that philosophy, what are you doing here reading?" 

GM: He looks at the book looks at you, "Seeing what other half wits have in their minds that I could pick up and maybe put in my mind and be less of a halfwit than they are."

Markus: "In other words, seeing if there are good ideas that they have felt utilized properly." 

GM: "Oh sure, if you want to give him accolades for being clever enough to write a word on a page and get it bound."

Markus: "Oh don't get me wrong, I have read books that, well, to put it bluntly serve little purpose, other than to waste ink and paper but I've read other books that have opened my eyes to some of the possibilities in this world."

GM: "Go on."

Markus: "I seek to learn of the past and in doing so learn from it. So that perhaps some of the same mistakes cannot be repeated. How familiar are you with Ancient Azlanty?"

GM: "Ah,ha ha of all the people in this town for you to ask that question you ask me! Have you asked anyone else that question or am I serendipitously the first?"

Markus: "You are the first because. Well..."

GM: "Ah ha ha ha!"

Markus: "In this place you are the first I've encountered that seems to have an appreciation for knowledge." 

GM: He uncrosses his legs and kicks the chair across the little in-table out and gestures, "Have a seat boy I am Brodert Quink."

Markus: "Markus. Nice to meet you."

GM: "Hmmm, so you want to know about Azlant and Old Thasillon?"

Markus: "I know some of Azlant. I studied a bit about their magics. But yes, the knowledge of Thasillon was part of what must drew me to this region. I won't deny that."

GM: "Well you came to the right little spit of town. You know that old light everyone thinks is some ruined lighthouse of some form, ancient and whatnot? He taps the side of his head."

Markus: "uh huh."

GM: "It's even older than that and I think it was some sort of war machine. If my theories are right, it was capable of spewing out fire to a range of more than a mile out." 

Markus: "Without using magic? Purely from..." 

GM: "Oh I'm sure it used magic."

Markus: "Oh, I was going to say, I've heard tales of some of the feats of engineering and these relatively new, what is the word? Firearms? They don't, from what I've been told they don't seem to actually use magic the way an enchantment would work at least."

GM: "What are you talking about fire without magic, like just a flint and steel and a little puff of smoke."

Markus: "I know there are chemical compounds that can be made and I've heard rumors of weapons that I don't know if they use alchemical or some other mechanism but I guess you haven't heard of such things before."

GM: "Other than some sort of siege machine like a ship's cannon or the like. No."

Markus: "Yes. Ah, cannons. That's, that's what I was thinking of. Yes. Apparently some people are trying to make them smaller. I have no idea if they're actually achieving such but..." 

GM: "Miniature cannons, for what purpose? They're going to make the boat smaller?"

Markus: "I don't know. An alchemist I studied with talked about it for a while. I didn't understand what the purpose behind it was, other than, well obviously it's would be a weapon and more portable than one on the ship but, we already have those, we have bows, we have crossbows."

GM: "Some people just have too much time to waste I guess."

Markus: "Yes but so this this wasn't an engineered or an alchemical creation this was likely a magical construct that was used to spread the fire, Okay."

GM: "In my years and years of studying old Thassilonian relics, I am pretty sure that where we're at right now was the borderlands between two of the Runelords territories and that, these war machines if there were more of them were helping keep the neutral zone neutral."

Markus: "How interesting."

GM: "Whether or not they were controlled by one of the Runelords or multiple I don't know. Most people think I'm crazy, you haven't laughed yet, I like you."

Markus: "It's an interesting theory. Have you discovered any proof one way or the other?"

GM: "No. That's the rub. We're talking about trying to find evidence of things that are more than ten thousand years old. What evidence you do find is either indelible to time or near destroyed by it."

Markus: "Yes I'm familiar with some of the challenges there, makes recovering knowledge of lost Azlanty rather challenging sometimes."

GM: "Yeah it does. The adventures that come through here whenever they have trinkets from the ruins they ruin further, they give them to me or sell them. They won't give them, I give them a fair price for it. As far as they know it's a fair price. I study them and then I ship them back up to Riddleport for the guild. I've got a shipment in a few days after the festival."

Markus: "Wait, the guild?"

GM: "Yeah the Cyphermage."

Markus: "You're part of the guild?"

GM: "Oh yeah. You're a little slow aren't you?"

Markus: "Well, suffice to say I wasn't expecting to encounter a member of the guild outside of Riddleport at least well, not, not so soon."

GM: "How are you going to study the ancient Thassilonian ruins if you're not out amongst the ruins?"

Markus: "I confess, I know rather little a few of the specifics of your order, beyond that it exists and obviously the reputation as some of the most knowledgeable and skilled wields as for arcane magic in, in the area." 

GM: "Oh, you're flattering me, I barely use magic at all. It's all academic for me."

Markus: "That is the reputation of the Cyphermages, I intend no flattery."

GM: "Well earned many of them are very powerful magic users, but not all of us."

Markus: "And they take scholars, those who searched for the ancient knowledge?"

GM: "Well of course.  I spent, oh decades of my youth over in Janderhoff studying engineering with the dwarves there and then I went to the Great Library at Magnimar and spent decades more learning there. Of course they let me in for my, my expertise on the subject matter. There is none better." 

Markus: "Well then I am doubly grateful for making your acquaintance. Have you, I take it you've explored fields like house yourself?"

GM: "I have a little shop set up near there. It's called The Sage. I spend most my time up near the Old Light, looking at it, trying to sift through the rubble that it is now and find clues.""

Markus: "I see."

GM: "When I'm not out there I'm in here."

Markus: Markus is leaning back in his chair and he's obviously thinking. "Do you think there's much left of the Old Light?"

GM: "No, it's just a rublled base right now. There's hardly anything left of it."

Markus: "So it's unlikely that anything survived? Tunnels, rooms underneath?" 

GM: "Tunnels, rooms, talking about trying to excavate?  I hadn't consider that, hmmm."  He leans back in his chair, scratching his chin then rubs the bald spot on his head and his eyes are kind of crossed in thought. 

Markus: "It may be that there is truly nothing left. But, it may be that buried beneath the rubble there are still things to find, so excavating, if it's something you're interested in and you have reason to believe there is still knowledge to be found there..."

GM: "Ah, The Riddlegate up in Riddleport, we did excavate that a century or so back."

Markus: "Uh huh."

GM: "And they found that, well they assume, presume, rather that it is a giant ring that encompasses the port mouth but only the top quarter of it or so is actually above ground and the rest fully formed and etched is, imbedded into the rock. Somehow." 

Markus: "Interesting." 

GM: "And we confirmed that that was true at least as far as we did excavate so it's not implausible. I will have to write a letter, yes." He gets up very slowly and then walks out the store without saying another word to you just mumbling to himself about excavating the old lake.

Markus: I'll give him a polite wave and remain seated there thinking about things.

GM: Meanwhile back at The Hagfish. Morana you are quietly sipping your wine after the three drunkards were tossed out.  Deadeye and Taury you left to go back to your your lodging for the evening.

Taury: Yeah. I said I would bring Deadeye to the place that I was staying and he could stay.

GM: Alright. Morona when they leave you would notice the rat folk. It's not something you see everyday.

Morana: Yeah. Morana's just kind of "hmm, that's unusual" Gonna watch them leave, then she kind of shrugs and starts writing some of her letters.  Just watching the crowd as she writes, no particular recipients in mind, just generalized writing.

GM: Not going to take part in any of the gambling games. The spinning of yarn. The storytelling competitive that's going on or...?

Morana: Not at the moment. She'll be listening to it, of course to see what kind of stuff people are telling but not a whole lot to say just yet.

GM: In that case we will follow Taury and Deadeye as you leave.  You enter into the streets, there's still the bustle and whatnot in the market as you're making your way back to the Madame's Chateau. They're mostly tearing down it's getting towards evening, dusk has already happened. So they're closing up the stalls. The street lights are being lit. What would you like to do?

Taury: Whereabouts are we on the map?

GM: The Hagfish is down on the port number 33 and you are making your way up to 28 so you'll walk down Water Street and either take Gaffer's Walk an alleyway between number 27 which is the Turandarok Academy which is the school in town and also the orphanage.  So you can take that alley between that and the storefront or you can go through the marketplace which is 35, the square there. 

Taury: Now Deadeye doesn't really know this place all that well does he? 

Deadeye: What I knows is like, I've been here once before but it was years ago.

Taury: Well I'm going to take a detour if he's following me.

Deadeye: Yup I'll be right behind her. 

Taury: And go left outside The Hagfish, up through Gull Street, up past 20 over here. 

GM: Okay. 

Taury: And come around the long way, through the fence.

GM: All right. 20 is the Sandpoint Glassworks. It's one of the oldest industries in Sandpoint. The Glassworks has been owned by the Kaijitsu family from the town's inception. The glass working trade has been in the family for generations and many of their techniques perfected in distant Minkai result in dazzling and impressive works that fetch top price among the nobles of Magnimar and Korvosa and beyond.

Taury: And what's 19?

GM: Ah, let's see. 19 is the House of Blue Stones. This long stone building is primarily a single large chamber. The floor decorated with polished blue stones set within winding pathways of reed mats the structure was built just ten years after Sandpoint was founded by a wandering monk named Enderaki Sorn. Today the monastery is tended by into Enderaki's daughter Sabyl. Her father having passed away about seven years ago. She's a Worshipper of Irori the god of self perfection and knowledge and she maintains a large collection of books and scrolls in the basement chambers below, which she opens up willingly to anyone that she knows is a fellow Worshipper of Irori or has proven themselves in a path to self perfection. The meditation floor is open to all but the library is only open to those she trusts.

Taury: Okay, so Taury is going to look around and see if there is a signpost for this particular street. 

GM: For Rat Alley?

Taury: Indeed.

GM: Yeah.

Taury: Where is the signpost?

GM: It's right on the corner there.

Taury: So she's going to walk over and she's going to stand underneath it and make sure that Deadeye is looking at her, I assume he is.

Deadeye: Yes, I was looking at what she was doing. 

Taury: Awesome. So she's gonna point directly at the sign. Is he going to come over because she's sort of gesturing at him to come over?

Deadeye: Of course, I'm wondering what you doing. 

Taury: "Well friend, I have a story for you this very ally is a monument to your people."  She's  definitely smirking.

Deadeye: "Uh huh. Oh really?"

Taury: "Absolutely."

Deadeye: I'm looking at the sign that says Rat Alley right? What does Rat Alley look like?

GM: It's just an alleyway between a few homes in the area, it connects the pathway of Gull§ Street over to Main Street.

Deadeye: "Oh and what a testament it is!" 

Taury: "Indeed, it is a pity they didn't put a statue up. "

Deadeye: "They should have."

Taury: "Right, and we might speak to some people and they could ah, model one on you. "

Deadeye: "That will be okay. Sure."

Taury: "You're most likely the first visitor of a rat kind to this place."

Deadeye: "Well I did visit once before though, anyway shall we?"

Taury: Yeah, she'll just sigh and continue walking back towards where she was staying. 

GM: Alright. As you turn right on to Main Street you will cross down past 21 which is the Sandpoint Savories. The smells issuing from the bakery fight against the salty tang of the sea every morning except on Sunday. Owned and operated by Avernton family for the past two decades. Alma Avernton still hasn't quite recovered from the brutal death of her son Casp five years ago under the chopper's blade.  Her twin daughters Arika and Aneka all but run the business these days and 22 is the Curious Goblin. 

Taury: Which is a pub I assume. 

GM: It has a sign out front of the shop shows a wide eyed goblin reading a book nearly as tall as himself. The book's upside down, inside the bookshop it's half bookshop half library as you're walking by see an elderly gentleman and balding and kind of cross seeming come out of the bookstore muttering to himself walking the opposite direction of you as you're heading back towards the port.

Taury: Is he leaving the bookshop?

GM: Yes. 

Taury: They'd probably smile at the Goblin in the bookshop but, I think I'd just keep walking. Is the bakery full?

GM: Not at this time of night. Most of their wares have been sold out, they might have a few leftover pieces of bread a loaf or so.

Taury: Is there anybody in there is it closed or...?

GM: It's not closed, but there's no real patrons in there either. You going to stop in? 

Taury: Yeah why not?

GM: Okay. Deadeye do you follow her in? 

Deadeye: Yes I follow.

GM: Okay, as you enter without really looking up they go "Ah we have two loaves and that's all that's left. One is a rye and the other is oh, what's the other?" And the other sister hollers back from a back room "Pumpernickel! Rye and pumpernickel." And as she looks up. "Can you please keep your pet outside. We like to keep a clean establishment.

Deadeye: I just glare at her and say "Who are you calling pet?!"

GM: "Oh it, it talks. I am..." 

Deadeye: "Yes it does! It also has a name!"

GM: "I'm sorry." She's looking between Taury and Deadeye, not sure who she's actually offended or how.

Taury: Well I'm just looking at the bread. I'm still confused about what she said about the bread. Haven't even noticed this is happening.

Deadeye: I will like elbow you to see if you're paying attention.

Taury: "Yes yes I know pumpernickel?! What is pumpernickel doing in Sandpoint? What is, what's pumpernickel?" And I look to the lady.

GM: "It's a spiced bread similar to a rye but quite different as well. Lots of grains but not... I'm sorry, is that a dire rat that's been magically awakened somehow or is this just very weird?"

Deadeye: "I am not a dire rat."

GM: "You are a very large rat. Yes?"

Taury: "I wouldn't say that he's large thats I mean he's average."

GM: "For a rat. That's quite large rat."

Deadeye: "I am not a rat."

Taury: "I mean, you know."

Deadeye: I take it well. 

GM: "You look like a rat."

Deadeye: "Different."

Taury: "No he doesn't look like a rat. He is s rat."

Deadeye: "I'm a rat person thank you very much! I assume you've never seen a ratfolk?"

GM: "What?"

Deadeye: "I guess not."

GM: "Were you polymorphed?"

Deadeye: "No."

GM: "I've heard that can happen. People get turned into rats and whatnot."

Deadeye: "No, I'm a person, my parents also are both rat folk. I'm not from around these parts."

GM: "So it's, it's a choice?"

Deadeye: "You know. Yes it's a choice."

Taury: I look absolutely baffled that this woman. 

GM: She turns to you Taury. "Why would anyone ever choose to be a rat?"

Taury: "Oh probably the same type of people who choose to put pumpernickel in bread." And I just glare at her. 

GM: "I feel like we're done here. Should you leave? I feel like I should leave now. I don't know what's happening. Here," she puts both loaves on the, on the counter "just take them and go."

Taury: I'd take them and go.

Deadeye: Yup.

Taury: "Good day." 

GM: "Okay."

Deadeye: "See you later and I tip my hat to her."

GM: Give me a sense motive check as you say "See you later."

Deadeye: Alrighty. I will do that.

Taury: Will I do that as well or...?

GM: You can if you want.

Taury: I'm probably not looking at her though so. 

Deadeye: It's not really my strong suit, but actually its not terrible so let's see...

GM: Alright. You see her almost immediately and instinctually grimace at the mention that you'll be back. But she does her best to hide it and her best isn't very good.

Deadeye: Yup , I'm pretty much unfazed by it, suffice to say I do deal with this, I just give her a grin and walk away.

GM: Would you like to make a Perception check?

Deadeye: Ooh, I'm pretty good at this.

Taury: This isn't good.

GM: 23, Okay. As you're leaving out the door you hear her go, "did you see that? It growled at me as it left, bared it's fangs!"

Deadeye: Honestly I just start laughing. "Oh man what a... some people!"

Taury: Taury has completely missed the whole interaction and she's just looking at the two loaves of bread because she definitely took the two loaves of bread. And she's deciding which one she's gonna give to the rat and which one she will have. She's kind of confused as to whether rats would actually like that weird spice or not. So that's what she's confused about. She hands you the spicy one because she doesn't like spices.

Deadeye: "Oh thank you. I will take free bread."

Taury: "It's a lovely town." And I will continue on to my home. 

Deadeye: "Yes, alright." I'm eating my bread. 

GM: As you pass by the Turandarok Academy you turn left to head towards the market and also pass by the general store, number 26, owned and operated by Ven Vinder and his family. This is Sandpoint's oldest and best stocked general store, has a little bit of everything, farm equipment, weapons, tack, tools, furniture, food and even homemade pies by Ven's wife, Solsta. Ven even keeps a shocking supply of alcohol in his basement. Although, you have to ask to see the wine cellar before he'll admit to any stock of the like.

Taury: I would just sort of be glancing at them. Not hugely interested but just looking to see who who is there. If I recognize any of the people. 

GM: You see an old childhood friend in the store, Vin's daughter Katrine. 

Taury: Disinterested, I'd continue walking.

GM: Alright. 

Deadeye: I'm just following because I don't know where we're going.

GM: Alright. You turn through the market and head up to Madame Mvashti's House. 

Taury: Is the door closed?

GM: It is. 

Taury: Does it look like there's any lanterns on, lights or anything like that?

GM: Maybe a candle or two in a couple rooms but most of the house is dark. 

Taury: And it's kind of dark outside or is it like evening?

GM: It's evening, it's approaching dark, crickets are starting to chirp.

Taury: Well I'm just gonna walk up and slam my stick against the door, 'Gandalf style' to knock.

GM: Alright, from inside you hear "Who's that at this time of...? Get the door!" Few moments later the door opens cautiously. It's the madame's daughter again. "Oh you've returned. With how you left I didn't expect you back."

Taury: "I've brought a rat,I hope it won't be a problem. He's staying. Is there another room?"

Deadeye:  I peak from out behind her.

GM: "You brought a rat?"

Taury: I'm continuing to walk up the stairs. 

GM: You just pushed by her?

Taury: I wouldn't push her, but I would walk past her.

GM: She didn't open the door enough for you to...

Taury: Then I'm pushing past her for sure.

GM: Okay, so  you push past her?

Taury: Past the door, not her specifically, but yeah, I'm not going to throw her on the ground.

Deadeye: She's in the way

Taury: It's her house, like.

GM: Alright, you barge in and walk up, start walking up the stairs as you say you've brought this rat and she sees Deadeye behind you as you do this.

Deadeye: I wave at her, "Hello."

GM: "Just the one room, I'm afraid."

Deadeye: "That's fine, I don't take up much room."

GM: "Are you housebroken?"

Deadeye: I literally facepalm and then I say, "I'm a person, I'm not an animal."

GM: "Oh it talks! Oh, oh my!"

Deadeye: "You didn't notice the hat? Or the coat?"

GM: "People dress up pets all the time."

Deadeye: "Well I'm not a pet."

Taury: "Oh, speaking of pets, do you have like a..."

GM: "The adventurer types are all very very strange and..." 

Taury: "...Do you have a cat bed? You know?" And I'm gesturing like a large sized cat bed you know. 

GM: "No". 

Taury: "Oh right." Continuing upstairs. 

GM: "I'll, I'll see what I can find though".

Taury: "Thank you kindly. Good evening."

Deadeye: I'm just going to follow her if she'll let me in.

GM: As you're going upstairs. "Who was that?" And you hear a discussion about visitors.

Taury: By discussion you mean, bitching. 

GM: Ah, yes.

Taury: Yeah there we go. Yeah, I wouldn't be listening to it.

GM: I didn't assume you would, which is why I didn't go into detail.

Taury: I mean maybe the rat is listening.

Deadeye: Yes he is. 

GM: Very unkind words about Taury's behavior earlier in the day, how she wanted a room and it was granted and then she just barged out and now she's barging back in, with a pet in tow.

Deadeye: She doesn't get it. 

GM: Some sort of servant's maybe, there's a joke about you being a pack rat and being a porter.

Deadeye: Thats just par for the course, I just chuckle to myself and continue up the stairs. 

GM: Alright, Taury when you open the door, what do you expect to see?

Taury: I don't think I'd be looking up, I think I'd be looking at the floor so I don't think I'd be expecting to see anything. I'm in my own head. 

GM: Okay.

Taury: I'm just thinking about lying down and sleeping. 

GM: As you're thinking about that, the thought crosses through your mind about your earlier encounter, and if you're even going to be able to sleep again here. 

Taury: I mean I'd shrug, I'd continue on to lie down. 

GM: Okay.  You open...  The room's exactly as it was when you first found it earlier in the day, there's just the one bed.

Taury: Is there are many blankets?

GM: No. 

Taury: Or any blankets at all?

Deadeye: I would just go to the corner and dig out my bed roll and just sleep on that, unroll my bed roll in the corner.

Taury: Well my bed has bedding on it surely, yeah?

GM: Yeah.

Deadeye: It's fine I got a bed roll.

Taury: So I assume you're taking out your bed roll and about to lie in it or whatever?

Deadeye: Yep.

Taury: So I would take the blanket off the top of the bed and just throw it towards you, and then proceed to take off all of my sort of like heavy duty stuff, any kind of swords any kind of belts or anything like that, still staying clothed but I would wrap myself in my cloak, my fur cloak.

GM: Alright. As you guys are just laying down getting settled, maybe you've just closed your eyes.  You start to hear a loud thumping coming up the stairs, almost like something's being dragged up the stairs.

Taury: Oh that's, that's fun.

GM: It's getting louder and louder by the moment. 

Taury: So I'm leaning up against probably the window, sitting up, not lying down but I would be preparing to go to sleep and I'd be just listening to this, very intently trying to figure out what it could be.

GM: Alright.

Deadeye: So am I. 

GM: It gets to the top of the stairs and stops. And then you hear a faint, faint knock on the door.

Taury: I would be just watching the door.

GM: "Is everyone decent inside? Hello? Can I come in?"

Deadeye: I walk over and open the door.

GM: You open the door, and behind the door is Niska with what looks like a child's cradle. She's dragged up and she pulls it into the room and adjusts and she goes, "You asked for a small bed, this is the best I've got. Will this do?" She looks at both of you inquisitively.

Taury: Taury's laughing heartily like the most fun laugh you've ever heard in your life. It doesn't sound like it comes out of her at all. She's in stitches. This is hysterical.

Deadeye: And I basically say, "Sure it's fine."

GM: Alright. "If you need anything. If... Just come find me. Good, good night". She closes the door with one last glance at both of you like you're both very strange people. Then you hear her footsteps go down the stairs. 

Deadeye: With her eyes turned off me, "Well she brought us something. Think I'll just stick with my bed roll though." I lie back down again.

Taury: I've already started to fall asleep.

GM: Alright. Fenwarin. 

Fenwarin: Yes.

GM: This entire time you've been back at The White Deer. What's going on there? Have you just been resting? Spending the night?

Fenwarin:  Yeah I have just been resting up.

GM: You didn't come down for dinner. Did you put any sort of sign on the door of 'Do not disturb' or anything like that?

Fenwarin: No I forgot to do that. But by this time I'm, I'm hungry. 

GM: Okay.

Fenwarin: What time is it by the way?

GM: It's probably close to 9:00. 

Fenwarin: Okay. And would they serve dinner at this time?

GM: Don't know. Are you gonna go down and find out?

Fenwarin: I think I will go down and find out. Yeah.

GM: Alright. You make your way downstairs. There's one or two people in the hall trying to get a reservation room. It looks like the same type of thing that you went through is going on where he's in the back room digging for a key that he can't find.

Fenwarin: Okay.

GM: One of the sons comes up to you "Can I help you?".

Fenwarin: "Yes would... I was wondering if there was any food you offered or anything like that? I'm kinda hungry."

GM: "Dinner service was at 6:00 and lasted until 7:30 but I can go back to the kitchen and see if there are any leftovers for you. Try to heat it up. Will that be good?"

Fenwarin: "I would appreciate that. Yes."

GM: "Alright. I will see what we have. Just one moment." He runs off. You hear a lot of pots and pans slamming around in the kitchen.

Fenwarin: Yeah I'm just looking around wondering what the hell's wrong with this place. They seem so stressed out and don't know what they're doing.

GM: Sense motive. 

Fenwarin: Okay.

GM: You're not really sure what's going on. You're not sure if it's because of the festival in town, that they're just extra on edge, trying to be good hosts or if they're always like this.

Fenwarin: Okay. 

GM: After a few minutes he comes back with a bowl of some sort of stew. Not really sure what it is, he hands the bowl to you and a flagon of mead and then takes them back from you and escorts you over to one of the long table's spots sets them down, and gestures for you to sit. 

Fenwarin: Okay I'll follow him.

GM: He then notices that he did not bring any utensils out for you. He runs away again and comes right back and hands you a fork, and a knife, and a napkin, and then looks at the dish seeing it's a soup and realizes he doesn't give you a spoon, apologizes runs away again. A few moments later he comes back out rubbing a spoon with his shirt and then hands it to you. 

Fenwarin: "Um sir, ah, don't you have any clean spoons please?"

GM: "That, that one is clean. I've just cleaned it."

Fenwarin: "No no no. I mean actual clean." 

GM: "It is clean."

Fenwarin: "No. Rubbing it on your shirt does not equal clean to me. Sorry."

GM: "Oh no that that was drying."

Fenwarin: "Could you please just run it in water." 

GM: "Please eat. Enjoy. I did, you can't you can't see the water now because I dried it off."

Fenwarin: "Okay. Just give me the spoon I'll just wipe it off with my napkin. Okay thank you."

GM: "Enjoy your meal sir."

Fenwarin: "Uh huh."

GM: He takes three steps back and just stands there watching you eat.

Fenwarin: "Sorry. Could I have some privacy? I just like to eat by myself, and yeah..."

GM: "Oh, oh certainly. I'm sorry sir." He takes another three steps back and then turns around. 

Fenwarin: And stands in place?

GM: Yes. He is now about five paces from you with his back to you, to give you privacy.

Fenwarin: "You know you could go about your business. I'll just eat by myself. No company. Thank you."

GM: He's talking a little louder because of the distance. "Ensuring our guest happiness is my job. I..."

Fenwarin: "Yes."

GM: "..I can't leave..."

Fenwarin: "I understand." 

GM: "You must be happy".

Fenwarin: "I'm happy."

GM: "Are you happy?"

Fenwarin: "I'm happy. You can go away now."

GM: "But if I leave and you need something I won't be here".

Fenwarin: "I will shout for you."

GM: "What if I'm too far away?"

Fenwarin: "I can use my legs and then come get you."

GM: "Oh oh no. We mustn't let you do that".

Fenwarin: "That's alright. That's alright. I'm not noble or anything. I can come get you, please."

GM: "Okay sir". He like bows repeatedly as he backs away from you until he's a good fifteen paces away. And then he turns and runs.

Fenwarin: I just can't believe what I just witnessed.  So I try to eat.

GM: It's a very good rabbit stew despite you knowing that it was leftover from the earlier service. You wouldn't be able to tell if you didn't know. 

Fenwarin: I just happily dig in and drink of the mead. 

GM: Alright. After you finish your meal what do you do?

Fenwarin: I guess it would be too late to...

GM: Yeah.

Fenwarin: ...go around town?

GM: Town would have closed up, maybe a tavern or two would be open. But beyond that, there's not going to be much going on.

Fenwarin: Yeah. After I finish up my meal and drink up the mead I'll just tell him that it was a very nice meal. 

GM: Tell who?

Fenwarin: The innkeeper. 

GM: Ah 

Fenwarin: And then I'm going to retire to my room for the night. 

GM: Okay.  

Fenwarin: He wanted me to be a happy so I'll just assure him. 

GM: Alright. You go to bed for the evening. Markus. How long do you stay in the bookstore?

Markus: Ooh,that's a good question, how late would the library bookstore thing actually stay open?

GM: Probably till about ten, at the very latest.

Markus: Okay. Yeah. He'll stay until it closes. How obvious is the distinction between the parts of the bookstore and the parts of the library?

GM: There is no distinction.

Markus: Okay. Then at some point when the proprietor is free he will have made a point of asking about that? 

GM: About what?

Markus: "Well I understand this is, I was just, this place was described to me as so library. It seems that you also buy and sell books here so I'm slightly confused."

GM: "Oh I. It, it is a bookstore yes. A bookstore first. It's my personal library second, it, all of these are my collection. They're up for buying and selling if you want to buy a book you can buy a book if you want to sell me a book I'll gladly buy the book from you and put it in my library. This this is my library. But it's also a bookstore."

Markus: "Ah, I see, do you make the library available to others?"

GM: "You are here aren't you?"

Markus: "I am. I was having a delightful conversation earlier with one of your other patrons. And yes..."

GM: "Oh, good, good. Yeah. The door's open, you come in, the library is open to you, or it's a bookstore and you buy and sell books, either way". 

Markus: "So you don't mind me browsing the shelves and reading the books that are here?"

GM: "How else are you gonna know if you want to buy the book?"

Markus: "Well, thank you. I'm Markus. You are?"

GM: "Ah, Markus, a pleasure to meet you. I am Chask Haladan".

Markus: "Nice to meet you."

GM: "Pleasure's all mine I'm sure."

Markus: "Any particular books you're looking for? Or just anything that's not here?"

GM: "Rare tomes if you come across them? You probably won't.

Markus: "Fair enough."

GM: "Tell you what you find a book, you bring it to me, I'll make you an offer."

Markus: "Seems reasonable. Thank you for your time."

GM: "Alright." As you've spent time here, you realize this store is surprisingly complete. And as you noticed earlier almost all of his books are priced way too high for any local to be able to shop here with any frequency. 

Markus: Yeah.

GM: But it's clear that with the prices he has on the books and what he was paying for new book acquisitions, he's got some wealth. 

Markus: uh huh.

GM: And it seems like the high prices are a way to kind of discourage people from buying the books, as he's more of a collector than an actual merchant.

Markus: Okay. Is it just pure written word or are there all sort of like segments of arcane or divine writings in there as well?

GM: There are holy books, especially for the six main deities of the Sandpoint pantheon. All of their holy books are included here. 

Markus: Mmmm

GM: A few of the other gods, like you found a leaflet containing Cayden Cailean's religious beliefs, all three bullet points.

Markus: Yep, okay. Any particular arcane writings of note? 

GM: It doesn't really seem like it. Most of his collection is geared more towards base knowledge, typical engineering type stuff. Other things of curiosity or trivia type tomes. It's all very niche.

Markus: Okay so I'll, I'll basically hang around in the library occasionally flipping through books that look like they might be of interest to me, and when he's obviously ready to close off and he's wanting to kick people out I'll leave and start heading out to the inn. 

GM: Alright. Morana. You were at the tavern?

Morana: I was.

GM: Would you like to remain at the tavern? And if so what are you doing in the tavern?

Morana: I mean you said it's getting kind of late so I'd imagine things are kind of winding down. Nothing really interesting is going on anymore.

GM: On the contrary.

Morana: Oh, go on! 

GM: After the other establishments close The Hagfish stays open. 

Morana: Oh shit!

GM:  And in comes all of the the captains for the boats that arrived this morning.

GM: I found the after party everybody!

GM: And their crews. 

GM: Yes.

GM: And it gets a little livelier. 

Markus: Okay.

GM: The yarning that Jargie does, spinning tales and trying to see how long you can go making up stuff, and making the long story go on without contradicting yourself. The sailors join in. Elaborate fish stories, they've all got them.

Morana: Of course. 

GM: You're sitting here listening and writing your letters and before you realize it. It's almost midnight.

Morana: Hmm. Well, I do have to try to make it to the mayor's office at some form of a reasonable hour tomorrow, so let's try one last Perception check to see if I pick up on anything interesting as I'm gathering my things to leave. ...Yes, that is a six...

GM: Nothing really interesting. It sounds like everyone that sailed in this morning isn't going to be sailing out until after the ceremony.

Markus: Okay.

GM: Anyone that arrives tomorrow will probably be the same thing. If they arrive by boat at all.

Morana: Right, everybody's pretty much here for the duration now. All right. Morana is going to (as the last thing) pick up her doll and make for the door. 

GM: Alright.

Morana: Now once she's outside, is there anybody around outside?

GM: The streets are pretty clear. There's a couple people staggering home.

Morana: They're all, they're all drunk though and not really paying attention anything right.

GM: Most of them are, there's the odd guard here or there you know, standard. 

Morana: Yeah. 

GM: Nightwatch.

Morana: Well if she can get to like just, not too far from the door towards a corner of building kind of out of line of sight. She'll take one of those pages she's been writing on and a couple of thumbtacks and just kinda 'nick' right up on the wall there and probably head for home.

GM: Alright. Next morning: Taury and Deadeye, you wake up you notice right away in that crib there is now a doll that was not there last night. It's an old rag doll and it's got pins stuck in the eyes. 

Deadeye: Woah! That's not good you know?! 

GM: You notice it because its positioned in a way where it's kind of supposed to be looking at you. 

Taury: Looking at who?

GM: Both of you, either of you. 

Deadeye: Yikes!

GM: You're not sure, there's pins in its eyes, could be looking at nothing. 

Taury: I mean it's looking at nobody it's a doll. 

GM: Is it?

Deadeye: I'm going to look at Taury and say "Oh now, that wasn't there last night was it?

Taury: "What wasn't there?"

Deadeye: "The doll." and I point at it. 

Taury: "Was it not?"

Deadeye: "I don't think so."

Taury: "Why you want to play with it, as a chew toy?"

Deadeye: "Oh you're funny." 

Taury: I'm gonna pick it up. 

GM: As you pick it up you feel a silkiness and a slight stickiness to it as cobwebs kind of fall off of it, and it just like drops dust everywhere.

Taury: I'm so glad you said cobweb after you said stickiness because I was like, I'm immediately dropping this. But cobwebs I can deal with. A doll just shouldn't be sticky Okay?

GM: No, I agree with that, they probably shouldn't.

Taury: Yeah. 

GM: This one is, just ever so slightly. 

Taury: I'm gonna place it in the arms of Deadeye. 

Deadeye: But wait! Why? Hold on a second, you said this is sticky now? If it's sticky I'm dropping it.

GM: It's a little sticky, I mean it's got cobwebs on so it's like.. It's like fine silkiness that just kind of attaches to you, and it's really hard to get off.

Taury: Oh God it's gonna tangle in his fur. 

Deadeye: Yeesh!

Taury: I forgot that he's hairy.

GM: And it's just shedding dust like, like Pigpen from Peanuts.

Taury: But I mean if it's like sticky and I've noticed that it's sticky. I would definitely be rubbing said doll closer towards him to make sure he's definitely holding it. 

Deadeye: Really?

Taury: And smirking to myself. 

Deadeye: Really? I'm gonna put the doll back, otherwise...

GM: As you set the doll down you hear a very faint whimper, or slight sobbing. 

Deadeye: "You know, maybe we should leave?"

Taury: "Where to?"

Deadeye: "Anywhere that isn't this room. Its giving me the creeps."

Taury: "Are you frightened?"

Deadeye: "It's creepy, it's so weird about this place."

Taury: "The décor is a little strange."

Deadeye: "Yeah, yeah."

Taury: Can I see where the whimpering is coming from?

GM: Sure. Perception check. 

Deadeye: Oof!

Morana: Oof!

GM: You're trying to like find where the sound is coming from, you're tilting your head this way and that, and then you realize, with a shiver down your spine, you can't tell where it's coming from because it's all around you.

Taury: In what way, like does it sound like the room is full of noise basically. Or is it...

GM: No.

Taury: ... in my head?

GM: No, it's not that its inside you, it's as if it is literally surrounding you but it's just this faintest whisper, of just a child's sob. You know that sob where like a child is sad or hurt but trying not to actually cry and they're like sucking it in? It's that type of sob. 

Taury: Yeah, it's a whimper like.

GM: Yeah. 

Taury: I would just keep listening to it. A little bit off put but just more curious as to what, what it is. Put it this way, I'd be drawn to it.

GM: Alright, give me a Will save as you feel a little hand reach up and grab your hand as it's resting by your side just open, and kind of like cups one of your fingers. You look down,there's nothing there... Okay, just a moment. 

Taury: She'd be pretty still at this point, because she's trying to focus in on what's happening and paying attention to pretty much everything.

GM: Right, Deadeye you see Taury looking around, stand there and then suddenly look down at her hand. Go ahead and describe what Taury's actions are after that. 

Taury: Oh, she would start frantically looking around and gesturing sort of to her throat, almost like she was choking but not actually choking, just sort of like you know when you get slightly out of breath from climbing or something. Sort of like that but she doesn't say anything, and her eyes are kind of narrowed as much as you could see them because they are kind of smoky white, but if you could see them they would be narrowed.

Deadeye: "Are you okay? Hello?"

Taury: She doesn't do anything.

Deadeye: "You know maybe we should go?" 

Taury: She still looks like she's choking.

Deadeye: I was going to grab her hand and walk out of the room.

Taury: Sorry you're grabbing my hand?

GM: Do you resist at all Taury? 

Taury: If you grabbing my arm, that'd be fine. If you grabbing my hand I would not like that.

Deadeye: Okay, I'll grab your arm. If you don't want me to grab your hand I'll grab your arm and pull you out. Because you seem like you're in some sort of distress.

Taury: I'd follow.

Deadeye: Does anything happen when we leave?

Taury: I would look around though to make sure that we're bringing our stuff with us.

GM: Yeah you do. You make your way downstairs where you see Madame Mvashti and her daughter Nishka standing in the living room talking about what they're going to have for breakfast as you come down the stairs. She goes "Oh right, breakfast. Ah, will you be getting your own breakfast? This isn't a bed and breakfast. I, I can get you something...  Do you (stammering). What, what do you eat?"

Deadeye: "I eat food."

GM: "It's, it's best if you go and get your own food, out, there." 

Deadeye: "Right."

GM: "Yes, yes."

Deadeye: I'm not going to say much, but I will look back at Taury and see if she looks okay, because she seem to be distressed.

GM: Are you requesting the madame to look at her or Nishka?

Deadeye: I'm looking at her.

GM: Okay. 

Taury: I've taken the bread out of my pocket and I'm eating it.

Deadeye: Okay. Then I guess we can always look back at the madame and say, or the two of them and say, "thank  you for your hospitality." and then walk out the door.

Taury: I'd like wave kind of flippantly at them as we leave. Looking slightly disheveled.

GM: "Will, will you be staying with us again tonight?"

Deadeye: "Probably."

GM: "Okay,  I won't clean the room then."

Deadeye: "Thanks!" "Are you okay there Taury?"

Taury: I've left the door, straight through it.

Deadeye: "So what happened back here?"

Taury: I'm just proceeding to trudge directly towards The Hagfish, almost like I haven't even heard him speak to me.

Deadeye: I just shrug and follow. 

GM: While Taury and Deadeye go to have breakfast at The Hagfish, Markus and Fenwarin you're both woken up with knocks on your door respectively at roughly the same time.

Markus: Okay.

GM: "Breakfast is ready!"

Markus: "Excellent. Thank you."

Fenwarin: "Okay. Thank you."

GM: "Will you be coming?"

Fenwarin: "I'm coming down."

Markus: "In a few moments yes."

GM: "Oh alright do you need anything?"

Markus: "Not yet. Thank you."

Fenwarin: "No thank you. I can deal with it myself."

GM: "Here at the White Deer Inn our, our customers burdens are (stammers) our our our ah... Let us do things for you please!"

Fenwarin: "I appreciate it. But I can handle it myself. Thank you."

Markus: Out of character a moment. What time is this? 

GM: It's roughly 06:30. 

Markus: Okay. Yeah. "I appreciate the offer but not necessary at this time."

GM: "Okay, when should I tell them to expect you?"

Fenwarin: "Well I'll be down in just a few minutes, I just gotta grab my things and I'll be down."

Markus: "I'll be about five minutes."

GM: "Oh okay". You hear walking away.

Fenwarin: Another character question. What are my options here. Because of the really strange behavior?

GM: What are you attempting to do? Let's phrase it that way. Tell me what you desire, what your end goal is, what you're attempting.

Fenwarin: I want to know what is wrong with them. Something is clearly wrong with them.

GM: Okay, I see. Sense motive.

Fenwarin: Okay.  

GM: You're just getting this really really strong sense of eagerness to please you.

Fenwarin: Okay.

GM: To put it in more modern parlance, they will do anything for that five star Yelp review.

Fenwarin: Yeah, okay. Well I was almost ready to go downstairs anyway so I'm gonna make my way down now.

GM: Okay. As you walk downstairs to the long tables, they gesture to you for a spot to sit. You see a side area underneath the stairs has been curtained off and you hear some faint splashing. 

Fenwarin: Okay.

GM: From behind there.

Fenwarin: I'll just come right out and ask "what's going on back there?"

GM: "Oh, that's the daily bath, only the best for our customers. If you would like to freshen yourself up ah, please. It should be available in a few moments or at your leisure of course."  He does a very low bow with an awkward like arms-wide-gesture, like instead of tucking one underneath, they both go out to the side.

Fenwarin: "Oh yes, that's appreciated but um I'll just have my breakfast and I'll be happy. Thank you."

GM: "Very good sir, very good. How would you like your eggs cooked?"

Fenwarin:  "Over easy."

GM:  "Okay, And what type of toast would you like?"

Fenwarin: "Any that you have, it doesn't matter."

GM: "I'm, I'm terribly sorry sir. (Stammers) I, I, I cannot order for you for fear that I might get it wrong and give you something that you don't like. Ah, you, you must tell me what you want."

Fenwarin: "Okay. What type of bread do you have?"

GM: "Any that you want, we will run down to the bakery and get it fresh for you sir." 

Fenwarin: "Rye is fine."

GM: "Rye, very good." He just stands there.

Fenwarin: "Was there anything else?"

GM: He's just got a big smile on his face. "No sir. Oh I need to put your order in!" And he runs off. A few moments later. Markus, you come down the stairs see the same thing.

Markus: Yeah, Markus will go in for breakfast.

GM: Same spiel of questions, how do you want your eggs? What type of toast?

Markus: Yeah. He'll answer them when it comes to the toast he'll ask what breads they have available already. And I'm assuming you get a similar answer.

GM: No actually, when you ask what breads they have you're informed that they have a nice Kaiser and a whole grain wheat.

Markus:  "Whole grain will be perfect, thank you."

GM: "Very good."

Markus: Yeah. Where is Markus seated relative to other people?

GM: They set him kind of in the middle of the long table with his back to the bath. 

Markus: Uh huh.

GM: You would be seated, unless you specifically requested to sit near him. Three quarters of the way down from him, and on the opposite side.

Markus: And is it just the two of us for breakfast?

GM: Ah no, there's one other patron here. And then there's someone in the bath.

Fenwarin: Who is the other person sitting with us? 

GM: You don't know who they are. They just kind of mind their own meal. They were served before you got here, they're already eating when you were placing your order. Markus your order comes first. Fenwarin you're approached by the bellhop. "I am very very sorry, ah, your breakfast will be delayed a few moments while we run and get your rye bread". And then he runs out of the building and you see him like slide as he does like a turn and start running down Cliff Street.

Fenwarin: Okay.

Markus: Markus will just glance at Fenwarin.

Fenwarin: "Good morning Markus."

Markus: "Ah, good morning!" He'll raise his voice for the distance, "Special order?"

Fenwarin: "No not really I just, I just wanted some rye bread and apparently they didn't have that in. So now we feel a little awkward."

Markus: "Ah, well, I'm sure when it arrives it will be as wonderful as the other meals in this place have been."

Fenwarin: "Yeah. I have no doubt. It's just too bad that he had to run away and get the rye bread for me. Had I have known I would not have ordered it."

Markus: "Well, now you know." Glancing at the other patrons are they reacting at all when we're having this conversation?

GM: You can tell that they're aware that you're there but they're doing their best to stay to themselves.

Markus: Okay. Are they human?

GM: Yeah, it appears to be human male, we'll say mid to late thirties.

Markus: Okay.

GM: Blondish type sandy hair, he's got light leather armor on and a short sword on his side.

Markus: Okay. Markus will turn his attention back. "I gather you're not accustomed to having servants like this?"

Fenwarin: "No not at all. I grew up very normal. It's really weird to be waited upon like this."

Markus: "Normal? There is such a thing as normal?"

Fenwarin: "Well, low class you know, nothing major."

Markus: "Ah, one of the larger population rather than the aristocracy?"

Fenwarin: "Yes exactly."

Markus: Out of character, is one of the servants still around?

GM: Yes.

Markus: I will catch their eye.

GM: "Yes sir?" 

Markus: "Um, would you mind uh? It's a pain to have to shout to the only other person here who seems interested in conversation. So, would you mind?" He's gesturing at sort of like moving things.

GM: "Oh, oh certainly sir". He picks up all your plateware and moves it so you're directly across from Fenwarin.

Markus: "Thank you, the servants here are certainly eager to please so."

Fenwarin: "Yeah you know you could say that again. Are you used to this or..?"

Markus: He obviously pauses a moment before answering that. "Consider this place, small indulgence. It's certainly not how I spend most of my time but does bring back some mostly good memories."

Fenwarin: "Oh I see." And I haven't received my food yet right?

GM: Not yet, no.

Fenwarin: I just look out of the window and see if the bellhop is returning soon, still feeling awkward about the whole thing.

GM: Alright. Are you waiting as well Markus or are you eating what was delivered?

Markus: I'm eating but slowly, I don't want it to get cold basically but I'll, I've moved closer so we can have conversation.

GM: As you're waiting the curtain to the bathing area opens up, and a woman dressed in a green high class gown with a small hat with feathers in it and arranged into her hair emerges, and as she does she spritzes a little bit of perfume and walks through the vapor cloud, and makes her way over to the other gentleman and sits across from him.

Markus: Do they start talking or is she just sitting down next to him? 

GM: She starts talking. He doesn't say a word. 

Markus: Speaking in a tone so that it's to try and avoid carrying MarKus will comment,"Someone knows how to make an entrance."

GM: Every once in a while, as you like kind of sideways glance especially you Fenwarin, as you're kind of looking that direction for this servant to come back with your bread, you can see her talking almost non-stop and every once in a while he just nods in agreement or does a brief gesture.  After a good 15 minutes or so since he left, (the servant) he runs back into the building, doesn't stop to say anything to any of you, he just runs straight back to the kitchen. You can see in the cloth wrapping that he's carrying he even through the cloth, there's some steam coming off.

Fenwarin: Oh geez.

GM: A good two or three minutes later, a plate is set in front of you with your rye bread. Give me a Perception check.

Fenwarin: Okay.

GM: Alright. 23, you notice as he places the plate down in front of you. The palms of his hands are a little red like they've been a little burned.

Fenwarin: Yeah, I wouldn't care much about that but, I have a feeling the servant is about to say something about that.

GM: "Enjoy your, your breakfast sir,(pants) I hope you enjoy it". And then he goes back into the kitchen at a slow walking pace.

Fenwarin: Okay, well I'm still a little bit embarrassed about the situation but I start to enjoy my breakfast.

GM: As you are about halfway through your meal the lady turns to you, and goes "And they've got good service here, don't they?"

Markus: "They do indeed yes."

GM: "It's just like I'm back at home with my own servants."

Morana: Was that the voice I was expecting?

GM: "Don't you agree?" The guy just nods, "Yeah it's the greatest, give em a great review! Tell all my friends back in Magnimar to stop by The White Deer!"

Markus: "I will certainly be doing the same myself. Yes."

GM: "Excellent! Aren't you finished yet? Come on let's go, we've got, we've got shopping to do."  And she gets up to leave and the man just doesn't finish anything, he just stands up and follows her.

Morana: Oh my God.

GM: Did everyone go mute? Just stop laughing?

Fenwarin: I look up at Markus and I just tell him "I wonder who that lady was?"

Markus: "Someone who thinks she's important."

GM: Knowledge local.

Markus: I'm not trained in it though.

GM: Okay. Neither of you know for sure who that was but Markus you, just based on the context of the conversation know that she is someone important in Magnimar, and in Varisia in general, since she's here for the dedication from that big city. Most people wouldn't have a reason to come to such a small town just for this event, unless ,you know, they had some sort of tie or responsibility to be here either religiously or socially.

Markus: Yeah okay, makes sense.

GM: Okay.

Markus: "Well ah, any plans for the day yourself?"

Fenwarin: "Well I figured since I'll be leaving soon,I was wondering if you would follow me to the marketplace, I need to stock up my pack with food and whatnot."

Markus: "I'm certainly willing to go shopping. I have some plans of my own. It is slightly early I will need a little while to prepare for the day."

Fenwarin: "Yeah, of course I'll just take a stroll in the city for now and just hang around where the marketplace is. Do you know where that is?"

Markus: "Yes, I know where the market is I will join you there later then."

Fenwarin: "Okay, sounds good. I'll see you later."

GM: Alright. Morana.

Morana: Yes.

GM: What are you doing this morning?

Morana: Upon waking up she would just get something simple for breakfast. I'm sure she keeps some kind of food around her living space and then, Is the ceremony today or tomorrow?

GM: Tomorrow.

Morana: Okay.She's gonna try to swing by the mayor's office, try and get in early and see if she can get a meeting with her to find out about that situation.

GM: Okay. Mayor's office is number 11.

Morana: Okay. I know we didn't nail down exactly where Morana would be living, I don't know what the different neighborhoods are. Probably wouldn't be anything that great but...

GM: Junker's Way has the poorest area of living.

Morana: Yeah seems about right.

GM: Alright.

Morana: Poorest area of living right across from City Hall. Got it.

GM: Yup. Alright, Sandpoint Town Hall, number 11. The majority of the ground floor of this two story building consists of a meeting hall large enough to seat most of Sandpoint's adults. Although town meetings have rarely been even half so well attended. The upper floor contains offices and storerooms, while a vault in the basement below has been functioning as the town bank for decades. Plans to build a proper bank have been stalled for various reasons since the town was founded. Sandpoint's Mayor Kendra Deverin is often found here tending to the town's needs in her office upstairs. 

Morana: I'm assuming there's some form of secretary I'm going to have to talk to to see if she's available?

GM: There's not. It's just a line in front of her door.

Morana: How long is the line?

GM: Three people.

Morana: Oh, that's not too bad. I guess she'll go ahead and wait.

GM: Okay, while you're waiting you're noticing that the person in front of the person in front of you is carrying a chicken.

Morana: I see. Is there something special about the chicken or they just decide to bring their chicken with them?

GM: Perception check... You're trying to peer around the person in front of you to get a good look at this chicken. It looks like a normal chicken to you. It's not a rooster it's just a chicken, just a regular regular chicken as far as you can tell.

Morana: She's currently debating in her mind if she really wants to know. "So what brings you here this morning with your..."?

GM: "Oh you're talking to me?" 

Morana: "Well, yes, yes." 

GM: "Why?"

Morana: "To pass the time while we wait I suppose."

GM: "Please don't talk around me, if you're going to talk get out of line and talk".

Morana: Ok now out of character, now who the hell said that?

GM: The person in between you.

Morana: Oh, I thought the person in front of me was the one that had the chicken.

GM: No, person in front of the person in front of you.

Morana: Okay,let's take a good look at the person between us, who the... what do they look like?

GM: They look like a merchant. 

Morana: uh huh.

Morana: Maybe Knowledge local, do I know anything about this person?

GM: Okay. Yeah, you know exactly who this is.

Morana: Sure do.

GM: This is Aliver Podiker, usually referred to as Pillbug, he runs The Pillbug's Pantry. 

Morana: Oh.

GM: Number 16. 

Morana: Okay.

GM: On the map.

Morana: "Okay well I suppose, you know we can all have a conversation, it's not like there's anything pressing going on at the moment since we're all waiting for the same thing."

GM: "What?" "He said she, she said that it, never mind,your next go".  They go into the office with their chicken.

Morana: Damn.

GM: Leaving you and Aliver standing in front of the door waiting.

Morana: She just goes back to poking around, waiting. Says under her breath "Who brings a chicken the meet the mayor?" Could I Knowledge local on chicken man?

GM: Sure

Morana: I shouldn't be intrigued by this but god damn he brought a chicken to meet the mayor!

GM: It's one of the tenants from over on Tanglefoot Alley. There's nowhere to have a chicken, why does he have a chicken? They don't have yards over there. He's not a farmer.

Morana: I'm so confused.

GM: Where does he keep it? Does it just run around his home? Would that be considered free range? All the questions spinning in your mind right now.

Morana: Basically yes. Here to talk to the major completely derailed by a chicken!

GM: I did not expect that to derail you that hard.

Morana: Well I mean, what else was she going to look at in here?! There was only three people she's got nothing better to do while she waits. Man's got a chicken in City Hall, that's fucking weird!

GM: Okay. After several minutes of you pondering 'why a chicken?'  The man with the chicken comes out of the office and Pillbug goes in, another person gets in line behind you.

Morana: She just watches the man with the chicken leave. She is completely mystified by this, in fact "Excuse me, I just I have to ask what's with the chicken?" 

GM: "Dinner."

Morana: "I hmmm, I mean yeah I get that but, why bring it here with you?"

GM: "Well I can't, can't put it down it would run away, and if I kill it now it won't be good for dinner."

Morana: "That's a fair point." He looks at the person who joined in the line, "He's got a fair point."

GM: They shrug. Okay.

Morana: How the fuck did I end up in Seinfeld?!

GM: You latched onto a minor detail, that's how.

Morana: Yeah that'll happen, hahaha!

GM: I'm throwing a little color into the world and you're like, but why?! In true Seinfeld style.

Morana: Yeah.

GM: "What's the deal with the chicken"?!

Morana: Exactly! I mean it was worth it for the moment.

GM: If you think so. 

Morana: Yeah. I mean again. She's in line, what else are you gonna do but wonder about who else in line and why.

GM: Oh,The realism!

Morana: Yup!

GM: Oh man. Okay,so what are we doing? I've been derailed now.

Morana: Waiting to talk to the Mayor about that business arrangement.

GM: Right. Okay. Pillbug comes out of the office, you go in. "Oh yes how can I help you today?" She rubs the side of her head.

Morana: "Gosh it seems like a long morning. I had a question for you about a plot of land."

GM: "We're not selling or finalizing any land deals until after the ceremony, it's just too much to deal with all at once."

Morana: "Oh no no no no no. I com..."

GM: "Can you come back then?"

Morana: "...I completely understand, I'm not trying to finalize it, I was just hoping to get some information on it before negotiations, you know, are finalized. The price just seemed a little low. We were trying to figure out why?"

GM: "Price low, price, that's a good thing isn't it?" 

Morana: "Well if..."

GM: "That's what they call a deal, you should take the deal right? That's what every wise person tells you".

Morana: Oh, I don't have Sense motive on this character, of course not. I mean I've got...um, I'll try it... Yeah it's about what I figured.

GM: You can tell by the disarray on her desk and the people in front of you, that the whole dedication ceremony that's coming up has got a lot of extra work on top of normal work, for the mayor and she's a little stressed.

Morana: Ah, hmmm, This might be a great way to get information on the ceremony... Ahem "Well in that case I can ask you about it after. Is there anything that can be helped with for the ceremony? I want to make sure things are going off, or going on as they should."

GM: "Perhaps you can go and check on Master Kaijitsu, he's supposed to give one of the presentations at the dedication tomorrow but, when I visited him last night, he seemed a little under the weather and I'm concerned that he won't be able to attend, not that he really wants to anyway. You know how he is, he hates formalities and ceremony and all the pomp and circumstance but, it's part of what makes things run smooth. And as a founding family member he should be there."

Morana: "Oh definitely."

GM: "Or at least have a representative or something."

Morana: "Definitely, I can stop by and see what he has in mind."

GM: "That would be great, I wasn't able to convince him last night, to have either Kaiju (stammers) or Ameiko present for him if he wasn't feeling up to it. And looking back on it, I understand fully why he wouldn't want either of them, but that's neither here nor there. Anyway, make sure he's well, and if not, I don't know, just keep me in the loop if he isn't. So we can at least make changes to the plans."

Morana: "I definitely will. I will see to that and come back for some more conversation on that other thing after the ceremony."

GM: "Sure. The other thing, whatever that was thank you."

Morana: Yeah she's going to leave there's, there's no point in staying here. Mayor is too flustered to be useful.

GM: Alright. You leave the Mayor's office. As you're walking out you see a woman in obvious Magnimarian fashion, a green dress, feathers in her hair walking down the road with apparently henpecked man, which is funny because of the chicken, following close behind her. Yes. As she's pointing out things and, "Oh that's nice. And look at that and..."

Morana: Hmm, that would be, let me see what I know of them. Would Nobility get...?

GM: Knowledge local.

Morana: Okay, 'local'...Oof. Going down, going down.

GM: But you're trained in it?

Morana: Yes.

GM: You know. Based on The gold compass with a special sigil stamped on the lid, that this person is a Pathfinder, and based on her dress she's probably someone big in the Pathfinder Society.  Probably someone kind of who manages the region, otherwise why would she be here?

Morana: Now you know that is interesting, but it does make sense though considering, yeah.  It's not too unusual considering the situation. She's just kind of muttering this to herself. She's watching them pass.  

GM: "You there!"

Morana: "Hmmm, what, what?"

GM: "Quit muttering!"

Morana: "I believe..."

GM: "You're bringing the mood down for the party."

Morana: "Sure. Are you enjoying your stay in town thus far?"

GM: "It's fine." 

Fenwarin: "Couldn't help but ah notice your, your symbol, are you here to chronicle the events? Or just, are you involved or are you just observing?"

GM: "No I'm here to call in some favors".

Morana: "Oh I see." 

GM: "Just so happened to line up the timing just right for it to be here for the festival. I like a good party. So it's even better."

Morana: "I would imagine so."

GM: "Quit being so dower."

Morana: "I'm not."

GM: "You look all dower, put a smile on your face."

GM: Morana smiles with that wide eyed innocent look.

GM: "That's better."

Morana: "Yes I'm sure it is. Perhaps I'll see you sometime for a drink?"

GM: "I doubt it love".

Morana: "Well do be careful." And she leaves before...

GM: "You too, I guess".

Morana: Haha. And she leaves before this person's voice gives her a migraine. That's one of the few rejections in history that somebody was glad to receive.

GM: Okay, very good. Markus, as you are wandering down the streets...

Markus: Before we get to that point. 

GM: Okay. 

Markus: Markus is going to spend a while in his room.

GM: Oh.

Markus: And then, when he comes out again, he is going to go looking for the servants.

GM: Okay. They're easy to find.

Markus: Has the one who injured his hand, is there any sign of magical treatment or anything like that?

GM: He's got like a piece of cloth wrapped around them.

Markus: Markus will approach. "Your hand doing any better?"

GM: "Oh thank you, yes it's fine. A foolish mistake, All my fault, no need to worry."

Markus:  "I'm sure it is but you have had it tended to?"

GM: "Yeah yeah. I dumped them in the bath water".

Markus: "I see. May I?"  

GM: He holds his hands out, palms down.

Markus: I will firmly take hold of them turn them palm up and if necessary start removing any dressings they've put on to get a closer look.

GM: Yeah it's essentially a napkin was wrapped around it and then like tied hastily.

Markus: (sighs) "You really should get that looked at by someone who knows what they're doing."

GM: "It's fine sir. It'll be fine, at worst it will blister that's all".

Markus: "But that would interfere with your duties, we can't have that."

GM: "It won't interfere. I'll, I'll be fine. Thank you for your concern sir, I, I don't deserve it".

Markus: "Yes, everyone deserves to have health. Deserve to have life, regardless of station."

GM: "Not everyone thinks as you do sir and you should keep those opinions to yourself, just in case."

Markus: "I am aware.  But, you would not go sharing those opinions would you not, would you? I assume you practice discretion here?"

GM: "I don't understand."

Markus: Sorry, out of character, or in character? Because I screwed up while I was saying there.

GM: In character. 

Markus: "You wouldn't go repeating what I was saying to other guests?"

GM: "Oh, of course not sir, no."

Markus: "Of course. Then I am certain my opinion has fallen on the ears as those who are meant to hear it." And he will focus a moment on the injury, and reach out and touch it and... 

GM: "Ouch" 

Markus: "It will hopefully get a little better and the pain will recede slightly."

GM: You touch it and you touch right on the blister. He winces at the pain initially and then the burn marks are gone. "Wow I was going to go stop by Madame Mvashti later, she does the same thing. Do you know each other?"

Markus: "I have not made her acquaintance yet. She does such things?"

GM: "Yeah," he says while looking at his hands not looking at you.

Markus: "Really? Where would I find her?"

GM: "Ah, Madame Mvashti's house is right off the Plaza Square where the market was yesterday."

Markus: "Uhmm, yeah."

GM: He gives you directions to number 28.

Markus: Okay.

GM: "Just go down Church Street, hang off onto High Street and then take Festival Street straight down, it'll be right on the right, right before the end where the square starts, it's that house, right after the theater."

Markus: "I see, thank you. Places like this always have such interesting people living there. I will be delighted to make her acquaintance so, thank you for letting me know about her."

GM: "Certainly, certainly".

Markus: "Anyway, I trust you will not make similar mistakes in the future?"

GM: "Yes, I will try to remember that grabbing a hot pan straight out of the oven, hurts."

Markus: "Good. Very well, I will leave you to your duties." He starts walking away.

GM: "Thank you sir. Have a good day sir."

Markus: "You too."

GM: Alright. As you make your way down to Madame Mvashti's, because you were woken up so early, you arrive at just about the same time as Taury and Deadeye are exiting Madame Mvashti's.

Markus: It would have taken me probably about an hour to get ready in my room.

GM: Yeah that's fine.

Markus: Yeah, okay.

 	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/ .