Wayward Expeditions - Rise of the Runelords - Episode 25
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 try 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: So, when we left off, Morana, you were headed to go talk to- 

Morana: The mayor. 

GM: The mayor. Yes. As you enter the town hall this afternoon, things are relatively quiet. There's not a lot of people here. The clerks are doing their normal paperwork stuff, but it's a very quiet, studious-type environment, at the moment.

Morana: Is there any kind of line for the mayor's office this time?

GM: It does not appear so, no.

Morana: All right, I'm going to walk right over to it and knock on the door.

GM: "Come in."

Morana: And head inside.

GM: She looks up from her desk, "Oh!" and waves you over, and motions to a chair for you to sit.

Morana: Ah, she will.

GM: "How can I help today?"

Morana: "The situation at Thistletop has been dealt with."

GM: She nods as if she knows what you're talking about, but her blank expression is plain to see that she doesn't know a thing about what Thistletop is or what you mean by this.

Morana: She was in the meeting with us with the- hmm, OK. Morana just kind of rubs the bridge of her nose, says, "The Goblin Army that was being led by-"

GM: "Oh! Right, right, right!"

Morana: "The big danger to the town that we were asked to take care of-"

GM: "You defeated the entire army?"

Morana: "We took out their leadership, the priestess of Lamashtu that was leading them, the demon that she was in league with- Oh, she was, in fact, Nualia."

GM: She takes an expression of confusion and raises her head a little bit, cocks it to the side, like, "So you've defeated a demon and slayed Nualia?"

Morana: She just kind of stares at her.

GM: "But you didn't fight the army? So the town is still in jeopardy?"

Morana: "With Nualia gone and the demon dealt with, the factions of goblins that were drawn together under her leadership and worshiping her will splinter and fight among themselves, and become a self-eliminating threat."

GM: "OK, so you've returned us to status quo, is what I'm hearing? And we have the same about normal worries of goblins that we had before the festival? Yes?"

Morana: "Do you consider us some kind of worldwide exterminators that are just going to wipe out entire tribes of goblins?"

GM: "Ah, it was my understanding that that's what you were setting out to do, yes."

Morana: "Right! I've given you the update that we needed to give you, I think we're done here." And she's going to turn to leave.

GM: "Thank you for your service to the town."

Morana: "Right!"

GM: As you're walking out the office, the sheriff is walking in. You almost bump into him in the doorway as you're coming out.

Morana: She does not move out of the way, she just continues walking. If he runs into her that's his fault.

GM: High or low?

Morana: Low. 

Taury: [Laughs]

GM: Yeah, he shoulder checks you, "Oh, sorry. Oh, Morana! You're back?" 

Morana: "Yes." 

GM: "That a good thing? I'll take that as a good thing! You've defeated the Army! Awesome! Congratulations! The town is safe!"

Morana: "Right." She just dusts off her shoulder and keeps walking.

GM: He gives you a nod and walks into the mayor's office.

Morana: It is unseen because she has already passed.

GM: Oh, OK.

Morana: And she's going to go rejoin whoever's still at the temple.

GM: All right. Taury and Loyal, you're both at the Rusty Dragon, correct? Taury never went to the temple- 

Taury: Hmm-mm. 

GM: And Loyal you met up with her shortly after?

Loyal: I just went immediately back to the inn and then into my room. 

GM: OK.

Taury: Taury didn't go to the inn straight away.

GM: OK, so you're staying in the bar, the seating area downstairs? Grab a drink, lunch, something? What are you doing, Taury?

Taury: Taury would have gone down to the docks.

GM: Oh! You're headed to the docks? OK. What are you doing at the docks?

Taury: So I figured there'd be somebody there that does cargo or, like, transport, maybe post? That kind of thing?

GM: Yes. OK.

Taury: So she would go there looking for that.

GM: You are wanting building number 41.

Taury: Beside Salmon Street and Hook Street and other fish-related streets.

GM: Yeah, it is the docks! Oh, sorry, not 41, 40.

Taury: 40? OK. Ah yeah, it's adjacent, so-

GM: Yeah, the other side of the street!

Taury: Shark Alley?! That sounds safe!

GM: Yeah, you are wanting the Sandpoint Mercantile League.

Taury: That's a fancy name for a league! So that's- Is that like a post office or-?

GM: This large building serves many purposes; one can book passage on a ship bound for other ports, arrange caravans or carriages for overland travel, send messages to folk in town or as far away as Korvosa or even Riddleport. This is where inquiries into land ownerships and building constructions, establishing new businesses, all this sort of bureaucracy stuff is handled here and then finalized in the town hall.

Taury: Right! She would be looking for somewhere that's a little bit shadier than that, like a person who knows someone, who can get a thing? Right?

GM: Oh! OK. So you're- OK!

Taury: Like, "Here's a person, get this to them", -that kind of person. As opposed to a "Here's an address-"

GM: All right, given your background, you're not going to know necessarily where to do that in this town. 

Taury: Mmm-mm. So she would be asking around then, to try and figure that out?

GM: You will need to do Gather information check-

Taury: Mm-hmm.

GM: Which is a subset of a Diplomacy roll.

Taury: OK. Watch this go terribly wrong!

GM: And, are you attempting to try to find a black market or a specific contact?

Taury: Ah, probably anybody who would know information on someone that, that would do that kind of thing. So probably, like, a contact rather than a market, specifically.

GM: Given that terrible roll you just made-

Taury: Yes, that horrific 7! [Laughs]

GM: How are you going about doing this?

Taury: Oh! Like-

GM: Because it's not subtle! That's for sure.

Taury: Yeah, that's the thing, I was going to say! So, probably just walking up to anyone who looks remotely shifty and they're probably- probably thinks that they're, like, people who would know stuff, but they're probably just homeless people, right? You know, like, they look like merchants or something, but they're probably not merchants, they're homeless people or drunkards, but she doesn't realize that. And just asking around.

GM: All right. What are you saying to them specifically?

Taury: Ooh, there's a question!

GM: Yeah. And this is going to really determine whether you succeed or fail.

Taury: Yeah. Oh, what would she say man?

GM: In your tactless, blunt way.

Taury: Yeah, that's tough because that's like two opposite ends of the spectrum!

GM: Ah-huh?

Taury: Ooh boy!

GM: You're trying to do a very delicate situation in the least delicate manner.

Taury: Yeah, yeah, yeah, like an elephant in a fucking China shop! Um [laughs], she would probably try and ah, like, use the Jargie's name as some kind of a, like, "Oh, Jargie told me about this guy that, you know, can transport goods," or whatever, or something like that to insinuate that she knows who she's looking for when it's pretty clear she has no idea who she's looking for. You know? Like that kind of, "Oh, I heard a guy who does this, but I don't know his name", that kind of roundabout way of trying to get information from people.

GM: "All right, all right. [Drunk and slurring]. You want to head over to, to the Fatman's Feedbag. They'll, they'll get you sorted over there."

Taury: "Do, do you have a name, perhaps?"

GM: "Nah, no, no. They call me Longtooth."

Taury: "But this contact in the Fatman's Feedbag, does he have a pseudonym?"

GM: "Oh, oh, oh, their, their name! Oh!" [Laughs awkwardly]

Taury: "Yes."

GM: "Oh, ask for Vhiski."

Taury: "Vhiski?"

GM: "You know what? Don't worry about it, Vhiski will ask for you."

Taury: "I would really rather he didn't. And is Vhiski- What does, what does he do exactly?"

GM: "He's who you're looking for."

Taury: "Yes, but what does, what does he do around here exactly?"

GM: "Go talk to Vhiski."

Taury: "Right." And she'll just sort of, like, nod at him incredibly uncomfortable and look for someone else to approach.

GM: He gives you a wide smile and now you know why they call him Longtooth, he's got just one tooth.

Taury: That snaggletooth!

GM: Yeah, just the one. No other teeth.

Taury: Awesome. Yeah, so she'd be wandering around just kind of eyeing up people that look maybe less drunk than this guy might appear to be.

GM: Sense motive?

Taury: Maybe, yeah. In fact, she'd probably also be trying to maybe cover her face a little bit so that that guy doesn't recognize her, that she would disappear into the crowd of people at the docks. Oh boy, these rolls!

GM: All right, over the course of an hour, you talk to a few people and they all tell you pretty much the same thing. You are very conscious that all of your efforts to try to remain anonymous don't work.

Taury: Hmm-mm. 

GM: Everyone recognizes you as one of the heroes of Sandpoint. 

Taury: Yup. And she gleans no other information other than this Vhiski chap?

GM: Yup. Everyone tells you pretty much the same thing, in various ways, but it all boils down to 'you want to go talk to Vhiski at the Fatman's Feedbag'.

Taury: Cool. So she'll go to the Fatman's Feedbag. But she won't approach anybody, just sort of go, kind of like, Strider-esque, you know? Sit in the back somewhere and just watch everybody that comes in to try and see if she can assess who Vhiski might be. And sort of watch him and see what kind of person he is.

GM: All right. Fatman's Feedbag is number 42. The Hagfish is Sandpoint's most popular tavern, but the Fatman's Feedbag is the most notorious. Bar fights are common and as you're walking in, there's one that's being wrapped up and a couple of people are getting tossed out by the enormous man that seems to be running this place, Gressel.

Taury: That sounds friendly! [Laughs] Before she would enter, like, probably as she sees the bar fight breaking out, she'd probably attempt to disguise herself a little bit to look less like a hero of Sandpoint.

GM: Yeah, how are you doing that?

Taury: Probably, like, I'd say, there's, like, barrels of maybe, like, dirt and stuff around the place? Rub that on places and face and probably mess her hair up a bit, just look a little bit haggard.

GM: OK? 

Taury: Yeah. 

GM: Give me a Disguise check?

Taury: Sick! Watch this go awful. [Whispering] Oh my God, a 9! With a +6?

Loyal: Yeah a 9's not good? [Laughs]

Taury: A 9 with a +6! It's one of those days where everything I do is just going to go so badly! [Laughs]

Loyal: Welcome back! Get fucked!

Taury: Now, watch me get Taury arrested today. It's going to happen! That's the way this is going! [Laughs] Yeah, so I figured she would have noticed that, like, everybody would have been looking at her and stuff so she would attempt to do a disguise, poorly it would seem.

GM: Mmm-hmm.

Taury: Probably while people are watching too. That's how bad that roll is! [Laughs]

GM: Yeah, so as you're walking into the bar, Gressel will look at you and, like, "Oh, hero of Sandpoint's having a rough time, huh?"

Taury: She just nods and looks away, continuing to walk as far away into the back as possible.

GM: OK, give me a Perception check as you walk into the bar?

Taury: If there's any roll that I want to do well on, it's this one. I'll take a 14.

GM: That's good enough!

Taury: I'll take it!

GM: In the middle of the bar is a very greasy shifty-looking person that you instantly know is who you've been told to talk to. Just on sight, you know instinctually this has to be-

Taury: Vhiski?

GM: Vhiski.

Taury: Vhiski.

GM: Sitting next to Vhiski, having a meal and talking with him, is someone that you recognize from your past that you have not seen for a while. You see the old man Rebus.

Taury: OK? She would still go to the back, probably closer than she was intending to go to be able to try and listen in to their conversation. Making even more of an effort to, to obscure her, like, face.

GM: All right, give me a stealth check.

Taury: Awesome!

GM: And this will be opposed by Perceptions.

Taury: Awesome, because we know that Taury-

Loyal: We are very stealthy.

Taury: -is very adept at stealth, having passed only one Stealth check of the entire of the chapter.

Morana: Ah yes, the 'sneaky-sneaky'!

Loyal: Please be like a nat 20? Oh no.

Taury: It's better than the Disguise check.

Loyal: I mean, yeah, 13 isn't awful!

Taury: Ooh.

Loyal: Ok, well, it's not good enough! [Laughs]

Taury: [Whispering] Oy-yoy-oy! A 17 and an 18.

GM: As you're passing by the table, trying to overhear what's being said and make your way back behind them, Vhiski just points at you and says to the man sitting next to him, "That's who you're looking for."

Taury: And Taury hears this?

GM: He looks up and sees you, sparks of recognition in his eyes, "Taury! I'll be damned! Sit."

Taury: She sits, instantly, like a child. You know, like a child who's been reprimanded?

GM: "You look a little worse for wear."

Taury: "You could say that."

GM: "Getting into trouble up here too?"

Taury: "I have no idea what you're talking about." 

GM: "Hmm-hmm?" 

Taury: "What brings you to Sandpoint?"

GM: "You."

Taury: She, like, pretends that she doesn't know that. There's like a look where it's like, 'Oh, I'm surprised', but she isn't.

GM: "There's been some stir in Magnimar recently."

Taury: "Isn't there always stir in Magnimar?"

GM: "Not usually with your name attached. Some noble guy has been going around asking about ya." 

Loyal: [Laughs]

Taury: "What about?"

GM: "A little bit of everything. And then there was ah- I caught wind of a little bit of an ah, -an intel group. You know, information brokers that were trying to ascertain some of your history as well."

Taury: "Oh, do tell?"

GM: "Apparently, someone put out a bounty of information on you, that started here." 

Taury: "Really?" 

GM: "Yeah."

Taury: "Is there a name attached to that bounty of information?"

GM: "No, no, all I heard was, ah, someone went into the - What's it called? - The, the Pixie's Kitten? Something like that. And paid for some information."

Taury: "The brothel?" 

GM: "Yeah." 

Taury: "Well, what information would they get at a brothel?"

GM: "I don't know, but they paid somebody and started a series of questions gettin' asked." 

Loyal: [Laughs] Oh, no!

Taury: "How did this information come by you?"

GM: "I may be retired, but I ain't dead."

Taury: "Well, you certainly look it!"

GM: "I'll take that as a compliment coming from you."

Taury: "It wasn't."

GM: "I do love family reunions!"

Taury: "Almost as much as I do!"

GM: Vhiski has just got this wide grin on his face, he's eating up all of this.

Taury: Can I Sense motive on Vhiski?

GM: Certainly.

Taury: Trying to ascertain if I have to kill Vhiski. [Laughs]

GM: He just seems to be being entertained.

Taury: Does he seem like the kind of dude that's going to go around talking? Or is he just- it's just an amusing story?

GM: He's seeing it more as an amusing story. 

Taury: Cool. 

GM: "But, yeah, this ah, this noble guy is going around, right? Asks about you and ah, learns about your 'indiscretion' in leaving Magnimar." Gives a sideways glance at Vhiski, obviously trying not to give away more than he has to.

Taury: "Perhaps we should ah, go somewhere else?"

GM: "Perhaps, perhaps."

Taury: "This town is unusually popular for gossip."

GM: "It's a small town, it's the way of small towns. Every district of Magnimar is the same."

Taury: She side-eyes Vhiski.

GM: Still just beaming, he is loving everything. It's great.

Taury: How full is this bar?

GM: It's around lunch, so-

Taury: It's pretty busy?

GM: Yeah, not full to capacity, there's a couple empty seats here and there, but it's pretty busy.

Taury: Is there like a - what would she like? - a basement-type place where they would keep all the kegs and stuff? Or is that under behind the bar? There wouldn't be-?

GM: You're not familiar with this place.

Taury: Yeah, thought you might say that. She'd be eyeing around anyway to try and see if there's, like, a backroom or any kind of just slightly more private part of the bar. Well, I say 'slightly', I mean, 'very private'.

GM: Yeah, give me a Perception check?

Taury: Cool. Can I do worse than a 12? Let's see... Oh! There's the 20! There's the 20 I wanted!

Fenwarin: There you go.

GM: That is a very good roll. As you're looking around the bar, having this conversation, looking for a place to have this more intimately so there aren't prying ears and eyes into the situation, it is painfully obvious that there is no such place available here.

Taury: Mm-hmm. She would sort of lean into his, like, ear and whisper, um, "Perhaps we should move somewhere else, outside?"

GM: "Oh, there's no need for that! This is the most secure place for information in Sandpoint. You get my meaning?"

Taury: "And that is precisely why we should move outside."

GM: "Oh, don't be like that!"

Taury: Sense motive. 

Loyal: [Laughs] 

GM: Roll it.

Taury: Oh, there's my 20s! [Laughs]

GM: Yeah, there's a 20 on your Sense motive. 

Loyal: Yeah, 20 total. Not bad.

GM: You are now positive that this person is into the nefarious, underground, shady things that you were looking for.

Taury: Mmm-hmm. 

GM: You were all but told now, you are feeling it in your gut that this person is in some way connected to the Sczarni.

Taury: This Vhiski? 

GM: Vhiski. 

Taury: Right. And I'm guessing the rest of the bar is also filled with Sczarni?

GM: Seems that way. And, because of your Perception earlier, you know that this middle table - it's got a little extra space around it from all the other tables - whoever this Vhiski person is, he's not just involved, he's important!

Taury: Mm-hmm. Maybe he may be a mob boss.

GM: So what you doing?

Taury: Oy! So, yeah, she would like assess the room, pick up on the fact that, that there's other Sczarni in here and that this guy is important, and change the subject. [Laughs] "So what business have you two together?"

GM: "Well, this fine gentleman here has, uh, asked for us to help find you, and in you walk! Perfectly delivered, I would say."

Taury: "Perfectly delivered, yes. Find me for what reason?"

GM: "As I was saying, this noble guy, he's been asking around a lot, right?"

Taury: "He's asking?"

GM: "Pulled up a bunch of dirt, brought up the, uh, the history."

Taury: "Lies, I'm sure you know this."

GM: "Sure, sure, anyway."

Taury: "Magnimar is not a place full of truth, you should know that."

GM: "Whatever-"

Taury: "Of all people, you should know this."

GM: "Look, your bounty's cleared."

Taury: "Are you certain?"

GM: "He paid it off. Something about making sure his 'new bride' is going to be able to live with him." 

Ishmael: [Laughs]

GM: "Now, that's a story and I want to hear it! Yeah?"

Taury: "Excuse me?"

GM: "I'm just telling you what I heard. This Foxglove guy has got it in his mind that you and he are going to get hitched, and has gone through all the trouble to clear your bounty, which is serious, right? I don't know how he found out about it, but he was persistent enough to get it all drug up and cleared."

Taury: "Somehow, I, I really doubt that that is cleared."

GM: He shrugs.

Taury: How is Rebus reacting to all of this information?

GM: Oh, he's just looking back and forth between you, enjoying the story. Like, how some people get really invested into a play, that's how he is right now. He's like, 'Ooh, the drama, the edge of my seat, this is great!'

Taury: Yeah, 'cause at the moment, Taury wants the ground to swallow her up. [Laughs] She literally wants to be anywhere else.

GM: Yeah, I'm sure. This has obviously been building for a while, from the course of various events.

Loyal: Taury's going to murder Foxglove next. [Laughs]

Taury: You know, it crossed my mind. [Laughs] I'd be lying if I said it didn't. "Well, Vhiski, this, uh, nobleman, do you know anything more about him? How he came by this information? This supposed bounty?"

GM: He raises an eyebrow and goes, "Hmm? I wouldn't have the faintest idea!"

Taury: "Ha! I'm sure you don't. Could you find out?

GM: "I'm insulted that you think that I couldn't!"

Taury: She, like, gestures to, like, her pocket incentivizing with monetary value.

GM: "What is it that you would like to know?"

Taury: "I would like to know what these people know, and how they know it, and who else knows?"

GM: "Hmm, and how much is that information worth to you?"

Taury: "Well, that depends on what the price you have in your mind is?"

GM: "Hmmm, I think we can start at 20 gold."

Taury: "We can sta- And how many reoccurring payments will follow that?"

GM: "Well, that depends on your reaction after I tell you the information, yes?"

Taury: "Don't toy with me, Vhiski, I'm not one to be toyed with."

GM:  "Hmm, payment up front, I'm afraid."

Taury: Yeah, she gives him the 20 gold.

GM: "Hmm, why thank you. Pleasure doing business with you. I told them."

Taury: "You told? And how, how did you, ah, how did you come by this information that you told them?"

GM: "Oh, come now! Sczarni are everywhere."

Taury: "Indeed."

GM: "See a lot, hear more. Yeah?"

Taury: "Indeed."

GM: "When someone goes around starting questions and interrogating citizen folk about one of the, the people in town, and then that person turns out to be a hero, well, hey! Even better! That's good for business."

Taury: "Of course it is. And these people you said there were people who, ah, sought out information-?"

GM: "Uh? Yes?"

Taury: "Who, who are those people?"

GM: "Ah, well, Aldern Foxglove I'm sure you're acquainted with."

Taury: "Barely."

GM: "Oh, Barely? That's not how he tells it!"

Taury: "Of course it isn't. But he is not of my concern, these other people?"

GM: "Well, there were two other individuals: One was a member of your, your group that you have been hero-ing with recently."

Taury: "Go on."

GM: "A 'Markus' I believe, is the one? Went so far as to, ah, seek out your brother and talk to him. I'm sure that was a fun conversation given his vow!"

Taury: "Go on."

GM: "And the other we don't know much about, unusual as that is. That was the one that went into the, uh, Pixie's Kitten. Hasn't been seen in or around town since. My guess is it was some sort of disguise." 

Loyal: [Laughs]

Taury: "Right. You have contacts, I assume, in the, the brothel?" 

GM: "Oh, but of course!" 

Taury: "Surely you know more than that?"

GM: "No, nothing worth telling, you know?"

Taury: "Yes, I don't want those details. But, ah, were they alone, these two individuals?"

GM: "I don't know if their efforts were joined or not, but from my reports, I believe so."

Taury: "Right. Might I ask you to, uh, keep an eye on this, 'Markus' for me?" 

GM: "Hmm." 

Taury: "I would like to know who he's talking to, how long he's talking to them for, and where that information is going afterwards?"

GM: "Interesting."

Taury: "Can you do this?"

GM: "Hmm. It's not if we can or can't, it's-"

Taury: "How much you can do it for?"

GM: "Yes, yes."

Taury: "Of course. But you can foot the bill to, ah, Mr. Aldern Foxglove. As you know, he and I are very close?" 

Loyal: [Laughs]

GM: "I'm sorry, what? Can you repeat that? I must have heard something different?"

Taury: "Could you foot the bill to Aldern Foxglove?"

GM: His grin just widens at that, he's like, "Oh, but of course!"

Ishmael: [Laughs]

GM: "How shrewd!" 

Taury: "Shrewd?" 

GM: "Ah, yes. Never mind."

Taury: "My indiscretions are my own. I thought you of all people would understand?"

GM: "Yes, yes, I think I do." [Laughs]

Taury: "It's not the kind of thing you'd want the whole of Sandpoint to know. That's, that's between you and I." And she winks at him.

GM: "I need to do more business with you heroes. You're a fascinating lot! So much fun!"

Taury: Is there a drink on the table, at this point? One of their drinks?

GM: Ah, yeah. 

Taury: That would get downed.

GM: Are you going down Vhiski's or Rebus's?

Taury: Whatever looks more full.

GM: Rebus's.

Taury: Yeah, that would get downed.

GM: All right. 

Taury: As she says that. To swallow the vomit that regurgitated into her throat. 

Loyal: [Laughs]

GM: "Do make sure that Fenwarin comes by again, my last dealings with him were very profitable."

Taury: "Oh, yes? And what were those dealings? He's been busy, I haven't been able to, ah, speak with him."

GM: "Yes, yes. Ah, he helped me with a transportation job, out to deal with old Habe."

Taury: "Yes." 

GM: "Yeah, there's always work like that that can be done again, and if he's wanting to make another trip, we've got another one scheduled here in a day or so."

Taury: "I'll let him know. This 'Habe', ah, I was from here quite some time ago, I've forgotten, remind me who Habe is? I've- It seems to have slipped my mind."

GM: "Ah, I'm sure you've met him, the proprietor of the old Sanatorium out, just outside of town."

Taury: "Ah, yes, but who is he really?"

GM: "Oh! Well, as the stories go, he was chased out of Magnimar."

Taury: "Imagine that!"

GM: "Yeah, he moved out here for the, uh-" he does the finger quotes in the air thing, "-peace and quiet of the countryside, as it will, as he says, 'help his patients'. I think he came out here more for the seclusion."

Taury: "Yes, well, he and I both. Did it work out for him?"

GM: "Ah, seems about as well as it did for you."

Taury: "Sometimes it's like that."

GM: "Yes, yes it is."

Taury: "Right, well, I shall, ah, I shall inform Fenwarin, I'm sure he'll be delighted to know."

GM: "Yes, yes, please do that? It was a pleasure talking to you." [Laughs]

Taury: "It was less so talking to you, but, I'm sure you know that."

GM: "Oh, the pleasure is always mine!"

Taury: And she looks visibly uncomfortable. [Laughs] And she'll leave the bar, and wait outside.

GM: Loyal? 

Loyal: Yeah? 

GM: You've retreated to your room and locked yourself inside.

Loyal: Ah-huh? 

GM: What are you doing?

Loyal: For probably at least an hour or so, he's just processing everything that just happened, with the good old tentacled creature that lives inside of him now. And then after that, he'll see what he can learn, he'll start, kind of like, calming down, seeing what he can learn about it and likely learning to control it if he can, or command it.

GM: Mmm-hmm? 

Loyal: And he'll probably stay locked in his room for a while, just kind of processing and thinking. Until at least, the very least, until everyone gets back, he's just going to stay locked in his room.

GM: OK. I'll return to that, yeah? 

Loyal: Yup, sounds good.

GM: Those of you up at the cathedral:

Ishmael: I thought that was just Ishmael or are other people still here?

GM: Markus stayed with you, Fenwarin did, Morana is rejoining you. 

Ishmael: Oh. 

GM: The resurrection ceremony for the two has commenced.

Ishmael: Yeah. Ishmael has not left their side. If they try and, like, usher him out, he won't move. He will sit there and wait for them to be resurrected. 

GM: OK.

Markus: How long did the preparations for the resurrection ceremony take?

Taury: It was a couple of hours, wasn't it?

GM: It didn't take quite that long. Not the full couple hours, but about an hour, and then the ritual was relatively short.

Markus: Yeah. OK, during that hour, Markus will have gone back to the Rusty Dragon and fetched something, and returned to the temple. And he'll have spent the time doing some writing in a journal. 

GM: OK. 

Markus: Occasionally consulting notes from other books and things.

GM: Sure. So, the resurrection of Orik goes off without a hitch. He gets revived, seems a little confused that he's back, but he's fine with it. Lyrie on the other hand, the resurrection does not go to plan. She does not revive. 

Loyal: Oh.

Taury: [Whispering] Ask for a refund.

Loyal: [Laughs] A refund?

Fenwarin: Well, too bad.

Ishmael : Did she refuse to be revived or is it some other means?

GM: It seems as if she refused resurrection, as if- 

Loyal: Oh!

Taury: She accepted death?

GM: Having another go at it, she's not convinced she would do any better.

Loyal: Oh-ho!

Taury: Morana, why? Why did you do this?

Loyal: Morana you bullied her!

GM: And, she's just going to stay dead 'cause that's better for everyone, right? 

Taury: Relatable!

Loyal: Oh my God!

Taury: [Laughs] Wow Morana!

Loyal: What have you done Morana?!

Taury: Fucking wow!

Morana: I did what I had to do.

Loyal: Fucking what?

Taury: [Valley Girl accent] She doesn't even go here! Oh my God!

Ishmael : [Laughs] You sound like Valley Girl now!

Taury: But that's basically, that's basically what Morana did!

Ishmael : [Valley Girl accent] Oh my God! What did you do?

Taury: [Valley Girl accent] 'You don't even belong here, oh my God! What is wrong with you? You don't even wear pink on Fridays.' 

That's basically what just happened. Oh, I can't stop! It's there now. [Laughs] Carry on. 

GM: [Laughs]

Morana: We stain the bleach in the gene pool.

Taury: I was going to make a Taylor Swift reference, but I won't. [Laughs]

Ishmael : I sent you DM Furtive, like, I'm not entirely sure how that works. I don't know, like-. Ishmael, will just sigh and, will ask one of the people of the temple if they have the ability to speak with the dead.

GM: "I'm very sorry, but no, it's not a practice we're accustomed to or have much need for, ah, regrettably."

Ishmael : "Fair. Well, then I tried. Ah, but one of them is back, it seems, so there's that."

GM: "Yes, which is good!" 

Ishmael : "Yeah." 

GM: "Unfortunately, you still need to pay the debt for the failed attempt."

Ishmael : "I'm aware and it is my debt and I will pay it back when I can."

GM: "Sorry the results were not quite what we were hoping for."

Ishmael : "I mean, it's, just how, ah, life tends to be. Yeah." Ishmael will thank them for their attempt, even though it failed, and will turn his attention to, what was his name? 

GM: Orik. 

Ishmael : Orik. Just going, like, "Yeah, so, I'm sorry that, ah, my actions led to you, ah, ending up like this. So-"

GM: "Hmm." 

Ishmael : "The least thing, the least I could do was, ah, bring you back and- yeah."

GM: "Ah, thanks for that, but, ah, no, you weren't the reason I died."

Ishmael : "Nah, well, I wasn't helping all that much either, so."

GM: "That, that's true."

Markus: "What was the reason you died then?"

Ishmael : "Clearly, the goblin that killed him."

Morana: "Yes, but why fight if you weren't forced to? Or were you?"

GM: "Instead of just leaving, like I suggested, Lyrie thought it prudent to go inform the goblin chieftain that plans were over, and proceeded to tell him that Nualia was dead, which he did not take well."

Ishmael: "Yeah, um, I-" Ishmael will hold up the chieftain's head too, just be like, "Yeah, I'm aware how well it went." 

GM: "Yeah, somehow that little beasty got it in his mind that he and Nualia were going to be together or something."

Ishmael: Like, Ishmael will visibly snicker or snort or whatever, just, "Sorry, continue."

GM: "Yes, so, ah, I returned to try to save her and that did not go well. She was already on the throes of death as I arrived."

Ishmael: "Oof! Yeah. You took out quite a few of them, so thank you."

GM: "I did what I could, but I was surrounded and grossly outnumbered!"

Ishmael: "Yeah, well, ah, if it wasn't for you, well ah, fighting the chieftain would have been a bit more difficult. You killed his mount."

GM: "Yes, stupid goblin!"

Ishmael: [Laughs] "Oh, ah, do you have a horse?" 

GM: "A horse?" 

Ishmael: "There was a horse that was locked up on Thistletop that I freed, and it wasn't very happy to be, you know, locked up. Didn't know if it was yours or-?"

GM: "No, not mine." 

Ishmael: "Well-"

GM: "Goblins hate horses." 

Ishmael: "Fair, well-"

GM: "Why would there be a horse there?"

Ishmael: "Ah, honestly, I don't know. I just figured it might have been yours?" 

GM: "No." 

Ishmael: "Yeah, well, I guess, ah, you're welcome? I'll buy you a drink sometime or you buy me a drink sometime, I don't- I need to-" [Awkwardly]

GM: "Yes, ah-"

Ishmael: Ishmael is just getting visibly more and more uncomfortable being in this place, just-

GM: "I seem to be missing some gear or I would, ah, pay you now."

Ishmael: "Sorry about that, you know, time was of the essence."

GM: He raises a hand as if it's nothing, "No, no, offsets of costs. It makes complete sense. You've already done more for me than I could have asked. Thank you very much."

Ishmael: "Of course." Ishmael will extend a hand.

GM: Shakes. 

Ishmael: Ishmael will clasp on his shoulder and just be, just like, thumbs up and, just like-

GM: Will save.

Ishmael: Me or him? 

GM: Him. 

Ishmael: OK.

GM: "Oh? Oh-oh, OK."

Ishmael: Ishmael will tilt his head and look at him, "Everything OK? Everything Ok?"

GM: He appears a bit confused, but, "Yeah, I believe so."

Ishmael: Like, um, Ishmael will lean in and, like, whisper something, just-

GM: What are you whispering? Oh, you're DMing me.

Ishmael: Yes.

GM: I see. He looks more confused after you whisper into his ear.

Ishmael: "Right, I'm going to, I guess, go get some air. Been in here for too long and, I think you need to finish, you know, collecting yourself." Ishmael will give, like, an awkward thumbs up and just kind of leave, and- "Is there paperwork that needs to be written up for this, like, bill of debt, or is it already done?"

GM: "No, no, no paperwork. We will hold it as an honor."

Ishmael: "Got ya." 5000? Ah, out of character, 5000?

GM: Yes, or replacement of the material component.

Ishmael: Got ya. 

GM: Whichever's first / easiest?

Ishmael: Well, got ya. All right, well, like, Ishmael just leaves. 

GM: Father Zantus looks at the others in the area, "Do any of you need anything?"

Markus: "I don't think so for myself. Thank you again, Father." 

GM: He bows.

Ishmael: I guess Ishmael would head to the Curious Goblin.

GM: OK. The rest of you in the temple, what are you doing?

Fenwarin: I'm waiting for someone to attend my wounds.

GM: OK, you will get fully healed. 

Fenwarin: Great!

Morana: Morana would probably be more waiting outside.

GM: OK, give me a sense, motive as Ishmael comes out? OK, Ishmael's body language is a little stiff, rigid. He seems a little uncomfortable, but not a big deal.

Morana: "So how did the situation here go?"

Ishmael: "Right, Orik is alive, the other one failed. I'm- Yeah, like ah, so, I've got 5000 gold or components to replace at some point, like, yeah." Like, Ishmael pinches the bridge of his nose, and is just, "Yeah, so, that's that. So Yeah."

Morana: Morana just kind of nods.

Ishmael: Ishmael will just, "OK, so, yeah, I guess I'll meet you guys back at the Rusty Dragon or something later. Oh, how did talking to the mayor go?"

Morana: "Ha ha ha. Apparently, in the mayor's opinion, we were meant to be some sort of 'goblin genocide squad'. All she was focused on was whether or not all the goblins were dead!"

Ishmael: "I- I see, did she not realize that-?"

Morana: "You seem to be operating under the assumption that the leadership in this town realizes much of anything. I would detach yourself from such notions, as soon as possible."

Ishmael: "I-[Sighs]." Like, Ishmael will mutter something under his breath and then just, "Whatever, I guess. At least they know that, you know, Thistletop is dealt with and the goblins aren't really an issue anymore."

Morana: "Oh, she still thinks they are, apparently."

Ishmael: "I- Du-? [Sighs]."

Morana: She just puts up a hand, "I know, I know." 

Ishmael: "All right." 

Morana: "This is why I went to speak with her, my sparkling personality took care of it."

Ishmael: "Is that what you call it?"

Morana: She just stares at you evenly.

Ishmael: "Yup, yup. Cool, so, situation at the temple's dealt with, ah, I'll meet up with you guys- I- Just-".

Morana: "We'll probably be at the Rusty Dragon."

Ishmael: Yup, cool. So, try not to dazzle more people with your sparkling personality, just-"

Morana: "It shines through everywhere I go, dear, I can't help it."

Ishmael: And, like, he'll just wander off.

GM: Fenwarin, you'll exit the temple at that?

Fenwarin: Yeah, I'm also heading back to the Rusty Dragon.

GM: OK. You accompanying them, Markus? 

Markus: Yeah. 

GM: Were you wanting to get healed up at the temple as well?

Markus: No, Markus won't bother the temple with that. 

GM: OK.

Morana: Morana can handle herself on her own as well.

GM: All right.

Morana: And she will fill Fenwarin and Markus in on everything as they're walking.

GM: Taury?

Taury: Yep?

GM: You are standing just outside the Fatman's Feedbag, staring off into the harbor.

Taury: Yep. She would be in thought for, like, several minutes and then she would reach into her, like, kind of breast pocket and fumble at a letter, and then she'd go back into the bar and approach Rebus. And, I assume he would have like a pocket somewhere? 

GM: Sure. 

Taury: Yeah, so she would approach him, and as she would slide the letter into a pocket, she would whisper to him, "I hope that if you can, you could deliver this for me?"

GM: He nods.

Taury: And then she would leave.

GM: "Before you go, is it addressed or do I need to read it to see where it's going?"

Taury: "I would prefer if you didn't read it, but you'll know the name."

GM: He nods.

Taury: And she leaves, and pats him on the shoulder as she leaves. Not in a condescending way, in, like, a friendly way.

GM: Yep, he gives you a soft smile.

Taury: And she smiles back at him which Taury doesn't do, but she does this time. And she leaves and heads back towards the Rusty Dragon.

GM: Give me a Perception check as you're walking out?

Taury: Cool.

Loyal: Oh!

Taury: An amazing 11!

Loyal: Oh, you've thrown a lot of 3s this session.

Taury: Oh, listen, don't talk to me. 

Loyal: [Laughs]

GM: OK, you don't notice anything as you're walking out, just the normal noise of the conversation in the restaurant and whatnot.

Taury: Yeah, I would imagine she probably just wouldn't notice whatever because she's a bit frazzled.

GM: OK. You all meet up back at the Rusty Dragon at about the same time then. Taury will probably get there first. She is closest.

Taury: That's 37, right? On the map?

GM: Yes.

Taury: Cool. Is anybody in the main entrance? 

GM: There's a few people, but it's past the lunch rush. So those that are still here are the down-on-their-luck day-drinking types or various adventurers that have been passing through recently.

Ishmael: Mmm, day-drinking!

Taury: So she would order food and take it up to her room with her. 

GM: OK. 

Taury: And then just eat there quietly for an hour or so until she kind of would have imagined the rest of the crew would be back.

GM: OK. As you're waiting on your order to be given to you to take it up to your room, that's when they walk in. Well, they minus Ishmael.

Ishmael: Like, Ishmael would wander around a bit later, like-

Taury: She would just turn to look at them and sort of keep an eye on where Fenwarin is, just to make sure he doesn't go up to his room or something.

GM: OK. Are you headed to your room, Fenwarin? 

Fenwarin: No.

GM: OK. Your usual spot at your usual table then, I assume?

Fenwarin: Yeah, that's correct. Some food and some drinks.

Taury: [Laughs] Yes, the exact same seat!

Ishmael: Yes, my seat!

Taury: It has a Fenwarin bum-print in it and everything! 

All: [Laugh] 

Taury: Yeah, so she would just be waiting to get her food, and then she would rejoin the table.

GM: OK. Bethana serves the table. You all have your food and drink that you want. Unless you are saying you're going to go off and do something else, I'll assume you're all at this table now?

Morana: Morana is. She will also let Taury know just how wonderful the mayor is.

Markus: Markus will be continuing writing whatever he's doing.

Taury: Is he doing that at the table?

Markus: Yeah.

Taury: Taury would be attempting to read what he's writing. - In an obscure way, not in a, like, stares over the page way, but she would be watching what he's writing.

GM: OK. Are you taking any attempts to prevent this, Markus?

Markus: Um, no, not directly.

GM: OK, this will be a Perception check then, Taury, DC 15.

Taury: Oh man!

GM: Since you're trying to read from-

Loyal: Oh!

Taury: Oh!

GM: -maybe a seat or two away, upside down. Yeah, it's-

Loyal: Nat 1!

Fenwarin: Ouch!

Loyal: It does not like you today!

Taury: It's that kind of day, it's that day.

Loyal: It is that kind of day, it really is.

Morana: There's no read for you!

GM: Whatever it is, it's probably magical nonsense, right? 

Ishmael: [Laughs]

Taury: Fair! [Laughs] 

GM: [Laughs] 

Taury: In that case, she probably looks at it and it probably looks like the old runes and stuff that he never stops talking about, and she just wouldn't bother trying to read any more of it. "So business went well with the mayor?"

Morana: [Fake laughs] "As well as usual."

Taury: "They say anything important?"

Morana: "Do they ever?" She just stares at Taury.

Taury: "Fair enough. Have they given us any other, ah - how would you say -errands to run?"

Morana: "No, she just asked basically if every goblin in the region is dead or not?"

Taury: "And you told her that they were, right?"

Morana: "I told her they had fled and they were broken and they were infighting and splintering, thus becoming a self-resolving problem."

Taury: "And I'm sure they understood that?"

Morana: "Of course not, she's a politician!"

Taury: "Yes."

Markus: "Did you at least mention that the chief was dead? Yes?" 

Morana: "I told them the entire leadership was dead."

Taury: "Well, that doesn't matter, they don't see big picture. Politicians don't see big pictures, there's no point! You should have just told them they were all dead. They would be none the wiser."

Morana: Right, then the next time they see a goblin, suddenly it's our fault? No, no, no."

Taury: "Well, we won't be in Sandpoint. Why would we stay here?"

Morana: "There are still other matters in the region that need looking into."

Taury: "Yes, and they have an inept sheriff and others. So we're the clean-up job?"

Morana: "No, I mean matters unrelated to the goblins."

Markus: "Well, and we never actually- Unless you did considerably more while we were separated, we never actually fully explored Thistletop. Who knows what else might be there?"

Taury: "Are you suggesting that we return?" 

Markus: "Yes." 

Taury: "And what does everyone else think of this plan?" She gestures to the rest of the table.

Morana: "It's not like there's a goblin army there anymore."

Taury: "That we know of."

Ishmael: "I mean, yeah, like, I'd like a day or so to unwind from everything that fucking happened there, but sure, I guess."

Markus: "Oh, I wasn't suggesting we go back immediately, but in the near future, yes."

Ishmael: "Yeah, fine."

Taury: "Fen, how do you feel about this?"

Fenwarin: "Doesn't feel necessary, but sure."

Taury: "Perhaps we don't all need to go."

Markus: "Why do you think it might not be necessary?"

Fenwarin: "Well, they're basically leaderless, there is just no cohesion between them now. They're not going to plan anything. It's-"

Morana: "We weren't referring to the goblins."

Fenwarin: "Oh, you weren't?"

Morana: "There may be information there on other things that might be helpful. Since, with the demonic influence that was there, there might be information on the other ruins that we've been asked to look into in the area that we did not find. I believe that's more what he was referring to."

Fenwarin: "Oh, OK. OK."

Markus: "Not to mention who knows what else might actually, you know, still be there; useful items, treasures hidden away?"

Taury: "Wouldn't that qualify as stealing?" And she watches for Markus's reaction.

Markus: Markus is looking at Taury, so he's trying to assess where that thought came from.

Taury: Is that another Sense motive?

Markus: Which probably implies a Sense motive, yeah.

Taury: So another Sense motive?

Loyal: Yeah, yeah!

Taury: Interparty Sense motive!

Loyal: Yup.

GM: Yeah.

Loyal: [Laughs] Ishmael threw in one too!

Taury: I saw that! [Laughs] Oh my God, everybody! Everybody!

Loyal: Everyone! Everyone's doing it!

Taury: Are you- Is Loyal walking in as well?

Loyal: No, he's still in his room still. You guys haven't seen him.

Taury: Like, imagine if he walks in in the middle of, like, a barfight!

GM: [Laughs] All right, Markus and Ishmael, both of you get the sense that Taury is a bit upset about something or other.

Ishmael: "Does something seem to be bothering you, Taury?"

Taury: "Isn't something always?"

Ishmael: "I mean, is it-? I mean, I don't- you know what, I- Fuck! Probably, I don't-"

Taury: She is deadpan staring at Markus.

Ishmael: "Like, well clearly it has something to do with Markus, so, like, I figure for, you know- You know what? Whatever, it- Between you and you I guess- [Sighs] Do you mind sharing why you're just staring daggers at Markus?"

Markus: "That implies she needs a reason."

Ishmael: "Normally, to stare dag- you would need a reason to do that, I- I-" 

Markus: [Laughs] "Yes, perhaps."

Fenwarin: "Would you two just stop, please?"

Morana: Morana just orders another glass of wine.

Fenwarin: "Stop bickering!" [Slurring]

Markus: "But if something is wrong, Taury-"

Taury: "I could trust you? Is that what you're saying?"

Markus: "I was going to say, if you want to share it, sometimes, sometimes talking about things can help? Or not?"

Taury: "And sometimes people talk too much, sharing information they shouldn't be sharing."

Markus: "Really?"

Taury: "Does this surprise you?"

Markus: "Interesting question. I'm not sure... [Trails off] People talking?" Markus is obviously trying to- thinking about something right now.

Ishmael: "Right, Markus, clearly you've done something to upset Taury, like, do you have any idea what you've done? I don't. Because she doesn't seem to just- Right? I don't- Hmm. OK."

Markus: "I can't think of anything recent, if that's what you're asking?"

Ishmael: "This doesn't look like something- Hmm."

Taury: "Well, perhaps you could think about it and get back to me later?"

Markus: "Well, if I have done something to offend you, what would that be? Speaking hypothetically."

Taury: "Hypothetically? Of course!"

Markus: "If you prefer to be blunt and straightforward, by all means? But since you seem to be dancing around whatever it is-?"

Taury: "Hmm, so suddenly I'm indirect? Is that what you're saying? That's the gist of it?"

Markus: "Either that or we're talking without actually communicating. That's also possible."

Taury: And then Taury would sort of, like, read the room, and kind of pick up on the fact that there's a big tension. And take a sip of her drink. "Yes, well, it doesn't matter now."

Ishmael : "But clearly it does, and clearly, if this isn't resolved now, it will be a problem later! It might lead to one of you two dying."

Taury: "Oh, I'm sure it won't come to that."

Ishmael : "You know, if you guys are supposed to be traveling tog- Oh my God, damn it! How do you people function?" 

Fenwarin: "Come on, let's just drink! And have fun and relax. Come on!" [Drunk and slurring]

GM: Fen says this setting down his third empty glass and Bethana handed him a fourth. 

All: [Laugh]

Taury: Yep! I was going to say, "How drunk is Fen?"

Ishmael : "You're precious Fen." And, just like, Ishmael will pat Fen on the top of the head, just like-

Loyal: Mom and dad are trying to stop the kids from fighting!

Taury: "Actually, Fenwarin, I met a friend of yours earlier."

Fenwarin: "Ah, what friend?"

Taury: "He said you did some business here in Sandpoint."

Fenwarin: "I've done so much business, what business?" 

Ishmael : [Laughs]

Taury: "He, he, he appeared to think so, too. And he said he had other work for you, if you were fit and able?"

Fenwarin: "Huh? What work?"

Taury: "I didn't ask. He said something to do with transport?"

Fenwarin: [Sighs] "Transport what? That's so many things!"

Taury: "I didn't ask what. I had a feeling it probably wasn't- Let's just say they're not the kind of people you ask these questions to. But they seem to be a fan of you."

Fenwarin: "I'm not sure how to take that."

Taury: "I presume they'll be in contact then. I don't think he said anything about you reaching out, but maybe he did. I'm not sure."

Fenwarin: "No one has approached me and maybe you can tell me who it is?"

Taury: "It was, ah, Habe, that gentleman from the Sanatorium."

Fenwarin: You just notice Fen is just blank in his face right now, and focuses on the drink.

Ishmael : "Great. Now, he's booked up again." 

Ishmael : "Habe? Did you say Habe? Why?"

Taury: "I, I don't know, he just said that you worked for Habe and that, ah, Habe had some other, I believe, transport jobs available. I told him I would let you know. Mind you, I wasn't speaking to Habe himself. I was, ah, speaking to someone else."

Fenwarin: You notice that Fen is ignoring you now.

Taury: [Sniggers] Is he just like fingers on ears? [Laughs]

Loyal: La-la, la-la, la-la, la-la.

Taury: La, la, la, la, la!

Fenwarin: No, just staring intently at the drink and just focusing on that, nothing else.

Ishmael : OK.

Taury: "Well, perhaps we could help you with this, ah, 'transport' job? Or if there was something else you needed, ah, taken care of?"

Fenwarin: "All I need to do is take care of my drink. That's all." 

Ishmael : Is he cradling his drink now? Please say yes? 

Taury: [Laughs] I hope that he's talking to his drink. That's what I'm hoping.

GM: As you're looking down at your drink, Fenwarin,

Fenwarin: Yeah?

GM: -Your eyes drift down into your lap and you see a spot on your pants, it's a stain.

Fenwarin: Yes, that stain! Oh my God! 

Ishmael : Ah- [Laughs]

Taury: Does he say that out loud?

Fenwarin: No. [Laughs]

Taury: OK, good! 

Fenwarin: [Laughs] Oh shit!

Ishmael : Just suddenly screams and freaks out, "Unclean!" Just- 

All: [Laugh]

Taury: Out, out damned spot!

Fenwarin: No, you just hear a deep loud sigh as he notices that stain.

Taury: "You spilled your drink again?"

Fenwarin: "No. No, it's much worse."

Taury: "Mmm, you spilled your food?" Taury is visibly confused.

Fenwarin: "I, [Sighs] I did a transport job for the Sanatorium before we all got together."

Taury: "Yes, he mentioned such a thing."

Fenwarin: "Yeah? Well, it was just some job I wanted to do, you know, before all this, and I regret it."

Taury: "What was the cargo?"

Ishmael : [Sighs] "Well, seeing this stain on my pants here, it, was transport of a dead body."

Taury: "Hold on, why would there be stains on your-  Do you know what? I don't want to know. What did you do to the dead body?" 

All: [Laugh]

Morana: Whoa! 

Loyal: Oh boy! 

Ishmael : Whoa!

GM: That's a leap!

Fenwarin: That certainly-

GM: Continue.

Fenwarin: Yeah, that's a leap! [Laughs]

Taury: Well, it's- How else is she going to say that? He's talking about it! Like, yeah, I mean, she's not looking at his fucking trousers! [Laughs] That'd be weird!

Fenwarin: "I didn't do anything, I was transporting it in a big box and blood poured out of it. It clearly leaked."

Taury: "Leaky coffins?"

Fenwarin: "Yeah, you could say that."

Ishmael : "Can confirm they tend to leak."

Taury: Taury's trying to, like, not find that funny, but also finding it funny. But realizing he's traumatized and upset, so trying to, like, hide that.

Fenwarin: In true Taury fashion, yeah.

Taury: Mm-hmm.

Ishmael : "Yeah, it's an old bloodstain on my pants, and it reminded me of that job." And Fen drinks some more.

Markus: "Fen, did you not- Did you never learn prestidigitation?"

Loyal: Presta what?

Ishmael : "Like, I- Just- Oh my god! Just-"

Taury: [Laughs] I love that leap!

Ishmael : Ishmael will just vividly just and just, like, and just let out an annoyed noise. Just like, "I- That, that is- Timing is a thing, Markus! Timing!"

Morana: "I mean, it is a legitimate question."

Ishmael : "It is, but-"

Loyal: Oh my God!

Ishmael : "Like, what, like, clearly Fen is working through some things now. Thank you Taury! And-" 

All: [Laugh]

Taury: "Thank?! What? Thanks to me?!"

Ishmael : "I don't think learning prestidigitation-"

Taury: "I didn't transport a fucking body!"

Morana: "But had he, had he learned that, the things he is working through would not be as deep at this moment."

Ishmael : "Oh my-" 

Fenwarin: "Trust me, I wish I had thought about that. I just thought I was doing someone a favor, transporting something. Had I known it was a dead body, I would not have done it."

Taury: "Well, perhaps next time we don't use a leaky coffin. Just saying."

Fenwarin: "It was not a coffin!" 

Ishmael : "The body was leaking!"

Taury: "It was a bag?"

Ishmael : "Oh my God! I-" 

Fenwarin: "It was a, it was a box."

Taury: "Is that not essentially a coffin though?"

Fenwarin: "No, a box is not essentially a coffin." 

Ishmael : [Laughs]

Taury: Taury is pushing this conversation as far away from herself as possible.

Ishmael : "Oh my-!"

Morana: "So what we're saying is that all coffins are boxes, but not all boxes are coffins?" 

All: [Laugh]

Loyal: Jesus Christ! 

Ishmael : Just, arrrgh! 

All: [Laugh]

Ishmael : Sorry, that "just arrrgh!" was out of character. 

Fenwarin: 'Come on, come on, Fenwarin. How could you not know this box was a coffin, you dumbass?' Oh, my God! 

Morana: "It's factually correct."

Ishmael : Like, Ishmael, would just, like, "You are not helping the situation! Like, like, how do any of you children function?! Just, I, I, you know, I figured, you know, I wouldn't be surprised, but I'm actually surprised! Like, I, oh, just- Hmmm!"

Taury: "Well, it would appear you're the one who is throwing a tantrum." 

Ishmael : [Laughs]

Taury: And laughs into her drink!

Morana: Morana stops and thinks for a second, says, "How do I function? Usually one day at a time."

Ishmael : "Oh, my God. Just, like, great!" [Sighs]

Markus: "This is important to you, Ishmael?"

Ishmael : "I- it- This isn't- I- Hmm."

Taury: "Perhaps we could help you communicate?"

Ishmael : [Laughs] "Right, so-"

Taury: "Just let it out, we're all sharing people."

Ishmael : "Are you guys really? Are you really? Taury, are you really? Like, because you look-"

Taury: "Well, we're sharing food. Look at Fen, sharing drinks."

Fenwarin: "I'm not sharing." 

Ishmael : "Thank you, Fen." 

Fenwarin: "This is my drink! Stop it!" 

Loyal: [Chuckles]

Taury: Yeah, she's probably pawing at his drink, just to wind him up.

Fenwarin: "Nah!" 

Ishmael : "Right. I'm surrounded by children and I- Hmmm, and it's just come to my mind that you all might end up getting me killed."

Morana: "The only thing that ends up getting you killed is living. So, really, there's no blame to place there."

Taury: "And if you do ever find yourself not living, at least we know we have a transporter in the party."

Ishmael : "Just-" 

Loyal: Oof! 

Markus: "Hmm-hmm. Really?"

Taury: "What? It's true."

Ishmael : "Right-"

Morana: "You just have to find a box of the appropriate size!"

Taury: "He's practically an expert!"

Ishmael : "Like, as I, as I told Markus before, timing and 'read the room', but whatever! You know what? I-"

Fenwarin: "You're all very funny!"

Taury: "Well, go on then, spit it out?"

Ishmael : "Right, so-" Ishmael would just stand and just push in his chair. "I need some air." and he would just-

Taury: "Oh, don't go and pull a Markus, for God's sake!"

Ishmael : "Like, Ishmael will stop and turn, "Pull what? Sorry?"

Taury: [Sighs] "Never mind."

Ishmael : "No, no, no, no, share with the class. Come on, out with it! See, you have problems right now and you're not sharing them, instead you're choosing to pick on other people, making the whole situation worse! So, out with what your problem with Markus is!"

Taury: "I thought this was about you and your whole 'deal' that you have going on?"

Ishmael: Ishmael would just calmly stare at Taury, "No, no, this all started when you showed up, started staring daggers at Markus and then wouldn't, decide, decided to start dancing circles around the topic instead of just being out with it!"

Taury: "I have nothing to hide. My personal issues with Markus have nothing to do with anyone else."

Morana: "I believe his sense of confusion may be stemming from the fact that he wasn't here when it all started."

Ishmael: Ishmael would just gesture to Morana, "So, please inform me as to why you guys get along so well?"

Morana: "Oh, I have no problems with anyone here, this isn't my story to tell."

Ishmael: "Shut- Shut- I was referring to Markus and Taury explaining and, you know, keep the sparkling personality right there for right now?"

Taury: And Taury just leans back, sipping away on her drink.

Markus: Markus is glancing between Taury and Ishmael right now. Not saying anything, keeping his face relatively passive.

Ishmael: OK. Ishmael is just, like, legitimately just waiting for somebody to say something or like-

Taury: Taury's just sipping away at her drink.

Ishmael: "Oh, my God! [Sighs] You know, I- What am I expecting from such young children? You know what, when you guys finally decide, you know-" Ishmael just leaves, just-

Taury: "See, like I said, pulling a Markus," she, like, whispers under her breath.

Morana: At length Morana sighs and sets down her glass and walks after him.

Markus: Before Morana leaves, Markus will say, "Let us know if you need any moral support for whatever he's going through?"

Morana: Morana just slowly turns her head.

All: [Laugh]

Loyal: Oh, here we go!

Morana: And does the whole fingers up to her eyes, then point at Markus, then fingers up to her eyes, then point at Taury, and says, "You two need to work it out! I don't care how you do it, before I start labeling this sexual tension!"  

All: [Laugh] 

Morana: And continues walking out the door.

Markus: Yeah, Markus's expression, jaw kind of dropped at that final comment. And he takes a moment to recover.

Ishmael: [Laughs] Meanwhile Fen orders a fifth drink, just- 

Loyal: Yeah! [Laughs]

Taury: He's probably on the sixth at this point, probably drank two at once.

Ishmael: "Yes, bar lady, you're the best!" And then just falls over, drinking, the seventh one, just- [Laughs]

Taury: Taury would be completely unresponsive to Morana's comment. She expects as much.

Morana: When she gets outside and looks around, does she see Ishmael anywhere?

Ishmael: Ishmael, is just like- As soon as he got out, he just, like, his pace slowed down significantly and he's just, like, has his head in his hands and is just- Actually, actually, no! You see him, like, having a conversation and, like, as he opens his mouth, nothing comes out. But he seems very, just, like he's yelling, but yes. He's silently yelling.

Morana: Hmm. Morana just kind of gets a few feet behind him and says, "Yeah, tell me about it!"

Ishmael: "That- Wait, did- Great! Great! Are you going to start giving me more tips?"

Morana: "No."

Ishmael: "They- You are all children and I don't know how any of you are not dead yet!"

Morana: "Yes, yes, yes, yes! Spin the line to deal with it. Yes, I get it!"

Ishmael: "I- Do you- All right. You know what?"

Morana: "Look, those two have had whatever issues they've had with each other since we all met." 

Ishmael: "OK?" 

Morana: "It's probably not going anywhere any time soon. I don't know what happened today that crawled up her ass about it, but they will work it out in their own time, in their own way. I don't- How long have you not been around people?"

Ishmael: "Ah ha ha. A few decades." 

Morana: "Hmm-hmm?" 

Ishmael: "Five."

Morana: "Hmm-hmm?" 

Ishmael: "Maybe." 

Morana: "OK?" 

Ishmael: "Let's just- It's complicated."

Morana: "Oh- I- You know, whatever. That's, that's you, that's you. You deal with that in your own time. My point is you have really forgotten how people deal with interpersonal stress, haven't you?"

Ishmael: "I, I- Hmm." Like, Ishmael goes to say something and is just like, "It would seem so."

Morana: "As crazy as that shit in there seems, that's kind of normal for people who have known each other for, oh less than a month? Maybe a little more than a month? I don't remember. There's been a lot that's gone on."

Ishmael: "I see."

Morana: "Now, if you are serious about intending to help us deal with some of the things going on around here, you need to start realizing that, once again apparently, that people deal with things in different ways, stop writing everyone off as children just because they deal with it differently than you do, and help us move on with things."

Ishmael: "You do realize that to help, like, I would have to be- Yes. Yes."

Morana: "Right! Yes, there was an issue between those two back when we first started traveling together, it was a trust issue. Apparently something has exacerbated it once again, I don't know. This hasn't been a problem since it was taken care of the first time. Whatever! They'll get through it in their own time like they did the last time, or they'll just go fuck! Hell, I don't know!"

Fenwarin: [Laughs]

Ishmael: Like, Ishmael would just, like, snort some at that, just, [Snorts] "Yeah". And then, like, his expression will finally break, like, "You know, you're a lot more amusing than I originally thought you would be."

Morana: "The feeling is somewhat mutual."

Ishmael: "It's just, you know, I figured they wouldn't turn out to be so boring, and yet they're starting to end up being boring, right? Yeah. So-"

Morana: "Life has a tendency to be that way."

Ishmael: "No, life is a crazy and interesting thing. It's just this place, it is just so-"

Morana: "Yes, that's why I bring crazy and interesting to it!"

Ishmael: "With that sparkling personality, right? Yeah."

Morana: "Exactly!"

Ishmael: "Yeah. Cool, so-"

Morana: "Sometimes you have to do what you can to find your own entertainment. Do I find mine pushing people's buttons on a regular basis? Of course I do! I have to amuse myself somehow!"

Ishmael: "Yeah, I'm, I'm aware!"

Morana: "And has it led to things being less boring?"

Ishmael: "Well, I would hope so."

Morana: "Then I'm doing it right."

Ishmael: "So, anyway. I guess I apologize for-"

Morana: "I'm not looking for apologies here, I don't give a shit if you're sorry or not!"

Ishmael: "I mean, I'm not really but-"

Morana: "Oh right. You were just saying you apologize? Right, right, right, OK. So you do still have that down? That's good!" 

Ishmael: [Laughs] 

Morana: "It's a good thing to- a good thing to be able to do."

Ishmael: "Right. Right, so- Fuck, I wish I could drink! Um, I guess I'm still going to go for that walk maybe, I don't know. I think it might just be a little weird to go back in now? Like, I don't- Hmm."

Morana: "I mean, people usually end up coming back after I end up having a one-on-one talk with them, I don't know why. They seem to apparently think that I smooth things over. You know?" 

Ishmael: "Is that right?" 

Morana: "Sometimes we don't choose what we do in life."

Ishmael: "Wow, you really are-... Ok then, well-"

Morana: "You just make the best of what you can with every day, because the next one may or may not be there." She just kind of shrugs.

Ishmael: "I mean, the problem isn't when it isn't there, it's when it isn't there and then it's there again, it's really weird."

Morana: Morana kind of raises an eyebrow at that. "Hmm. I see." Meh, she doesn't say anything else, she just kind of lets it go.

Ishmael: "It's been a long few days, and-"

Morana: "Yes, tell me about it!"

Ishmael: "Several actually, and now I see these sources of amusement threatening to get themselves killed, and then I would just be bored again. Right, I'm talking-"

Morana: "They're, they're not going to get themselves killed. They're- I almost said smarter than that, umm..." 

Ishmael: [Laughs] "Yes, sure. I like that!"

Morana: "They have better instincts than that! 'Better instincts', yes."

Ishmael: "Is that the word you're going to use?"

Morana: "That's what I'm going to stick with." 

Ishmael: "OK." 

Morana: "But we'll see what instincts get them."

Ishmael: [Laughs] "You know, yeah, let's go see what- Well, yeah. Right. Um. Now this is just getting awkward, I guess."

Morana: "Oh, now they're probably sitting there wondering just what the hell we're talking about. Then again, probably not. Whatever!"

Ishmael: "They're probably bullying Fen again. I don't-"

Morana: "No, I doubt that!"

Ishmael: "Or Fen's unconscious again?"

Morana: "The conversation will have somehow rotated to you having stormed off and me going after you and what that could possibly mean." 

Ishmael: "Hmm." 

Morana: "There has to be some way we can make that even more entertaining!"

Ishmael: "I'm open to ideas!"

Morana: "It's, it's been a few days. I don't, I can't think of any right now. I'm worn out!"

Ishmael: [Laughs] "We could just not go back in there and just let them think 'What the hell happened?'"

Morana: "That is an idea! You know, if you want a place to collect your thoughts, I live in town. I don't actually have to stay at the Rusty Dragon."

Ishmael: Like, Ishmael will gesture, I guess, 'lead the way'. Like, you've piqued his interest. 

Morana: All right. 

Ishmael: Yeah, just-

Morana: Yeah, Morana will lead him back to where she lives.

Ishmael: Yeah.

Taury: I hope she drinks with the boys! 

All: [Laugh]

GM: All right. Back inside the Rusty Dragon, Loyal? 

Loyal: Aaagh! 

Taury: [Laughs]

Taury: The pain in your voice!

Loyal: Stress!

Taury: Second-hand stress.

GM: You've been locked in your room for a good three hours or so. How's it going? Yeah? What you up to?

Loyal: He's probably kind of calmed down by now. He's kind of trying to clear his mind as best he can with all the thoughts that are racing through his head right now. And kind of just like takes a deep breath and then, like, looks at the weird tentacle monster in his stomach and, just kind of like, says, "All right, you stay here." and he points to his bed. 

GM: It detaches itself from you completely and goes to the spot you indicated.

Loyal: "OK! All right. Um... [Sighs]." And with that, he'll just, kind of like, look at it as he unlocks his door and opens it up, seeing the group down at the table, just kind of like, slowly moves to join them.

GM: You can tell that Fenwarin is well and thoroughly drunk. The other two, Markus and Taury, are you guys in silence or are you talking? What's going on with you?

Markus: Markus would have resumed writing unless anything else was happening.

Taury: Yeah, Taury would have waited to see if it was going to stay undisturbed, you know, to see if they came back in or not because she was going to talk to Markus. But it depends on how long?

Markus: It sounds like they're not coming back anytime soon, so?

GM: You'll have had a good while, at least 5 minutes- 

Taury: Yeah, yeah. No-

GM: -to have started up a conversation.

Taury: Yeah, she would have addressed the, the 'tension'.

Markus: OK, do we want to do that before Loyal comes down then?

GM: Yes please?

Taury: Yeah, that's why I was kind of checking. "Well Markus. It would seem you've made friends here in Sandpoint other than ourselves?"

Markus: "Yes, a few at least. We do get to stay here after all."

Taury: "Yes, those weren't the friends I was talking about. I've heard you were doing research? More specifically, research on me?"

Markus: "That I was doing research?"

Taury: "Precisely."

Markus: "Huh? Interesting! And how was it that I was researching you?"

Taury: "Well, that's the question I wanted to ask you. Am I just that interesting that you wanted to know more about me?"

Markus: Markus is looking slightly puzzled about this. "Your information didn't list anyone else? Just me?"

Taury: "We don't have to talk about what information I have, I want to know about your information. What did you find out? And moreover, why were you searching for it?"

Markus: "Well-"

Taury: At this point, Taury would look pretty intimidating.

Markus: Yes, so is she actually glaring at Markus or is she- What is she doing?

Taury: No, it's, it's like a tone that you've never seen her before. She's incredibly serious and tense.

Markus: "This is important to you then?"

Taury: "I wouldn't be asking if it wasn't."

Markus: "The only, the only thing I can really think of that would explain you potentially hearing stories-"

Taury: "It's not 'stories' that I heard."

Markus: "Rumors that I'm looking into you then? Something?"

Taury: "It's not rumors, I know that you were looking into me."

Markus: "Really? You know with absolute certainty?"

Taury: "Of course." 

Markus: "Hmm." 

Taury: She's definitely growing irritated in appearance.

Markus: "You see, that's the thing: unless you're going to claim this as some sort of divine vision-imparting knowledge, which I doubt considering how inaccurate it is, someone must have told you. And the only circumstance where someone could have told you about was, Loyal dragged me along to talk to your brother."

GM: Loyal.

Loyal: Hey.

GM: You will enter at this point.

Loyal: Nice! [Laughs] Not what I expected!

Taury: What a segway! That's a Sense motive on Markus, by the way.

GM: Markus isn't lying to you.

Taury: He's being evasive though, right?

GM: As far as you can tell, no.

Loyal: He's not really being evasive, he just, that's how Markus talks.

Taury: Markus's personality is evasive, is that what you're saying? [Laughs]

Loyal: I'm saying that he talks in circles a lot.

Taury: "Why were you seeking this information, Markus?"

Markus: "Hmm. I wasn't, but Loyal seemed to think it might encourage me to stay, and I was curious, so I went along."

Taury: "Went along with what? What exactly did you do?"

Markus: "I believe Loyal wanted to find out more about you."

Taury: "Yes, and where did you go and whom did you speak to?"

Markus: "As I said, we sought out your brother."

Taury: "When you say 'sought', how did you know about my brother?"

Markus: "Father Zantus mentioned it in passing. I suspect the father was under the impression that we already knew."

Taury: "And you were just speaking to Zantus? Were you speaking to anyone else? And by 'you' I mean both you and Loyal." And she, like, looks at Loyal with like-

Loyal: He's probably just getting at the table now. [Laughs] He was walking real slow because he is in a-

Taury: Ah-ha, she says it, like, as you're at the table, as you're approaching, and then you get a look.

Markus: "Well, I don't believe there were any people present who weren't part of our little group, if that's what you mean? There were acolytes of the temple around, but I don't think they were close enough to hear, why?"

Taury: "Does it matter? So you were just speaking to Tauric and Zantus, and that, that is all?" 

Markus: "Yes." 

Taury: Gonna do a Sense motive. 'Cause she wouldn't be sure if he's telling the truth or not.

GM: You have no reason to disbelieve.

Taury: So she would consider both of them for a minute, and then relax a little bit and lean backwards. "All right. Well, that's fair enough."

Loyal: "Seems like I've come into something that's a bit tense?"

Markus: "Yes, by all means, please join us?"

Taury: "Well, now that you are here, are there any questions you would like to ask me in person, so we don't have to go through this mess again?"

Loyal: "That I would like to ask you?"

Markus: "For context, apparently word's gotten around that I was investigating Taury."

Loyal: "As far as I know, the only thing involving Taury was when we went to see her brother, yeah. At least involving you." 

Markus: "Hmm, yes, that was what I was just telling her. And, of course, mentioning that it was the father that-" 

Loyal: "Yeah." 

Markus: "Yes."

Taury: "Well, do you have further questions?"

Markus: "Would you like to share more?"

Taury: "If you need me to answer them, I will answer them. If it comforts you, I'll share."

Markus: "I am curious: why come back here?"

Taury: "Back here?"

Markus: "Sandpoint. I mean, this can't exactly be a place of good memories."

Taury: "Well, this is true. The fires that, that I'm sure you've heard of, they were here, when we met. The fires burnt my home. Well, if you could call it a 'home', I don't know if it was a home. -My mother's home, burnt it down. She was in it. I thought I would come back. I don't really know why I came back, but that's why I came back."

Markus: "Fair enough. Thank you. Loyal?" 

Loyal: "Yes?" 

Markus: "I mean, was there anything else you wanted to know?"

Loyal: "Um, not really. Is there anything you would all like to know about me, I suppose?"

Taury: "You are from Magnimar, Loyal, yes?

Loyal: "I lived there for the past 2 years, yeah."

Taury: "What did you do in Magnimar?"

Loyal: "I worked at a temple for Sarenrae."

Taury: "Were you good at your job?"

Loyal: "I wasn't bad, I considered myself relatively good. I mainly worked as a healer. That's about it. Once I heard that there was an attack here, I figured I'd come and try to help some of the wounded, and here we are now. It's history from there."

Taury: "You have no intentions of returning to Magnimar?"

Loyal: "I don't really know what I want to do now, at this point. I mean, we've dealt with the goblin threat and since I have friends there, it might be nice to return. But if there are things that need doing, I'm here."

Taury: I'm going to Sense motive Loyal. 

Loyal: OK.

GM: He seems to be very frank about this.

Taury: Then you would see Taury get a lot more comfortable and a lot less tense. "Good. That's all I- That's all I had to ask. I was just curious." 

Loyal: "Of course!"

Markus: "Since we're sharing, any questions for me?"

Taury: "What is it about these ruins that draws you to them?"

Markus: "Hmm."

Taury: "You seem to have no issue communing with demons?"

Markus: "The ruins? [Sighs] How can I- Not sure there's a quick simple answer, but I'll try to- I sought to understand where I came from. Well, not that- Where my heritage came from, that might be a better way of putting it."

Taury: "Good, 'cause where you came from is a lot simpler an answer."

Markus: "Yes, well." 

Loyal: [Laughs] 

Markus: "But, well, there are those who still share some of the blood today, but where we all originated from, that's largely lost or at the bottom of the ocean."

Taury: "You say 'we'? Who do you mean when you say 'we'?"

Markus: "My heritage, those like me." 

Taury: "Right?" 

Markus: "Do you not- Oh, sorry, I'm accustomed to people recognizing-"

Loyal: "I had, I noticed that you weren't exactly human, just, but I didn't know exactly what you are."

Taury: "I'm used to not asking those kinds of questions."

Markus: "'Not human' isn't quite the way to put it. My blood seems to have drawn, well, Azlanti heritage, as it were. So there are those like me whose blood apparently dates back to, to a place that was lost in Starfall. But, as I said, most of that is lost, ruins, or at the bottom of the ocean. Many of the main ruins have been explored already, not much new to find, and, well, my companion doesn't do well on ships. So-"

Taury: "Most people don't do well on ships." And she laughs.

Loyal: "I can't say the ride over with was enjoyable."

Markus: "I wouldn't have thought a creature that can fly would worry too much about the rocking of the boat, but apparently, it makes him seasick. So, I sought their contemporaries. Thassilon was, some say, an offshoot. I'm not entirely sure that's correct, but at the very least, they were contemporaries of Azlant. And, well, learning what we can of the timeline, there are other reasons I study it still, but that's the why I started."

Taury: "Do you know your parents?"

Markus: "Oh, yes, yes. Know that- The blood sometimes skips generations, sometimes it doesn't."

Taury: "So they are not like you."

Markus: "I, I don't know."

Taury: "But you are different?"

Markus: "Hmm, it was a long time ago, I haven't seen them in years. I think maybe my father was similar, but I was young, so I can't be certain. And I never got to have the conversation with them as an adult."

Taury: "Yes, sometimes life is like that."

Loyal: "Yeah, I understand that."

Markus: "Oh, I hope they're still alive, but, well, at this point-"

Taury: "Well, in that regard, we are more similar than you think."

Markus: "Really? Yeah, well, life gets complicated sometimes."

Loyal: "That's for sure. That's certainly for sure."

Taury: "Loyal, you better keep that thing away from me."

Loyal: "It's not with me right now. Don't worry."

Taury: "Have you fed it? Does it eat?"

Loyal: "I, I think it- I mean, we mentioned earlier, I think it drinks blood, which is less reassuring, but-"

Taury: "Perhaps don't say that too loudly in here."

Loyal: "Yeah. I can command it, is what I learned."

Taury: "It sits and stays and rolls over?"

Loyal: "I don't know about the 'roll over' part, but it sits and stays, yes."

Taury: "Can it bite on command?"

Loyal: "I would imagine so, I'm not really sure right now."

Taury: "Have you named it?" And she looks incredibly uncomfortable as she asks that question.

Loyal: "No."

Taury: "Should, should, should we name it? Is it a naming thing?"

Loyal: "I don't know. It's a lot, I don't know what I'm going to do with that thing. It doesn't seem aggressive."

Markus: "Do you know what it is?"

Loyal: "Based on the conversation from earlier, I think Ishmael mentioned some sort of plant or vine of some sort that subsists off blood, but this one is wrong, clearly."

Markus: "But that understands you and obeys you?" 

Loyal: "Yeah."

Taury: "Well, then we absolutely should name it! Otherwise, when we speak of it, we're going to look awful strange to the people of Sandpoint, and that is saying something because you've met the people of Sandpoint!" And she just sinks back and another sip.

Loyal: "On the topic of heritage from earlier, there is something I would like to share with everyone, but I'd rather be- have the entire group be here for that, 'cause it doesn't seem like Morana or Ishmael are with us right now. Where are they?"

Markus: "Ishmael got a little-"

Taury: "Upset?"

Markus: "I was thinking more 'frustrated' is probably better?"

Taury: "'Upset', we'll go with 'upset', he was upset. He sulked out the door. He'll be back, I'm sure."

Loyal: "It's just a conversation that I'd rather not have twice."

Taury: And Taury starts poking at Fenwarin, asleep on the tabletop. 

Fenwarin: "Mmm-hmmm." 

Loyal: [Laughs]

Taury: She starts to, like, pour whatever's left of his drink, like just trickle it on, like, the back of his neck.

Fenwarin: "Aaagh! What was that?"

Taury: "Yes, I think perhaps, Loyal, Fenwarin is unreachable at the moment."

Loyal: "Yeah, so probably best to have this conversation tomorrow."

Taury: "Perhaps."

Fenwarin: "What saren soneration [Drunk and incoherent] tomorrow?"

Loyal: "Ah, don't worry about it, Fenwarin, we'll get there when they get there."

Taury: "We're going to Habe's Sanatorium tomorrow Fen!"

Fenwarin: "No! No!"

Taury: "Make sure to wear your good clothes."

Fenwarin: "No!"

Taury: "Yes. Come on."

Fenwarin: "Nah, nah, I'm not going anywhere!"

Taury: "Come on," and she picks him up to bring him up to his room.

Fenwarin: "I don't want to go to Salorium!"

Taury: Literally carries him, "We're going to the Salorium."

Fenwarin: "No, no, no."

Taury: "We could even go to the Sanatorium!"

Fenwarin: "No."

Taury: "Yeah, yeah."

Fenwarin: "I'd rather drown!" 

Loyal: [Laughs]

Taury: "Well, that might be an option!"

Fenwarin: "Good!"

Taury: "We'll see how hungover you are tomorrow."

Fenwarin: "I'll hang wherever I want, thank you." 

All: [Laugh]

Taury: I'd imagine they're up the stairs at this point, this is probably the conversation leading to the stairs. [Laughs]

GM: As Taury and Fenwarin are leaving, one of the city guard comes in and, seeing Loyal and Markus at the table, approaches you swiftly, "Um, I need you to gather your group. I've only been able to find you two right now. The sheriff wants to speak with you about something, supposedly urgently. Can you gather them all and meet at the town hall?"

Loyal: Loyal kind of sighs, "I never get a break, do we?

Markus: "Can this wait until tomorrow?"

Loyal: "Is it urgent?"

GM: "I don't know, you would have to talk to the sheriff. And when you're doing that, you'll already be there, so-" He shrugs.

Loyal: "I suppose it is urgent."

Markus: "Yes. OK, can you take a message back to the sheriff, please?"

GM: "My task was to find you and relay the message. I have relayed the message."

Markus: "Very well, but you might want to let the sheriff know that it will take us a little while because certain members of our group are, indisposed."

GM: "As soon as you can meet him, meet him. Just get your group together and go talk to him at the town hall as soon as you get a chance, please and thank you!" He salutes and then realizes he's saluting you for no real reason and just turns and walks away shaking his head.

Loyal: [Laughs] This fucking guy! This fucking guy!

Taury: [Laughs] I love this guy!

Loyal: It's like we said, "enjoy your meal", he's like "you too", and then he's like "Oh shit!" [Laughs]

Taury: It's like he read it off the back of his hand, and then when he was asked a question, he was like, "Oh shit!"

Loyal: It's smudged.

Taury: "I didn't prepare for this!" [Laughs]

Markus: "Loyal?" 

Loyal: "Yeah?" 

Markus: "Know any concoctions that can help Fen?"

Loyal: "I might. I'll see what I can do."

Markus: "Thanks."

Loyal: "Yeah." There's so many alchemical creations that I don't know if there's a thing that ends drunkenness, there probably is. There's one that ends hangover?

Ishmael : There is.

GM: Yeah.

Loyal: OK.

Fenwarin: [Laughs]

GM: Maybe it's a potion that does it?

Loyal: It might be Lesser restoration that does it?

Taury: Can we prestidigitate him? [Laughs]

GM: [Laughs] You whip up something in 15 minutes to 30 minutes, however long it takes you to brew the concoction.

Markus: I'm assuming that Morana and Ishmael are not resurfacing during that time?

GM: They have been contacted by a different guard who caught them out on the streets. 

Markus: Hmm-hmm. 

GM: So, quick question for you two: Hearing that message, would you have returned to the Rusty Dragon to get them or gone straight to the town hall on your own?

Morana: Probably would have gone straight to the town hall.

Ishmael : They can find their way or they'll get lost, and they'll just get lost!

Taury: That's the most Morana thing ever! 'Ah, fuck em!' 

Loyal: Ah, hmm.

GM: Ok, good! While the group at the Rusty Dragon is making a concoction to get Fen back in action-

Taury: Don't like how you phrased that, don't like that.

GM: Yeah?

Markus: Markus will also cast a spell during the interim, but carry on.

GM: OK. While all that's going on, you two arrive at the town hall and go up to a private meeting chamber where it's just you and the sheriff all alone for a good 15, 20 minutes before the others will arrive.

Loyal: Uh-oh! 

GM: You enter the room and the sheriff looks up, "Ah, thank you for coming. Have a seat? Are the others not with you?"

Morana: "They were not."

Ishmael : "I mean, they're probably still bickering, or sulking and not talk- I-  Whatever!"

GM: "Right. Okay." Kind of taps his fingers on the table... "How are things?"

Morana: Morana just stares at him.

GM: I don't think we've had the pleasure of meeting? Morana I've met, but, ah, who are you?"

Ishmael : "Right, right." Ah, like, Ishmael will stand and extend a hand and just, ah, "Ishmael."

GM: "OK." 

Ishmael : And, like, I assume he takes the hand and shakes it, I guess? 

GM: Yeah. 

Ishmael : Will save! No uh-

GM: He does not get a Will save.

Ishmael : He doesn't? [Gasps] He dies! He just dies! He just turns to ash!

All: [Laugh]

Ishmael : Yeah! [Explosion sound effect] Yeah! Oh, they think they get Will saves? Don't know the half of it! I'm sorry. Ishmael will go, "Yeah, Ishmael, ah-"

GM: "Hmm. Pleasure to meet you. Wasn't there a dire rat or something with your group?" looking at Morana.

Morana: "He left ages ago." 

GM: "Did he?" 

Morana: "Yeah. He hasn't been in multiple meetings we've been in with you."

GM: "Hmm."

Ishmael : "Are you Ok?"

GM: "I'll, I'll try to pay more attention to that."

Ishmael : "I, I-" Like, Ishmael will put up a hand, like, "I'm sorry, what? What? You'll try to pay more atten-? You're the sherr-!"

Morana: "Ah, in, tsh, ah, jin, in, im! I'm sure he'll have all of the success he's had all of this time so far!"

Ishmael : "You're-? I-"

GM: "I wish your former companion success as well, yes."

Ishmael : "Like, how- How do you-? Hmm."

Morana: "Don't ask, it'll hurt less."

Ishmael : "You're just precious aren't you?"

GM: "Things will become clearer in a moment as soon as the rest come here. I don't want to have to explain this twice."

Ishmael : "Sure you're not going to have to?"

GM: "Yes, because I'm only going to say at once when everyone's gathered, were you not just listening? I feel I was very clear about that."

Morana: "We were paying attention as well as you do."

Fenwarin: Ooh-hoo-hoo, my God!

Loyal: Wow! [Laughs]

Ishmael : Like, Ishmael will just, kind of like, give Morana, like, a high five, just-

Taury: We're the world's worst heroes! Oh my God! The worst, the literal worst!

Ishmael : [Laughs] Ishmael will go like, "Yeah, so, yeah, we kind of dealt with your goblin problem and, yeah," like, we'll hold up the goblin chief's head, just go, like, "Killed him. They, the rank broke, like, killed their god and then their boss", and then hold up the heads in order. "Just, so that's all good, I guess."

GM: "It's a very macabre collection you have there. Is that a hobby?"

Ishmael : "Nah, I get bored."

GM: "So you make a habit of doing this?" 

Ishmael : "Sometimes." 

GM: "Can I ask that you at least carry them in a bag, preferably a waterproof one, so the blood doesn't leak out and scare the citizenry and whatnot? You know, that would be bad."

Ishmael : "But the blood's already leaked out, man! This happened like a day ago!"

Morana: "I mean, sometimes you deal with leadership that has to see physical evidence before they understand the progress that people have made."

Loyal: [Laughs] Holy fuck!

GM: "It's unfortunate!"

Ishmael : "Yeah."

Morana: "Truly, truly it is."

GM: "People should just take you at your word, right? Yes."

Ishmael : "So, I consider these conversation starters, you know, so why would I hide them?"

GM: "That's a hell of a conversation starter!"

Ishmael : "Thank you."

Morana: "Well, sometimes it takes overt things for people to follow conversation."

Loyal: [Laughs]

Ishmael : "Yes."

GM: "We need more clear communicators like you."

Loyal: [Laughs]

Ishmael : "If only the world worked that way!"

Morana: "You know, I have never heard you say anything more true and on point?"

Ishmael : "It brings a tear to my eye! Just, oh, oh." Ishmael wipes away nothing, just-

GM: "Any idea how long the others are going to be, this-?"

Ishmael : "Oh, I don't know."

GM: "It's a pleasure talking to you but I don't want to waste time. No, no offense."

Morana: "I, um-"

Ishmael : "None taken, I guess, but, ah, as for how long it will take them, I don't know, they might get lost, I-"

Morana: "As I have reminded people multiple times in the years that I've been in town, I am not a soothsayer."

Ishmael : "You've been here for years? I, I'm, I'm sorry! I-"

Morana: "Oh, so am I."

GM: "Oh, you don't like your, your stay here?"

Ishmael : [Sniggers] "It's a lovely place, it's peaceful, simple, simple!"

GM: "That's, that's how we like it."

Morana: "The tenure of some people whose job's in this town has been less than, ah-"

Ishmael : "Ideal?"

Morana: "I don't want to say 'sparkling', 'effervescent' is not quite the word... Let's just say I could give less than effusive praise."

GM: "I assume you're referring to how Lonjiku and how all that stuff worked out, yeah? It's a hard thing to hear!"

Morana: "Yes, let's, let's go with that! It will cause some people less pain." 

Ishmael : [Sniggers]

GM: "Hmm." He's nodding. [Laughs]

Ishmael : Like, Ishmael will then slowly just start to wave a hand in front of the face to see if he's actually, like, see if he's actually there or if he's just checked out and, just kind of, staring blankly again. Like, 'cause I feel like he just does that a lot, just-

GM: "Why, why are you waving your hand in my face? It's a very rude thing to do! Do you like it when I do it to you?" And he kind of waves his very vigorously in front of you, "Huh? You like that?!"

Ishmael : "Well-" 

All: [Laugh]

GM: "Don't do that to people, it's rude!"

Taury: I love the sheriff. I love the sheriff so much!

Morana: "Sometimes you have to make sure someone's senses are still working."

Ishmael : "Yeah, I mean, I could have held a mirror up underneath your nose to see if you- Right, never mind! I'm sorry. Right, anyway."

Loyal: And then we walk in.

GM: If you want to?

Ishmael : I mean, you're-

GM: I could keep this going for a while! [Laughs]

Ishmael : Right!

GM: Honestly!

Ishmael : Oh my God, I love this! This is 10 out of 10! Like-

Morana: I could do this all day!

Ishmael : Yeah, it's so good! Just-

Taury: I love how this kind of attention, Ishmael is like 'this is fine', but in the group, the tension's like, 'oh no I can't, I can't deal with this'.

Ishmael : It's because, because he has to deal with the group on a daily basis.

Loyal: Yeah, and also fuck this guy!

Ishmael : And, you know, has to run in to protect these people, 

Loyal: And also, fuck this guy!

Ishmael : And, you know, hopefully not get murdered by these- Anyway. So yeah, Ishmael will be like, "So, how long have you been sheriff here? Because you're doing a wonderful job!"

GM: "Oh, going on about 6 years now." 

Ishmael : "I bet!"

Morana: "God, has it only been that long? Feels like decades."

GM: "I know, I know. Terrible things keep happening, it's just it weighs on you, makes it feel longer than it should be."

Ishmael : "Hmm, I see."

Morana: Morana looks like she's about to say something and then she just shakes her head. 

Ishmael : "Right!"

GM: "You know, it's one of those jobs that you think you're going to love doing and you really want to have, and then you get the job and it's nothing like you expected, and it's just, it's terrible. Terrible!"

Ishmael : "You don't say? Oh!"

GM: "Yeah, my brother always told me that I didn't want to do this and that I should help the family out more with the family business."

Ishmael : "And the family business?"

GM: "I'm like, 'No, I'm going to, I'm going to-' Yeah, they run the White Deer. But I'm like, 'No, I'm going to be a guard and I'm going to help serve the people and protect the people, there are people we should be with them and help them and stuff!' And nope, nope, this is the thanks I get! People treat you terrible. Don't, don't notice the contributions you do."

Ishmael : "Such a tragedy!"

GM: "It's probably much the same for you as the heroes, I'm sure! You do a lot that people just don't know about and it's not right! You should be more appreciated."

Loyal: [Laughs] Oh my God!

Ishmael : "So, so, so tragic! Just, you should get some kind of medal or thanks- Or sash! Sash! I think you'd wear a sash pretty good."

GM: "I don't need a sash. It's a thankless job, and I'm fine with it being thankless."

Ishmael : "Really? I mean-"

GM: "The less the people know what I do for them, the safer they are, and that's fine."

Ishmael : "Because peace of mind, right? For the greater good?"

GM: "Exactly! This one gets it! I like you."

Ishmael : "Yeah. Yes. Feeling is-" Ishmael will look to Morana just, "the same. Just, yeah."

GM: "Mmm."

Ishmael : [Sniggers]

Morana: "He likes you. Imagine the choices in your life that have led you to such high praise."

Ishmael : "Oh, that's a lot, that's a lot! Me being a hero, it's just, it's just tedious tedious work, just-"

GM: The sheriff looks a little puzzled at that, like he might have caught on to that jab!

Morana: She just stares at the sheriff evenly, after she finishes talking.

Loyal: Innocent eyes.

Ishmael : [Laughs] Innocent eyes, Sense motive! No.

GM: And that's when the rest of the group can come in. [Laughs]

Loyal: [Laughs] Yeah.

GM: Morana looking innocently at the sheriff who looks a little puzzled. [Laughs] And Ishmael kind of in thought.

Morana: He has this look on his face like he's not quite sure if he's been roasted or not! 

GM: Yeah!

Ishmael : Yeah, like, I assume the door opens and they're very, like, "Oh, oh, oh, the children are here, I mean everybody else. Hello."

Markus : "Really? You're going to use that term in public?" 

Morana: "Let's just, just, let's be here as little time as possible. I've been here long enough already."

GM: "I agree."

Ishmael : "Six years it seems."

GM: "Let's keep this as short as we can. Everyone grab a seat please." 

Markus : "Fair enough."

GM: "This is, ah, going to be a heavy discussion."

Morana: "This will be one of the few times I agree with him."

Taury: And Taury doesn't sit down.

GM: "Hmm. Now, first, let me thank you again for all you've done for Sandpoint. It's fortunate that you've proven yourself so capable because we've a problem I think you can help us with. A problem I wish I didn't have to involve anyone with, but one that needs dealing with before the situation gets any worse."

Markus : Sorry, just to be clear, this is the sheriff talking to us on his own?

GM: Yeah, you're not in the mayor's office, you're in another side room of the town hall building for a private conversation.

Taury: A private audience with the sheriff?

Markus : Yeah, last time he talked to us, he expressed certain sentiments.

Ishmael : Oh?

Markus : Ah, this - Sorry, out of character - last time he talked to us. A Sense motive.

Morana: Actually, yeah. 

Markus : How genuine is he being right now?

Loyal: I think I know what your Sense motive is.

Ishmael : Like, I- Hmm. I Have to know, just-

Taury: Fuck it!

Ishmael : I don't, I don't know shit right now, I'm just losing my shit silently, just-

Loyal: And let's roll. Yeah, let's roll. There we go. There we go.

Taury: I don't want to be left out, I'm going to do it too.

GM: [Laughs] All right, those of you that got a 10 and above, which is everyone but Ishmael.

Ishmael : Yeah.

Loyal: [Laughs] D9?

Taury: You could say he was 'de-nined'.

Ishmael : Ha, ha, ha, ha!

GM: Oh, nice! You may sit in a corner.

Ishmael : Negative 1 level, just- 

All: [Laugh]

Taury: You're welcome.

GM: You can all tell that he's being very genuine. Those that got a 20 or above, which is Markus and Loyal, both of you are acutely aware that all of the previous out-of-sorts-ness and stuff that has been going on with the sheriff, his general, like, lack of attention to things, is because of what he's about to tell you now. 

Loyal: Oh.

Markus : Right, OK. 

Loyal: OK.

GM: "Put simply, we have a murderer in our midst, one who I fear has only begun his work. Some of you doubtlessly remember the late unpleasantness; this town nearly tore itself apart in fear of the Chopper slayings, as they went unanswered. I am afraid we might have something similar brewing now. Last night, the murderer struck at the sawmill. There are two victims and they're, well, they're in pretty gruesome shape. The bodies were discovered by one of the mill workers, a man named Ebor Thorn. And by the time the men had arrived on the scene, me included, a crowd of curious gawkers had already sprung up. I've got my men stationed there now, keeping the mill locked down, but the thing that bothers me isn't the fact that we have two dead bodies inside, it's the fact that this is actually the second set of murders we've had in the last few days. I come to you for help in this matter. My men are good, but they're also very green. They were barely able to handle themselves against the goblins and what we're facing now is an evil far worse than goblins. I need help, but I'm afraid you'll need help too. You see, I'm afraid that this particular murderer knows one of you as well." The sheriff then pulls out a bloodstained scrap of parchment and passes it to the nearest person.

Ishmael : I guess that'd be, like, Ishmael or Morana, right? 

GM: Yeah.

Morana: Probably.

Ishmael : Like, Ishmael will extend a hand, just-

GM: As you look at the parchment, you see a name written in blood on the outside of this folded piece of parchment. That name is 'Taury'.

Loyal: Oh shit!

Fenwarin: Oh man!

GM: Inside, when you open it up is a short message, and it reads: "You will learn to love me, desire me in times as she did, give yourself to the pact and it shall all end".

Morana: ... Slowly looks at Taury.

Ishmael : Yeah, just-

GM: It is signed, "Your lordship".

Fenwarin: I think we all turn to Taury right now. [Laughs]

GM: And that's where we'll end!

Fenwarin: Oh my God!

Taury: [Sniggers]

Loyal: Oh God! Oh no!

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/ .