Wayward Expeditions - Rise of the Runelords - Episode 04
 	Intro: For much of written history world events followed chartered routes. Oracles and seers mapped out the future in the stars above and their prophecies always gave a reliable view of the ages to come. Until a god died a century ago. No one saw that coming. And now the old prophecies are failing, oracles go mad and seers desperately tried to account for the loss of the future. While some cry out that the world is at an end, they've been doing so for a hundred years now and the world is still here, it's just unclear where things are going. The future of Golarian is open, ready to receive the triumphs and failures of a new generation of heroes. Welcome to Rise of the Runelords!
 	
GM: Fenwarin and Deadeye, you are both getting ready to leave town. You've been asked to go visit Habe's Sanatorium just a couple miles outside of town to go pick up a package and bring it back.

Fenwarin: "And this is completely without danger or anything, right? Just pick up and go?"

Deadeye: "Yes of course. This is just a package, what could go wrong?"

Fenwarin: "Nothing."

Deadeye: Quick question. Did the guy tell us his name?

GM: Oh, the guy that sent you on this little trip?

Deadeye: Yeah the guy that hired us. Did he say what his name was?

GM: Yeah its Jubrayl Vhisky.

Deadeye: Ok, just making sure we that before we left.

GM: Yeah.

Deadeye: Jubrayl Vhiski.

GM: So Gerbil, Jubrayl. I am not going to be able to pronounce his name. Mr. Vhiski.

Deadeye: There you go.

GM: How about that? He has sent you on this mission. You have no idea what it's about, where you're going really. As you're heading out of town. Would you like...? I'm suddenly like trying to tell you... Do you want to, like gather some information about it so you know what you're getting into or where you're headed? Or are you just gonna head down the road?

Fenwarin: "What do you think Deadeye? Should we head out or see if anyone else knows about this?"

Deadeye: "We should ask if anybody knows anything about this place."

Fenwarin: "Yeah. What do you think? Should we go to the Hagfish and see if the bartender knows anything?"

Deadeye: We can try there first. That guy seems to know a lot.

Fenwarin: Yeah, let's try that.

GM: All right, so you head over to the Hagfish. You walk in and Jargie greets you, "Hey! Hey, boys, how can I help you? You here for lunch grub?"

Fenwarin: "Oh! No, not at the moment, no. I was just wondering if you knew anything about the sanatorium, a couple of miles out of town?"

GM: "Oh, yeah. Is is run by a guy named Erin Habe, expert on disease and mental derangement, supposedly some sort of hoity toity doctor from Magnimar, came out here a few years ago, spent his own fortune to set up this place, said something about, that he hoped to find privacy to continue his research in how to cure various dementias without worrying folk."

Deadeye: "Do you know anything about this doctor?"

GM: "No, other than he came up here a few years back, built that place out there. He keeps to himself mostly. About once a week or so, he sends a cart in to get supplies, foods, rations, that sort of thing."

Fenwarin: "Ok. Is there anything we should be careful o? Around the sanatorium? Any Creatures or anything?"

Deadeye: "Any dangers?"

GM: "Any Creatures out that way? Sure, there's all sorts of Creatures out in the hinterlands, but you're not going too far and you'll be pretty close to the farms and that sort of stuff keeps most of the wildness out. So you shouldn't be too bad. Maybe a goblin or two, goblin dog, Sandpoint Devil if you're really unlucky! Ha ha ha!"

Deadeye:  "Who?"

GM: "Youre not laughing. That was a joke lad's."

Fenwarin: "Oh, ha ha,"

Deadeye: "Yeah,"

Fenwarin: "Oh, yeah,"

Deadeye: "that thing,"

Fenwarin: "Yeah."

Fenwarin: "Yeah. That's a good joke."

Deadeye: "Of course."

Fenwarin: "We don't want to run into that,"

GM: "Yes,"

Fenwarin: "Yeah, that's, that's true."

GM: "If it existed."

Deadeye: "Oh, of  Course, yes. So I think that... probably that's it for now."

GM: "Oh if that's all you need. Pleasure to be of service to you."

Deadeye: "Yeah just looking for some information, that's all."

Fenwarin: "Yeah. Thank you. Thank you. That helps."

Deadeye: "I guess we should head out then?"

Fenwarin: "Yeah, I think we should head out. It's feels like the right time."

Deadeye: "It shouldn't be that big a deal? Right?"

Fenwarin: "No problem."

Deadeye: "It's otherworld like, it'll be fine." And I think we'll start heading out toward the road.

GM: You make your way down Water Street, towards the market and then pass there down Market Street, cross The old Sandpoint Bridge and then onto the Lost Coast Road.

Fenwarin: Alright

GM: Taury and Morana. When we last left you, you were doing what exactly?

Morana: Morana was still having tea.

Taury: I was meditating in the attic room and Markus had just left.

GM: So what I'm hearing is not much is going on and I should switch scenes again. 

Taury: Probably not.

Morana: I can't think of anything I'd be doing.

GM: Alright.

Taury: Unless the ghosty whosty decides to say hello.

GM: I don't know what you're talking about. Enjoy your meditation, and tea. Markus. You've worked your way up towards the north coast and you're looking out over the water on the cliff edge on the north end of town. What are you doing?

Markus: Okay. Markus came up here with a goal in mind. He's basically looking for a place where there's a reasonable breeze. So on top of the cliff. And when he finds a spot that suits his liking, he's going to address one of the pockets in his large coat. "Hey, I'm going to need you awake for this. Come on. Come on. Yes I know, you're Comfy, come on!" And with that he encourages his little pet to get out and join him. And then he is going to cast a spell. He goes through the words of motions, essentially calling out to the wind and hopefully seeing if it will respond.

GM: Okay. As you cast the spell immediately you're inundated with sights and smells and the roar of a crowd, getting snippets of conversations here and there, scenes flash by your face as if you're watching them all, but they're all speeding by too fast to really identify anything going on.

Markus: Mm hmm. He's going to try and focus and pick out a couple of different things, if I can find something. Okay. The first thing he's going to try and pick out is, any sort of mentions or anybody talking about anything to do with with hauntings in town.

GM: Okay. As the scene flies by and you focus your mind in on on this one topic, suddenly you get the vision of a small child playing in an alley with a very dusty doll, talking to no one. You first think they're talking to the doll, but they're not looking at the doll when they're talking.

Markus: Okay.

GM: The conversation the child is having is about what game to play.

Markus: Mechanically, do I need to roll to pick up more details?

GM: Yes, you need to make a Diplomacy check.

Markus: Or a Perception, because that's explicitly allowed by the spell. 

GM: Correct. 

Markus: Yeah I'll go with Perception.

GM: Alright. As you focus in more in trying to pick up the details of what's going on, give me a Concentration check.

Markus: Ooh. Okay.

GM: Okay. You're almost brought back to your own senses an awareness as some of the sea spray splashes up into your face. But you manage to hold onto your concentration on the spell and you see for a split second. Another child with the child that's holding the doll. But as quickly as you notice their presence, they're gone again.

Markus: Okay. And... that's interesting. For the second thing he wanted to research, he wanted to find out if anyone in town was a student of alchemy at all.

GM: Alright

Markus: Either a crafter or an actual outright alchemist or anybody who's known for dealing those sorts of things.

GM: Your mind focuses in on this and quickly you receive flashes of sights and sounds of descriptions of Pillbug. These sights and sounds are telling you his name is Pillbug and he runs and owns, operates Pillbug's Pantry, which is the local apothecary shop. Go ahead and give me a Perception check, since you're not doing Diplomacy... All right. Just as you're about to end your spell because you believe you have the information you want. A sudden flash of information comes by. A rumor about him that someone's heard that he sells poisons and is into some sort of nefarious dealings.

Markus: Okay. Interesting.

GM: That's all for your spell correct?

Markus: Yeah, after that the duration expires. Was that enough to actually get me directions to his shop?

GM: Yes.

Markus: Right. Okay. Markus will let his little friend go back to the comfort of the coat and start making his way towards the Pantry.

GM: Alright. A quick check in with Taury and or Morana, either of you feel like doing anything at the moment or continuing with your meditation and tea?

Taury: Absolutely continuing to meditate.

GM: Alright.

Morana: I'm still considering what I could do next.

GM: Okay.

GM: Fenwarin and Deadeye, you're starting down the road. The city, well town, let's be honest, is still within view. When you hear shrill barking.

Deadeye: Great, can I tell where its coming from?

GM: Perception check... All right. It seems to be coming from.... the town somewhere behind you.

Deadeye.: "Do you hear that?"

Fenwarin: "Yeah, I heard that. Is that coming towards us?"

Deadeye: "It's coming from behind us." Can I tell if it's really closer.

GM: It doesn't seem to be, no.

Deadeye: "It must be someone's dog?"

Fenwarin: "Yeah, should we just keep going forward and ignore that?"

Deadeye: "Yeah, let's keep moving. We'll keep an eye out."

Fenwarin: "All right. Nice." Yeah, we keep moving.

Deadeye: We keep walking.

GM: Ok. You walk down the road across the other creek, Boggy Creek, close to the mountains. And within a few paces. You can see the pyre within sight. This ancient Varisian site used to be used for a lot of local rituals and customs, including in the past the yearly Swallowtail Festival. But it looks like the pyre hasn't been used in several decades.

Fenwarin: "That's kind of interesting, should we take a closer look?"

Deadeye: How far away is it?

GM: Several hundred feet. You can just make it out on the cliff edge right by the sea.

Deadeye: Is there like a road to it?

GM: A warn footpath, it's a little overgrown now.

Deadeye: "If you want to go look, we've got time."

Fenwarin: "Yeah, it looked kind of interesting, so maybe we should take a closer look?"

Deadeye: "Up to you, if you wanna go look at it I'll go." So we walk over towards it, get a closer look.

GM: Alright. As you approach, it's just this really old bonfire site that has crude benches carved from old trees set on stumped-like log cuts. It looks like it used to be a big festival spot, but it's completely overgrown and disused. Now, the spot where the pyre actually took place, the big bonfire, it's still scorched and nothing's grown back there. But it's hard to tell how long it's been disused. If you want to know that, give me Knowledge Nature. Otherwise, there's nothing really of any interest here.

Fenwarin: Ok. I'll find out just for, just for fun.

GM: Alright. Both of you are looking at the plants around and the growth, and you can't really tell how long it's been disused. It could be mere months. It could be centuries. You're not seeing anything that stands out with any age determination for you.

Deadeye: I wonder why they stopped using it.

GM: You continue your way south along Cougar Creek. And make your way across the area known as the Ashen Moor. The three moors that stretch through most of the hinterlands consist of poor quality soil in stony ground, the northern most is the Ashen Moor. It's a stretch of low lying land that slopes gradually to the west towards Hag's Plummet. On the far side of Brinestump marsh from Ashen Moor lies the Bleaklow Moor, a higher altitude swath of land said to be infested by ghouls below its barren expanse. The Whisperwood Moor, the largest of the three, lies to the southeast and is often shrouded in a fog, well late into the day, goblin dogs, wolves, worgs and worse, have been said to hunt here, often coming north to prey on the livestock of the outlying farmlands. You heard as much from the proprietor... Jargie, (I blanked on his name his name), you heard as much from Jargie. So you keep heading down through the Ashen Moor crossing Cougar Creek again. And arrive just outside of Habe's sanatorium. There's a sign above the entryway that reads "The saintly haven of respite". This location, better known locally as Habe's sanatorium, is run by Erin Habe.

Deadeye: What is the exterior of the building look like?

GM: It's a two, maybe three storey, it's hard to tell. There's dormer's in the roofs like there is a third storey, but it could just be an attic. But its at least a two storey building, decent size, almost the same size as the town hall back in Sandpoint.

Deadeye: "This guy must have had some money."

Fenwarin: "It looks pretty cozy for what it is."

Deadeye: "This couldn't have been cheap. Well, I guess we should try and get this package or whatever."

Fenwarin: "Yup." I'll knock on the door.

GM: After a few moments, the door opens and this man opens the door. Erin Habe, "Yes? How can I help you?"

Fenwarin: "Oh, hello, yes, my name's Fenwarin and this is Deadeye."

GM: "Which one of you will be admitted today?"

Fenwarin: "Oh none of us. It's not that kind of thing. Sorry."

GM: "Oh. Making arrangements for a loved one. I understand."

Fenwarin: "No, no. We were sent here for an assignment from Sandpoint."

GM: "Oh, what assignment?"

Fenwarin: "Yes, a Jubrayl sent us to retrieve a package."

GM: "Oh. Oh yes. Come in, please follow me."

Fenwarin: "Well, thank you."

GM: He takes you in to the entryway, into a side, like, coat room, where there's a large trunk. He gestures at the trunk, "This is the package that he requires."

Deadeye: When you say large, How big?

GM: It's about four and a half feet long, two and a half feet tall and about as wide as it is tall.

Deadeye: So as big as me. Cool.

GM: Pretty much, yeah.

Fenwarin: And how heavy is it?

GM: Are you both trying to lift it up or just one of you?

Deadeye: Well, I feel like I can try.

Fenwarin: "Are you strong Deadeye? I'm not very strong."

Deadeye: "I, not really."

Fenwarin: "Well if worst comes to worst, we will have to carry, both of us."

GM: "Yes, yes, perhaps if you work together, it will be easier on your backs."

Deadeye: "I guess I'll try to help."

GM: Alright. One of you will be the 'Main' for a Strength check and the other will be attempting to 'Aid-another', which will give a +2 bonus. Who Feels more confident?

Deadeye: I don't feel very cofindent.

Fenwarin: I guess I could try and be the Main then, and see how it goes.

Deadeye: We'll give it try.

Fenwarin: Ok, so I'll just roll that one then?

GM: Yeah. Just roll the Strength check.

Fenwarin: Oooh hoo hoo!

GM: All right.

Deadeye: Natural Twenty!

GM: Deadeye, go ahead and roll strength as well to assist.

Deadeye: Oh this is gonna be good.

GM: All right, you succeed in assisting. So you're carrying your load of the weight, but Fenwarin seems to be having no problem with this chest whatsoever. Deadeye, you're struggling a bit. This is a lot heavier than you were thinking it was going to be.

Deadeye: Yeah. He did say package I assumed small package.

Fenwarin: Yeah me too! Ha ha!

Deadeye: "Alright. Well, I think we've got this."

GM: "Oh, thank you. Have a safe trip back."

Fenwarin: "Yes, thank you. Should we tell Jubrayl something when we return? Do you have a message for him?"

GM: "Oh, no, just... just deliver the package. Oh, maybe. I've not heard from my contact that this is being delivered to in oh several weeks now. Have him send me word back when he makes the delivery of the package on if everything is still OK."

Fenwarin: "I see."

Deadeye: "We could do that."

Fenwarin: "May I ask you who the name of the contact is?"

GM: "No, you may not."

Fenwarin: (Laughs)

Deadeye: (Laughs)

Fenwarin: Can I try and persuade him or something?

GM: That would be a Diplomacy check.

Deadeye: Good luck with that.

Fenwarin: Well why not try it? Yeah. This is going to be bad... Ok. Maybe not.

GM: All right. Make your argument. We'll see what he says.

Fenwarin: "Now, I understand your, your reticence in this, I just, I just wanted to know the contact in case there was something else we needed to maybe pick up. Maybe this wasn't the only trip we were making, so it would help us as well. We could definitely use the coin, that's for sure."

GM: "You don't need to know who it is, but. If (stammers) mr. If Mr Vhiski needs more information, just tell him the current (stutters and stammers) habited, habitant, inhabitants, Oh, yes, inhabitant of Gruber's Hermitage. Maybe he might know more."

Fenwarin: "I see. Okay."

GM: "The gentleman enjoys his privacy. So it's not my place to give his name."

Fenwarin: "I understand. Yes."

GM: "Thank you for understanding. You may go." and he waves his hand.

Deadeye: Yeah, as he would.

GM: Feebly for you to leave.

Fenwarin: Shoo shoo!

Deadeye: Alright we get going.

Fenwarin: Yeah. We get going and we head back to Sandpoint, same road back.

Deadeye: Very slowly. 

Fenwarin: Yeah.(laughs)

GM: Ok. Markus. You have entered Pillbug's Pantry. Nestled at the base of a cliff and tucked between several old tenements. Nothing but a painting of a pill bug perched on a mushroom indicates this building is anything more than yet another home. The proprietor of the establishment is a short, rotund man named Aliver "Pillbug" Podiker. He is an accomplished herbalist, gardener and you suspect more. He appears to be of mixed Chelish and Varisian blood as you enter the store. "Oh, hey, welcome! What can I help you with today?"

Markus: "Well, as you might know, I'm not exactly a local here. The festival has drawn many people, it seems. Word about town is, that you deal in alchemical supplies and the like."

GM: "Certain."

Markus: "I see, and I take it you're all prepped for the festival tomorrow as well?"

GM: "Aye, but of course, they're going to release all those butterflies and it'll be fantastic."

Markus: "And you prepared for the aftermath of the festival?"

GM: "What cleaning? That, that's not my job."

Markus: "uh.."

GM: "Gorvi will take care of all the cleanup, Gorvi and his boys."

Markus: "No I was thinking more like, this is the aftermath of, or will be the aftermath of a giant party. And there are plenty of strangers and adventurous in town..."

GM: "Yep, yep, yep."

Markus: "Do you really not understand what I'm driving at?"

GM: "No, I don't think I do. You're not being very direct about it."

Markus: "Hangover cures?"

GM: "Oh, you need some alchemist kindness do you?"

Markus: "I was inquiring if you had sufficient supply."

GM: "Well, I can whip some up, no problem. Do you need them now?"

Markus: "No, I was..."

GM: "Have you started the party..."

Markus: "No, No, no. I was wondering if you might need somebody else to help you make them?"

GM: "Oh. Oh. Well..." he does some quick math on his fingers as he's thinking. "How much would you charge for your services in assisting me in producing some wares?"

Markus: "Well that would depend entirely on how long you needed the assistance for, would it not?"

GM: "Now, true, true."

Markus: "What time is the festival due to start?"

GM: "Oh they'll probably be gathering soon after breakfast, I think festivities are probably get underway right around noon or thereabouts, maybe a little earlier."

Markus: "Ok. And we've spent half the day, so maybe split over the two days, a total of eight hours work, a full day's wages."

GM: "Well."

Markus: "I could work for you directly, or I could produce the kindness for you to sell? Your choice."

GM: "I'm fine with that."

Markus: "Either?"

GM: "Your choice."

Markus: "How much would you be buying the kindness for?"

GM: "I wouldn't be buying them at all. I'd be supplying you with the ingredients to make it. And then you would be supplying me the finished product. So there would be no money exchanged there. You've proposed just your services to be paid for? No?"

Markus: "Ah, right. Yes, I was...(sighs)...hmmm..."

GM: "If you need the workbenches, well, please use mine."

Markus: "Oh, I have some tools available."

GM: "Well a traveling kit, nice. What's the quality on that?"

Markus: "Not brilliant, but it's what I work with most of the time. You have something better?"

GM: "Well, I have a full set, yes. For permanent installation. Not one of those shoddy traveling kits."

Markus: "Okay that Changes things."

GM: Mechanically, you would be getting a +2 bonus here, Craft Alchemy Check.

Markus: Yeah. Are we going with the downtime, real calculation for how much skilled work is?

GM: Skilled work typically goes for three silver a day.

Markus: "Yes, a full day's wages for a skilled alchemist. And I'll probably be able to produce with your lab, probably definitely eight, maybe nine."

GM: "Oh, wonderful."

Markus: "I assume you have sufficient parts, available, components and the like?"

GM: "Well, of course, yes. I have all the ingredients." 

Markus: "Excellent."

Deadeye.: "The vials and the the raw ingredients are everything you need. You'll just be my hands for today and it'll be much worth it."

Markus: "How late do you mind me working?"

GM: "I don't understand, the store will close around 9:00. Do you think you need more time?"

Markus: "Oh I was just thinking, what time you fire on everything tomorrow?"

GM: "Oh, I wasn't planning on opening at all tomorrow."

Markus: "Well, we wasted half a day. I'm going to spend a full day's worth of work. Obviously, I'll need to come back tomorrow or fit it in today. But I had another errand I wanted to run before I started working. Hence my question."

GM: He nods. His jowls shake as he nods. He seems to be lost in thought about something else. "Sounds good, sounds good. That'll be great."

Markus: Ok. Then I shall be back shortly. I'm sure it will be a pleasure working with you.

GM: "Oh, I look forward to it. Thank you."

Markus: With that he'll wave and wander out of the shop.

GM: Ok. Fenwarin and Deadeye. You're returning on your way back, behind you is the Ashen Rise, which was right behind the sanatorium.

Fenwarin: So it was up against the mountain? 

GM: Yeah.

Fenwarin: Ok.

GM: The Ashen Rise, which is a smaller of two limestone escarpments in the area, the so-called Ashen Rise, unlike Devil's Platter, it's larger, similar plateau. Ashen Rise is relatively safe. The only peril that explorers have reported to face around this area are flocks of stirges or uncommonly aggressive ravens and crows.

Deadeye: Oh it's great. So I guess we will still slowly make our way back.

GM: Alright. Taking the same route or you going to explore a little?

Fenwarin: I'm thinking since we're carrying this thing, we just head straight back the way we came.

Deadeye: Yeah, the same way we came.

GM: All right. As you're making your way across that river, Cougar Creek, it's not quite a river. The cargo in the trunk shifts. Go ahead and give me another Strength check to not drop this.

Deadeye: It's gonna be good.

Fenwarin: Oh! 

Deadeye: Oof!

Fenwarin: Wow! Ha Ha!

GM: All right. Deadeye you manage to maintain your grip as Fenwarin stumbles a bit from the shifting and loses his grip on the trunk. When it hits the ground you hear a slide and a thud inside.

Fenwarin: "Should we put it down and see what it is? I mean, just listen for it."

Deadeye: "I don't think our employer will appreciate that."

Fenwarin: "No, I don't think we should open it. Maybe we just listen for what that was, it felt like it moved."

Deadeye: I'm going to tap on it, and see if I hear anything.

GM: All right, give me a Perception check.

Deadeye: Lets see... twenty five.

GM: Twenty five, you tap on the chest and you can't quite make out what's in there. Nothing moves or responds to the tap at all. But it sounds like it's some large object in the chest. Yeah, lots of cloth or something. Maybe. Because it doesn't reverberate or echo. So the chest is pretty full whatever it is. And the resounding sound is kind of muffled, which makes it seem like there's cloth or some other soft material that's absorbing the sound.

Deadeye.: "Alright. Well, we should try to be more careful."

Fenwarin: "Yeah. Yeah, I'll, I'll try and get a firmer grip on it." Ok, so we try and pick it up and keep walking then.

Deadeye.: Yeah keep going.

GM: As you guys pick it up, go ahead in, both of you. Give me a Perception check... All right. Neither of you really notice anything out of the ordinary. You continue on your way back towards Sandpoint. Back across Cougar Creek and up by the pyre, rounding by the Raven Roost. The Raven Roost is a ragged range of broken hills, decorated here and there with isolated crops of eucalyptus, pepperwood and pine. Not a lot lives in this region apart from relatively harmless wild animals, your deer, your elk, rabbits, occasional boar. That sort of thing. You make it back to Sandpoint with no problem.

Deadeye: Guess we'll head to the uh I assume the Hogs whatever its called.

Fenwarin: Yeah. uh Mr. Whiskis?

Deadeye: Where we found the guy that place.

GM: The Fatmans Feedbag?

Deadeye: Yeah that guy.

Fenwarin: Yeah thats the place.

GM: Alright. That is number 42. Yes, 42.

Deadeye: "Lets just set this outside. You stay here with it, I'll go see if, our benefactor's in here."

Fenwarin: "Ok yeah." We set it down and I stand guard by it.

Deadeye: Yup and I'll go walk outside, and see if I see my friend.

GM: Yes, you do. Sitting at the same table, same position. Vhiski is talking with some other people and looks up as you enter. "Oh, come here." Waves you over.

Deadeye: I'll walk over to him.

GM: "So you uh, got the package?"

Deadeye: "I did. It's sitting outside with Fenwarin. You could have mentioned its size"

GM: "I guess it could have."

Deadeye: "Yeah that would have been nice because, you know its, like as big as me. So it was a bit tricky to get back, but we made it back."

GM: "Yeah, and that's the important thing, right? You made it back." He looks at the people sitting at other sides of him, nods. They get up and go outside. He reaches in his pockets and pulls out five silver and hands him over to you. "Thanks for your service. Let me know if you ever want to do any other work for me."

Deadeye: "Hold up. I believe we agreed on seven.”

GM: "I believe it was five."

Deadeye: "Well, I think you are mistaken. This is supposed to be split between me and my compatriot so..."

GM: "Yeah, a day's wages for you and a half a day's wages for him. I was nice and rounded up."

Deadeye: "I'm very certain we agreed on seven."

GM: Go ahead and give me a Diplomacy check.

Deadeye: Oh boy this is gonna be good. 18.

GM: "You know what, I like you. And you did bring me that. You didn't look in it or did you?"

Deadeye: "Nope, it's completely untouched.

GM: "All right." He pulls out two more coins and puts them in your hand.

Deadeye: "Thanks, appreciate that."

GM: "Uh huh."

Deadeye: I'll walk back out.

GM: Alright. As you walk out, Fenwarin, the two gentlemen have come and they've grabbed the the chest just as Deadeye is walking out.

Deadeye: I'll walk over to Fen. "Well, I managed to get what we agreed with, but it took a bit of finagling. I managed to get seven so."

GM: They pick up the chest and take it out to the docks, load it up onto a small ship.

Deadeye: "So, you know, since I would not have been able to carry this without you. I'll give you a bigger half, I'll give you four."

Fenwarin: "No it's Ok Deadeye. You take the four I'll take the three."

Deadeye: "You sure?"

Fenwarin: "Yeah I'm sure/"

Deadeye: "Okay." I'll hand over three.

GM: Go ahead and give me Perception checks, both of you... All right. Fenwarin, you notice where the trunk was setting when they picked it up. There's a bit of wetness on the dirt where it was, just on like one corner. Maybe when you dropped it, you broke the case a little bit, maybe? Something might have leaked out. Deadeye, you notice the same thing, but you also notice a couple spots on your pant legs. And on Fenwarin's pant legs, of the same stain.

Deadeye: "What is this?"

Fenwarin: What does it look like and what does it smell like?

GM: Perception.

Fenwarin: Ok.

GM: It's a dark viscous fluid. It smells a bit like copper.

Deadeye: Oh, oh! Well I think I know what that was.

Fenwarin: Is it kind of like ink or something? Does it easily come off?

GM: Do you like lick your thumb and try to wash it off and then...?

Fenwarin: Yeah, I basically just did lick test, basically.

Deadeye: I would lick my thumb too.

GM: All right. You like your thumb and try to smear it around. It does not come out easily. You think you're working the stain deeper into the fibers, when you go to lick your thumb again, you get a really intense metallic taste.

Deadeye: "Oh, I uh... Fen I think that might be blood."

Fenwarin: What type of creature has this dark, viscous... That just smells horrible too?

GM: Make a Heal check.

Fenwarin: Ah Jeez! Today's Crit fail!

Deadeye: First natural 1 today.

GM: Deadeye, how are you going to attempt to Heal check?

Deadeye: I'm going to try and see... 16.

GM: All right. You don't need to be trained for this. Deadeye, you are 100 percent convinced that's blood.

Deadeye: Oh, yeah.

GM: Specifically blood of somebody that has died recently. It's become that thick...

Deadeye: Yeah.

GM: ...coagulated.

Deadeye: "Yeah. Fenwarin this is definitely, uh, this is definitely blood of a recently departed."

Fenwarin: "So we were transporting a dead body all this way?"

Deadeye: "It would seem. You know, I almost wish I didn't know."

GM: Give me an Intelligence check, both of you.

Fenwarin: Ok. These rolls are Oh my God!

Deadeye: Really?

GM: Luckily, you don't need a high check for this. It instantly dawns on both of you. The body was not in a coffin. It was in a trunk. You did not take it to the chapel where the graveyard is for proper burial or disposal. They've taken it and put it onto a boat. And are currently, as you look up to see where they are, they are rowing out of the harbor.

Deadeye: "If anybody asks, I don't know that man in there."

Fenwarin: "Hope there wasn't someone important we just transported over here."

Deadeye: "Yeah it's a little worrying."

Fenwarin: "Just a little bit yeah."

Deadeye: "I don't think that was worth seven silver."

Fenwarin: "Shall we maybe get out of these stained clothes now?"

Deadeye: "Yeah. Are you saying somewhere in town?"

Fenwarin: "Yeah, I guess I could go back to the White Deer Inn. Do you want to go there to?"

Deadeye: "Oh are there rooms available there?"

Fenwarin: "There were when when I was there last. Hopefully they have vacancies now too."

Deadeye: "All right, so lead on."

Fenwarin: Well, I'll take point and walk over to White Deer Inn.

GM: All right. Markus.

Markus: Yes.

GM: You had an errand you wanted to do before you started crafting alchemical remedies.

Markus: Yes, I am going to be wandering back to the Madame's house.

GM: You head down Raven Street and down Festival Street? 

Markus: Yeah Pretty much. 

GM: All right. You knock and Koya lets you in. "Oh, well, welcome back. Do you have more business?"

Markus: "Thank you. I actually have a, I suppose you might say, a message for one of the guests staying here. Taury."

GM: "Oh, her." She just gestures towards the staircase that goes up to the attic, "Be my guest."

Markus: "Thank you."

GM: "But please don't stay too long."

Markus: "I don't plan to. Would it be alright if I also mentioned something to Madame, or is she occupied?"

GM: "She's with someone right now, but they seem to not be doing anything but sipping tea for now. So perhaps your company will be welcomed."

Markus: "Thank you."

GM: She does a half bow and goes back into the kitchen.

Markus: He pauses for a moment and then walks in the room with Madame.

GM: Sipping her tea, she looks up. "Oh, you're back."

Markus: "Yes. Are you interested in knowing more about your unusual guest in the attic?"

GM: "No... Wait. Which one do you mean? Nope. Don't tell me, either way, I don't care."

Markus: "Fair enough. Thank you for your time." And He'll, nod too Morana as well and walk out.

GM: She gives a pleasant smile. Re-addresses you Morana. "Uh where were we?"

Morana: "No, wait wait wait, an unusual guest that... Huh?"

GM: "If you're interested, go. It's not any concern of mine."

Morana: Morana just kind of raises an eyebrow and says "I'll be right back."

GM: "Good luck." All right. Morana, you follow Markus up the stairs?

Morana: Yes.

GM: At the top of the stairs, the door is closed.

Markus: Markus will, knock on the door.

GM: All right. Taury.

Taury: Nobody comes to the door.

GM: It's just a knock.

Taury: Yes. No, I don't go to the door.

Markus: Do you give any response or indication that you heard the knock? 

Taury: Nope.

Markus: Then there'll be a second one louder.

Taury: No response.

Markus: Ok, at this point, Markus is going to actually open the door and stick his head into the room with a slightly concerned look on his face.

Taury: Yes, she's just staring at the door, from where she's sitting at the end of the bed.

Markus: "Do you have a moment?" 

Taury: "Yes."

Markus: "Would you care to join me outside this room?"

Taury: She's going to shrug. Stand up and walk out with you.

Markus: I'm assuming as he turns around to look at the stairs that's when he notices Morana. "Oh, you decided to join us then?"

Morana: "I heard there were strange things and that interests me."

Markus: "Ah, Okay." How much room is there up here? Outside the attic room itself?

GM: It's just a hallway staircase, not even like a landing really before the door.

Markus: Is there a landing on one of the low levels?

GM: Yes. The second story has a landing.

Markus: Markus will lead everybody down there assuming they follow.

Taury: Yea I follow.

Morana: Yup.

Markus: "Oh, okay. So the guest in the attic apparently likes playing with some of the children in the area as well."

Morana: "Guest in the attic? I..." kind of looks at Taury like "huh?".

Taury: She looks at you equally as confused.

Markus: "The haunted spirit or whatever it is." 

Taury: "The ghost child?" 

Markus: "Yes, it likes to play with some of the living children in town as well. Or at least that's the impression I get. 

Taury: "And?" 

Markus: "If you're wanting to find out more about it, that gives an avenue for people to talk to. Investigations and the like."

Taury: "You're hardly suggesting we talk to the local children."

Markus: "Perhaps an adult that's meant to supervise them, but the children might actually know more since, it's near as I can tell at least one of them has actually been playing with it."

Taury: "And this Madame, she still knows nothing?"

Markus: "No and apparently doesn't care to."

Taury: "I sensed as much. And who is this ghost hunter you've recruited?"

Markus: "Oh, I haven't recruited."

Morana: "I wasn't recruited, I followed of my own accord because strange occurrences can be interesting."

Taury: "A sort of pet then?" she's smirking.

Morana: "I am no one's pet. The sooner you learn that, the better we'll get along."

Taury: She reaches out her hand to shake yours.

Morana: Morana kind of looks at it for a minute, and then reaches out to take it. Says "Morana Mallory."

Taury: "Positively charmed. Taury Warborne."

Morana: And off-hand, was it Markus that she ran into at the Rusty Dragon? Back in session one?

GM: Yes.

Morana: She looks down for a second and says, "We've talked before."

Markus: "We have. Yes."

Morana: "And then you quickly walked away. Hmm." She looks back to Taury.

Markus: "Was there anything pressing that need you dealing with? All I heard was talk of local legends, which everybody seemed to be certain were nothing but, legends and myth."

Morana: "There were more topics of conversation that came up, but, it's all right."

Markus: "Yes. I was also preoccupied with finding somewhere to sleep. So."

Taury: "None of these notices involved a ghost child by any chance?"

Morana: "No, they were all about the Sandpoint Devil." 

Taury: "Oh yes of course."

Markus: "They weren't all, that was just the one that went up in flames."

Morana: "Oh, she said notices, right, I thoughts she meant topics of conversation, I'm sorry."

Markus: "Oh, we're all talking at cross-purposes."

Morana: Out of character, I actually misunderstood.

Markus: "So are we interested in finding out more about the spirit? Perhaps after the festival?"

Morana: "I mean, I am fully intrigued now."

Taury: "Absolutely. The old bag mentioned some fellow who knows things about hauntings and such. Does anyone remember whom?"

Markus: "Yes, the priest at the temple who's your author occupied until after the festival."

Taury: "Yes. Well, he'll be rather occupied when we arrive there, I should think."

Markus: "I believe it was a suggestion that we not bother him until the festival is done because he's going to be leading it."

Taury: "Yes well." and she continues to walk at the door basically past everybody. Off to see the priest. 

Markus: "Oh dear."

Morana: Morana shrugs and says "Yeah, well, this will work." and follows her.

Markus: "Yeah, we might as well."

Taury: Do I actually even know where this priest is?

Markus: I'm kind of assuming that new temple is rather obvious, considering it's the focal point of the festival and brand new large building.

GM: Yeah, it is number 1 on the map.

Taury: And he'll be there Yeah?

GM: Yeah.

Taury: Off I trot.

Markus: With two others in tow, apparently.

Taury: It would seem so.

GM: All right. As you get to the square just outside the chapel, you run into Fenwarin and Deadeye, which a few of you are acquainted with. They seem to be heading north along Church Street, or just about to.

Deadeye: "Oh, there you are Taury."

Taury: She just gruffly grunts at you and nods.

Deadeye: Does she look preoccupied?

Fenwarin: "I don't believe we've met before. I am Fenwarin. You could call me Fen, everyone else does."

Taury: Yeah, she walks straight post you.

Deadeye: "She is a rather determined one."

Fenwarin: Yes, I just look concerned over to her when she walks away.

Morana: "You'll apparently have to excuse her. Some people, they have to focus on one thing at a time or they forget what they're doing. I'm not quite sure what it is." she looks at the doll. "Yeah, yeah. Well, you see, we've seen it happen a lot, haven't we? Yes. They...one track mind."

Markus: "Yes."

Fenwarin: "I understand, yes. And it's nice to see you as well. I'm Fenwarin. And you are?”

Morana: "Morana Mallory."

Fenwarin: "Pleasure to meet you."

Deadeye: "Pleased to meet you as well. I am Deadeye. I believe I saw you at The Hagfish."

Morana: "Oh Right. Yes, yes, those, those idiots. Right."

Deadeye: "Oh, yes. You made quite to show of those three."

Morana: "I wouldn't call it.. well no I suppose you could call it a show. As its just something..."

Deadeye: "It was more on their end."

Morana: "Yes."

Deadeye: So has everybody met everybody at this point? I think so.

Taury: Well, I haven't met Fenwarin yet, technically.

Markus: You haven't been introduced, you've met him.

Taury: You just randomly walked up to me, and was like, ‘Hi hows it going?’ Like, who the fuck are you? 

Fenwarin: You're so rude. What the hell?

Taury: A fucking stranger just says, hi, here's my first name, my middle name and my p.p.s. number. What's up?

Fenwarin: Yeah, I'm totally crazy. He he!

Deadeye: He was walking with me though. He was walking with someone you know.

Morana: And then there's the subtle shade as she just keeps walking.

Taury: I don't know, she's perfectly friendly.

Fenwarin: I just kind of see her like a sort of Doc Brown, just totally in his own world, you know, and Taury too.

GM: Ok. Most of the buildings in Sandpoint are made of wood with stone foundations and wood shingle roofs. The majority are single storey structures with a few noted exceptions. The town is often thought of as two districts by the locals. Uptown consists of the buildings of number 1 through 12. Most of these buildings are relatively new and the streets are open and less crowded. This section of town is also physically above the rest, situated on a level bluff overlooking the downtown, which consists of area 13 through 36. The majority of the town's buildings can be found downtown, which grows increasingly crowded as available space is claimed by new arrivals. Downtown is built on a gentle slope that runs from the height of about 60 feet above sea level to the west, down told only a few feet above sea level at the waterline to the east and south. Sandpoint Harbor is a modest sized natural harbor 30 feet deep. Most of its expanse, sharply rising slopes near the shore. The languid waters of the Turandarok River wind down from the hinterlands, skidding devil's platter to empty into the harbor. The river is often used to transport lumber harvested far upriver down to the local sawmill. South of the town rises another bluff, on which Sandpoint's most of affluent land owners have staked to their claims.

Only a few hundred feet north of town rises an upthrust spur of rocky land topped with a few trees. The tidal Island is known as Chopper's Isle, and was once the home of Sandpoint's most notorious criminal. The remote outcropping is accessible only by flight, or by a skilled climber. Locals now believe the isle to be haunted by Chopper's ghost, children often dare each other to go out to the isles base at low tide, and touch the barren cliff face that surrounds it. But no one's visited the top in years. The sight that proves most striking to visitors of Sandpoint at first is the ruins of The Old Light. The original height of its tower is unknown, but those who have studied the ancient architecture of the crumbling remains, estimate that it might have stood more than 700 feet tall. Today, less than a quarter of that remains. The Old Light rises from sea level and is built into the face of a 120 foot tall cliff, with the tower extending another 50 feet above that level, culminating in the ragged ruins. The remaining shell is yet another reminder that neither the Cheliaxians nor the Varisians are the first settlers of this land. Yet, apart from a few badly weathered carvings, signifying that the peak of this tower once held a brilliant light, no insight into the tower's true purpose remains. 

Easily the largest building in Sandpoint, this impressive cathedral that you're in front of, is also the town's newest structure, built over the foundations of the previous chapel. Sandpoint Cathedral is not dedicated to the worship of a single deity, rather, it gathers under its eaves the six most commonly worship deities in the region, Abadar, Desna, Erastil, Gozreh, Sarenrae and Shelyn. The building proves 'Chapels for All'. In a way, Sandpoint Cathedral is six different churches under one very impressive roof. Yet even the previous chapel wasn't the first holy site in this location. The core of the original chapel and the new cathedral, is an open air courtyard surrounding a set of seven standing stones, which themselves surround a circular stone altar. These stones have served Varisians for centuries as a place of worship. Although they have been most commonly used to venerate Desna and various imperial lords, the stones themselves have such an ancient tradition, it is unknown to anyone alive today what they actually once represented. Varisian oral tradition maintains that the seven stones represent the seven towers of Desna's otherworldly palace, but this is merely a story 'pepperidge, purp' (stammers)... perpetuated...

Taury: Nailed it.

GM: - there's the word - a story perpetuated by early Varisian seers, eager to hide possibly yet another bit of their homelands destructive history. The original chapel built here was a collection of six different shrines, each its own building and connected to the others by open-air walkways. Desna's worship was incorporated into these shrines as part of the peace accord with the local Varisians, but the original builders included five other deities as well. Four of these, Abadar, Gozreh, Sarenrae and Shelyn were patrons of the original founders of the Sandpoint Mercantile Consortium. While the fifth Erastil was the most popular among the initial settlers. When that chapel burnt to the ground several years ago, Mayor Deverin set into motion a bold initiative, not only would the chapel be rebuilt, but it would be rebuilt on a grand scale. A cathedral would be constructed in place of the chapel and it would be made of stone and glass.

Funding for this project came primarily from the founding families, particularly from the Sandpoint businesses eager to earn favor in the eyes of the gods, and particularly from their respective churches. It took years to finish the cathedral, but in the end the results are truly impressive to the South, facing Sandpoint's heart are the shrines of civilization, Erastil and Abadar. To the West, offering a view of The Old Light and the sea beyond are the shrines of Shelyn and Gozreh. To the East, offering a view of the Sandpoint Boneyard and the rising sun, are the shrines of Sarenrae and Desna. The previous chapel hosted fewer than a dozen acolytes, led by well-loved cleric named Ezakien Tobyn, who sadly perished in the fire that claimed the church. The new high priest of Sandpoint is his most accomplished student, a pleasant man named Abstalar Zantus, himself a worshiper of Desna. Father Zantus, is very open about matters of faith and has slipped into the role of advisor for worship of the other gods here within Sandpoint as well. Sandpoint collectively refers to these six gods that they revere, as the Sandpoint Pantheon. Many of the residents revere all of them, while a few have selected one specific God to revere above the others.

As you enter, there are a few acolytes running around tidying things up and getting things ready for the festivities tomorrow. Father Zantus appears to be directing them almost like a manager or some sort of boss at a construction site, almost.

Taury: Has everyone followed me in yeah?

Markus: Markus would have.

Fenwarin: Yes Fenwarin would also do that.

Morana: Tentatively, but yeah.

Deadeye: If everyone's going there I guess I'll follow. This is kind of my curiosity.

Taury: And this, is this guy referred to as Father Zantus from everybody, or would it be weird to call him Abstalar?

GM: It appears that as you enter, everyone is addressing him as Father Zantus.

Taury: What did she call them when she said his name?

GM: Who?

Taury: Mvashti?

GM: I think she just referred to him as Father Zantus.

Taury: Probably. Ok. Is there anyone else in the room that looks like they have some kind of authority or, you know...? Any kind of orders or anything like that? Or is it just him?

GM: He definitely seems to be the head here. As you're standing around, looking around and waiting for him to become available to talk to, one of the acolytes approaches you. "Yes? Have you come to make an offering at one of the Shrines?"

Taury: "No."

GM: "Do come in, come in... Oh? No?"

Taury: "I wish to speak to Zantus."

GM: "Oh, oh. The father is busy right now with preparations. Can you come back at another time?"

Taury: "I cannot."

GM: "Or do you seek spiritual guidance that is most urgent?"

Taury: "It's a pressing matter I must speak to him now."

GM: "How may I help?"

Taury: "By fetching the priest."

GM: She stands there for a couple of moments and blinks processing... "Very well then." and she turns and slowly walks to the father, says a few words to him, gestures your way, and he makes a few more remarks to a few of the other people standing around him and then heads over toward you. "Yes. How may I help you?"

Taury: "Hello there. I am sent by Madame Mvashti. She is concerned she has a haunting, the beast is foul and terrifying her. She has asked me to come get you to, oh, I don't know, soothe her, or, you know, exercise the demon or something."

GM: "This this is quite bizarre. Why, why would she send you and not her daughter?"

Taury: "Oh, busy, very busy. You know Koya she's not, not very helpful."

GM: "Not not very helpful? She's, she's a cleric herself."

Taury: "Yes, but you know, she's away with it these days, the festival has her all excited."

GM: "She's one of my finest, finest acolytes of Desna, I find it hard to believe that she would be of no use."

Taury: "I did not say that, she's overwhelmed with the festival."

GM: "And I am not? Look around!"

Taury: She just looks at him blankly like 'and?'.

GM: "Oh very well. Tell me what the issue is."

Taury: "A haunting."

GM: "A haunting?"

Taury: "It would appear similar at least."

Markus: "And it appears to be a child that also likes to play with other children."

GM: "A child that plays with children..." he furrows his brow and looks down deep in contemplation.

Markus: "Obviously, nobody wants there to be..."

GM: "At Madame Mvashti's you say? I'm sorry I cut you off."

Markus: "Well, if there is such a thing loose in the town, with the festival tomorrow... But yeah, you were saying something?"

GM: "Oh, yes. Loose is probably not the correct term. If this apparition is at Madame Mvashti's, then that's right next door to the orphanage. And the ghost of a child would probably have originated there, and won't travel far from that location, would be my guess. If I'm correct, I think this entity would be a creature known as an Attic Whisperer. Mostly harmless creatures, but undead nonetheless. Very hard to get rid of. Even if you successfully vanquish them, they can easily, with their tenacious will to be loved, reform after several centuries. It could take decades for a child to reform or be formed at all from this. Again, if I'm correct in what this is, they're usually born of forgotten, abandoned and neglected children that waste away. Such sad existences! Their driving wish that causes them to return to the land of the living is that very thing that caused them to die, that neglect. They seek out human contact and attempt to gain the love and affection and attention that they were denied in life. Such tragic, tragic stories. No, but if it is this, then it can wait. They're relatively harmless. As long as you don't provoke them, you've not provoked it have you?"

Taury: "Of course not!"

GM: He squints at you. "Certainly."

Taury: "What did you say uh, vanquish? What precisely do you mean?"

GM: "Well, purify, destroy the body of, break the essence around... Ghosts are notoriously difficult to defeat, as are any haunt."

Markus: "Mm hmm. Their incorporeal nature."

GM: "Yes, sprinkling a little holy water around and reciting a few chants, though that's the superstition of how it works, it's far from it. You need the godly powers channeled into the space, and only through such sturdy prayers of the righteous can things truly be cleansed. And even then, some of these haunts are more powerful than those attempting to defeat them."

Taury: "You mentioned the orphanage."

GM: "I did."

Taury: "You mentioned the children do not leave the orphanage. Then why is it in Madame Mvashti is attic?"

GM: "Oh, the children leave the orphanage, they play in the streets, and the market often. The Turandarok Academy, while also an orphanage, is primarily the school.

Taury: "No, the dead one?"

GM: "Oh. So sad. What about it?"

Taury: "You said they do not leave generally where they die or whatever. It's in her attic."

GM: "Most apparitions or haunts are tied to a physical location. Very few of them wander around and those that do wander are quite dangerous. Now, if this entity is manifested near the academy, then it was likely formed there or died there more or less. Or in one of the nearby houses..."

Taury: "And what do you know of Madame Mvashti?"

GM: "I don't think she has anything to do with anything for this, it just happened to wander in. Perhaps you looked like a jovial person to the spirit? Ha ha."

Taury: "I doubt that."

GM: "So do I."

Morana: (Laughs)

Taury: "Do you have any recommendations of persons better fit than yourself to aid us with this issue?"

GM: "I unfortunately do not. You can attempt to take care of it yourselves if you wish, but I would advise against it."

Markus: "Perhaps we should wait until the father can be free after the festival?"

GM: He nods, "A wise decision, I think."

Taury: "He has much said he is not helpful."

Markus: "He's given us enough to identify what it is, if he's right. Certainly the description matches."

GM: "Yes, a description, let's see if I recall my lessons correctly, it will be about the size of a child and composed of random things that are collected together, old skeletal remains of animals, rags and forgotten toys and the like, all covered in dust and cobweb and whatnot from years of neglect themselves."

Markus: "Forgotten toys like dolls?"

GM: "Possibly, an old ball perhaps."

Markus: Markus looks significantly at Taury. 

Taury: She nods.

GM: "Is that the doll there?" And hey points at Morana's doll?

Morana: "No that is mine."

GM: He looks down at it and looks up at you and blinks a few times. "Ok."

Morana: She offers no further explanation.

GM: He asks for none.

Morana: Good.

Markus: "Thank you, father. Well, you have been extremely helpful and you are no doubt extremely busy, so I think it best if we take up no more of your time." and that's half directed at him, half directed at Taury.

GM: He nods. "Thank you." and then he turns to walk away. And then turns back after a couple steps. "Was there anything further you needed? Or was was that the entirety of your concerns to come here today?"

Morana: "Well, there is something I could probably have a discussion with you for a brief moment pertaining to the address for the festival."

GM: "Oh?"

Morana: "I was asked by the mayor to attempt to persuade someone into giving it, and I have been stymied at every turn in attempting to secure someone to give it."

GM: "Oh ho ho. Let me guess. Kaijitsu?"

Morana: "Yes."

GM: "Not surprised."

Morana: "Both the father and the daughter."

GM: "Even getting the stained glass for the windows was a trial from him. Had it not been insurances that the gods would bless him for his donation, he likely would have charged us. He did try to charge us."

Morana: "For a moment there, I thought the same tax might work for getting him to give the address, but from the sounds of it, probably not."

GM: He shakes his head. "No. No, probably not."

Morana: Well, is there anyone else that you can think of to try to have do it then? The mayor seemed dead set on having one given."

GM: "Ah, I'll find a replacement. There's one more thing to do. Thank you for letting me know he will not be available."

Morana: "I will spare you the details of our conversation. Suffice to say, he did not endear himself to me."

GM: "Oh, did you not find the man pleasant?" He smirks a little.

Morana: "Far, far from it. But if you wish to handle it, then good luck to you. I apologize for having to bring another thing into your list."

GM: "No. No, thank you, it's good information to have, sooner than later for sure."

Morana: "Although the madame did raise an excellent point, I had also attempted to talk to her about it because Ameiko suggested that she served as something of a heart for the town."

GM: "Mm hmm. Yes."

Morana: "And her suggestion basically boiled down to, why bother with an address? Just let people enjoy the festival."

GM: "That is a good, good point. However, any festival also has festivities, but all festivities are around a core nucleus of some sort of pomp and circumstance, some tradition. And without that tradition firmly established, the festivities could be for any thing at any time, and there would be no structure to it. There would be no reason for the festivities."

Morana: Out of character the whole time he was saying that, I just heard 'Tradition!' from I think its 'Fiddler on the Roof' in my head.

GM: Oh, yeah.

Morana: Yeah. Good Lord. Ok. No problem. We're going to leave now.

Deadeye: I already left like 5 minutes ago.

Taury: Yeah, Taury probably smiles at him with this very uncomfortable looking smile. It's a an attempt at being pleasant. And then she leaves.

Morana: Morana just smiled with that wide eyed innocent look and turns to leave.

Taury: Emphasis on innocent.

Fenwarin: Fenwarin gets up from praying and follows out.

GM: He goes back to his business as you guys all leave. So with that concluded, as you're exiting the building, what are your plans now?

Deadeye: I'm going to The White Deer with Fen.

Fenwarin: Yeah the original plan for me and Deadeye.

Deadeye: The tavern, going to get some rooms.

GM: Ok. Do you begin heading in that direction immediately? Or do you stop and address the rest as you do leave?

Deadeye: Yeah, pretty much just turn to them and say, "I'm going to get a place to stay."

Fenwarin: "Yeah, maybe we'll see you later. We were just gonna head to White Deer Inn. And, you know, get some rest and wash up."

Deadeye: "Catch you all later!" I'll wave at them.

Markus: "Good luck getting the room."

Fenwarin: "Yeah. Thank you. Hopefully yeah."

Deadeye: "Hopefully they have one."

Markus: "Oh I'm sure they probably still have at least a room left. Just yeah... the proprietor is an interesting person."

Morana: "It's really that hard to find a room right now?"

Deadeye: "Apparently it is"

Markus: "The festival in town. Everyone's..."

Morana: "I mean, if people are really that hard up, I could probably set aside some space, I do live in town."

Fenwarin: "Well, that would be very appreciated. Yes."

Deadeye: "That would definitely be great!"

Morana: "It's not the best place, but there's probably room."

Deadeye: "Oh, I've slept in worse I'm sure."

Markus: "Thank you for the offer but I've already got a room so, but I will remember that for the future. And I suspect Terry enjoys sleeping with the ghost."

Morana: "Some people do, it takes all kinds."

Fenwarin: "By that, I think you mean I already have board."

Markus: "That too, yes."

Deadeye: "I've spent enough time with ghosts. One night is definitely..."

Taury: "Where abouts are your living quarters - Morana was it?"

Morana: "Over off Junkers Way."

GM: Points due west of the chapel.

Taury: "I may visit later. I have business."

Morana: She just kinda shrugs, "As you will."

Markus: "Oh, yes, I really ought to get going myself, I have plans for the rest of today. I shall see, I imagine most if not all of you at the festival tomorrow then?"

Fenwarin: "Yeah, see you later Markus."

Morana: "I have no better plans, I shall probably be there."

Taury: Taury Shrugs.

Deadeye: "Well, if you said you had a place to stay, and you live here, I would like to at least set down my stuff that I've been carrying all day."

Morana: "Yes, that's fine."

GM: All right. As you all disperse to go about your ways, Taury, you are headed to go do some stuff at the orphanage, to gather some toys and blankets or something and put those in the room. When you leave the room, because I take it you're not staying there tonight. Where do you plan on going to stay?

Taury: Morana's probably.

GM: So other than Taury crashing at Morana's, everything was left pretty well established at the end of leaving the cathedral. You'll have a very peaceful night considering. 

The next morning... 

For five years, the faithful of Sandpoint had attended church in temporary structures erected after fire destroyed the previous temple, and while their new religious leader was helpful, kind and wise, church wasn't quite the same. Now the new cathedral is finally done. All that remains is for the Swallowtail Festival to renew the site's blessing from the gods, and it will be as if Sandpoint Fire had never occurred. The Swallowtail festival begins promptly as scheduled on the autumn equinox. The square before the church quickly becomes crowded as locals and travelers arrive. The several merchant tents featuring food, clothes, local crafts and souvenirs are here to meet the guests. The turnout for the opening speeches is quite respectable, and the four keynote speakers each deliver short, but well-received welcomes to the festival. Mayor Deverin's friendly attitude and excitement prove contagious as she welcomes visitors to town, and jokes about how even lazy Rovanky, the local tanner and notorious workaholic, managed to tear himself away from the tannery to attend, much to everyone's amusement, well, except for Larz. Sherif Belor Hemlock brings the crowd down a bit with his dower mood, his reminder to be safe around the evening's bonfire, and his request for a moment of silence to remember those who lost their lives in the fire that claimed the town's previous church several years ago. The next speech giver was scheduled to be a local nobleman, Lonjiku Kaijitsu, but a sudden illness has prevented him from attending the ceremony. Most of the locals are not surprised that Lonjiku is not here, as his well-known dislike of frivolity and festival is a keynote of his personality. In his stead, Sandpoint's own showman, Crydak Drokkus is more than up to the challenge of bringing the crowd's mood back up with his rousing anecdotes. He delivers a not completely irrelevant recap of the long process the town went through to finance and construct the new cathedral. He throws in a bit of self-promotion at the end, as is his want, inviting everyone to stop by the Sandpoint Theater the following evening to check out his new production of The Harpy's Curse, revealing that the lead role of Avisera,  the harpy queen, will be played by none other than the famous Magnimarian diva Allishanda. Finally, Father Zantus steps up to give a short speech thanking everyone for coming, before declaring the Swallowtail Festival underway. With that, numerous games and contests take place throughout the day, including sack races, games of hide and seek, weightlifting challenges, balance beam contests, tug of war events and the like. Feel free to take part in as many or few of these as you wish. But there's no prizes, it's just for the fun. You meet several of the villagers and guests, as you peruse the event, the festival. Most of them you have already met over the past several days.

Deadeye: I think I might try that balance beam contest.

GM: Ok.

Deadeye: That seems interesting.

Fenwarin: Yeah, Fenwarin is also excited about this festival and everything. Especially when they plan to release the swallowtails, and he wants to be a part of that's more than anything.

GM: Ah. You hear they plan to be released at noon.

Fenwarin: Do I know where exactly?

GM: here at the church.

Fenwarin: Oh, yeah. At the church. Ok I will be at the church then.

GM: The square right in front of the church is where all these festivals are happening. There are a good number of them at least. At noon, Father Zantus and his acolytes wheel a large covered wagon into the square. And after recounting the short parable of how Desna first fell to Earth and was nursed back to health by a blind child, whom she transformed into an immortal butterfly as a reward for her aid, they pull aside the wagon's cover, releasing 'The Thousand Children of Desna', a furious storm of swallowtail butterflies that swarm into the air, in a spiraling riot of color, to a great cheer from the crowd. Throughout the rest of the day, children futilely chase the butterflies, never quite quick enough to catch them. Lunch is provided for free at the expense of the Sandpoint taverns, each brings its best dishes. Its event is as much marketing push by the taverns to win new customers as it is to feed the hungry crowd. It soon becomes apparent that the darling of lunch is once again Ameiko Kaijitsu, whose remarkable curry spiced salmon, and early winterdrop mead, easily overshadow the other offerings, such as The Hagfish's lobster chowder, or The White Deer's peppercorn venison. Finally, as the sun begins to set, Father Zantus takes the central podium, uses a thunder stone to attract everyone's attention, and then clears his throat as he prepares to recite the 'Prayer of First Dreaming'. As the crowd calms down and he begins to say the first few lines, suddenly, a dog yelps. 

Taury: What kind of yelp?

GM: A sharp retort, like the crack of distant thunder slices through the excited crowd, as the sun setting rays paint the western sky. A stray dog that has crawled under a nearby wagon to sleep starts awake, and the buzz of a dozen conversations quickly hushes as all heads turned towards the central podium, where a beaming Father Zantus has taken the stage. He clears his throat, takes a breath to speak, and suddenly a woman's scream slices through the air. A few moments later, another scream rises, then another. Beyond them, a sudden surge of strange new voices rises, high pitched, tittering shrieks that sound not quite human. The crowd parts and something low to the ground races by, giggling, with a disturbing glee as the stray dog gives a pained yelp and then collapses with a gurgle, its throat cut open from ear to ear. As blood pools around its head, the raucous sound of a strange song begins being chanted from shrill, scratchy voices. "Goblins chew and goblins bite, goblins cut and goblins fight. Stab the dog and cut the horse, goblins eat and take by force! Goblin's race and goblins jump, goblins slash and goblins bump. Burn the skin, mash the head, goblins here, you be dead! Chase the baby, catch the pup, bonk the head to shut it up! Bones be cracked, flesh be strewed! We be Goblins! You be food!" And with that, we need an initiative.

Fenwarin: Oh shit.

Deadeye: I figured that was coming.

Taury: I hate them, I hate them so much.

Markus: It's just goblins.

Taury: Its just my two dogs are just sitting here nice and cute beside me asleep, and I'm like, you fucking What?! Slit ear to ear.

GM: All right, go ahead and position yourselves where you think you were standing. The central podium is where Father Zantus was at, which is right in front of where you all are. You would have been more on the other side of it with the rest of the crowd.

Fenwarin: I would have been front and center.

Taury: So I went pretty far back.

Morana: Yeah I'd be... Morana would probably be somewhere off in the corner. 

Deadeye: I'd probably be right there.

GM: All right, so you've made your Initiative checks. I now need Perception checks. Okay, so Fenwarin and Deadeye, you are the only two that don't notice this, the rest of you notice the little shape that raced through the crowd and killed the dog. A single goblin licking the blood from its dog slicer as it looks excitedly about the crowd, seeking out its next target. The song, a nameless goblin rhyme performed by several goblins throughout the area sound like the crowd is surrounded by goblins.

Taury: Can we see where this other goblin is?

GM: The lone goblin. Certainly, he is under that cart right by you.

Taury: Great.

GM: As the crowd shrieks and begins fleeing in all directions, other goblins appear. And I need initiatives for them.

Taury: Yo guys, maybe they're friendly goblins?

Morana: Sure, go talk to em.

GM: Ha ha ha. All right. Morana, you are the first to react to this scene. People are running in all directions. The crowd causes this area to be difficult terrain, for now. I'll let you know when that changes.

Markus: All right, so that would mean I could move 15, which would take me to here, and he'd still be out of range. Uh....15 this way and they'd still be out of range range. All right, well... I'll move there and hold my standard unless anything comes within 25 feet.

GM: All right. Deadeye you are next.

Deadeye: I will move there, I will pull out my gun and I will load a chemical cartridge.

GM: All right. Do you have a fast reload?

Deadeye: I do. 

GM: Ok.

Deadeye: Then I will probably fire it at this guy... 20.

GM: 20 hits. This little goblin had hopped up on top of this food cart, slashing at people as they ran by, and you fire into this thing and spin it around catching it right in the shoulder. It falls off the cart, but it seems still alive.

Deadeye: There's a big puff of white smoke around me, and I'm sure everybody heard that.

GM: Oh, yeah. The thunder from the fire, the discharge, caused, you know, even more panic if it was even possible at this moment. The crowd running scared already is now even more startled.

Deadeye: Thats where I'll end my turn.

GM: All right. Goblin number two, which is the one you just shot, makes a charge for you, screaming and waving his dog slicer in the air. Does an 11 hit you? I don't believe it does. It does not.

Deadeye: Sweet.

GM: All right. Fenwarin.

Fenwarin: Yep. Well, I just saw Deadeye shooting this goblin, and seeing how it just ran up to him and started wailing on him, I cast magic missile on the goblin.

GM: All right, go ahead and roll that damage. 3 points of force damage to the goblin. Your magic missile flies out of your fingertips and hits it square in the back of the head, knocking it dead.

Fenwarin: Nice. 

GM: Goblin three here. It runs all the way over here and jumps up onto the stage. Looks like it's coming for you, Fenwarin.

Fenwarin: Oh.

GM: Taury. It is your turn.

Taury: Yeah, so I can reach this guy yeah?

GM: Yeah.

Taury: Cool. Well, then I'm going to attack, said goblin with the switch scythe?

GM: All right.

Taury: I shall have to move to him as well, to be in range I assume?

GM: Yes, it is not a reach weapon.

Taury: Yeah.

GM: All right. A 15 Misses.

Taury: Shit.

GM: He's kind of awkwardly under the cart, and as you try to swing under to hit him, you just barely miss. He laughs at you. Markus, you're in the middle of the group. What would you like to do?

Markus: Does the crowd look like it's... As people are running away, obviously there's a lot of screaming and panicking. Does it look like they're having problems? Or are people just, it's just the panic running and people getting out of the way? Or are they actually running into obstacles like more goblins, etc.?

GM: It's hard to tell, as you're trying to find out you see fires start happening in the distance, smoke's rising up, screams are happening in the distance.

Markus: Yeah, Ok. In terms of buildings with sturdy construction and the like, the cathedral obviously stands out. Are there any others nearby that do?

GM: The next closest sturdy building would be the garrison, as it is also completely built from stone, as is the Glassworks.

Markus: I'm assuming they're a fair distance away?

GM: Yeah, about a city block, standard city block or so.

Markus: Yeah. Markus is going to yell to the people, "If you need safety, head for the church!" And yeah, he's going to push through the crowds to stand close with Fenwarin. Yeah, that's going to be it for now.

GM: All right. The little goblin underneath the cart lunges at you Taury.

Taury: Of course it does.

GM: It definitely does. That is a crit chance, but not a confirmation. He sinks the dog slicer deep into your flesh, dealing 3 points of damage, and cackles with glee. Morana, back to you.

Morana: So it's still difficult terrain?

GM: It is, it's starting to clear out. You think maybe another couple moments and you'll be able to move freely.

Morana: All right, all right, that's fine, we're going to move right here and Taury seems to be having a little trouble with that one, so Morana is going to look at it really hard for a minute.

GM: Ok, that is a Will save?

Morana: Correct. Target 15.

GM: He he he. This is going to be good.

Morana: That's gonna be a -2 AC.

GM: All right. Anything else?

Morana: Thats a move and a standard so no.

GM: Ok. Deadeye.

Deadeye: All right, let's see... I will move 10 feet closer, I will grab another alchemical cartridge and fire at this guy.

GM: All right. 24 hits true, 3 damage to the little beast. He does not seem to enjoy that.

Deadeye: I can imagine. Ok, thats it, thats all I got.

GM: All right. Fenwarin, It's up to you.

Fenwarin: All right. So I'll move over here, and I will cast another magic missile on goblin 3 right there on the stage.

GM: All right. Let it fly. Ok, magic words are said, gestures are performed, a missile force flies from your fingertips and strikes the goblin, he falls back and then jumps to his feet. 

Fenwarin: Damn Goblin. Thats it for me.

GM: Ok. The little goblin runs to the end of the stage and then does a flying leap right at Markus. He misjudged where the edge was to do the leap from and does more of a fall instead. Taury.

Taury: I'm going to take another swing with my scythe.

GM: You do catch him.

Taury: Thank fuck!

GM: You sweep his leg.

Morana: 'Sweep the leg, Johnny!'

GM: Markus there is a goblin lying face down in front of you, he's still moving.

Markus: Ok. Draw a dagger, I guess, and try and sort of like fend it off and stab it.

GM: Ok, 14 will actually hit because he is prone, and you deal 1 point of damage, which was all it had remaining.

Taury: Wow. 

Morana: Ha ha ha!

Taury: Ha ha ha! That's so embarrassing, it fell over and then got 1 HP knocked off.

GM: Yeah, You stab it in its back and it gurgles its last breath. Goblin 1, squaring off with Taury, swings his slicer at you as you've kind of knocked him to the side, misses, and then he retreats to the other side of the cart that you're swinging under to get him. There's a, "He he he he he!" (Goblin cackling noise).

Taury: Running away like a bitch.

GM: Morana.

Morana: Let me see here.... And yeah, we're gonna cast daze at him. That's a Will save with, I believe a target of 14. You little pecker!

GM: He seems unfazed.

Morana: I'm mildly annoyed.

GM: Deadeye, it's back to you.

Deadeye: It is, It is. Is the crowd still thick I imagine?

GM: They're thinning out, it's almost clear here. It's no longer difficult terrain, There's still some people around, but for the most part, this square has emptied.

Deadeye: Oh, good. I think I'll move my full distance and load another cartridge. And I'll fire it, but it won't spend a crit point for Deadeye. 

GM: All right, you fire off and the shot goes high.

Deadeye: Darn.

GM: Fenwarin, it is your turn.

Fenwarin: Ok. I move up there. And what are my options for spells? I have used up my two level 1 spells now.

GM: Then you have your cantrips remaining, you can cast your cantrips as many times per day as you want. I don't know if you took any that have damage output potential such as Acid Splash, or Ray of Frost, or the like.

Fenwarin: No, no.

GM: All right. Do you have a quarterstaff that you can use to bludgeon them to death with? 

Morana: Ha ha ha (laughs).

Fenwarin: Yes, I do.

GM: That would be your option then.

Morana: Muscle wizard cast staff!

Markus: Yeah. Or for more typical wizards, crossbow, and keep at a distance.

GM: Also an option. Fenwarin will quickly learn the rigors of combat and how to deal with them, through trial and failure.

Morana: Go get em Louis! 

Fenwarin: (Laughs)

GM: The bookish types tend to learn fast.

Fenwarin: Can I brace myself here in case it just comes wailing at me?

GM: Yeah, that is taking the defensive stance.

Fenwarin: I will do that for now then.

GM: All right. That will give you a +2 to your AC.

Morana: I'm out of magic missiles! Quick turtle! (Laughs)

Taury: (Laughs) Runs away!

GM: Taury.

Taury: I'm gonna just follow this dude and I'm going to take another swing at him with my scythe. And hope to God I don't fucken miss!

GM: And the trend stays alive.

Taury: Yup.

GM: As you swing the scythe you catch part of the cart and it throws your angle off. Markus. You look around, there appears to only be one goblin remaining and it's just taunting Taury.

Markus: Yeah ok. I take it the people have emptied out of the square?

GM: Yes, you can still see them, they're close enough where like you can see where they're going, they're fleeing down the streets and whatnot, into alleys, ducking into homes left and right.

Markus: Yeah. Are there any people that didn't actually make it?

GM: It doesn't look like it here.

Markus: Any that got injured in the square?

GM: Other than the dog, it doesn't look like anyone's been injured. There is a few trails of blood, but no full casualties. No, no one laying in the street.

Markus: Excellent. Okay. Yeah, Markus is going to move to get a decent vantage point, to see if he can actually get a better view of stuff that's going on further away. So I'm moving up onto the platform.

GM: All right. This little goblin, this tenacious little beastie is going to try to stab you again. 

Taury: I hope he trips.

GM: He does not trip. And he does hit you.

Taury: Yup.

GM: He will deal another 6 points of damage as he slashes you right across the thigh.

Taury: This is fine. This is totally planned, it's fine.

GM: All right Morana.

Morana: Morana is going to walk up behind Taury, and gently poke her in the back and heal her for 6. And say, "If you'd like to kill it now?"

GM: All right. Deadeye.

Deadeye: Can I shoot past people?

GM: Yeah, you can shoot around your allies. This creature is in melee, and shooting into melee is a -4 penalty.

Deadeye: Ok.

GM: As you're trying not to hit the wrong target.

Morana: Which for you works out to a -2 because it's got an AC penalty.

GM: Correct.

GM: And you're also within your range increments, so you'll be firing against its Touch.

Deadeye: Touch. Yeah so I will use another cartridge, and I will reload and fire while I yell "Duck!"

GM: All right. You yell 'Duck!' and the other two spin and look at you briefly, Taury kind of knowing you instinctively ducks out of the way as she looks back. The goblin not knowing what's going on, jumps up to see what the noise was, and you shoot it right in the face!

Deadeye: Excellent.

GM: It falls down dead.

Taury: The most depressing combat section for me ever!

Morana: (Laughs) It could have gone better.

Deadeye: Ok. I think that's it.

GM: As your skirmish comes to a, for Taury, depressing end, you look around and you notice the goblins have set upon Sandpoint in mass! All of Sandpoint is engulfed in chaos! Goblins are racing across everywhere, running amuck, singing and slashing indiscriminately, running along rooftops through the streets and alleyways, they're everywhere! A sudden bloom of fire from a nearby unattended wagon grabs your attention. A group of goblins have found the cart full of fuel for the sunset bonfire just south of the festival grounds, and has lit it on fire. You can hear, even this far away, their cackling and shrieking!

Morana: Morana looks at her doll and says "What? The beginning was a bit on the nose, wasn't it?"

Markus: "Well, looks like trouble came to the festival after all. Shall we?" Markus will gesture towards the fire.

Fenwarin: "We gotta help these people. Let's go."

Deadeye: "Yes we do."

Taury: A very sullen Taury follows you all.

Morana: Morana shrugs and follows.

GM: All right. No need to change initiative order.

Deadeye: Of course there is more.

Fenwarin: Wave number two!

Taury: Can you turn off the clear rigging that is attached to my rolls?

GM: I cannot.

Morana: You did not properly appease our own Jesus. This is just not the g.m.'s fault.

Taury: The one time nihilism has bitten me in the ass. You know?

Deadeye: I definitely would have reloaded by the way.

GM: The one time you're aware of.

Taury: Oh, silent tears.

Morana: But does it really matter?

Taury: Sigh.

Morana: I mean, you're the one who brought up nihilism! Ah ha ha ha!

GM: I'm just going to pull these guys down?

Taury: Has the crowd cleared yet?

GM: Yes.

Taury: Yay.

GM: Which is why you can clearly see what's going on.

Taury: Not that the crowd is really impeding me in any way whatsoever.

GM: No, they were not.

Morana: No, your only impediment was yourself.

GM: Truth.

Morana: In true nihilistic fashion! Ah ha ha ha! 

GM: Ah ha ha ha!

Taury: A single tear.

GM: Morana. Ha ha ha, you are first. As you race down, you can see that they're shrieking in delight as they attack. They've not only armed themselves with burning torches, but also have the support of a war chanter, a goblin, singing and whipping the fellow goblins into furious shrieking frenzies, through some sort of weird goblin-esque bardic performance.

Morana: Well, that just seems like a priority target. That's my move, I'm going to hold my standard in case somebody comes within 30 feet.

GM: Ok. Deadeye.

Deadeye: Is there such a thing as a dash?

GM: Yes, it's a double movement. It's your full turn, but you'll instead of going 25, move up to 50.

Deadeye: Yeah I think I will do that, I will go to there. Thats my turn.

GM: All right. Goblin number 1 in his excitement for fire, gets some of the oil for the bonfire on him, and begins flailing about as he's lit himself on fire. The rest of the goblins are just pointing and laughing as he burns to death.

Taury: #JustGoblinThings.

GM: Fenwarin,

Fenwarin: Yes.

GM: It is your turn.

Fenwarin: I will move over here. And then I take aim at the goblin chanter with my crossbow.

GM: All right. I believe your cross-bow has a range of 60 feet. You should be right in range, if not just at the edge of.

Fenwarin: It has 80 feet.

GM: 80 feet? Good, because it was 65 feet away. So you're at no penalty to fire this thing.

Fenwarin: Cool... Ouch.

GM: You let your bolt fly and it hits right into the side of the burning cart. Taury.

Taury: Ok. So you said dash is what, double movement?

GM: Yes.

Taury: And it takes your full turn?

GM: Yeah. It's your move and standard in that case. The way Pathfinder works, you can always trade a higher action for a lower version. So you're trading your standard for a second move. You can always trade a move for a swift and so on.

Taury: So I'm going to put away the switch scythe.

GM: Standard.

Taury: Which is, Yeah. And that would mean that I can just move Yeah?

GM: Yup.

Taury: Yeah so 20. So I'm just gonna move to here, and that's that.

GM: Ok. Markus it is you.

Markus: Move to the edge of the platform and start humming a tune as casting a spell.

GM: Ah.

Markus: And the sounds of the lullaby get carried by the breeze towards the goblins.

GM: All right, now that is a 10 foot area.

Markus: Yeah.

GM: All right. So I get to make three Will saves now, two goblin pyros and one goblin war chanter. Is this a charm? I believe it is.

Markus: It's a compulsion, not a charm.

GM: Not actually a charm, just compulsion. All right.

Markus: Mind affecting obviously, but yeah.

GM: Yep. All right. For the two pyros, they both fail and fall asleep at the foot of the. The burning cart, the war chanter also fails his save, and slumps back onto the ground. Which takes us past all of their turns.

Fenwarin: That's a nice one.

Taury: Nice.

Markus: It's a nice spell yeah.

GM: To Morana.

Taury: And Morana is...

Morana: Hmmm... No Anything I can do really requires me to be far closer, so...

GM: You're not going to use it to double move?

Morana: Yeah, I guess I can. Yeah sure. Just in case they manage to wake up.

GM: All right. Deadeye.

Deadeye: I guess I'll do my movement, ok I'll go there.

GM: Now if you move to this side of the cart, they're going to have cover because they're on the ground, prone behind it.

Deadeye: Right so I'll go here instead.

GM: All right. You got a pretty good shot on this one. Now they are prone, a prone creature gets a +4 bonus to their AC against ranged attacks. It's the opposite when it's a melee, which is why Markus had an easy time stabbing that one.

Deadeye: Right, So I think I'll hold my standard, to fire if they get up.

GM: You'll hold it?

Deadeye: Yeah. 

GM: Ok. Fenwarin.

Fenwarin: Yes, I shall move down here and I will take a defensive stance in case they wake up and wail on us.

GM: Ok. Taury.

Taury: Ok. I'm miles away from anybody to attack them. So, like, this doesn't even affect me.

GM: True.

Taury: It's fine. Yeah, so I'm just got to use my double movement to move, and that's it.

GM: Right. Markus, back to you.

Markus: In contrast to the other people, Markus is going to be keeping an eye out for other signs of trouble, other groups of goblins, other signs of their setting stuff on fire in the immediate vicinity, etc..

GM: All right. As you look around, you see a goblin leap off of a roof in an attempt to land on a hapless victim below them, but miss and break their neck on the landing instead.

Taury: (Laughs) Jesus.

GM: Another one throws a lit torch at a fleeing mother, only to have it land on another goblin and light that goblin on fire! And they then run into a house and the house catches on fire! Stuff like this is happening all over the place, it is utter madness!

Markus: Ok, but he's going to be deliberately keeping watch for anything coming in this general direction.

GM: All right. The goblins are still asleep. Morana.

Morana: Morana doesn't really have any of what you would call, weapons, so... hold action in case they wake up?

GM: Okay. Deadeye.

Deadeye: I'm going to say, "Do we want to tie these up? Anybody have rope, or something? Or do we just kill them?"

Morana: "They're goblins, they're not worth interrogating. You can't really put them in a prison, just put them out of our misery."

Deadeye: "Yeah." I'll then take aim at the nearest one and shoot it, even with a penalty.

GM: OK. All right. You shoot this goblin, it flinches as it takes the hit and then it wakes up.

Morana: As it wakes up, it needs to make a Will save because I'm going to look angrily at it.

GM: Ok.

Morana: That's a -2 to AC.

GM: Ok. This one is no longer asleep but has lost armor.

Deadeye: And I will then reload, reload with regular ammo.

GM: Ok.

Deadeye: Because that is easier to make.

GM: Fenwarin.

Fenwarin: Yes.

GM: It is your turn. Technically, it's also prone.

Fenwarin: The goblin that got shot is still prone.

GM: Yes. It is just awake.

Deadeye: I'll move down here and I will shoot the newly awakened goblin with my crossbow again.

GM: All right. Right, you do hit.

Fenwarin: Ooh!

GM: Roll damage,

Fenwarin: Ok.

GM: It bounces off the ground right into its ribs. How about that? Yeah.

Morana: Doing it 'Rainbow Six Siege' style.

GM: 3 damage. Okay, Taury.

Taury: Still miles away.

GM: Continue your journey.

Taury: Yeah, just play the Fellowship of the Ring music. So which one has the negative effect on its AC? So what is it on now? Like what is it? A minus... it was on +4?

GM: Yeah. Now it's a +2.

Taury: Ok, sweet. I mean, I'm still gonna miss, but it's fine. So I'm gonna take out my a composite longbow and I'm gonna shoot at it, one hopes.

GM: And your arrow flies high. Sticking into the roof of this building just south. Markus.

Markus: "If you want to kill them, don't shoot them, walk up and slit their throats!" And he'll continue keeping watch.

GM: Ok, as you're looking around now, you see an elven woman jump on top of a roof off to the west, and she just starts unloading arrows at goblins all over the place.

Markus: Excellent.

GM: Goblin 2 will jump to his feet, and then come over here to stab at Deadeye.

Markus: Isn't standing up a move action?

GM: It is, he cannot actually stab. He just moves over there to stab. In the process of getting up, he does kick this one.

Fenwarin: Of course he did.

GM: However, it does not wake him up. Morana.

Morana: All right, let's see here...

Taury: Just twiddles her thumbs.

Morana: So going to move here. This is touch, they can do Fortitude or Will, she's going to reach out and just poke the goblin and chill touch.

GM: Oh, it's Fortitude first?

Morana: Says Fortitude, Partial or Will negates, that would be a...

Markus: That's two saves I think.

GM: The Will I believe is for undead application.

Morana: Oh, ok, right right right.

GM: That spell is one of my favorites, I know it well.

Morana: It's going to be a 10, 11, 15 for the save. 

GM: Ok. 

Fenwarin: Wow!

Morana: You bastard! So that's...

GM: So Partial I take the cold damage,

Morana: Yes.

GM: but do not take the strength drain.

Morana: Right. So 4 cold damage.

GM: You see a chill, a frost, a bit of rime, coat the goblin as it falls over.

Morana: She pulls her finger back, kind of blows on it to warm her fingertips back up. "That is cold!”

GM: Deadeye.

Deadeye: So, a question.

GM: Yes.

Deadeye: Is a coup de grâce a full round action?

GM: It is.

Deadeye: All right. In that case I will simply move, over to this guy and end my turn.

GM: All right. Fenwarin.

Fenwarin: Yes. Let's see. I will move over here, right there, and I smack the goblin with my quarterstaff.

Deadeye: Wait, wait, wait.

Fenwarin: What is it Deadeye?

Deadeye: I have got a better idea.

Fenwarin: I'm listening.

Deadeye: I'm just going to slit his throat, it'll be faster.

Fenwarin: Ok. All right. All right so the other goblin war chanter has +4 AC as well right?

GM: Only against ranged.

Fenwarin: Ranged yeah. Can't move anymore, so...

Markus: Ready a strike in case the goblin wakes up.

Fenwarin: I'll do that.

GM: Ok. Taury.

Taury: Ok, so you can get movement and a standard action, yeah?

GM: Yup. 

Taury: Sweet. So I'm gonna move my 20 feet to here, and I'm going to use one of my blessings.

GM: You've almost caught up to the group.

Taury: I'm just at this point completely resigned to the fact that today is not my day. And I think that's all I can do, and I cast that on my bow.

GM: Ok. Markus.

Markus: I will continue keeping watch.

GM: Ok. Far to the south, you can hear a lot of commotion. It sounds like a lot of the attacks that were going on in this area have died down, mostly been taken care of. It seems like the goblin horde is retreating. Morana.

Morana: All right. Let's just move down here. Do they have to be awake for me to look angrily at them?

GM: No.

Morana: All right. Well, I'll look angrily at the one close, that they're standing next to. Same negative. Nope!

GM: That's the closest I've been.

Morana: That is. I was nervous for a second. I had to do math in my head. I was like, wait, did a sleeping goblin just beat that? That's, that's illegal!

GM: Deadeye.

Deadeye: I will grab my rapier and attempt a coup de grâce.

GM: Ok.

Deadeye: Which I believe is part of that crit right?

GM: It is. Do you have a +1 base attack bonus?

Deadeye: I do. So I guess I will roll... So it's the damage twice right? Or damage times multiplier? 

GM: Which is for rapier times two. So you roll and have all your bonuses twice.

Deadeye: Oh. Yeah, so bonus is plus that.

GM: Ok. The second one is a crit. It's auto rolling the damage if you make the crit. So the first number is the one you actually look at.

Deadeye: Oh.

Taury: So it's 3.

GM: Yeah.

Deadeye: Thats my turn.

GM: All right. Fenwarin, you get your ready to action, to fire. As Deadeye stabs this thing it wakes up. You were prepared for this. Go ahead and smack it in the face with your quarterstaff, or attempt to rather.

Fenwarin: Ooh hoo!

GM: Roll to confirm a crit.

Fenwarin: So it won't be 20 again?

GM: Yes. All right. It is not confirmed, but you do hit. So go ahead and give your normal damage output... Ok, you give it a quick smack and now it is your turn.

Fenwarin: Yeah. Same of that recipe. Yeah. Smack it again!

GM: Rinse and repeat!... All right. In your in your haste to hit it multiple times, you Miss. Taury.

Taury: Ok. So I'm assuming this black stuff on the map is basically where I can't see.

Fenwarin: Fog of war, yup. 

GM: Yeah.

Taury: Yeah. And if I'm going to move, say to here, I can't because there's stuff here.

GM: Yes, you will have to go around it.

Markus: That looks like a table where they were preparing meals and stuff, or selling weapons, one or the other.

Morana: I mean, could she try like an Acrobatics or Athletics or something to get over it?

GM: Could.

Taury: Would that be not an action though? Because that would mean I wouldn't be able to move and fire.

GM: You could do that as part of your move action.

Taury: Ok. Well I'm going to try that then.

GM: All right, give me an Acrobatics.

Markus: Before you... I was going to say, you also risk landing flat on your face if you do that.

Taury: Look, at least I'll have done something. (Laughs)

Markus: Fair enough.

Taury: Like anything, literally anything! Anyway, so that acrobatics, you say?

GM: Yes.

Markus: (Laughs)

Taury: So just that on its own?

GM: Yep. All right. That is enough to get around this this obstacle and essentially go through it without slowing you down.

Taury: Great, great. And can I shoot now?

GM: Yes.

Taury: Sweet! Not that there's anything left to shoot. Yeah, I suppose I aim for... Both of them are technically prone from here yeah?

GM: Yep.

Taury: Or in cover?

GM: And yes.

Taury: But I shouldn't take any penalties on that because of the blessing. Right? The range penalties.

GM: True. No range penalties.

Morana: The one on the left stood up didn't it?

GM: It's awake, it just hasn't stood.

Taury: Fair enough. Well, I'm going to shoot at this one.

GM: Ok.

Taury: Can you hear the resignation in my voice? 

Fenwarin: I feel sorry for you.

Markus: I'm glad it missed to be honest.

GM: Ha ha ha! When your party turns against you.

Taury: Well, I knew it wasn't going to hit him anyway.

Markus: No sorry, but when you're shooting the one goblin that's still asleep!

Taury: No, they said he wasn't asleep.

Morana: No, the one on the right is still asleep, it's the one on the left!

Taury: Well, it doesn't matter. I'm not going to hit him today anyway. Clearly today is like just shit roll day. Genuinely really upset when fucking Fenwarin rolled a 20, I was like, are you kidding me?! The non fighter...

Fenwarin: Hey, I'm a fighter!

Taury: ...with a bow.

Fenwarin: I'm just not physical.

Taury: No, but like you hit it like, as a last, you know, last opportunity with your stick. I was swinging a fucking scythe and I missed like three times!

Morana: You would have hated my alchemist in the last campaign!

GM: All right. Markus its on you. You Just need to mop up these two. I believe in you guys.

Markus: Yeah.

Taury: Well, not me.

Markus: Well.

Taury: You don't believe in me, believe in everybody else.

GM: I believe in your potential.

Fenwarin: That's so diplomatic.

Morana: Ah ha ha ha ha!

Taury: If they weren't here I would be dead by now.

GM: Potentially, potential.

Markus: I take it the goblin horde is still showing signs of retreating?

GM: Yes, there's still pockets here and there.

Markus: Ok. Is anyone nearby who looks like they've been involved in the action and is injured in any way?

GM: Taury.

Markus: Oh is Taury still wounded?

Taury: About two or something.

Markus: Ah yeah and all the civilians cleared out. Ok. Getting down from the platform, can I just count it is difficult terrain, and take an extra square to get down safely without having to do Acrobatics, or whatever? 

GM: Yeah.

Markus: Ok. Markus will, seeing that Taury is wounded, Markus will walk up, "Here. This should help."

Taury: Out of character, will it though? Like will it? 

GM: (Laughs)

Markus: It'll make you feel better.

Taury: No, it won't.

Markus: 6 points of healing. So.

GM: All right, so this little goblin here that you guys did not manage to put out of its misery, is going to attempt to cut Deadeye.

Markus: Is he going to stand up first?

GM: No.

Markus: Ok.

GM: He's going to flail about while on his back and slash at Deadeye. Amazingly, mechanically, you take no penalties for doing this. 

Fenwarin: Wow!

Deadeye: I guess that makes sense.

Morana: Oh, my god!

Deadeye: Let's see if that confirms.

GM: There's your lesson Taury, you just need to roll around on the ground to stab things.

Taury: Yeah,

Morana: Ah ha ha ha!

Taury: Take intense disadvantage.

Fenwarin: Oh man!

GM: Crit confirmed.

Taury: Welp.

GM: Lesson learned Taury!

Taury: Fucking welp!

GM: Lesson learned! 2 d4, plus 4. 9 points of damage to you Deadeye! As this little guy slashes you with his dog slicer, the serrations of it biting into your flesh and just catching it just right, and raking off more than you thought it was going to.

Deadeye: Ow!

Taury: You got bald patches now.

GM: Morana.

Morana: Cast daze on that goblin, "Just stop that!" It's a 14 will save.

GM: Yep. He shivers. Deadeye, your turn.

Deadeye: What does Daze do?

Morana: If he gets another turn he gets no action.

Deadeye: Oh thats handy, thats very handy. If I fire a gun into melee whats the penalty?

GM: Well, considering you're the one in melee, nothing. 

Deadeye: Ok.

GM: Normally firing a gun in melee, you being the one in melee, would provoke an attack of opportunity. However this thing's dazed.

Deadeye: Oh, good. Then I will probably grab my gun again, shoot it. "Would you just die?!"

GM: And it does.

Deadeye: Well, good. Then I will reload.

GM: All right.

Deadeye: As a swift action.

GM: Fenwarin

Fenwarin: Yep.

GM: The goblin in front of you has splattered.

Morana: 'He has ceased to be!'

GM: An old musket handgun being fired into its face from point blank. Those balls did a lot of damage.

Fenwarin: And I'm splattered now in blood. Goblin blood. 

Deadeye: Indeed.

GM: Yeah.

Fenwarin: Mmm yummy!

Taury: Just adds to the blood you already have all over you.

Fenwarin: Yeah. Well, I guess I'll walk up to the war chanter, I'll just ask Deadeye and Morana that are standing around me, "Should I sneak up on the other goblin there and whack him?"

Morana: "I mean, it needs to die."

Fenwarin: "It does. Yeah." Then I move up. Time for another quarterstaff.

Morana: Get the crit!

GM: That does hit. 

Fenwarin: Ok!

Markus: High on the damage.

GM: All right. Taury.

Taury: Should we just skip my turn? (Laughs)

Fenwarin: (Laughs).

Markus: Aaah shoot it.

Fenwarin: Come on. Come On Taury.

Taury: Oh, I'm gonna move to here, and I'm going to fire another arrow.

GM: All right.

Taury: At the only remaining ones.

Morana: I was about to say, if you rolled a 1 and shot Fenwarin I would have fucken died!

Taury: At least I'd have hit something! I would have been happy! 

Morana: Ah ha ha ha!

GM: Markus. (Laughs)

Markus: I step over here and reach out a hand to Deadeye, and with a slight breeze... 4 points of healing.

Deadeye: Oh thanks!

GM: This cart you're all gathered around is on fire. It is very warm. It is all oil and wood burn, you've been standing next to it for about 20 seconds now, you're starting to feel the heat significantly. Ok. This little goblin here, you've woken him up. He will reach out a hand and tap your ankle Fenwarin

Fenwarin: Ok.

GM: As he says some words you don't quite understand. Give me a Will save.

Fenwarin: Ok.

Markus: Oh no! (laughs)

Taury: What languages Goblins speak?

GM: Goblin.

Taury: Just, just goblin, fair enough.

Markus: Spellcraft to determine what that was that we just got cast.

GM: Sure, it'll be very apparent as it affects Fenwarin.

Taury: Welp! (laughs)

Fenwarin: (Laughs). Yeah, basically

GM: Fenwarin. You collapse to the ground in riotous laughter!

Deadeye: Oh, no.

GM: Markus. You identify Hideous Laughter.

Morana: Oh God!

Markus: Oh, really? I thought the DC was higher than that.

Morana: Morana actually face palms.

GM: The goblin then stands. Morana.

Morana: "No no no, there'll be none of that. Daze!"

GM: Is daze a charm?

Morana: It is compulsion.

GM: This little guy gets bonuses against charms, just compulsion. Ok.

Morana: "You lucky little bastard." Morana scowls and looks supremely irritated. Looks at her doll. "You believe this shit?"

GM: Deadeye. Fenwarin is rolling on the ground, laughing his head off.

Deadeye: I'm gonna move a little bit, away from the cart, its getting a little warm. And then I will point the gun and fire at the goblin.

GM: All right. 

Deadeye: 17.

GM: Ok. You catch it center mass. It flies back against the side of the chapel and expires.

Deadeye: Good. I blow on my barrel, give the gun a spin and then holster it.

 	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/ .