Frogs croak and the frame of the Kaijitsu Star creaks in the dead of night.
Thurgood looks at the group, and at Sarn.
Hmm, as I said before I think we should head back to town then come back and investigate this and the other areas of interest a bit further, but during the day time so we can see a bit better.
You have absolutely never heard of this ship, though it bares a famous-in-Sandpoint surname.
"Ok, back to town we go!"
Brigitte cheerfully moves along with the rest of the group in a townward fashion.
Ansirus follows along with the rest of the party back to town.
I'll have to ask Ameiko about this when we get back, maybe she'll know something about it.
Sandpoint, 5:26 AM
Nodding to the sleepy-looking guards watching over Sandpoint's walls, your party passes through the gates in the very pre-dawn hours of the morning. The town is asleep, and most businesses are closed until daybreak. Ansirus has a standing room at the Rusty Dragon, and Sarn and Mirasha have humble dwellings of their own in town - Mirasha's being especially humble, not that really spends much time there, comfortable as she and Shalelu are in the surrounding hinterlands. The remainder of your party has been given a room to share at the Rusty Dragon Inn (though some of you might or might not feel welcome to stay with one another), and there's space reserved for Ricardo in the tavern's stables - a favor from Amieko to Shalelu.
There are three kinds of gifts per NPC. Since we're getting right into it, I'll post the ones you know about here, and to the campaign info tab.For those of you that don't know, Jade Regent incorporates a couple of different sub-systems (like Kingmaker's kingdom-building, or Rise of the Runelords' sin scores). Jade Regent's mechanics revolve around a caravan (wherein your PCs will possess and manage a traveling caravan) and "relationship scores" with the four central NPCs of the adventure, Ameiko, Koya, Sandru, and Shalelu.
If you build your relationship with an NPC up high enough, you earn experience for your party. If you build it up to the highest level, you earn the devotion or enmity boon (depending on whether you'd been building a friendship or a rivalry with that NPC). All the boons are pretty good, though you won't know what kind of boon you'll get until you get it.
You start with a relationship score equal to your Charisma modifier with each NPC. With the NPC relevant to your campaign trait, you gain an additional +4 bonus. You can build the score up from there in one of three ways:
1.) Companionship. Each time you gain a level, you may add +1 to your relationship score with any one of the four primary NPCs.
2.) Special Events. Certain events in the Jade Regent Adventure Path can alter your Relationship Score with some NPCs. The GM will inform you of these adjustments if and when they occur.
3.) Giving Gifts. Once per level (including 1st level), you can give a gift to (or insult) an NPC in order to increase your friendship (or rivalry) with that NPC. There are three types of gifts and three types of insults that work for each NPC. You can discover these by experimentation, trial-and-error, or just by asking. At the start of the game, you know the following gifts and insults work for sure:
Ameiko: likes exciting adventure stories - dislikes racism; not just against Tian peoples, but against anyone
Koya: likes detailed maps; the older the better - dislikes blashphemy against Desna, the goddess of dreams and dreamers, travels and travelers
Sandru: likes fine foodstuffs; especially shellfish and brandy - dislikes implications or admissions of criminal behavior in others
Shalelu: likes survivalist gear and tools - dislikes insults (or even "harmless" jokes or terms, like "knife-ears") about elvesWhenever you give your once-per-level gift (or insult) to an NPC, you'll make a Diplomacy (for gifts) or Intimidate (for insults) skill check. The DC of this check is equal to your current relationship score. If your check succeeds, your relationship score increases by +1. If it succeeds by 10 or more; +2. A score of 6 or more is enough to earn a little XP; a score of 31 or higher is enough to earn the devotion (friendship) boon or enmity (rivalry) boon with that NPC. The boons, once earned, stay in effect for as long as that NPC is alive. Mind that no type of relationship (friendship or rivalry) is better than the other - the boons are just different. Since you have no idea what the boons will do for you, it's best to just play it the way that seems like the most fun to you.
You CAN raise multiple relationships at the same time, but you only get one companionship and one gift (or insult) per level, so you'll probably want to focus on one NPC until you reach a satisfactory level with that NPC, or unless your Diplomacy or Intimidate scores are VERY good - good enough to reliably earn that +2 bonus per gift or insult.
We should regroup at daybreak and turn in our ears. I would like a chance to speak with my sister before we attend to any further adventuring
"Yeah, I've got them ears here somewhere. Let's sell 'em!"
Brigitte aggressively pats herself down until she finds them mixed into her spell component pouch. She then settles to cleaning and separating them, making various designs on the ground with them, and generally waiting for the day to begin for the town.
A stray dog pads by, regarding your group suspiciously in the pre-dawn quiet.
Thurgood nods in agreement with Mirasha and Brigitte.
Sounds good to me. I am going to rest and prepare for tomorrow.
Thurgood finds a secluded area and sharpens his blade and mind for the adventure ahead and the inevitable conversation with other beings that will come before it.
As dawn breaks over Sandpoint, the citizenry wakes.
"Unless someone objects, I think we should go to Sheriff Hemlock and pass on all the information we have while collecting our bounty. Then we can take care of any other shopping or gifting as necessary. Maybe rest here tonight and start out again tomorrow morning. Thoughts?"
Ansirus makes another attempt at identifying the magic arrows found on Gutwad.
Yes, I suppose business first, then pleasure.
Sarn confers with Ansirus about the arrows properties in order to sell them.
Looking to the group
"While you collect the bounty I will begin selling off the various goods we have collected. If there is anything you wish to claim now is the time to do it. I will meet back with you when I'm done and divide the money then."
"Ok, sounds like plan."
Brigitte marches off towards Hemlock with many ears.
Thurgood finds a quiet bar near the outskirts of town and sits at a table, preferably outside, and glares at people drinking their drinks while sharpening his weapon and eating some food.
God I could go for a drink right now. These damn people....drinking...enjoying themselves...damn them..
After identifying the arrows to Sarn and Mirasha, Ansirus heads into the Rusty Dragon to find Ameiko, both to discuss the derelict ship in the swamp and to give her the hairpin.
Mirasha goes to find Shalelu to give her one of the arrows
On your way in, you note Shalelu's horse in the stables - a so-pale-that-its-almost-sky-blue-colored mare called Summerlight.
"Ahh, it is Koya's old friend, yes? You are here to sell, then! I have hearing of your adventures for Belor's eh... Belor's ears. Goblins ears, I am meaning. Yes, fetching sherriff, ours. Come in and barter with me. Or you are coming for the advices? Your fortune? Come and tell me, handsome friend of Koya's. Yes. Are you knowing... eh, speaking the Varisian or the Shoanti tongues"?
Thurgood, sits, alone, eating his meal. Staring off into the distance wondering why he has not been killed in combat yet.
Is this what the rest of my life will be like? Will I ever find the glory I seek? Or will I end up like one of these miserable lumps. Drinking myself to death...Well at least they are working towards a death. Faster than I am...
Thurgood gets up after eating his food, pays and set out to find his companions. Hoping they are ready to go back into the swamp.
"Hey there, Sheriff. I've got some ears for ya!"
Brigitte cheerfully begins pulling out the goblin ears and attempting to hand them to the coated and cloaked gentleman.
"Just here to barter..."
Sarn thinks for a moment
"And maybe some information/advise about Koya herself. I havent't seen her in some time and I'm curious about what shes passionate about these days"
Sarn begins unloading the mule
"Well, that's a very fine thing, Brigitte." Hemlock turns Gutwad's meaty ear over in his hands.
"Very fine, and very well-done. I'll have Mayor Deverin free up the gold for the bounty. One-hundred and forty gold, plus a three-hundred-gold-piece reward for 'Gutwad's' demise in particular. Local ranger will confirm your account, most like - a formality. I'll forward your rewards to the Rusty Dragon."
Hemlock rises from his seat, and finishes fastening his cloak.
"I'm on my way to take care of some business - I'll put your bounty first on my list for the day. Ought to have it by evening."
He hefts the handful of ears.
"These ears mean unmolested travelers and un-murdered dogs and pets and maybe even kids. I thank you and your friends, Silverbraid."
The weathered Varisian nods toward your mule.
"You are to bringing him inside - is okay. I like mule. What's is name of mule? We will unload him, poor beast, and scratch his ears."
"No problem, Sheriff. We glorified Gorum with our many murders!The other stuff you said is good too."
Brigitte happily returns to the Rusty Dragon and has a mug of victorious ale, waiting for her companions to finish their business.
Ameiko, good morning! Ansirus approaches the bar, nodding to the bartender.
I return with gifts, and stories.
"Hey; you're back! How'd it go? Where's the mercs? You ditch 'em?"
Then, before you can answer, she shouts.
"LELU! YOUR SIS IS BACK!"
Presently, Shalelu makes he way into the common room.
Ansirus regales Ameiko with stories of their swampy adventure, particularly his own near death experience with a boa constrictor, and wraps up the stories by presenting his gift, the Tian-style hairpin, ...in Gutwad's treasure cache, I spotted this, and I thought you might like to have it.
Mirasha embraces her sister quickly as she enters the room
See, nothing to worry about. And I come bearing gifts
Mirasha presents Shalelu with the magic arrow
"Amazing," Amieko declares. She plucks the hairpin up, smiling.
"Red pearl - really rare in Varisia. Actually, really rare in Avistan. The goblins had this?"
She gestures over the hairpin, and speaks a strange syllable.
@Mirasha: Shalelu takes the goblin-sized arrow with a wry smile.
"It's funny, an oracle told me once that I would bear a daughter, and live to see her grow into a fine huntress. I have been thinking of carving a child's bow. Perhaps in another seventy years, I will."
She quivers the arrow.
"We should kill more goblins. Collect a whole quiver of magic goblins' arrows for her."
@Everyone Else:
Brigitte chugs a second mug of ale.
Returning to his allies Thurgood can be seen walking, deep in thought.
Dragons? This seems curious. But for now it is best to deal with the map we have and leads we are already working on. More money working with solid ground beneath our feet.
After find the first ally Thurgood approaches and in a hushed town speaks with them.
So, whats the word? I say we spend a few days clearing out the rest of the swamp of known threats before we move on with other plans.
Brigitte and Thurgood join the party at the Rusty Dragon.
Sarn continues to negotiate prices with the merchant.
Ansirus, Brigitte, Mirasha, and Thurgood have all reconvened at the Rusty Dragon Inn. Sheriff Hemlock has promised to be along later in the day to compensate you for your ears - including a larger bonus for Chief Gutwad's slaying.
"As soon as we collect our ear-murder-money, I say we head back out and kill more things! For Gorum!"
Sarn goes in search of the group
Sounds like we wait for the Sheriff and then it's back to the swamp
Sarn finds the party at the Rusty Dragon; your travelling companions are together again. After dividing the wealth that Sarn sold off for, each of the five of you collect 228 gp, 2 sp, and 4 cp.
"Well, with this lump of wealth plus my share of our goblin-murder money, I can buy a masterwork longspear! Then I'll be even BETTER at murdering things for Gorum! Huzzah!"
Brigitte eagerly awaits the Sheriff's arrival so she can go sharp-thing shopping with her share of the bounty.
Before we head back out, Ameiko, we stumbled upon a wrecked ship in the middle of the swamp bearing the name 'The Kaijitsu Star'. Any idea how this ship got out there?
"A ship? I've never heard of any Kaijitsu Star. It must be a coincidence... how strange."
Later in the evening, Sheriff Belor Hemlock tracks you down at the tavern. He carries a small case, opening it to show that it is filled with gold.
"Compliments of the town of Sandpoint on behalf of Mayor Deverin and myself. Your bounty, for the ears of Gutwad and his tribesmen."
"Thanks, Sheriff!"
Brigitte takes her portion of 88 gold, combines it with the rest of her share and buys a masterwork longspear (selling her old one at the same time). She bounces happily clutching her new toy.
Ansirus gathers his share of the money.
Thank you, Sherriff, this money will go to good use.
Thurgood pockets his portion of the loot and nods approval to the Sheriff.
Hmm, should save up for better upgrades. No point squandering the cash all at once.
Well what is the plan Ansirus? Check out the boat? Or look for this cave in the swamp.
Belor returns your collective gratitude, and sits in on your impromptu strategy meeting, pulling up a chair and simply listening. Amieko polishes the bar while doing largely the same thing.
The way I see things. We have some unfinished business in the swamp with what may be a skeleton type creature, based on the tracks we found. I suggest we head back in and search all known points of interest, then figure out where to go from there. Thoughts?
Thurgood looks around at the groups faces judging what the party deems best, before finally setting his gaze on Belor looking for his approval or disapproval.
"Sounds about right. I will follow your lead, Thurgood."
Brigitte happily continues admiring her new weapon, contributing little to the conversation.
Sounds good, lead the way
Mirasha puts her share in a safe place