GM Bold Strider's Rise of the Runelords - Flaxseed Lodge (Inactive)

Game Master rpblue

Elena casts Mage Armor, remembering that if there's someone in this place, it's probably a cultist or an undead.

"Can anyone divine this place? I have a bad feeling about this."

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Raj shakes his head and murmurs, "Whoever they are, they are trying not to be noticed."

Jace assures Raj that no one seems to be hiding. "Smells like someone is cooking in the kitchen and with all of the lights it looks as if someone is actually strangely living here." Jace whispers.

With blade and shield out Jace moves towards the smell of the cooking food.

"Aren't we going to be a bit of a shock, just walking in?"

The Vudrani shakes his head. "This place was recently boarded up, so it looks abandoned from the outside. Whoever is here, they don't want to be obvious."

As the group moves towards the open room and the smell of the food, they round the corner with Jace taking the lead, sword and shield drawn.

Moving into the doorway, Jace is a bit surprised as there is a woman in an apron there stirring a pot over a stove. The kitchen appears to be in perfect condition, much like the entryway, but in stark contrast to the outside. The woman turns to you and smiles. "Ah! You must be friends of Aldern! I am his wife, Iesha." she says joyfully.

"Have you come for dinner?" she asks.

Perception check (add +2 if it involves potential for being surprised, invisible, or incorporeal creatures): 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (15) + 13 = 28

perception: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (8) + 11 = 19

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Perception: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (19) + 3 = 22

Jace stutters as he is caught off guard. "Bu...but how? How can it be? We.. We saw you in the manor?"

Perception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (1) + 10 = 11

"Aldern thought you were dead. He... thought he killed you, if I remember right."
Move Action: studied target
Sense Motive: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (7) + 7 = 14

Perception 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (5) + 9 = 14

"What are you talking about, Jim?"

She turns to the woman, and strikes up a conversation. "Aldern is, was, a friend of mine. I'm from Snadpoint. He saved me from some awful goblins before."

Jim tries to sort back through the mess of memories and strange visions he still carries with him from the haunted mansion. "I... I'm not sure." He closes his eyes and rubs his temples, frustrated.

"Where is Aldern now?"

The woman looks at you quizzically. "I'm not sure what you are speaking about." she says, clearly a bit uncomfortable. "We haven't been to the Manor in a few months."

She sets down her ladle and wipes her hands on a plush towel. "If you'd like, I can get my husband. He is upstairs."

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Raj lowers his bow and nods, bafflement plain on his face.

Jace looks confused. "Aldern is here? What are you doing with all of the windows boarded up?" He doesn't quite know what to think. "Yes, it might be a good idea to speak with Aldern. Could you call him down?"

Jim looks mightily suspicious and fairly concerned for his safety.

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"Yes, please. Would you call him down?"

"Where else would he be?" she says in response to Jace's first question. "He came back from Sandpoint all in a fluster and wanted to immediately board up the home in case of a goblin invasion here, however he was very happy to hear that the town succeeded in routing them."

"I suppose we just haven't really thought about taking down the boards, though I guess we should!" she says with a chipper voice.

As she speaks, she moves towards the edge of the kitchen, near the rear and opens a door. Calling out, you hear her yell. "Aldern! You have guests!"

After a few seconds, you hear footsteps descending the staircase. From the doorway, Aldern enters the kitchen, looking perfectly alive and healthy. There are no signs of any undeath in the man. "Ah! This is quite a surprise!" he says with great glee in his voice.

He grasps Elena in a hug. "I am glad that you are still safe from the goblins!" he says before releasing her and extending his hand to the others. "Great to see you all again. What is the purpose of your visit? Surely, you did not come all this way to just see me, Jim."

Jace is completely baffled as Aldern walks down stairs and right past him.

He stutters. "It...it can't be. It looks just like him in the paintings from that accursed manor."

Not believing his eyes Jace steps out into the hallway to think for a moment while Aldern speaks with Elena and Jim.

Muttering underneath his breath so few will hear Jace grabs ahold of his medallion beneath his clothes. "Please let me be wrong..."

Cast Detect Evil as quietly as I can away from prying eyes and ears out in the hallway.

Jace opens his eyes. His view of the world has changed slightly as he sees a presence or aura of sorts. Concentrating on the spell he walks back into the kitchen to observe its occupants.

"Aldern, you look healthy! And you seem fine..." Elena stammered. "Could you answer a question for me? How long have you been here in Mangnimar? When was the last time you were at your Sandpoint property?"

Jim shakes his head and looks like he might lose his composure.
will to disbelieve: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 12

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Ziebodug scratches his head, and then says "I may need a drink..."

Sense motive: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (19) + 12 = 31

Aldern smiles to Elena, though it seems tinged with emotion. "Well, milady, I left Sandpoint and came straight here to warn my wife about the impending invasion of the goblins. I don't think we've been to the manor in..." he says, trailing off and looking at his wife.

"Oh, I think it has been a few years, if not closing in on a decade." she adds, clearly uncomfortable talking about the manor.

Aldern scowls. "Yes. I am thankful for my family for leaving wealth to me and allowing me and Iesha to live in prosperous times, but we have little desire to visit their manor."

Coughing, obviously trying to change the subject, Iesha pulls out a stack of wooden bowls. "Can I interest you in some stew?" she asks. "I was just preparing the venison that Aldern caught earlier." she says as she smiles at you.

Raj shakes his head. "I'm sorry, I don't eat meat." He catches himself. "I am sorry for not introducing myself sooner. I am Rajendra Sastri, and I have joined Elena and the others in defending Sandpoint."

Sense motive on Aldern's words 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (18) + 11 = 29

The pair reacts to Raj's words as Aldern extends his hand to shake. "Good to meet you!" he offers as Iesha begins opening drawers. "I'm sure I can whip up something for you, Mister Rajendra." she says as she grabs a knife and an onion.

Jim smiles and speaks. "You know, I think I'll have to decline. We're actually in town on some rather important business, so I don't think we can stay."
Jim looks to the others to back him up.

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"Venison stew? That does sound good. But if we have to be going.... perhaps we can call again and catch you up on Sandpoint news?"

Regroup and return?

I was more thinking "run away and never come back", but yeah, same basic concept.

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"Well, Aldern, its good to see you hale and hearty! We do have some business to attend to. I don't suppose you'd like to meet us in the city tomorrow. Maybe we could get you to show us around?"

Jace let's his guard down as he begins to believe that this is indeed Aldern.

So who was that we captured in the Manor?

Shaking his head he clears his thoughts. "Actually Aldern. We are here investigating a series of murders. Think you can help lead us in the right direction?"

The pair looks confused as most of the group tries to take their leave, but Jace continues to ask questions and indicates that he is staying. Aldern speaks first. "Oh, well, I wish you guys good luck with your business!" he says to Elena. "I can't meet you in the city tomorrow, but you can stop by here, if you'd like!" he says cheerfully.

"As for your business of investigating murders, I'm not sure how I can help, but I will try." he offers.

Jace smiles and takes his leave. "Sounds good. We will see you tomorrow Aldern."

Once outside Jace confers with his companions. "Ok, what the hells is happening here. Is that really Aldern? I tried to sense anything from the pair and they don't seem to be evil."

"Are you sure your magic feelers are up to snuff? Because that felt all kinds of wrong.
And why couldn't he meet you in town, Elena? I'll bet this whole estate is some kind of illusion trap. But it seems so real..." He trails off. "Didn't someone say this place was abandoned?"

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"I'm all sorts of confused. I know That was Aldern that was eaten up with the disease back in Sandpoint. But you all saw what I just saw. That was Aldern, too. And yes, I remember them saying his holdings here were abandoned. I've never met his wife before. Is there a chance she could be to whatever is happening, somehow?"

I thought that lady in the portrait was his wife? Does this lady look the same?

"We saw what his wife looked like in all of the portraits in the manor. It also looked just like her. Could it be possible something took over the manor and what Aldern in Magnimar says is true?"

"I do not know. Let's watch this place tonight, and see who comes in or leaves."

"Sounds like a good idea. Let's find someplace that we can set up watch and see what or who comes in or out of here."

Iesha at the townhouse looks just like Iesha from the manor portrait.

The group, deciding to set up a watch of the townhouse, makes their way into a nearby 'upscale' tavern, choosing to sit next to the windows adjacent to the roaring fireplace. The smell of the stew is intoxicating as it bubbles over the flame.

You wait and watch out the large window you sat next to in order to keep an eye on the townhouse, but you don't see any activity for several hours. It grows late in the night, nearing on midnight.

Do you keep watching as long as you can from the tavern and then move to somewhere outside once it closes?

Sounds good to me.

Hey, I don't have any better ideas.

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Sounds like a plan to me. I'm all sorts of confused by this plot twist!

Maybe it is just interlopers squatting in the house... dopplegangers of some sort?

"We are going to have to find a place here soon as the bar is bout to close." Jace points to the barkeeps setting chairs up on tables and wiping everything down.

"Maybe we can find an alley to crouch in that has a good vantage point."

"Or a roof."

"I think Rajenda's suggestion is better, but it had better be an unoccupied building if we're going to be crawling around atop of it. Wouldn't want to have the guard called on us."

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