GM Rednal's Rise of the Runelords: AE (Inactive)

Game Master Rednal

Feel free to keep chatting if you want to - and just let me know when you want to head somewhere else and/or investigate further around here.

With pleasantries exchanged, Shalluk set off to find the scholar, Brodert Quink, and get what information regarding the symbol as they could. Once that was done, it was time to try and locate this Misgivings.

As Shalluk began to leave, Zelani continued, "We're going back to town...likely talk to Brodert Quink and the Sheriff before we try to figure out the Misgiving business Shalluk mentioned. You're welcome to join us, if you want Rixa." Zelani said, trying to keep her voice smooth and cheery, before calling back through the door to the staff in the same tone though louder, "Thank you very much for your time, I hope the rest of the day goes better for you and your other patients. I'm...sorry about all of this...take care all of you." she said, unsure why but feeling the need to apologize, to try to make something about this right, before she turned to follow Shalluk, trying to turn her thoughts from their anxiousness to the next step.

"Okay. I'm still new around her, so you'll need to show me around. I'm happy to help however I can." Her voice almost seems to be singing, "I hate the undead, so it's really no problem at all to destroy a few."
She then turns to the aides, "I am very sorry about this tragedy. May Shelyn guide you, and may your lives be full of song and joy."

The two tiefling aides grunted slightly, clearly a bit hesitant in the presence of two Aasimar, but soon moved on. The journey back to town was quick enough... and Brodert Quink's home was easy enough to find at the end of Tower Street, just under the Old Light and across from a dilapidated shack. When you knocked, a balding middle-aged man slid a viewport aside and looked at you. "I'm with my books right now. Can it wait?" he asked.

"I'm afraid not, sir," Shalluk replied. "We have a symbol that we need deciphering somewhat urgently." Looking over at Rixa, Shalluk murmured, "We were asked to keep the murders quiet."

The anxious druid's eyes flickered over the man who opened the door. Zelani nodded in agreement with the Shalluk, continuing "This is on request of the Sheriff, I'm sorry to interrupt - hopefully this will not take much of your time..." with a soft smile, tighter than usual as her voice was edged with concern, watching his reaction.

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (8) + 12 = 20
Sense Motive: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 2 = 21

Rixa, a newcomer in town, stays behind slightly, but you can tell it's difficult for her to stay quiet, her naturally bubbly personality coming through even as she says nothing. The paladin keeps a watchful eye out and happily follows along with any plan the others present.

Finally finishing up my character formatting. Hopefully done in the next half hour or so.

"By the Sheriff, you say? Perhaps this will be interesting after all." Brodert said, brightening somewhat and opening the door to let you inside. He peered carefully at the symbol once it was presented to him, adjusting his glasses thoughtfully.

"Well, I recognize it, that's for sure. This is a symbol of Thassilon, and as far as we can tell, it's one of their most important runes. It's called the 'Sihedron Rune'. It signifies the seven virtues of rule - wealth, fertility, honest pride, abundance, eager striving, righteous anger, and rest - and also seven of the schools of magic. They didn't like the school of Divination very much, apparently, so that was out. Of course..." he smirked slightly. "From what we've found, it seems Thassilon's rulers weren't so good at the virtue bit, and the seven classic sins appear to have come as corruptions of the virtues. In any event, the symbol is one of power, possibly representing the empire itself."

Zelani's tense smile relaxed slightly, though unsure how this information would help them. "Shalluk and I have run into it a few times, both at Thistletop which I would guess were quite old...like this ring." she said, pulling the ring from her pocket again and showing it to Quink. "but also one...made more recently nearby." Zelani said as she picked her words carefully. "There are a few concerns about who now would use this symbol and the likely possibility they were trying to send a message or something..." she said, unsurely, as she tried to get answers without explaining the details, and tried harder to push the images from her mind.

"What kind of power? Can you think of a reason someone might use it, or leave it as a message?" He didn't want to mention how it was left - on a corpse. This was why Shalluk had recommended at least telling people that it had happened...

"I can't say I recognize them," Rixa says, "But I have heard of Thassilon in rumors alone. They say that it was an empire from before Starfall, and some of its monuments still dot the countryside." she shudders, "My parents would tell me tales of them to keep me in line. What might the symbol represent?"

Sorry, but I'm having trouble finding where we found the symbol and what it was on. Where is the relevant post?

Technically, you didn't find it - you were told about it right here.

Brodert shrugged slightly at Rixa's question. "Like I said, it's mostly a symbol of the empire itself. So anyone who used it was probably a scholar... ah, but it wasn't me." he added. "I've been busy with my research, and asking around ought to confirm that. Without talking to them, I couldn't say exactly what they were trying to communicate... maybe they found something in old ruin? Directed to carve it by somebody else? Saw it in a book and thought it looked interesting enough to throw people off their trail? Without more information, it's impossible to draw a real conclusion. Suffice to say that it's best to keep your thoughts open, rather than jumping to the first conclusion you think may be right."

Ah, okay. Thanks. Would Rixa have been filled in IC?

A frown crosses Rixa's face, "Does it have any magical significance on its own? Might it have been used as a focus for a spell, or a scrying sensor of some sort?" She plays with her sleeves, which causes her clothing to flicker between a number of outfits before she noticed what was happening and left it in a plain dress the color of a cloudless sky.

We would have filled you in on most of it on the trip back though...since Zelani had a freak out finding carved into on Harker' body while having the ring plus Shalluk's vomitting, how much detail the two went into... everything they thought was important would have been explained - Zelani would mention a note was addressed to her at one scene which is part of why the Sheriff requested our help and that it's likely from the murderer but not the exact contents of said note for example, she hasn't told those to anyone yet. I think poor mutilated bodies, one with a symbol we've seen before would have been covered, but not that Zelani had the same symbol in her pocket (or freaking out, and she wouldn't have mentioned Shalluk getting sick). She's kinda avoiding how much she feels connected to horrible things she doesn't understand.

Zelani chuckled gently at Brodert's comments on his innocence, both because it seemed sweet and to reassure him that she didn't think such things...at this time. She nodded to Brodert's reminder to be open minded as she repocketed the ring, considering what else could be asked without going into details. She didn't want to have to bother him again.

"Could you tell us any sites that might have such runes nearby? We know that the ruins beneath Town have various ones, and the ones in Thistletop. What of others?" Hopefully they weren't as common as they seemed...

Rixa would probably have been told, yes. XD

The scholar shrugged at Rixa's question. "Eh, maybe. No telling what you can do with specific symbols. A lot would depend on where it was made. A little rune carved somewhere inconspicuous, but with a good view of the house? Could be a sensor. Anything less permanent than that probably wouldn't be, though, especially if someone was able to catch a magical signature and trace it back to the caster. Risk of discovery's a bit too high, although I suppose it can't be totally ruled out. As for places it would appear... anywhere connected with the old empire would likely have it."

"Hmmm... what about... a sacrifice of some sort? Would it have any significance there? Or as a maker's mark? Is it likely to be used as simply a calling card, or would it have more significance than that?" Rixa very carefully tries to avoid mentioning anything about a murder.

Shalluk considered, and waited for answers to Rixa's questions.

Zelani tried to hide a cringe at the mention of sacrifice, looking to Shalluk sadly. The whole horrid situation had Zelani on edge...

"Given the amount of naughtiness Thassilon's rulers got up to, I suppose it's not impossible for it to have significance. Without being able to ask them, though - or at least find some documentation - there's really no way to know." he sounded genuinely apologetic about that, clearly wishing he had such answers.

"Where might be the best place to find such documentation?" Rixa asks, mind racing,
Perhaps someone found something that led to this. Now, if we could just find whatever it was that they found, we might be getting somewhere....
"Is there anywhere nearby that might have clues?"

"Does the term 'His Misgivings' have any meaning for you? A place, perhaps?" It was a longshot, but the scholar might know.

Zelani listened carefully to Rixa and Shalluk as she pushed away her other thoughts. "or perhaps a group or person?" Zelani added to Shalluk's question as some of the poor man's words flickered, burning through her mind: He said you would visit me. His Lordship. The one that unmade me said so. He has a place for you...He said that if you came to his Misgivings, that if you joined his Pack, he would end his harvest in your honor!. Zelani swallowed thickly and tried to push out a deep breath.

"Their belongings, maybe, or somewhere they live?" the scholar suggested. "Anybody who's using symbols for a purpose usually has some kind of guide. Could be a religious text, a book of old lore, some parchment with scribbles on it... they don't just get the symbols out of nowhere, see. There's usually a reference that influences their beliefs about the symbol, and if you can find something like that, you can get a good sense for what they're really up to. As for the Misgivings..." he shrugged. "Don't think I've come across that one. It does seem likely to be a place, but I don't think there's anything like that here in town."

"I'm sure a map or someone better with the local area will be able to help," Shalluk said with a small bow. "Our thanks for your help." He glanced at his Aasimar companions, to see if either of them wished to do anything more.

Zelani nodded at the response, considering what Brodert said. It wouldn't come out of nowhere - the number of possibilities made her uneasy but there was only so much to go on and it was better than nothing...she hoped.

"Thank you very much for your time, I appreciate it. I wish you well with your books." she said with a smile as she stepped back with a small bow.

Rixa gives him a beaming smile, "Thank you for your help. It's been quite valuable."

Where would you like to head to now?

The Harrower might be nice; grab a few Mythic abilities for Rixa, but that might just be me.

"Perhaps a more esoteric viewpoint might help. We have a Harrower in town. They...helped me, when I arrived." Shalluk looked to the others. "Her cards hold truths, although perhaps not what you would like to know, if you ladies would care to visit?"

Zelani raised her eyebrows, unsure for an uneasy moment, before nodding with a sigh. "If you think they are helpful, it might be what we need with all these... oddities. Afterwards, we should likely check in with the Sheriff." Zelani responded, rubbing her forehead in thought. "Should also likely get some rest soon as well -- and food if your stomach is up to it..." she said with a sympathetic smile.

There was a long, storied tradition of Harrowing in Varisia - and you knew just where the old lady's tent was located, too. If you cared to visit - and pay the fee, which was really no more than pocket change - she'd certainly be willing to read the cards for you.

Rixa pushes her way into the tent when they arrive, hoping that this place, full of ancient Varisian magical traditions, might give them some clues as to their current issue with ancient Varisian magical runes.
"Hello! I'm Rixa. I was hoping you might be able to help us with something."

Shalluk remained outside. He wasn't sure what happened if you got more than one reading. He suspected it didn't involve anything he wanted to find out, however.

Zelani paused with Shalluk outside, brushing and tugging gently on her clothes to freshen up her appearance as she spoke, "Is there anything I should be sure to, or you would like me to ask or say?" she said unsurely. While Zelani had lived most of her youth with her Varisian family, very little of that had to do with magic - and felt a bit unsteady in her thoughts with everything that had happened & valued Shalluk's advice even more when feeling this way.

All the clothes adjustment had appeared to cause Şenay to slide from the folds of her clothes, that and/or the snake was more aware that their druid would appreciate the extra pair of eyes right now and/or had just woken up and was a bit bored. Şenay found a warmish looking spot near Shalluk to sun themself.

Sitting inside the tent was an old Varisian woman - and Koya Mvashti, the town's only true reader of fate, smiled slightly as Rixa came in. "Ah, yes. I've been expecting you." she said, gesturing to the table before her. There, on the table and untouched since Rixa entered, was The Paladin. "Tell me what it is you seek, and I will lay the spread most appropriate for your needs."

Shalluk shook his head. "She...simply knew what I wanted, and told me what she knew. If there is more to this I do not know it - Varisian customs are foreign to me."

Rixa simply smiles, but her eyes are downturned in sadness, "We seek answers. There is a great evil loose, something we suspect has something to do with Thassilon. We hope to find this evil and cut it out at its roots. Can you help us? I know little of the Harrow, but my upbringing has told me of its power."

"Okay...take care out here, hopefully this won't take too long." she said with nod before saying something softly to Şenay in warm amused tone. The snake stretched out in the sun near Shalluk's feet and made no effort to reply as their druid followed Rixa into the tend.

Silently, Zelani listened while joining Rixa. "Thank you for seeing us. As Rixa said, we're hoping for aid to stop someone who seems to be using Thassilon imagery. The great evil calls himself a Lord, his...cruel acts a harvest, seems to have a pack and a 'Misgivings'." Zelani took a deep breath, her voice growing more pained and soft "and he has made clear he knows me, at least by name and that I live near here it seems, though I do not know how...or why..." Zelani bit part of her lip as she tried to keep her thoughts calm. "Any guidance would be appreciated, we would like to stop him before more are harmed."

"For a specific course of action... the Bridge provides the most appropriate guidance." Koya said, shuffling the Paladin back into her deck. She gestured to a jar on the end of the table a moment later. "There is, of course, a fee. One must not believe that knowledge of fate itself can be freely acquired, so I must ask that you pay as much - or as little - as you believe the knowledge is worth."

Zelani nodded, "Of course, and the effort put forth to be able to share such knowledge should be compensated." she said with a smile as she started to relax slightly. Even beyond the worth of the knowledge and effort to be compensated, everyone had needs that required coin and the druid liked to help others get what they need.

Of course, how much most knowledge is worth was hard to determine, even more this that had lives on the line and all that happened today muddling her thoughts. While considering, Zelani pulled a small clinking pouch seemingly from the folds of her clothes to show her willingness and eagerness to pay the fee for knowledge that help but all this horrid stuff behind the town, and herself.

Shalluk distanced himself from the door, so as not to listen in. The secrets revealed were for the ladies ears, not his. They would share what and as they wished. Which was not say he wasn't curious...

"How does nine gold and six silver sound? It's auspicious, after all. Nine alignments, six suits." Rixa fiddles with her coin pouch and withdraws the required amount.

Koya just grinned at the offer, then shuffled her deck more and put one card down, at the lower-right side of the table from Koya's view. "The first card of the Bridge represents the beginning of your journey." she said, flipping it up.

1d54 ⇒ 39 1d2 ⇒ 1

"The Publican, in his proper orientation, stands for fellowship and camaraderie. That is an auspicious beginning for a spread - not a perfect match, but certainly nothing to complain about." She set down the second card, directly above the first. "The second card represents the impetus pushing you on your quest."

1d54 ⇒ 3 1d2 ⇒ 2

"The Big Sky - but he is reversed. In this position, he refers to new shackles replacing the old. The new troubles of this town, I think, though that incident with the goblins was resolved rather nicely. The next three cards represent the trials you will face along your journey." she added, laying them out in a horizontal row to the right of the first two cards, extending outward from their middle to form the 'road' of the bridge.

1d54 ⇒ 21 1d2 ⇒ 2

"How very curious." Koya mused. "The first three cards in this bridge have the touch of both chaos and good upon them. A very interesting result, given your position. The Desert is also reversed, though, and refers to a passage with little hope. That said, remember that little hope is not the same as no hope at all... especially because this is only a trial, not the end of your journey. Do not give up simply because things look difficult." She flipped over the next card.

1d54 ⇒ 6 1d2 ⇒ 2

"At last, we step away from goodness - but the chaos remains. The Uprising here is twisted around, but as a neutral card, he has only one meaning: An overwhelming groundswell in which you are caught in something far more powerful than you. Yes, I do believe there will be matters of interest in your quest." She turned over the third card of trials.

1d54 ⇒ 51 1d2 ⇒ 1

"And still - still! - chaos reigns. The Courtesan is neutral, just as the previous card, and she stands for social and feminine intrigue. Your quest will not solely involve striking things, I believe, but some part of manners and guile as well." she tapped her chin thoughtfully. "The sixth card represents your prize for overcoming the trials." she said, placing another card to the lower right of the three horizontal cards, directly across from the first.

1d54 ⇒ 48 1d2 ⇒ 1

"The Unicorn, in his proper orientation. From the start of your quest to its prize, there is nothing but chaos - but he is a card of good as well, and that is always pleasant. Note, too, the swell of the cards... from goodness at the start, there is a challenge away from the light, but it returns at the end. Furthermore, his meaning is that what you seek is yours. There are, my dear, few cards you could call better in this position. So long as you continue your journey, you will find who you seek, and I do believe you will stop him. Yet this last card..." she put one more card down, directly above the sixth and completing the image of the bridge. "Journeys are not always without cost, and the seventh card tells us what you will sacrifice to achieve what you desire."

1d54 ⇒ 25 1d2 ⇒ 2

"The Tangled Briar - away from chaos at last, he is a card of evil and order alike. But he is reversed, and tells us that old evils endanger the present." Koya looked deep into Rixa's eyes. "And it is the calling of a Paladin to fight evil. This card defines the spread. It is the only card of order amidst chaos, the only darkness in what is otherwise neutral at best. The cards speak of your success, but also that this is only the beginning - that whatever is going on with this evil you seek, it is but the tip of something far deeper. If you planned to go about your way after finding this evil, I would suggest you change your plans, for your journey will be much longer than you realized."

The Harrow has ordained a largely positive fate for Rixa - and suggested that she will indeed find what she is looking for. Rixa has gained the following power:

Mythic Detect Evil: The paladin may use her detect evil ability as a swift action.

Rixa nods solemnly, "So, you're saying that the only hope we have against chaos is evil? That is a dark fate, to be sure, but it is one I shall bear. Do you see anything in the cards regarding our current dilemma? Where might we find our Misgivings?"

A complicated reading at best. The idea that this Lord could be the tip of greater threats was certainly a concern but there was so much in there than that. Zelani did her best to keep her anxious thoughts to herself under a thin smile as she listened to Rixa and Koya.

Şenay watched Shalluk move away for a few moments before moving very slowly to follow at a distance, following the warmest parts of the ground.

Shalluk watched the snake with interest, wondering if he should offer to warm it somehow. It seemed inappropriate, somehow, to offer it to someone's animal companions. But at least Senay was a little more casual than the Elk had been...

Koya shook her head. "I would not interpret the cards that way." she said. "Say, rather, that there is purpose behind the chaos and uncertainty you face now, and darkness as well. Remember, the Unicorn signifies that the end reward of your quest is good - that is no call to turn to evil, certainly. Better by far to hold fast to your beliefs."

Considering, Shalluk reached into his pack and pulled out some dried meat, taking a strip for himself and offering some to the snake.