Once Upon a Time in Golarion

Game Master vayelan

"One last thing," Wonky says, holding her hand out at Ahto and his greatsword, "what gnome village did you help attack? Where were you originally from? If we can help them understand what happened to you, that might right some wrongs."

"It's been so long, it's hard to remember."

Tartuk looks down and growls, gouging furrows in the grassy earth with his claws.
He suddenly looks up with a spark in his eye.

"It was called Thimblethicket. We lived outside Gralton, supplying food to the city while also aiding the exiled Galtan nobles with their endless schemes to reclaim their homeland."

Wonky seems satisfied. She stands up and gives Tartuk a strange look.

"Well, thank you. If it soothes your troubled soul at all, then you can rest easy knowing that we will explain things to them." She turns away from the reincarnated gnome, glancing at Ahto resignedly as she moves out of sight of the execution.

Note to self: Warn people against reincarnation.

”Do not flinch or struggle , and it will be quick,” Ahto says to Tartuk. ”It is time to end the pain; that of your tortured spirit and that which you would doubtlessly inflict on your future victims. As the hand of Abadar’s Justice, I hereby sentence you to death. May Pharasma grant your soul it’s deserved eternity.”

Assuming Tartuk does not resist, Ahto raises his blade and strikes the former gnome at the nape of his neck.

Coup de Grace: 2d6 + 4 ⇒ (3, 1) + 4 = 8 x 2 = 16

(Fort Save DC 26)

Tartuk keeps his eyes clenched shut and his head lowered as the blade is raised...and as it falls.

The angular, scaled head bounces away from his small, purple body, and whatever madness germinated within the ill-starred former gnome has been put to an end.

After the execution, the rest of the night passes peacefully, albeit fitfully for some.
No dark shadows pass overhead, but the sunrise is nonetheless a very welcome sight for the last watch shift.

In the morning, Sams is feeling upbeat. "We's goes home now, yes?" he asks hopefully. He starts packing up the campsite unbidden.

"Home," Wonky remarks wistfully, her hair unkempt, her eyes red, and her yawns plentiful - all signs that she slept fitfully. "It is both an easily-defined and abstract concept that word, is it not? Tartuk lost his life and then his home - it just seems so cruel..."

The gnome absently scratches Sprocket's neck as she picks at her camp breakfast, lost in morose thought.

Prepping the same spells as yesterday.

Hexa returned hours after the deed was done. He had gathered small game and plants to make up meals for the Warband and seeing the tribe killer was gone saved him a mouth to feed. He showed no emotion to the fact he was dealt with, the Tribe Killer walked it's path until death. As it deserved.

He doesn't speak, he doesn't ask what if anything that they learned from it. He just works, cleans his kills and prepares the nightly dinner.

If the body isn't dealt with yet.

When the feeding was done and despite his earlier protests, he gathers up the fallen form of the purple-scaled tribe killer and sets it nearby. He then starts going about gathering wood, thick lumber and dry brush and begins building a pyre. Despite the oncoming night, he works until the pyre was built.

Once it was completed he takes the torn bedroll he used for the little scales and wraps the tribe killer in it. Setting the body on the pyre he goes about clearing all the grass and anything that could catch flame when it burned in the morning.

When it was done he held a silent vigil for part of the night. Keeping predators from snatching up the body.

__________________________A quiet night passes_______________________

When the first rays of light warmed his scales he rises, sluggish and fatigued but dutiful in what needed to be done. He turns to the pyre and uses his divinely given power to set it ablaze. When the flames start to like over the body he speaks in his usual tone, not solemn nor somber just as though he were speaking to a living creature.

Use Spark to light the pyre aflame

As the tribe killer burns, he performs his morning ritual, kneeling and asking for Mazludeh for strength once more. He adds more fuel to the fire as the others get ready to depart over the course of morning activities. When they were ready to go he douses the pyre with summoned water and leaves whatever is left to be returned to nature. His duty to Tartuk the tribe killer was done.

He keeps Tal and Chacta close, rubbing Tal's scales as the large dinosaur senses his mood. Hexa straps on his wargear, fully armoring and arming himself like normal for the journey home to Olegs.

Same alotment of spells as yesterday as well lol.

By the time the execution takes place Paval is already at the other side of the encampment. While he did agree that and in fact pushed that in this case it was the only option they had, he still wasn't a fan of capital punishment. It was ugly and messy beyond the literal mess it gave.

When Hexa later comes back and starts gathering wood for a pyre Paval sets out to help him. He wouldn't have minded if the wild animals had eaten the corpse but they did have to be sure the body was dealt with.

The next morning he is still packing up when Hexa sets the pyre alight.

10?: 1d10 ⇒ 1
10?: 1d10 ⇒ 4

Dawn finds the long grasses covered in dew rather than frost - a welcome portent that winter is finally surrendering to spring.

The remaining twenty-some miles to the trading post passes easily as the rugged hills give way to the rolling plains.

Four hours' worth of travel brings you back within clear sight of the post's palisade, and the approach gives ample time to notice a change has taken place in the few days you were gone.
Oleg's appears far busier than before, with more than simply your indentures and Garess' guards populating the outpost.

You ride towards the gate to discover new, rough faces - trappers and hunters - congregating in and around the trading post, swapping stories and bawdy jokes or haggling with Oleg.

"Oh good!" Wonky looks excited - or rather, much the same as she always looks. "New people! They can help us in mapping more of the expanse, and perhaps they have brought in new trade goods! I still need a few tools to weaponsmith properly, and I am just about out of normal sling bullets!"

Wonky hustles forward and thrusts her hand at the nearest unrecognised face that she can find. "Greetings! I am Wonky Prong, Jr, cartography to Mayor Sellemius and bandit hunter, along with my companions here. Who are you?"

Not wanting to interrupt Oleg's commerce, Ahto seeks out Svetlana. "Mistress Svetlana," he says, giving a polite bow. "Our friend Hexa has a gift for you. When you have a moment, could you go speak to him, and give him the opportunity to present it to you?"

He then moves on to find Captain Garess. He approaches the garrison commander and inquires, "How have the Indentures been faring? Have they been any trouble?"

Seeing all the movement around the outpost brought a smile on Paval's face. He followed Ahto to Svetlana and started talking the moment they were done. "Svetlana, have the new arrival brought any news from up north?"

He did not dare ask if his sister was among the new arrivals, that would be too good to be true.

Is it too late to aid Ahto in his Fortitude check from the night previous?

It is not too late. Wonky's ministrations provide Ahto a +4 bonus on the day's save versus the Red Ache.

"Iacob, is it? A true pleasure, sir!" Wonky enthusiastically shakes the trapper's hand. "What sorts of pelts did you bring? Oh, this is Sprocket. Sprocket, say hello. He is quite friendly as long as he feels no threat. What part of the Stolen Lands do you hunt through?"

And on...and on...

Fort Save: 1d20 + 4 + 4 ⇒ (20) + 4 + 4 = 28

Perception for the travel back: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (8) + 6 = 14
Hexa Survival to find game and plants for tribute upon their return to Olegs: 1d20 + 7 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 7 + 2 = 24
Survival - Tal Assist in plant finding: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 1 = 11

The return to Oleg's village was thankfully a peaceful one. The coming of the spring heat was a welcome pleasure running across his scales. Knowing the destination Hexa decided to hunt along the way, taking Tal and Chacta with him. Chacta complained each time more game was set on his strong back.

He was surprised by the increased presence of people around the village when they arrived. Wonky's excitement reassured him that it was a welcome occasion and not to be feared.

Deciding not to cause a trouble he stripped out of his battle armor several yards away from the main gate and stowed his bow in its case. Off on the side of the road, he used his power to create water so he could wash away the smell of several rough days. He even scrubbed down Tal and Chacta so they could dry off while grazing outside.

Leaving his battle gear behind he strides into Oleg's village, nodding to Chief Oleg as he left him to deal with his kin in peace. He carried in the freshly caught prey and headed for Svetlana's kitchen in search of Svetlna.

When he did find her, he nodded his head and greeted her their usual way. "New Light Ankin Svetlana. Where Svetlana want Hexa to clean?" He motioned to the prey over his shoulder and once bidden he sets the plants he had collected down as well. "Fresh." He grumbled through his teeth. Before turning around to face Svetlana with his claws now free to do what he needed too.

He adjusts his chain and removes it so he can remove the freshly cleaned ring from it and held it in the palm of his hand. "Here." He motions for her to open her hand, palm up before opening his hand and depositing the small ring into her palm. "Ahto find it. Let Hexa return it..." He closes her hand gently with his larger hands, careful about his claws as he did so.

He simply looked into her face then, he had no words to communicate how important this Village, Chief Oleg, and her teachings were. Without them, he and his companions may have died during the cold but with them, they survived. It was a debt he'd pay for all his life, one peice at a time.

After a few moments pass he nods, tapping his claws to his forehead in thanks for Svetlana's time before turning to the prey he had brought. It would need to be cleaned so it could be added to the nights feasting.

Svetlana is duly impressed when Hexa presents the bounty of game and herbs to her, as she usually is when the unusual local hunter made such offerings to her. However, when she sees the ring, she claps a hand to her mouth in outright shock.

She mutters a stream of "What...?" "Where did you...?" and "How did you...?" questions before she manages to compose herself.

"Thank you. Thank you so much, Hexa," she exclaims, overcome with gratitude. "I must show Oleg. Please excuse me."

She pardons herself and runs to her husband to drag him away from his haggling to share the good news with him.

Hexa nods at her flurry of words, having little trouble keeping up after being around Wonky and watches her go before chuckling throatily to himself at her reactions. Though it stirred a strange feeling in his mighty chest and he contemplated why he wanted to see more. Finally, he turned back to the task of processing the prey. Preparing it for the feast before it started to spoil.

He planned on watching her cook, minding his tail as to knock over things in the kitchen while learning how to cook a scaleless meal.

Getting on the plane to work soon, so Hexa will be here. Learning to cook like scaleless do. ;)

Kalima eagerly welcomes back her comrades, with her arms literally wide open.

"We've made considerable progress towards revitalizing this old post, haven't we? You'd think they had sparrows carrying messages for how quickly word spread about our defeat of those bandits."

The noblewoman is cut off as Aurelius steps forth.

"They aren't beaten, yet. As some of the indentured workers have nervously reminded me, until this Stag Lord of theirs is brought to justice, the Greenbelt will remain largely lawless."

Kalima lances Aurelius with a dirty look.

"You should learn to savor victories as they come, rather than worrying your hairs gray about the next battle," she reprimands him.

As the party arrives at Oleg's, Aris once again disappears, finding a quiet corner to work on her notes. Unlike their last trip back, she doesn't see a stressful conflict she needs to resolve for her continued safety, so she's able to concentrate solely on documenting the behaviors of the mites, kobolds, and other denizens of the Stolen Lands she's found. She also translates her quick notes from Wonky's conversation with Tartuk into something with a bit more plot, figuring it might make for an interesting study on reincarnation and psychological states of rebirth later on.

As Sams approaches the outpost, he hardly seems to notice all of the improvements that have been made during their departure. Instead, he makes his way directly to the mess hall, or the space that was now its equivalent with the rapid growth of this trading post. "Food! Yummy, yummy. Svetlana makes the bestest foods."

The large man settles in for a comfortable rest from their journeys.

"Kalima! Aurelius! You both have so much that you should be proud of - this place looks amazing!" Wonky says, knowingly preening the egos of the taciturn fighter and the haughty sorcerer. "It is so good to see the two of you. You would not believe the creatures that we have encountered, but far more than that - you would both note strange similarities between the crude politics that rule tribal warfare in the wild here and the noble houses in Restov!"

Wonky makes merry with her former companions.

Wonky finishes studying Tartuk's fascinating book and brings it and the scroll that she found to Aris. She plonks down the journal in front of the elf.

"Wow, what a read!" the gnome says, eyes sparkling. "That poor fellow had his brain stirred like a well-stirred soup! And look what Tartuk had stowed away inside his diary - a scroll to gift himself the power of flight!"

Wonky hands the scroll over to Aris with eyes peeking up at the elf from over the rim of her ever-present spectacles. "I thought that it would be best in your possession, and I hope that you would be able to copy it into your spellbook for safe keeping. I can learn that spell for my formulae book and perhaps cast it some day, but if I copy it now, then it will expend the arcane power in the scroll and make it useless to you - and to me, until I get some more repetitions with my formulae! I am hoping, if I am able to harness the power of flight via that spell, that I might be able to brew potions that would grant our entire group that power - in the future, that is."

"That reminds me, though," the gnome continues with a sheepish grin. "I could learn some spells from your spellbook and turn them into magical formulae --- only if you would be comfortable with that, of course. I recognise that some spellcasters charge fees in order to allow others access to their arcane writings; I am willing to pay a reasonable fee if that is your wish."

Wonky awaits Aris' reply eagerly.

With the prey gutted, the unneeded parts were thrown in a bucket until he could dispose of it properly. Hexa was now watching Svetlana as she cooks, leaning forward and using his height to his advantage. He kept his tail in his hands and out of the way. Whenever Svetlana needed water he used his power to summon it for her, sparking kindling and other small tricks to make it easier for her. If she is injured he heals her as well.

As he learned something new he made a low thrumming growl, not in an aggressive way as his eyes reflected the fire light. He was just overly pleased because everything he learned made him stronger.

Paval nodded at the reply, clearly a bit disappointed.

After that he moved around the outpost to see what people were doing and get a better idea of what the new people did and who they were. There was no point in asking their names, he'd forget those anyway, but he was good with faces.

When he moved past Hexa gutting his kills he paused for a moment, "Could you, perhaps, save the livers? I know many throw those out but they are good eating. Well, unless the deer survive on poisonous plants."

"Thank you, Captain," Ahto replies to Garess. "Were there any particular Indentures who appeared to shirk their labors, or was it a general lack of urgency exhibited by the entire group?"

Tilting his head at the request Hexa reiterates until it finally sounds right. "Leaver'ss? Live'er'ss? Liver'ss?" He nods and looks over at the organs nonchalantly, all but stomachs were present and clean on the counter. He clicks his tongue when he finds what must be the 'liver.

Tilting his head at Paval he asked. "Paval want Liver'ss now or cooked? Sstill good."

Paval offers the big lizard-man a smile, "I'd like them prepared yes, not like this. Now if only I could remember my mother's recipe using oranges. Maybe Svetlana knows it. And maybe she also knows if we can get oranges imported from Taldor."

Garess shakes his head as he answers Ahto.

"It's not a particular man causing trouble. It's more of a general morale issue. Working on that gallows, I just think they're antsy about having a reminder about the fate they fear could still await them. Make no mistake, though - I think a little fear is important for keeping them in line."

...

As they discuss food, Svetlana approaches Hexa and Paval.

"Old Vekkel Benzen over there brought in a good sized boar," she says, pointing out a heavily scarred man with a pronounced limp. "He brought the meat for trade - well, that and to bend my Oleg's ear again about that Tuskgutter he's so obsessed with. Anyhow, to help your next excursion, I thought I could set aside some of the meat to smoke, or even stuff some sausages, to fill your mess kits."

Aris listens to Wonky's report, nodding sagely. "I sort of suspected as much. He behaved oddly, and had no real interest in what we said. Now, the scrolls and sharing spells.

Now, about the spells." Aris shrugs. "I could certainly benefit from a spell for flight at some point, but...let me see your formulae book." Aris looks at the gnomish shorthand, pondering it for a while, and then throws her hands up in disgust. "None of this makes any sense. Try my notes. I'm sure they're more decipherable than...that."

With that, she puts down her spell book and sits, staring at the scroll until her eyes lose focus.

I've never done this, what's the DC to copy the scroll?

Thanks. Sort of rushed, didn't have time to look things up. Sorry.

Spellcraft: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (15) + 10 = 25

"Really?" Wonky says in response to Aris' kind offer. "That is really quite kind of you, Aris," Wonky says, diving into the arcanist's spellbook.

After a spell (HA!), Wonky looks up at Aris. "You have a spell in here that I can use! Well, you have a few spells in here that I can use, but only one that I do not already know. Would you mind if I copied your recipe for 'expeditious retreat' into my formulae book?"

Wonky will take an hour to carefully jot down the recipe version of 'Expeditious Retreat' into her spellbook.

After an hour spent in study, Aris successfully copies the scroll's arcane secrets into her spellbook, and Wonky is able to translate and distill the Expeditious Retreat spell into a formula she can concoct and use.

Thanks. Sort of rushed, didn't have time to look things up. Sorry.

[dice=Spellcraft]1d20+10

No need for Sorry! Glad to help, we all have rushed days.

Hexa looks to the man with the limp before he tilts his head at Svetlana's mentioning of Sau-sa-gees. Smoked meat was something he enjoyed, immensely, so he nods enthusiastically at the mention of making it for them. He turns and looks to the man calling his name roughly and asking one thing. "Vekkel, Tuskgutta'?" Hexa has an easy time saying his first name, it sounded like the scaled tongue though a rough a partial translation would be Rough Bark.

"Glad to finally meet ya, scaled one," Vekkel says as he hobbles over to Hexa. "I've heard tell from Svetlana and others about some lizard hunter of considerable skill. But...have you ever gone up against Tuskgutter?"

As he draws out his words, he shucks off his right boot and hikes up his trouser leg - revealing the crudely carved wooden replacement for his missing leg.

"Every hunter in the Greenbelt has a story about how Tuskgutter, the biggest, meanest boar around, got away. So far though, I'm the only one who's come close to catching the tusked bastard. He broke free and took my leg for the trouble."

Vekkel taps his wooden leg for emphasis.

"I don't care if I get to kill that hog. I just want him dead. So then, lizard man, if you can do what no other hunter has managed and kill Tuskgutter, I'll give you my trusty bow and some magic arrows I've had tucked away."

Wonky comes happily out of the animal stables where she's been poring over magical texts with Aris and up to Svetlana.

"Do you have any ink, Svetlana? I would be most happy to purchase it from you."

"Not much call for ink around here. None of our regular visitors are nearly as well educated as you, my dear."

Although there is no ink for sale in the trading post's stock, Svetlana offers to lend the vial of ink Oleg uses for his own bookkeeping so Wonky can finish her work for now.

"Let's hope when the merchant wagons arrive in a few days, they bring some with them," Svetlana adds after walking Wonky into the office in the main building.

Sitting at Oleg's desk - or rather, kneeling on his chair and leaning over the desk - Wonky finishes transcribing the formula, despite the distraction of the taxidermy rabbit on the desk. Evidently used as a paper weight, the stuffed and dusty-furred critter stares at her with lifeless black eyes.

Garess shakes his head as he answers Ahto.

"It's not a particular man causing trouble. It's more of a general morale issue. Working on that gallows, I just think they're antsy about having a reminder about the fate they fear could still await them. Make no mistake, though - I think a little fear is important for keeping them in line."

Ahto listens to the captain's response, nodding in acknowledgement of his statement. "Thank you, Captain. Your efforts to maintain discipline are noted and appreciated."

Nodding again, Ahto moves on to find the Indentures. Once he has located them, he calls them over to him. "I see you have made progress in our absence. It is good that you have not seen my absence as an opportunity to shirk your obligations." He walks slowly around the completed gallows, and appraises the work.

Profession, Carpenter: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (2) + 8 = 10

Their work is...adequate. Considering how likely it is that none of them have prior carpentry experience, to say nothing of those who are completely unfamiliar with honest labor, it is commendable that they finished something that will perform its duties at all.
This gallows' lifespan will likely be measured in months rather than days, but it will serve for this community's early days.

"If I may make a suggestion, sir?" one of them - Wilton - speaks up. "Could we work on building a proper bunkhouse next? Sleeping beneath those watch platforms does nothing to block the cold night wind."

"Yes," Ahto replies. "The sooner separate accommodations are built, the sooner we will cease to be a burden on our hosts, Master Oleg and Mistress Svetalana. I will draft plans for a bunkhouse for yourselves and a barracks for the garrison. We also need to make certain that the parapets of the Trading Post are in proper repair. For now, it is our only fortification if the any hostile force approaches."

Hexa listens to Vekkel story, Tuskgutter sounded like a prey worth hunting though he knew it wouldn't be easy. He thought of asking the old hunter what traps he'd used but didn't. He wanted a hunt, though the reward was a nice incentive and not an easy one. With his scales dancing he nods to Vekkel. "Hexa hunt Tuskgutta' den, bring meat and pelt to Svetlana for Vekkel." Looking the wounded hunter in the eye Hexa gives a toothy grin. "Where Hexa hunt Tuskgutta'?" He would have to recover the traps the Stag Men used, anything to slow down Tuskgutter would do. As he spoke with vekkel, he rubbed his scaled chin, wondering if such a hunt was worth the Warbands time or to go alone with his animal companions.

He doesn't hide his excitement, his frills are out and his scales are bright.

Vekkel offers a hearty laugh and, with a twinkle in his eye, claps Hexa and his scaled shoulder.

"Hah, I thought you had the look of a good hunter! Here's where I reckon the beast keeps its lair..."

Vekkel describes Tuskgutter's territory, and the warband marks it on their map. The location sits southwest from the site of the bandit camp you cleared a few days prior.

Not long after, Oleg approaches Hexa.

"You running errands for everyone?" he asks with a rare grin. "I want to thank you for finding my Svetlana's wedding ring. It may just be brass, rather than gold or silver, but it's worth a lot more to us. I don't have the gold to properly repay you what you deserve, but I have something better in mind."

To reward you for yet again helping him, Oleg offers you 1000gp in credit at the trading post.

Lost internet for a couple days at camp. Working to catch. :/

Hexa nods at Vekkel, it would be a good hunt and he listened intently to the description of where the beast's territory lay. The Bandit camp was a good place to prepare for the hunt.

He gives a Toothy grin when Oleg approaches, Hexa was still swimming in the swamp over returning the ring. But Oleg's offer makes Hexa nods, he still owed the couple greatly and would not insult them. Although he added. "Can Hexa and Warband sshare prize Chief Oleg?"

The group came first, he had no need for such abundance alone when it could make the Warband equally stronger. That way they could continue winning battles and honor both Chief's equally while the village thrived.

"Of course, of course," Oleg roars with delight. "As far as I'm concerned, the members of your new 'warband' are the best things to ever come out of Rostland."

Oleg returns to haggling with visiting woodsmen, which seems to be the type of socialization he's most comfortable with.

With the outpost now thrumming with life around you, the party must decide its next course of action.
There are miles to explore, trees to cut, improvements to build, and of course, a Stag Lord to hunt.