[PFS] Season 0 run, mixed with Dragon's Demand

Game Master Irish202

Locke takes the beacon from the pack, and hands it to Natalya.

"The VC would have loved to study it, i reckon."

"Sure sure..."
Ery mentioned as he looked over the mask, still fascinated by the potentials.
"I feel we have something a little more interesting then a portal lantern. What about this mask?" he holds up the crude mask with a smirk.
"I smell potential...well, actually I smell rot...but Potential too!"

Gwen sighs at the easy outcome. "I am glad we could come to some sort of arrangement. Given that you will hopefully be able to save this man's life, I think he would likely accompany you on your journey to..." She looks around at the ship frozen in place and gestures vaguely with her hand. "Wherever it is that you are going..." She hopes that the woman is not necessarily the one who harvested children's blood for this lantern, nor does she want to allow such an evil artifact back into the hands of a witch, but at the moment they did not have much of a choice...

"Alright," the woman says as she takes the lantern from Locke.

"Listen carefully. I'm going to open a portal that will allow you to go back to where you came from. I'll keep the portal open, so you can bring Skelg to me. Once he's here I'll help him, and will allow you to head back again, before I use the beacon to sail Skelg and me away from here."

Assuming you're not going to object to her plan, the woman aims the lantern at one of the icy walls and creates a portal. "Well, go on then. Hurry up."

"Don't mind if we do!" Ery says as he hops through the portal, calling out for Skelg. He gives a whistle as if calling for a dog.

Tereze just shakes her head.
Someday zat elf will take something seriously and zen I will know we are in trouble.

She steps through the portal and heads upstairs to assist Skeleg out of bed and down to the portal.

"How do we know she's telling us the truth?" Fiona whispers to the others. "Her ship is immured in the ice, she commands zombies as her sailors... do we really want to bring Skelg to her as well? She might disappear before we even get back here!"

"We don't know if she is telling us the truth, but she is our only hope to rescue Skelg. So we don't have much choice in the matter."
Urbar says matter of factly as he steps in the portal after Ery.

"If she'd be able to disappear, she could have done so already.
Especially if the lantern is able to conjure portals, and she wasn't in possession of it before just now."

You'd be so screwed if she'd just close the portal after you'd all step through! xD Not that she's going to do that, but it just occurred to me! :P

You move through the portal and end up in Skelg's vault, from where you head to Skelg's bedroom. The mighty warrior still lies in his bed, shivering from the cold despite being next to the blazing hearth fire. His servant looks at you when you enter the bedroom.

"Have you found a cure?" the servant asks with a hopeful look.

Skelg opens his eyes as he turns his head to look at you.

You may have to convince this shivering man that leaving his bed is a good idea, and you may want to discuss the companion part of the deal with him.

"An Ice witch has offered to cure you... You'll need to come with us."
Ery says very casually as he continues to trace his fingers caressingly over the death mask, barely looking up from the item.
dip: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (4) + 10 = 14

Aid diplomacy: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (13) - 1 = 12

"With the husband dear you've slain, she is in search of a new one.
You are an excellent candidate for it. How about it?"

'Come with us if you want to live'

Ery, feeling that he's just not as in it as Tereze may be... shimmies over to the exotic beauty and places a hand on her shoulder. An invisible pulse off his palm as a sense of bolstered diplomatic ability shines from within.
"Tereze, if you'll use that lovely accent of yours."
Cast: Enhanced Diplomacy. +2 dip or intimidate

"Natalya?" Skelg asks weakly as his eyes move from Eryzule to Locke.

Accompanied by heavy shivers he adds, "Well s-she's a f-f-fine one, she is!"

Skelg then gets off his bed and, with the help of his servant, makes it to the vault, through the portal, and onto the ship where the woman's waiting for you.

"Skelg!" the woman exclaims. "So good to see you!"

"I-i-it's effing cold h-h-h-here, Natalya!"

Natalya nods at him. "I'll get right to it."

Natalya makes a gesture with her free hand while mumbling a spell and a flaming sphere appears, which she uses to melt the ice surrounding the ship. She holds out the beacon to you. "Hang this in the figurehead's mouth, will you."

Urbar grabs the lantern and places it at the figurehead's mouth.
"That done it?"
He says impatiently, wanting to be gone from the place.

Fiona fidgets in the back, close to the portal. She clearly feels uncomfortable and hopes to get out of there as soon as possible.

As she watches the exchange between Natalya and Skeld, Gwen is suddenly reminded that despite a person's possible motives for evil they are still a person and strive for the same needs and desires as everyone else in the world. "Skeld, good luck to you in your journey with this woman. I hope that the two of you will be able to find peace when you reach your destination."

Natalya walks up to the figurehead and touches the beacon, possibly making some of you wonder why she didn't hang it there herself. Judging from her demeanor, some may figure she thinks she's above such a task. The beacon lights up and a large portal, big enough for the ship to sail through, opens in front of the bow. At the same moment the portal you used to come back to the ship closes.

"Blasted cold!" Skelg shouts.

When you turn to look at the Ulfen, you see he's stopped shivering.

"It's gone, finally!" he says, obviously relieved.

Natalya smiles at Skelg, while the latter turns to Gwendallyn. "We'll be fine now! Thanks, lass. This blasted cold curse would've done me in if it'd lasted just a day longer."

Natalya walks over to her bed and pulls a chest out from beneath it. She places it in front of you and opens it, revealing 1,000 gp worth of Irrisen trade bars. "This is for you, for freeing me from this icy prison."

She then uses the beacon to create a new portal for you. "This portal will you lead you back to where you came from. Thanks for your help, and for bringing Skelg and me together."

You notice the ship's meanwhile started to move toward the large portal in front of it.

Gwen nods and claps Skelg on the back. "Farewell!" She notices the ship begin to move and grabs the chest before hurrying towards their own portal. "Let us be gone before this ship reaches its destination." she says to her companions before ducking through their own portal...

Urbar nods and walks after Gwen.

"Yes, good luck with your new marriage.
...may your mother in law be as sympathetic as your wife is."

With that, Locke steps through the portal.

Tereze considers the lantern for a long moment.

I could take it and trap them here forever. Would it be right? She did save a life, and there is no evidence of her having been a child killer. We did destroy the abominations.... I could... I should....

Her mind finally made up she nods at the couple:
My blessings on you for as long as you walk in ze light.

With that she turns her back on them and steps through the portal.

Fiona hurriedly steps through the portal without saying a word, not wanting to stay there for even a second longer than what is necessary. The entire situation made her felt uneasy, and she flinches away from her share of the woman's reward, refusing to take it.

Once on the other side Ery feels its okay to speak...
"You all are aware that he's going to be eaten, turned into Skelg steak and freeze dried into jerky..."

"You worry too much, his only true worries are his in laws."

"Worry? Sir...after you've stood in line in the boneyard, You have greater things to worry about...like how can I enjoy a leisurely afternoon with Gwen and have tea... Or how can I seduce Tereze? Or Fiona.. with her many eccentricities."

He paused as a thought struck him.

"Why don't any of you visit me at the temple?" He raised a brow, placing a handing on his hip in accusation.

Urbar raises an eyebrow at Ery for his remark but decides it wasn't aimed at him. He walks on as if he heard nothing.

Conclusion

Back at the lodge Venture-captain Adril Hestram thanks you for saving Skelg. He is incredibly grateful, yet his expression becomes a bit troubled when you mention you had to leave the beacon of the north behind. "Don't ask me how or when, but there are some within the lodge who learned of the beacon's existence and told me they want to study it. They kind of assumed you'd bring it back with you..."

I will write the chronicle sheets in the days to come.

The Dragon's Demand - part 1

Introduction:

Seven years ago, the wizard-astronomer Balthus Hunclay left his native country of Rahadoum and traveled to Taldor. He soon purchased some land on a hilltop just outside the small town of Belhaim, adjacent to an ancient structure that locals call the Witch Tower. There he built a manor home crowned with an observatory. To ensure an unobstructed view of the night skies, he clear-cut every tree on his property, but found that the Witch Tower remained an impediment to his stargazing. Belhaim's previous baron had perished in an ill-considered attempt to explore the tower 2 years before Hunclay's arrival, and his grieving widow, Baroness Origena Devy, refused the astronomer's offers to buy (and then demolish) the tower. Hunclay was livid, and word spread he began to plot alternate methods of razing the "eyesore."

About a week ago the Witch Tower collapsed. The first person to be suspected of causing this collapse was Hunclay, but a shocking discovery was made: there were two kobold corpses amidst the Witch Tower's rubble. The town's deputy went to Hunclay house and found a third kobold corpse on his doorstep. There was no sign of the wizard himself.

While searching the Witch Tower's remains a trapdoor was found, which gave access to a dungeon. The deputy and some villagers went into the dungeon and found a pile of rubble in a collapsed section of the dungeon. Researching the area of the collapse revealed that it was engineered. When the deputy and villagers removed some of the rubble, they found three more corpses. Two of them kobolds, still holding spades. One corpse was that of the wizard, Balthus Hunclay.

Not soon after their discoveries within the dungeon, the deputy and his party were ambushed by kobolds. They managed to fend the kobolds off, but at the grave cost of two of the villagers' lives. When this news reached Baroness Origena Devy, she decided to enlist the help of the Pathfinders.

------

Over to you!

It's been three days since Venture-captain Adril Hestram informed you about the recent events in Belhaim, and tasked you with the mission to get to the bottom of it. During the briefing he told you to meet up with Baroness Origena Devy once in Belhaim. She will be able to answer most of your questions about the events.

You now find yourselves in the Wise Piper Inn, a small inn in the town of Belhaim. You've just arrived in the town and went here to get a drink, and maybe discuss some matters among yourselves, before you'd head to the Baroness.

Seven days have passed between your previous mission and this mission's briefing. Three days went by while you were on the road.

I can not believe we were sent out here because some building fell down and ze town has a vermin problem. Chasing down some crazy wizard who brought ze pests into town is almost as bad as heading into the sewer to find a crazy prince...

But hey zat all is tomorrow's problem, tonight we are still free. Who is up to sampling that apple brandy I see behind the bar? Gwen I am sure you at least will do a round with me.

The elf slowly stretched as he looked about, his arms pushed, outstretched toward the sky. He yawned loudly as he came down, his hands running down his face before quickly unclasping his tea set from his shoulder.
His eyes seemed sunken with large bag beneath them, as if he hadn't meditated or slept in some time. Regardless, the tenacious elf knew he had but one hope...Tea.

"I'm sure we're not chasing a corpse." Ery said to Tereze, half aware as he prepped his kettle, using a cantrip to steep the tea. He then perked up, his lips curling into a smile. "No..wait.. I'm not sure. It happens a lot with us. Always some undeath to make re-dead."
He sighed, reaching for a cup from the oaken case. he poured himself some tea and looked about, raising a brow to the others with a smirk behind the cup hovering at his lips.
"I'd pay to see you drunk, Tereze. Gwen, Please Drink our priestess under the table." He gave a chuckle before placing 5 gold on the counter.
"Anyone else want to take bets? I throw five into the pool for Gwen."

No, no, no. Put zat away Ery, you want to watch, you are joining us too. Drink for drink.

After all you always claim you can show a girl a good time. Prove it, keep up with us.

She turns away from Ery and winks at Gwen with a mischievous smile.

Raising a brow, the elf finishes off his tea in a fashion highly suggestive of a shot. Placing the cup down, he rolls his shoulders and slides up next to Tereze.
"Pick your poison, and let's get this on the road. I'm still keeping my beat on Gwen. But no way am I going to lose to you, my Verisian beauty." he says while placing a hand on Tereze's shoulder.

Taking a seat, the elf waits.

Gwen props her feet up on a footstool with a satisfied sigh. While she could handle road like the best of them, sometimes it was nice to just have an actual chair to sit in and a roof over your head. A, relatively, fresh beer would do much to make the moment even better. She was letting her thoughts drift aimlessly about when Tereze's voice catches her attention. "Huh?" She thought Tereze had mentioned something about doing a round of drinks. "I'm always in for drinks!"

Then in pure Ery style, he raised the stakes. She grins back at Tereze. "Well, if we are going to make this a contest, then perhaps we should have some sort of wager. Anyone else interested?"

Urbar stares at the three starting their drinking game and shakes his head. He turns sideways on the bench he is sitting on and starts staring out of the window.

Locke takes another seat, looking at the three contesters.

"What wager are we talking about, before i decide?"

Whoever quits first is responsible for ze room and board for ze rest of us for as long as we are in Belhaim.

Wait... No....

She looks over at Ery. And shakes her head.
Let me rephrase: Whoever loses is responsible for PAYING for ze room and board for ze rest of us for as long as we are in Belhaim. But we each get to decide where we each stay and what we eat.

Locke leans with chin in hand, the other finger tapping.....

"That is a costly wager....your thoughts on this?", Locke looks at Gwen.

I am open to something smaller if that is too rich for you...

"I'm only saddened that you don't trust me to handle your sheets with care, Tereze..."
The elf sighed. Then pondered as he looked around.
"Wait, Where is Fiona? I cant attempt to seduce the party without our favorite Introvert!"

Ery cupped his hands together and began blasting out for his wayward companion. "Fiona! Why hath thou left me! I thought we had something special! Like Tea!"

He paused, looking about a moment, before rolling an eye to Locke. "Why don't you take risks and help me with Tereze's sheets?"

Gwen gives everyone a wide grin. "Nothing ventured, nothing gained! Let's do this! What are we drinking? Start off with the brandy and slowly make our way to the beer?"

"Absinth."
Ery heads to the bar, sliding up to ask the tender for said green liquid.

'Absinth, three glasses and a full bottle. if you please."

Gwen gives Ery a strange look. "What is Absinth? Is that some sort of elven drink? You think they'd have elven drinks in a place like this?" Not for the first time, and definitely not the last, Gwen shows her rustic upbringing and blushes at her ignorance...

Do not worry Gwen, I have not had it either.

Her eyes go distant for a moment.

If I remember correctly, in ze stories zat's ze drink ze green fairy used to give her victims to make zem want to stay with her forever....

"Ha, It's a human drink...and it's full of 'on your arse' memories."
The elf turns to his companions.
Throwing down 10gp for a bottle of strong liquor...sadly, not absinth but instead a local whiskey, the Ery returns, placing a shot glass infront of each of them.
"The rules are simple. We each take a shot. Then repeat after all shots are consumed. We continue until there is only one of us standing. Or in this case, sitting in their chair."
The Lord of Tea pours the first shots.
"Ready?"

Taking a liberty in assuming that top shelf liquor has a DC of roughly 15. We'll Fort save per shot. three fails suggested on the floor lose?"

"A spiked beverage huh, clever, but free will robbing."

Still staring out of the window he says something to the drinking buddies.
"Know that when you pass out I will drag you outside in the rain."

"Urbar, Gwen and Tereze are human. One would think you'd love the chance to 'put the hummies in their place' if you will."

With that, the elf took a shot.
Fort Vs Booz: 1d20 ⇒ 17

With his lips curling lightly, he shook his head then looked up with a smirk. "One down."

Oh relax Urbar. Zere is plenty of time to be serious tomorrow. Today we enjoy life.

She grabs the shot and downs it.
Fort: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7
Hmmm... A strong brew, zis should be interesting.

I think that's an appropriate DC for the booze, Ery! Let us drink up!!

When Ery explains the source of Absinth Gwen flushes even more, feeling very much like a bumpkin. "Oh." she said simply. While Gwen was not unintelligent, she was not as knowledgable as her companions about the wide world and at times it was quite embarrassing to her.

She quickly overcomes her embarrassment, however, when Ery returns with the alcohol. She sniffs the bottle and raises an eyebrow at her elven companion. "I may not know all the fancy drinks out there, but I do know that this is whiskey. Do they not stock this Absinth here?" She slides the full shot glass towards her. "One day when I get my own establishment, I will have to find some of this Absinth so that we can partake again sometime." she winks at Ery before lifting the shot glass. "To a long life full of adventure and excitement!"

She grimaces as the amber liquid burned it's way down her throat before slamming the shot glass down bottom-up. "Now that's a good reminder of life!"

Fort DC 15: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (12) + 5 = 17