Rise of a Regent Campaign Thread

Game Master Illydth

A prince sent into exile returns to his homeland to take back his throne, save the region, and maybe even the world.


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Male Human Fighter 5

"I noticed you looking at my longsword back at the orc camp. If you have a need, I freely offer it to you. Though a common sword, it has treated me well."

Dirk unstraps his old longsword and offers it to Selena.


Female Human Sorcerer (favored) 4 / Witch 1

After a few seconds of glancing at Dirk's new sword with an arcane eye, Selena hands it back to him. "This is a well-balanced blade of high quality, but bears no enchantment as far as I can tell."

Selena gratefully accepts the old sword, stepping away from Dirk and swinging it as though testing the feel of it. "These have always been a little too heavy for me, but it does feel good to hold it."


Male Wood Elf: AC-15, HP 9/5, INI +4, SPD 35', Passive Perception 16 Rogue / 1: Saves; STR -1, DEX +6, CON +1, INT +1, WIS +4, CHA +1

Fyird will definitely spend the next two days around the keep. There is a tale to be told here of this battle, and he will attempt to craft a song singing of the bravery of the soldiers, the tragedy of those lost, the surprise at the trickery of the enemy, and last but not least the heroics of their rescuers...making sure to be most flattering of their commander. He will also ask around town about Armand, and how he is viewed by those who know him.

He will also party his *&(& off.

[occ] Will try to get Fyird leveled up by the weekend. Maybe tonight [/ooc]


F Human Rogue 5

Lash will collect her share when they get back.


Selena: Your detect magic reveals nothing. It is a masterwork longsword without question but other than the evil looking design of the weapon, there is no ill magic or any other enchantment you can tell about it that would cause undue stress to anyone.

Selena: Please give a description of what you want to do on your journey over the next two days.


Female Human Sorcerer (favored) 4 / Witch 1

DM: The Journey:

Okay, here's where I go a little bit bonkers. (I'm a sorcerer, go figure.) There are two things I would like to do. One) Find pure white snow as an arcane ingredient to be combined with the potion of cure light wounds, now that has been blessed, to create a Rosa Tabor or Rose of Life. (Rulewise, its the exact same thing as a potion of cure light wounds, except it looks like a white rose.) There's a 4th level spell (I won't be able to cast that til 8th level), but I'd like to start research on it now so I hopefully won't have to pay as much later on. Two) Perform a daylong invocation to angelic spirits (celestial "ancestors") for the Blessed Mage feat I hope is allowable, that I'll be taking at 3rd level. I'd also like to see if they can give me more information about what's going on.

DM:

Blessed Mage
After a ritual involving a daylong invocation to angelic spirits, you gain special benefits with blessed magic.
Benefit: A character with this feat may apply the blessed template to her spells. Further she casts any spell that cures hit point damage at +1 caster level.
Blessed Template: As a gift of angelic beings from the higher realms, characters learn to cast benevolent spells on their friends with greater ability. Characters can add this template to spells that have beneficial effects, such as healing spells, ability enhancers, and so on. A caster can double the range of such a spell, and can use this template to affect allies within 25 feet with touch spells. Spells with this template gain the positive energy descriptor. If the spell already has the positive energy descriptor, its range triples or it affects allies within 50 feet instead of 25 feet.
Cost: Verbal component (specific beautiful and pleasant sounds, which cannot be modified)


Back in town. First I'd like to thank everyone for their continued patience with me, the family reunion was a success and hopefully we're
done with deaths in the family for a while. Hopefully I'm now "back on track."

Selena:
Selena, all of this is fine, I'll handle the description below. Yes, I am happy to allow you to work on your 3rd level feat now
(obviously you can't take it TILL third, but there's a very valid reason for why you're able to obtain it at that point. And yes, working on the
4th level spell research is fine also.

Any other details I need to know on the white rose healing potion thing? I admit to having never have heard of this so just give me a general
description of what this creates. On the surface I have no problem with you creating it.

Fyird: I am going to assume when you say "Asking around about Armand" that you actually mean to ask about the alias Armand is taking
"Commander Kilenthar" and not ask about the man "Armand" himself. The response below is making that assumption. If, however, you are actually
asking the question "So did you know Commander Kilenthar was actually this Prince Armand from Kethlenica guy? How's that make you feel?" (or
something like it at least) please let me know and I'll re-tune the responses.

As you move about your day to day operations, imbibing in not a few toasts to your well being and you and your friend's heroism, you put in a few
pointed questions to the people you meet about "Commander Kilenthar". From soldiers, to pesants, to administrators, to a man (or woman) everyone
of them have almost nothing but good to say about the man. There are some grumblings about the political clime and the recent intervention of the
Duke in the present war ("I'm tell'n ya, they'r'a gonna take our lands fer th' Duke and leave us with nothin! Mark my words young man!"), and you
get the standard "over taxed, under paid" complaints you hear throughout the realms from the working people who have no clue about running
anything from a household to a kingdom, but all of these complaints are about the the politics, not the man himself. "Fair", "Just", "A great
man" and a hundred other epitaths greet your questioning and not a single person seems to find less to say. Many people relate to you the story
of the first time they met or knew about the man. Several years before this Kilenthar, priest of Saenrae showed up at the keep just after another
orc incursion and without asking for anything more than a place to pitch his tent, set up a makeshift hospital and spent the next several months
curing, healing, and otherwise fixing up the injured from that war. Over half the people you talk to know of a friend, relative, or neighbor that
was pulled back from the brink of death by Kilenthar in those days (at least that's their recolection), including one woman, carrying a boy of no
more than 5 who's husband (at that time of under a year) had been stabbed through the stomach by an orc and was bleeding out in her arms when
Kilenthar healed the man, saving his life. She then pulls a sliver diadum from around her neck, the symbol of Saenrae, saying that since that day
she became a devoted follower of the Goddess of healing. The story, while remarkable, is not singular. Any questions of where Kilenthar might
have come from before he came to the keep are waved away by almost every person you talk to, not a few of them claiming him to be an Angel sent
from Saenrae herself to bless the keep with his presence with no past history.

Selena/Lash:

Following Selena's guidance, the two of you move deeper into the mountains, traveling on foot into the higher lands. Here in the mountains, the
winter snows have not yet let go to the warmth of spring, but the melt has started in full and the two of you are careful not to start an avalanch
as you move up into the whiter regions. As the Sun peaks in the sky on the first day, the two of you find yourselves in an almost pristine snow
covered location on a hilly plateu overlooking the surrounding lands. Hundreds of feet below you, the granite of the mountain glistens as
snowmelt flows down the rock walls and into a small tributary, flowing away deeper into the land. Finding a somewhat clear area a little farther
down on the south side of a rocky hill in a natural alcove of rock, the two of you make camp. Selena proceeds to go hunting out various material
components for a modification to the healing potion she now carries and on the second day goes into a deep meditation under the deep blue,
cloudless sky, to what or whom she is communing you (lash) cannot quite tell, but you understand your place as guard and watchman. Settling into
a little rise that gives you a good view of the surrounding lands and the approaches to the hill Selena is meditating on, you spend the second day
taking in the sight of the lands around you and pondering on how you got caught up in all this. Toward late afernoon, Selena seems to "come out
of it" so to speak and the two of you make your way back to camp, striking out early the next morning for the western gate of Kiren's Keep to meet
your comrads and start out on your next adventure.

Selena:
As you slip into a deep trance it strikes you how easily the image of the angel in your dreams, the angel that saved your Mother
and Father's life before you were born, comes to you. As if in a dreamlike state, the Angel greets you with a smile and wills you to be at peace
with yourself and with your companions. She assures you that the man you found is, in fact, Armand from Kethlenica and you sense that he and the
angel, or the angel's "master" have a special bond. You get a sense of predestiny, of the culmination of devine plans and of a tie between your
birth and Armand. "It is your destiny, the price for your life and your family." whispers through your head, but with no malace, no threat. You
come to understand that you are being called upon to pay back the debt your father owed to the Gods for his plea. As your reality shifts around
you and you come out of your trance to recognize the late afternoon sun (it's been several hours of meditation) dipping toward the horizon, a
final whisper comes to you "Not all is as it may seem, beware the portents of your vision, it is the future, not the past that you saw before you.
Beware betrayal, without Armand, the world you saw in your vision will come to pass."

I had the two day story all written up to lead us into the next adventure and, of course, I forgot to select all and save before posting and
piazo ate it. Apologies, the next post should have been posted days ago.


The next two days are a blur of activity.

It is readily apparent to each of you that none of you will get a lick of privacy in the keep. The 4 of you are renowned heroes, word of the orc commander's demise at your hands has spread rapidly around the keep and not a single one of you can pass through the Keep's common grounds without being handed a pitcher of anything from water to dwarven mead and toasted and asked to tell your stories again. The inkeeper at the Goblin, Alalar at the military base and the administrators at the keep do what they can to keep out most of the overzealous peasants and give you what little privacy you can find, but you are all followed by a practical throng any time you leave your residences. It's good natured, obviously, and you all understand the feeling of euphoria around the Keep at the demise of the orcs, but the attention leaves you all weary and wanting for the lonely road once again...at least, for a while.

The feeling of euphoria is only enhanced by the obvious number of parties going around the keep grounds. Almost all of the 50 some odd temporary shelters that littered the keep grounds are now now being used to house revelers, most of it good natured and well controlled by the Keep guards.

The few not in use as party tents, set back and off to the side of the more lively revelers, have a dark and somber mood about them, and each of you are given pause as you pass them on your daily routines. Haunted, hollow looks of people (mostly women and children) who've lost their homes or their families to the orc invasion remind each of you that all wars, even the successful ones, take their toll. Silently weeping mothers being consoled by their friends, themselves trying to hold back tears of pain and sorrow. Men, freshly missing a limb or having lost their families wander around the shelter as if searching for a way to make their lives whole again. A child's question to his mother "Mommy, when's Daddy coming back?", all very poignant reminders that for some, the parties and the exuberance experienced throughout the keep are not necessarily shared by all.

That message, again, is driven home the night of your return. Each of you finds your way to the dinner that night at the castle in honor of the strike team members who made the orcish route possible. Eight tables, sitting up on a high dais and separated from the tables below are highly decorated and impeccably lain out. Each table is surrounded by chairs, you realize, one each for each strike force team member...and over half of the chars on the dais sit empty. Of the around 50 chairs on the dais, only about 20 of them are filled, some members being guided up the stairs by servants who could not otherwise make it on their own due to wounds or injuries freshly healed, and one of the tables has only two people sitting at it out of 8 chairs. As you watch around you as the formal dinner begins you notice not a few of the men on the dais with tears in their eyes staring emptily at a chair next to them or across the table from them, others seem to be ignoring the whole gathering, talking quietly among themselves, sharing memories of their lost friends and comrades, consoling themselves, each other, or both.

On the floor below the Dais, however, things couldn't be more different than night and day. Laughter, music, some dancing, and much mingling can be seen by the men and women all dressed in their absolute best, showing off as if attending the Emperor of Norwold's own coronation, each of them looking down their noses at each other as if they were the most important people in the world...merchants and farmers and soldiers to a man, not a single one of them of noble birth.

As the dinner begins and the first course of the evening is served and everyone is seated, Armand and Garelson enter the room, both done up in obvious formal dress. Kilenthar looks haggard and worn out under the formal cloths, ashen, and looking as if he would fall down where he stands, his almost constant work with the wounded and dying obviously having taken it's toll. Garelson, however, looks identical to how he always looks, if a bit shaken, and the man steps forward to address the crowd. As you quickly glance past Garelson, you notice Relianer and Alalar chatting easily with each other, almost as if this dinner of state meant nothing to them. As Garelson steps forward to speak the two of them stifle a quick laugh, drawing an annoyed glance from Garelson their way.

"Ladies and Gentelmen, welcome tonight to this gathering in recognition of the heroics of these men and woman you see before you, without whom, this Keep may not still be standing."

As dinner progresses Garelson and Armand move from table to table, announcing each member of the strike force, reverently asking for silence for the members who didn't make it (often Armand accompanies the silence with a prayer for the family, by name, of the man or men who were lost) and calling for cheers for those who survived. The tales are all one in the same, each assault group was ambushed, each group was put into a fight for their lives, and many of the assault groups wouldn't have made it without the intervention of the Duke's own.

The dinner part of the evening ended with a recounting of the tale of your own heroics against the Orc Commander, Fyird being called forth to sing a ballad of the encounter.

As the dinner ends and the mood of the party lightens you watch around you as people again start mingling. You notice Alalar and Relianer moving together down off the dais and mingling with the soldiers. Again, General Relianer surprises you as you see her drinking with the soldiers, glass for glass, and relishing in the war stories being told one minute and chatting with the "ladies" of the Keep about the nuances of the Duke's court in the next, the transformation from solder to cultured lady coming with nothing more than a change of her facial expression.

Armand and Garelson, however, do not seem to mingle and seem to be having a bit of a heated discussion off to the side, each nursing a single glass of wine that you all realize has almost remained untouched all night. As the evening begins to wain into nighttime Garelson ends the conversation between him and Armand with a shrug and a handshake and Armand steps up to the front of the Dais and gets everyone's attention and proceeds to announce his retirement from the governorship and the promotion of Alalar as commander of Kiren's Keep...and his intent to pursue the orcs and their backers that attacked the Keep.

For the next day you hear nothing but the rumor of Kilenthar's stepping down, normally accompanied by some wild tale of the commander taking half the military with him and destroying the orcs one by one till there were none left in the area, or him single handedly wiping out the entire orc race, always accompanied by a prayer for the continued health of Kilenthar...if possible, his announcement only seems to have elevated him farther in the eyes of the general populous.

On the morning of the second day, just prior to your gathering at the gates with Armand, a scene on the keep grounds draws each of your attentions as you make the final preparations for your leaving. Around a thousand men in gleaming plate mail with the Duke's emblem emblazoned upon their shields, riding war horses, gather in formation in the keeps grounds, forming rank after rank of rider and horse. From off to the side riding to the front of the formation come Alalar and Relianer, the general taking her position at the front of the force and Alalar facing her. A quick couple of words and a lingering glance and Alalar moves his horse out of the way as the general gives a command to her drummer. As one, she and all one thousand of her men rear their horses back on their hind legs, and then a bugle blast and a salute later the Duke's horsemen ride off out the front gate to the cheers of just about every man woman and child in the keep, men and women rushing to the walls to watch the horsemen ride off.

An hour later, the four of you, Armand and Alalar are standing on top of the Keeps upper wall, each of your horses, packed and ready for the journey are tied to posts below at the gate entrance. From down the Duke's road you can see two figures you each recognize moving toward the keep.

"Armand, are you sure about this?" says Alalar, startling all of you with his use of the Prince's real name. Each of you glances around and realizes that the entire area has been cleared of anyone who might even come close to listening to this conversation...intentionally you're sure.

"My friend, I have been here too long and we both know that the orc attack we just turned back won't be the last attempt my enemies coordinate to get to me. The longer I stay here, the more danger I put you and the Keep in. Eventually, the Assassins will get desperate enough and make an attempt on me like they did on my Father that night 30 years ago, and I could not stand to be the cause."

"You're sure it's them then?" Asks Alalar looking around, as if assassins were to appear out of nowhere.

"Very. That sword Dirk there carries was carried by the orc commander, and on it's pommel is the mark of the same assassin group that attacked me 30 years ago. The message we captured from that same orc tells me that the brotherhood is after me again, and this time they obviously know where I am. This Kavorquian is a key, and I need to find that Key and find the door it unlocks. Besides" Armand says with a smile on his face, "this isn't my kingdom. These people are as fine of subjects as I've ever seen, but I have a Kingdom that has lain in wait for 30 years for my return, and I believe now is my time."

Alalar chuckles and looks at each of you. "They're all from Kethlenica? How do six mercenaries show up on our backwoods doorstep all displaced from the same kingdom thousands of miles from here?"

"Fate my friend, and the touch of the Gods."

Alalar nods at Armand and gets a twisted grin on his face "Congratulations Commander, it's taken you over 5 years to do it, but I think you finally have me convinced you're a true representative of that Goddess of yours...there's no other explanation for this crackpot idea of running off into the wilderness in search of these assassins with only six of you in tow other than that you truly are 'touched by the gods' (a term that also has the meaning 'insane')".

Alalar snaps to full attention and holds a salute toward Armand, and then to each of you in turn for several seconds before releasing it and dropping back into his standard at rest pose. "Good hunting Commander...er...liege...er...whatever you are!"

With that Alalar descends the steps back to the keep grounds and back out toward the castle.

Turning to you and seeing Selena and Lash approaching the keep Armand says "Everyone ready for the ride to Penhaligon?"


Male Wood Elf: AC-15, HP 9/5, INI +4, SPD 35', Passive Perception 16 Rogue / 1: Saves; STR -1, DEX +6, CON +1, INT +1, WIS +4, CHA +1

Yes you were right about Fyird's intentions

"Yes! I must admit, that even my socializing has it's limits". "Besides it's time for the second stanza of my epic ballad".

As the group makes to leave Fyird gives Cobweb a evaluating look. "Hmm seems you're ready for a trip as well". "I swear this stabling has plumped you up quite a bit". "Oh well...softer for me I guess", Fyird says with a smile.


F Human Rogue 5

Lash grins at Selina as they approach the group, seeing their horses and extra gear ready and waiting.

"And off we go again, I'm suprised to see you up so early boys, I figured two days of drinking and revelry would have taken its toll"

She looks towards Armand and silently mouths the words "My Lord" as she nods.


Female Human Sorcerer (favored) 4 / Witch 1

Selena is somewhat different in appearance than last seen (if that's okay). Her face is the same but her eyes are a cooler blue and her hair is no longer white but reddish-gold, almost the color of the heavenly fire she frequently calls to her hand. Her hair is bound back now by a few straps of leather, and a glistening white rose blooms alive over her ear. It glows with a dull light of its own.

I couldn't find an avatar picture that looked like what I was looking for, but there's an image link in my profile.

DM:
The rose of life is in effect the same exact thing as the potion of cure light wounds. It still requires a move action to retrieve, still heals 1d8+1? hitpoints of damage as a standard action, and can only be used once before vanishing. It just has a different visual appearance. The spell I'll hopefully be able to research allows me to summon them (they last for an hour, I think).

"Before we leave, Father Armand, I would like to see if I can purchase some magical scrolls that might help us on our way. Over the past few days, I've had some opportunities to meditate and have found a natural talent for arcane symbols."

Was the loot ever divied up? I might have less of a share since I accepted the old sword.


F Human Rogue 5

Lash glances at Selina as she speaks and shakes her head to herself. The physical changes to her form were amazing, and Lash was both in awe and a bit intimidated by the events of the last two days.

At some point during her vigil over the sorceress' contemplations, a wave of energy had washed over the area, radiating from Lena herself and rushing over the hillside, leaving every blossom blooming twice as brightly, every leaf seeming a little more green. The wave of energy had washed over Lash as well, striking a cord in her soul that felt like hearing a song with every fiber of her being.

When Selena had come out of her contemplation and spoke quietly, Lash had automatically responded in kind. It was a few moments before she realized that Lena in her heightened state had spoken to her in Celestial, and Lash, to the surprise of both women, had replied fluently.

As one who spent her time firmly rooted in the physical world she was more than a little freaked by the sudden knowledge of an entrely new language, but Lena had reassured he that only good would come of the knowledge.

Spent the points on lingustics, but figured this would work to explain obtaining fluency in 2 days.


Male Human Fighter 5

Looking once again at his latest mount, Dirk breaths a sigh that could be interpreted partly as a groan.

He purchased 'Windrider' at the last town he had briefly called home. Initially impressed with the horses speed and grace, the warrior soon came to realize that the horse's namesake was probably a whimsical nod to it's propensity to frequently flatulate - often at inappropriate times.

Bothersome enough while traveling in solitude, he now realizes what a nuisance the horse will be while traveling with a group - particularly THIS group.

"Perhaps the keeps healthy diet has calmed his bowels", Dirk considers to himself.

To the group he starts, "I'm..."

"PFFTTT!"

"I'm..."

"Pffftttttttttttt.... pfft!"

"I'm r..."

"Pft!"

Gnashing his teeth and grimacing, Dirk mearly climbs into the saddle while glaring at the group and points at the open road before them.

Selena, take a full share of the loot. Dirk expects no payment for the sword and is passing on his share.


The seven of you gather your horses and belongings and move out the front gate.

Almost immediately you recognize some of the townspeople on the walls, waving at you as you ride off. Several of the outlaying farmers have gathered along the Duke's road to catch a glimpse of the seven of you as you move down the road the 25 or so miles to Penhaligon.

I will again remind everyone of the ROAR website where you can see the map of the surrounding lands. Rise of a Regent Information Website

As the late morning starts to progress into afternoon clouds start building overhead and within an hour an early spring shower crops up and a cold wind starts whipping down from the northern mountain range and along the hills surrounding the Duke's road. You each pull your cloaks tighter about you and your travel speed slows a bit as you try to navigate the muddy road ahead of you. By mid afternoon, as quickly as the storm came up, it breaks and the winds somewhat die down. While still gray and overcast, with even a light mist and fog hovering over the surrounding hilly lands, a hint of the sun burns down through the clouds and helps alleviate the chill...at least partially.

There is a little pedestrian traffic on the road, but no wagons and no other horses. The bad weather seems to have made most people leave travel until tomorrow so it's a peaceful enough ride. The road is somewhat wide in most places, allowing all seven of you to ride abreast if you were to so choose. Despite the weather, you each find the travel somewhat easy and the open road more inviting than the perpetual stares of the Keep's citizens.

After about 5 hours of travel (with a somewhat longer stop than intended to eat and relieve the chill of the ride next to a small fire), as early evening approaches, you find yourselves standing at the bottom of a path leading to several large houses atop a small hill. Moving up the path you soon see a notably fine house with some marble statues on it's grounds. The iron gates, unlocked and partially open and inviting, have some interesting and unusual designs wrought on them, which Thantos and Selena quickly recognize to be rudimentary runes in the language of magic.

Dismounting your horses and tying them off to the fence, the seven of you move through the gate and up the path toward the house ahead of you. Your boots crunch on the gravel of the path as you make your way in. An iron bound wooden door made of some dark hardwood, with a sliver pull handle and a smaller viewing door at face height, stands closed ahead of you up a short set of stairs on a small front porch.

As you approach the house the door opens a bit and a very startled manservant steps out onto the porch. After recovering from his shock at your approach, the man nods once in your general direction and begins to light the lanterns on the lintel.


Male Human Fighter 5

Dirk steps forward and offers a greeting with a slight bow, "Greetings my good man. We are 7 weary travelers come from Kiren's Keep. My name is Kith Tol'Andread and these are my companions. May I ask the name of the Master of this house?"

Dirk is hoping to discover if this is the house of Kavorquian. Assuming we are not already sure.


The man stops in lighting the lanterns, and slowly turns to look at you, a slight frown on his face.

"You mean the former Master?"

The man clears his throat a second and continues.

"I am sorry Master Kith, but Seer Kavorquian, the former master of this house, died in his bed three weeks ago."

Pausing for a moment and looking at you and your companions with a practiced eye, a slight smile creases the man's lips as he adds quickly.

"But if you would so kindly wait here for a moment someone may be able to help you."

Before any of you can say anything, the man skuttles back inside quickly and shuts the door behind him.

You all look at each other, wondering just what is going on when, a few minutes later the door latch is thrown back again and the door creeks open and an elegantly attired butler stands in the open doorway.

"My sincere apologies for your wait to you Master Kith and to your friends. Please come in, I'm sure we can help you in whatever it is you need."

The seven of you are ushered down a long hallway and into a finely attired room, obviously a lounge.

"The master of the house will be with you shortly, would any of you care for some wine?" asks the butler while looking at most of you askance.

He bustles around for several moments, getting several long, thin, and artfully decorated crystal wine glasses out of a cabinet and pulling a rather expensive bottle of white wine from a rack in one corner of the room and pours each of you a small amount. The butler then stands back and scrutinizes each of you disdainfully, particularly Kith, Armand and Mird. Then with obvious suspicion the butler makes a grand show of counting the silver items around the room while eyeing Lash.

Finally, as if the seven of you were expected to have given up this information already, the butler pointedly asks each of you for your name.

Ok, I'm going to use this as a campaign interest check. Each of you please respond with the name you're giving to the butler, we'll move on from there. Since at least one of you hasn't posted or repsonded to anything in quite some time I'll be using this to determine who's still interested in the campaign or not. Next post on Tuesday.

On the brighter side, my life has calmed considerably so I'll be able to "pick back up" on this as of next week.


Selena:
I apologize, I missed one of your comments to me in the bustle of last week. You were asking about magical scrolls or such. What were you looking for? Note that Kiren's Keep's magical stores are very, very limited but if it's something more mundane you might be able to find it. Please let me know what you were looking for.


Male Wood Elf: AC-15, HP 9/5, INI +4, SPD 35', Passive Perception 16 Rogue / 1: Saves; STR -1, DEX +6, CON +1, INT +1, WIS +4, CHA +1

Fyird, thinking to himself that there is no way to associate his name with anything that might get him in trouble, decides to be honest.

"I am called Fyird, Master Bard, You might have heard of me", Fyird questions with a bow, and flourish, as he reaches for a refill of his now empty wine.

"And to whom exactly are we waiting to give thanks for the hospitality"?


Female Human Sorcerer (favored) 4 / Witch 1
Illydth-DM wrote:
** spoiler omitted **

DM:
A few (2) scrolls of magic missile, perhaps?

Selena dismounts from her horse and leads it closer to the butler asking for their names. "I am called Selena Devanholme, though I doubt that my name has been heard very far from my home."


F Human Rogue 5

Lash rewards the man's insulting display with a wicked grin. She plays a coin across her fingers, maintaining eye contact as the makes it vanish at the end of her fist.

Sleight of hand 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (4) + 7 = 11


"Hello sir. I am Tharin. I am afraid that my religions forbids me from drinking wine, but I do appreciate your offer."

Thantos quietly prepares his familiar for a quick attack on the butler should the man begin to question his true identity.


Male Human Fighter 5

Dirk's face remains as impassive as stone as the butler scrutinizes him.

He will accept the offered wine with a slight nod of gratitude, but will eventually set it down untouched.


Ok, quick administrative note. Mird's last post to this thread was almost a month ago and he's not responded to any of the e-mail queries I've sent to him over the last couple weeks. Not quite sure what's happened to him but I know he was time constrained when he joined.

Due to this and the need to keep the campaign moving and not have me running too many "npc" characters at once, I'm replacing Mird with another interested party, assuming he accepts my invite. I will run Mird for the moment until I get our new player up to speed.

I'd like to thank KJob for his involvement in the story up to this point and I wish him luck on whatever he is currently involved in. KJob: If you want to continue following the story, please feel free to do so, I'm happy to answer any questions or, if you'd like, I'd be happy to give you a synopsys of how the story will play out so you know what you missed out on. :)

For the rest, I'm back and I'm ready to continue. I will try to get a post out a day for a while, we'll see if my schedule holds. :)


With both a disgusted, resigned, and somewhat fearful last glance at Lash the man literally tears his eyes away and glances at the last two members of the party standing in the room.

Mird, glass almost untouched, nods his head once in the direction of the butler and says "Your master may call me Keth".

Finally, Armand steps forward, his glass, as well, almost entirely untouched, and puts on his most winning smile as he says "My good man, we hail each from Kiren's Keep, having just come from staving off the orc invasion of your lands. I am Former Commander Kilenthar of Kiren's Keep, now out investigating the disruption of our lands and our lives by these orcs with an intent to rid the region of their filth. I have with me a letter addressed to your former master, one Seer Kavorquian of Penhaligon, from who we believe to be the leadership of these orcs. There are many questions we have for the new master of this house and we would speak with him on these matters most urgently. There are mothers, and children, without fathers and brothers just north of where we now stand that deserve no less than the answers we seek. I trust your master will delay us no longer?"

The butler stands speechless for a few moments staring at Armand, working his mouth trying to get a sound out. Finally the man simply bows and leaves the room. Not more than a few minutes later the butler comes back in followed by a young man, of about 25 years of age. He is tall and strongly built, standing just over six feet with brown hair worn over the collar of a simple, if elegantly made, white tunic. The major feature that draws each of your eyes is that this man is missing his right arm at the shoulder.

The butler bows low to the seven of you and says "I present to each of you Lord Kaerin Penhaligon." With that the butler pours a glass of wine for his master and then leaves the room.

"My apologies to all of you for the wait, my butler obviously didn't understand the importance or significance of your visit." Nodding at Armand, Kaerin says "Commander Kilenthar, of course, good to finally meet you, your keep has stopped many an invader from reaching Penahligon's gates and for that we owe you a debt of gratitude. I understand that you recently fought yet another skirmish with the orcs of the northern mountains. Again, you have the gratitude of Penhaligon for your efforts. Whatever I may do for you you have the hospitality of the house and myself. What brings you here to my father's residence?"

Armand gives a slight bow to Kaerin and explains "Actually a bit more than a skirmish this time, and that's actually why we're here."

Armand proceeds to give an account (asking each of you for details and opinions in the retelling) of the events leading up to the attack on Kiren's Keep, culminating with the letter found on the corpse of the orc leader.

Kaerin is obviously alarmed and concerned, even more so as he reads the proffered note.

"Friends, I know not what to tell you other than to thank you for this letter and this information. Were that my father were alive to answer the questions you obviously have to ask, but alas, he died in his bed of, what we assumed, were natural causes, about three weeks ago. I will take advice from a ranking cleric who will be visiting me shortly on his cause of death to ensure there was in fact no foul play. However, even though my father is not here himself to answer your questions, perhaps there is something I can do to help you after all."

"But first, it is getting late and I am about to sit down for dinner. Would you all be so kind as to join me? It's the least I can do for the trouble the seven of you have gone through today to get me this information."

Nodding at Kaerin, Armand leads the rest of you into the dining room as the first course of the meal is laid down before you.

Ok, questions for Kaerin? Dinner will encompass about an hour or two's worth of time here so you have plenty of time to ask questions of Kaerin. His questions to the seven of you will mostly be who you are, what you're doing, why you're here, etc. Mostly the same questions you've been asked since the beginning of the adventure by the various parties and you've all be very closed mouthed in the past so I'll make the assumption of the same here. Armand will do much of the small talk. However, each of you would have your opportunity to turn the conversation toward a topic of interest to you so lets just have you give me a set of questions or topics that you'd like to have covered.


Selena:
Selena, you don't find much of magical interest at the Keep, the folk there are very "un-magical" for the most part.


Male Human Fighter 5

Dirk opens with a leading question, "You mentioned you may be able to help us in some fashion..."


Wow, no questions about how the guy lost his arm? No questions about his last name or history? (Penhaligon...the same name as the town?) No questions about his father? (the guy you were here to talk to who ended up dead?) No one with a conspiratorial mind? (A guy linked with the rulership of this town ends up dead and his son is now master of the house?) Not even a "We're sorry for your loss"?

Note that these are the kinds of places where a good amount of XP can be earned. I had about 3 - 400 xp allocated to this conversation but unfortunately it looks like you're going to miss pretty much all of it.

Shaking his head, a bit of a scowl on his face, Kaerin says "Straight to business it is then. At least let me finish my meal."

As dinner ends (Kaerin and Armand doing most of the small talk while the rest of you remain silent, other than answering a few questions), the butler re-enters with several brandy glasses and a decanter. He proceeds to set a glass in front of each of you and pours a small amount in each, then exits the room again.

Kaerin takes a small sip and sets his glass down. He then looks at the seven of you and says "Yes, Kith, I do believe I can help you, and you me in the process."

"I have only just moved in to the house, having come from Specularum (A town further south west of Penhaligon), and I'm still taking stock of the house, a wonderful place to be sure...except for the basement."

Kaerin shifts a bit uncomfortably in his chair and leans forward "Kavorquian used the basement of this house as his laboratory, and as I learned in the many conversations I had with my stepfather, it also holds some of his magical items and treasure he's acquired over the years. Here's where you can help me: There are two items down there that I need to obtain. The first is a sword with an unmistakable gem-set hilt and pommel. The second is a diamond tiara that Kavorquian used to tell me about. I need both of those items, anything else you find is yours. And beyond that, here's where I can help you. Also down there is Kavorquian's journal. My stepfather was a shrewd businessman and a seer of many talents, unmatched in the region. He generally made it a practice to "look in on" any business partners or almost anyone else he dealt with...especially if he felt threatened...to ensure they were on the level. If anyone from this "Brotherhood" contacted him about his services he almost undoubtedly used his talent in scrying to identify them and what they were about. That information he will have recorded in his journal."

"The problem, of course, is that the old man fitted his basement with traps and magical guardians. Nothing meant to be lethal but possibly very dangerous." Kaerin points at his missing arm as he continues "Obviously, I'm in no position to go down there and get the items I want myself. I was just about to advertise for adventurers to help when you showed up."

"Are you interested? Keep in mind you can have everything down there other than the Tiara and the Sword. On top of that I will also pay 250 gold pieces if you can return those two items to me within 48 hours of tomorrow morning."

Kaerin waits patiently as the seven of you discuss your options.


Male Human Fighter 5

Well, "Hey, how'd ya lose your arm?" is hardly a civilized dinner topic! Ha! But I admit - questioning could have been more thoughtful.

"May I ask what your interest is in these objects? While the group before you may lack some... lawful discipline, they are all goodly folk. Can you assure us that your interest lacks evil intent?"


Male Wood Elf: AC-15, HP 9/5, INI +4, SPD 35', Passive Perception 16 Rogue / 1: Saves; STR -1, DEX +6, CON +1, INT +1, WIS +4, CHA +1

"Can't think of anything I'd rather do than, poke around in a magically trapped laboratory". "Could you at least tell us where to keep that from happening", Fyird smiles nodding at the missing appendage.

I'll try to be more aggressive on the questioning. The secrecy of whom we're traveling with, has given me a bit of conversation paralysis, as I'm not sure who I can talk to and who I can't, and what I can let be known. In a face to face game, most of what we've done so far would have happened over a short period of time, but it's hard to remember things in a PbP. I'm sure as we get more into the game, and identify more with our characters, and the NPC groups we'll become more forward. Remember we have to learn our characters, your npc's, and the fellow party members...It's a lot to have to integrate. I remember we were specifically given XP rewards by not revealing ourselves when entering town...so I think we're just a bit guy shy. As the game progresses this will by nature become easier.


Actually in a short email conversation I've heard pretty much exactly what you just Described Fyird: the slow pace of a PBP has caused some paralysis in being able to follow the details of the storyline / remember characters / etc. which is causing some problems with the questions and things I think should probably be second nature.

First, let me apologize for the initial post this morning, if I offended anyone or they thought I was calling them "stupid" I want to assure you all I was not. I did want to point out where there was some XP loss happening so it was a bit clearer where my xp awards come from. It's pretty obvious where XP gains happen (though somewhat less so since I don't tend to award XP "on the spot") but when I simply don't award XP it's harder to see because there's generally no notification at all. You don't see the "loss" because it never gets announced.

Regarding the PBP pace, part of that is my fault with my time away. I'm hopefully going to be picking up the pace here. I'm not quite sure how to manage the slow pace affecting story line cohesiveness and remembering of details. Perhaps I'm going to have to fall back on ye-old "perception check" or other methods to provide more clues. I can allow Armand to play a larger information gathering role, but what I don't want is to fall into the trap of having Armand providing all the important information for a scenario since the entire last module is going to be based around what you know, what you don't know, and what you can figure out, and if we're in the mindset of "I'll be told all I need to know" there's going to end up being problems.

Re:Information Paralysis due to who you're traveling with, yea, that's a factor I didn't figure on when I built the campaign. I guess my best response is to let you know that most of the information you're going to need is going to come from questioning NPCs, particularly if the nuances and details of events aren't sticking in your minds, so "never ventured = never gained". The best I can tell you right now without giving too much away is to be a little less concerned with playing defense and a bit more concerned with playing offense. As with most stories of this nature the enemy always starts out knowing a bit more about you than you do about them so you need to start making a priority of learning as much as you can quickly so you can even the odds a bit.

Let me close this with a quick story recap before I get to the questions asked.

Story Recap to this point:
--------------------------
Kiren's Keep, Lead by Commander Kilenthar (Think Mayor and Politician), Captain Garelson (Military Leader of the Keep - Think General), and Former Leutenant and now New Commander (Promoted by Kilenthar when he left on your current mission) Alalar (Think Personnel Manager), has recently been attacked by an orcish horde that you have found has ties to Kilenthar's past through an assassin band by providing somewhat poor quality siege weapons to the orcs. This same assassin band, you assume, perpetrated an attack on Armand's father some 30 years ago.

Kilenthar himself, you have found, is actually King/Prince Armand of Kethlenica, a land some 3000 miles to the north/north east of where you are now, and a land you all originate from. Most of you were taught, (though many of you suspected/knew differently) that Armand was killed during the assassination attempt, a mystery you all still have yet to solve.

To start solving this, the seven of you have followed up a lead from a message carried by the orc leader you killed during your foiling of the attack on the Keep. The letter, you read, originated from an organization calling itself "the brotherhood", which Armand suspects to be the same assassin band that killed his father during the assassination attempt...or attempted to kill as came out in your discussions (Lots of unanswered questions about the assassination attempt are open). The letter was addressed to a man by the name of "Kavorquian" a mage and seer of some renown in the vicinity of Kiren's Keep, in a town/city by the name of Penhaligon (20 - 30 miles south of Kiren's Keep). Upon arriving on the outskirts of Penhaligon you reached Kavorquian's residence only to find that the old seer had died only days before (assumably by natural circumstances) and that the residence had been taken over by a man by the name of Kaerin Penhaligon who has JUST described himself as the stepson of Kavorquian.

Kaerin has offered the seven of you a job that might in turn help you figure out some of the mystery surrounding the assassin band: a journal squirreled away in the basement of this mage's laboratory that might provide some clues to you as to whether or not Kavorquian was working with the assassin band or whether he continued to deny his services to them, as well as potentially answering other questions about who or what this "brotherhood" is and where they are located. You simply need to go down into the wizard's laboratory and retrieve 2 items for Kaerin (A sword with a jeweled pommel/hilt and a Tiara made with Diamonds), and the Journal for yourselves. You have 48 hours from the next morning to complete the task before you lose the additional 250g reward he has offered (though you will still be able to keep anything else you find and must still give back the sword and tiara).

Kaerin is awaiting an answer as to whether or not you will take the job.


Chuckling at Fyird's humor Kaerin says "I assure you this did not happen through the fault of any of my stepfather's "magical creations" below. I was attacked by a monster called a "slicer beetle" about a month ago. I and a few friends of mine thought the forests surrounding Penahligon a "safe" place. We were out hunting and were careless. My arm, or lack there of, remains a reminder of my stupidiy and, as Alphred likes to continually tell me, the idiocy of youth."

"To more directly answer your question Fyird, I know very little of my Stepfather's laboratory below. I was never allowed down into it, for fear that the guardians might get out of hand. I do, however, have a map of the small complex below the residence here that you can use to navigate your way around. For obvious reasons the map does not include notations for traps or even contents of rooms, my father was very adamant about the fact that the less people knew the better protected we all were. That said I do know that the laboratory is protected by traps, enchanted monsters, and some kind of magical creature that can travel through solid stone. I can also tell you that the old man performed magical experiments with monsters and, with his death, some of them may no longer be controlled and be loose in his Laboratory as well.

Turning to Kith, Kaerin smiles as he says "As you know very little of me and I know very little of you it is safe to say that trust is a commodity neither of us can fully afford. However, for as far as you can, please trust that my intentions are purely lawful in this regard. With the passing of my stepfather, the contents of his laboratory rightfully fall to my possession, though most of them will do me little good as I have no more interest in adventure than in losing my other arm. Regarding the items I seek, I will not speak much other than to say I need them for an upcoming social function two days hence and cannot afford NOT to have them. I am sorry that I cannot say more."


F Human Rogue 5

As the man speaks Lasciel quietly scrutinizes him seeking any indication of lies or witheld information, determined not to walk into a bigger trap than they were prepared for.

Sense motive1d20 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5

..and buys the entire sale of goods for twice the price...sigh!


Female Human Sorcerer (favored) 4 / Witch 1

Due to illness, work, bad sleeping patterns, publishers, etc. I've not been following the storyline extremely closely. I'm not sure if its the character or me, but it feels like Selena is not really that very connected to the storyline that is being presented. So she just kind of hangs back unless something presents itself that she has an interest in or can do something about. i.e., the voices have been quiet lately. Selena has mostly been following Kirk's lead. :P


Male Human Fighter 5

Dirk attempts to watch the nuances of the one-armed mans face as he answers his question in an effort to determine the true nature of his intent.

(12:18:48 PM) (Sum: 9)1xD20: 9

Speaking to the group in general, Dirk comments, "It appears our options are limited. The basement, and the possibility of finding the Seers journal, is our most promising lead at the moment. If we must fetch a few items for the Wizard's son to gain access to the basement, then so be it. Let us complete this task and be on our way."

After a slight pause, Dirk continues, "Are any of you opposed to entering the basement under the conditions you've heard?"


Male Wood Elf: AC-15, HP 9/5, INI +4, SPD 35', Passive Perception 16 Rogue / 1: Saves; STR -1, DEX +6, CON +1, INT +1, WIS +4, CHA +1

"Let's get to it", Fyird replies. "Who knows what stories and legends we might uncover".


Lasciel: You aren't sensing anything untoward regarding what this guy is saying. You notice that the butler and other house servants seem content and comfortable in the jobs they're doing. They're polite (well, other than the Butler, but you can tell why he's nervous) and courteous. None seem agitated or fearful around Kaerin nor does he seem to mistreat anyone. There doesn't seem to be a lot of gossip or other "behind closed doors" conversations that would indicate something mysterious going on.

Dirk: Again, you don't notice anything specific. You notice a bit of an excited look in the man's face and eyes when he mentions the sword / tiara and a bit of a blush came to his face when he mentioned the "social event". You also noticed that he has remained generally at ease and comfortable through the entire conversation, his smile seems genuine, and you've also noticed that he's "offered up" information without being prompted for it.

Selena:
Selena: No apologies necessary. I understand the whole life thing getting in the way, wasn't trying to call anyone to the carpet. Regarding being connected to the storyline, keep in mind that you are a daughter of Kethlenica, it is your natural home, and the man you are following is actually your Prince/King. You are also missing a HUGE connection for this part of the story line that is pretty clearly spelled out if not a bit buried. I recommend reading your history a bit more closely.

"I assure you," Kaerin says, "my motives are on the up and up. You know everything I do, which admittedly is not much, about my Stepfather's basement and laboratory. Regardless of your decisions, it is late and after your ride I am sure all of you are tired. I have guest rooms for each of you to spend the night and I offer you breakfast tomorrow morning. At that time, if you accept the job, I will need your promises that you will do everything you can to aquire those two items within 48 hours."

As the conversation winds down, Kaerin stands from his chair and the butler re-enters the room picking up the various brandy glasses (Kaerin's almost gone while Armand's remains practically untouched) and Kaerin addresses you for a final time.

"Regardless of your decisions, I thank you all for bringing that letter and the information you have to my attention. Any help you can provide me would be most appreciated. My stepfather was not a rich man, but as you can see he lived a comfortable life. I suspect there is still a significant amount of his wealth and earnings down in his laboratory and it is all yours, along with his magical stores, should you choose to accept my offer."

"Alphred will show you to your rooms. Until the morning Ladies and Gentlemen..."

With a deep bow to all of you Kaerin turns from the room and leaves down the hall to his private residence. Alphred, the butler, motions each of you to follow him and leads you each to comfortably (if a bit sparsely) decorated rooms and bids you each good night.

Please let me know any preparations you'd like to make prior to starting off into Kavorquian's Laboratory. I will assume the standard spell memorization, equipment check, etc. If you'd like to switch spells out or make other changes don't hesitate to let me know.


Male Human Fighter 5

Dirk offers a quiet thanks to Alphred as he enters the sparse accommodations. Removing his armor and wiping it clean of dust that accumulated while traveling, he double checks all the bindings and splints to ensure they are secure for tomorrows task.

Satisfied that his armor is battle-ready, he moves his attention to his two-handed elven sword. Pulling out a whetstone he moves through the familiar motions of working the nicks out of the fine edge of the blade. Twenty minutes later the blade is honed sharp enough to split a hair. With something that sounds like a grunt, Dirk will settle into his bed and rest for the night.

At first light Dirk will don his armor, secure his equipment, and head to the area he suspects is the breakfast room.


If it is possible I would like to cast "Detect Magic" in the dining room before I am escorted to the sleeping quarters. Please let me know if this is possible.


F Human Rogue 5

Lash will also spend time checkiing her armor and equipment, ensuring to spend time doing her customary stretches upon rising.


BAD DM! I forgot to post back yesterday. -200 xp to the DM for bad memory!

Thantos: You CAN cast this spell, no question about it, and you're unlikely to be stopped while doing so. I would, however, say that casting an unknown spell without announcing intention and/or identifying what you're doing before hand in a strangers house while leisurely sitting around the fire chatting with the house's owner is not likely to be high on the "win friends and influence people" list. Also keep in mind that Kaerin is the son of a mage, a man practiced in divination and thus may have some magical training himself.

If you're simply looking to determine magical auras in the room and you don't care if you piss your host off or not (after all, he DOES need something from you and so is unlikely to throw you out) then simply cast the spell and I'll give you the results. If, however, you're trying to do this a bit more stealthy like, let me know what you want to do and I'll let you know your results. Your conversation with Kerin is likely to last at least an hour or so after dinner so you'd have plenty of time to do what you want, just let me know how you're going about it.

Also, while a bit outside the rules, I'm going to allow it. You may also, if you so choose, attempt to cast the spell in a non-obvious way (you will still make noise and make movement but if your host is distracted he may not notice if you try to do this "stealthly"). If you wish to do this please make me a spellcraft roll. However, note a failed roll will cause you to lose the spell in the attempt (your "muted" mutter of the arcane language or your hindered somatic movements in trying not to be noticeable causes a miscast). I'll be setting a difficulty of 15 on this.


Female Human Sorcerer (favored) 4 / Witch 1

Although mostly silent to this point, as she takes in the surroundings and the conversation around her, Selena perks up when she hears about the "creations" of the previous Seer.

Before the host retires, she emboldens herself to ask a question. "I hope it is not too presumptuous of me to ask what happened, exactly, to your stepfather?"


Kaerin puts on a very sincere smile as he turns toward Selena.

"Not at all m'lady. I'm actually surprised no one asked before. While the letter you all brought me does require some investigation, my stepfather was over 90 years old, and unlike many mages of his ilk, the man really never did want to live forever. He died peacefully in his bed about 3 nights ago. Alphred found him when he went to wake the old man for breakfast in the morning. It is a sad loss to me, but I am glad he has found his place among the scholars that have gone before him."

"While the body has yet to be examined by the priests, there is one coming soon, all indications point to it simply being his time."


F Human Rogue 5

Lash listens as the man speaks of his stepfather with apparent sincerety 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7


Female Human Sorcerer (favored) 4 / Witch 1

Selena smiles generously at the man.

"I am not unskilled in the healing arts. Do you think it would be alright if I looked at his body? It is a strange request for a houseguest, I know."

Diplomacy (untrained) 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (16) + 4 = 20 +1 if attracted.

So sorry everyone for holding you up. Things just started clicking together for me, so I hope no one minds too much. Yeah, I had a hard time putting things together previously, but I'm recovering from my momentary illness, so sparks of intrigue are flying through my mind again. On a secondary note, Selena's a very polite individual, so if there's something that someone thinks she should look at, please ask her to.


Looking a might bit uncomfortable at the Selena's request and clearing his throat before speaking Kaerin frowns slightly.

Alphred, the butler, goes sheet white at the request. "You...cannot...surely...improper...", the man is having a hard time putting words together and his face goes from sheet white to a pale flushed red, he is obviously extremely angry and has had every sensibility shocked. "My Lord, you cannot..."

Kaerin quickly raises his hand, silencing the butler as he stares Selena in the eye. "Well...a strange request that most certainly is, it's generally customary to let the body rest till a ranking priest has the ability to examine and prepare it, but if it's what you want to do...I guess there's no real harm in it, so long as you aren't going to defile it in any way. And you won't mind if I am in the room with you as well I'm sure..."

Armand nods at the rest of you and says "All of you go get some rest, I will accompany Selena to examine the body and we will retire quickly."

Armand then turns to an obviously uncomfortable Kaerin and says "Our apologies Lord. With all we know and have seen of this assassin band we need to look into this ourselves. You said, at the outset of our meeting, that you were interested in helping us learn more about this Assassin band. Allowing us the opportunity to give a cursory examination of your father's body will help us in our understanding of whatever his relationship with that band might have been. We, of course, have no objections to you accompanying us and you have my word as a priest of Saenrae that myself and my comrade will treat your father's body with the utmost respect."

Kaerin, still obviously uncomfortable, nods his head slowly. "My father is this way."

As the rest of you retire (Armand will not allow anyone else to accompany him or Selena on this with the explanation that too many people could disturb the body too much), Armand and Selena are lead by Kaerin upstairs to the second floor and down a long hall (opposite the guest suites) to the door to what is obviously the master suite. The sputtering and grumbling of the Butler can be heard from the lower floor ("Adventurers humph!", "...destroy half the house...", "...mud all over...", "...improper, uncouth heathens!") obviously intentionally loud enough to be heard.

"My father's body lays in this room", Kaerin says, his shaking hand fumbling with the latch till it finally opens.

A cold draft escapes through the doorway of the room as you enter.

The room is grandly decorated, a deep red and gold rug, looking almost new and worth several hundred gold coins rests half showing on the wooden floor. Dressers and a large mirror adorn one wall, and a table and chair set sit along one side of the room, just under an open window. A cold early spring mountain breeze comes through the window, chilling the room to almost the same temperature as the outside.

A large, ornate, and obviously expensive bed with layers of blankets (obviously down filled) and sheets of what look to be pure silk adorn the bed, an obscene extravagance in this remote area of Norwold. Rich red, deep blues, greens and golds shine in the candlelight from the bed and match various tapestries, pictures and other decorations placed around the room.

Along a wall somewhat near to the open window is obviously a hastily constructed table upon which a silk sheet lays and on top of that the obviously dead and stiff body of a man who looks every bit in his 90s and maybe many many years beyond that. While the stiffness of rigor mortis has set into the limbs and body, it is obvious that the wrinkled old man on the table was on his last legs. Thin and almost emaciated looking the skin (what little is visible under the bedclothes the man is still dressed in) looks very wrinkled and loose on his body. A cane sitting near the bed identifies that the man was having troubles walking. And a plate of food on the nearby table looks almost untouched.

You notice the last remnants of snow packed around the body and some wetness on the sheet and the bedclothes.

Looking shaken Kaerin says "When Alphred first discovered the old man dead in his bed over there, we contacted the temple in Penahligon to have a priest come over and prepare the body. Unfortunately due to the war at the Keep (at that he nods toward Armand), not many of the priests were available and none with the skill to properly prepare my father for burial. We obviously couldn't let him rot in his bed so, upon advice, we moved him to the table, opened the windows to cool the room and packed his body in what little snow we could find in the surrounding hills to slow the decomposition process."

Kaerin then turns to the two of you and says "He was a good man, and I sorely miss him, please, be quick, it pains me to be here with him like this."

Ok, what do you want to accomplish here?


Lash, as far as you can tell the man is being very sincere in everything he's saying.


Female Human Sorcerer (favored) 4 / Witch 1

Selena looks around the lavishly appointed room, shivering a little as the cold draft skitters across her skin.

"Without defiling your father's body, Kaerin, might I be permitted to inspect it medically and with an arcane eye? In the interest of uncovering any unnatural cause of death, of course."

Diplomacy (untrained) 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 4 = 13 +1 if attracted.


F Human Rogue 5

"Well he doesn't seem to be lying," Lash mutters to Kith as the butler excuses himself.


Male Wood Elf: AC-15, HP 9/5, INI +4, SPD 35', Passive Perception 16 Rogue / 1: Saves; STR -1, DEX +6, CON +1, INT +1, WIS +4, CHA +1

Fyird shakes his head at the womans question. He can't believe she had the nerve to ask that...still maybe she'd find something out.

He then decides to turn in for the evening. Tomorrow could be a trying day, and he wasn't as young as he used to be.

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