Rise of the Runelords

Game Master Lloyd Jackson

"Well, the common human ethnicities here are Chelaxian, Varisian, and Shoanti. I'm not really experienced with other peoples in the Inner Sea, though. Mary, perhaps your studies with the Pathfinders could glean more information? If I had more coin, I'd invest in some divination spells for you, Kent. However, they have some costly spell components."

A little later, she says softly "I'm sorry about your home, Kent. If you want, I'm sure I could get you some temporary accommodations at the Cathedral until you're back on your feet."

Mary thinks when asked about languages. Hmm... It could be any number of languages. Hallit, Kelish... Heck. It could even be a planar language of Abyssal or Celestial. Most likely it might be a dead language, like Thassilonian. That might be the one. "While I only know two well, there are many languages out there. From national or race, to even planar. Even dead languages like Thassilonian, which I know quite well. But it could have been anything."

"Think this may've come from somethin' we did?" Tsakua asks, scratching his jaw. "Kent's the only permanent resident of Sandpoint of the five of us, so it makes sense t'go after him. Maybe someone didn't want us pryin' in that tomb, or workin' with the Sheriff."

You guys make it back to the Rusty dragon just fine. Time to see about some lodgings for Kent. :)

Kent shoulders his way through the door, before slumping his large form down at the bar. "I need a drink," he says, tossing a few silver pieces down on the table in front of him. "Gimme a pint, or two, alright? Don't ask questions." He leans heavily on the bar, grimacing while he cracks his knuckles. "What's the strongest ya got?"

"It does all seem oddly conspiratorial." Tas answers Tsakua as they enter the inn and Kent starts drinking. "As far as what they're speaking, if it is Thassilonian, I'd certainly be surprised. Mary you're the first person I've that can speak it, other than myself, who isn't holed up in a library, what are the odds of there being more people using such an old language to communicate?"

Tas waves over a drink for himself, not much caring what he's served.
"Maybe we can try speaking a little of it to the people who were locked up. If it sounds familiar, then maybe you're on to something."

"I have magic that would allow me to understand what is being said, but the spell doesn't last long. Only a minute at most...."

Luminita pauses mid thought (as per usual) "guys... there's no way it could be goblin... could it?"

"Old lady said they were people sized, and last I checked, goblins weren't much fer maskin' their presence. Like t'be in and out with a bang," Tsakua responds. "But if they knew enough t'go after Kent's home..."
One might almost imagine steam coming out of Tsakua's ears as he tries and connects what dots he sees.

"If they're...in league with the goblins that attacked...d'you think they might go after somethin' that belongs to Mary or I? I mean, I got nothin' in town t'speak of, but what about the Vinder's?"

"Umm, I meant what if the Sczarni were able to speak Goblin. It's just the last language around here that I could think of. I doubt people are going to target your stuff, Tsakua."

Settling in with the others, Mary orders a light ale to sooth her mind over the evening's events. Listening to the conversation, she tilts her head in thought. "I doubt they would bother me as well. Almost all my valuables are with me now. Aside from a glass bird I got from the festival." She shrugs. "And other creatures do use the goblin language. I heard it a couple times spoken back at Skyreach. And heard it was spoken by... Um." She looks deep in thought a few seconds. "Bugbears... Hob Goblins, and Worgs. If I remember correctly. But why would a angry dog know goblin? They can't speak!" She absentmindedly adds. She shakes her head when she receives her mug. She looks down the bar towards her allies. "Well, anything could be possible. Heck, could be the words of dragons for all we know. And we can't figure it out until we find out what they heard, I mean by how they heard it."

I've been waiting on the GM to post, but then I realized I didn't actually ask Ameiko the question about lodging.

"I don't speak much out'ta the ordinary, so I doubt I'd be much help with figurin' all that out." Kent downs the rest of his pint before sliding it towards Ameiko for a refill. "I'd guess... you've probably heard the news about my smithy. I know you gotta run yer business an' all, but any chance I could get a room for a while? I'd pay ya an' all, but I don't exactly have anywhere to ply my trade..." Kent sighs, choking back any signs of other emotions; evidently, he's not drunk enough for that yet. "It wouldn' be for long, just until I could get started on, well, rebuildin'."

Ameiko is careful not to look too sympathetic so as not to damage any pride, but she pats Kent's hand and offers her own room for tonight saying she's going to be out anyway. She promises to make a more suitable arrangement upon her return.

"Well I'm going to turn in for the night. I'll come find you all tomorrow, maybe we can talk to the townspeople and figure out where to go from here." Tas momentarily considers patting Kent on the back, but he keeps his hands to himself and heads back to the caravan for the night.

In the morning he spends some time wandering town looking for any sightings of their strange speaking targets or any other rumors that might interest them.

Gather Information: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5

I'm at a loss for where to go from here, and I was hoping this might give us some leads, but apparently the dice are against me.

Mary pats Kent on the back. "And we'll help. Anyway, good night. And hopefully we will have something to do about it tomorrow." She smiles softly and nods. And begins to head upstairs to her room.

Once in her room, she will make sure all her equipment and such are in order, and checks out the glass figure of the bird she got from the festival. Sighing, she gets ready for bed and sleeps the night through.

In the morning after getting ready, Mary heads down stairs with her usual gear and her musket slung across her back. "Morning." As she said a bit quietly. Deciding to get something to eat, she heads over to the bar to ask for a meal and then heads to a vacant table. Wondering what to do, she can't help to feel sad for Kent. To loose nearly everything except what you have upon your own back. I honestly don't know what I would do. I mean, I apparently lost an uncle recently that I didn't really know well. And that is about it. Rubbing the sleep from her eyes she relaxes waiting for her meal.

Though while she waits, she looks around the the room to see if any of those people were still around. If they are, she intends to figure out what the language they heard sounded like.

So if there are a few still around since last night, Mary wants to see if the language they heard sounds similar to Thassilonian. And when the others come, she will ask them to see if they have any languages they know that might sound similar as well.

"That's right! Try to get some sleep okay?" Luminita says as she bids everyone goodnight.

Luminita always stays up late. Perhaps it has to do with her faith to Desna, or just simple curiosity. She likes to sit atop her family's roof and stare out into the distance, completely immersed in the plane of her own imagination.

By the time Luminita arrives to the inn, she's already quite late. Her fashions have begun to lean more on the practical now, with breeches rather than dresses. Today's color is pink, representing love, kindness, and courage.

Tsakua didn't have much to do after downing his last drink. Walking to his little makeshift pallet on the edge of the woods, his pockets felt their usual...empty. Job of helping around town better pay off somethin' good, he thought to himself as he drifted off to sleep.

Morning found him, birds chirping. Ambling into town, he took the long way to the inn, taking in the sights (and keeping his ears and eyes open for a chance at some coin). He thought about stopping by the Vinder's, but decided against it till he had someone like Tas or Luminita, someone better with words than him.

Eventually, Tsakua made his way to the inn, sitting down at the group's table, greeting whoever is there.

"Any thoughts on what we brave defenders of the town can do today?" he asks.

Ugh, sorry guys. I've had some stuff going on, I keep forgetting we're waiting on me.

Kent spends the night in Ameiko's room, not sleeping very soundly. He tosses and turns for most of the night, uncomfortable not only because the room isn't his or unfamiliar, but also because of the nagging feeling in the pit of his stomach. He awakens groggily the next morning, coming down the stairs and looking pretty bad. "Well, I know I'd prob'ly prefer eatin' some breakfast 'fore anything else," Kent mumbles, plopping down in a seat. "Other'n that, what's there to do? I know Mary wants t'see if she can figure out what language they were speakin', but I'm not gonna be much help with that."

"I have already ordered breakfast, so lets at least discuss on what languages we know so far." Mary leans forward and places her elbows on the table. "The languages I know of are only Taldane Common and Thassilonian. Not much, but it helps with archeological work. So what does everyone else know of in terms of what they are able to speak?" She looks at everyone gathered at the table.

"Not much, just t'local tongues. I picked up Elven from my mother, but I'd venture I'm prob'y a little rusty." Kent starts to shovel food into his mouth, still quite groggy. "Y'sure this is gonna turn anything up? Maybe whoever did this just had an odd accent..."

"I speak Taldane, Varisian, Celestial, and Draconic." Luminita offers.

"I've picked up some Orcish here an there," Tsakua responds.

"I know quite a few." Tas says, pausing to consider. "Common, Elven, Varisian, Thassilonian, Draconic, and a little Giant."

Bethana serves breakfast this morning since Ameiko is out, she is a tad less chatty than her employer, but she is efficient despite her bluster.

It's a good thing the place is empty or Bethana might go positively manic. It seems about all she can do to run breakfast for all of you.

Finishing her breakfast, Mary wipes her mouth with a handkerchief. "Mmm... Well, if we are all ready, we can head out and talk to a few of those people we freed from that warehouse. Between all of us, we should have a decent chance at figuring out what kind of language they were speaking." She notes the serving woman helping out for breakfast at the Inn, she thanks her for her trouble. "Ya know, we should head on out for the day. Shall we?" She stands and motions to the exit.

"Sure thing!" encourages Luminita. "Let's get this mystery solved and put those bad guys behind bars!"

"Yeah... sure," Kent says, shrugging. He finishes off his food, setting his mug on the counter. "Let's go, then, and get this horse sh*t over with, shall we?" He stands up from the bar, and pushes through the doorway into the street. "I guess we'll just go door to door? I'd assume they all went back t' their homes..."

Maybe we could roll diplomacy for gather information? Or we could play through it all.

Let's do diplomacy. Aid another is a good choice here :)

I already rolled for a gather information for this day, can I roll again?

"Right. Lets see. Hello!" Mary greets another person on the street. "Hey, I don't mean to bother you, but may we ask you something?" As she gestures back to the group.

Gather Information Assist: 1d20 ⇒ 10

Well, I am interested in continuing. ^_^

Tsakua followed along, trying his best to smile and appear friendly so folks would stop and talk with them.
Aid Another: 1d20 ⇒ 7

Gather Info: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7
"How d'you like the weather? My goodness, you look wonderful in that dress..."

The group spends the morning talking small with any and all of the victims they can find. Unfortunately, no one has much to say; they seem reluctant to help, but they also don't seem to know much.

Sighing at what was found out, Mary simply shrugs. "Well, that could have went better." Scratching the back of her head, she looks towards the others. "Well, I have no idea to go from here. So does anyone have any ideas? Or maybe we can do some work around town or something?"

I am still around, is everyone else?

"Where are we supposed to go, then? This ain't exactly m'expertise, Mary. I'm a lot better at solvin'... physical problems. Goblins I can deal with, bandits or somethin' of that sort? But this... I haven't got the faintest clue 'bout where to go next, I'm afraid." Kent leans against the side of a building, cracking his knuckles as he talks. "If people need help around town though, I suppose that ain't a bad idea t'look into."

"I'm equally stumped." Tas says, frustrated. "We should have doubled up and asked everyone if they needed help while we were looking for these strangers." He shrugs and tries to look for other options. "Mary did mention a board at the garrison, we never did check that for any work."

Are we heading for the board then?

"Houses burnin', goblins attackin'," Tskaua mutters, "People won't be as trustin' of strangers in times like these. Still," he says thoughtfully, "nothing wrong with trying for some work."

I guess so?

I believe that's the plan, yes.

Looks like the plan for now. We have no other leads. So lets see about improving our reputation around town.

"Well... The reason other than just money, is that with a bit of work around town, we'll improve our reputation." Mary says. Looking down at the road, she shifts her feet slightly before looking back up. "And maybe by then people may trust us a bit more. At least that is what I think." As she finishes with a shrug.

"If we gather some coin, I might be able to cast some divination spells that could help us. They require expensive ingredients."

"Right then. Shall we go to that board then?" Mary points off to the distance, which is apparently down an allyway. She looks ahead for about a minute and then she slumps her shoulders. Turning to the rest of the group, with a dejected look upon her face. "Um, where is the garrison?"

"It's over here" says Luminita as she guides the group to the garrison

"Ah. Thank you Luminita. And I think I will have to get a map of town for myself at this rate." Says Mary as she walks along with the group.