Tadloton Merc Guild: Xanadael's Utopia (Inactive)

Game Master Shadowtail24

Glifdore curses at Payk in dwarven. "Ye nev'r said anything Payk, and that's import'nt. Have ye seen Kathal recently?"

"It's what I just told you guys, about Kathal raising the dead in the graveyard. I saw him do it a couple of times. Dante's been there too! I've seen him watching a couple of times."

"Wait. Wait. Hold up. What? Seriously? How long have you known about this?"

I can't believe it. Who is this guy? I sigh and rub my temples.

"Two weeks or so. I was waiting to do a big reveal at the Merc Guild meeting but it was interrupted."

Askrel curiously quirks a brow at Payk. He takes a sip of his warm drink, winces, and gags. Playing it off naturally, he sets the tankard back on the bar and asks, "You got our attention now. What's up with this guy? Should we go bust him now, or what?" He leans his back and elbows against the bar, once again eschewing a stool for a more comfortable position.

"Kathal is just like the crackers old wizard that everyone town has, complete with a weird hat and white hair. I haven't seen him recently though, and I checked the graveyard while scouting and saw no signs of him. "

*crackety, not crackers

Right so should we get some proof before trying to kill someone?

what more proof is there? Although. The way I see it. There are two probably scenarios. One is that the old man is mad and summoning undead.... Perhaps at the behest of someone else. Or he could be out there doing the same as us. Trying to figure out what is happening. I say we post sentries of two. One with magical talent in each set if possible.

Varian scratches his chin then runs his hand through his hair.

call me what you will but the mayor seems to... Surrendered to the outcome if you ask me. Stressed or not.

Right so should we get some proof before trying to kill someone?

"Whoah! Who said anything about killing the old man? That's sure to get us arrested or, run out of town. I think we should make him bury the dead he's dug up and personally apologize to the families of all those graves he disturbed." Askrel stomps his boot on the ground to emphasize his apparent distaste for the disrespect this wizard obviously has for his neighbors. He continues, "Then we slit his purse and fess up to why he did it! A little humiliation never killed anyone, just like his weak evil power never killed anyone. This can't be so hard, right?"

what more proof is there? Although. The way I see it. There are two probably scenarios. One is that the old man is mad and summoning undead.... Perhaps at the behest of someone else. Or he could be out there doing the same as us. Trying to figure out what is happening. I say we post sentries of two. One with magical talent in each set if possible.

Varian scratches his chin then runs his hand through his hair.

call me what you will but the mayor seems to... Surrendered to the outcome if you ask me. Stressed or not.

"The fewer the better, I think. If we don't want to be noticed perhaps only two should go into the cemetery. I don't want the guard to catch us acting all together. It may get us further from our goal than we had hoped."

"I think some scouting would probably be a good idea. That being said, even if he hasn't actually killed anyone yet, I can't really think of a benevolent reason one would summon or create or whatever undead. The intent is there, even if the competency isn't, and I'd much rather be safe than sorry."

I am with him on that one he says pointing at the elven ranger

this is the end of structured plot for this night. You can continuing discussing, or engage the NPCs. When it looks like everything is wrapped up, I'll advance to tomorrow.

I sigh and grind the heels of my hands into my eyes, trying to rub the sleep out. This has been an eventful day. I stand up and crack my neck, flexing it quickly from one side to the other. It's nice to be able to do that without dearest mother yelling at me. The little things in life. Hah.

"Well companions, I'm off to bed. Do wake me up if some other monstrosities attempt to murder everyone," I say, waving to the room in general as I pay Hurin and head up to my room. Hopefully something sane will happen tomorrow.

Askrel follows suit. "Perhaps we can think more upon this over breakfast. I've had about as much sitting and talking as I can take tonight." Leaving a full mug of mead at the bar, he quietly slips up the stairs and finds himself a cozy bed.

Night passes with no further interruptions, leave the party awake the next morning with lots in their minds but no clear path.

act as you will, I will advance time as necessary.

I grunt and roll out of bed, cracking my neck and back as I stretch out. Stretching first thing in the morning just feels great. I slip into my chain shirt, toss a regular shirt on over it, and strap my swordbelts on. I always feel so badass when I do that. Hah.

I go downstairs and into the bar, ordering breakfast and contentedly devouring it as I consider what to do today. As a side note, it is absolutely divine to be able to eat a breakfast that you don't have to make yourself before the sun even comes up. The world is a much better place after sunrise.

But anyway, Kathal seems to be our best lead at the moment. Well, really our only lead. So I guess we should probably focus our efforts on locating him. I keep eating, hoping the others get up soon.

Ursus grunts in agreement as he enjoys his breakfast and nurses a short beer.

”We find this Kathal fool and straighten him out.”

Askrel had been up for hours, waiting for the gears of civilization to begin turning so he could gratify a demanding stomach. As his peers begin to roll down to dine, Askrel is happily munching a morning apple, having completed the rest of his meal.

"I was thinking of hiding around the cemetery all day just to get a feel for how this wizard operates. If Payk shows his face, I'll take him along to make sure I don't miss a thing."

"Sounds like a plan." I nod and walk out into the town. I guess the best place to start would be the hysterical lady. Now, where might she be...?

I'm gonna look around town for the hysterical lady. Not sure if I need to roll anything for that?

You need a knowledge local or diplomacy check to ask around.

Askrel, consider yourself at the graveyard.

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (19) + 3 = 22

Boo ya

You're able to locate the women. She's alone, at a much nicer, relative to Tadloton that is, tavern.

The elf will keep an eye out for others while he slinks through the cemetery's features. His best bet would be to track whatever foot traffic has been coming through, to determine which part of the cemetery the undead came from.

perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (8) + 8 = 16
stealth: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (1) + 9 = 10
tracking: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (11) + 6 = 17

You can follow the tracks of the horde back to the gaevyard easily enough, and just make out what appear to be individual tracks leading to graves. The graves they lead to are filled and packed though, similar to all the other graves.

This looks like a good place to hang out. Askrel will pick out the best hiding spot he can find amid the tombstones that have already been dug up and refilled. Doubt these will be visited again soon.

stealth: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (5) + 9 = 14

hmmm, I should look into this, I probably won't find anything but its worth a shot.

Varian will go to the grave yard and attempt to find any residue magic, and or, magic trails.

It doesn't actually take long to find out where she is. Unsurprisingly, she's somewhere nicer than I can reasonably afford. I saunter over to her, giving her my best smile.

"Good morning ma'am. I don't know if you recall, but I'm with the group that fought against the undead last night. Just thought I'd swing by and ensure that you're still doing well. Don't want to leave a job half done after all!"

Aw yeah. I'm so suave.

The lady puts her mug on the table and smiles. "No lasting harm done, I don't think." The statement seems to come out a little forced.

"Good, good, I'm glad to hear it. If it's alright, with you, might I ask you a few questions? It will help to ensure that such an event doesn't happen again."

certainly

"Excellent. Now, let's see here..." I pause to pretend to take a moment to gather my thoughts.

I'm gonna ask a bunch of questions, but in the interest of saving a lot of back and forth, I'm just gonna list them here.

Where were you coming from and going to?
Did you see which direction(s) the undead came from?
Anything else strange about the undead?
How do you feel about the Mayor's reaction to the undead?
Do you know who Kathal is and/or where he might be?

Where were you coming from and going to? from the tavern home
Did you see which direction(s) the undead came from? from down the street, that way, points towards the graveyard side of the town
Anything else strange about the undead?no
How do you feel about the Mayor's reaction to the undead?what is his reaction, I don't pay attention to politics
Do you know who Kathal is and/or where he might be?flwho?

Excellent. Look at all the time I've managed to waste. And it's still early yet! So much more future time to waste! I thank the woman for her time and figure I might as well go to the graveyard and see what, if anything, is up.

Expecting trouble, Ursus follows the elf.

"What do you see?"

Vince Ursus and Varian all arrive at the graveyard to find Askrel already there and poking around. Alden joins you later in the day.

Perc Vince: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 1 = 13
Perc Ursus: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (14) + 3 = 17
Perc Varian: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 2 = 22
Perc Askrel: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (14) + 8 = 22
Perc Alden: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (14) + 8 = 22

Varian Alden and Askrel move progressively deep into the graveyard, and find that further from the entrance the pristine condition of the cemetray begins to deteriorate. It's clear that the care and maintenance the view able side of the cemetery gets is not spread through the rest of it. All three notice, and Alden quickly points out, that among the mausoleums grouped at the back, the largest is pristine. The stone sides have been washed recently, and the grass and path look maintained. The large double doors to the mausoleum sport an also pretty new padlock.

"Hmmm... I wonder who's buried here."

The curious elf casually approaches the nicest of the mausoleums and runs a hand along the masonry as he looks the thing once over for any script.

perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (9) + 8 = 17

askrel
Nothing beyond what I've already mentioned.

hmmm... lets have look inside shall we? Varian states with a grin.

does anyone here know how to pick a lock? He then states frowning at the padlock.

One pristine mausoleum (hah, bet you didn't think I'd know that word didn't you?) amongst the ruin and depredation (or that one!) of nature. Completely not suspicious. I'm sure that a rouge necromancer wouldn't possibly be living in there.

I ease my blades in their scabbards. This is going to be less than fun I feel.

"Not a skill I've ever really picked up," I shrug.

”Let’s do it”, Ursus grunts. ”We’ve got a wizard to pummel.”

would it be possible to burn away the padlock through continuous use of acid orb :3

nope, too low level a spell.

Jack eventually makes his way a bit late at the graveyard.

"I'm no vagrant," Askrel replies as he spits at the mausoleum's doorstep. "But maybe we should lure him out? If he's in there, I think this padlock may be the first of his defenses."

Varians eyes Glow with blue fire.

detect magic, 3 rounds on the mausoleum

@Varian
There are no magical auras, though you unsure if that's just because the stone aiding and metal bounds doors prevent you from seeing inside.

I can't see any magic. There was some residual necrotic magik at the other graves though... Hmm. I'm not sure if the walls could be blocking it.

this is a pickle....

Someone, smash the lock. Or find me s rock!

"I'm gonna nominate the guy who's pseudonym is 'The Breaker'," I say, inwardly congratulating myself on my impressive vocabulary thus far today.

Well it looks like I'm going to have to put a rank in Linguistics now. Also: I'm not sure if I actually know the breaker part of your name, so I may also have to put a point in Knowledge: Metagame >.>

We don't have anyone with disable device?