Carridan Horn |
Carridan nods and smiles warmly at Carmina's welcome initially, but the smile slowly fades as she continues on about sewers and worse locales. "Worry? Oh, ahah - no, surely not." He takes a moment to look around the group once more, 'Quite an ecclectic bunch, these Pathfinders,' before adding, "It is good to meet you all. I do hope I can be of some help."
Gared Naught |
Gared gave Horven an understanding nod and a reassuring pat on the shoulder before returning the packages and coin. The dwarve's weather face and eyes spoke volumes of support and encouragement that would have been foreign to his tongue. "I'll be praying to Erastil to watch over Ganer." The dwarf added.
Upon meeting Carridan
Gared watched the interactions silently as he took stock of the man. After the initial introductions and greetings, the dwarf stepped forward wearing an uncustomarily wide smile and offered his firm grasp to the woodsman. "Well met, Master Carridan. I am sorry we've not met under happier circumstances, but I believe that Erastil is pleased to see our paths cross."
Horven Graveltoes |
Horven suggests a shopping trip before resuming their exploration of the Crow. Afterward, the halfling goes in search of Andel.
Horven Graveltoes |
The halfling approaches timidly. "Ah, yes...I had some business that I needed to take care of. Captain Heidmarch implied that you were at our disposal if we needed something."
Horven draws out the parcels of coins and letters. "If you could, c-could you deliver these for me? They are all addressed...as you can see. It would mean a lot, Andel."
Horven Graveltoes |
"Thank you very much," Horven replies, a sigh of relief slipping out. He gives Andel a polite nod and heads back to the others.
Once at Gared's side, Horven takes a deep breath. "Having Ganer leave made me realize that I should reconcile with my past. Andel will make sure my debts are paid and I can face what's next with a clean conscience. I am not the person I was when you met me at the courthouse and I never will be again."
Anafa, Yamyra |
Quickly upon Horven's heels, Yamyra pokes her head through the library door. "Andel, you didn't answer my question earlier regarding Derro. Are there any works in here on them?"
DM Eric |
Andel starts as Yamyra posts her question. "Yes I was just gathering up my notes on what we have determined about that strange race." He hands over several sheets of parchments and adds, "Although we do not have any proof, it is quite likely there is a passage to the underground realm known as the Darklands."
The notes state the following:
Descended from mysterious fey that once dwelt deep underground, the derros lust for the comforts of the surface, yet the light of the sun causes them to blister, burn, and die. Derros often abduct surface dwellers to perform hideous experiments on them in their never-ending quest to divine what protects those who dwell above from the burning death, yet the intrinsic madness that plagues all derros dooms these experiments to failure every time.
A typical derro fights with a short sword or a repeating light crossbow with plenty of poison bolts. Some derros also carry an aklys—a hooked throwing club attached to a 20-foot- long cord. This cord limits the club's range, but allows the derro to retrieve it as a move-equivalent action after it has been thrown.
Derro leaders are typically sorcerers, although they also make excellent rogues. Many derros wield strange and unusual weapons like hooked polearms, eerie whistling aklyses, long hollow spears that can be filled with toxins, or crystalline throwing wedges that shatter on impact to create horrific bleeding wounds.
A derro stands 3 feet tall and weighs 70 pounds.
Anafa, Yamyra |
Eyes widening at Andel's words, the tremula in Yamyra's voice betrays her concern. "Here, beneath Magnimar?!"
Okay, adding a scroll of Sunlight to the shopping list...
edit: there is no such spell.
There are Sunburst & Sunbeam...
Both of which are much higher level than us...
Carridan Horn |
As the halflings scurry off in a hurry, one with a parcel and the other with an air of import, Carridan turns to the dwarf and tiefling and shrugs. "I hope it wasn't something I said?" Scratching the back of his neck, he shakes the thought away and turns to Gared, "You honor Old Deadeye, I take it? How did that old hunter win your faith, Gared?" The question is asked with a smile and an air of familiarity toward Erastil, though he offers no outward sign of being a devout member of Erastil's faithful. "Perhaps you'd be willing to tell the tale and show me the grounds here?" He turns back to the tiefling, "Would you like to join us?"
Gared Naught |
Gared's face darkened at the druid's question but the dwarf's composure didn't collapse under the weight of his guilt as it usually did. It seemed his new place among the pathfinders was doing him some good, Gared considered briefly before addressing Carridan.
"Perhaps Andel would be better suited to showing you the manor." replied the dwarf stiffly. Closing his eyes and letting out a long sigh, followed by an equally long breath, Gared steeled himself against the memories and emotions of his past.
"Forgive me. The tale of how I came to my faith is not a happy one. I dedicated myself to Erastil long ago to attempt to atone for my failure of kin and clan. It is not a matter I wish to discuss or relieve any more than I do in my dreams. I would be happy to talk about most anything else."
Carmina Scarnetti |
"Well..." Carmina says, slightly surprised by Gared's behaviour. "I'll have to do some shopping still... But I'm sure I have the time to show you the place if Gared doesn't want to. It's not like this manor is that big after all. Or at least the interesting parts aren't."
Gared Naught |
Gared's tentative grasp on his formal unaccented tone fell away as he realized he hadn't reoffered to show his new companion the area, lapsing into the dwarvish brogue that was typical of the dwarf when he was upset. "Bah, don't ye be payin' any antention to me bitter words! I'll be showin' ye around just fine, or I'm a bearded gnome. Right this way Master Carridan!"
Horven Graveltoes |
Feeling a bit overshadowed by the new arrival and with Yamyra conferring with Andel, Horven decides to slip away from the manor and do something he hadn't done in a while: spend time alone. His mind was not in the best of places at the moment but a little air and some exercise might be of some help. He quietly makes his way through town until he finds a shop. Horven purchases some essentials and tucks them away to set up later.
Deciding that some more information wouldn't hurt, Horven casually asks around for information about the disappeared, spending a little coin to loosen some lips (about 2 gold).
Diplomacy (Gather Info): 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (16) + 11 = 27
DM Eric |
Horven sets out to the area where the disappearances have occurred, which by happenstance is nearby the largest free market in Varisia: The Bazaar of Sails. While the halfling was a relative newcomer to Magnimar, the reputation of the marketplace is well-known. Among the hundreds of ever-changing shops that fill the dockside plaza Horven sees cropscfrom local farmers, Varisian artifacts, Osirian spices, Chelish finery, Andoran quartos, and more exotic goods from a hundred foreign ports fill the market till it bursts at the seams.
After Horven fills the items on his shopping list, he proceeds to discreetly check into the disappearances. Most of the citizens who have known someone among the disappeared tell him while the missing people have been returned physically unharmed, their memories must have been wiped clean, as they had no memory of the events of their disappearance. Also not all of the victims have been recovered. There are still some missing citizens out there. Perhaps if you find them, then the mystery will be solved.
Seeing it is approaching lunchtime, and feeling hungry Horven is about to leave the Bazaar before he is approached by by a group of well-armed men. Looking closely at them, he can see they are not members of the Watch but are more likely guards used to police the marketplace from the more egregious outbreaks of crime.
The leader points at you and says, "The Princess wants ta see ya. If you will follow me..." The tone of his voice indicates that was not a suggestion.
Horven Graveltoes |
Knowledge (Local): 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (7) + 9 = 16
Immediately fearing that he had found himself in trouble, Horven tenses up. Upon reflection, he realizes he may have found another lead. He relaxes a little, though he makes sure to keep his eyes and ears open. "Lead the way, please."
DM Eric |
The leader motions you to follow him, followed closely by the other guards. They do not disarm or even bother searching you as might have been expected.
They lead you over to one of the larger tents and motion you to enter. They do not follow you, instead stationing themselves outside.
As your eyes adjust to the sudden darkness, you hear an accented female voice echoing from the back of the tent. "Thank you for accepting my...invitation, Master Graveltoes, just recently employed by the Pathfinder Society, if I recall. Please, have a seat." As you take your seat, the speaker steps into view. She is a tall woman of Kelishite origin, judging by her attire which is quite elegant. She extends her hand in greeting. "I am Sabriyya Kalmeralm, known as the Princess of the Market." Her eyes bore into you, her gaze unreadable. "While it is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, this is not a social call. I wish to know how you came to acquire the pendant currently hanging on your neck."
With a start, you realize she must be referring to the Pendant of Souls, which you found next to the skeleton back in the wererat Ayala's lair.
Horven Graveltoes |
Horven takes the woman's hand. "The pleasure is mine, Princess Kalmeralm. This pendant was found in the Crow, in a wererat's lair. There was a skeleton next to it. I don't mean to assume, but I'm guessing this has to do with your father's disappearance?"
Horven Graveltoes |
"My companions and I rowed from the harbor out there," Horven says, taking off the pendant and handing it to Sabriyya. "There was a bedroom in the upper part that was taken over by the Tower Girls. His remains were found in an alcove."
Horven muses for a moment. A part of him wanted to keep as much information as close to the chest as possible, the other wanted to reach out to Sabriyya for mutual aid. Taking a deep breath, he consults his gut about the woman.
Sense Motive to get a general feeling about Sabriyya: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (8) + 8 = 16
DM Eric |
While you find the stately woman hard to get a read of, you do sense an honest desire to get to the truth. Ahhh, so you did find his remains...and in the Crow no less. He had told no one what his plans were. Well, it would seem to me he was on the trail of something..." She pauses for a second before continuing, "Yet, perhaps that for another time. I believe I owe you a debt of gratitude for discovering what happened to my father."
She reaches into a drawer and writes something down on a parchment. She then seals it up using a wax seal. "This is a writ of voucher worth 100 platinum coins." She waves off the offered Pendant, "You may also keep the pendant, I see no reason not to allow you to profit by its powers. Now if you will excuse me, I must return to my duties."
As she has you escorted out, she calls out to you "I will not forget this favor you have done for me. You and your Pathfinder allies."
Loot list and XP Tally updated!
Horven Graveltoes |
Horven hardly has time to give his thanks as he is escorted out. The halfling slips the pendant back on and makes his way back to the manor. Remembering his grumbling belly, Horven makes his way to the kitchen.
Carridan Horn |
Carridan spends what time Gared and Carmina are willing to give him walking around the grounds. He nods in greeting to any servants they pass and remains mostly quiet during the tour, only speaking when spoken to but then almost always ending his answer with a question. His reaction to any answers (or lack thereof) show no judgement, and he gives the air of someone rather easy to get along with so long as you enjoy speaking at length about yourself. As his dwarf and tiefling guides seem to be ready to pull away and end the impromptu tour, he asks, "So there are people missing and you think we'll find answers in these sewers? What gives you the impression this is the best place to start looking?"
Carmina Scarnetti |
"Oh, there was this rather undead fellow in the sewers who told us that he had seen some kind of dwarves kidnapping people. I guess that's a pretty good lead, isn't it?" Carmina answers, seemingly not finding the sentence to be that much out of ordinary.
Gared Naught |
"Derro, not dwarves, and with a Witch leading them, though this is all assuming Lockerbie can be trusted." Corrected Gared, who was clearly not comfortable interacting with the undead in any fashion, or in associating dwarves with kidnappings.
Horven Graveltoes |
Stealth: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (12) + 14 = 26
Sarnie in hand, Horven finds Gared, Carridan, and Carmina. Creeping behind them as best one can with a sandwich, Horven lets out a yell of surprise.
Gared Naught |
Perception 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (1) + 10 = 11
Gared cried out and nearly fell over himself , completely suprised as one hand went to practiced work pulling his bow off his shoulder and the other towards his quiver.
"BY OLD DEAD EYE'S STAG!" The dwarf looked almost wounded as he staggered over to the wall clutching his chest. "Ye can't, ye just..." The dwarf started, his eyes darting to the halfling's alarmed face and then to the sandwhich he had in hand. "BAHAHAHAHA!" Roared the dwarf as tears started to stream from his face and he slid down against the wall he'd been leaning against.
Carridan Horn |
Carridan's eyes widen in surprise and, for a moment, concern as Garen displays a dramatic and rapid cascade of emotions. As the dwarf settles on riotous laughter as his last chosen response, Carridan scratches his head and turns to regard Horven and his sandwich.
"A... tasty sandwich, I presume?" He glances at Gared then back to Horven and Carmina and shrugs with confusion.
People are.... strange.
Horven Graveltoes |
"Sorry about that, Gared. I thought we could use a little levity," Horven says with a smile. "Actually, Mister Horn, I needed to share something with the group. Apparently, the body we found this amulet next to was the Trade Princess of Magnimar's father. I told her where we found the body and such. She gave us a writ for a hundred platinum as her thanks for the information."
He takes a bite of his sandwich. "I left out the part about the entrance in the sewers."
DM Eric |
Current Date: 12 Pharast (March) 4711 AR Mid-Morning.
The rest of the shopping expedition proceeds uneventfully. Once you have finished equipping yourselves, you get a good night's sleep ready to tackle the final leg of your quest, should the undead ghoul be right.
After a hearty breakfast, you all depart Heichmarch Manor and return to the sewer entrance which will return you back to the Crow. The weather promises to be a pleasant day, though you will not be able to enjoy it until later.
Entering the sewers at the place somewhere near the border between the Dockway and Underbridge areas, Horven retraces the party's steps and arrives at the secret door which leads to the tunnel heading back to the Crow.
The tunnel twists and turns for a little bit but quickly transitions to a more natural cavern, where you see 2- to 3-foot-deep pools of cold water at various intervals, but otherwise nothing else. After a period of time, you near the place where you all (sans Carridan) fought the eels. A flight of stairs leads up to a wide stone crossing ten feet above the dark waters below in this large room. The chamber appears unchanged from earlier.
Carridan Horn |
Carridan shakes a bit of wet flotsam from his foot as the group leaves the sewer proper behind, "Do you take everyone who offers their help to such lovely places all the time?" His words are wry and, while awkward, it remains plain he'd intended it as a joke.
As he looks at the stairs he suggests, "I take it those lead up to the Crow? Is this where the kidnappers are taking people?" He takes a moment to search around for tracks of any readable sort.
Survival: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (3) + 13 = 16
Horven Graveltoes |
"We appreciate the subtle romanticism of such places," Horven laughs. "Well, that passage to the north goes to the Crow...these other ones? We haven't investigated further. We've searched the Crow high and low, quite literally, and found not much more than wererats, skeletons and a bunch of devils...If there are people to be found, we haven't stumbled across them yet."
Anafa, Yamyra |
Before leaving Heidmarch Manor
As everyone is preparing for the return; Yamyra, appraisingly, presents a wand to Carridan before beginning a strange ritual. At the conclusion of which, an odd, statue-like being of Celestial appearance coalesces into being.
Below the Crow
Yamyra nods in agreement with Horven's words.
edit: Yamyra has also cast Mage Armor on Fancy.
Gared Naught |
Gared pulled the bundle of spears and nets off of his back and began passing them around to the group, with smaller versions of each for the two halflings. "These ought to help us deal with certain enemies a little better as a group. Yamyra, would ye mind granting me yer magic ward as well?" The dwarf set about to help Carridan search around for signs of passage as soon as he'd accomplished his goal of arming his friends. Survival check to aid another, granting +4 bonus to Carridan if meeting DC 10: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (3) + 8 = 11
Carridan Horn |
Is this a wand of cure light wounds, Yamyra? If so, that means we have 2 since I have one already. <Minsc voice> Swords Heals for everyone!</voice>
Carridan nods as he accepts the spear, though the look on his face makes it plain he doesn't understand the nature or reasoning behind the gift. "Thank... you?"
Horven Graveltoes |
"So you want us to become fishermen...fisherwomen...err, fisherpeople?" Horven asks Gared.
-Posted with Wayfinder
Gared Naught |
Gared noticed Carridan and Horven's confused expression and made an effort to clarify. "If ye can keep it at the ready, the length o' the shaft gives ye a chance to strike at anything that tries to run us down a'fore it closes, and let's ye keep some distance if ye have to get into a melee. The net's for slowing down and muckin' up particularly dangerous creatures or smaller ones with wings. Ye just toss it, folded up like so at 'em."The dwarf mimed the actions for the use of both weapons as he explained. "We used to keep 'em in the militia o' me old town. Works pretty well in a lot o' fights when arrows, blades, and spells need a little hand."
Horven Graveltoes |
"Ah, well...I'm not guaranteeing any success with this," Horven says, hefting the net. "I'll try my best, though. Just keep in mind that if I poke you or toss this net over you, it's entirely by accident."
Anafa, Yamyra |
Yes, it is another Wand of Cure Light Wounds. You could pass it over to Gared then, so we would have two people who could use it without needing a UMD check.
Yamyra accepts the longspear, grudgingly, from Gared. Looking up...
all...
the...
way...
along...
it's...
length, she then looks back at him, her brows arced as she tilts her head sardonically.
Seriously. The only way a small-sized longspear is going to still provide 10' reach is if the things is almost four times her height...
That's not a spear, that's a pike.
Leaning the spear against the wall of the passageway, she much more readily acquiesces to his second request.
Casting Mage Armor on Gared.
DM Eric |
Carridan and Horven step into the chamber and examine it for any traces of activity since the party passed through earlier. Carridan examines the tracks and soon determines the tracks are those of the party. Any older tracks are obscured by the group's recent scuff marks and the passage of time.
Horven sees nothing else out of the ordinary.
Carridan Horn |
"Well, I can tell you lot have been here at least. This bit here was likely Yamyra or Horven and this heavy rut probably from Fancy. If kidnappers have been through here previously, those tracks are long lost to me now. Sorry." He adds this last sheepishly and his shoulders slump, disappointed he couldn't be more help.
Gared Naught |
Gared examined one of the pathways they had not explored as of yet, and shrugged."This seems as good a path as any. Shall we begin?" The dwarf seemed calm and collected once more, as he motioned for Fancy to join him in scouting out several yards ahead of the group.