Age of Darkness

Game Master Mothman

If / when you are done here, let me know where you want to move on to next and / or return to the cottage.

Keildrithe heads out and looks for materials that might help him design quarters that would offer more privacy for Pharris. Perhaps a few sturdy branches that could be braced together to act as a curtain rod. If there aren't sufficient sheets in the cabin to act as rods, he'll see if he can find large enough evergreen boughs to provide a barrier.

Taking 20 on the survival check.

"Right, Thanks 'Master Greyscale'" Nichcolai thanks Laithe wryly in Astucan for the reminder, turns back to the proprietor and changes smoothly back to Thuringian.

"My dear, Would you perchance have tea? And the makings of mulled wine would be a blessing! Oh yes, and the lady's scribe has need of a few things. If you have these, I will be convinced that you are my personal angel, sent to assist me in my hour of need!" He says with another debonair smile as he produces the scrap of parchment with a list in Kajetan's small, precise script. As he shows it to the lady, he leans in conspiratorially.

"The man insists on mixing his own inks! He's an absolute tyrant about my Lady's papers! Says he won't have her official documents written in 'common well-water'!" Nicholai rolls his eyes and then winks at the proprietor.

Nicholai looks for a couple of sets of warm(er) clothing, and an overcloak/coat to go with them. (He gives a small, wistful sigh when he realizes that there are no 'fine' garments to choose from.) How much supplies shall we buy? I think at least a weeks worth each. More if they're not too heavy. (Poor Kaj!)

At the mention of paper and ink, Madam Hotham looks surprised. “What makes you think that we would stock such items in a small village like this?” she asks Nicolai, before smiling slyly. “Though as it happens you are in luck sir. There is a monastery of Artonite monks not far from here, who oft have need of such things – they write books and such I understand. I keep a store of such things in stock at their request, to save them the trip all the way to Lichford. No one from the monastery has been by in quite a while – they sometimes go to the town on the other side of the hills for supplies instead – so I have quite a bit in stock. I’d be happy to sell to you, if you can afford the prices – such things are not cheap you know.”

You can get pretty much everything on Kaj’s list, or substitutes that are close enough that Nicolai assesses they will be alright. The paper, inks, washes and brushes are all of surprisingly high quality for such a back-woods village, and are indeed similar to the supplies that Nicolai remembers from his (very) brief time at the Artonite seminary in Atus with Stephan, the sort of materials used to produce beautifully illustrated religious tomes. Ironically enough, also quite suitable for spellbooks.

"Remember to enquire on any news about town. Perhaps the tavern will be the better place for gossip, but if there is anything major going I imagine the shop keeper will know of it"

A few hours following his departure, Keildrithe returns, awkwardly dragging in a few tree branches and large evergreen boughs, as well as tracking some mud, snow and pine needles on the cabin floor. A cold breeze wafts in through the rickety open door. "Sorry," says the bard over his shoulder, realizing that he is probably disturbing the studious scholar and the sleeping halfling.

"Anyone have some rope, or twine?" he huffs, sweat beading at his temples...

"My dear,... you really ARE an angel! What else are you hiding back there?!" He asks flirtatiously as he leans sideways trying to see if she has wings on her back, (or perhaps just trying to get a glimpse of her derriere').

"A monastery? Hm. I didn't know they had one out here." Nicholai says nonchalantly as he gives the writing supplies a quick eye. "Ah well, their loss is our gain! and don't worry about the cost dear, it's coming out of the scribe's salary, not mine!" He says with a wink.

After selecting a couple of warm(er) sets of clothes for himself, and an overcoat (or cloak) suitable for the weather, he settles in to take care of the costs with the proprietor.

"So my dear, tell me about Spindlethorp! Is everyone here as charming as you?" He asks with a grin as he watches her tally up the total.

Keildrithe catches Kajetan's quizzical look, and grumbles in response. "Don't ask... just... thought... I'd build a... partition for... Pharris... to give her a bit more privacy... I know, I know..." He groans under the exertion of dragging and trying to prop up the branches, but seems annoyed that he had to explain himself... or that his feelings are becoming a bit too obvious.

"So do you have rope and twine or not?" he asks again, irritably, through clenched teeth.

You may well wonder (and probably do) if the monastery she mentioned is the same one you’re looking for.

Bluff: (for 'sincere' flattery):

1d20 + 12 ⇒ (6) + 12 = 18

Having been deprived of his primary form of entertainment for so long, Nicholai lays it on a bit thick as he converses with the matron of the shop. Fortunately he realizes it in time to back off, a little.

As Alton makes his remark, Keildrithe bites his lip hard and flashes a somber glare at the halfling. "If only Nicolai were a halfling," he grumbles... "Thanks for the rope."

But at last, he finishes building the makeshift screen with Kajetan's help, sighing deeply as he does so. He then turns his attention to the door...

Was that still in need of repair?

So what skill check should I make to fix the door?

Nicholai continues to chat with the proprietor, toning down his rhetoric to a safer, if still obvious, level of flattery and innuendo. He notes the subtle attitude towards the Artonite Priest and the monks, but decides not to press about it at this time, leaving his wooden holy symbol where it hangs on his shirt as if it doesn't exist.

"Hm. It seems in all the stories I hear, monks are either brewing beer, or writing books. Which is it that your local monastery is famous for?" He asks with a mischievous grin, and genuine curiosity.

He gives a small, genuine smile when the lady notices that Pharris is armed.

"Ah yes, the weapons. My Lady insists on being able to contribute to her own defense, if necessity dictates, while traveling. But traveling without an escort? Armed AND armored?! Shocking! Most un-lady-like." Nicholai agrees emphatically with the woman as Pharris and Laithe finalize their selections and he counts out coins.

"My Lady, it has been a true and rare pleasure doing business with you. If our travels should bring us this way again, I look forward to seeing your charming self once more!" Nicholai finishes with a smile, taking the proprietor's hand If she allows him, and bending low over it as if she were a fine lady at court and not a shopkeeper in the outskirts halfway to nowhere.

He gathers his own things, and walk with the others to the door, Grandly gesturing for Pharris to precede him out the door.

Are we all good here guys? I need to figure out what I bought/owe, and try to spend as little of the Ancient coins as possible! (busy at work/home DM Moth, will try to catch up ASAP!) I want to try to figure it out before getting to far ahead, in case the shopkeep gets suspicious, although I THINK I have a story that might satisfy her curiosity as to why we're carrying antiques as spending money! ;P

Once outside Nicholai addresses the others in Thuringian, as if giving instructons to their 'guide'.

"Alright, I think we've gotten almost everything that was requested, And we should be able to pick up some wine and mullings at the tavern. The shopkeep mentioned that there was another traveler in town, a woman, armed and armored with no escort. Apparently she's staying at the local tavern/inn. It shouldn't be cause for concern,... but I'm thinking that perhaps we should, cautiously, investigate. If it IS one of,... our 'friends', we need to find out and get out of the area quickly. Laithe and Alton might be able to walk through the woods without leaving a sign, but the rest of us may as well pave a tracker a road!" He says wryly.

"Well, no alarm bells are ringing at this stage, so that's a good sign. Yes, let's make a brief stop over at the tavern - we might be able to get a little more news there and investigate the woman mentioned...and pick up Keildrithe's wine." He heads over to the tavern with the others, looking for any signs of trouble as always.

Back outside in the brisk air of the village square the heroes once again find themselves under quiet scrutiny by several nearby villagers, including the old men outside the tavern. As Laithe strides over in their direction they lower their gazes, not meeting the outlander’s eye, though the druid gets the impression this is more to do with not wanting to start trouble than having something to hide.

The main taproom of the tavern is dimly lit and mostly deserted at this time of day – too late for breakfast but early yet for lunch. A grizzled old fellow stands behind the bar, talking softly to an equally old looking patron who sits at a stool in front of it. A couple of other patrons, dimly seen in the gloom, hunch over drinks or talk quietly at tables placed here and there – the tables near the warm, inviting looking fireplace that provides much of the room’s illumination (windows being small and grimy) being surprisingly quite free – the room is quite warm after the chill outside and perhaps uncomfortably so near the fire.

"Hmmm, what have we here?" muses Keildrithe aloud as he bends down to pick up the stone. He takes a careful look at it.

Would a Knowledge check of some sort be required here?

Nicholai follows the others inside, and blinks as his eyes adjust to the dimmer light. His lips twitch in amusement as he notices the lack of people.

"Well. It is a bit early. Still nothing like beating the crowd!" he murmurs to Pharris and Laithe. The dandy makes his way to the bar, breathing easier in the warmer, if muggy, air of the tavern.

"Good day sir!" Nicholai greets the barkeep at a lull in the conversation. He adds a polite nod to the customer the barman was speaking with.

"A round of whatever you recommend please sir." Nicholai says with a smile, indicating himself, Laithe and Pharris with a circle of his finger. "And would you perchance have the makings of mulled wine? A small cask or so should do for the road." He continues cheerfully.

Bardic knowledge is no longer a separate roll in PF. It adds a modifier to other knowledge skills. Knowledge (arcana): 17 + 6 = 23; Knowledge (nature): 13 + 6 = 19.[/ooc]

He bids you take a seat and brings the drinks over to you. “Are you and your party staying here in Spindlethorp then sir?” he asks.

You know that such stones can naturally occur in river or stream beds. This is worn smooth, and appears to be one of these natural stones – the hole has not been carved by man’s hand.

Folk tales sometimes attribute such stones as being associated with the fair folk; some wear them around the neck as a sort of protective ward, whilst others claim that if you look through such a stone you can see through a faery’s glamour.

Wizards and such have attributed no actual magical properties to such stones, but the wise suggest that there may be something to the folk tales, and that not all ‘magic’ is magical...

Keildrithe stands near the threshold of the cabin, intently examining what appears to be a river pebble.

"Ah, thank you sir!" Nicholai welcomes the beers arrival and takes his first sip with unfeigned relish.

"Perfect. My commendation to the brewer. What's that? Staying in town? Ah, no. Just passing through, actually. We set up camp in the woods last night," Nicholai waves his hand in a vague 'thataway' direction, "and saw the smoke from your village this morning! We decided to pick up a few supplies that we were short on before continuing."

The dandy hoists his mug and takes another healthy drink. He sighs and gives a small smile of contentment.

"And well worth the stop!" He grins.

"So, tell me about this delightful town we had the good fortune to find! From the looks We've received I'm guessing that you don't get a lot of visitors?"

"Just my luck," says Keildrithe as he shows Kajetan and Alton the pierced, smooth, circular stone he just found. "A lucky river stone... I wonder how it got here. A previous visitor must have dropped it." Keildrithe briefly whispers some words of power as he inspects his find.

Casts detect magic; Spellcraft: 12 + 4 = 16.

Once the others have had a chance to examine the stone, he drops it in his pocket.

"That wind is getting chillier and chillier... we need to get that door fixed, to minimize the draft that's going through the cabin. Otherwise, we'll have a decidedly frigid night..."

Trying to determine if he has the skill and materials to do a quick repair job on the door. Will take 20 on an untrained craft check, assuming the time permits.

The river pebble does not radiate magic. Strange though, that your foot found it when no doubt you and your companions have gone in and out of this door dozens of times since you’ve been here without anyone noticing it ...

During a break in his hinge repair work, Keildrithe pulls the stone out of his pocket, and, out of curiosity, peers through the hole in the centre. His gaze wanders from the landscape surrounding the cabin, to the interior of the cabin, to Kajetan and Alton...

Perception check: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (17) + 10 = 27