Rise of the Runelords: Chosen of Sandpoint (Inactive)

Game Master polyfrequencies

Uldar snickers as the meat wagon gets under way. "Never thought I would actually be bringing food to goblins. What's this world coming to?"

Matrim takes a bit of some cooked meat he snatched somewhere. "What, everyone and thing needs to eat. Who knows, maybe later they will be feed for a dragon."

Karmid smiles broadly at that comment, nodding to Matrim.

"Just as Gozreh intended! The cycle of life goes round and round that way. Someday we'll be worm (or wyrm) food too."

"When we get back, we need to visit with that Mr. Quink person. I don't know him, would anyone like to come with me?" She looks at Ro since she seems to be the type of person who would know what questions should be asked.

"Sure! Brodert and I are old friends. He's the one who taught me most of what I know about Shoanti."

With the meat safely stowed, the group proceeds through the Old Coast Road gate and heads east. The local fly population seems to take the greatest interest in your adventure, and is a constant companion on your morning travel. A very light drizzle is falling from a grey sky, typical weather for coastal Varisia this time of year, and it's likely you won't be seeing the sun all day.

(We hadn't decided whether you are pulling the cart, or whether you are getting a horse to do that job for you. I'm guessing the latter, since pulling it yourself all day would be a very tiresome job even for the strongest of the PCs. If you decide on the horse, the stable is willing to lend you a draft horse for 2 silver pieces for the day.

You pass the Ravenroost hills on your left, and its namesake inhabitants gentle squawk at you from nearby trees, watching you with some curiosity before flying off. The ragged range of broken hills is decorated here and there by isolated copses of eucalyptus and pines, but passing them you see no other inhabitants.

Once past the Ravenroost, the road passes between Shank's Wood to the north and the Tickwood to the south. You know that goblins of the Seven Tooth tribe live in the Shank's Wood, although with the disruptions caused by the Thistetop goblins, you aren't sure what their current status is. The case seems moot this morning, as you see no goblins during your journey.

Just before lunch you pass the entrance to the old Sandpoint cemetery known as the Paupers' Graves. The path is overgrown with weeds, and looks like it hasn't been used in quite some time.

Yes, a horse please.

Ro walks, keeping her distance from he cart. "Both rain and flies. You'd think we'd be spared one or the other" she grumbles to everybody and nobody.

She stays out of Matrim and Karmid's conversation, which she considers rather gloomy. Ro has been doing her best to avoid gloom the past couple of days so she instead concentrates on looking around at the landscape trying to find odd geometric patterns in things to keep herself amused.

When Jiliana brings up visiting Brodert Quint (or whatever the guy's name is), Ro agrees to go, replying "sure without enthusiasm.

Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (1) + 8 = 9

perception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (6) + 10 = 16
The meat patrol seems about as entertaining as Uldar had expected: rain, flies, the smell of meat. At least they aren't being overrun by goblins or anything, so he doesn't grumble too much. An occasional application of prestidigitation keeps the worst of the smells at bay. In the meantime, he tries to get the lay of the land.

Perception(Does my +2 terrain bonus for Forests apply?): 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (10) + 9 = 19

perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (20) + 9 = 29

Matrim’s eyes sparkle as he something that could be money laying on the ground. Walking over, he calls back. ”Gonna relieve myself, be right back.”

[dice=Perception(Does my +2 terrain bonus for Forests apply?)]1d20 + 9

Yes it does, so feel free to check out the spoiler tag.

Matrim stops over the coin and looks around to see if anything stands out. Some kind of tracks or whatnought.

Perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (6) + 9 = 15

He does notice that several human and goblin-sized tracks lead through here, but can't tell much else about them (without a Survival check).

He goes to look at the tracks closer and palms the coin.

stealth: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (16) + 9 = 25
Survival : 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8

Not making much of it, he calls out to the group, ”I found some tracks over here.

He goes to look at the tracks closer and palms the coin.

You'll have to make a Slight of Hands check opposed by everyone's Perception check, but you'll get a +2 since you're away from everyone else and probably have your back turned to them.

Slide of hands is +11, would you wantt me to reroll or just switch out the stealth roll for the slide of hands?

Karmid notices the odd glint, but Matrim calls out first...

Seeing the tracks as he approaches, he immediately looks closer.

Survival(Forest): 1d20 + 9 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 9 + 2 = 27

Slide of hands is +11, would you wantt me to reroll or just switch out the stealth roll for the slide of hands?

You may trade your Stealth check for the Slight of Hands if you wish.

The tracks were made by several humanoids of mixed sizes: both human and less than human size (like a small child or goblin). They were made in the last few days, but you can't be exactly sure how many have traveled on the path to the Paupers' Graves; you guess at least 10-15 of them. Judging by the depth of the tracks, they were not heavily armored.

Ro notices Matrim and Karmid looking around off the road and wanders over as well.

"Watcha looking at?"

Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (20) + 8 = 28

"Nothing good ever comes from poking around cemeteries," Uldar says as he moves to see what's been found.

Drasven potters around town, healing little wounds and generally making himself useful.
Take 10 on various profession jobs via Breadth of experience. lol while waiting for the party to come back. I could even save kitties stuck in a tree somewhere.

Are the tracks all heading in one direction? INTO the graveyard? Or into AND out?

"Ro? Looks like about a dozen people, give or take, traveled to the graveyard recently. Adults...and children maybe? It's unclear. Curious since this graveyard hasn't been used in many years...right?"

Drasven is approached during the mid-morning by Aesrick Battlehorn, the master of the Sandpoint Carpenter's Guild. The older dwarf is busy gathering a few tools and loading a small pony-drawn cart in front of your home.

In the back of the cart is what appears to be a large piece of furniture covered in a waterproof tarp.

"Drasven, just to let you know, I am heading out of town to make a delivery to one of the farmsteads in the hinterlands. A farmer ordered a chest of drawers from me a few months back and we finally finished it last week. The apprentices are busy with their work, but would you keep an eye on the Guild for me while I'm gone."

A different thought then crosses Battlehorn's mind.

"Unless you want to accompany me, perhaps? The weather is cold and wet, but that's never bothered the stout folk much, eh? There's room next to me on the cart."

Are the tracks all heading in one direction? INTO the graveyard? Or into AND out?[/b]

In and out. If the rain keeps up, most of these tracks will be gone by tomorrow.

"Your apprentices would know the workings of your guild better then I. Let me accompany you instead. It'll be far better then if I were to stay. Learning a new trade and how the trade works is but an extension of Abadar's teachings." Drasven packs his meager belongings and is ready in very little time.

"You can tell me more tales of Sandpoint and how it used to be." he grins.

The Meat Brigade

"Right. I can't think of a single reason why anyone would ever go in there."

Ro nods her head toward Matrim's hand.

"Hey Matrim, whatcha got there?"

Perception: 1d20 + 9 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 9 + 2 = 20

Jilli stayed with the cart. "No sense in having the cart stolen while you all are looking at tracks." She looks around as the others tramp through the edge of the woods.

Perception From the Road: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (16) + 8 = 24

Joining Ro, Matrim looks around. Perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (8) + 9 = 17

Can you tell where the tracks lead?

"Into and out of the graveyard. Not a good sign unless several someones from Sandpoint have decided to visit an old family plot recently. A lot."

Ro purses her lips in annoyance when Matrim pretends he hasn't heard her. She leans in, bringing her face well into his personal space. Once she has his attention she asks again in a vinegary voice.

"In your hand Matrim. What did you pick up? I saw it, don't try b$**@~@#ting me."

Matrim jumps a little, [b]"Just a coin. Always got to keep an open eye."[\b] he shows her the coin and shrugs.

Sorry, glanced over that..

Hehe, I figured you had, but assuming you were ducking the question on purpose was more fun. ;)

Rojava rolls her eyes when she realizes Matrim is being all squirrelly over a coin. She takes it from him, "don't worry you can have it back and keep it", and looks it over.

"Huh, just a gold from Magnimar. New from the look of it."

Just because it gives her a reason to keep it from Matrim a little longer, Ro checks the coin for a magical aura. Detect magic

Matrim mumbes about loose change.

The coin is not in fact magic. So to Thistletop or explore the graveyard?

Karmid sighs.

"Ro since we are not on any sort of time table...we SHOULD check this out. No telling what's going on here."

Jili continues to sit with the wagon. "Somebody might steal the wagon if we leave it on the road." she mentions as Karmid suggests we check out the graveyard.

"If we're going to take a look", Ro says with some reluctance, "let's be quick about it. That meat's only getting riper."

Karmid struggles not to smile at Matrim's coin grab.

"Isn't a goblin saying: "Meat's meat!"? or something like that? I think we can spare a few minutes away. Or I can run ahead and check it out quick with Matrim then come right back to report. The meat's not out smelling up the wagon."

I'm assuming we got the meat is smoked and/or salted and 'basically' packaged so it is not out and exposed to flies and such...or attracting hungry predators.

Matrim nods as he pockets the coin. "Lets go." he says and moves forward with Karmid.. Stealthily.

Stealth: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (4) + 9 = 13

Stealth w/Armor+Terrain Bonus: 1d20 + 9 - 1 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 9 - 1 + 2 = 23

When Matrim brakes a small branch on the trail Karmid raises an eyebrow at him.

I'm back - apologies again. This covers some time span, but I'll try not to Textwall...

After the return to Sandpoint

Lia spent time talking with Kira - most everything would soon be known from hearsay, so there was little point in trying to be secretive. When Drasven and Father Zantus prepared to lay Nualia to rest, Lia insisted on helping - bathing and cleaning her, dressing her and preparing for her final journey. While she wants to come along, she understands that it's best if as few people as possible know of her final resting place. Instead, she spent some time with Ameiko in the Rusty Dragon, and checking on the prisoners the next day.

When the outcome of their adventure is reflected in monetary wealth, Lia seeks an appointment with Father Zantus. She secretly sets aside 300 gold coins to be paid to Kira, if she ever leaves the cathedral seeking her own destiny. 5d6x10, max starting money for a variety of classes
Further, she sets aside 250 gold coins to commission a small stone memorial of Father Tobyn where his remains had previously been laid to rest, and of a child-aged Nualia standing at his side looking up at him - a reminder that at some time, all was good, and could have stayed so, if people had acted differently.

Finally, she takes about half of the remaining money(600 GC) and travels to visit her family, staying at home for a while. She'll pay for repairs and renovations to the house, purchase livestock, pack animals and a new cart - then leaves the remainder of the money with her parents and brother.
She is not particularly talkative or specifically seeking contact, rather enjoying spending time reminiscing in places she holds dear in memory, daydreaming, but on the other hand gladly enjoying her mothers cooking, or helping with daily chores.

Now...

The day she returns to Sandpoint, she learns that the promised meat delivery to the Goblins was underway. Only taking a moment to drop off some of her things at the Cathedral, and saying hi to Talene and Kira, Lia continues walking, along the road leading up to Thistletop.
The light rain is refreshing, and Lia happily hops alongside the road barefoot, enjoying the light mud while humming a merry tune to herself - shortly past lunch time, she makes her way to Paupers Grave, eventually spotting a cart parked nearby.
Stealth: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 = 12
She sneaks closer to the others, across open terrain, not even looking for decent cover.
Again, apologies, I'll just insert myself silently into the action :)

Ro flips the coin back to Matrim and starts walking backwards toward the cart to get her pack as she announces "just a mundane coin" to him. Starting to turn about, she runs into Lia, nearly bowling them both over.

Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (1) + 8 = 9

perception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (6) + 10 = 16
Uldar almost warns Ro of Lia's approach, but thought she had seen her. Ah well, no harm done. He begins to take a more serious look around. Everyone seems to be moving quietly, none more so than Karmid. So he also steps a bit more lightly.
stealth: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (2) + 13 = 15
But not much more apparently.

"Hi Ro!", Lia says, turning the almost-crash into a welcome hug.

"What's going on? Why all the sneaking around?", Flutter inquired, hovering nearby.

It take her a second to figure things out, and then Ro hugs Lia back, adding a couple of gentle pats on her back. "Right, hi Lia."

Ro notices Lia's lack of shoes on a muddy, wet, late-autumn day but bites her tongue.

Elsewhere....

Edgar goes about his duties as a guard in the intervening time as nothing of Golarion-shattering importance is occurring.

And now back to our heroes.