Davian Grallus' "Jade Regent Adventure Path"

Game Master DavianGrallus

"I am sure we can cover the cost for those going out to protect this village." She gently puts a hand on Tregdorult's as he reached into his pouch.

"Please, do not worry about payment. Consider it a gift of hospitality for our towns soon to be heros."

Mitsuko looked at the others who remained. "I extend that invitation to any who need to stay."

Rokkad nods gratefully. "Thank you for your hospitality. It always raises my spirits to see those who are so welcoming and accepting of all peoples!" he salutes her with his cup before draining the last of the ale and heading off to bed.

Tregdorult hesitates a moment, hand still in the pouch. Finally he nods and drops the pouch. There is a small cha-chink as the string holding the pouch pulls tight. Tregdorult bows to both Mitsuko and Ameiko, "The gift of hospitality is accepted, let me be in your debt." He says some parting words to the others, before collecting a key and making his way to the offered bed, his gear in tow.

"Tree's such a nice man," says Syeira as she puts her cards away.

"I take it that means we should probably be heading home, eh Koya?"

Koya nods and waves Sandru over as well "Yes of course Syeira! Let me just gather my things here.... Hmmm, alright!" She gives a small chuckle as she downs her two remaining flagons of ale and begins to wobble "Sanndru, are you going with us, or to nap in a dirty bed, hmmm?"

Sandru sighs with a shake of his head "You know, Koya, I worry about you sometimes. Tree- we'll see you tomorrow as well you bum!" Koya laughs at this as she gives a farewell peck on the cheek to Ameiko, nodding and waving goodbye to "brother" Rokkad.

Ameiko nods while giving Mitsuko a smiling glare

Shalewen arrives at the gates the next day as the last one. Her gait and posture say she is ready to go but her eyes tell a different story. One of little sleep. If they stand there too long, her eyes begin to close slowly and she starts leaning to the right. Thankfully, Shadow is there to catch her most of the time. Her pack is small but packed efficiently. A map or two pokes out the top between the bristling quiver of arrows.

Smiling to those who were leaving and staying. "I wish you all a good night and good sleep." Putting up the tea cups and pot she would head home. There was a lot on her mind.

The next morning she showed up, but not in her normal fancy clothes and heavy makeup. Instead, she was dressed practically, with leather armor and high boots. A short blade attached to her hip along with a light steel shield on her back. A shortbow was set up along with a quiver while her bag was full of other supplies. Her hair was tied up and her face clean. Moving towards where everyone was meeting up she nodded to each.

"Good morning all."

Shaking his head the samurai excuses himself "I need to go home to prepare my gear for tomorrow, also windspirit needs to be fed and saddled. I will be here on time!"
Next morning the young man waits outside the inn, in armor and with weapons ready for use. His horse is saddled and he calmly feeds it an apple.

Up with the sun, Rokkad spends time communing with his god before heading out to take care of his horse. "Good Morn! Thank you again." he calls out to Ameiko as he strides out the door, spending a moment enjoying the morning sun on his face before entering the stable to feed and care for his mare. "I am going to have to get a new shoe for you soon." he muses, looking at the right front hoof.

Greeting the others warmly once he reaches the meeting place, he raises an eyebrow as his gaze falls on Mitsuko, having never seen her in anything but formal garb before.

Tregdorult walks into the common room, early the next morning. He asks for a small breakfast, eats quickly, then leaves. A small pile of silver coins is left on the table as Tregdorult walks outside to meet the others.

Tregdorult laughs as he approaches, "It appears you have been keeping something from us. Are you really Mitsuko Kaijitsu, or is that the legendary Sanja Deronaka who has been hiding among us all this time, now ready to come forth again and stop entire armys in their tracks?" Tregdorult chuckles again, this time more softly, almost as if to himself.

Rokkad smiles at Tregdorult's jest, getting the idea even if he doesn't understand the reference. Looking at each of those assembled in turn, he nods appreciatively.

"While we are waiting for Syeira, who has probably overslept again," he starts with a grin to take the bite out of the words "we should discuss how we shall travel. It seems that only Ikoma and I have mounts. We could double up with some of the lighter members of the group, but we will still need a couple more horses, it seems."

Mitsuko walked to her tired friend and would pull her over to one side to sit and relax and catch a few minutes of sleep as they waited. Smiling at her gently as she put a hand on her shoulder.

Looking to Tregdorult as he spoke her cheeks would flush pink. Her head ducking slightly. "I am merely Mitsuko Kaijitsu, youngest of the Kaijitsu clan." Shifting she would turn to look at Rokkad.

"If we are going to be in the swamp, are we sure we want to take them through it? I could afford a pony with riding gear myself, but it would wipe all funds."

Syeira runs into the common room hastily wrapping her patchwork cloak around her head with one hand and swinging her Harrow carrying case in the other, just in time to hear Rokkad's words.

"Hey!" she barks, more flustered at herself than at Rokkad.

"I wanted to make sure you were all here to begin my Harrowing for our venture, is all!"

She lays the case on the table and opens it, shuffling through the cards.

"I am ready to divine the vagaries of our venture. All that remains is for one among you to ask the question of how we will achieve victory."

GM and everyone else, which Harrow suit shall Syeira use for this Harrowing's Choosing? Hammers or Shields could signify beating the goblins through brute force, Keys could mean our skills lead us to victory, and Books could mean we use our careful planning to win.

As the group begins to leave Sandpoint they are greeted by the peaks of the morning sun. It reaches and sprawls across the dirt path before them that could lead them to any series of woods and marshes. A sign points down the trail to the Brinestump Marsh, though it is filled with rot. The name itself is crossed off with either a knife or sword- the name crossed out as if it were to indicate death awaits those who go.

Koya and Sandru each sip on coffee as they wave you off and begin to gather lodgings for what there was of their caravan. Each one giving you a good bye as welcoming as their greetings the night before, before taking care of their own business.

There is no sign of Ameiko, the Sheriff, or Shalelu who had run off on a differing objective the night before.

Based on freely given maps of the area by the staff of Sandpoint, having heard you are to go on a hunt for the Sheriff, you know that the Brinestump Marsh is within 4 miles or so south of Sandpoint.

The trail appears to go all the way, just possibly.

Suit is based on the question and you are putting a question into our mouths which effects a reading :P

"I would rather ask what is the wisest path to take to accomplish the goal of ensuring the safety of this town."

I needed SOMEONE to ask a question and wasn't sure how to ask someone to ask a question...thanks for providing an out!

At Mitsuko's words, Syeira shuffles the cards again and draws nine cards out, holding them out in a fan to the group.

"Please select a card for the Choosing."

Everyone please roll 1d10 and reroll if you get 10!

Rokkad looks at the map and purses his lips. "I did not realize our destination was so close. It might be better to leave you here." he states, patting his horse on the shoulder. He is about to take him back to the stables when Syeira calls for a reading. He pauses to reach out, palm flat towards the ground, and hold it over the cards for a moment to feel which one pulls the strongest towards him. Finally he touches one card lightly before drawing it from the deck.

1d10 ⇒ 9

Shrugging the samurai walks to syeira and waves his hand over the cards before picking one: 1d10 ⇒ 9. BTW we can also roll d9
"Are you ready to ride?"

Pratting around and feeling the nervousness the horse seems not to be ready for riding. Nipping at Gohei´s armor he asks for an apple, wich the samurai produces and happily munches it.

Pick a card: 1d10 ⇒ 2

If I remember a little about a harrowing these cards represent us correct?"

Tregdorult moves forward and debates over the cards, seeming to take great care in his choice. When he finally reaches out for one, he looks to Syeira to make sure it's the right choice. Seeing nothing to the contrary, he takes it and looks at it. "So what does this mean?" he asks, turning the card to Syeira.

1d10 ⇒ 7

For clarification Shalewen, everyone is currently at the Rusty Dragon not the gates. Sleepy head with sleepy memory. That being said I take it everyone of the PC's except Shalewen at this point are in the inn since that is where the harrowing is being held. Some did say they were meeting out side. So at this point I would say everyone is inside except Shalewen and all the animals.

"We will have to wait for her to explain. Where is Shalewen?"

Noticed you said gates so my character didn't tell you to sit down and nap as we waited.

Syeira blanches as Rokkad draws a card bearing a skeletal figure clad in broken, rusty armor, staggering forward with sword in hand.

"The Lost...it speaks of losing who you are, your identity gone."

She frowns as Ikoma flips his card to reveal a foul crone holding an eyeball in her mouth and raising one hand.

"The Mute Hag...she makes blood pacts and holds dark secrets."

As you and Rokkad both rolled 9, I've elected to have you draw the next nearest card, as we obviously can't have two people with the same card for the Choosing.

She nods in response to Mitsuko's question as she draws a card with the likeness of a calm halfling woman, holding a horned, smoking red baby by its leg in one hand. She breathes a sigh of relief.

"Ah, The Midwife. She ushers in new life."

Then she gasps again as Tree's card reveals a panicked man surrounded by skeletons beneath a red sky, the sun covered by the moon.

"The Eclipse, a harbinger of self-doubt."

She looks about, waiting for Shalewen to take her card.

Tregdorult misses gently over his cards before handing out back. "So this is something to be wary of? Something up watch it for?" He seems thoughtful as free walks over to prepare his things.

A few moments later he stands tall again--as tall as his five and a half feet would allow--slinging his backpack over his shoulders. "I am ready to begin moving. Before the morning is too far gone. What about everyone else? Are there any other preparations we need before we leave?" Tregdorult walks over to pick up one of their maps and looks it over.

"Agreed, daylight shouldn`t be wasted."A strange reading. What is this supposed to mean. I have no secrets.

Where is everyone? Shalewen thinks as she stands by the gate. She was sure she heard right that others were coming. Thinking they might be running late, she finds a shaded spot nearby to sit and rest. Shadow put his head in her lap. A few strokes of his later she is out.

Rokkad studies the card as he listens to Syeira.

"Or maybe sacrificing your identity for the sake of something greater?" he wonders half-aloud. "I will go see if Shalewen is outside waiting for us. What about your card, Syeira?" he asks as he strides out the door. He returns a few moments later with the news that she is nowhere in sight. "Maybe she is waiting outside the gate? She seems more at home out in the wilderness."

Syeira blinks in surprise at Rokkad's words.

"Oh, no, a good Harrower never peeks into her own future. Too much temptation to "cheat" by stacking the deck. It's bad luck, and the gods get really ticked when you start trying to do THEIR job for them."

As Shalewen begins to make her way with Shadow she sees the previously listed details, as well as a bit of ways down the path she finds left overs from what could only have been the remnants of the scuffle between Sandru's caravan and the firework wielding goblins.

Pretty close to home to have only been about five minutes of walking out from the town.

Everyone else, feel free to move in step with Shalewen, prepare your steeds, and continue conversing as we move along. Time for me to do my job again :P *cracks fingers*

As you look onward you see quite a few forks in the road ahead of you going south towards the Marsh. One seems to veer off East in the direction of the Tickwoods, another goes almost straight as an arrow South, and another curves West towards the Coast line.

Meanwhile, as the others begin leaving the Tavern, some people begin waking up through out the Tavern. Ameiko can be heard conversing with quite a few people up the stairs as she yawns sleep away from herself. The horses of Ikoma and Rokkad give a whiney outside as a slow breeze rolls in. They clomp their hooves in response, and then fall silent once more.

Rokkad takes a few moments to pat his horse and make sure the stablehands will feed and brush him if he is gone for too long. He strides quickly after the group to catch up, turning his face to feel the warm sunshine. Once they reach the sign and meet up with Shalewen, he speaks.

"If everyone will pause a moment, there is something I must do before we begin."

He sits cross-legged on the ground and pulls out his waterskin to pour a small trickle into the dust. After kneading the damp patch into thick mud, he smears it onto both cheeks and his chin. He then begins to chant.

ikaika uhane Kokip
kau kauwa implores oe
hoike aku i ko oukou mana
hoouna iho i kou avatar

haawi mai ia makou i ko oukou kōkua
iloko o ko makou manaopaa no ka hoopai
e ko oukou alo e ikeia
ma na mea a pau i e hoʻohaumia i kēia'āina

As the Shoanti words fill the air, the earth in front of him begins to vibrate. As the minutes roll by, the dust slowly falls away to reveal shifting pebbled scales and then a large rock-covered head that rears up on a sinous neack and opens a fang-filled maw with a loud hiss! Eyelids flick open to reveal brilliant green emerald eyes that flicker over each of those gathered in turn before settling on Rokkad.

Getting to his feet, Rokkad bows respectfully before turning to look in the direction of the swamp. "Now we are ready."

The large rocky serpent looks curiously at each of you, his eyes glittering in the sun.

Tregdorult stares at the rocky serpent before him. He reaches out tentatively, as if maybe this is an illusion. His hand stops before he does though and he looks to Rokkad, "This is amazing." Tregdorult steps back and looks around. "Let's go then." He begins walking towards the gate, catching up with Shalewen and beginning their journey.

As they go along, Tregdorult looks at the map offering his own suggestions here and there, but mostly following along.

I know I am not our "Survivalist" as I don't even have a rank in it, but I've enough Wis to offer help to not get lost.

Survival Assist: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (15) + 4 = 19

So +2 to whomever does roll our survival (though apparently, I could have)

Syeira marvels at Kokip's appearance, and as they travel, she badgers Shalewen to pick a card.

Ikoma trys to recall his walks and rides first, feeling soon the fresh air in his face.
Surv: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (17) + 6 = 23

Seems I wasn't the only one that missed the first post about us moving out.

Fresh, wilderness air was enough of a pick-me up for Shalewen. A few steps onto the road and her lethargy all but disappeared. Approaching the sight of the attack, the helf-elf is not happy with what she sees. For one, this attack was extremely close to Sandpoint. The goblins were getting brazen. They needed to be brought down a peg. Also, if fireworks were involved, how come no one heard it until Koya and company arrived to tell the tail. The fireworks back at home were pretty loud.

Well, first things first. Try to figure out what happened.

Survival: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (10) + 9 = 19

Seeing his master had stopped and was looking around, Shadow took that as meaning he needed to do the same. So he sniffs around the area she was, careful not to disturb anything (he'd been reprimanded before for doing that). He wasn't sure what to look for but he guessed he'd know it when he smelled it.

Survival: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 5 = 12

Syeira shuffles up to Shalewen and holds out her spread of cards.

"I missed you at the Rusty Dragon, Shal. I need you to take a card for the Choosing so I can read the Harrow for us. Please?"

Shalewen, please roll 1d9! :)

Rokkad looks at the map they were given, then at each of the three paths. "I think we should follow the southern road. It looks to curve around to follow the coast and lead directly to the swamp."

Survival: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 2 = 14

Shalewen looks at the cards then at Syeira. Rolling her eyes, she draws a card and hands it back without looking at it.

1d9 ⇒ 6

Where is the halfling again?

The most really any of you know, aside from Mitsuko, is that the Halfling is in the Marshes that also currently holds the bounty for Chief Gutwad.

The large serpent looks at the area that seems to interest his master and the others. His tongue flicks in and out, testing the air and ground for any unusual scents.

Survival: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10

While Syeira finishes her reading and they decide their route, Rokkad kneels down to examine the ground more closely, looking for any plants or mud out of place. The goblins might have tracked something from the swamp that might give a clue to their location.

Knowledge (nature): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7

"If you can't find a trail we can go to Brinestump Marsh. Walthus Proudstump he lives quite deep in the marsh, near the coast touching Sog's Bay. I am sure we can find a trail to it."

Looking to Shalewen she would smile seeing her eyes rolling. She knew she didn't put much stock into Harrowing yet but you never know when it would give advice that is needed.

Moving over to them. "Let's go to Walthus first. He may know where they are or even know of secret trails through the swamp."

Shalewen was annoyed. Shalelu could track a trail 2 days old while she couldn't find one from yesterday. The ground was too dry and goblins too light for her to notice anything beyond human and horse traffic. Shadow had the right of it. He couldn't find anything so now he was playing with Rokkad's rock snake thing. Well she wasn't going to give up. They couldn't exactly wander through the marsh looking for them. That would take days and it was very dangerous in there. So Shalewen continues to widen her search, sweeping back and forth in the direction of the marsh.

Survival: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (13) + 9 = 22
Perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (13) + 9 = 22

Sweeping back and forth towards the marsh. Survival for tracks of Perception for maybe something the goblins dropped. A corpse even.

Shadow's ears perk up when the rock snake arrives. He cautiously moves forward and follows the creature, swinging back and forth, closer and closer. The closer he gets the lower he gets tot he ground, nose sniffing all the way.

"Shalewen," She would touch her shoulder as she widened her search walking up to her.

Whispering to her.

Rokkad- unfortunately there is no proper response I can give your Kn. nature check.

Special mention to Tree for me finally seeing the survival assist he rolled. Normally I will make you call who you are assisting- however, I missed your roll until right now. So I am bolstering Shalewen's most recent roll with your +2!

Shalewen's card shows a small, frightened child running among sinister jesters and capering figures on stilts.

"The Carnival, its cacophonous but delightful music singing of illusions and false dreams."

The Choosing finally complete, Syeira deals her array quickly.

"The Big Sky speaks of momentous and powerful change for Sandpoint in the past, with the Owl overseeing how the weak fell so the rest could grow strong, as the natural order demands. The Hidden Truth is misaligned, revealing a dangerous secret that was revealed for the town. The Bear's raw, uncontrollable strength will serve us well, striking down the goblins with overwhelming force, but The Liar warns of obsession and a love that would tear the innocent apart. Tree's card, The Eclipse, speaks of becoming lost on the path and a loss of purpose. The Desert, truest of the true, shows us a great waste that none can cross alone, but seeking aid will allow us to cross and discover great things on the other side, but the Crows circle overhead, waiting to seize that which we love, and the Trumpet sounds doom, warning against throwing all-out power for a wicked cause."

She bites her lip as she considers what the cards have told her, looking to the others to draw their own conclusions from what she's told them now.

Mitsuko stands next to Shalewen about the same time she catches sight of the first signs of a goblin. Their were many things wrong with the tracks but the location was too much of a coincidence to overlook or pursue. And they lead to the marsh. Good enough for her. She stands as her friend whispers her concerns. Shalewen turns to Mitsuko and points at the tracks. She then pats her friend on the cheek in a way that suggests she not doubt her.

"FWEEET" Without warning a loud whistle grabs everyone's attention. Shadow charges across the scene and slides next to his master. She pats him once on the back, causing an instant change in demeanor. He is no longer the happy-go-lucky overgrown pup. Now he's a hunting dog and very serious. She points at the print and he starts circling for scents. As the others come over she points out the trail and begins to follow.

Survival: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (16) + 9 = 25

Applying Falcon Foci to Shadow for +4 Perception and using track trick. He'll be using Survival to aid her.