Foxy Quickpaw's - Shattered Star AP

Game Master Foxy Quickpaw

Mrs. Heidmarch shrugs.

"Well let us go find out."

The temple of Pharasma is in the middle of Keystone. Magnimar’s Pharasmin
church is a small, humble building compared to the much larger cathedral located in Korvosa, yet the building is still impressive for its haunting facade and steep, spiky rooftop.

With your rather special request you are led to Annamentus Jivorus - the head of the temple. Greeting you politely he asks "What leads you here?"

"My corpse." Jimmy says matter of factly. "A long story short, I died and was brought back in this body, but we still have my old body. We were hoping you could help advise us on what we should do with it."

"Are you interested in a place to honor your old body, to visit it and have a place of remembrance?" Jivorus inquires.

"Not really. For that we use his new body. We just want to prevent that someone uses the old body for evil magics." Gwenhwyfar answers the priest.

"That about sums it up." Jimmy says with a smile

"That is easy to achieve. We could burn the corpse and spill the ashes on hallowed ground." Jivorus suggests.

"If that is what you suggest." Jimmy replies

Gwenhwyfar takes the sarcophagus out of the bag of holding. Opening the lid she asks "Where do you want me to put it?"

Upon the startled look of the priest she adds "It's just magically shrunken for transport reasons. It will come back to original size soon."

"For a small donation to the church we can take care of that for you." Jivorus tells.

Gwenhwyfar puts down the shrunken sarcophagus and counts out 10pp. "Please do."

Jivorus takes the coins and nods. He waves over some other clerics who get a blanket and retrieve the mini corpse. Jivorus leads to the place where the cremation takes place.

The corpse is placed on a stone altar decorated with the spiral of Pharasma. It is drenched in lamp oil and set ablaze. After half an hour of burning almost nothing is left. The little ash that remains one of the clerics brushes off the stone and into a brass cup. He hands it to Jivorus.

Jivorus then leads outside where a small cemetery is besides the temple. There he speaks a few words of prayer to Pharasma and empties the cup into the wind to spread it over the place.

Finally he turns to Gwenhwyfar and Jimmy. "Thank you for trusting us with your... body." and tells them good bye.

With that out of the way Gwenhwyfar collects the sarcophagus into the bag and walks together with Jimmy back to the Heidmarch manor to place the special coffin for the exhibition.

"Let's go and find Tauriell to see if she wants to be part of this event." And so it goes on to the Shadow Clock which is now also known by the people of Underbridge as "Abomentolor's".

Gwenhwyfar and Jimmy are greeted by a woman behind the bar they don't know. "Hello. If you want a beer I can help you. But everything else is beyond me. They are all at The Gull."

"Thank you, then we're going there." Gwenhwyfar replies. And on to the gull it goes.

At The Gull is a large construction site now. There is a wooden pier leading to the entrance. The complete shore is filled with stuff that needs to be brought inside and the dirt and stuff that was cleared out of The Gull. A four wheeled cart pulled by two heavy horses waits there to be unloaded.

Abomentolor is busy looking important. But besides his daily work of casting wall of stone to build the ramp there is nothing to do for him. He is no fan of physical work and he knows better than to interfere with Isabella about the details of a brewery.

Isabella commands the large amount of volunteers. She tells what has to be done next, what parts to bring in and where. She is in her element and has the time of her life building a new brewery. "Bring that in here, and that goes to second floor."

On the coachman's seat of the wagon sits a familiar face. "Hurry with the unloading. I have three more loads to get for today."

Tauriell stands on the shore coordinating the removal of the refuse and the unloading of the delivered goods. "Hey, nice to see you. Want to help?" she asks Gwenhwyfar and Jimmy half serious as she knows that everything short of saving the world is probably below them.

"I belong to the high society now. Such work is below me." Gwenhwyfar replies with her nose held high trying to look arrogant. But her giggling ruins the performance.

"No, not really. We wanted to ask if you want the job as history teacher for the rich people at the statues auction at Heidmarch Manor."

"What statues are you going to sell?" Tauriell asks.

"The Runelord Statues from the ladies light." Gwenhwyfar answers. "We went back and looted it for everything we can make to money. And as it's at Heidmarch Manor the idea was to do something about history as the Patfinders are all about knowledge. But as we want to sell stuff it should be entertaining. If I give a dry report Mrs. Heidmarch might be impressed. But the others I'd bore to death. Also you know much more about that stuff from your long life."

"You make it sound like I have first hand experience about Thassilon. I'm not that old. But I can give you a show for sure." Tauriell replies. "What would be my share for that?"

"I don't know. Was that Mr. Burston's part to pay that?" Gwenhwyfar asks Jimmy.

"I believe so, he said he would pay generously as well."

"Then lets hope his idea of generous pay and mine match." Tauriell replies with a raised eyebrow.

The day of the great event finally comes. The manor park is tidied up. Lighting for the statues is placed. A buffet is prepared and four foot high tables are placed throughout it to put down a glass or to stand together in groups. The event starts in the late afternoon. The who is who of Magnimar flocks in. They do some gossiping and some do business. But all in all it is a relaxed atmosphere. There are drinks and hors d'oevre to keep them busy.

As the time for the official beginning of the event comes Mrs. Heidmarch enters the stand on a small stage in front of the Meeting House.

"Dear guests. I'm honored to greet you here on my estate for this extraordinary event." She continues to greet special people by name and thanks all who have contributed to this, especially Randolf Burston III. It is long and boring, but etiquette has to be observed.

"It is pleasure to leave the stage now to an expert in Thassilonian History. The Pathfinder Society that I represent in Varisia is known for it's insatiable hunger for knowledge and it's efforts to spread that knowledge. And so I'm pleased that all our knowledge about this topic will be broadened today." With that she leaves the stage for the history expert.

All are silent but a few scholars who are anxious about what new insights might be shared. But it's not a keen silence, but a bored one. Most think of history as some dry and dusty thing, just as the artefacts that are pulled out of ancient graves.

"Fear not." Tauriell greets the crowd.

"Most of Thassilon is long dead and buried deep where few would be able to find it. And today you see here a little of the opulent riches the great rulers of that long gone time had to please their own vanity. And that you can bid for at the auction later to please your own."

"Now for an introduction. This is Krune." The Runelord of Sloth - a short man with a hooked nose and beady eyes, his shoulders slumped as if in fatigue - steps out of the statue like a twin. "This is the Runelord of sloth. Please excuse that he's not more excited to be here. He just couldn't get over himself." The man sinks back to the statue.

"Zutha - The Runelord of Gluttony" An obese man with diseased, leprous flesh, who hungrily gnaws at a huge haunch of meat. The statue again comes to life, leaving the statue behind with its twin moving towards one of the tables. There he picks up a glass, downs it's contents and puts it back. Moving on he snatches an hors d'ouvre from a waiters silver tray. He also moves back into his statue.

"You might think they don't look impressive. But let me assure you. These guys led empires. They were the mightiest mages of their time. And well beyond everything anyone can do today. That lazy looking guy had more power in his small finger than any wizard in Magnimar today can come up on his best day."

Next the statue of a plump and homely woman, face twisted in resentment starts moving. She looks upon those who look better than her with jealousy. "This is Belimarius Runelord of Envy. You can take that as an reminder of how ugly envy is and makes those who embrace it."

As this one moves back to her statue position to freeze in place the next one starts moving "This is Karzoug, Runelord of Greed. Don't let you be fooled by the rose he is offering. This is part of a riddle in the statues original place. 'She who desires to ascend the Lady’s Light must
first deign to embrace the Lady and the Lie.' This is the lie, as the Rinelord of Greed would never have given something away freely." And the gesturing of the moving image makes clear that he intents to keep it and glares at everyone looking at the rose with desire.

While Karzoug shields his rose from prying the statue of a handsome, haughty man with arms crossed contemptuously comes to life. "Meet Xanderghul Runelord of Pride. As you can clearly see this get-together is beneath him. None of us are worthy of his presence."

Mots of the crowd watches fascinated at the magical display as the names of the Runelords are recited. Some are not interested and rather pay attention to the waiters that carry trays with drinks and appetizers around. Some men stand in a circle and gossip about the money their wives waste at such events.

"And now to my favorite two Runelords: Sorshen Runelord of Lust." Out of the statue moves the scantily clad woman. A sight the adventurers remember well. The woman is just large enough to stand a head taller than most of the visitors. Sorshen moves throughout the crowd and teases some of the men coming too close giving them a hard time watching her in the eyes. One of the women who don't react too pleased bout their husbands reaction is also approached by Sorshen and left embarrassed and beet red after Sorshen whispers something in her ear.

While Sorshen still walks around leaving people blushing, one way or the other The last statue comes to life. "And last but not least: Alaznist: Runelord of Wrath." A beautiful redhaired woman with a look of fury twisting her expression glares at Sorshen.

"If you haven't guessed it already - These Runelords were rivals. Everyone with a specific kind of magic and their own territory. And more often than not they were at war. So let's get this a bit more realistic, shall we?"

"Let the show begin!"

With that Azlanist starts insulting Sorshen "You dishonorable b@&$!. Stop enchanting the people." From the tip of her glaive a fireball flies towards Sorshen. Sorshen in turn conterspells that absorbing the energy in a casting that looks like an impressive firework at the point the spells meet. Krune summons a Bolor, that stands towering over everything swinging it's fiery whip. Belimarius casts a large antomagic field, that negates anything the others cast in her area. Karzoug rises to impressive size with his muscles, agility, and power of character increase to step into the fight. Zutha raises a small army of undead out of the soil of the manor park. While Sorshen orders her glass golem to protect her while she tries to force other Runelords to aid her with charm and compulsion spells. Azlant keeps firing all kinds of evocation spells into the arena: Walls of fire, ice storms, prismatic rays. All in all it's a blinding and deafening experience that leaves even weathered adventurers in awe. Finally all creatures and effects race towards a center point and explode in a blinding light.

Then darkness and silence in which you could hear a needle drop.
"All that was only an Illusion for your entertainment. All but the Glass Golem. That is Runelord Magic at it's best. Still in pristine condition and around since the empire of Thassilon"

"I hope you enjoyed our little history curriculum and if you want a small reminder of the great Runelords to take with you there is time later to tell Randolf Burston III about that."

"If you spilled your drink on your dress or had other mishaps, there are enough magic users here who can clean that up for you discreetly." Tauriell adds with a grin.

She bows and leaves the stage.

"Quite a show she is putting on don't you think?" Jimmy whispers in her ear during the show

"I'm glad I know already from experience that it's only an illusion. What do you think, how many of the people wet their pants?" Gwenhwyfar asks giggling.

"I imagine a few, and I imagine a few of the ladies are fuming at their husbands reaction to Sorshen." Jimmy says chuckling

"I wonder why she spared you. For you're the only one in our team that was not faced with Sorshen's..." she makes a gesture in front of her chest "... strong character through an extended period of time." Gwenhwyfar tells with a mischievous smile. She sips at her glass of champagne.

"You only had to see them when you looked at me, I had to see them all the time."

"Well. I have... breasts and I don't have to see them all the time." Looking down she adds "I actually have to intently look for them as they are not in my field of view." She takes anther sip. "But maybe it is different if you have bigger ones."

Randolf Burston III enters the stage after a few moments. "I don't know about you, but I'm glad I survived that history lesson." It is obvious that he is still shaken. "Thank you for this impressive demonstration." he tells in direction of Tauriell. But it doesn't sound like a heart felt thank you. "Once you've taken another glass to calm down feel free to approach me if you're interested in some of the exhibits. Please stay with us. The wild part is over and the rest of the evening will be more reasonable."

"Well I mean every time I looked down..." Jimmy says with a chuckle, "Yours are perfect though." he whispers to her

After a few minutes marching troops are heard as they approach. And a brigade of City Watch Guards enters the grounds.

Captain Uriana orders the guards to stay alert and wait as it becomes clear that there is no massacre going on. Then she searches for Mrs. Heidmarch. "Good evening. What's going on here. It looks like a garden party but from the Arvensoar we got the impression hell broke loose here."

"Good thing you enjoy having my breasts in sight more than me having yours. I mean the Sorshen ones." Gwenhwyfar tells. It is clear she is already tipsy again.

"Good evening Captain. It was planned as kind of a garden party with some teaching on Thassilonian history. If I had known this would e a full fledged enactment of a Runelord battle I would have objected." Mrs. Heidmarch states with a sour expression on her face. "If you want to arrest someone for that feel free to do so." she adds pointing at Tauriell.

"I wish I could say that, but you know I have never actually seen them." Jimmy says blushing somewhat at the topic. As a server walks past with drinks on a tray he quickly grabs one and downs is, not top much effect though Poison immunity

Abomentolor approches Tauriell and gives her a high five. Well, in his case it's more a medium five. "Great show. Just had to move away from that guy. A strong smell came from his pants."

Tauriell takes the compliment. "I wish I could do that stuff for reals."

"You mean the elf standing next to our resident crazy gnome? I'll take a pass. They're your problem." Captain Uriana replies.

"Thank you for nothing." Mrs. Heidmarch replies. "Want to stay for a drink? I could use some company of a normal person."