GM Arkwright's Enduring Rise of the Runelords (Inactive)

Game Master Arkwright

"Well yes, it was probably wise of Sheriff Hemlock to leave many of the details out of public information. Although we now know a fair bit more than he does. We will share this information with you on the condition that you do not let others know, unless you absolutely must. But before we get to too many of those details and some of our own conclusions, what can you tell us of Foxglove manor?"

He blinks for a second, his energy flatering. "Erm... nothing? I'm a study of Varisian History, but nothing so recent as current housing..."

"What he means is," Isme says, cutting in sharply, "if the area around Foxglove Manor has any relevance to Varisian History."

He blinks again. "Erm... not that I'm aware of?" He reaches for a few notebooks and picks them up, not reading them just getting into a scholarly mindset. "That is to say... the place where the manor has been built has been relevant to nothing in history between a thousand years ago and ten thousand years ago. Does that help?"

Wyam gave that a moment of thought. "In a manner of speaking, yes. At the very least, this sort of development means it is recent... well relatively so, I believe."

"More to the point, however, are the murders themselves. I believe they are being committed by some sort of monstrous killer. One that can use the water to move around more easily."

"I see... erm... do you have any ideas which monster?" Quink is looking a little downcast. "Hemlock suggested you'd want to talk about the rune you discovered...?"

Isme shuffles on her perch, waiting for Spectrum to take out the rune and lead the conversation.

Spectrum pulled the 7 pointed star amulet out of his pocket and passed it to Quink.

"This rune. What can you tell us?"

Quink eagerly grasps for the trinket. "Ooh... I hadn't heard that the symbol had been found on an amulet!" He turns it over in his hand, studying it. "This is the Sihedron Rune, signifying the seven virtues of rule- wealth, fertility, honest pride, abundance, eager striving, righteous anger, and rest. As well, the seven schools of magic recognized by Thassilon, as they took little interest in divination." He looks up and gives a prideful grin. "I and a few of my colleagues believe that Thassilon's rulers near the end were far from virtuous, and the classic sins of greed, lust, pride, gluttony, envy, wrath and sloth arise from their corruption. The rune could signify this as well."

"Regardless... this is a symbol of power, that may have symbolized the empire. Why, the fact that the killer carved it into the flesh of his victim- Hemlock muttered something about it- well, I'd say that the killer could be some sort of scholar or teacher...?" He ponders for a moment, before adding quickly "But of course it couldn't be me, Ha-ha!"

He blinks for a second and finishes with "You do know all about the Thassilonian empire, yes?"

Wyam gave a quizzical look at the scholar at the mention of the name Thassilon.

"Um no, I'm afraid I've never heard the name before."

"You may have merely forgotten," Isme says dryly to Wyam. She turns to Quink. "I'm familiar with them, and Spectrum is a scholar of the empire. Regarding the murderer, my own assumption is a ghoul, and the symbol says 'something more than normal mortal passions'. In any case, please give us a review of the empire for Wyam's benefit anyway, and to refresh our memories."

After Quink finishes speaking, Isme says, "Do you also know anything of runewells?"

"Dear me, forgive me, I assume everyone's a colleague of similar standing." Quink reaches for a few dusty books, most with similar Sihedron runes upon it, pointing at them in turn as he talks. "Thassilon was an ancient empire. Most place it around 7,000 to 8,000 years ago but in my scholarly opinion it ended no sooner than 10,000 years ago, ha-ha!" He looks around for a reaction before continuing, "It was founded by a benevolent emperor named Xin who powered a mysterious new form of magic based around runes. He moved to what we now call Varisia and, with his seven advisors and mystics, he created some immense statues and landmarks. That they still stand is testament to the mightiness of their magics, ha-ha! You might recognize the Old Light, Thistletop, and the immense structures like in Magnimar as belonging to their old empire."

"Eventually, the emperor was unseated by his seven advisors who corrupted the empire for hundreds of years, until it all ended with the Fall of the Starstone." He looks at Isme a little puzzled. "Rune... wells? No, I confess I've never heard of such a thing."

"So whoever's behind these recent string of events is some sort of historian himself then? Or at least knows about Thassilon and these runes."

"Precisely! Or if not a historian, some other scholar, or one who knows one well."

Isme nods. "But we still have little idea what their motives are." She turns to Spectrum again. "Do you have a copy of the run carved into the body? Best show that to him as well."

"I do." Spectrum said, unrolling the rubbing he'd taken. He also created an illusory version of the rune in the air to show it in a better context. It was translucent and certainly wouldn't fool anyone that it was real, but it sufficed.

Prestidigitation to create the illusion.

The rune carved onto his body was the Sihedron rune.

Just following orders. :)

"So why would the symbolory of a thousands of years dead empire be showing up in such abundance now?" Spectrum mused. It wasn't really a question he expected anyone to answer. It was merely a vocalization of his frustration at the lack of information.

"I will see what I can come up with, Sir Spectrum, ha-ha!" Taking a well-worn place at his room's desk, Quink starts moving through scrolls and books. After as long as you can stomach, he looks up. "This might take awhile, ha-ha."

Ahh, thought they might have been slightly different because I thought there were "versions" of Sihedron runes that look similar.

"We'll be investigating out-of-town, but we'll see you when we get back," Isme says. "My thanks for your cooperation." She turns to Spectrum and Wyam. "I think we should attempt for speaking with the dead first before we leave for the Manor. What do you think?"

Also, do either Aldern Foxglove or Rogors Craesby live nearby? It would be good to speak to them first about the estate, perhaps get a general idea or map of the place and anything it might hide.

K Local for Aldern, and another for Rogors.

"Yes, I suppose it would be best to finish our investigations first before we continue onward."

What else do you want to do?

Well now that we have some more base information, we're going to head to where the murder in the mill occurred and speak with the dead.

Let's see... Harker's face was damaged to the point where he was missing most of his face and jaw, he cannot 'speak'. Katrine was pushed into a log splitter and her remains are mangled and ruins, I believe they are also beyond Speak With.

Ah right... well then that pretty much cinches it right there then. I guess we'll just have to go to the Foxglove Manor.

Lore Master to take 10 on knowledge checks. I was suggesting we use Sculpt Corpse to make the bodies be able to talk again, but it seems like there's a line there that specifically prohibits that ("treated as if it still had its original appearance"). Still, it might be useful later on! Not that I'm hoping anyone would die. Actually, what about the bodies of those con men from Galduria?

Knowledge (local) {Aldern}: 10 + 11 = 21
Knowledge (local) {Rogors}: 10 + 11 = 21

The con men are all mutilated enough that Speak With won't work.

Isme recalls that Aldern is the latest noble from the Foxglove line, and known as more of a local boy, spending more time in Sandpoint than most in his family. He is currently known to be repairing his ancestral manor nearby.

Rogors is a man of small talents and many small jobs, acting as caretaker to the Foxglove manor and a few other places.

"I do not believe the remains are intact enough." Spectrum said. "As much as I appreciate preparation and research, I think the time has come for action."

As the party ruminates on their plans, a shout of surprise goes up from the outside, prompting at least one of you to go out and look, or at least peer through a shutter. From the road out of town atop an old grey nag rides a farmer in a straw hat, partially covered in mud. He rides wildly and unsteadily, urging the horse onwards. As he passes the tavern, a passing woman moves by holding a crude scarecrow and muttering about her vegetable patch; at this sight, the farmer lets out a cry of fear and bodily leaps off his horse away from the woman, pressing his back against the tavern as he tries to cover his entire body with his arms and hands defensively. A low whisper from his lips comes up and insinuates itself into the tavern; "Mumble Mumble Scarecr, alone in the maize. Sleeping in the daytime, a stitched man he stays..."

I am of course going to see if I can help this man.

Wyam made his way down outside and first made his way to the woman.

"This man is clearly terrified by something that resembles what you hold. Please take it away from here, quickly."

He then cautiously walked up to the man.

"Sir, are you alright? You need to calm down."

Isme shrugs, looking at Spectrum. "If it's action, then so be it."

She peers at the farmer when he overreacts and tilts her head upon hearing the words of his whisper. "That's interesting."

"Indeed." Spectrum said with a raised brow.

Are you really scared of straw people? Glimmer asked Isme.

"But when the moons he rises, up Mumble gets. he shakes his hands at first and moves his feet the next..."

The scarecrow-clutching woman frowns at you and the raving man but eventually shifts on. The farmer remains pressed against the wall of the inn. "And when the dog is snoring, and when you're fast asleep, Mumble Mumble Scarecrow will find you good to eat..."

Wyam shakes his head. This can't be a coincidence.

"Check him for enchantments."

"I'm a raven, not a crow," Isme says to Glimmer.

Isme casts Detect Magic, peering at the farmer.

Isme fails to detect any magic; he just seems to have had a nasty shock and experience, which he is still working through.

"No enchantments, he just seems traumatized," Isme tells Wyam. "Go reassure him and then ask for information."

Wyam makes his way to the man. "Sir, tell me what it is that you saw. Why would a scarecrow frighten you so much?"

Diplomacy, I'll roll it for you if you don't respond within an hour.

diplomacy: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (6) + 9 = 15

The farmer breathes deeply and after a minute or two manages to calm himself. He looks up at Wyam. "Mae... Maester Grump. Th-thta's my name. I... gods, the things I've seen... For the love of Erastil, someone fetch me a whiskey for my nerves..."

When proffered, he swigs deep and coughs, before continuing. "I... I'm from the southern farms. The last few days our pastures have been plagued by foul beings- scarecrows, coming to life and stalking through the night, 'nnatural-like. We knew it was coming from the old Hambley place, things just ain't been right there for a few days now... but when a few of us took up pitchforks and apid a visit, we were attacked- folk that looked like corpses b-but fed like starving animals. Grump's voice suddenly rises to a high shriek as he screams "They even ate the dogs!" He goes for another swig. "I... we ran. I got away. The others... they didn't. I haven't stopped since."

Perception: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (7) + 13 = 20

Isme sniffs the air. "Alcohol on his breath. But folk that looked like corpses?" Isme's thoughts turn to their own creature.

"Hambley place?"

Knowledge (local) {take 10}: 10 + 11 = 21

Perception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (2) + 10 = 12

"Maester Grump, you've done well to bring us this news. I'm sorry to hear about the others. Here, take these coins and get yourself a room at an inn, don't go back to your farm tonight." Wyam said, reaching into his belt pouch and offering him 5 gold.

"Isme, Spectrum, we're going to the Hambley's right now!"

Isme recalls Hambley Farm as one of many; its owner has a reputation for penny-pinching and haggling, but nothing beyond that.

Grump shakily takes it and tries to calm himself.

All a-sprinting thataway?

Isme shrugs again. "Very well."

Yep, seems so.

The group quickly find horses and set off for the southern farmlands, leaving word behind to Hemlock as to where they've gone.

Cantering through outer Sandpoint's roads and trails, they find the usually friendly locals unwilling to chat; given Grump's story it can be guessed why. Eventually the group moves south of Ashen Rise and approaches Soggy River, coming across a tableau of footpaths, dusty tracks hemmed in by fields of corn and other crops, and the Hambley farmstead.

From the group's spot to the north, they can see a scarecrow propped up against the fence along the crops, its sack-cloth head made terrifying by stitching and exposure to the elements.

Map updated

"I suggest we see if there's anyone here before approaching the scarecrow."

She twitters a song.

Careful Teamwork again, +2 Initiative, Perception, Disable Device. They also gain a +2 insight bonus on Reflex saves and to AC against traps and when they are flat-footed.

"We already know that no-one alive... well no-one who would likely be willing to talk peaceably is here any longer. But honestly Isme, a Raven flying overhead couldn't be that strange if you wanted to scout ahead first. Although I'd rather we went in all together."