1. GM Edwin's Zeitgeist Campaign

Game Master Insnare

He left the totems in one of his trunks in your compartment and it is open.

A few minutes later you hear a knock on the door. "Mr. Dewir and Mulheer, I have come with your lunch compliments of Monsignor Jierre."

Why thank you. please send our regards back to Monsignor Jierre. he nods next to him

you can leave the plates here. thank you

Falko.. plz have the toucan totem. Angus will take the Piranha totem

once the person has left angus will cast a detect poison

Isaac says, "I think our main concern is not give up our cover. If we start breaking into all of the cabins during the day, we definitely will be discovered. If we are to do anything we should probably wait until this evening. We have tossed our lamp out so this deed cannot happen to us. If they knew who we in actuality are, they would have took action against us already."

"I understand that, but does it mean we let whatever nefarious plot they're conjuring go forward? I'm not saying it's wrong. On the one hand, our duty clear, but one the other hand, people could die... I'm hoping we can figure a way to keep true to our mission, while helping people in danger. This we've done already, with the slave, and now with the Grientos..."

"I think our best bet is to have a look at that locomotive... It is an engine, so it stands to reason that it may serve as an engine for the effect, no? But how do we access it?"

Angus

Isaac says, "The safest bet would still be to try it after Griento affair but you could probably walk to the front of the train and ask for a tour."

Is Grientos in the room with us? For some reason that's unclear. I don't think he is, I just wonder how I'm supposed to talk to him if he's not in the cabin, and also why he left the tokens in the cabin with us.

"That's a wonderful idea! I will do exactly that. Now, I need someone to help me... I will need a diversion in order to inspect the locomotive more freely. Anyone wants a tour? In fact, I'm the bodyguard, so I should be with someone in charge..."

"I would be happy to request a tour of the locomotive."

Iva suddenly slouches, and a insipid look comes over her face. "This train is so very boring. No entertainments at all. I want to see the locomotive. That sounds interesting. I'm certain Daddy would allow me to see it if he was here. Falko make it happen."

"This locomotive is not as fun as I thought it would be. What does this switch do? What about this one?" She makes a motion of reaching for switches.

She sits back up in her usual square shouldered posture, her intelligence showing once again on her face. "Do you think that would work?"

Falko and Iva speak with Xorin Marchand the conductor and he brings them forward through the second class cabins These cars have five rooms with seating for six apiece, slightly spacious leg-room, and minor furniture. Each car has a restroom at front and back. A militia member named Grason stands guard between the second class cars and the first-class cars.

In the first of the second class cars the Verzubak approaches you and says while rolling dice in a cup, "Mr. de Nevereth, who is this lady you are bringing with you?"

"Mrs. Burnett, please meet Menya Zobut Verzubulak Krantovich Tantalovich. Mr. Tantalovich, please meet Parthena Burnett. She's the Legal for the archaeological team. I'm giving her a tour of the train. I see you're off to a game. Should I wish you luck, or is there no such thing?" Gauthier says in a pleasant demeanour, though he remembers quite well the man collapsing dead after an altercation with the Dwarf.

Menya Zobut means "my name is" in Drakran or Russian

Verzubulak says, "Ha, this is just a nervous thing of mine. Tonight should be most interesting, the casinos in Nalaam are some of the most famous and I want to try my hand and hopefully win big. So what are you looking to dig up, it must be fascinating." as he looks at the results in the cup.

Gauthier shrugs: "Ugly pottery from the 'Age of Bullshit'? Beats me. I'm Muscle, she's Legal. If you're really interested, you can ask the good professors. I made that mistake once. Still numb, and yet, can't remember a thing!" he replies, panface, then laughs.

Alistair turns to Angus as Falko and Iva depart the cabin. "I hope they're successful in their tour. Might I ask - what are these animals that you all seem to be wearing? And would you like to accompany me on my trip back to my cabin? I'd like to investigate one of those lamps."

Ivan bows to Mr. Tantalovich. "Dobryy vecher. Mne priyatno s vami poznakomit'sya. Vy ot Ber? YA provel tam nekotoroye vremya. YA nashel ucheniye Khayda Eshatkhola samym interesnym. Vy sledite za nimi?" he switches back to Common. "I'm here to make sure the legalities are observed. I do not know what we might be digging up, as you say."

they are a present from Damata Grietos. we kinda helped that family and these totemic symbols make us honorary membres of their clan. Each represent a different aspects he says getting up ready to accompany him to his cabine

The dwarf says, "I am from Drakr, Mirsk originally. I think Heid has some valid points but I would not consider myself a follower. Interesting"

Isaac says, "They are not gifts per se, but rather loaned items that we have been permitted to use to help Senór Griento with his problem this evening."

"Mr. Griento, with your permission, I am an employee of Mr. Mulheer. It would be my honor and privilege to use one of your heirlooms in the defense of your family."

Alistair reaches for the Pangoling totem, taking it if My. Griento doesn't object. Upon retrieving and affixing the item to his lapel, he will accompany Angus back to his own cabin in Second-Class.

"What is interesting sir?"

Griento is not in the compartment with you, you would need to knock on his compartment door and speak with him.

The dwarf chuckles and says, "Earlier, I ran into a bespectacled man wearing mage armor as if something bad was going to happen again. This is a very odd train ride I must say."

"Perhaps he felt it was best to be prepared. Being prepared for what might go wrong lowers the chance that things will end prematurely. Wouldn't you agree? I will keep an eye out for him. If trouble is following him, he might be the cause of the premature end of some business of mine." she smiles and looks to Falko. "Mr. de Nevereth, I believe we were off to inspect the locomotive, before we met this interesting gentleman. We should get back to it."

Do I think he's referring to Alistair or someone else?

Ah, okay. I asked about that, but never got an answer. I'll skip the totem, then, and head to the cabin with Angus

I thought you were being funny. Two posts before I had written that he had left the trunks within the compartment, but no big deal. @Iva You wouldn't necessarily know that it was Alistair because he is not the only one wearing glasses.

Falko and Iva, The dwarf nods as you walk away. You make your way through the 2nd class, the common dining area and then the common car. You can see they have not had the opportunity to switch out the cars and you can see the battle damage from the malice beast from the day before. You finally to the cargo and then the locomotive car. The engineer is there shoveling firegems instead of coal. Falko notices that the fuel has changed since the beginning of the journey.

The engineer says as he notices you, "How may I help you today?"

Angus and Alistair, you make your way back to Alistair's compartment and your sharer says in primordial "Well Arlind, I was going to call the security to look for you, I thought you may have fallen through the lavatory."

"I wished to see the locomotive. I've never seen one before. What type of fuel is that?" Iva moves to where the firegems are piled, and points to them. Moving away from Falko, and trying to draw the engineer's attention.

The engineer turns to Iva and says, "These are firegems, they are far more energy efficient than coal but within the Malice Lands they become way too unpredictable and the Danorans aren't able to manufacture them either."

Falko will take advantage of the distraction to inspect on his own.

Stealth with Heroism: 1d20 + 10 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 10 + 2 = 14

Perception with Heroism: 1d20 + 14 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 14 + 2 = 34

Well you shouldn't worry. i had him rescued he says with a large gring

Isaac was fiddling with the pangolin he picked up and follows the others out of their cabin. Once out he says "Have we checked to see if the hardware in the public places are the same as those in our room? Being a tinkerer myself I just have this fascination with all made things. I wonder if these out here were made by the same company?" He then stops at the next lamp and looks for the mark.

Falko, are you casting Detect Magic?

The compartment mate of Arlind says, "Ok"

Isaac checks the first lamp he sees which is situated at the lavatory in second class. Flipping it over he sees the mark exactly where it was found before.

If I can, yes, along with detect planar energy.

Engineer Perception 1d20 - 5 ⇒ (11) - 5 = 6 for being distracted.

Falko

After the tour, Iva and Falko make their way back to the Second class section of the train.

Chretien

"What is next?" Iva asks Falco as they return to the second class section.

"I sneak back in and try to study what is going on there. I detected planar energies from multiple sources. First, we check with the others to see what they think of this. Once we get a better idea on how to deal with it, I make my way back and try to neutralize that thing." Falko replies as they reach their cabin. Once inside, he relates what he's found.

Please read spoiler above.

"So there's planar energy seeping from the smokestack. I could discern Mavisha, Jiese, and Nem, at least. There were others even, but I couldn't make them out. Now what does that mean?! How do we remove those marks, if we can reach them, and how do I get up on that smokestack without turning into smoked bacon?!"

After hearing Falko's news, Isaac adds in, "I check one of the lamps in the second class lavatory and found the same mark we had in here. I'm not sure how we can get rid of all of those marks. The best course may be to get rid of the ones in the smokestack and maybe the rest will deactivate. Can any of you dispel the runes? Or maybe erase them with a spell?"

"Is the smokestack in use when the train is at a station? From a physical perspective it might be less dangerous to study when the train is not moving. One consideration for examining the stack at a station is there could be more people about who could see someone climbing on the engine."

WIs/INt DC 5

Int: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7

"We need a way to either make them stop the furnace, which they didn't do last time they stopped at an enclave, or to be able to withstand the heat..."

Chretien

Falko

"No wait, come to think of it, they do stop the furnace, but only when we spend the night in an enclave. How far is the next one again?"

Cretien moves to find Angus as soon as possibly, notifying him that he has an issue to be discussed in private. He then shows Angus the letter.

"I don't know when we stop at the next enclave. That would be a good time to examine the stack. Should a distraction be required I would be happy to help provide one."

"Very well. But we still need to find how to erase those marks. We can't throw the smokestack overboard..."

I am going to push it forward because the conversation between Cretien and Angus can take place at anytime between here and Nalaam or even in the hotel and the smokestack won't be cool enough to get near until after 10pm anyway or so.

The train has been in essence following the coast the entire trip but then around 4pm the train tracks move further inland and off in the distance you can see the outlines of the snowy Penance Peaks as you steam closer as time passes. The train gains altitude into the mountains and Nalaam is purported to be at 2500 meters above sea level. A veritable winter wonderland surrounds the train.

Fifteen minutes outside of Nalaam, Malia politely reminds you to please return to your seats. More than other cities on the route, Nalaam is renowned for its tricky thieves. She suggests you keep an eye on your personal effects, to make sure no one hops on board in the commotion and nicks your valuables. Nalaam, a city founded upon a wellspring of magical energy, and controlled by a cabal of powerful wizards, announces its presence with light brighter and more colorful than the sunset. In the shadows of the surrounding mountains, the lights of this infamous den of iniquities hide many crimes and cruelties the rest of the world forbids. As the train pulls into the enclave, you are dazzled by the gilded, glittering spectacle. Throngs of people ply business and pleasure out of polished marble carves and atop bizarre structures built in the shapes of arches, trees, even dragons. Above it all rises the Grand Casino, a tower of endless games of chance and skill, which generates immense wealth for the archmage lords of the city. Nalaam, with all its temptations, beckons you.

You stow your things in the hotel and await Damat Griento.

Iva stows her belongings in her hotel room, checks to make sure her weapons are hidden, and heads to the lobby to wait for the others to arrive. She sits and observes those around her while she waits.

Perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (18) + 9 = 27

Great description!

The sight of the city reminds Falko of his father. You would have loved a place such as this! You would have thrived here... And Falko would to, if not for the fact that he needed a higher purpose to face life.

He prepares meticulously for the evening, knowing that this Family reunion would prove more deadly than most. He keeps the token under his cloak for now, but his rapier remains well in sight.

Wondering about the magical reputation of the place, Falko twirls his fingers to produce small magical effects, trying to gauge whether they are modified by the arcane energy concentrating here.

Knowledge arcana: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (15) + 10 = 25

He takes a last look at himself before moving to the lobby, making sure he looks the part of the bravado.

Are we still in the Border Lands, or have we crossed into Crisillyir? I've lost track.

You are in the Border Lands.

Iva

Falko

Iva spends some time browsing the most interesting brochures. Skiing sounds like fun, as does the magic shop. I'll have to show that one to my companions. Perhaps they need to purchase magical items or scrolls. Too bad I have no magical aptitude.

Damata Griento comes downstairs and sees Iva and Falko and says, "Did Magistra Yanette send you an invitation for the gladiatorial games too? She generally didn't talk to me during the trip thus far but she did converse with my wife from time to time. My wife told me she was very upset that her ward had been kidnapped but she has an appointment tonight."

"Yes, I got an invitation. I suppose I shouldn't ignore it, but will it conflict with your... our appointment on your behalf?"