GM Rednal's Rise of the Runelords: AE (Inactive)

Game Master Rednal

Şenay silently eyed the offering for a long few moments, weighing up both the meat and the giver of meat. The druid's familiar, while very slowly starting to get used to the male's recent regular presence and Zelani's suntime escapades with him, was here entirely and only at Zelani's request, having little interest in most walkers or suntime activities beyond warming and resting to choose to so personally. Flickering tongue and eyes, Şenay eventually reached up to grab the dried meat in their mouth before curling up and swallowing the offering whole without any further comments or movement.

Zelani glanced to the doorway in thought and then back to Koya with a nod. "That's a lot to think about..."

"So be it. I shall hold fast to my quest. However, is there anything you know that might get us started? Any clue, no matter how small or insignificant, could make all the difference." Rixa asks, her mind clearly elsewhere as she processes the harrowing.

"Go see what you have not yet seen." Koya answered, looking into Rixa's eyes. "The fate of the cards is not immutable... but I believe the only way to truly fail would be to simply stop trying. However, for an investigation, it would not be wrong to talk things over with someone who knows the proper way to go about such a thing. New... leads, I believe they call them... may yet be fruitful."

"Do you have any insight as to where we might find these new leads?" Rixa asks hopefully, "I'm afraid that we just don't know where to start from here."

Shalluk nodded, and continued to share the more palatable for snakes bits of his meal with the creature. It was always wise to on the right side of anything venomous.

Zelani considered what Koya said, "We're intending to talk to the Sheriff again..." she thought out loud while thinking on who else they could talk to who would know the proper ways to handle such things.

The snake turned most of their attention to the tent Zelani as Şenay slowly grew more impatient, occasionally being amicable by taking Shalluk's meaty offerings.

Koya laughed. "Talking to the Sheriff probably is the best course of action. I haven't seen much except my tent here." she said, gesturing to the bright colors that surrounded her. "And upon fate itself, of course. One can see many things... but not everything is worth seeing."

Zelani nods with a warmer smile. The last line reminded the Varisian Aasimar of distant memories.

She then pulls 5 gold coins from her purse and adds it to the jar, pocketing the bag as she rises to her feet. "Thank for very much for your time and guidance. I hope it all goes well and worthwhile for you." Zelani saids with a slight nod. In her...extended youth, such partings would likely involve far more huggings and such no matter how little one knew of each other, but this was not then and Koya was not them, fortunately for the fate reader.

Zelani moved to the tent opening, not quite leaving, almost resistant to do so, but motioning to Şenay and Shalluk that their reason for coming here was concluded.

The snake spotted the druid as soon as Zelani came into view, though it is difficult to tell on a snake's features how Şenay felt about any of it. Still by Shalluk for a few moments, once Zelani motioned for them, the snake began moving towards her.

Finishing the last handful of food, Shalluk walked over and nodded to the Aasimars. "'Ind wat yu'" Frowning, Shalluk chewed a moment longer and swallowed. "I'm sorry, mouth was full. Did you both find what you wanted?"

"Thank you for your help, madam." Rixa bows in gratitude as she leaves the tent. Coming outside, she thinks for a moment before responding to Shalluk, "Well.... I'm not entirely sure. Did it help much with our problem at hand? Not quite. But I do think that what we learned will be valuable. And it sounds like this is only the beginning of something far bigger." her mind is still turning over the words of the harrower, If you planned to go about your way after finding this evil, I would suggest you change your plans, for your journey will be much longer than you realized...

Şenay came and laid near Zelani's feet, looking up at the druid as Zelani chuckled softly with a warm smile at Shalluk's minor faux pas.

Considering his question and what Rixa said, Zelani said,"There was a lot of information... that the end result should be for the good was wanted but..." Zelani sighed in thought as her gaze went to the sky, judging the weather and time and such, "I think next is reporting to the Sheriff. I will fill you in on everything after I've thought on it a bit more and we can discuss it all over dinner tonight after that...if you are not too full, Shalluk." she teased, her sparkling brown eyes still on the sky, as were the snake's.

Perception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (16) + 10 = 26

Judging the weather is a Survival check, actually. XD You expect it to be slightly overcast over the next day or so, but rain doesn't seem likely.

Shalluk agreed and added, "My...old...heritage left me hungry a great deal. Some thing don't change, even when I do.". It was true, although Shalluk wasn't if it was simply years of lacking food while not having plenty.

But they had more pressing business, and so the Crossbowman headed to the Sherrif's office to make a summary of their findings...and to see if they could get more information on their few leads. Something undead, most likely a Ghoul, his Misgivings and the Star. It seemed linked, and perhaps the Sherrif could link it.

Survival: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (9) + 9 = 18

Zelani nodded, at least the weather seemed slightly on their side. She bid Koya goodbye once more before crouching down to allow to Şenay to travel up her arm. The snake moved up the druid's swirling tattoo pattern before resting a moment on Zelani's shoulder. The druid rubbed the snake down affectionately while also removing the dust and bits before Şenay slithered into Zelani's cloak and it's many hidden pockets.

With one more glance back to Koya, Zelani went with the others towards the Sheriff's office.

Rixa looks at the sky, but can't figure out the weather unlike her companions. She follows the others to the Sheriff's office, still unsure as to where everything is. Of all the places she's been, Sandpoint is not one of them.

"A ghoul, you say." the Sheriff said grimly. "Interesting... in the bad way, I'm afraid. I have a man in one of the back offices right now. Name of Maester Grump, works on one of the farms outside down. He's barely holding onto his wits right now - came into town babbling about some kind of walking scarecrows at the old Hambley farm. If there's an undead walking about, I'd like to ask you... three..." he looked at Rixa for a moment, eyes coming to rest on her holy symbol of Shelyn, "...to look into that. Given what you did to those goblins, I suspect this will be well within your abilities. I'd like to send some men with you, but I dare not leave the town unguarded if the dead have risen from their graves. Or worse, been called from them. If you see something too much for you to handle, don't try to be heroes. We can get the priests to be with you for a time if we really need to make some sort of strike force."

Rixa's eyes become hard, "I wouldn't have it any other way. I am Shelyn's shield and sword. It is my sacred duty to protect others. The undead will be purged through sacred blade and fire. This I swear, no one shall be harmed from this plague if I have anything to say about it. Scarecrows walking about.... I wonder what that might represent." her hand drifts to her massive sword, "But they fall just like any other source of Evil in the world. There is no quarter for the undead and their ilk that cannot be turned to the light of good."
then her eyes return to normal, and Rixa's voice becomes soft and musical again, "The Hambley farm?" she looks at her companions, "Not entirely sure where that is, but I suppose that's our next stop."

I'm starting to think that Sarenrae might be a better fit for Rixa's personality. Ah well, Shelyn also fits I guess.

Shalluk watched Rixa in slight alarm as the Aasimar declared her evil destroying ways, well aware that many saw Tieflings as such...before once again forcibly reminding himself that he wasn't a Tiefling anymore. So far none had wished to kill him, even with his new connection to the Shadow Plane, but...

"Yes," Shalluk added slightly weakly. "I'm afraid I don't know that one either."

Zelani nodded along with the Sheriff's words, her eyebrows raising at Rixa's passionate reply as Zelani's mind spun.

[b]"Getting a map with the farm and sighting marked if possible will help us plan. Do you think Maester Grump would be up to talking with us? Giving him reassurances and...checking on his wellbeing and if he has further information that could help us before we leave would be good, I think..." said with a glance to Shalluk, the events with the man with ghoul fever earlier running through Zelani's mind.

"No one being harmed, including you." the Sheriff said in response to Rixa's statement. "I'm sure your lady will not object to teamwork and good strategy when facing a scourge... assuming, of course, that's what this really is. I've already got one of my men preparing a map out front - he was with me when I talked to Mr. Grump, and it'll have the best sighting locations we could figure out. Fellow's at the very end of his wits, I'm afraid... but he does have them, still, and you're welcome to talk to him yourself if you wish. Do be gentle, though. He's frightened, and more pressure is not what he needs right now."

"Of course, Sherriff," Shalluk responded with a nod. "We have no intention of any us coming to harm, and will certainly treat Master Grump as gently as possible. Such an event as this would be a harrowing experience for anyone." Shalluk was quite certain he didn't like the idea of it happening to him, that was certain.

Zelani agreed with Shalluk, "True, hopefully our reassurance of looking into it will help give him a bit of ease after such a horrid time. We'll talk to him briefly while the map is being finished." Zelani said with her more typical sparkling smile.

Sorry for the delay.

"Of course, sir. I'll be careful." Rixa gives the sheriff a reassuring nod, "Thanks you for all your assistance"

The aging man you were shown to jerked upright as he saw you - and you didn't even need to ask him any questions before he started babbling. "You! You! Listen to me! The scarecrows, they're walking, I tell you! It ain't right, it ain't right at all! And the folk there looked like death itself, but fed like starving animals!"

Rixa tries to calm the man, "We know. We're here to take car of that, okay? That's my job, to make things right. Can you show us where to go?"
Diplomacy: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (18) + 10 = 28

Zelani nodded along with Rixa's words. "I am Zelani, this is Rixa and Shalluk," she introduced, gesturing slightly as she carefully looked at the man. "It must have been horrible seeing such things, I hope they haven't harmed you. The Sheriff asked us to look into this for you and everyone, we wanted to check on you after all you have been through and give you our reassurances while the Sheriff's people finish the map..." Zelani said, voice soothing and full of concern as she tried to show many were working to help the man's situation...though more focused on checking the man's well-being.

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (13) + 12 = 25
Perception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (20) + 10 = 30

Shalluk nodded his head at the introduction but focused his attention looking for wounds or signs that the man had been infected with Ghoul Fever. He had been too late to help the man in the Asylum, but if this man was infected then it might be possible to save him...

Perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (7) + 9 = 16
Heal: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (20) + 8 = 28

The man didn't look injured - physically, at least, given his current mental condition.

"It's been all wrong for a few days, and the old Hambley place is the center of it all." Grump said, shuddering. "Down by the western edge of the Whisperwood, it is. Weird things in the forest there, the likes of which good folk ought'n't have to deal with, and the farms there've been abandoned for awhile now. Or were abandoned, at least."

"Yes, the Whisperwood is...challenging." Shalluk considered. It seemed unlikely to be a coincidence that the killings and the events would start happening so close together. "Could you tell us about the Hambley place? Is it a farm of some kind?"

Relief filled Zelani as Maester Grump seemed unharmed and, so far, unconnected to other events...though the timing. Zelani looked to the others as she listened to Maester Grump talk...

Rixa nods, thinking, "Thanks for your help. Where, exactly, do we need to go? We'll make sure that good people don't need to worry about the wrongness anymore."

"Course it's a farm. Or was a farm, leastaways." the old man said. "Now it's cursed, I tell ya! Wouldn't settle there for anything. Better to get a place that's safe, where the scarecrows stay put like they're supposed to."

As for 'where'... note that they are making you a map. XD

Shalluk nodded. A farmhouse could still be very large, not to mention the outlying buildings. "Thank you. Could you tell us anything about the farmhouse or the creatures you've seen? Have you seen anything other than these...scarecrows?" What could look like scarecrows? Some kind of disguised construct? An undead? It was hard to say.

Ah right, forgot that bit. In that case, I'm running out of questions to ask; ready to move on whenever.

Zelani nodded in agreement with the man - scarecrows should stay still and the druid liked her little home near the woods, part of its charm was safety and current lack of sudden horrible things.

She glanced to Shalluk, listening to his questions and waited for Maester Grump to respond.

"Do I look like I got anywhere close? I'd be dead!" Grump yelped. "Farms are all pretty straightforward, though. Lots of fields, paths between them, all linking up 'round their central buildings. Not too hard to navigate... unless the scarecrows get you!"

"Of course," Shalluk replied, nodding. "Thank you for what the information. And we shall endeavor to make sure such creatures harm no one." He wondered if he should prepare fire arrows. Such monsters might be weak to such, if they had actual straw as a component of their make up. He glanced at the others. "Shall we grab the map and get going?"

Still ready to continue.

Zelani nodded in agreement to Shalluk before she gave a short bow to Maester Grump. "Yes, as Shalluk said, thank you for your time, we appreciate it and hope to help put this behind everyone soon. I will make sure you are updated on what is going on." with a warm smile.

Stepping towards the door, she glanced to the others, "Are there other supplies or such that either of you think we shall need?"

"Yes, thank you for your time, mister Grump." Rixa says as they leave, then, after rifling through her backpack for a few seconds, says to her companions, "Actually, I could use a few flasks of holy water. I'll run over to the temple and grab some really quick. Be right back."
She runs off, her armor not seeming to slow her down in the slightest.

Buying three flasks of holy water. Gear updated accordingly.

Buying the holy water was easy enough - churches tended to have them in-stock and were happy to sell them at-cost - and it wasn't long before Rixa returned with her new items. Going by the map you'd been given, it looked like your destination was quite some ways to the south - well past the sanatorium, as it happened, and down the Lost Coast Road. If you left now, it would be nighttime when you actually arrived.

"What do you all say?" Rixa asks, "I'm not really scared of the dark, so I could go at night. Or, we can wait until morning. I'll let you two decide."

A smile pulled at the Lunar Guardian's lips, "I enjoy the night, though whether facing whatever is at the farm at night or without resting first after such a...long day is more the question for me..." she said, considering while looking over to Shalluk. "How are you feeling?"

"I feel fine," Shalluk replied with a small smile. "More interestingly, none of us require light. Although there is a chance any enemy in the area will have the same ability, it does offer a stealthier option. I would suggest leaving now. If it's more than a few minutes, I can take us there with an Astral Caravan." It was easier than dealing with the roads, anyway.

After consideration, Zelani nodded in agreement, holding out the map to look it over. "It's farther south than we were earlier, so Astral Caravan may be a good idea...with everything going on, we should likely avoid lingering on the roads."

"Astral caravan? What's that? It sounds interesting." Rixa takes a look at the map, "But it does look to be a ways away. If it'll get us there quickly, I'm all for it."

"It is a gift from being an Oracle," Shalluk replied. "It allows me and others to travel...between...this place and another, where things move faster. An hour would see us travel 50 miles."

You don't need that much range - it's about five miles straight, somewhat longer along the roads.

Even better! We'll just head that way, then. I say roads.

Quick walk awaaaaay!