As they pass the girls, Arigoder shudders, and whispers to the group, "Is all of Ravengro this morbid?"
Before the day Kayela awakens early and begins her usual routine of sharpening her daggers with her whetstone as she periodically casts mage hand to stir a pot of oatmeal and brew a kettle of coffee.
She makes enough food & coffee for the rest of the party and shares it with them as they discuss their plans for the day. After deciding to split up she'll suggest that they meet at the Laughing Demon afterward for drinks and to celebrate professor Lorrimors life. Before leaving she applies some perfume to herself while forgoing her usual face-paint and make-up and sets out the door with Arigoder & Darcy.
Upon encountering the children she winces in pain for a moment at the sight of the children and her eye brow arches intrigued at the lines "Watch the blood come out the pipe. Feeds the stirge, so nice and ripe.".
She whispers back to Arigoder "Where ah grew up children no youngar den 10 winters often aid in preparing deh dead bodies of our fallen fa funeral rites...dese games seem cheery compared tah deh games I grew up playing"
She prays to herself in Shoanti, .
Kayelah approaches the children beaming in Varisian "Wah dat was ah beautiful song you all was singan...ahn your skip rop'in was so well timed! Where did such prettay little girls learn such ah song? I'll give yah each a few coppers to buy ah few sweets if yah tell meh were ya first heard it an' don be lettin yah parents know yar lettin strangars be spoilin yah"
After the Battle - "Did you see that"? "I hit it full on with an arrow, and it shrugged it off like it was a flea bite". "I don't want to mess around with those things".
In regards to the Tavern Before the sentence is even finished Darcy is off to the Tavern, and drinks herself silly.
Back to the present Darcy helps with the research as much as her hangover permits.
Arigoder nods at Kayla and smiles, "Your childhood sounds almost as fun as mine."
He deliberately stands back from the girls when she approaches, Let's not have them running home telling tales of the scarred man offering them candy.
Akydi rises early and assists Kendra in any chores around the house the two old friends taking comfort in spending time around each other, doing tasks that come natually to them.
Before setting out for the day, Akydi takes out his Harrow Deck "Let's see what the cards have in store for me today" And draws one card
Kayela ruffles one of the childrens hair and generously gives each of them 2 silver pieces, "Nah don be tellin yah parents, go an enjoy some sweets" she says with a smile.
She then accompanies Arigoder and Darcy to the Unfurled Scroll, saying to Arigoder. "Ah yes, bot even wit dah comforts ah dese lands and it's harshness I still remember mah home quite fondly" with a sad sigh.
She smiles as they walk, "Perhaps later tonight I might ply you wit enough liquor tah tell mah how ya got dem scars" she says out of the blue as they walk. She begins to whistle idly as they continue.
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When their parents can afford to spare them from the farms, a few “lucky” children are sent to study under Alendru Ghoroven, a retired wizard-turned-teacher. Alendru teaches reading, history, and math, as well as beginning magical theory. He seeks to elevate “the commoners,” though few of his pupils enjoy the strictness of his classes.
In addition to teaching, Alendru supplements his income by buying and selling minor magic items (primarily scrolls) that he’s purchased or created. He offers many 1st- through 3rd-level scrolls for sale, along with a fair number of low-priced magic items.
More importantly, he also has an archive of books on local history.
For a fee of 10 gp, he will let you peruse them.
Kayela
Darcy
Arigoder
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Your gold pays off as on the first day there you find this nugget of information:
The Mosswater Marauder (Ispin Onyxcudgel):
Only 5 years before his hometown of Mosswater was destined to be overrun and ruined by monsters from the nearby river, Ispin Onyxcudgel was a well-liked artisan and a doting husband. When he discovered his wife’s infidelity, he f lew into a jealous rage and struck her dead
with his hammer, shattering her skull and his sanity with one murderous blow. Wracked with shame and guilt, Ispin became convinced that if he could rebuild his wife’s skull she would come back to life—but unfortunately, he could not find the last blade-shaped fragment from the murder site. So instead, Ispin became the Mosswater Marauder. Over the course of several weeks, the cunning dwarf stalked and murdered nearly 20 people while searching for just the right skull fragment. He was captured just before murdering the daughter of a visiting nobleman from Varno, and was carted off to Harrowstone that same night.
Arigoder nods to Kayela and says, "Aye, maybe... if you're buying. Though I warn you, these are two sets of scars, each with their own story."
Kayela nods in reply to Arigoder, "Ah I am always up fah buying a gentleman ah stiff drink." she then causally points to the jagged scar that runs down her eye "Not ah strong very interestin one bahind mine, simply got et killin dah wat remained o mah family" she continues to whistle casually as if what she just said was simply no more than a passing thought.
She replies with a coy smile, "I might be plied ta tell ya more ovar drinks....if yah buy'n" and continues to whistle as they continue on.
Kayela will inquire about what the magical shop owner has for sale before leaving as well as refill any spell components she needs along with picking up a bag of course sand. She discusses the groups findings as they go to meet the rest of the group at the Laughing Demon tavern.
She whistles idly as they walk obviously unable to get the song the children where singing earlier out of her head occasionally whispering a morbid line under her breath in her usual accent.
Upon mention of the flesh golem manual Kayela suddenly becomes dour and her eyebrow arches, "Nevermind yah offering to peddle such a heretical tome, Mah I ask how ag man of yah stature acquired such ah vile item yah seem tah be...quite eager tah sell it fa dat price. Surely you did'ant pen its wickedness" she subtly rest her hand on the handle of her morningstar with unease.
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"Well.... uh... the person who sold it to me did not go into details, but I got the impression he was on hard times and needed the money desperately. I offered all I had available at the time. I also don't think he was aware of the value. As to the "vileness" of the item young lady, it is a magical text of knowledge. There is no evil in it. It is Man that uses knowledge for evil purposes."
You also get the impression that Alendru doesn't realize the true value of the tome as the magic is from one of his prohibited schools.
Clearly disagreeing with the old wizard Kayela nods in her most polite fashion and asks to examine the tome. She'll look for any identifying marks linking the manual to either the palpatine eye, whispering way, Lorrimor, or any marks that might identify its previous owner before handing it back over to Alendru.
Without any more delay she'll head off in the direction of the tavern. Presumably along with Darcy and Arigoder.
Arigoder stands back, his head cocked slightly as Kayela attack Alendru. She has a strong will and a sense of right. I am pleased to see it. He smiles cruelly behind her as the man starts to sputter, and leans forward to whisper "I believe you may have just put the fear of the gods into that man.."
He says little else, trying to keep what they had just learned straight in his head while catching small snippets of the children's song as he walks to the tavern and shaking his head. She is most... peculiar...
Later, upon being presented with a mug of dark beer from Kayela, Arigoder rubs the old scars on his face, then points at those on his hands, and pulls his shirt aside to show that they continue across his torso and back. "My story is likely not as interesting as yours. These scars, the older, most plentiful ones, come from being the toy of an Orcish raiding band in my eighth winter. They had taken my mother and sister, and father and I set out to find and rescue them. The rescue did not work so well, they cut him down and then... amused themselves with me for an afternoon. I could tell you the story of each one, if you would like -- they rubbed dirt into the cuts they made on my hands, and they heated their daggers over a torch before the ones on my back, the left ear and the ones now hidden by hair. The worst of those would be the spear through the chest when they bored of me, just below my heart... Had I not been found and tended to, I would have died... and yet, those cuts are not the worst that I have suffered..." His voice trails off and he idly rubs the much more recent scar across his throat.
"Interesting this, 'Father Charlatan.' I wonder how the others have fared?" He ponders his own question before continuing. "Regardless, it is getting late and I suggest we return to the others and see what they have discovered, if anything."
As they leave, Morbury approaches Father Grimburrow, "Thank you, Father, for allowing us to peruse the information on these criminals." A question then surfaces to the forefront of his mind. "Father, being what I am, I have to be careful as to what I use when it comes to the healing of my wounds. Now I know this may seem a bit strange to ask, but, would there be one here that could fashion a healing draught that could actually heal me? For the record, payment is not an issue, I am just curious if it's even a possibility."
"Thank you, Father." He nods in thanks as he takes his leave.
Seeing the creatures practically come out of nowhere, "By the Dawnflower." Morbury mumbles as draws his weapon while looking around at all the citizens, fearful of what might happen to them. Looking back up at the flying creatures, He yells in an attempt to draw their attention.
Kayela's rolls:
Draw morning-star.(Move action)
Kayela gets an annoyed look on her face as she draws her morningstar and prepares herself for a fight.
Upon seeing the winged creatures burst forth, Akydi readies himself for combat.
perception
initiative
Akydi dips a hand in to one of his pockets while running in close to the stirges. When he's within about fifteen feet of them he stops short and tosses a handful of multicolored sand at the foul beasts and says an arcane word of power turning the sand into a rainbow blast. "Whatever you do, don't let these things get ahold of you, or they might suck you dry!" The Varisian shouts.
Seeing one of the creatures head his way, Morbury grabs his shield and prepares to attack when it closes in.
"Watch out" Hasmir cries out to the quartet, as well as to his companions. He hastily reaches for his bow and shoots at the nearest stirge.
Darcy draws her bow, and an arrow in one swift motion, then sights down on the remaining creature.
PBS Shortbow attack
Shortbow damage
Arigoder winces as the Stirge reaches out to hit him, and swings his battle axe in an arc in an attempt to cut the beast down before it drains away his blood.
I'd like to amend my actions if possible:
Draw Morning-star (Move Action). *Two-handed
5-foot step. towards a stirge grappling an ally *Preferably Darcy as she can't use a bow while grappled. (Free Action)
Attack Stirge: Damage: (Standard Action)
(Swift Action)
Akydi draws one of his daggers and tosses it at the stirge clinging to Morbury
Feeling the nasty sting of the creature, Morbury attempts to kill it, while at the same time, hoping he doesn't cut himself.
Hasmir can always shoot the last one with his bow during round 2, so I'll throw a reroll his way if he wants it.
After the creatures are dealt with, Morbury approaches Akydi. "Thank you, Akydidyka. I am grateful." He stops and thinks a moment. "I am unfamiliar with common phrases but I believe the one I am looking for is: 'I owe you one'." He nods in thanks as he checks and makes sure the cowl of his cloak is pulled over sufficiently. He then follows the others into the tavern.