Seelah nods her thanks to Kyra, then strides forward, ready to protect the boy.
"Oh my," Jirelle murmurs, drawing her rapier and rushing at the oversized scorpion. As she approaches, she makes a lunge with the blade, seeking to draw its attention.
The scorpion swings around and goes after its source of pain.
Continuing to go after it grasped prey.
Combat Order:Round 1
Bold May Act
Merisiel
Jirelle
Jean
Quinn
Kyra
Creature
Hakon
Young Male
Kyra says another blessing to Sarenrae, to guide her companions blows, then moves onto the steps drawing her rapier, ready to help out if she has to.
Hakon was too far away to get into melee and attack, but plays a mighty blast on his horn and rushes forward to get close.
The horn is a magical call to battle and rage: Raging Song/Inspired Rage. You may all either choose to accept or not accept the rage.
The young male cautiously strikes out at the beast.
Combat Order:Round 2
Bold May Act
Merisiel
Jirelle
Jean
Quinn
Kyra
Creature
Hakon
Young Male
Seelah steps in and takes a swing.
Merisiel lashes out with her rapier, seeking a hole in the beast's carapace.
Quinn moves across the creature, trying to provide room for Merisiel. He jabs his sword cane at the scorpion.
Yelping in pain, Jirelle remarks, "Well, I do believe I have its attention!" She attempts to stab at it again.
The beast receives the brutal beating, but refuses to let go of its prey.
Sensing that its prey is out of the fight, the beast drops it from its claws.
Combat Order:Round 2
Bold May Act
Merisiel 16 dmg
Jirelle
Jean
Quinn
Kyra
Creature
Hakon
Young Male
Rage continuing, Hakon steps forward and attacks, though because of the difficult terrain it will not be a full attack. +1/+1 rage, +1/+0 bless
If by any chance he misses he will cast timely inspiration to add +1 to the to hit roll.
Hakon swings and the beast comes crashing down from the number of wounds sustained.
As the creature falls, the young male hoots and hollers to himself.
He walks to the new comers, "Well thanks for the assist, but I had that creature handled long before you showed up"
“Brave adventurers!” A deep voice cuts through the dry air. Strangely, it seems to originate with the jeweled sword in Aayef’s hand. “I am Soldier’s Glory, servant of the noble bastions of the Last Azlanti. Identify yourselves!”
Kyra steps forward to attend to Jirelle's wounds and make sure she is not poisoned.
Then frowning at the lack of effect, she channels a few times to heal even more.
"Hakon, skald from the north and seeker of stories. Have you a story to tell me?!"
"Aayef, I presume? You're lucky we found you. My name is Quinn. Your mother sent us, both for you and the sword." He shifts to address the sword directly. "I am Quinn, a lawman of sorts. I'm here to seek out the truth. Did you ever belong to a woman named, Honaria?"
Of course you did... Merisiel replies as she cleans the bug innards from her blade. I am Merisiel, sent here to find Aayef by his mother.
Jirelle groans and clambers to her feet. "Did we win?" she mutters.
"You may call me Glory. I may have many stories. I have been in existence for many years. And yes I did belong to Honaria once long ago. But what does she have to do about this?
At this point Ayef starts up, "Well you found me. Now when you return, you can tell mother that I am fine"
Seelah bows to Glory.
"Pleased to meet you. As to why we are seeking you, well, a descendant of Honaria is seeking to reinstate her noble family; we were hoping that you could help list some of her outstanding deeds."
She then turns her attention to Ayef.
"Ayef, please come back with us; you mother is extremely worried."
"Ayef, your mother is worried sick, and you could have died just now. Please, come back with us. If you truly wish to try adventuring, we can introduce you to the local Pathfinder Society guild. They can teach you, show you how to supply yourself appropriately, and you can even find others who will travel with you. Going alone can be very perilous."
"Just what has this sword been telling you? Why do I get the impression that this sword has been urging your natural inclinations towards glory? A sword like that, from what I've heard, may be quite persuasive. And the name? Glory? Can you say AGENDA? Now I am a man all for glory, but frankly kid that beast was a bit dangerous for any one of us alone to take on. The sword had nothing to lose, but you? Tell me I got it wrong. Tell me that the sword did not goad you into this."
Jirelle remains silent, letting the others speak while she recovers from her brush with death.
"The sword did not persuade me one way or the other. It was my choice to strike out on my own. Glory. just had faith in me with whatever I did, and she helped me out when I needed it. But if you say my mother is so worried, I shall return with you to ease her mind."
Glory's voice calls out again. "You should not judge him so rash, were you not young once and willing to do anything you had to do to prove yourself to you family or friends."
"As a skald, I can certainly relate. Thanks for the reassurement. Speaking of honor, did you know that the Alcasti name has been dragged through the mud? I think you were there at the time. The families critics claim that Alcasti was to blame for some bad stuff that went down, but the family hopes that some information would come to light about the incursion into the Wildwood that would clear his name. His reputation is at stake and the family just can not see how an honorable man like him could possibly commit the atrocities he is accused of. They have sent us to talk to an ancient tree which then led us to talk to you. Can you help?"
Quinn nods at Hakon's words. "Plus, this is a chance for you to tell the stories of glory that you and Honaria witnessed together. I'm sure there are many great tales. You can tell us all the adventures and battles that Honaria took part in."
"If her honor is in question, then I shall see to it, that it be restored. Hurry up and bring me to this Remaio at once." The sword says and then goes silent for the rest of the journey.
The trek back to the palace is uneventful. When Ayef walks through the main doors, his mother rushes to him and embraces him.
Lady Ghazali keeps her word and allows you to take the sword.
Once the sword is in Remaio's possession, he ask the PC's if the rumors were true about the sword. The sword unwilling to wait to be answered for, begins speaking to him about Honaria's accomplishments.
Dearest colleagues,
I just received a letter from my cousin Vereena. She’s the only family member who is as interested as I am in the cause of restoring my ancestor Honaria’s good name. Vereena keeps a wonderful collection—you could even call it a museum—of our family history. She curates paintings, heirlooms, and old records from the Alcasti glory days. I don’t know how she manages the hobby with what I imagine is backbreaking labor on her farm, especially at her age.
At any rate, she stumbled across something remarkable: letters and a diary written by Honaria herself! She hasn’t had time to read it all, but she says it’s about the war, and it looks promising.
I won’t ask her to make the trip herself, so I have a favor to ask of you. Travel to her farm in Andoran and bring back the documents. I wrote that you are coming. I don’t have time to wait for such a busy woman to find the time to write back to me, but I assure you, she loves visitors.
Sincerest thanks,
Remaio Alcasti
Remaio provides the PCs with a map of Andoran’s countryside and pays for their transportation costs. After traveling by boat to Almas, Andoran’s capital, the PCs journey via west carriage across the Carpenden Plains, along increasingly narrow roads. Along the way, they pass dozens of small farming villages. Vereena’s homestead is isolated, several miles from the nearest village. The final stretch of the PCs’ journey takes them on footpaths that are barely wide enough for a single horse, let alone a carriage.
Fields of overgrown crops surround a squat, shingle-roofed farmhouse. A pair of clay pots filled with cheerful yellow marigolds stands to either side of the house’s front door. Broken boards covered in graffiti are nailed over the door and windows.
You approach the house from the west, and see a single door. On the door you see the same writing that is on the windows.
Quinn eyes the sign as they approach. "I don't quite read Draconic, but the message is clear. It seems whoever lives there does not care for visitors." He glances around the house. "If someone lives here at all. Other than the flowers, it would seem to be abandoned."
Undetered, he walks up tot he door and knocks loudly. "Vereena? Remaio Alcasti has sent us!"
No one answers the door when you call. The door is made of wood and could be broken down. The locks are rusty but still look like the can be picked.
That lock doesn't look that hard....give me a minute or two... Merisiel says as she breaks out her tools and starts working on the lock.
"Certainly seems like mixed messages." Kyra concedes, as Quinn explains the sign.
"Though why would someone right it a language none of the locals could read?" She adds. "Unless its meant for someone else."
"Or written by someone else, I suppose."
"Perhaps there's another door?"
Yes, you may walk around the house if you choose. Just place your token where you want to investigate.
Merisiel hears the lock click as the last tumbler falls into place. The door is now open.
What are we doing. Going inside or investigating the rest of the outside before heading in.
Hakon will go in, blowing his horn for one round of rage just in case.
Merisiel tosses the lock to the side and opens the door. She looks at the rest if the group expectantly.
Shall we? as she heads in.
Quinn looks at Merisiel with a shake of his head as she violates the laws to enter the home. "Remember that we are guests here. We are not here to harm her." He follows the others inside.
Thick rugs cover baseboards worn smooth by years of occupation. An unfinished meal sits on a polished oak table. Broken dishes and overturned bookshelves chairs clutter the floor. Books and sheaves of parchment are stacked haphazardly in and around the fireplace, some charred beyond recognition.
Once inside you see a door to the north and the opening to another room on the east.
Kyra frowns in concern. "That does not look good." she says.
"Clearly a struggle." She adds, as she examines the food on the table.
"Hey, does this look familiar to you guys?"
He lifts a stack of papers and shows one of them with a familiar seal.
"There seems to be a bunch like this - oh, and here is a journal!"
Hakon passes out the letters and starts reading the Journal, provided he can read the language it is written in.
"Well, it looks like we found what we came for, but something still seems a little... off... about this place."
"So where's Vereena?" Kyra asks the obvious question.
Kyra will ignore the journal and papers, until they've at least established that the old woman is not in the house.