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Wasn't expecting this. Well, I guess we will see how good a host the mayor is.
I wonder what the mayor would think of us staying in the abandoned temple?
"I think we best get inside before the larger insects come out." Stali says, swatting at mesquitos. Looking to the mayor, he adds "If you are sure it is no inconvenience. Otherwise, we could stay in the temple." and he gestures towards the old temple of Desna.
He swats at a particularly annoying bug just as the mayor is reacting.
Other children run up to give you hugs, including Krissy and Ornigaard, still clutching Applesauce. “Thanks for all the rides,” Ornigaard says to Gallako, holding his squirming stirge close.
“It was nice having a Grandma.” Krissy holds Andrietta’s hand. “Promise. Promise you not gonna to sneak off in the morning without sayin’ goodbye!”
The Mayor beams at Stali. “My place is much nicer to stay in than the musty old temple. It’s warm and not dusty.”
Meanwhile, the Mayor grabs a lamp and walks you back to Kriegler Manor, where you see Leonard doing some tidying, throwing scraps from the festival into a compost heap in the garden. “What are they doing here?” Leonard asks sourly.
“They’re our guests!” The Mayor responds brightly. “Remember?”
Leonard looks at all of you, scowls, and says, “Whoopty-doo.”
He steps aside and lets you past him, though, as the Mayor escorts you inside, giving you a brief tour. “You’ll have to excuse Leonard... He’s not good with people and sometimes lacks social graces. There’s a reason I’m the politician!” The Mayor pauses, and then starts the tour. “This is the living room, a nice place to relax!”
A large fireplace dominates this cozy and inviting room, warming simple but well-made couches and chairs. A small tabletop shrine contains a large candle, strips of dried flayleaf, and several heavily charred Desna effigies woven from the flayleaf strips.
“Off to the side here is the parlor...” This comfortable room contains richer appointments than the rest of the home, from velvet cushions to the elaborately carved legs of the table and chairs. A large oil painting of Iola Kriegler dominates a single wall—a plaque on the frame identifies her name and role in the village's history. Iola is a handsome woman, with long dark hair and sharp eyes like the Mayor’s. The portrait shows two phantasmal moth wings sprouting from her back, each wing arching over a hooded druid advisor. “Nice piece of art, isn’t it? So fanciful!”
“This little narrow room is a pantry. Should you get hungry, here is where you can find some bread and jam!” Shelves and cubbyholes line this well-stocked pantry. Jarred preserves make up the bulk of the stores, but cured stirges, baskets of dehydrated black mushrooms, and smoked giant tick shanks hang from above.
“Then there’s the dining room...” A large circular table and sturdy, hand-carved chairs dominate this room. A china cabinet along one wall has glass doors covered in a moth motif. It contains lovely glass dishes and glasses, way fancier than anything you have seen in town.
“...and on the other side of the living room fireplace is the kitchen! It’s my favorite room! Leonard and I are just simple homebodies, and we love to cook!” The manor's double-sided fireplace also serves this large kitchen. A large pot with a thick sludge of boiled vegetable matter and a single bowl and spoon are the only items to have seen recent use; the other pans and utensils carry a thin coating of dust. There is a huge wine rack filled with bottles of Galdurian wine, and brandy, though. No dust on any of these.
“Right off the kitchen is my bedroom. You can knock if you need anything.” The door to this room in the Northwest corner of the house is sturdy and locked. He does not show you inside.
“This is our own little library! It is a great place to sit and read, or do accounting, or whatever it is you tax accountants from Magnimar love to do!” The upper balcony overlooks this smaller sitting room, which is dominated by a bookshelf much too big for the meager selection of two dozen books it holds. Among books on horticulture, insect identification, pig breeding and outdated almanacs is a stack of papers bound between wooden slats.
Then he points to the bedroom in the southwest corner. “That’s Leonard’s room. He’s been out of sorts lately. Try not to bother him.” This bedroom is used by Leonard Kriegler, and contains a single bunk bed with two bunks, a rickety dresser, and an uncomfortable chair.
“Last but not least, your own cozy rooms!” The kitchen stairs ascend to the balcony level, which overlooks the manor's lower floors and opens into a wide hallway lined with six identical wooden doors. Each guest room behind these doors is starkly appointed with a single framed bed covered in a thin quilt. A wooden washbasin rests against the wall near a pitcher of smelly water. Four rooms have windows that look out past the barren estate toward the Lampblack.
"Well, that's the tour!" The Mayor excuses himself to putter around this kitchen. You see him grab one of the large bottles of wine, and pour himself a glass as he wanders off to his room. "Get some rest! I am sure we all have exciting accounting matters to attend to in the morning!"
It's about 9:30pm. What do you do?
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Once the mayor is safely out of ear shot, Stali asks "Does anyone know why there is a recurring moth motif? Is that somehow connected to Desna?"
With a scowl, he says "I don't like this. Supposedly Iola was a priestess of Desna, yet the temple looks to be a ruin and I didn't see any religious texts in the library. If we don't want to disappear like others have, best keep alert!"
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All of this is in Tengu
"I noticed several things in the tour of the house that seemed "off" to me, especially for such a remote spot.
There was a REALLY bad smell in Leonards room. Worse even than Vralks robes when he has forgotten to wash them for days.
There looks like there might have been a secret compartment in the china cabinet.
And some of the stuff at the back of the pantry looked really hinky to me.
I agree with Stali that we should stay alert. After everybody has gone to bed we should probably give this place a very thorough search."
Oops. Missed one perception check. Let me fix that now.
You realize that while moths could be a variation of Desna's butterfly, there are other deities that are much darker that also have moths in their backstory. You remember, vaguely, in the back of your mind, something about a Gossamer King named Ghlaunder. An obscure demigod with moth wings who carries the portfolio of infection, parasites and stagnation. He is an enemy of Desna, and his favored weapon is the spear. He favors drinkers of blood and fungoid creatures, and his symbol is a blood-fat mosquito.
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"I would like a look at the library now, before anyone retires. A detour into the dining room seems reasonable as well." Stali replies.
After a brief pause, he adds "It isn't only this house that has my crest up. I think it starts with the Kriegler's, but has spread. I just don't know who is an innocent victim and who is part of the problem."
Stali pulls out the stack of papers in the library. They appear to be rubbings taken from some kind of carving, with all sorts of mosquitoes on them, and a number of drawings of a gaunt figure in a crown with moth wings. They are written in a strange language he does not recognize.
Meanwhile, Chak pulls on the paper. One side of the paper contains an order from the city of Magnimar for the collection of 500 gp in back taxes from Ravenmoor, while on the other is a crude map of Ravenmoor with several buildings circled— the trading post, the weaver, the ferry, and Kriegler Manor.
They are circled in the same ink Elias Kyle used in his letters to his sister.
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Tired from all the days going on, Sarano yawns several times during the tour, happy to finally have a comfortable bed for her, she waves Stali and Chak off, "Ahh whatever it is, I'm sure it can wait till morning, we are here collect taxes not discuss the backwater worshipping of Desna, I'm sure there just mixed up about is it a moth is a butterfly," Yawning once more, Sarano will retire, letting the paranoid ones have their fun.
Chak discovers that the writing is Thassilonian.
It is hard to make out the old writing. Some parts of words are missing, like this rubbing was made off an eroded carving. Still, these appear to be prayers to someone called the Gossamer King. There are also references to how best to worship him. You make out something about being a parasite, hiding amongst the worshippers of another faith?
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"Oh, this may be very, very, very bad. Moths MAY be an obscure reference to Desna but they are also a whole lot of other evil dieties who are much more closely aligned to Moths. There are others but in particular I remember one called Galunder, or something like that. The Gossamer King. Moth wings. He is responsible for parasites, infection, stagnation. He loves drinkers of blood and fungoid creatures.
Which REALLY seems to fit this village, doesn't it?
And while I can't be sure that rubbing REALLY looks like how I remember Galunder being described.
Its too early to jump to conclusions but I'm getting ready to make a running start :-). At the very least we better keep watch together and stick together"
In addition to studying the papers in the library and whispering as you discuss their significance, I believe that some of you wanted to detour into the pantry and dining room, yes?
Leonard comes in from his chores, glares at anyone sitting in the library, but looks too tired to pay much attention to anyone reading. "You lot better not keep me up all night with chirping or cock-a-doodle-dooing or whatever else it is that overgrown turkeys do!" He stomps past you and slams the door to his room.
It is now about 10:30 pm. Sarano, drunk on flayleaf salad, has been asleep for an hour in her room. Are the rest of you going to follow her example, or do something else?
Before you head to bed, I assume that you check out the pantry and dining room. I'd also heard some muttering about a watch list... What order are your watches, and who is keeping watch?
In the pantry, you pull down the six mysterious jars in the back. They appear to be 4 vials and 2 potions.
In the dining room, the compartment reveals a thin wand.
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Would take 10 on perception checks.
"Interesting. 4 vials of antitoxin and 2 potions of neutralize poison. Seems excessive even in this area. I've no clue what the wand does"
"How careful do we want to be? Its been a LONG trip here, so we need to get a good nights sleep too.
How about 5 watches? Ill take the first watch with Sarano. Vralk can get a little more sleep. Then maybe just the one person on watch together with Vralk? He slept most of the way here and has now napped enough that he can be awake the rest of the night. Does that sound reasonable?"
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The papers which Stali found, discovered, and spotted contain symbols, characters and runes of the dead, antiquated and disused language of the Thassilonian Empire. It is a rubbing taken from a very old, ancient, and antique carving containing prayers to the Gossamer King. It mentions hiding, concealing, and laying low like a parasite preying on another faith.
This clue may very well mean, indicate and signify that the Desnan faith upon which this town is sustained, preserved and perpetuated may be corrupted, defiled and perverted by followers of the Gossamer King or that the worship of Desna may be entirely, altogether and wholly a sham, a fraud and a lie.
Now then, I think I should take the middle watch.
It is eleven o'clock at night and most of you shuffle off to bed, with doors open and Galllako guarding the hall.
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Stali says "Thank you, General Chak. At this point, I think it would be wise to assume the mayor is part of the problem."
He then muses "I wonder if he will sprout tendrils like the pig did? I hope not!"
When he retires, Stali decides it is worth the minor discomfort of sleeping in his armor with his cold iron dagger under his pillow where he can quickly and discretely reach it. I don't think there is such a thing as too careful given the number of people who have disappeared.
Hikaru, there is only one entrance to the stairwell, so it will have to be out the window if you are sneaking out. Make a climb or fly check, I'll allow either.
Also, let's do your adventure out of spoilers, so that the players can read along, even if the characters don't know what is happening. After you tell me what you are doing, I will give Gallako a perception check with a -3 distance penalty to hear as you go out, assuming that he is patrolling at the other end of the hall when you pop the window and go.
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"It was nice having such a well-behaved grandkid." Andrietta says to Krissy with a pleasant tone. "We will try to be here tomorrow, dear."
"I could understand not being very up-beat about having company, dear. Especially when it's strange folks from out of the village. There's all kinds of work that needs to be done for guests, and usually it's back-breaking work, too." is offered after Leonard makes his grumbling commentary.
The charred effigies in the living room give her pause, though. Why would someone burn representations of their deity. That does not make any sort of sense, and I'm pretty sure I've never heard of any sort of religion that would do that...
The fine dishes kind of stick in her craw a bit, too. It's almost like he's trying to show off how well-to-do he is, without saying how well he's doing. Hey! Is that piece from Kwanlai??
She'll nod quietly and listen to a lot of the discussion, as the rest of the team has been finding all sorts of things she's not even picked up on, but then she notices that no one mentioned the effigies.
"Someone was burning representations of Desna. That's not quite what I'd expect from someone following the Song of the Spheres, but perhaps it's something tied into this 'Gossamer King'?"
She will take Vralk on her watch if no one else has a use for him on theirs, and will be very quiet and respectful on said watch, checking the rooms and the house every so often to make sure that the entire team is still there and not abducted by the Night Haunter-things.
Hikaru is sneaking off during Gallako’s watch. He would never be so irresponsible as to sneak off during his own!
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Hikaru flies dramatically out the window with none of his teammates being wiser. Dressed to the nines, he makes his way to his midnight rendez-vous. A cool night air blows through the silent village, with Hikaru only having to slap the occasional mosquito on the way.
Shel waits nervously by the North Bridge . She is pacing back and forth, looking very lovely but somewhat anxious in the moonlight. “You came! You really came!” She embraces you and gives you a kiss on your feathered cheek. “Um. I’ve never done this thing before... Should we go closer to the trees? We’re less likely to be seen or disturbed there.”
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"Who else would be around this time of night... the bridge is lovely, very romantic... we could stay here for a bit, maybe stroll down the path... the trees are so foreboding. So tell me Shel, my dear, you are so pretty and made the loveliest and most talented queen. What other talents have you besides your excellent oratory?" He slips his arm around her waist as he leads her to the center of the bridge where he pauses to watch the water as well as her while they talk... "Tell me all about yourself."
"Who else would be around this time of night?" Shel laughs, nervously. "Have you ever heard my sister talk? All sorts of fanciful tales about dark creatures that roam out at night when everyone else is asleep. According to her, all sorts of things could be watching us right now, ready to strike." She snuggles up with Hikaru on the bridge, but looks nervously all around her. "May sound stupid, but I don't feel safe out in the open like this. I'd rather be partially hidden by those trees. Besides... what if Alizna or someone else goes out? I've heard old people are insomniacs. That woman's one of the biggest gossips in the village! She sees me out, alone with you... My reputation's ruined."
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"Oh, all right, though I kind of like the bridge, it's romantic and you're sweet to be with... I rather wish there was music so we could dance under the stars..." He starts walking her slowly toward the woods. About halfway there, he starts humming and turns and takes her into a dance embrace and whirls her slowly under the stars, but toward the woods, so she can't complain that the pair isn't headed toward them.
He sings softly, as if to assure himself as they dance... "the woods are just trees... the trees are just wood... i have no fear, nor no one should.."
She giggles in surprise as they dance under the stars. "You are so different from the other boys in the village, and I don't just mean the feathers." She looks at you wistfully. "Why couldn't someone like you had flown into my life earlier? Maybe the two of us could have flown away together, far away from here."
You dance near the trees. Then, she steps back and smiles. With a demure look as she raises her hand to the shoulder strap of her dress, she nervously asks Hikaru, "Um, can you close your eyes and turn around?"
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"what? I'm not sure what you think I want of you, but truly I did not meet you here to bring you dishonor." he puts a hand on her shoulder strap and makes sure it is firmly in place. I wish only to be with you. Spend time with you. There's no need to disrobe, dear shel. Though a kiss in the moonlight would not be amiss I think."
Shel stops for a moment, startled. “You really mean that, don’t you? That is so swee--”
She breaks off, just as two dark shapes come out of the trees. They are in some sort of grey patchwork clothing, with masks that look like the faces of stirges. In addition to these two figures, four domesticated stirges buzz in the air next to you.
Shel throws herself in front of you. “No! Not Hikaru, he’s sweet and--”
The voices coming out of the masks are thick and distorted. “Step away from the girl and come with us. Quietly.”
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There is a plink, plink sound of a pebble hitting Sarano’s window.
Sarano, predictably, sleeps through it, but Gallako and Vralk hear it as Gallako paces back and forth in the hall.
Gallako sees little Hannah Lupescu in the moonlight. She's throwing pebbles up at the window, tears streaming down her face. When Gallako opens the window and pokes his head out, she asks in a scared voice, "Is S-sarano there?"
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Hikaru blinks in surprise and slips an arm around Shel both protectively and firmly, taking the opportunity to spin her around and push her behind him. He draws his blade as he stares down the masked men.
"I think not... I'll not go meekly with masked strangers in the night. Who are you and what do you want?" As an aside to Shel, he whispers, "Go home, Shel, quickly, while I deal with these marauders."
"Are you... sure?" Gaining her confirmation from his stance, she runs for the trees and out of sight.
Something is off here. Shel is nervous and scared, but not of these two people.
Meanwhile, one of the masked people says, "We are the protectors of Ravenmoor, guarding its future for generations. We do what has to be done." Her voice is muffled and distorted. Both of the masked ones are armed with what looks like broken sickles.
Hikaru, you're up.
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"It's alright Shel, just run home... be safe my dear."
Hikaru brandishes his scimitar and waits for the two to close on him, making sure they don't flank him... whether they try or not, his readied action is to take a 5' step and attack his attackers, be they human or stirge...
as a swift action, if he hits, he'll attempt to demoralize his opponent...
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Tossing as Vralk starts biting her ear, "Wha, g'off'a'me ya dumb bird, Ai'm tryin' ta sleep. . ." trying to shoo the bird off her which no doubt doesn't work.
Relenting,"Alright, a'right I'm up, I'm up, what do you want,"
Still dressed in her travel clothes from the previous day her clothes are pressed funny and her feathers are stuck at weird angles.
Seeing Gallako, "Who are you talking to out there?" Walking over to look out the window with Gallako, still shooing Vralk of her, eyeing the bird evily.
Rubbing her eyes, "Hannah? Is that you? Are you okay?"
"Sarano!" The little girl with the dark braids looks up, bursting into tears. "Ma and Pa put out a bit of burnin' flayleaf in a bowl so I could sleep, 'cause I never sleep well on Feast nights but I had a nightmare and woke up anyway and they're all GONE!" She's in her nightgown, with muddy feet.
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They do indeed try to flank Hikaru, taking five foot steps. Hikaru hits Blue, the woman. She screams. Hikaru doesn't recognize her voice, but Red calls out in a panic, "Don't you dare hurt her!"
Hikaru, you recognize the male voice, despite the muffling of Red's mask. It sounds like the voice of the blacksmith, Saul Lupescu. Shel's father.
Both attempt to cut Hikaru, but he proves too dodgy for them.
Red shouts at the Stirges. "Attack, boys. Protect us!"
The stirges attempt to attack Hikaru. Hikaru, this will trigger an attack of opportunity on at least one of them.
Unless you can kill one of them with your Attack of Opportunity and Parry and Riposte the other, the Blue and Purple stirges both grapple you, each doing a con damage to you this round.
Hikaru is up!
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Calling out to Hannah, "Okay, I'll be right out, just don't move,"
Turning to Gallako and Vralk in a more hushed tone, "I'm not really sure whats wrong, but she seems awfully frightened, I'm gonna go see her and let her in, maybe she can explain more,"
Grabbing a blanket off her bed, Sarano heads down the stairs and out the front door, heading to where Hannah was, tossing her Ioun Torch up to provide illumination.
Wrapping the little girl up in the blanket, "come inside, its so cold out here, you can tell me more inside, okay?"
The little girl is trembling and rushes up to hug Sarano, still sobbing softly. She follows Sarano back up the stairs. "I think Night Creepers might have gotten them! What if they never come back?"