Revival of the Runelords (Inactive)

Game Master Cellion

Weither we rewound or not, Colvyn stayed in town to wait for Kellek's return.

Helping where he can, Colvyn is almost more helpful at hunting for food for those that lost everything than rebuilding. Come night fall, he also visits the "scouts" that he hired. Maybe they could help with tracking where the giants came from.

Lets rewind then! Ziva, you can assume that Mayor Deverin told you that the heroes were planning to leave with the morrow to follow the giants.

Having retired to the Rusty Dragon after a long day helping out with the repair of the town, you spot the stranger with her bastard sword and striking jawline. You may have spotted her earlier in the day helping around town, but even those of you who have spent less time in Sandpoint can tell that she doesn't quite fit in with the townsfolk.

I'll hold off on any side discussions with Colvyn's scout contacts to get our introductions in order first!

Leaning back in his seat, Kargas snorts mirthlessly. "Damn, another cult? Those bastards really get around--you're actually not the first person to find us while hunting them, believe it or not." Glancing around the inn, then shrugged. "Our wizard's in Magnimar or something, or at least that's what he told us. The rest of us are out and about somewhere nearby--Colvyn's a little ysoki fellow with a bow, Guiness is the only dwarf in Sandpoint that I know of, and then there's our priestess Astrid." He points at the raven peering in at the two of them through the window. "And that's her bird, Muninn. He makes jokes."

He pauses and blinks tiredly as he stares back at the severe-looking woman across from him. She waits silently, so after a few moments Kargas continues. "For whatever it's worth, I'm sorry that they got to your people too. We've been trying to stop them, but...we're not really sure who they even are. They've got lamias working for them, and giants too--or at least they did. But whoever's calling the shots...we don't know who that is, or where they are, or what they want." His hands curl into fists on the table, and his voice drops into a growl. "And now they've attacked Sandpoint--lotta people got hurt, some more got killed, and I don't even know who to go after!"

Ziva feels some of her wariness soften as Kargas pours out his frustration. It occurs to her how young he looks, and how battered even with the magical healing he's clearly received. And his anger and pain at the attack on the town certainly seemed genuine to her. We are both a long way from Belkzen, Ziva. Do not go making enemies where there are none. These people trust and admire him, so you owe him the benefit of the doubt.

"I will share what I know, though it is perhaps less than you and your companions. There was a mass killing in rural Ustalav a six weeks ago--there were ritualistic elements to it, it might even have been a self-sacrifice. But not everyone involved died...a woman I know, a merchant, was involved somehow. I believe she was present at whatever ritual occured, but then vanished into the Hordelands, headed towards the Kodar Mountains when I had to turn aside from the trail. We found some half-burned documents at the scene too, including letters to someone named "Xanesha" here in Magnimar. So I went there, and learned of another cult that was snipped before it could accomplish its aims--you fit the description." She smiles now, earnestly. "Dwarf, ysoki, priestess, wizard, and scarred half-orc is an unlikely grouping. My name is Captain Ziva Vilcek of Lastwall, and it seems we have a common enemy, Master Kargas."

Floor's open to the rest of the party! Assume you guys are there to chime in.

At that moment a weary-looking dwarf in full plate comes into the Rusty Dragon Inn and sits heavily by Kargas, saying, "I just spoke with all the infantry volunteers--or their surviving relatives. Even those who lost their loved ones seem a bit surprised at how Sandpoint survived with surprisingly little damage."

With a weary smile, he adds, "We all did our part, but I am particularly impressed by the heroics of a certain half-orc who just destroyed a marauding red dragon."

Gesturing for a mug of Dwarven Stout, Guiness looks up and sees the new arrival standing at the table. Standing, the stout dwarf extends a hand in greeting and says, "I have seen you around town helping with the repairs--it's a rare thing for someone to show up and immediately start helping with what needs done without looking for a reward. I'd say that deserves a mug or two at the end of a long day. My name's Guiness; have a seat and sup with us if you've a mind to."

Meanwhile in Korvosa

Kellek nearly looses his hat in the basement of the Acadamae.

Whew. That was a close one.

Kargas's gesture toward Muninn causes the raven to take off in a huff, his disapproving croak audible even through the window.

He returns only a short time later, perched on Astrid's shoulder as she enters the tavern a few minutes after Guinness. She pauses in the doorway for a moment, searching the room, before spotting the trio at their table. She looks well worn by the day's work, her clothing smudged with dirt, soot, and a few spots the dark brown of dried blood.

Astrid offers Ziva a tired smile before seating herself, at which point Muninn hops from his perch and directly onto the table. "I'm sure Kargas has introduced all of us already, but just in case: my name is Astrid. I'm from Kaer Maga, originally. That's how I know Kargas."

Muninn, who had been slowly approaching Kargas's plate with small, shuffling steps, stops and turns to look at Ziva. "Muninn," he croaks, then nods his head. "Very smart. Food?"

With an amused but tired snort, Kargas pushes the plate closer to the bird.

"We all did our part, but I am particularly impressed by the heroics of a certain half-orc who just destroyed a marauding red dragon."

"A lot of that was Kellek," Kargas demurs, but still looks pleased with himself. To Ziva he adds, "That's the wizard. He's kind of a jerk but he keeps sticking his neck out for us, so he can't be all bad."

Ziva nods in acknowledgement as introductions are made. "I suppose that just leaves this Colvyn then, where is he? Your little band's exploits are extraordinary, but it seems our enemy's resources are vast. What is your next step?"

Muninn makes a pleased sound at Kargas's gesture before hopping over and helping himself to the scraps. Astrid shakes her head, smiling, but nods at Ziva's question.

"That's what we're trying to figure out, actually. We have precious few leads, beyond trying to follow the survivors of the raiding party. We don't even know what their true goal was, so it's hard to know how successful we were in stopping them."

Just chiming in to say I'm here and listening in. Seems like there's a bit more to go with introductions. Once you're all sorted out, let me know what your next actions are going to be, and I'll resolve them with some narration.

Meanwhile in Korvosa

So Kellek is out selling stuff (marked 'sell') from just past the 'Heartstone' entry (sans one headband of vast intelligence (nature) he personally sold earlier for magic beans spells) correct? That comes to about 24,506.5 gp. 'About' because he might keep a few of the potions if they are still available.

Kellek gets into some trouble with the local authorities and has to beat a hasty exit from the university.

After a good day of hunting, Colvyn rides Phasgan to the stable of the Rusty Dragon Inn. From there, he helps the staff unload the result of his hunt and bring it to the kitchen. Once done, he grabs himself a drink and walks into the main room. Spotting the big guy, he walks around the rest of the group and the woman. "Hey, Kargas. I just restock the meat shelf. We will eat well tonight, then tomorrow, we can figure out our next move." Finally acknowledging the new person, he turns to the woman. "Who are you?"

Pausing her mug before it touches her lips, Ziva tips it towards Colvyn in greeting. "Ziva Vilcek, Captain of Lastwall. It's a long story but suffice to say your enemies are mine, Master Colvyn."

We can assume Colvyn is filled in on all the details so I'm not belaboring the point here.

"Lastwall? Their influence reached that far. This is a bigger problem than we though." He pauses for a moment thinking about the situation. "Is Kellek back yet? We will have to move faster."

That evening, as the last lights of sunset begin to fade, Astrid begins her preparations--the sunset was a poor substitute for the sacred aurora borealis...but this far south, one must work with what one has.

I'm thinking a Divination spell asking where the keystone was to be delivered? Hopefully there was a handoff set to occur within the next week. Astrid has an 80% success chance.

If anyone else has suggestions for divination spells or questions that would better meet our goals please say so :)

Meanwhile in Korvosa

Kellek visits the Acadamae's library to peruse their copious collection of arcane grimoires.

Meanwhile in Korvosa

Kellek nearly forgets the single most important spell he needed to copy--floating disk. He leirely scribes it into his new spell journal (Volume 2), waits for the ink to dry and hands it back to the unseen little man living in his wooden peddler's pack.

Then he heads back to his magical dwelling place, casts his new spell and loads all the treasure upon it to transport back. Dismissing the cottage he is set upon by thieves who take all the party's treasure and load it into a carriage to transport to their lair as part of a convoy.

Hidden from view, Kellek watches as they prepare to move out waiting for a chance to strike and reclaim the treasure.

Now, in Sandpoint

teleportation error: 1d100 ⇒ 43

There's a flash of light and cloud of violet smoke, and Kellek appears in the big square before the Sandpoint Cathedral with a magical floating disk overflowing with nearly 800 lbs of gold* on it.

He looks around for the party looking a bit put out. "Typical."

* About 18.75 liters depending upon purity. So like nine two-liter bottles of gold.

"I suppose I should check the taverns." He says. "Which one was it now? The Crackedtooth, The Fatman's Fleabag, The Hagfish, The Rusty Flagon, The White Deer. Honestly, how can a place with barely twelve hundred people in it have so many drinking establishments?"

He wanders off in the direction of whichever 'adventurer's hostel' he remembers them staying at last, his trove floating beside him. If anyone gets any ideas about the gold he readies something magical and nasty to deal with them.

Early on, Astrid visits the body and attempts to compel secrets from its lingering spirit. Unfortunately, the lingering soul proves too iron willed, and her magic dissipates before it can compel anything. After a week's wait, she tries again, but again the corpse of the dragon resists her efforts.

With the body preserved, it may be possible to try again. In fact, the town seems to be warming up to having a perpetually preserved dragon corpse as a monument to the successful defense.

Gross!

"That's a terrible idea, who's gonna keep the magic going when Astrid leaves town?" Kargas snorts and shakes his head at the concept. "Can you try to pull something from one of the giants too?"

"Of course," Astrid confirms, already leaving the dragon's stubborn corpse behind, heading for where they left the corpse of the giants' leader.

On the subject of taxidermizing the dragon, Astrid simply refuses to engage with any questions or requests.

To Astrid's first and second questions, the giant croaks "Mokmurian needed the stone. It has secrets to tell."
To the third, he groans "Within the halls of Jorgenfist."

Eventually

"Ah, I should have known you would be here at the Dusty Flagon." says the worn-looking wizard standing beside a floating trove.

"Barmaid, I'll have a cup of your finest boiled water and a second empty cup."

"Jorgenfist? Is that what he said?" Kargas frowns, thinking hard. "That sounds familiar..."

Lore (Giants): 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (12) + 13 = 25

Geography for 'Do I know where that is?': 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (13) + 13 = 26

If neither of us has any idea, I'll ask the giant to tell us how to get there.

Both Kargas and Astrid know of Jorgenfist, at the very least because it had been mentioned in the note found in the throne room of Barl Breakbones, the stone giant running the ogre clan the group recently took down. Unfortunately, that isn't enough for either of them to pinpoint where it is.

When Astrid asks her next question, the corpse utters "The fortress lies in the Vale of the Black Tower, the cursed land now reclaimed." Although this doesn't do much to clear things up for Kargas and Astrid, Kellek has enough knowledge of history to recognize the title. The Vale of the Black Tower is an ancient site within the Storval Plateau, the location of a starkly gleaming black tower that dates back to the time of Thassilon. Between the three of you, you're able to place the site on your map of Varisia.

Smack in the middle of the map of Varisia in handouts you'll find Jorgenfist!

"'Reclaimed' by who?"

"Perhaps this Mokmurian we have been hearing about has laid claim to this tower, though reclaimed implies the giants had a right to it in times past," puzzles Guiness, considering what he might know about it...

Geography: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (18) + 1 = 19
History: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9

Is that pondering Kellek, or the next Speak with Dead question?

Unfortunately Guiness doesn't know anything more about the Vale of the Black Tower, Jorgenfist, or the general region.

Is that pondering Kellek, or the next Speak with Dead question?

Well, he's hoping the latter, but it's not his spell, so he's just thinking out loud again. *wink, wink, nudge nudge*

Knowledge Geography: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (20) + 11 = 31

"The Vale of the Black Tower?" Colvyn thinks back to all the teaching he acquired so far. "And what of this comment of a curse?"

Not sure what knowledge would that be.

Astrid asks Kellek's question and gets a response "Mokmurian and those who follow him. Reclaimed the land stolen from our ancestors."

Colvyn recalls the same as Astrid and Kargas, but also remembers hearing about the Vale - a land that giants avoid, nestled in a valley in the Iron Peaks. It overlooks the waters of the Muschkal River. In addition to holding an ancient tower, the stories tell of a network of caves and caverns in the land beneath. As far as Colvyn knows, it is not actually cursed, though the giants might see it that way.

Sorry, very long weekend, not much rest to go with it.

"Well," Astrid says with a sigh as the spell fades. "It's a start. We at least know where to go, now. And we have a name."

"Mokmurian..." Ziva muses aloud. "We have a name and a location, at the very least, and we may well still be able to ask those giants Master Stormscar knows about for further information. A good start."

"Speaking of names," Kellek begins before turning to Ziva, "Who in the Nine Hells are you?"

"Ziza of Lastwall, Kellek the wizard." Colvyn does a quick introduction of the newcomer to the wizard.

Thinking back at all the ground they covered, Colvyn draws a map in his head. "Urgh, we were just a miles away when we killed those ogres and stone giants at Hook mountain. Now, how to get there? We charter a boat to Roderic's cove and up that river? We ride all the way there, or do you have something better in mind?" He slightly turns to the wizard at the last question.

Ziva nods in confirmation at Colvyn's introduction. "It might even be worth a trip back to Magnimar, if we could acquire magic that would let us all travel quickly. Such things are rare and expensive, but if speed is critical it will be worth it."

That huge pile of gold could get us some scrolls of Overland Flight or Shadow Walk or something.

Overland flight is personal only, so Kellek and I would be the only ones who can actually use a scroll of it. I think that a scroll of shadow walk could get us there before expiring, but I'm not sure of the total distance (and that assumes we can travel in a perfectly straight line).

"Kellek could get us back to Turtleback Ferry in no time, I'm sure, but we'd have to make our own way from there."

"Oh, joy." Kellek says with mock brightness.

So where too? Magnimar? Korvosa? Turtleback? Kellek would be for either of the former two before agreeing to the latter.

"Get your stuff, Kargas."

Once we get access to 6th level cleric spells, Wind Walk is awesome for high speed exploration & overland travel —60 mph flight for 1 hour per level, 4 people at 11th level and 5 at 12th level casting.

Scrolls of wind walk or shadow walk would be available in Magnimar or Korvosa if you'd like that approach.

Kargas coughs into his hand, seeming oddly nervous. "Yeah, uh..." he looks down at the ground, then back up to meet everyone's eyes. "I'm not coming, this time. If we hadn't gotten here before the attack, Sandpoint would be a smoking ruin right now. Whoever we're up against--they have giants and dragons running their errands, and I can't leave this place undefended. So when Captain Ziva showed up I figured, her helping could free up one of us to protect the town." His eyes flicker towards the kitchen, where Ameiko is bustling in and out.

Reaching under the table, the half-orc pulls out a four foot long bundle, tightly wrapped in oilcloth. "I figured you would want this, Kellek, and you lot will need it more than me. Just don't cut yourself, wizard. If you ask nicely maybe Captain Ziva will knight you."

Kargas is giving Kellek the adamantine longsword :)

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 23 ⇒ (20) + 23 = 43

Astrid's look of alarm is replaced by a knowing smile as she follows Kargas's gaze.

"I'm glad you've found a place here," she tells him, her voice soft and with a hint of sadness. "Just don't get into too much trouble, since I won't be around to fix you up."

Mild preference for a few scrolls of Shadow Walk since a high-CL scroll of Phantom Chariot seems unlikely. Let's stop over in Magnimar to get 2-3 if we can.

Ziva tracks Astrid and Kargas' glances and makes a hmm sound. "I will lend my swordarm to your cause, if you will have me. A quick return to Magnimar for travel magic would be wise, I think. And while Master Stormscar guards the home front we can seek out and end the threat out upon the Storval Plateau. When do we begin?"

One vote for Magnimar, purchasing scrolls, and then shadowwalking to your destination. Lets get another vote to confirm. Also, where are you shadowwalking to? There was some discussion about reaching stone giant villages on the Storval Plateau, but you also now know your actual destination, so you could aim for that instead.

Vote #2 for Magnimar for a scroll of shadow walk. I'm fine with either investigating or going straight to Jorgenfist.

Guiness is good with getting a scroll of Shadow Walk or Wind Walk in Magnimar, then heading off directly to Jorgenfist, especially if we can perhaps beat the giant kidnappers there and set an ambush outside the giant lair to free our people.