Rise of the Runelords

Game Master Upaynao

A bitter smile appears on Ameiko's face. "A lot of dying and dead this season. Giants huh? Gods be merciful, we don't need any more trouble. Hopefully it was just a random attack, nothing more sinister. In any case, you are welcome to stay here as long as you need. If you need coin, I'm not sure if they need the help" she adds, pointing at the group that has formed between the Heroes of Sandpoint and Ullogash. "But Sheriff has been paying them to help out. He might be OK with paying extra if you join them. He certainly doesn't really see money like the rest of us."

Fighting down a sense of bitter disappointment, the youngest Vinder nods, stands up and says: "I wouldn't mind a room I suppose. Thank you. Maybe the blessing can happen when you return?" Thinking it more of a rhetorical question, she sashays towards the stairs up to one of the better rooms the Rusty Dragon has to offer. Gods, he is so HOT!

***Assuming we now have a party of 5, and that everyone is ready to rest up and begin in the AM; feel free to RP bringing on Shara into your group***

Morning has come to Sandpoint, and with it the Heroes (plus 2) to Brodert's Quink's house. Located right by the old lighthouse, it faces the dungsweeper's shack, with all of the aromas that accompany such a facility. Knocking at the door, you hear a wizened, bitter and slightly nasal voice yell from somewhere deep in the house: "Go away! I've already told you the walls are structurally sound!"

Andrezi simply shakes his head as the youngest Vinder makes her way up the stairs. That one could be trouble... he thinks to himself.

Turning his attention back toward the conversation Andrezi says, "Nice to meet you Shara. You say you were working as a caravan guard? You wouldn't by chance be interested in joining us on our trip to Foxglove Manor? Our more martial companions seem to have found themselves indisposed. We certainly could use the help if you think you're up to it. Same goes for you Ullogosh."

In the morning:

Andrezi raises an eyebrow hearing the old man's complaint. "Such a pleasant fellow."

Looking to Kiera as the local in particular, he asks, "You sure he can help us?"

Looking to see Andrezi questioning where to leave Ullogash puts his weight into it as he pounds on the door once more. "Open the door, they need to talk to you..." Though really Ullogash had little clue about what. He looks to the others. "I though we were heading to Foxglove Manor?"

"I assure you that we are, but it always pays to be as informed as possible in these situations." Andrezi says plainly to the half-orc.

”Brodert! It’s me, Kiera!” shouts the mage. She flashes a smile to the team. ”It’ll be fine.”

Previously, Kiera has interacted with Brodert as a fellow scholar who diesn’t laugh out loud at his theories about the Old Light.

Really? I didn't see that when I was combing through the thread. Or is that part of your character's backstory?

"Huh??? Who???"

Loud footsteps thud on the wooden floor within, and soon the door rattles with the sounds of perhaps a half-dozen or so locks being unlocked in sequence. It finally opens to a old bald man with a short white beard, spectacles dangling down from his nose.

"I said... Oh, Kiera! So good to see you again!!! Please, please come on in!" He looks at the people accompanying her, frowns; seemingly weighing whether or not he should ask the others to stay out there. In a flash, he is inspired to display some manners, and adds: "I suppose you lot shouldn't stay outside either. People will start asking the most inane questions. Well come on, I don't have all day!"

Ushering you in, he locks the door behind him, and in the interval, you come to behold an entry hall with a steep wood staircase to the right, what appears to be a kitchen at the end of the short hall, a closed door to the far left and a single door to the right which leads to what might have once been a living room/study. Now, it might as well be where all books come to wash ashore and die. Hazardous piles of books loom precariously and it occurs to more than one of you that an open flame could spell doom for this entire house. A cursory glance over some of the covers reveal titles such as "Exiles from Azlant: The rule of Emperor Xin in pre-Earthfall Varisia", "Children of Sin: Shoanti and Eugenics", "The Rise and Fall of Thassilon", "Pre-Earthfall structures in modern-day Casmaron", "Divination: The Universal school that was not". Many strange diagrams, illustrations and panoramas pinned to teh wall haphazardly include some of the strange symbols you have seen inscribed below the Glassworks. In fact, it occurs to you that the second entryway into those underground passages was not far from where you currently are: the old Lighthouse is just next door afterall.

"So what bring you here?" he asks as he sits down into a comfy, well-worn armchair.

DM: I mentioned Brodert's theories here, here, and here, but so far it's been a backstory thing - we haven't had a direct scene.

"Brodert! It's good to see you again," says Kiera. She offers the eccentric recluse a hug, but doesn't press the issue if he waves her off.

"We've been following up on some recent problems involving Foxglove Manor. I know where the Manor is, roughly, but I don't really know its local history. Then I thought, well, you're the resident expert in the history of this part of the coast, maybe you could fill us in?"

She fumbles for her pouch and says, "I can pay you for your time, of course, as a sage and expert. I'd love to hear what you can tell us about the history of the Foxglove family and their now-abandoned house."

Brodert accepts the hug, but pats Kiera on the back rather quickly to signal the time to release him is now. "Ahh, yes. I heard about those murders. Interesting that noone has said much about the sihedron carved into mister Harker's chest." He pauses to pour himself a cup of tea, before realizing that he is being rude. "If you want some, the kettle is in the kitchen. Help yourself to any of the leaves in the jars on the counter" he offers absent-mindedly, and certainly unaware of how rude he still is. "Pay. Pah. I do not need your money dear" he says as he begins to look through a shelf, then a pile. He sighs, grumbling: "Where did that book go. Oh well. I'll tell you what I remember. The place was built with the coin of a man called Vorel Foxglove, close to a hundred years ago. Man had arcane interests, didn't think Magnimar was good enough for his research; all the usual dilettante apocrypha. Moved in with his immediate family and servants. Then suddenly... Nothing."

He wiggles his eyebrows as a morbid smile blooms across his lips. "As if he had never existed. Building still stood of course; you can't miss it as you travel either from land or sea to Magnimar from here. Or from there to Sandpoint. But the Varisians took that to be an ill omen. Even called the place "Misgivings". Hah!" He chuckles, continuing: "The place was left abandoned for the next half-century. Then one Traver Foxglove moved in with his family. But... Well." His face changes countenance as he perhaps realizes the tenor of where the story goes. "I can show you where it is on a map. But perhaps the Varisians have it right: it's ill advised to speak harshly of the dead."

At this point, I would accept a Diplomacy check to convince the man to speak more of what has happened. Normally there is a Knowledge (Local) check, but I think this is perhaps more interesting.

"While it is true that it is ill advised to speak harshly of the dead, the fates do not doom those that do so justly. Please, Master Quink, if you would, tell us more of "The Misgivings" and this Traver fellow."

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (19) + 11 = 30

Volkar looked about the man's residence and stacks of books, papers and drawings. As the man talked with Kiera, Volkar moved amongst the piles and looked at the drawings noting when things seemed familiar. The discussion about the Foxgloves was interesting, but it wasn't his family, so it was just that. When he mentioned a map of the area, Volkar perked up and focused on the man. After Andrezi asked for more, Volkar chimed in.

"If you could show us a map, that would be wonderful. Not from around here and the table scribble our new friend made really didn't help me know where we are."

Diplomacy 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (9) + 6 = 15

Brodert humects his lips thoughtfully. "Hmm. Well, to answer your question dwarf-man, it's right here." He points to a map of the Sandpoint highlands as he gets up, moves up to it until it is clear that he is pointing at a small outcropping, barely a peninsula on the coastline. "The coastline is harsh around there. A straight cliff down from the ground you stand on, and sharp rocks at the bottom. And the occasional reef."

He looks back to Volkar, as if to make sure he understands where he is pointing at, before slowly lowering his arm and switching to look at Andrezi. "Traver Foxglove came to Misgivings with the idea of renovating the place. Instead, someone or something burned down the servants quarter, killed his wife Cyralie by pushing her out a window. Traver himself was found dead, by his own hand if you believe the witnesses. And that left the Foxgloves with 3 orphans: Zeeva, Sendeli and Aldern. The Korvosan Foxgloves took the children in."

He pauses, shuffling back towards his comfortable seat in the center of the room. "Aldern Foxglove, who graced us with his presence at the festival, has tried to renovate the manor. Hiring help hasn't been easy. Those Varisians that hold to the old ways shun the place, as I said. And even those of Chelish colonist stock find the place too... Unnerving for them." He snorts as he adds: "So if you know any Shoanti carpenters, this is a great business opportunity for them. Provided they can get past old Rogors Craesby. Fancies himself a groundskeeper. Not sure what grounds he has been keeping, but I imagine noone wants to deal with a man bearing his face. That missing ear of his is what they make stories to frighten the children from."

As he reclines back in his chair, he frowns, still debating whether he wants to share this last piece of information. Finally, after taking another look at Kiera, he sighs and adds: "There is a rumor. Long standing. And you know how I hate rumors. Fabrications, like how I am secretly dependent on a variety of drugs, or on how my home contains a secret treasure from my time in the goblinblood wars. But they say that the Magnimarian Foxgloves are members of a gentlemen's club; the Brotherhood of the Seven." He shrugs. "It might as well be the Academae Alumni Association for what they do. It's another secret society that may or may not fully exist."

"... of the Seven..." says Kiera carefully, then, "Like the seven sins of the Runelords?"

"As you say, it's probably a rumor," she says after a few moments. "I mean, it would be too much of a conspiracy for there to be a secret Runelord cult that's becoming active right... when... we found a runewell under the Old Light and discovered that it used to be a Runelord fortification."

She gives an uneasy, nervous smile.

"Don't speak nonsense girl! Besides, you didn't find it as much as justify my claims. I've been telling everyone for YEARS that this is a Thassilonian structure!" he huffs before calming down and adding: "That said, it is possible that they are inspired by Thassilonian lore. They wouldn't be the first to claim some part of the Runelord's legacies, whatever parts might be available. Bloatmages for instance. But do not misunderstand me; that the Brotherhood of the Seven exists isn't in dispute. Their importance as a group is what is wildly disputed."

"Well, whether or not it's them, this business of ghouls and murders seems to point back to Foxglove Manor. It looks like that's where we're headed next," says Kiera. The mage gnaws on her lower lip and clasps her hands behind her back. She looks like she's about to pace back and forth but in the cluttered room that just turns into turning this way and then that before standing still again.

Perking up a moment, she adds, "Oh, by the way, once we're back - uhhh, assuming nothing bad happens to us - I'm going to make an offer to Mayor Deverin to buy the Old Light. If that goes through and you wanted to come in and study or take tracings or anything, then of course you're welcome."

Ullogash looks confused as the conversation begins to go well over his head. He continues to listen. Runelords? Thass...Thass. Tasselhoff?" He shakes his head unable to say or comprehend the word. "I though we were here about the undead and the murders?" He grunts in frustration as he taps the table with a thick green finger letting his orcish heritage get the best of him.

"Oh have no worries, Ullogash. We are certainly still going to deal with the undead and hopefully put an end to the murders." Andrezi says, patting the half-orc on the shoulder. "Uncomfortable and unfortunate as it may be, all of this just may very well be more even more complicated."

Volkar stood looking at the map. He looked at it and listened to the exchange between Brodert and Kiera. After a bit, he turned back to Brodert and asked, "So, where else do you think these Thassalonians built places? I mean the light I can see it, but if you are interested that stuff, why not just build your mansion here next to it?"

I'm not sure I understand Volkar's question. You do know his house is right next to the Old Lighthouse/Thassilonian Cannon of Wrath in Sandpoint right?

"Why move your family out to the middle of nowhere on the edge of nowhere actually, when you could just build your house in the old light if you are so interested in these ancient times?" Volkar continued as he contemplated the map. His fingers were twisting the silverbead in his forebeard. He turned back to the group, "Doesn't that seem a bit of a strange place for a noble estate?

"The mansion's several generations old. Maybe they weren't part of the Seven when it was built," Kiera says. "Still it is entirely possible that there's something else at the site where it was built, underground; after all, nobody knew about the tunnels under Sandpoint until we went down there after the goblin raid."

The young wizard scratches her nose idly and then says, "Anyway, sounds like the Foxglove family got up to making a lot of creepy history of their own. Sure fits the motif with the recent undead problems."

Brodert nods at Kiera'a words and stays silent, seeing nothing of worth to add. "Well, if that's all, I do have some studying to do. My copy of "Selective breeding in Pre-Earthfall Societies" just arrived and I cannot wait to get to their chapter on Varisia." He motions towards the door as he goes to reach for a rather heavy tome that still smells of ink.

If we are done asking questions of Brodert, I think we might want to move on. Although if you have any questions about events or occurences in the campaign so far, Brodert is possibly the best person to ask that isn't one of the bad guys.

Content to move on if Kiera is, as this is primarily her scene.

It really is everyone's; don't let appearances deceive you. You can take the lead in this anytime you so wish to!

I think it did fill out our historical information suitably, I'm ready to go any time!

"Thanks good sir, I may want to come back and get a good drawing of that map, all new to me you see." Volkar said as the scholar turned to his books. He turned back to the map and looked at it for one last, long moment. "Yep, need to find a map of this area for sure. Maps are great things."

Ullogash growls lowly. "No need for a map of this region dwarf. I have traveled all over here and can lead you where you need to go if we are done wasting time." Ullogash really means no disrespect but rather pointing out facts. [b]"The longer we spend here speaking of the past gives the undead more time to kill more families in the area.

Ullogash explains to Volkar where the Manor is located and how far away.

Survival: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (16) + 8 = 24

"It's along the coast halfway between here and Magnimar," chimes in Kiera. "What's important is the coastal geography that Brodert told us about - sheer cliffs and rocks. We can't sail there; we'll have to go overland. Horses maybe?"

"A map I won't lose, you on the other hand," Volkar gave a wry nod at Ullogash. Then he winked. "But, we need to get the horses, get our goods, and let the Sheriff know that is our next destination."

The Previous Night
"Yes I've worked as a caravan guard often. I've also delivered packages and such alone. I am looking for work, and my shield and sword arm as good as any other. If I may ask Andrezi, what was with the young lady?"{/b]

At the Scholars House
Shara comes back from the kitchen with a cup of tea tea just in time to hear everyone getting ready to leave. [b]"Going already? Did we find out what we needed to know? Did he happen to mention giants?" she quickly sips her tea and puts the empty cup on an end table as the group gets ready to leave.

"We should have climbing gear just in case. I'd hate to be at the bottom of the cliffs and not be able to get back up. Especially if the tide is coming in."

She responds to Kiera. "Can everyone ride? I"m terrible at it. We could rent a wagon. Not that I'm good handling horses or mules myself."

"Sorry," says Kiera to Shara with an awkward smile, "I don't really know how to ride. I can sorta stay in the saddle, but that's about it. Normally I would want to take my boat, but there would be nowhere to land and then that climb up the cliffs... ugh."

The Previous Night

"She is the sister of one of those who has fallen prey to these vicious undead. She had sought a conversation about consecration of the shrine in her home..." Andrezi says before adding in a somewhat embarassed tone "...although it would seem she had another motive as well."

At the Scholar's House

"I'm certainly not an accomplished rider either, nor do I know the first thing about handling beasts of burden." the priest confesses. "That being said, the trail is not all that treacherous so even novice riders should be alright, as long as we don't run into anything to spook said horses. Maybe we'd be better off just walking? It's not so terribly far."

Says the guy that has a movement rate of 40...

"A wagon we could rent, I like that idea. I do have that pony, so I could use that for sure. How long of a Ullogash? Start now or on the morrow?" Volkar felt a bit of a rumble in his stomach and added, "Surely after a bite, or do we have to be so uncivilized as to eat rations along the way?''

For once the half-orc agrees with the dwarf. He jingles his coin purse. "A wagon doesn't sound like a bad idea as it is quite a ways away." He drops a few gold down on the table for his share.

"Tomorrow sounds good to me. I have rope, but a grappling hook and some climbing gear wouldn't be a bad idea. What do the rest of you think?" Shara asks the the others.

After checking in with Daviren Hosk, the proprietor and goblin ear collector of the Goblin Squash Stables, the group comes to find out that renting a cart and the necessary barding to hitch the pony to it only ends up costing about a gold per day. However, when Foxglove Manor is mentioned, he makes a warding sign and says: "Best be careful over there. Desna weeps for the Foxgloves." Preparations are made (which include the purchase of any mundane/alchemical material/equipment you desire) and the following morning you depart, as a funerary procession leaves town besides you to bury the farmer woman you had saved from a lonely death and an unlife of eternal hunger.

Misgivings, as it is known, is a lonely structure at the edge of a cliff, which you approach in the late afternoon under a dark cloudy sky. Seagulls caw angrily at each other as you approach, flying away as you behold the crumbling manor house. The vegetation here is withered and sickly, as if even nature itself was unwilling to approach any closer. The wind howls tonelessly, bone-chillingly cold even for the beginning of winter (at this point you are well into the last days of Lamashan/October). The servant's quarters lies an empty husk, soot covered scorched stones strewn about, with a few sickly-looking ravens gazing upon you with mild curiosity. In one corner of the ruin, a partially collapsed stone well rests, a rusty bucket swinging in the wind from a mostly corroded chain.

The manor house itself looks like it would be better off if one razed it to the foundation and rebuilt from there. The roof, what parts aren't on the verge of collapsing from rot, is warped and missing tiles. The frame is tilted at a noticeable angle, reinforced in places by fresh timber that has grown soggy and bloated over time with exposure to the elements. The same wood was used to attempt to close off a number of breaches in the walls, without much success, leading you to see portions of the rotted interior. Vines of green-grey wisteria embalm the entire structure, perhaps keeping it together in spite of their sickly appearance. Above, chimney stacks tall and short drunkenly list to the side, having fared much worse than the house itself and the leering faces of stone gargoyles peek down upon you.

Please refer to slide 4 in the maps link to see where you are and your options for moving around. You can thank GMDevilDoc for his efforts, and also be warned that my maps will likely be on Google Pictures (if that is a problem for anyone, message me) and won't necessarily be as nicely done. I will be copy pasting it into an individual file as soon as I can. To avoid stagnation when exploring , we will go with the first set of actions suggested that are approved of by another.

"Well, this looks about as lovely as stable's clean out pile," Volkar said as he hobbled the horse. He looked at the house, the ruins, and the ravens. "So, anyone have a better idea than just walking up to the front there and knocking on the door?"

Hands on her hips, looking up at the hulking wreck, Kiera says, "Wow. I can tell you one thing, I would not want to spend the night in there. Maybe we should pull the cart over into the ruins of this outbuilding and use it for a campsite. We could set up a fire pit and have a little shelter thanks to this old stone corner here - at least it'll block some of this bitter wind."

She brings her arms up and rubs them for some warmth against the cold and continues, "Let's do a circuit - assuming we can do one without falling off the cliff on the far side - and see what we can see through those gaps in the boarded-up holes in the walls."

"Bit of a fixer upper. I have seen true-blooded orcs and goblins live in better homes than this." Ullogash comments on the stability of the home.

He quickly agrees with Kiera. "Let's do some scouting. Kicking in the door might topple the whole building on top of us."

Ullogash moves to investigate the ruins near them before circumventing the house itself from the south to peek in and see what is within.

Stealth: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (10) + 8 = 18
Perception: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (4) + 12 = 16

Volkar moved after the scouting half-orc and took a position near one of the ruin walls.

Perception check upon reaching placed moved to on the map 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (18) + 9 = 27

Shara stays with the wagon for the moment. "I'm not good a sneaking. I like the idea of checking out the outside ruins before we head to the main house. Get a base of sorts as Kiera suggested."

Andrezi nods in agreement and gives the others a headstart before beginning to scout around the perimeter of the ruined manor house.

Stealth: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 = 10

Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (8) + 5 = 13

A full circuit of the ruined servant's quarters doesn't produce anything, except perhaps for the sounds of flapping wings as the ravens perched there beat their sickly wings and take off to parts unknown.

The wind blows harshly in Andrezi's face as he approaches the manorhouse from the south and begins going around it from the east. As he approaches the cliffside though, he is forced to come to the conclusion that while he might be able to take a look at the manor's western face, there is no way to fully circumnavigate the manor without climbing onto its walls; the cliff is sheer, and likely the manor is but waiting for an unfortunate shift in the rocks it stands on to crumble into the gulf of Varisia.

1d20 ⇒ 1

What now?

"Let's get the horses settled and then head into the manor. Maybe just look around the front area today." Shara suggests. "I know I just joined you all, but there's nothing like getting a jump on things."

Kiera looks for a good place to tie up the horses and starts unpacking her traveling supplies, and puts down her bedroll in the corner of the wall. "I'll see if I can use some magic to fix this up a bit later," she says. "Meanwhile, I guess it's time to try the front door."

As the team moves toward the manor she says to Shara, "Glad that you're so eager to pitch in! How'd you get swept up in all of this business anyway?"

"Alrighty then, the horses are hobbled. We can let them just graze about," Volkar added to the ladies' discussion. He dropped his pack, rummaging through and finding his flask that he tucked into his clothing He double checked to make sure he had his potions and small casks. When he was certain as to where his gear was, he followed on with the others.

[b]"Can't say I approve of the decor of this noble estate,"[//b] Volkar said with a chuckle.

Ullogash helps tie the horses up and calm them down as they seem a bit nervous. He pats a few on the sides and brushes their fur while camp is being set up.

When the others are ready Ullogash grabs a few herbs from his pack and carefully stuffs them down into his scabbard, making sure not to touch either of them with his bare hands. Grabbing his pommel he slowly pulls his falchion in and out in slow motions to makes sure the herb is grinded into it evenly.

Mix 2 doses of Debilitating Venom using concentrate poison into the poisoning sheath.

He follows the middle of the pack as they head towards the front door. "Should we knock?" He chuckles to himself.

Andrezi grabs his gear and gathers his companions and utters a short prayer. Following the prayer, he heads towards the door. "Nothing else to be done about, I suppose."

Using caravan bond.

I'm more than happy to move on to the area designated as the front entrance, but technically there are two double door entrances you can see from where you stand. You should probably choose which one to enter from.

As they approached the fork in the path that led to the house, Volkar looked at the ground and at the doors. "I think we should go towards the right, path is smaller, suspect people walked to it, while the larger path might have been bringing stuff into the house with carts and such"

He looked about the outside of the dilapidated manor and towards the door he had suggested.
------
Perception check path and door to the right. 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10

Ullogash gives the door a mighty orcish pounding with his fist. BAM, BAM, BAM! It is a big house after all. If noone answers he will try to open the door.