RotRL aka "The Heroes of Sandpoint"

Game Master Hunger

Oh, no worries here. If it was just a masterwork ranseur, 60% is what I would expect. But I was under the impression that this looks more like a piece of art than a weapon and we found it in an old temple from the Runelords, etc, etc. He'll hold onto it for now - he may retire and hang it over the fireplace, who knows.

OK, don't try to make a long edit on your post when it's almost an hour old and set in stone. Got it. (Lost a pretty healthy post, drat the luck.) Here's the short form:

Camillo will trade in his bow as described earlier. He will also pick up three tanglefoot bags, six vials of harpy musk, six vials of acid, three potions of cure light wounds, and a potion of invisibility.

He also inquires around to see if anyone has a scroll of a spell called Abundant Ammunition (APG) or two 1d100 ⇒ 61 (01-50 no, 51 - 00 yes) and is fortunate to find a wizard with just that scroll available. 1d100 ⇒ 29 (01-50 no, 51 - 00 yes) However, he only has the one.

He gives Rullis 100 gp of his remaining funds and is left with 110.75. He feels pretty flush right now.

Rullis uses his newly acquired Pearl of Power to recover his Protection from Evil spell.

@ Camillo - Ah I get ya. YEah robably better to do that in Magnimar where artists and scholars will get a look at it rather than merchants.

@Kerrec If you prefer you can get the potions at the caravan with the discount, but if you want to give the church business there is no trouble. The bolts are easy to find.

I'll give us the weekend/holiday to break and then I will push us towards Thiseltop before the new year ;-)

I will push us towards Thiseltop

I thought we were heading to the Glasshouse first, then Thiseltop. Unless of course you are just going to gloss over the sinspawn combat.

Oh you are, I know, I just meant I will try to move that along so we open the year with Thistletop.

@ Tsuto: Let's say I have 1000GP of available funds you could use. Get what you would like from that.

@Devon: I'll get the discount at the caravan for the potions.

@Kerric. I can't sell enough gear for the breastplate then. I'll sell my short bow for 15 gp.
I'll borrow money for:

Masterwork Composite +3 Shortbow cost 555.
Masterwork cestus 5 (right hand)
Lance 10gp

Total owed for gear 575

Vidar will save the money, until he can use at least 2nd level spells there is no point in spending them on scrolls. And besides, since he is meant to be a crafting wizard, he will need some funds.

The group spends the next couple of hours under the tender mercies of Meecham, guide and caravan leader for the merchants who make the weekly trip between Magnimar and Sandpoint. As the time wears on the merchants, unknowing of the full extent of the full trouble the town has faced, become less irritated at the discounts you have been offered and more enthusiastic about the volume of business you provide. By the time you are finished many merchants have given you information for shops and individuals to find should your adventuring careers take you south to the great city. When you first attempt it, and one of you might make a note for when it comes up, the party gets a temporary +2 to all diplomacy checks related to finding or arranging business or finding information related to business in Magnimar

As you hustle and bustle about you discovered that the Sheriff is still days behind the caravan last known to be tangled in the frustrating bureaucracies of the City of Monuments to which Sandpoint is beholden. Perhaps more distressing than that news is the realization that even the well informed caravan merchants are just now learning of the troubles Sandpoint has experienced further proving that little help is on the way.

Despite these dark tidings the town becomes more and more upbeat as they see their newly appointed heroes selecting quality weapons, armor and gear. By the time your excursion is finished your foray to Thistletop if not overtly known is widely suspected and seems to set the town at ease after the harsh spectacle outside the garrison this morning.

Veznutt Parooh, owner of "The Way North" (the local map shop) circumspectly passes Camillo a game tail map of the northern Coast Road which shows more than a few trails which should grant the group some extra speed.

Jasper Korvaaski, a retired paladin of Abadar and current head steward of the Sandpoint Mercantile League makes a point of tracking down Kerrec and offering praise and words of wisdom for the upcoming battle. He also reveals that if the assault on Thistletop is successful the party should return to him so they might discuss business of mutual benefit to the town and the group as Jasper believes their celebrity will open many doors to potential prosperity.

Daviren Hosk of the "Goblin Squash Stables" well known for his love of horses, hatred of goblins, and his almost single handed destruction of the "Bonegrinder" tribe, offers a public assurance of 10 gold pieces for every goblin ear the party returns with and a special bounty of 1000 gold pieces for the head of the chief. This elicits many cheers from the crowd.

Many others come and go to offer their thanks and good fortune on you upcoming expedition. Only one other individual approaches you with anything approaching bad news and that is the newly promoted Captain Yorin.

If you remember a day or two ago my commanding officer, Lieutenant Hazgan Drekvar, was the second in command of the guard while the Sheriff was away. The mayor said he would be made knight captain on his return to town to have him still be in charge over me but she wanted some grand gesture since I was an easy face for the town to relate to with the whole Woodman house thing...anyway...Drekvar left the night you came up from the ruins to do a advance patrol, thinking the goblins were up north. He isn't back yet and although that might be normal...I'm worried with assassins and what not lurking around, him and his squad's found trouble. When you go north, look for him will you?

Feel free to narrate yourself going to the glassworks or talk to Yorin more if you like. Hope everyone had a good holiday. I'm looking forward to what comes next!

Camillo plays up the part that the citizens of Sandpoint have put on him and the others. Trying very hard to be cautiously confident without bragging or giving away any of their plans, he will visit with those that wish to visit and kisses a baby or two when asked.

Toshio tests the pull on his new short bow. Pleased at it's tension, he looks to Kerric. Thankyou Master Valorian, you have my word your generosity shall be repaid and should I die before restitution can be made, my horse is yours. I assure you this is no small thing from me, Pharlap is a supremely bred war mount, gifted to me from the Lord of Goka himself.

He dips a respectful bow (eyes up, of course) to his fellow warrior in gratitude.

Toshio's char sheet updated. Kerric will need to adjust his 1000 gp fund for the 575( less 15%)

Rullis downplays the attention he is receiving, being not used to it and not really comfortable with it either. Basically the opposite of Camillo.

After picking up his items, he says to the others that he'll meet them down by the Glassworks and heads home. Once there, he'll wash up before grabbing his fishing spear (long spear) and heading out once again. He arrives on the sand on the west side of the building and waits there for the others to arrive. He watches the fishing vessels as they move slowly through the harbor.

Kerrec thanks Jasper and assures him they will discuss such business matters in the future.

Kerrec also assures Toshio that there is no need to pay him back and he is honored that he would consider Pharlap as payment if something should befall him.

Kithian makes his way through the caravan and town folk slapping people on the back and laughing at his own jokes. He truely enjoys the attention and is honest in his aproach.

@Yorin: "Of course! How many men did Drekvar take with him on the patrol? Can you show me on the map where the patrols typically go?"

Lacking the need to buy anything (but not lacking the wish) Vidar sourly tromps over to the glassworks ahead of his comrades, waiting for them there, arms crossed and tapping a foot on the ground impatiently.

Satisfied with his new weapons and Kerric's generosity, Toshio joins Vidar astride Pharlap as The wizard heads toward the glassworks. He still has not had time to work out the full measure of his allies yet and so is keen to quiz Vidar a little.

He dismounts as he catches the mage, gives Pharlap a 'heel' command and asks
It is Vidar, isn't it. Forgive me, the directness, but we are likely to see combat soon. You are a magic user yes? I was wondering what nature of magic you practice, so that I may work how best to assist. Are you a war wizard or a Shapechanger of sorts? I'd hate to go charging in if your first move is a fireball for instance...

I obviously know you're a transmuter, but Toshio doesn't. We can gloss over the conversation if you wish and assume you bring him up to speed on the walk

Yorin details what route Drekvar planned to take and mentions that he took three other guardsmen with him. The route would have taken the patrol north not far from where the group itself is headed.

The group reconvenes at the rough hewn stairway along the cliffs near the glass works. A young guard stands at attention to the previously obscured pathway that meets the tunnel from beneath the glass works and leads to the ancient complex the group discovered just a few days before.

As you approach you can see that the guards have not been idle as brush has been cleared, debris shifted and stacked, and a few metal sconces hammered into the hallway walls. It would also appear that Ameiko has tradesman at work taking measurements and distances of the pathway. You hear some cross chatter that she is trying to determine if the smuggler path has value for legitimate purposes or if it is est filled in and walled off to put the matter to rest.

One tradesman name Felik indicates that he has a plan to create a heavy door to the cave system that leads to the complex beneath Sandpoint but wonders if there are other spaces within the system of caves and ruins (which he dare not enter alone) that the group things should be cordoned off or reinforced. I will put up a map of the complex in the next few days and you guys can figure out how you want to handle the complex once you are satisfied with you actions at the fountain.

Do you guys head straight to the fountain room or did you want to poke around the complex again? A pair of guards do a circuit of the main pathways just to be sure nothing pops up but they leave the door to the temple and the fountain closed and guarded.

Camillo is deferring to the other members of the party, in particular Vidar and Rullis after their research. He will point out that the longer we spend down here, the longer it will take us to get to Thistletop.

Toshio, eager to get to the assault on Thistletop to seek vengeance on Nualia chaffs at any delay, he draws his Katana and steps forward.

Shall we get to it? The the sooner our learned scholars can dispel the evil here, the quicker the True Enemy to sand point will be revealed and dispatched. Let us begin.

Rullis follows the others in to the cavern and would be eager to get to the fountain room. But if Yorin or Felik indicate they have found new sections of the cavern that we did not previously explore, then he would be interested in searching further to see what other dangers may be lurking under Sandpoint.

Yorin and Felik report no new sections though Felik does admit that on his pass through with the guards there are a couple of sections that could be excavated. Understanding that the ruins are old he does note that if the ruins are made safe that perhaps an archaeological project of some kind could reveal more of what lies to Sandpoint.

For now however all that remains is what the party discovered earlier.

"Best not do anything to those areas just yet, if the complex stretches much further, there is no telling what might be there.
Best deal with one problem at the time, we have a need to finish this quick and be off."

Eager to get to the bottom of this situation, Vidar will lead the way straight for the fountain room.

Kithian will walk towards the front with his falchion on his shoulder. " Right then! Lets go piss in the pools and get this over with!

"All right, then." Humming a little ditty, Camillo readies his shield and taps the face of it, causing it to glow like a torch. "Anyone else like to have a little personal illumination?"

When the party gets to the fork in the tunnel where it turns toward the temple, Camillo offers, "We believe there to be nothing left down here, but I can lead and look for traps, if you wish."

It sounds like the guards are not patrolling down in the temple itself, right? Just in the tunnel? If they've been patrolling, then the likelihood of a trap being set is pretty small and Camillo won't mention it. But he will try to be near the front of the group, nonetheless.

You are welcome to roll Perception checks as necessary (Bonus is +5).

*kicks old radio as it hisses*

"And now back to the program"

The guards of Sandpoint have occasionally sent patrols throughout the majority of the complex but whether it is out of fear or some sense of the groups wishes the doors to the temple room with the fountain have remained shut and unopened.

Opening the door you are met with a foul stench, the rotting carcass of the quasit, along with the mixed odors of your own blood and bile that has splashed the stones of this room. It has only been a couple of days but your memory does not do justice to the story the room tells. It is a stoic reminder that victory was not assured and death was a true possibility so close to the people whom you have come to protect and the places that some of you call home.

The fountain pitches and bubbles, undisturbed. The water churns with unnatural movement, the water a frothy orange and amber color. It takes only one of you to notice that the pool is certainly more active than it had been before.

We don't necessarily need to play this out point by point. If you have some rough semblance of a plan I think we can narrate the events. That said the experience of the fountain may be worth playing through simply for the characters to talk about things. So I leave it to you guys to hammer out. Just let me know what you want to do.

"Strange...I am no conjurer, but demons and devils generally disappear once slain. Sent back to their own hellish planes.
The fact that her body remains makes me wonder...is it possible that she was bound here?
Bound throughout the ages by the magisters of Thassalon?
Think of the time she must have spent here..."

Peering at the pool Vidar frowns.
"It has been recharged...this validates our idea of coming here, unless we shut it down now, there is no telling how much energy it might gather."

Turning to the other, Vidar pulls a little at his beard.
"I am no more a strategist than a conjurer, let those with a head for battle plan out how we will dispatch the sinspawns most easily."

I thought we carried the Quasit's body out of here, but that's immaterial...

"One of us need to drip a drop of fresh blood into the pool. That should cause one of those creatures to be summoned and thereby draining the pool of some of its energy. Kithian and Toshio should be able to slay it immediately. Then rinse, lather, and repeat, right?" Rullis looks at the two brawny men in the group as he says this. "We should try and save our magical strength for the coming battle with the goblins if we still intend to leave immediately after this."

Kithian places the blade of his falchion between his legs then spits on his hands before retaking the grip and grinding it in his meaty fists. "Ok, some one summon the bastage and I'll cut his corksuckin head off."
He grins at the others before walking to the edge of the pool and standing ready.

Kerrec loads and raises his crossbow at the fountain, nodding at the others he is ready to procede.

Who is gonna give me some blood? DM DEMANDS BLOOD!

Camillo will draw the handaxe purchased from Korvut and hold the blade to his forearm, holding them both over the churning water. Seeing Kithian is ready and looking at the samurai, he says, "Tell me when you are ready. Rullis, save me a healing spell for when this is done, eh?"

Somebody thinks he has something to prove to someone.

Toshio moves over towards the pool, Katana ready and stands 10feet from Kithan, so that should a 'sinsspawn' appear a flank should only be a quickstep away. He looks over at Camillo and attempts to hide his disdain, a REAL warrior would have stood ready to fight, not attempted to be useful by volunteering for a task, easily handled by those more suited to operating magical pools. He did give the younger man credit for trying though.

Activate the pool. We are ready.

Rullis nods to Camillo and stands back ten feet from the pool, his fishing spear at the ready.

Camillo has his shield on and readied. He will be cutting the forearm bearing the shield. He nods at Toshio, make the cut, and step back to take a defensive stance while the creature forms.

He will fight the sinspawn, too, he's just contributing blood.

Camillo draws the axe lightly against his skin and as the flesh separates small drops of blood pool along the wound and fall from Camillo's arm. It takes only one drop to send the pool into a fury of motion and sound as the water turns red to match Camillo's blood. After a breath the pool disgorges the sinspawn, the articulated jaw of the monstrosity working open and closed as it sees prey. Intelligent enough to know it is vulnerable it launches from the pool with all its might, the party tensed and ready to strike...

Okay just for fun here...Group goes at max init from Camillo's count. Higher Dex goes then roll off. Kerrec1d20 ⇒ 3 Rullis 1d20 ⇒ 19 Rullis goes before Kerrec

Camillo
Toshio
Kithian
Rullis
Kerrec
Vidar

Toshio reacts with trained precision and speed, the edge of his katana smashing in the the shoulder of the beast with such force that Kithian's accuracy is compromised, swinging over the head of the creature. Rullis scores a light but effective hit on the creature from the side, enough to drive it to its death throes as it bleeds out on the stones in a wail.

The fountain calms noticeably back to its former state but remains amber in color and bubbling.

Rinse and repeat! "Ready for another?"

Kithian kicks the dead sinspawn it the head. "Fargin Icehole!"
Red faced the barbarian snarls at Camillo. "Do it!"

Camillo nods and squeezes the wound he opened a moment before, forcing a drop of blood into the pool, then drawing his longsword as he steps back from the boiling waters.

Rullis glances in disgust at the remains of the sinspawn coating his fishing spear. He starts to move to wipe it off but sees Camillo readying another drop of blood. He prepares to strike again when the next one appears.

Toshio nods to Rullis at his finishing strike.

Continue

Funny.

Like before the blood causes the fountain to frenzy and sinspawn disgorges, hissing and clicking at the immediate threat. This time, properly placed and ready, Toshio strikes a blow with his katana so fast that the only indication that he has wounded the creature is its sudden silence and then its slow collapse as its head rolls off it elongated neck and the body of the beast hits the ground.

Nice crit.

The pool calms and seems less frantic and darker than before but it definitely still active.

"That was amazing."

Camillo sheathes his swords, steps forward again, and looks to make sure the others are ready. Seeing that they are, he milks another drop from his arm before stepping back and drawing the sword once again.

Kithian shakes his head and looks at Toshio, Yes, that was a very fast strike."

"Good work so far, but don't take your eyes of the prize, there is still enough for a few more.
let's not celebrate until we have skinned the bear AND drunk the ale."