RotRL: The Alkenstar Expedition (Inactive)

Game Master drbuzzard

Too big and unwieldy.

There's nothing else of note in the complex. Does anyone speak Thassalonian? If you don't the walls all over the place are covered in scribblings in a language you don't get.

"Nobody said there'd be a written test...." Obi drawls.

Jan follows, tired and wounded.

Damned magicians. I don't suppose I could have a bit to sit down?

Join the Shieldmarshals they said. See the world my said. My cousin runs a temple of Calistria but would I join the priesthood? No. I wanted to serve, to better the world around me.

"I think he really liked that spell. He tried to use on me before..."

"Take a load off if you need to. We've got plenty of time."

You have a bunch of written stuff to decode and time to burn since you have no leads. What now?

"Well we we're heading Fireplume Ridge or something right?"

Where did you get that notion? I don't recall you decoding the writing.

On the giant midget:

magic club (large)
bag of holding
lenses of fog cutting
robe of runes

Among his goods in his lair you found a sort of map.

The giants have no knowledge of Karzoug. However you do seem to have stumbled on an ancient library. <hint, hint>

From this map off the Stone giant guy.. Its why we were in Sandpoint to start with..

Which now that I read it its the same name of the guy we just killed.. We need to find this key..

For some reason i imagined it a mountain or something, now I see that could be where we currently are..

"We need to find someone that can read this gibberish.. Wasn't there some ancient scholar in Sandpoint or something?"

OK, well you have no idea where that actually is.

I edited my above post sry..

"I think this might be the ruins the map speaks of that held Xaliasa since apparently we just killed him.."

Well, that's good. I guess. What's in the ruins besides these runes? Or maybe we can take a ton of rubbings?

"Did you say ruins or did you say runes?"

"I think both.. We need to get back to town and bring that academic type back down here for a look.. Surely there is some knowledge in all these scribblings.. Perhaps the key the map spoke of lies within the writing.. We should make sure we didn't miss any rooms before we leave though.. Would hate to bring the man to his death."

Bo starts making his way around checking to see if any rooms were missed.. Taking 10 he gets a 30 perc..

Nothing else remains to be found in the way of stuff. Just the runes remain to be decoded.

Bo makes his way back out to town hopefully to find the decoder guy..

Bander will search Tirions body and grab the scroll of teleport, and just pop us back

1d20 + 17 ⇒ (8) + 17 = 25 UMD
1d20 + 17 ⇒ (17) + 17 = 34 UMD

I think he meant in Sandpoint since there's a researcher into Thasselonian stuff there.

That guy yea.. We'll inform the town their guards were also killed..

You head back up to Sandpoint proper.

First off you explain the sad news to the captain of the guard, but given how things have been around the town, and the new uniforms of the town guard with the red shirts, he rather expected this outcome.

You are also able to find the local Thasselonian scholar who accompanies you down into the underground chambers to look at the scribblings.

He is very interested in the writings and takes copious. He also heaves his cookies when he sees all the chunky guard bits strewn around.

After you return to the surface and he spends some time, he is able to decode it all.

There is a poem.



What, they didn't want to include a map?

"Does anyone know what a runeforge is? And how exactly do you pronounce the word xin?"

"I think that is the map Jan.. Obviously riddles but I think we can figure this out."

Take 10 on Steaming Mirror local for a 27?

"We might have to spend some coin to find out where this place is.."

As I personally hate most puzzles, I'll allow that to decode some of it.

Your helper points out that 'mirror' is often used as a metaphor for a lake. In Varisia, Lake Stormunder is known for its plentiful hot springs and geysers.

"Ok so we gotta be on the eastern shore of that lake at dusk and hopefully we can make out these seven faces.."

Bo will ask the expert if he has any thoughts on the note..

He replies that a mysterious circle of seven stone heads stands upon the western slope of Rimeskull on Stormunder’s eastern shore.

"Sounds like that our destination.. We should take Tiron's body to Magnimar first though.."

Has he ever heard of something called "xin"?

You can get a shovel and a bucket to transport him.

Bander meanwhile does not even come inside he sits outside on the stoop and pouts.

Jan will wonder if a bucket is respectful, then not worry about it as he's still gravely wounded.

Jan is Gravely Wounded?

"I believe but a finger etc.. is need for a true resurrection.."

He did take a boneshatter to the face for about 50, even if his stat line doesn't show it.

However you do have some time before more action, so it is fairly moot.

You and your boneshatter spells

"So, is the plan to travel overland and find this ring of stone heads to search for the source of our enemies?"

"We need to cirlce back through Magnimar I would think and then travel there yes.."

Yea I dont know if people are hurt if their stat lines aren't updated..

"Do we have magical means to travel, or will we be traveling by road?"

Tirion loved teleportation scrolls. Maybe one of his remains.

worth checking if any of his remained. I figure not but a sad halfling can hope right?

You can find his equipment tidily piled up in a corner for later use. It all even has post-it notes detailing type and function.

Bander collects Tirion's consumables and plans to have the rest of his gear buried with him

IE lets not over power the WBL, but consumables will be used. Particularly the scrolls

Bander will cast teleport from the scroll once the time is right, to get us to Magnimar.

You beam back to the embassy once more.

The receptionist is a bit alarmed by your sudden appearance and spills a tray full of tea all over the place. She does regain her composure in short order.

"You have business with Mr. Williamson?"

Yes, we have lots to report, and the remains of my brother to ship home.

He grits his teeth, Send us through please

She looks somewhat dismayed about that announcement, but goes through the door into his office, and then waves you into see your boss.

Williamson is at his desk, looking a touch harried. He looks up at you "I'm sorry to hear that your brother was lost. I these realms there are ways to cheat death and bring him back you know? "

OK, let's sum this up since it is fairly moot. He brings in a cleric on hire. The cleric examines the bucket and determines that the soul has been lost, and he can't be brought back.

Williamson gets your report and you're free to go.

let me explain. That would take too much time. Let me sum up.

I think it is time to go get a lot of revenge. Everyone load up and let's go get some revenge!

"Is the circle of stone heads our destination? Do we know enough to find it? "

"I've got plenty of ammo and I'm prepared to go whenever everyone else is."

You know the location of the lake which the decoding said had the heads.

how long will it take us to get there by conventional methods?

A few weeks. Be nice if I actually had a map which showed the location. It is in NW Varisia adjacent to Land of the Linnorm Kings.

"Maybe we should wait a few days and ask the peacock gods some questions?"

"If it comes to it, I probably know enough to guide us there overland if it comes to that."

"Do you fellars know how to ride? That would make the trip easier."

Sorry for the delay! I started packing on Thursday for a move and my internet is finally up. Go go scheduling.

And sorry for not updating my stat line, sheesh.