Shifty Group Runelords (Inactive)

Game Master Nik B.

The journey downstream back to the 'Ferry is wet and quiet.

You arrive to find that the area has been mildly flooded again (due to the release of the dam) but it is clear you have saved the town from what would have been a disaster had the dam eventually burst.

The good news, however, is a large group has arrived from Magnimar it seems that they received word of what was going on and sent some help - along with enough men at arms to help secure the town.

You are able to sell off the items you looted and to have an actual rest knowing that the town can be defended, without having to call upon you!

Level to 10.
Adjust to WBL, you should move up to 62,000gp (ie you have made 16,000 each)

Celestra greets the group from Magnimar and extends them a warm welcome. "Well met, soldiers. I see you've come to offer your support. This is most kind of you. I see that you've heard of some of the woes we've encountered here. I'm hoping that we won't have any more trouble now that the trolls have been defeated, but I'm sure there is more at work than meets the eye. So tell me, fine gentlemen, what news do you bring from Magnimar. It has been so long since I've been there."

...so it unfolds that there is quite a number of soldiers, but also other functionaries from the Magnimarian Council - enough to help restore Turtleback Ferry and make it a stable base of operations, with regular barge runs up and down the river to the Capital.

The remaining Rangers work with the fresh reinforcements to start hunting down the straggling Kreeg Ogres, it is only a matter of time before the lair and hiding place is finally ferreted out.

With the workings of the damn now understood, plans are slowly developed and voted upon to ensure that the dam can be used in emergencies, and volunteers to power it drawn from the fittest and strongest from the nearby farms and the Blackarrows.

About 2 days from now we kick forward :)

Kabal shook hands with some of the rangers but had misgivings about them finding anyone tough enough to handle the dam's magical workings. HE shook his head in wonder at what will happen when one of them fails...aint your problem no more bub...

Turning to the group he asked, "So, who's buying the first round? Let's get to celebrating being alive another day already."

Ailetha, having taken extensive notes, speaks with the leader of the rangers and the head of the Magnimar contingent. She explains that even with magical aid, the might of Kabal was barely able to overcome the draining effects of the dam. As such, she instructs them that it would be advisable to have a cleric or some other wielder of magic able to aid whichever ranger or local is deemed hardy enough to control the dam.

------

Ailetha then joins Kabal in the tavern where she enthralls the audience with the tale of the defeating of the ogres in the fort followed by the massacre of the trolls that had infested the dam.

Perform(sing): 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (18) + 19 = 37 <-- yup, that is a ballad which will be repeated for years to come

Bree avoids the group of rangers and instead finds a quiet corner to take up post until the commotion has settled down. When the group moves to relax, she gladly takes a seat at the table for drinks. Settling in where she can watch the door and Kabal with ease, she smiles and says, "I believe Celestra claimed that honor."

"And it is an honor indeed! This round is on me, my friends." Celestra remarks as she goes up to the bar. She returns to the table with several tankards of ale held in each hand like she was a gifted serving wench. "I just want to tell you that I'm so glad to be a part of this company. I'm so proud of each and every one of you. I could not ask to be among such genuinely good people. You all give me hope when living in such desperate times."

"For our first toast, may we raise our tankards to Kabal for all of that dam business he had to go through! "

Celestra raises her glass and gives Kabal a wink.

Next step in 24 hours, I take it everyone is ready?

Ailetha laugh's at Celestra's pun.

Yup, and it is going to make a dam good story as well.

Leveled up and ready.

Bree blushes faintly as Celestra heaps praise on the group. "It has been wonderful working with you, too."

When a toast to Kabal is mentioned, Bree turns her attention back to him and with a big smile raises her tankard.

Karlan doesn't celebrate.

Instead KArlan spends his time trying to organize and keep informed the troops and everything coming in.

Those moments where he has to himself he's busy writing letters or otherwise preparing once again to move.

Obviously the paladin doesn't feel the need to celebrate.

Ready to soar!

Sable drinks little, but listens aptly to the songbird spin Kabal's tale. Between toasts and meals, he finds his way to Karlan. "I wanted to apologize to you for my actions, but also to thank you for not condemning me for them. If you think less of me for my undertakings, I understand, but I will hope that whatever your feelings are towards me and the decisions I made will not obstruct the task we have before us. If there is ever a request you have of me, ask and it will be done." Sable bows slightly and leaves Karlan once more to his solitude.

Karlan is at his table being briefed by the Rangers.

Teh door of the Inn slams open, and a Magnimarian soldier covered with sweat and mud comes bursting in, he's clearly been riding hard.

"Sir Karlan! Sir Karlan! It's a ghost, we think, whatever it is we need you now Sir Karlan!" he appears wide eyed and in shock.

Kabal had no ear for music but he could judge good ale and the local stuff was superb... of course almost dying makes most things better bub...

The warrior returned Bree's toast and Celestra's wink and figured this day was getting better by the hour... although them two look like they're plotting... He figured he's put an end to that by shifting their focus a bit.

"Where in the Nine Hells is Sable and Karlan? They're missing out."

Rather annoyed that her latest rendition, The Battle of Skull Crossing, was interrupted, her annoyance quickly turns to concern.

A ghost? Please describe exactly what you saw, there are many creatures, living and undead, which look like the classic ghost. I need to know what this is to be able to prepare and advise Sir Karlan, she chuckles inwardly at the noble title being given to Karlan and the rest of our group.

Knowledge(religion): 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (17) + 16 = 33 <-- if applicable in case the soldier has any relevant info about the ghost

Bree swallows her ale and then points towards Karlan and the fuss that is going on in his direction. "I don't think Karlan much cared to celebrate with us, but it looks like he might have a new crisis on his hands."

Karlan stands up and follows the messenger. "What is it?"

The mans description is vague and abstract, and it is uncertain how much is fantasy and how much is terror, obviously he has seen something out there in the forest, but he describes something that appears to be a combination of ghostly apparition with some creature of the forests... it sounds anything other than classic, and you seem to be left with more questions than answers from the description given by the terrified man. Indeed if he got any whiter you'd think HE was the ghost.

He seems far more calmed in Karlans presence and explains that they went into a grove that the Rangers normally avoided, just in case, and a terrible emotion came over them - fear? sorrow? then something followed, always in the corner oft their eyes until it sprung in from the trees. Terror drove them and they scattered.

In Karlans presence, he seems able to take you back there.

Ghosts:
When a soul is not allowed to rest due to some great injustice, either real or perceived, it sometimes comes back as a ghost. Such beings are in eternal anguish, lacking in substance and unable to set things right. Although ghosts can be any alignment, the majority cling to the living world out of a powerful sense of rage and hatred, and as a result are chaotic evil—even the ghost of a good or lawful creature can become hateful and cruel in its afterlife.

As such, Ailetha is pretty confident you all possess the Divine might to put the thing to rest, but that would only be a temporary measure - smites and channels work fine

As Ailetha follows the pigheaded paladin, she tries to explain what she knows to the others.
If it is a ghost, and it certainly sounds like one, then we need to determine why it is suddenly restless. Invariably it is in eternal anguish because something has not been set right from when it was living. Some injustice was never cured. We can likely overcome the ghost temporarily, but we will still need to determine what is causing it to remain here.

"Perhaps we can try asking, it's worked before.

Walking behind the others, staff in hand, Sable looks up to his feathered comrade and nods. "I can attempt to sift through the broken thoughts of a spirit, should we encounter one, and try to pull forth the egg of information that we seek. Emphasis on attempt and try..."

"Where did you encounter it last?" Karlan asks as he steps into the grove looking around for aything out of place.

1d20 + 0 ⇒ (12) + 0 = 12 Perception

The man led the party back to the point at which he believed the event took place, at the edge of the Shimmerglens. Once reaching there, all you found was the site where multiple sets of footprints all of a sudden diverged in a variety of directions.

You were about to give up, no sign of an enemy, no likelihood of recovering men who had rushed headlong into an unforgiving swamp – especially if the story was true.

Day 1
The party of adventurers took to the swamp, it was cold and horrible, though the rains didn’t fall the whole place was misty and unforgiving. They spoke of returning to the Inn, when a strange creature, pitiful and broken, came from the mists.

It was a waifishly thin humanoid with gossamer wings, large expressive eyes, long pointed ears, and a diminutive 2-foot-tall stature. He wore rumpled clothes and his eyes were puffy from crying.

"My mistress, she is...ill. Very ill. Death would have been a kindness. The land sickens with her heart, and it cannot be cleansed until her misery is purged. I cannot do this myself. Please, you must help her! You are friends with her human lover, yes? He wouldn't want her left like this! I can take you to her - maybe you can do something. I have tried everything to cure her forlorn heart, but to no avail. She wails and moans in Whitewillow, and the trees and plants and nixies and frogs and everything are dying or worse! I can take you there! Please!"

He introduced himself as Yap. His speech was rapid and breathless, as though he was afraid – of both being turned away, and what that refusal would lead to. He offered a reward of Pixie Dust if they allowed him to come.

Sir Karlan seemed to have his soothing presence calming everyone, even if Sir Karlan is often the most unsettled in the group my student follows. It was Sir Karlans decision to offer aid, though the others agreed in their own ways that I am becoming accustomed to.

***

Day 2, Morning
The terrain is unforgiving and flight is not an attractive option. The skies are misty and unfriendly and the canopy of trees grows thick in so many places. The group has come back with a barge to move through the region, as the place is one giant swamp.

Twisted black trees rise wretchedly from shallow pools, seeming to have lurched from the land, their arthritic branches curled into miserable tortured claws. The sun seems to scorn this place, and a cold, dark mist looms within the canopy of bone-bare branches above. Evil murmurs ride an unnatural wind that flows forth from the glens, and shadows dance in the dark mists within. The leaves on every tree , have gone dark and twisted and they shift and move when they should not. Shadows play cruel tricks on the sharpest eyes, and sanity- shredding whispers would cause even the canniest woodsman to lose his way.

Yap explained that this land was called Whitewillow, and until very recently was the exact opposite – the leaves were of ivory and this swamp a happy place.

As Yap led us deeper into the depths of Whitewillow, the degree of the corruption grew . Spiders, languid and fat with poison, hang from trees . Dying birds twitch in the shallows. Slithering things with too many eyes squirt away through the water.

It seems to have taken an age, but the journey has got us nowhere...

Day 2, Afternoon
A chill silence surrounded us, and it took us what could have been a moment or could have been hours to notice. We began to occasionally glimpse tall, dark-robed figures in the corners of our eyes. Then the apparitions enlarged skeletal claws extended from their outstretched arms as if reaching toward us! Blades swung and bows hummed – but suddenly we saw things for what they were. These apparitions are nothing more than horribly twisted black trees, but the blows upon them caused deep cuts that wept blood, and a cackle could be heard on the wind... or was that just our minds? Either way, we know this place is cursed. We stay close to Karlan for his purity protects us.

Day 2, Evening
The decision was to rest, and we found a good location. A natural pool of water created by runoff from the hulking dark trees stood in a clearing. The water looks clear and refreshing enough, though no algae or larval insects dwell in the pool, possibly indicating the water is poisoned. Ailetha was very concerned by it, something in her blood? She warned us off gazing into the pool. No one looked. No one wants to look. Yap just closes his eyes and cries all night, tears of sorrow or terror, I cannot tell.

***

Day 3, Morning

We awoke to more horrible sights at dawn.

All around us, ghostly translucent forms emerged from the trees. Fey of all sorts - spectral satyrs, ghostly grigs, phantom nixies , and sprightly spirits floated gently from the swamp around the us, followed by a parade of phantom animals . The fey cavorted and frolicked as they marched, eventually washing over us all . They caressed , dance through, and embraced us before passing. We were all burned by the energy exuded by the dead. Celestra washed us with the energy of the living... but that touch... so cold. I fear for our minds in here.

Day 3, Afternoon

Deep in the swamp we came upon a derelict ship inexplicably located hundreds of miles from the Varisian shore. The vessel was badly worn and covered in thick dark green moss, but it was completely intact and is obviously of a seagoing model.

The ship was deserted, but in his quarters belowdecks, the long- dead captain sat at a moldering darkwood harpsichord carved with demons battling angels. Still dressed in his rotten uniform, he clutched in one hand nautical charts (that seem completely alien even to the well-traveled and well versed Ailetha, who was totally mystified by them), and a silver goblet inlaid with opals in the other.

A book of sheet music bearing several lyrical masterpieces never before heard by any of the group sat on the harpsichord. As we emerged from the ship, a white dog sat on the deck watching us with milky blind eyes. The dog stared but did nothing else, eventually
wandering off into the swamp and leaving behind no trace it was ever actually there.

Ailetha didn’t recall taking it, but the book of songs was in her hand.

Day 3, Evening.
I think we are finally near.

Just before setting down to camp we came upon the mangled body of a beautiful dryad half protruding from a tree. Her limb s have been smashed from the trunk by massive clubs. As we investigated, we heard soft feminine whispers in our ears- " She should not have fallen in love-her heart brought this upon us-why won't she let us go?"

***

Day 4, Morning
How have we come so little way? It has taken forever and we have still moved such little distance.

Yap seemed very agitated and excited, he seems to feel we are near, we will be at the heart of the problem soon – but I worry we will break mentally before we escape this place. I am so cold, I just want to fly toward the Sun and be free of this terror.

Ailetha still has the book

”She ahead, she wont be far now!”

...what a load of malarkey... Kabal hated evenings like this. One minute he was toasting drinks and trying to decide on which lass to pinch and the next he was involved in something that could seem quite serious. He couldnt recall leaving the merriment of the inn and walking into the woods with the others but trying to remember was just giving him a headache and those always made him angry.

The Brevian shot Sable a sharp look when the witch mentioned talking to the ghost...figures...more creepiness...need to get him a proper hen to roost with...hahaha...hen, roost...hah! got to tell Breet that one... but that'd take his mind off of that dark crap..."Wait, did someone really say ghost?! Dark and Empty! This is going to be bad, real bad." Kabal reached for the assurance of his axe and started watching every shadow.

I am a little confused. Is this story something we found? Or is this an abbreviated version of what we just spent four days doing, traveling into this forsaken swamp?

I guess I am wondering whether the Chronicles of Korax are just a story, or what we see as reality?

Its an abbreviated version of events, Korax is Sables 'Familiar' "p

Basically we have shifted forward to the important stuff, that would have been horrible to play though scene by scene :)

The Morning of the Fourth Day

"I think we are close now, my friends. Please be warned that to put this poor soul out of its misery we will need to take it down very quickly. From what I know of ghosts they are incorporeal, meaning that most of our weapons will pass right through them. Only the most magical blades will have any effect. We will need to rely greatly on Karlan to strike it with his pure goodness backing with blade. Furthermore, we will need to look within our hearts at the most pleasant memories that we can think of, less we succumb to the terrible drain of life this ghost will inflict upon us."

Sort of what I assumed, but wanted to make sure as it was written more like a story we found that somehow had us as main characters - which would be a really cool thing to find in a campaign, and then have to figure out what it meant (prophecy? fantasy? insanity?).

Ailetha looks about, as she has done a hundred or more times over the past few days.
This reads like a great tragic novel. A story of lost love in which a spurned lover, rather than seeking to find greater love in another, instead forsakes love altogether and does all in her power to destroy love and anything that might be construed as love. The dryad, a symbol of love, especially illicit love, the world over, beaten and destroyed, yet forced to live, unable to use her magical wiles. Also, the trees, bent and twisted, their branches as claws rather than covered with fragrant flowers.

That is my thought. The question is, who was her love and why? The only thing that we have seen is the dead captain. Perhaps he was her lover? Perhaps he spurred her for another? Or, perhaps he left intending to return, but could not, and died in the attempt.

So many questions. So few answers. I hope that Sable is able to gain at least some answers to these questions, or to whatever other motives the un-deceased woman may have.

"There are strange winds, to be sure. I agree in hopes that we find answers soon... it is more than just this place that troubles me. Smile, my friends, even if you have no reason to... lest we forget how in this dismal place." Sable turns to their guide. "Lead on, Yap. We will do what we can to right this."

When first encountering Yap, she whispers to Sable, "Should we ask who the human lover is, or will that only scare the little guy away?"

When Kabal complains about ghosts, Bree reminds him of those they had already faced on the island with the blue lions.

Bree stays close to Kabal and Sable, irritated and uncomfortable she longs to be back on the streets of Riddleport where at least she knew what to expect from her surroundings. At least there she knew what to expect from herself.

As the days passed, she found herself becoming more and more aware of Kabal's presence and it frustrated her in ways she couldn't explain. Angered her in ways she couldn't explain. Yet she couldn't seem to detach herself from the man's side for more than a few moments at a time. When she wasn't walking at his side, her eyes followed his every movement. Soon she found that she could find the most peace from her inner turmoil if she merely stayed near him, but made herself focus on her surroundings and the others. At least then she could watch for danger instead of watching the way his muscles moved beneath his shirt, sticky with sweat. From time to time she would catch herself reaching out a hand just to touch him, only to jerk it back to her side and settle it over the hilt of a dagger instead, gripping it as she tried to find her sanity. It must be this place, it's getting in my head. That's all.

Her eyes glide across the surroundings, pausing on her traveling companions from time to time. A slight smile pulls at the corner of her mouth when she catches Sable petting Korax and speaking softly to the bird. She marvels at how Celestra can always seem so chipper, even in a place like this she sees the woman smiling and being helpful. She wonders if she was always like that, and if she was, what kind of life she must have lived to have supported that in someone's personality. She sees something wild and dangerous in Ailetha, increasing her wariness of the woman. As she watches Karlan make his way through the underbrush, determination set on his face, she decides that he seems really sad, too and wonders why that would be.

When they thought that they had nearly met their journey's end, Bree started to perk up. That is until Ailetha started talking and it seemed that every other word from the woman's mouth was 'love'. Bree groans audibly and crosses her arms beneath her breasts, hands resting on hilts. "I don't think I've ever heard anyone say 'love' so many times at once." She definitely does not sound pleased with hearing it so many times now.

Ailetha looks back at Bree, a questioning look in her eyes.
If it is not love, lost or destroyed, that caused this, then what did? Evil in and of itself is usually not so all encompassing.

Bree shifts her weight and brushes her hair out of her eyes, "I'm not saying it isn't, what do I know of love? I reckon this place has made it clear enough that love is the problem. It's just... What the bloody hell are we suppose to do about it?"

Ailetha can probably easily see that Bree's mood really has nothing to do with Ailetha's musings on love and the damage it has caused this place.

Sort of what I assumed, but wanted to make sure as it was written more like a story we found that somehow had us as main characters - which would be a really cool thing to find in a campaign, and then have to figure out what it meant (prophecy? fantasy? insanity?).

Indeed! But you do have a strange songbook from the ghost ship that is very tangible in your hands, full of strange and interesting compositions... she could even try playing them, what could possibly go wrong...?

Can Ailetha comprehend the songs in the songbook? Can she figure out what the languages are and what the songs mean.

Depsite the gloom, Sable smiles in the company of his flock. At one point, when he can catch Kabal's ear away from the others, he says softly, "You might want to say something. It may not be obvious to you two, but I would hate to have to repeat this flight and find a group of do-gooders to rescue her human lover when things go awry." Sable cocks his head in the direction of Bree. "I may be long lived, but I would rather see things blossom while we are amongst the living." Sable will pat his mighty friend on the shoulder, and move back to following their guide.

Trying her best, Ailetha tries to read the songs, and picks one that she hopes might call to the ghost.

All, I am going to try singing to the ghost from the book we found. Be ready if she is less than enthused by my songs.

Linguistics: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (6) + 9 = 15

Perform(sing): 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (14) + 19 = 33

Can Ailetha comprehend the songs in the songbook? Can she figure out what the languages are and what the songs mean.

They are strange and alien compositions, DC 30 Perform

Does the 33 Perform(sing) in my last post work?

I figured I'd confirm you really wanted to do it before I took the post at face value and the event actually happened :P

Ailetha begins singing the strange and alien compositions, reaching across space and time, in a strange and unfamiliar tongue...

I assume she would have told the others what she was doing, so that buffs were cast and/or prepared.

EDIT - also, with all her knowledge and personality, Ailetha also has an 8 Wisdom. Count on her for a great idea, not making the right decision.

I assume so too :) The other reason I held back was that your opst contained a question followed by an action - an action you may have opted not to make should the answer to your question been 'Yeah it summons Cthulhu and he will eat the party - and you got...oh a 35!' :p

Giving people some time to opt into hearing the song or opt out

Sable will listen to the haunting melody of the songbird... but also is ready to fly away if need be or screech to drown it out if all goes awry.

As questions are asked and mulled over Karlan looks to the sky. "Kind of makes me wish Aya was here. This sort of thing is more her specialty. They say all of Ustalav is like this more or less."

Karlan, if anything seems more at ease, perhaps because the direction here is clear, and the evil so all encompassing as to make it easier to find ad mroe capable of drowning out his larger worries.

Obvious question here. Were there any notes or marks in the book by a hand other than the composer?

Nope - just symbols of non euclidian geometry or something. The idea is that the whole thing is from another world... or another dimension perhaps

Bree nods at Ailetha's plan and waits with arms crossed.

This is probably a horrible idea. It's not like I have anything to offer though. If Winter we're here he'd probably know what to do. I suppose I could just stand out here and talk to the ghost, hoping it hears me wherever it is. Yeah, that sounds like a splendid idea. 'Hello, ghost lady. I want to help you. Maybe if you just tell me what you're so pissed off about I can find a way to fix it for you, so, you know, you can stop killing everything in the area with your broken heart or whatever.' I'm sure that would work perfect. Of course, Winter would have a more flowery way to say it, and it would probably have something to do with fields and crops. Are we even dealing with a ghost? I mean, Yap hasn't said anything about his mistress being dead, has he? Wait, did I miss that? Gods I can't think straight.

The melody is haunting but uplifting...
All creatures within a 30 foot spread become so enraptured by the beauty of the music that they gain a +2 morale bonus on all attack rolls and skill checks for 24 hours.

The tangled swamp gives way to a relatively large clearing, a calm pool of unnaturally still water ringed by twisted, decayed willow trees. Wind blows, but the trees do not sway. It is as if the very land has died.

Yap quails at the edge of the clearing. "We're here . . . my lady waits for you within. I dare not go any closer. . . " he says before stepping back to cower behind a gnarled tree.

"Ailetha, that was amazing! I've never heard you sing like that! Now, before we enter, let me bless you all and ask that Cayden Cailean guide us safely." Celestra casts blessing of fervor just before the company enters. "Dearest Cayden Cailean, I, your humble servant, ask that you bless us as we bravely go forth to face the evil that awaits within."

Bree readies her blades and looks around at the group, "Feel like a trap to anyone else?"

Just to echo Bree's reservation, the above really was the notice that your encounter is moments away/totally pending, so if you had anything to do (ie Buff) the next post will be 'in encounter'