GM Newsie’s - The Dragon’s Demand (Inactive)

Game Master Brominate

K:local: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 7 = 13

Hanzo had a suspicious coughing fit when Jorianna said "honest." "Let's just take a look at the wizard's place and talk to her bigshotness first, okay?" he temporized, not having a great desire to take on a whole kobold tribe - much less try to convince them nicely to release their slaves.

The masked elf suppresses a sigh at Jori's naivety, then stifles a laugh at Thomas' assumption that the purpose of going to the wizard's home first was to "return the body."

Rather than continue down the path that would eventually lead to the baroness' manor, where they would report their findings and receive payment, the party turns at the ruins of the witch tower, heading up to the late Hunclay's manor. The char-roasted kobold is no longer on the front step of the manor. Thomas still carries the former wizard over his shoulders. Luckily, Hunclay was thin.

On the bridge to the south, a figure is walking, seemingly, towards the manor and the ragtag group of investigators. You're not quite sure who it is though.

What do you do?

Guruthos spots the figure and holds up a hand to stop the group.

is there sufficient cover in the are for Gu or Hanzo to sneak over and check out who the person is?

It's the middle of the day, and, more than likely, whoever is coming has seen the group already. That said, you are on the top of a hill, so...

(Also, everyone make sure your initiative, perception, and saves are updated on the slides, or let me know what they need to be)

Do they make any motion to approach or acknowledge us?
Gu's perception should be +9 and his will save should be +2.

how far to the manor?

The party is essentially at the front door. (Assuming you mean Hunclay's manor and not Lady Origena).

The person waves their hand and increases their pace to a jog. "Heeey! Lookin' likes y'all made it! Mulle was supposed to greet ya if-when ya came outta the tower."

Witless deputy Hodd stops as he nears the party, nearly out of breath from his light jog up the hill.

Thomas reacted quickly. He softly laid down the body in a respectful manor. He had searched the body before and found a key that he thinks could fit the manor's front door. Did he?
He quickly and secretly gave the key to Guruthos. Here, for you. "
Then he waved at the deputy.

Guruthos grabbed the key when we first found the body. I presume he kept it at that point and still has it.

Hanzo put on a big smile. "Deputy Hodd. What can we help you with? As you can see, we found this man's remains, and he should probably be buried soon. Perhaps you can arrange that? It seems like the kind of important task your office should handle, not strangers like us."

Hanzo hoped Hodd would take the bait and leave them alone.

Joriannika waved to the deputy too, after helping Thomas to set Hunclay down.

Hodd catches his breath, and shifts a little uneasily, standing this close to a dead body.

"Well, Calladastina will handle that. No, I'm just lucky I saw you. Mulle was waiting near where you entered the tower, waiting for you to return. Lady Origena said you's should come up to her manor, iffenwhen you returned; and for us to wait for ya's. Also, she's ordered Hunclay's residence off limits until he show up or... well, be found. I can't believe Mulle offenwent to sleep. I'll deal with her later... right now, why don't you follow me up over to the manor. Her ladyship is anxious to hear what you found. You may leave the body here for now. I'll let Calladastina know to come fetch 'im."

Guruthos lets out a low growl of disappointment, but resigns himself to follow the group if they go.

"Dear Hodd. I'm sorry, but that is unacceptable. We need to respect the dead. We can't just drop him on the floor like a sack of potatoes. Let us at least bring him into his house and lay him somwhere nice with dignity."
Diplomacy: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (19) + 6 = 25

Guruthos looks at Thomas with a raised eye (not that it's visible behind the mask), and thinks Maybe this human isn't the idiot I took him for... or maybe it's the thing inside him directing his speech. Either way, this could work in my favor.

For a moment you think he's going to cave... but then he doesn't.

"Sir, I know I ain't seeming like the confident or intelligent type, but I am in charge here. This house is off limits, and potentially dangerous. You've done Belhaim a great service by risking yourselves, but our orders are clear. Highest priority is reporting to the baroness. We can carry the wizard to Calladastina, the undertaker, who is currently at the cemetery. Luckily, that is on our way."

Hodd points directly to the south where you can see a walled cemetery with a small attached building. (#25 on map)

"Ready? After you, friends."

(overwhelmed and out of his element, he may be, but taking Hunclay inside the house would be a direct contradiction of his orders direct from the baroness. If his orders had come from the sheriff, he might have been persuaded. You did convince him, though, that Hunclay's body should be tended to, but only in a manner to agrees with his orders).

"Well, she said it was only off limits until he was found, right? Well, we found him. Here he is," Hanzo pointed out, having finally recovered from his awe at Thomas' angle.

Diplomacy Aid another: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 7 = 10

Joriannika added helpfully, "It sure wouldn't look good to leave him here like some common brigand's body, or to fob off such an important task... I'm sure the Baroness wouldn't want that. You've done everything she asked admirably. You wouldn't be disobeying her, and you'd save her a bit of lost face for leaving such a prominent citizen untended to."

Diplomacy aid another: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4 Aw.

The masked elf knows when to keep his mouth shut, so he lets the humans try to flumphcrap the hapless guard.

Hodd looks at Hanzo, then, Joriannika. He very pointedly does not look at Guruthos.

"She said you were to report to her immediately. Why are you so keen to enter this house? That eccentric was so paranoid there are probably dozens of traps...or worse...in there. And I just said we will carry him to the undertaker, which is on the way to Lady Origena..."

Seeing the unyielding faces, plus the elf whose face is hidden, Hodd throws his arms up.

"Y'know what? Fine! What do I care! You ain't citizens here. Go get yourself killed. I'll send Calladastina up here while I inform the baroness of your...return."

With that he marches off down the hill toward the Undertaker's house and cemetery.

(If you really want to go in, okay. If you all die, we'll reset to this point, before Hodd approached you).

what have we done?
"Hodd, you're a good man and a loyal servant to the people. And you're right, we don't know what's in there and we've endured alot already just to find this body. We'll follow you."

lol nah, let's follow him. There's clearly a specific sequence of events we should follow. :)

Hanzo sighs gustily, but subsides when Joriannika elbows him.

"Yes, I'm sure you know more about the wizard than we do. Let's talk to the Baroness!" he said with an overly-bright grin at Joriannika.

Joriannika made a face at Hanzo. "Deputy Hodd, would you mind helping us carry Hunclay? Most of us are wounded, and Thomas has been carrying him for some time."

I mean, the adventure will allow you to investigate the manor before you're supposed to...and even says if the PC's are persistent, to let you do it. I merely wished to save your lives, this time.

Deputy Hodd looks as if he might faint at Jori's suggestion, but it's a fleeting look. He steels himself, nods, grabs the wizard by the boots. Once someone else grabs the shoulders, he'll lead the way.

The masked elf scowls, knowing he may lose the opportunity to look through the wizard's spellbook. Watching the deputy clumsily grab the wizard's feet, he hears the a light flapping behind him. Turning his head slightly, he sees the black figure of a raven come to settle on the wizard's porch. He huffs audibly, and the raven replies with a "CAW!" The others probably see nothing but a scavenger hoping for a meal, but Guruthos recognizes the scolding tone of the bird.

He hangs his head for a moment, then steps forward and motions for the deputy to lay the dead man's feet down. He removes his bedroll from his pack, and lays it out on the ground, then motions for the body to be placed on the bedroll. "We all carry him. We all bury him." His voice is even deeper than usual when he speaks, as though it echoes from within a tomb. "Then we bury the rest," he motions towards the tower.

"Good idea, Guruthos. I'm happy to help as much as I can. The dead deserve to rest in peace," Joriannika said with a decisive nod. She picked up a corner of the bedroll, and when everyone was ready, limped along with them.

Hanzo sighed again, but grudgingly took up a corner of the bedroll. "Better your bed than mine," he muttered grumpily under his breath.

Louder, he said, "I dunno about you, but I'm no priest. I'll leave the actual burying to the undertaker." He didn't relish the idea of digging, in particular.

Just FYI for GM: Gu won't be doing anything big or ceremonious, he simply wants to make sure the body is respectfully conveyed to the undertaker, and will silently say a short prayer to Pharasma before leaving. If he is assured that the townspeople will retrieve the bodies from the tower (including the kobolds) and give them proper burial or cremation, he will be satisfied to leave that up to them.

Hodd speaks through the labored breathing as they group carries the wizard down the hill.

"Mighty kind of ya to want to help. Our undertaker will needta prepare his body so we'll drop him off an' head over to her ladyship first. Then we...wait, did he say 'the rest!?' Y'know, I don' even wanna know, y'know. Less I know the better."

The party carries the corpse of Balthus Hunclay to the house attached to the cemetery, where the undertaker, Calladastina Honas, thanks you. You then make your approach to Devy Manor, home of the baroness. You pass the Devy Stables to your left. Before Hodd or anyone else can knock on the door, a servant opens up the door and politely says, with barely any inflection, "Ah. The search party, I presume? Yes, you are expected. Follow me, please."

Hodd gives a nod to everyone, bidding them adieu. Before walking away, he bends down, plucks a wildflower, and sticks the stem between his teeth. He leaves while the party follows the servant.

You are all led through the grand foyer and room-size hallways into a parlor where the baroness sits in a chair by a fire. Her son Arnholde is standing on the opposite side of the room.

"Ahh, welcome back! Well, no sense dilly-dallying, let's get down to it."

She looks suddenly serious.

"What did you find out?"

Before Joriannika could open her mouth and say something honest, Hanzo put on a look of concern and stepped forward.

"Truly, the ruin of the tower was a dangerous place before we cleared it. We came upon the body of the wizard, Hunclay, there. Of course, we brought him back for a decent burial. Far be it from me to speculate what he was doing there, but perhaps you know something that could shed some light on it?" Hanzo probed, hoping to find out if the Baroness had any connection to the wizard's plans before the party revealed that they were the only ones who knew about said plans. Anyway, he hadn't lied - he wasn't speculating about what the wizard was doing in the ruin. No need, since they already knew.

Diplomacy to gather info?: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (10) + 7 = 17

Catching on, Joriannika didn't interrupt. Instead she kept a careful eye on the Baroness and her son, looking for any telltale signs of deceit.

Sense motive: 1d20 ⇒ 19

The masked elf shifts uncomfortably, but keeps his mouth shut.

The looks thoughtful as Hanzo speaks.

"Well, as I said this morning, it was terribly suspicious that Hunclay was not there at the site or answering his door. He has been petitioning for the tower's destruction... really ever since he moved here; so it's not half as surprising to hear he was down there than it was to see kobolds in my town. What of that mystery? It's perfectly alright if the story that contains the truth is not yet known. Truth can never be fully known. But please, continue."

Joriannika cleared her throat, and spoke despite Hanzo's warning glance. "As I mentioned before, Baroness, I have a background in construction... and to me, it looked like the kobolds rigged the tower to fall. With Hunclay there, and with what you've told us about him, it makes sense to me that it was something he had arranged for them to do." She didn't mention Sesserak; no need to have to explain what the Baroness didn't know. "I think he was caught in the collapse by accident."

"We think we know where the kobold tribe lives. I think we should go see if we can find answers there," she said diplomatically. It was probably just as well that she couldn't see Guruthos' face.

She could see Hanzo's, though. He looked like he'd been forced to swallow a mouse.

Hanzo added quickly, "It would also be a good idea to take a look at the wizard's home. Not the sort of thing for the guards - wizards can be so paranoid. Magical traps, and all that. But we might find answers there, too." Better yet, they might find something small and expensive.

The baroness sits in silence for a moment, deep in thought.

"Thank you all for aiding our small community today. As promised here is your reward."

Arnholde Devy, the baroness' adult son, hands Joriannika a bag containing the 500 gp.

"Now. It sounds like there's more to be done. And if you all are willing - and would like to earn a fair bit more than that meager bag - we can continue to benefit one another. I've long been suspicious of a kobold tribe living out somewhere east of here; near the flooded quarry. They have never caused any problems so the townsfolk left them alone.

Keeping the safety of my citizens of the highest import, I must ask this of you. To drive the kobolds out of this region entirely. Use whatever means you deem necessary. Taking out their chieftain should suffice. And in return, I am prepared to offer the lot of you a larger reward: A dozen amethysts, each valued at 100 gold pieces. Of course, I don't ask that you head off right now. You all look like you could use a decent night's sleep. So please, take the rest of the afternoon to prepare yourselves and heal up. Will you serve Belhaim once more?"

Behind his mask, Guruthos' eyes glaze over. My share of the current bounty is 125 gold, and I could live on that quite comfortably for some time. She offers us 12 amethysts, which is a 400 gold piece value each if split four ways. Is it worth it? I nearly died under the tower at the hands of but a few of those wretched beasts, and that horrid ghoul. Still, with 400 gold, perhaps these villagers might be grateful enough to allow me to build a small home outside town.

The elf's breath becomes unsteady behind his mask, and he speaks for the first time in the baroness' presence. "More bodies beneath the tower, both human and kobold." As his gravely voice emanates from beneath the wooden mask, the elf makes a spiraling sign over his chest. "I have sworn to retrieve them all, and properly lay them to rest, as Pharasma commands. This will take time."

"After a good rest any a visit to the blacksmith, I'd be ready to serve you and Belhaim again, baroness. We know now, how the kobolds operate and should be able to drive them away."

"We'll do what we can, Baroness." Joriannika wasn't entirely sure the kobolds deserved to be driven out - but then, if they had slaves... Well, it didn't sit right with her.

Maybe we can reason with them, she thought hopefully.

Hanzo's mouth had started watering so much at the promise of all that money that he was last to answer.

"My dear Baronness. We are the perfect choice for this task," he gushed, bowing with a sweeping flourish, the wizard's home now on the back burner. "Rest assured that your town will be kept safe."

"Master elf, that truly is noble. I will not stop you from fulfilling your spiritual responsibilities, but I must also press upon you the importance of the task at hand. What I don't want, is for citizens to take up arms and get themselves killed. How many more would your god require you to bury?" she asks rhetorically. She lets the silence hang there a few seconds before adding, "You may speak with Calladastina, our undertaker. I'm sure she will help you. I'll have Mulle and Hodd offer some assistance as well. At the latest, you could finish by tomorrow night, heading out the following morning. Again, I thank all of you. Now, go. Rest, heal, prepare yourselves."

The party is escorted out of the manor. Hodd, having received his instructions (and quite obviously not liking it one bit), heads back towards the undertaker, assuming that Guruthos will be following him.

It is mid-afternoon. You may go sell and buy whatever you like. Or go visit a place on the map. The rest of the day is yours. Refer to the "Belhaim Locations" link to see what each numbered location on the map is. Treasure obtained in the ruins will sell for the value I stated. Most gear and weapons will sell for half their purchase cost. (Depending on who you are talking to, you may get a different price. Belhaim citizens care very much about their particular factions/religions).

While around and about, you might talk to people who might tell you rumors that might (or might not) be true (because, y'know...rumors). These may grant extra side quests for the party or reveal information that might prove useful later.

I need to stress that in this module, prices for goods is highly likely to fluctuate based on someone's attitude towards you (or the party in general). And because you're so far off the map, remote from any large cities, items by default will be slightly more expensive. Any vendor with a starting disposition of indifferent sells you goods at a 10% higher cost. (But you still sell for 1/2 the normal price). Some might give you better prices, and some might not sell to you at all. Some might share a rumor with you, some might spread rumors about you. There might be a few magic items at some of the shops and religious temples, but you'll need to venture out.

What does everyone do?

"Jori, you look hurt still. Mind, if I lend you a hand?"
CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5 last spell for the day

"I still have this chest full of gems. We should find a place to sell them and split the coins equally. Maybe we try the temples? I saw at least two, as far as I remember. To my knowledge they often need gems for their spells and rituals."
He suggests to go there first to get rid of some weight and then meet at the inn for a good meal.
Thomas strolled through the town towards the House of Abadar and tried to find a clerk. He'd ask him about a potential trade, because Abadar loves trading.

The number of bodies does not matter to my Goddess, he thinks, but does not bother to clarify.

Guruthos nods to the others, hoping that they will deal fairly and return his portion of the payout to him.

He follows Hodd to meet with Calladastina. He explains in as few words as possible that there are bodies, both human and kobold, beneath the tower rubble. As a worshiper of Pharasma, he has sworn to ensure they are all respectfully retrieved and given proper funeral rights. He adds that the Mayor is sending him and his... companions, on another mission, so they must make haste with this duty. During the "conversation" he will ask if there is a temple or shrine to the Lady of Graves in or around town.

"Thanks, Thomas!" Joriannika tested her weight on her injured leg, finding that it no longer hurt to walk on. She grinned at Thomas. "You sure you're not headed to the temples to check in as a priest?" she teased, patting her fully-healed leg. "Now I just have a few holes where I got poked. Should be fine in no time," she said cheerily.

"I saw that there was a moneychanger here - Grellen and Sons? If the temples don't work out, we can try there."

Back at the inn, she showered the innkeep with some of the money the Baroness had given her, laughing happily. "Thank you so much for your kindness while I was down and out! I hope Shelyn blesses you!" she told her.

She'll give Talia 10gp; she'll probably give her more later, when they have more money. She'll go to the Shrine of the Seven Roses to tithe a few coins too.

Hanzo goes with Thomas, thinking that he can check how much the gems are appraised for. Then he paid a visit to the apothecary, thinking that if there are some potions or alchemical items there, they could be useful.

Guruthos returns to the Sunset House where Calladastina is already engaged in conversation with Hodd. She insists that if they wish to "help," they can stay and begin the digging of graves, including some outside of town for the "non-citizens". She gives Hodd precise measurements for the graves they are to dig, and a couple shovels, and ushers him out the door. When Guruthos asks about a shrine or temple of Pharasma, she responds in a low voice, "No. You'll find no temples or shrines to any deity around here except to Abadar, Shelyn, and those of the Green Faith." As she speaks, she leads the masked elf to a small nook, and opens a sliding wall where a small shrine to Pharasma sits.

Over the next 1d12 ⇒ 7 hours, Guruthos and Calladastina climb in and out of the ruins, bringing out bodies.

(There's no real need to RP any of this, but if you wanted to look at something in particular in the dungeons or tunnels, we can do that).

And, rewinding!

To confirm, Thomas, Jori, and Hanzo all went together, first to the House of Abadar?

I'd think so