
DM rel20 |

The ramshackle town of Falcon’s Hollow rests perilously close to the infamous Darkmoon Vale. The jagged shadow of nearby mountains casts a shroud of gloom on the desperate souls who call this place home. Many are drawn here to make their fortune cutting a swath of darkwood lumber through the lush forests of the vale. Others journey to these remote fringes to start over, piecing together their shattered lives on the edge of an untouched wilderness far from the things of man. Persecuted zealots and outcasts flock to Falcon’s Hollow. Here, these fanatics practice their strange and often deviant rites unfettered by the mores of civilization. Still others are lured to Falcon’s Hollow by the promise of great adventure. Peril and splendor await within the accursed halls of dwarven kings of old, whose glorious civilization long ago shattered and crumbled to dust.

S0nic |

I finally made it Falcon's Hollow. A long journey finds it's end and I can't wait to use all that I learned during my apprenticeship. Feeling a little home sick, I'm glad I have Fenris - my grey cat - with me to have something familiar.
I can't wait to find some other adventurers and see what is out there ...

DM rel20 |

A map of Falcon's Hollow was added.
Perched at the edge of civilized lands, the small town of Falcon’s Hollow has always had to rely on itself to solve its problems. Meanwhile, the uncaring lumber barons squeeze the common folk for every last copper, deaf to their pleas. Now the hacking coughs of the sick are heard throughout town. The plague has come to Falcon’s Hollow and the town’s leaders can’t be bothered to stop it.

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After a long and arduous journey to the edge of the civilized lands, I have arrived at Falcon's Hollow. I have long heard of the resiliency of the villagers at Falcon's Hollow, but I was informed by a member of my Paladin Order that the plague has finally reached the town and they are powerless to stop it. My cause is a righteous one, to always help those in need and to fight off the evil presence that has been lingering over these lands.
As I wearily arrive in town, I managed to heal a few of the sicker villagers outside the gates of the town. I look around the town and survey the suffering and sickness all around me, and I realize that I won't be able to handle this on my own. I lead my horse, Bartholomus, to the inn and stable him for the night. Heading inside the inn, I hope to find other brave adventurers and villagers who can help me fight back the spread of this plague. A cold beer wouldn't hurt either....

S0nic |

This plague scares me. Even I, a resilient Halfling, have to admit I should be careful arounf this town. Maybe I stick close to someone who knows something about healing. This Paladin might be my best bet. Let me introduce myself and Fenris to him ....

DM rel20 |

So much for expecting a post from Collem...
Entering Falcon's Hollow from the west takes you past the life's blood of the town, the cutyard and paper mill of the Lumber Consortium. The scent of tree sap lingers in the air, as does the damp saw dust from the cutyard's blades. Following the River Foam through town, the street widens to a cross roads where several stalls have been set up. A leaning ramshackle inn located next to the town’s stables bears a sign: Jak'a'napes.

S0nic |

This sounds like a good plan to me, let's get a good meal and something to drink and find out the latest gossip. Maybe we can even find some rumors around that plague.

DM rel20 |

The door opens to a whiny creak that deafens the somber tone inside. A handful of patrons look weary and down trodden; the type Springsteen the Bard would sing about. Behind the bar stands a rotund red-faced human with a single wisp of bright red hair on his otherwise bald head, sporting an easy smile.
"Welcome to the Jak'a'napes. How can I help you?"

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Back in this filthy place... Falcon`s Hollow. Like every other moon... Living in the surrounding forests, I don`t like towns, even if this place probably doesn`t deserve this name. And this time, it is even worse. I see many sick people on the streets. And those Lumberjacks. I need to come here for trading because even a maverick as I need some goods. After all, I am still human. Well... at least one half of me. However, I am not an animal. And as usual, I try to make the best out of this need - beer! It`s not about getting drunk. But about the information and maybe once in a while a well paid job from those who can effort my special skills.

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Having been at Jak'a'napes for many hours, the beers have blurred my vision but my interest is piqued in seeing what appears to be a ranger and a sorcerer with a feline companion enter the inn. I wonder if they were drawn to Falcon's Hallow for the same purpose as I - to investigate this plague and find a way to cast off this sickness from the town. I don't believe I am capable of this task alone, hopefully these fellow adventurers are willing to join my quest. I call over to the bartender and order some food and drink for these travelers and invite them to my table.

S0nic |

I'm sitting down with this nice Paladin and I'll stay close to him, with so many sick around here. This all is pretty exciting, so let's see what we can find out about the plague.

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Invited by a stranger who appears to be a Paladin. I am curious he is interested into trading goods or has something else to offer. At least the hospitality in form of a free meal is a good foundation to discuss further business. As I walk over to him, a Halfling is also joining the party. "Thank you for this offer. My I introduce myself. Even if I choose to live alone with mother nature, I still have some good manners. My Name is Collem and I am a Ranger living here and there." at the same time, I am ignoring the hand the Paladin is offering me to shake and sit down to enjoy the good meal and beer even if the Hafling Lady is still standing next to me... Hey, it`s a good meal and free beer!

DM rel20 |

The red-haired man arrives at the table with a plate stacked high with pancakes and what appears to be a meat pie covered with a golden crust. "I'm afraid this is the best I've got until supper, but the pancakes are a house specialty," as the warm yet intense scent of cinnamon fills the air before he can complete the sentence. With a clank, the hearty plates of food are jostled by the tankard planted on the table, a dark brown and frothy ale teetering from side to side, a bit of the white foamy head running down the side.

DM rel20 |

Everyone can roll a knowledge local check to see what they can overhear while at the inn. Those that make the appropriate DC checks can read the following.

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I tried to overhear what I could from the other villagers at the inn, but I had a difficult time hearing anything specific with all the conversations swirling around me. I call the bartender back over and toss him a few extra coins to share some information about the source of the illness and if there is anyone in the town who might have already been trying to find a cure.

DM rel20 |

I tried to overhear what I could from the other villagers at the inn, but I had a difficult time hearing anything specific with all the conversations swirling around me. I call the bartender back over and toss him a few extra coins to share some information about the source of the illness and if there is anyone in the town who might have already been trying to find a cure.
Jak is busy tidying up with a florish as he sends several skillets up in the air with a twirl as they spiral in an arc to his other hand that quickly stacks them on the side. as he finishes, he heads over to Aurrius, "The illness? Bad luck, that is. They say Laurel traced the illness to Brookman's Well, so Sheriff Baleson banned the use of it. Too late though for a lot folks."

DM rel20 |

Do I get any information from the healer? If not I think we are off to Brookman's well to investigate. This time I'm not going alone.
Since it looked like you were asking the others to join you, I was waiting for their response before responding to this action. At this point we'll just assume the group goes with you.
Exiting the Jak'a'napes and turning north, a line of twenty-some somber townsfolk—some with pale, wheezing children, others seeming to be precipitously near tears—stretches from the open door.
The line appears to originate from a two-story shop bearing the faded sign “Roots and Remedies.” Creeping ivy and full window boxes cover the façade of the rugged-looking building.

S0nic |

I approach the line and ask if this is the healer's house? Then I start talking to the waiting people about their possible illness and the signs of it and any other rumors that might be circling around the village.
If I can I will try to talk to the healer (without jumping anyone in the line) and offer my help in whatever is needed to ind teh root of this disease or find some more herbs to better cure the people.

DM rel20 |

A grim matron in line confirms that this is the line for the healer.
It takes nearly an hour to reach the door of Roots and Remedies. Once inside, the clutter and disrepair of the shop shows the recent traffic.
The smell of burnt earth and spicy incense chokes the air of the cramped, mud-tracked shop. Bunches of dried herbs hang from the ceiling, along with dangling pots, presses, alchemical apparatuses, and glassware of more arcane purposes. Pouches of rare plants, jars of colored glass, and all manner of dried, preserved, and jellied animal parts fill high shelves and tables doing double duty as displays and workspaces. In the shop’s rear, a rail-thin woman with severe-looking spectacles and hair pulled back tightly busies herself between an overpacked rack of herbs, a table covered in stray powders and measuring equipment, and a pot loudly bubbling over with thick gray froth. Over the din of her work and without looking up, the woman impatiently shouts, “And what’s your problem?”

S0nic |

"Good day. Fortunately, I don't have a problem, but I'm willing to offer my assistance in the fight against this disease. I'm not that good of a healer, but maybe I can track down where this comes from. What can you tell me about the disease? when did it appear? what do all patience have in common? Is there any idea where the outbreak started? Maybe I can help find a antidote or something?"
I'm trying to sense motive while talking to her and I'm trying to use my diplomacy skill to start a conversation with the healer.
Sense Motive:
1d20 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 4 = 21
Diplomacy:
1d20 + 5 ⇒ (10) + 5 = 15

DM rel20 |

"Harumph! No scabbed knee to mend? No cut to stitch up? That's a first."
Looking up from her crucible, she pauses for a second to ponder.
"But maybe not that will informed either. I already found the source of the illness, although not a lot of good that will do. We don't get a lot of supplies out here. Certainly not enough to handle the amount that need it in town. The illness is caused by the Blackscour fungus. Hard, bitter, and sharp, it likes the water and gets you sick if you drink it down. Never heard of it growing around these parts, though, until now."
...
“There might be something else worth trying though. My grandmother’s book has a brew in it that says its good for this kind of thing. A weird concoction that sounds more like hoojoo than real medicine.”

S0nic |

"What incredients do you need to prepare this brew? And where can I find them? I'll try to find a group of adventures that might be willing to help me gather everything."

DM rel20 |

“Some rare roots and concentrations, most of which I have here, but there’s three I don’t. Elderwood moss, which I’ve never heard of, but granny says the stuff only grows on the oldest tree in a forest. A specially pickled root called rat’s tail, again, sounds like hoojoo to me. And seven ironbloom mushrooms, stunty little things that only grow in dark places thick with metal, a favorite among dwarves, or so I hear.”
...
“Well, for the elderwood mold, there’s gotta be an oldest tree in the vale. Damned if I know where it is, though. “The rat’s tail and mushrooms are even longer shots. Way north, toward the mountains, people say there used to live a bunch of dwarves. They’re not there anymore, but I’d bet their forges are. If you can find ironbloom anywhere around here, that’d be your best bet. “As for the rat’s tail, who knows? Well. Actually. Ulizmila, the witch that lives deep in the woods might. She’s a crafty, mean thing that knows all sorts of strangeness. She might even have one. I don’t know what she might want for it, but I doubt it’d come cheap. My grandmother traded her sight to the old crone for a few pages of what she knew, and that was years and years back, and I don’t know a soul who got any nicer as they got older.”

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I turn to Sonic and say, "The information the healer provides is a good starting point for our journey. Perhaps there is an elder or scholar in town who might have knowledge of where the oldest tree in the vale is located? Once we have an idea of the location, we can plan out where to start."
Turning back to the healer, I ask "Is there anyone in town who might know more about the oldest tree in the vale, maybe a scholar or town elder?"

S0nic |

"Can you draw me a map of where to find the tree, dwarves and the witch? Or is there somebody that knows the forest good enough to guide us to these places?"
I don't since I don't have knowledge local/ nature skill ranks.
As soon as I have all the information I head out to the guys I met in the tavern and explain to them what I'm about to do, asking them if they want to come with me.

S0nic |

Seems like my last post is outdated.
So let's try to find this Milon Rhoddam. Before we go we stack up on travel rations to be independent in the woods for some days.

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I am in agreement with Sonic, I think trying to find Milon is a good start for more information. I will contribute towards the procurement of some rations and supplies for our journey.