Everyone gets together for dinner with Walt. During the dinner, the Mayor shows up to congratulate everyone for their bravery. Everyone is given a reward of .
=====================
Time passes. Days turn into weeks, weeks into months, months into seasons. Close to a year passes.
It has not rained since that eventful day.
Fortunately, your little town has a nearby reservoir of water that has not yet run dry. Nearby towns have not been so lucky. Crops don't grow. Food stores are running low. People have been dying, and those who haven't have left. Many of those who left have come here. Others have traveled north to the watch cities near the Dessolation, or south towards Sixton.
You've been lucky, though. Your town has survived. The mountain snowmelt is still going, still bringing enough water for your crops. Food has not run out. But the ice won't last forever, and it looks as if it won't last before for the next harvest.
There's also plenty of water in the well. At least, there has been plenty of water. You don't know how long it will be until it, too, is out.
You suffered a nasty head wound. You have difficulty speaking. For the next adventure, you make attack rolls in social situations with 1 bane.
Describe how this event happened.
Your lifestyle remains as "Getting By."
What was it you were doing? Why were you successful?
Make an Intellect Challenge Roll with one Bane. On a success, you've saved up an extra 1d6 copper pennies.
What was it you were doing? Why were you successful?
Make an Intellect Challenge Roll. On a success, you've saved up an extra 1d6 silver shillings.
What was it you were doing? Why were you successful? Did your boss give you that raise?
What was it you were doing? Why were you successful?
What was it you were doing? Why were you successful?
Make an Intellect Challenge Roll with one Bane. On a success, you've saved up 1d6 copper pennies.
What happened? What was gambled on? Was it literal gambling with cards and dice, or perhaps you “gambled” on a risky adventure and lost some equipment.
Your lifestyle remains at Poor.
Make a Strength Challenge Roll. On a failure, lose one item worth 1 silver shilling or more. If you do not have any items to lose, then gain the “Diseased” Affliction (all attack rolls and challenge rolls are made with one Bane). At the beginning of each day, repeat the Strength Check (don't forget the Bane); on a success you have been cured. Magic or medicine can also cure you or give opportunities to roll again.
What was it you were doing? Why were you successful?
Make an Intellect Challenge Roll with one Bane. On a success, you've saved up 1d6 copper pennies.
In the past year, Tesswyn has finally reached the coveted age of eighteen. Though technically an adult, she still feels like a child. Her dreams still haunt her at night, but her lifestyle has improved somewhat. It's partially due to her employer at the magic shop finally giving her equal pay to Drot. The other part is due to her spree of petty thefts.
Yes, it seems dear Tesswyn has developed a penchant for larceny. Rather than facing her nightmares, she prefers to spend her nights picking pockets and stealing small valuables left unattended. It's all relatively minor, and so far she hasn't been caught. She's still a long way from a comfortable lifestyle, but she's making progress.
Regulus' work forging trails and transporting goods has grown significantly in profitability during the drought. The economic landscape has changed, creating need for new trade routes in certain areas. In addition, Asylum has seen a greatly increased demand for goods. But Regulus himself hasn't saved up much money as he invests almost all of his wealth in new equipment, road infrastructure, or the growing trade company he works for.
In the bustle of work, he considers himself well settled into his routine and evaluates himself as appropriately meeting objectives. But there's a very tiny spark of a voice somewhere inside his metal head that he tries very hard to ignore. It hints that there is something more to life than trade. But Regulus is far too rational to listen to such impractical imaginings and throws himself into his labor all the harder.
At some point, Charles walked over to Regulus who as in the corner. Although he was unsure of exactly how to begin the conversation with the Clockwork, he eventually decided to go with the truth.
"I was impressed by what you did that day during the cultist's attack on the square. You saved a great many lives when you managed to hurl the cultist into the rift. You also halted the release of many more abominations into our world and diverted the gaze of the Demon Lord. May the blessings of the New God be upon you."
Over the last year since the incident, Charles has gained a new level of belief and understanding with the Cult of the New God. His desire to help others has caused his power to develop into healing magic. To supplement this he has continued his trade as a gatherer of herbs and medicinal plants.
As the drought began to grow as a problem and more and more people came to Asylum he found himself gaining a reputation as a healer. As his reputation has grown, he has since began to earn the patronage of those who come to him for healing, although his bedside manner leaves something to be desired as he has a dry sense of humor and often gives biting remarks.
He has sense found that a decent set of clothing makes a great deal of difference when dealing with people. While treating others he continues to to extol his belief in the worship of the New God and has found this to be a solid conversation piece for many of the refugees coming to Asylum as a great number already believe. As his reputation grew and he needed to spend more time tending to oncoming and returning refugees he has since began hiring on several Goblins to help him collect various herbs and plants.
After having met the Clockwork, Regulus, at Walter's and learning of his profession; With the increasing necessity of trade transportation, he has spoken with Regulus to begin a shipping arrangement for various supplies and other herbs out of the area to help treat patients. In return for the medical supplies, he offers his services to the teamsters and their families for free.
Gronder finds work with the local militia, his background and experience making him well suited to helping to keep the peace around town. Training is held once a week and covers the basics of weapons, tactics, and patrolling. This keeps him in shape, and makes him feel as though he is contributing in a positive way.
He invests some of his earnings into trying to help a retired soldier named Forshekk get a mercenary company off the ground, but the venture falls through when the initial group of six mercs, and Forshekk himself, die in a skirmish.
To supplement his meager earnings and try to recover his losses, he puts in time as a prospector, finding a sort of peace in the repetitive, uneventful work.
He makes time to see Slevin and the others from the day in the square as time permits. He still wonders what happened that day.
He still feels the yearning for something more... something bigger and better. He knows he's ready, but when will it happen?
Drot'ook's mind has be all over the place since the attack. The feelings he got from the chest, the magic, defeating the demons. It was all so much. Lost in thought while putting boxes into the attic of the shop Drot fell, hitting his head on the way down. He was out cold, in a coma for three days. This fall has caused Drot to forget the motor skills used to speak clearly, especially in common. He now speaks with a slow methodical tone as he tries to retrain himself in speech.
This series of events has sent Drot into a shallow bout of depression as he is ashamed now that he sounds like "a dumb brutish orc". His mind during conversations reels with thoughts as fast as ever but his responses are a fraction of his truth.
On the other side of the coin this has given him ample time to sit a think more intensely about and experiment with the magics he has experienced. The joy of battle still eating away at his mind. As long as I'm defeating evil, I'm not some brute. I guess people would consider that being heroic...
All of his spare time has been dedicated to accessing the part of his mind he used when he touched the portal and found answers past the veil. Months of experimentation have yielded minor spells and accelerated Drot's dedication to magic and fighting against the demons.
Regulus turns to Charlemagne and listens intently. "Acknowledged." He looks intently and quizzically at Charlemagne, unsure the purpose of the interaction that has just occurred. Organics tend to speak in very nuanced and implicit patterns. Perhaps there is something I am missing. Inquire directly. "Are you placing an indirect transportation request?"
Booooonnnng. Boooonnnnnng. Boooonnnnnng. The bell rings. New bells which have been set up for an emergency. They call out to the town warning that something is wrong. For those of soft temperament to stay indoors. For those of strong will to come out and help.
The Bell was installed after the tear in reality. It has rung only once since then, as a test of the system.
Today it has rung.
A man has been found dead. The owner of a small curiosities shop that dabbles in questionably magic trinkets and homeopathic potions. A shop in which works Drot and Tesswyn.
"I didn't do it," Tesswyn tells Drot before he can even ask. She checks the inventory of the shop to see if anything has been taken.
Gronder is patrolling when he hears the bell ring. Making his way towards the Square, he tells people to seek shelter. "Get indoors! Stay there! Tell anyone else you see to do the same!"
Hefting his shield, he continues on, hoping it won't be more of those... things.
Regulus makes a mechanical beeline for the shop. Once there, he searches the body. Must determine mechanism of termination of this organic...
"I wouldn' imagine you'd do this... I didn' either."
Drot gives Tesswyn a sad smile.
In addition to caring for the graveyard began gathering herbs, mushrooms, and other plants from the surrounding area and set up a little stand for people to purchase offering or flowers, and had done well for himself. He also began venturing into town a little bit more selling his gatherings.
One day on his way into town the warning bell rang out and he doubled timed it into town. People began to gather around the trinket shop, he recognized some as those that fought of the rift demon.
Charles blinked at the question Regulus asked. He had been intending to give only his admiration and praise to the clockwork, but at after being asked, he realized there was perhaps an opportunity here.
"Well, no. I hadn't been. But now that I know that seems to be your profession, I suppose I would like to know what sort of things you tend to transport and see if you happen to take requests. There are a number of medicinal herbs that don't seem to grow in the immediate vicinity of Asylum. Perhaps I could have you give me an introduction to those you work with about setting up a trade agreement?"
Charles was surveying the small room he had recently begun renting out at the edge of town as a sickroom to those who needed it. It was a sparse affair. Two beds in a single room separated by a small standing screen for privacy. Each bed was covered by a single sheet and even a pillow. Although he was feeling as though it was perhaps a little too barren.
Just as he was considering what he should do to help liven it up, he began hearing the sound of the bells and a sinking filling hit him. He didn't believe it was false and so he took a minute to put on the seldom worn leather suit of armor he'd acquired some months ago, gathered his short staff and a few other implements before he closed the door and made his way over to the center of town.
As he arrived, he noted the group of familiar figures gathered there. The sinking feeling he'd gotten from before became a sense of dread as he noted the dead body.
"Does anyone know what happened?"
He stepped forward and stuck his staff into the ground, crouching down to more closely examine the body. He noted Regulus was also probably doing just that.
"Yeah, looks like he died," Tesswyn says acerbically as Charles arrives on the scene. She steps back to let him and Regulus look over the shopkeeper's corpse. She'll shed no tears over his untimely demise--he was a bit of a prick. She's more annoyed that she's likely out of a job now.
Charles glanced up at Tesswyn with a raised eyebrow.
"Obviously... Hey, isn't this the man who runs the curiosity shop? Well, unlike his wares, there's no question as to whether or not he's dead."
He let the moment hang in the air before moving on.
"Regulus, have you found anything unusual yet?"
The body was discovered just outside the shop, which is located on the edge of the town center.
Upon looking at the body, you can see why the bell was rung. This is no ordinary murder. The body itself is unusual in how it has died. It is completely dried out. Not a wick of moisutre on it. It is shriveled up and dessecated. It is fully clothed. There's still five copper pennies in one pocket, and the shop key is in another pocket. The shop is not broken into; no wares have been stolen.
Regulus is confused about what Charles' original query was. Regardless, it was quickly discarded. Therefore he considers it a lower priority. Regulus nods "Acceptable. I transport all manner of goods. Currently, foodstuffs are a prime commodity given Asylum's increased relative production. I have contacts who have shipped medicinal herbs with me and it would fall within my function to arrange a meeting between you and them."
Regulus immediately gathers up the pennies and shop key. "Are any aware of the next of kin? These should go into probate, as should the shop." He turns back to the corpse. "Are any aware of a hazard that could cause this? If so, said hazard should be eliminated."
Gronder hustles up to the scene, exchanging nods of greeting with everyone. Looking at the body, he lets out a low whistle. "What in all of the hells could do something like that?"
He looks around the square, shouting for the few stragglers and looky-loos to get indoors.
Walter has been a very busy man since the attack of the demon over a year ago. After his dinner with the other citizens who help defeat the demonic incursion, Walt decided that this was a call to action from the New God. He finally decided to do what he had wanted to do for the last few years…join the clergy.
He set aside his demanding wife and left her most of his modest fortune then headed out to learn from the best teachers he could find. He entered the church as a lay-parishioner in Asylum and from there travelled south, visiting many shrines and a few temples in the larger cities. Everywhere he went he talked to the various clergy about the church, the martyr and the New God. He crossed over the Shield Mountains in the early spring and made his way into the Holy Empire. It was in the early spring that Walter entered the city of Seven Spires and beheld the Great Cathedral of the Seven. He, with hundreds of others, took their vows at the holy edifice and for 3 months he studied hard and progressed with astounding swiftness. Just as the summer was beginning to fade, Walter was confirmed into the priesthood of the New God. He received his white vestments and, in a small vial, a reliquary. This last was a gift from his sponsor, an elderly matron-bishop who took a liking to him. It reportedly holds a finger bone of the Martyr herself and has been reported to have some sort of holy powers…but Walter has never seen them manifest so far. Being a newly minted priest, Walter was not made to choose one of the seven sects of the church but rather was given training in all. He learned a little about each group and even manifested holy prayers for a few, but as he is still new to the priesthood, he has some time to decide the route he will take to honour his god.
The trip back to Asylum was anticlimactic. He thought he would see the world with different eyes now that he was a priest, but it still looked the same. He helped where he could, and preached whenever he was allowed, but it still felt hollow somehow. It was like he was just on the edge of something trying to gain a better understanding but just could not seem to grasp what was beyond. He arrived back home to discover his ex-wife had moved away, marrying a merchant from one of the northern cities. He felt a sadness as this last tie to his old life was cut, but also a renewed sense of purpose. He often went to the sight of the Demon’s incursion to this world and remembered how he felt attacking the evil firsthand. It was during one of these visits that he heard the town bell sound…
Running to the location he sees a small crowd forming outside a shop on the edge of town. When he arrives he notices several individuals he recognizes.
"Well met friends. Wish this could have been under better circumstances. Let's take a look shall we."
Seeing the body sends a jolt through the priest. He is sure this is the work of something evil and touches his Ouroboros while saying a prayer for the dead.
Tesswyn makes a face when she realizes the man has been exsanguinated. "Ew. You think it was a vampire or the like?"
The shopkeep has no kext of kin in town. As far as anyone knows, he was kind of a loner, living in a small house on the outskirts of town. He got along with Drot and Tesswyn well enough, having employed them in his shop.
"He'is never, mentioned, family. Lives alone, at the edge of town..."
Drot's a little sad that the old man is dead. He was easy to speak to and he was nice, two things Drot doesn't find a lot of. Although Drot would like to keep the shop open he's more interested in finding the thing that did this.
Drot...
Touches the old mans forehead to gain insight on the events that have happened here.
"I wonder..."
Charles looked uneasy at the prospects that were given.
"Only an abomination would do something like this. We'll have to give him a proper burial later but for the moment we need to get some questions answered.
Who were the last ones to see him alive? Who found him first? Did anyone notice anything strange recently? And is whoever... or whatever did this to him still here? Are we all still in danger?" He let the questions stand for a moment as he glanced around the town that suddenly felt all too quiet.
"I don't think anyone should be alone at this point now that we're going to be looking into this."
Charles looked at the respective members as he spoke.
"Drot'ook and Tesswyn. You two knew him the best. Perhaps you should go check up on his house to see if you can find anything there.
Slugoth, you and I should take this body away and give him a proper burial. I don't think the rest of the town need to look upon this horrific sight any longer.
Walter, Regulus, and Gronder, the three of you should start going around and questioning those who live nearby. Maybe start with whoever rung the bell and work their way out from there. They may have seen something.
We should all meet back here within the hour to see what we've found.
If anyone has any objections or thinks of something else they should be doing, then let us know and again, don't go alone."
Tesswyn rolls her eyes as Charles barks out orders. "Sure, whatever. Come on, Drot, let's go loot--I mean, search the old man's house."
Regulus nods very fast. "Efficient organization key at critical junctures." He heads off, hopefully with the other two, to find whoever rang the bell.
Gronder, eyes narrowed, looks at Charles for a long moment. "Your suggestion has merit, so I will do as requested. But I don't take orders from you. Remember that." Having said this, he walks off with Walter and Regulus.
Walter hesitates a moment looking at Charlemange.
"Our friend has descended to the underworld and, in time, will follow his course on the wheel, but we must be sure his soul was, indeed freed. This cursed attack may have harmed his immortal soul and it is our duty to see it to the afterworld!"
Just a question (as I am finalizing my spells), can Detect life be used to see if the soul of a creature has passed on, or if it may be ensnared or captured? As the New God's church is very specific as to what happens to the soul and the need for it to travel to the underworld where it can then shed all its memories and be reborn, I would think they should have a simple prayer to ensure the soul is indeed travelling (or has travelled) to its just reward.
Slugoth places his hand on the withered corpse seeking to gain some insight.
I was out making some early morning deliveries, when I seen him. Just laying there, like he was heading into the shop.
Regulus turns to the others. "Potentially an immediate dead end. Will continue attempting to discover relevant evidence." He turns back to the boy. "Did you see observe any persons, creatures, or objects in the area at that time?"
"Hmm, obsessed much?" Tesswyn says, studying the paintings. She searches around for anything hidden or valuable.
Drot nods at the suggestion and quietly follows Tesswyn, deep in thought.
At the house
"When I touched Olin, I saw a woman like this. She liked him, too much. I think she might've been the murderer."
Drot sat gazing at the paintings. What kind of monster looks like this and utterly destroys their prey.
"He's gotta hav'a coffer here somewher"
Gronder looks at the boy, and gives a slight smile. "You did well, lad. Truly. As my friend here said, if there's anything else you saw, anything unusual, it could help us figure this out."
Gronder nods. "Thank you. Again, you did well." He fishes two bits out of his pouch and passes them to the boy.
He looks at Walter and Regulus. "I guess we should head back?"
"I don't think wer'gonna find, any.thing. else here"
Drot motions to the door with a questioning look on his face and a shrug.
"You think we'd find the lady at the well? Maybe we get Walt to wait, he's 'bout the same as Olin... "
Tesswyn subtly pockets the valuables, hoping Drot won't notice. She plans on splitting the proceeds with him, though, as soon as she comes up with an excuse for where she got the money from.
"Alright, let's go then."
On the walk back, the girl shrugs. "Maybe. Maybe at the bottom of the well. Perhaps there's a secret tunnel down there that leads to her vampire lair."
"Well that ought to do it. May he rest easy in the New God’s grace... or whatever gods he believed in." He glanced over at Sluggoth. "For someone with one foot in the grave, you sure do well help to put others in it."
Charles wiped his hand across his brow and stamped his boots clear of loose dirt.
"Seems like it's about the right time now. We should probably head back to the others and see if they've found anything."
Everyone meets back together in front of the curiousities shop.
Tesswyn tells everybody about the paintings in the house. "Looks like the old man was a sucker for a pretty face. And then she sucked out his blood, I guess? I still say she's a vampire. We should check out the well."
Regulus' gears whirr as he leaves the boy, keen on finding more information. When Tesswyn hypothesizes a vampire, he inquires "How have you reached this speculation?"
Tesswyn shrugs. "What else drinks blood?"
"The lad who rang the bell says he saw nothing other than the body. I believe him. We didn't go ask anyone else yet."
He strokes his beard as he thinks. "Tesswyn, not saying you're wrong, but there could be other blood drinking things we just don't know about. Vampire is the only one that comes to mind, but let's keep an open mind for other possibilities."
A click sounds in Regulus' head. "Was he certainly exsanguinated? Are there puncture marks? Possible he was dessicated instead? Any medical professionals?"
Tesswyn shrugs. "I'm no expert. I'm happy to be proven wrong."
Bite marks were not found on the body. The body was found completely dried of all moisutre, to the point where the skin was paper thin.