Dungeon Master S's "The Fall of Plaguestone" (Inactive)

Game Master Chris Marsh

A pair of you head downstairs to the cellar. There's little of interest in the cellar itself. A look at Bort's body produces little new information. His flesh has turned an odd blue color in death, and checking reveals the faintest impression of a floral odor from the body.

There seems to be nothing else down here.

I strongly recommend either using the notes in Dramatis Personae and Locations.

after he climbs the stairs back to the kitchen. "There are a lot of people here we could question. I still think that we need a clue as to WHY Bort was killed. Let us go see what we can find out about Bort. His wagon has been his home for years. There must be something there we can learn about the man and his past."

Time spent at the Feedmill Hours: 1d4 ⇒ 2 10:00 am Day 1.

First location/person to get two votes will send the party. That's 1 for the wagon.

Wagon works fine for me.

le wagon.

"That makes sense to me, Cilik," Penryn weighs in, joining the others heading to Bort's wagon. As they're leaving, he thanks Delma for her help, adding, "We'd still like to talk to that Krent fellow. Anywhere else we should look for him, since he hasn't shown up here yet?"

Wagon works for me. I added a couple of notes to the Feedmill on the locations slides, and to Krent's slide in Dramatis Personae.

Tamli lets you in, but is obviously protective of Bort's belongings. "I just want to make sure you don't make a mess in here."

Inside, Bort’s wagon is filled with knickknacks and keepsakes from his journeys. His belongings are truly a bewildering assortment of odds and ends, including a bottle with a tiny skull floating in oil, a taxidermic dragon whelp, a mummified owlbear paw, a shining crystal that holds the illusionary image of a mountain peak inside, and so on. There are a number of minor magic trinkets in here, but Tamli says they're off limits.

The merchant’s ledgers are easily found in a rack above his bed. Tamli points these out, "If you're going to learn anything, it'll be in there."

The books are large and filled to the brim with details about his travels and transactions over many years. Acquiring any useful information from them will take hours. And a Decipher Writing check with either Society or a relevant Lore skill.

Blodgett tries to help, but quickly grows bored or frustrated (or both) with the ledgers. Bah! the halfling throws up his hands and storms out of the wagon. This is getting us nowhere!

Jasper looks at the books, and then at the group. "We, uh, don't have to read through those, do we? I'm not a fan of... well, reading."

”Yeah, some of us are going to be better at this than others,“ Penryn observes, sharing Jasper and Blodgett’s distaste for the task. ”How about Cilik and Elvanthain tackle this job, along with anyone else who’s excited about it, and the rest of us can go look somewhere more fun, like the Plaguestone?“

Split the party! Generally ill-advised, but not uncommon in investigative settings.

Cilik grabs the books with eagerness and gives a big grin. He opens to the end are starts reading the entries backwards from most current to oldest.

"oh, ok go ahead. i'll be done here in a bit." He responds when asked if he will stay and look over the books. He looks like a pig in slop.

know society: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (14) + 7 = 21

We can in fact, split the party. Cilik's work is going to take him 4 hours, which means you can all do something else if you're not going to help him.

Cilik's clue is significant enough to earn the party 30 XP.

Anything is better than this, Blodgett agrees. Maybe we should go find Eollom and rough him u...I mean, ask him some questions.

Kaleb is happy to leave Cilik sorting through the paperwork while they look elsewhere.

"Blodgett, lets try Penryn's suggestion first and check out The Plageustone. Maybe it's nothing to do with this mystery, but you never know."

Kaleb, Blodgett, and Penryn all head towards the ignoble and unofficial namesake of the town. They find the stone without any of the locals near it. Perception or appropriate Lore skill.

Kaleb snacks on a turnip as he looks over the stone.

perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (16) + 7 = 23

Though it was his suggestion, Penny finds the Plaguestone to be quite creepy and can’t bring himself to look at it closely.

Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8

The stone is covered in moss and ivy, a silent witness to those grim months when Etran's Folly suffered the plague. The town folk you see walking by pay it no heed. You see a hairline crack in the top stone, but nothing of import to your investigation.

"It's a bit macabre if you ask me." The halflings (and whoever else joins them) look up to see Delma approaching from the nearby Feedmill. "Hey... I have... a favor to ask. If you're going to be poking around town, maybe we can kill two birds with one stone." She winces a bit after catching herself using a murderous idiom. "My father Targen is technically the mayor here. You haven't seen him yet because, well, his eyesight failing, and spends most of his days in a wooden wheelchair made from a modified pushcart. I'd really appreciate if you approached him, introduced yourselves and when he offers, accept his request to give you a tour. Please?"

”Sure, Delma, we can do that,“ Penryn replies, giving Blodgett a quick look to be sure he behaves. ”That’ll give us a chance to see a bit more of the town. And who knows, maybe we’ll learn something useful in figuring out what happened to Bort. Just let us know where to find him.“

"Thank you! I know it seems trivial, but it matters." She points to a house only a stones throw away.

Lacking anything of import at the stone, the group heads to the house to meet the mayor. He's obviously physically infirm, but his eyes are bright. He does his best to wheel himself over to you.

"Greetings my new friends. I wish we were meeting under better circumstances. I'd be happy to take you on a tour of the town. I know plenty of the town's history. Who knows, you may learn something."

Kaleb smiles and nods "We'd be honored, turnip?"

Kaleb offers one of his turnip snacks to the mayor.

"HA! Excellent. My favorite!" He takes it gratefully.

"You know, my daughter speaks well of you so far. I opened the Feedmill more than 50 years ago when I was younger than she is now, before the Goblinblood Wars. My brother died in that conflict, along with much of my extended family. The town itself avoided the worst of the conflict, which occurred primarily to the west."

He directs you back past the Plaguestone since you were checking it out before. "Our little town was once twice the size it is now. I estimate that there was about 600 of us until about 20 years ago. This stone is our reminder. Originally it was used to give food and aid to those suffering from the plague. People would leave food here so the infected could pick it up. Everyone suspected a local witch named Silwyth of starting the plague, and after Silwyth caught it herself, she cursed the town’s only priest before she died. Soon after, Father Bolgrist contracted the plague and died. The witch had a daughter named Vilree who stuck around her mother’s home for a few years, then probably died or ran off. It's a sad reminder."

He gives a heavy sigh. "Come now, let's head north, there's a path that goes around the town. Let's take it. Ask me anything as we go."

Kaleb nods and chats while he walks "The Goblinblood Wars have taken a toll on many. How old was Vilree when she disappeared?"

"Hard to tell. Elves age so slowly. She was an adult and just barely. Sorry I can't give you more."

The conversation continues as you push the mayor north. As you pass the dead homes his face falls a bit. "Anyone with any coin at all lives on the southern side now."

As you hit the edge of town proper, you see Cilik bounding towards you. With the party united more introductions are done.

"It's a bit of a walk, but if you wouldn't mind, let's take the old 'Drunk Shepherd's Path.'"

FYI, turns out there is official artwork for Tamli, updated her picture in Dramatis Personae.

" Glad to have caught up with you!" Cilik says with a smile. His eyes are drawn to the man in the pushcart. after proper introductions, Cilik Continues,[b]"Bort had been coming here for many years. He was bringing reagents to someone identified as 'H'. Do you know who that could be?" The halfling's last comment is directed at the mayor.

"Honestly I have no idea.... I fear that I'm more of a knickknack than actual mayor these days. " The mayor gives the impression that he's embarrassed for not knowing.

The party continues along the path. "These were once sheep pastures, but the last large flock left town years ago. I'm not even sure how many now, it's sad really."

The party takes a leisurely pace, eventually coming to the simple shrine on the south end of town. It's tucked away in the middle of an ancient copse of oak trees. While the shrine is currently dedicated to Gozreh, it has served other purposes. He claims that druids used to gather at the shrine long ago. Since Father Bolgrist’s death, nobody worships here anymore."[/b]

As the party draws near, the sounds of buzzing fill the air. A quartet of creatures emerge from the nooks of the shrine. Each has two pairs of bat wings, a tangle of thin legs, and a needle-sharp proboscis!

Enemy: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (13) + 6 = 19
Penryn: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (20) + 7 = 27 ()
Cilik: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9 Perception (T)
Lucky: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8 Avoid Notice (T)
Jasper: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (10) + 7 = 17 Cover Tracks (T)
Elvanthain: 1d20 ⇒ 4
Blodgett: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (13) + 4 = 17

Mayor Targen gives a sharp cry of fear as the creatures dart forth!

Round 1:
Penryn: Go
Enemy: TBD
Jasper: TBD
Blodgett: TBD
Cilik: TBD
Elvanthain: TBD
Kaleb: TBD

DM - PF2 is scarcely a month old and this is the second time you've sent stirges after me!

Also, how does the nearly blind mayor spot them?

"Uh, mayor?" Penryn says, slipping his bow off his shoulder, "No offense, but it might be best if you tried to keep out of the way, and my friends and I will deal with...whatever these things are." He studies the winged critters a moment, then shrugs and focuses his attention closely on one of them in particular.

Action 1 to draw bow, action 2 to use Nature Lore and know nothing useful, action 3 to use Hunt Prey on grey-ringed critter.

Nature Lore: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9

”Sure, Delma, we can do that,“ Penryn replies, giving Blodgett a quick look to be sure he behaves. ”That’ll give us a chance to see a bit more of the town. And who knows, maybe we’ll learn something useful in figuring out what happened to Bort. Just let us know where to find him.“

Blodgett grimaces as Penny accepts. Fine, fine, he grouses on the way to Targen's home, but if the dottering old coot starts saying 'stay awhile and listen,' I'm out faster than you can blink.

----------------

In spite of his sour demeanor, Blodgett seems to enjoy — or at least not hate — the impromptu tour, at least until the overgrown mosquitos arrive. Hate insects, he gripes.

I know! I'm reminded of the prevalence of dire rats when 3.0 came out. I also didn't apply the action economy correctly at the table, but now I'm practiced! Also, the mayor's ears are still sharp ;-)

Caught unprepared, Penryn tries to get focused. He doesn't recall anything specific, but he does know how to hunt!

The creatures' buzzing intensifies as the streak towards the group! The mayor obeys Penryn's command, and tries to huddle into his chair. They flit the air with ease, dodging the trees and attacking.

Jasper gets attacked! Attach: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (3) + 8 = 11

Kaleb gets attacked! Attach: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (4) + 8 = 12

Blodgett REALLY gets attacked:
Attach Red: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (5) + 8 = 13
Attach Grey: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (3) + 8 = 11

But the armor and reflexes of the caravan guards are too much!

Round 1:
Penryn: Prep
Enemy: ATK!
Jasper: Go
Blodgett: Go
Cilik: Go
Elvanthain: Go
Kaleb: Go

Elvanthain tries to assist Blodgett by shooting one.

crossbow: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7

But he's obviously distracted the creepy things.
Can I use Nature to recall information on these?

Recalling Information is a single action, and yes.

Elvanthain sends a quarrel over the wings of one.

Round 1:
Penryn: Prep
Enemy: ATK!
Jasper: Go
Blodgett: Go
Cilik: Go
Elvanthain: Miss
Kaleb: Go

So an action to reload and then one to recall.

nature: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10

the buzzing of the insects reminds him of a drill he preformed is school. instinctively, Cilik weaves a simple spell and three magic darts go flying at the creatures.

cast x3 for three blots[/dice]

[ooc]ping black and then move clockwise if it dies
1d4 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5
1d4 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4
1d4 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

Elvanthain struggles to remember details, but Cilik spends his time blasting one of them. You cast all 3 missiles at once, so you can't spread them out ex post facto.

The missiles strike the stirge with enough force to detonate it!

Round 1:
Penryn: Prep
Enemy: ATK!
Jasper: Go
Blodgett: Go
Cilik: Kill
Elvanthain: Miss
Kaleb: Go

Blodgett draws his greataxe ◈ and takes a pair of swings (Strike ◈, Strike ◈)!

greataxe vs. Red: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (16) + 6 = 22
slashing: 1d12 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6

greataxe (sweep, MAP) vs. White: 1d20 + 6 + 1 - 5 ⇒ (18) + 6 + 1 - 5 = 20
slashing: 1d12 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5

Blodgett's first swing cuts the stirge in two, and the follow up nearly does the same!

Round 1:
Penryn: Prep
Enemy: ATK!
Jasper: Go
Blodgett: Kill
Cilik: Kill
Elvanthain: Miss
Kaleb: Go

Kaleb shrieks as he draws one of his oversized fork and dives for the woods.

assuming difficult terrain it should take me 25 to move here which is my movement.

Kaleb then stabs at the flatfooted white stirge.

stabity: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (4) + 7 = 11
damage: 1d4 + 4 + 1d6 ⇒ (3) + 4 + (2) = 9

Kaleb's stab is off target. Despite having the thing in his sights, it's still a quick little bugger.

Round 1:
Penryn: Prep
Enemy: ATK!
Jasper: Go
Blodgett: Kill
Cilik: Kill
Elvanthain: Miss
Kaleb: Miss

Penryn takes a step back to get a clearer shot, raises his bow, and shoots two arrows clean past the nearest bat-bug.

Action 1 to Step, actions 2 & 3 to Strike.

Longbow attack, Volley: 1d20 + 7 - 2 ⇒ (3) + 7 - 2 = 8
Longbow damage: 1d8 ⇒ 3

Longbow attack 2, MAP, Volley: 1d20 + 7 - 5 - 2 ⇒ (10) + 7 - 5 - 2 = 10
Longbow damage: 1d8 ⇒ 5

Caught in a situation where moving will expose the mayor to attack, Jasper prays to Erastil for aid. "Shield me, Old Deadeye, and make these over-sized mosquitos stop," he says, finishing the prayers with clasped hands and then looking pointedly a one of stirges.

Cast Shield, then Daze on Blue. It takes 4 damage and needs to make a DC 17 Will Save. If it crit fails it is also Stunned 1

Will: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9 Jasper's spell rattles the bloodseeker. Penryn tries to follow up with a pair of arrows, but can't connect. The remaining both in a frenzy, try to latch on to targets:

Blue v. Jasper: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (4) + 8 = 12 MISS
Blue v. Jasper: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (16) + 3 = 19 It attaches to the halfling!
Blood suck!: 1d4 ⇒ 4 4 damage, and you're Drained 1

White v. Blodgett: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (6) + 8 = 14 MISS
White v. Blodgett: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (20) + 3 = 23 It attaches to the halfling!
Blood suck!: 1d4 ⇒ 1 1 damage, and you're Drained 1

Round 2:
Penryn: Miss
Enemy: ATK!
Jasper: Go
Blodgett: Go
Cilik: Go
Elvanthain: Go
Kaleb: Go

Worried about his small allies, Elvanthain tries to shoot white.

crossbow: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (6) + 5 = 11
then reloads his crossbow for another attack

Kaleb unleashes a flurry of furious forks at the stirges.

stab vs flat footed: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (5) + 7 = 12
damage: 1d4 + 4 + 1d6 ⇒ (3) + 4 + (1) = 8

stab vs flat footed: 1d20 + 7 - 4 ⇒ (11) + 7 - 4 = 14
damage: 1d4 + 4 + 1d6 ⇒ (4) + 4 + (5) = 13

stab vs flat footed: 1d20 + 7 - 8 ⇒ (4) + 7 - 8 = 3
damage: 1d4 + 4 + 1d6 ⇒ (3) + 4 + (4) = 11

If either of the 1st two hits drop the white stirge Kaleb will move 2 squares east to flank the blue and use his "you're next" reaction to attempt to demoralize blue.

intimidate-language vs Will DC: 1d20 + 7 - 4 ⇒ (12) + 7 - 4 = 15
On the off chance the stirge can understand common, ignore the -4. CS: frightened 2, S: frightened 1

Jasper reacts quickly to interpose the magical shield in the way of the stirge attack. It absorbs the assault before dissipating.

"Please Erastil, I still need your help! They still need to stop, " he continues his prayers, fingers clasped. The god answers, a sliver of his divine power flowing from the halfling to daze the same stirge as before. Daze again on Blue. It takes 4 damage and needs to make a DC 17 Will Save. If it crit fails it is Stunned 1

Jasper's shield is enough to protect him as the stirges press on. He counters with another Daze spell Will: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (10) + 4 = 14. This time it's enough that the insect's brain is permanently scrambled. It drops dead in the grass!

Once Kaleb steps up and carefully aims at the other, he bifurcates the last one!

For trouncing the quartet of stirges each hero earns 80 XP!

All eyes turn towards the elderly mayor, but Targen seems to be smiling. "I'm infirm, not senile. No one was mortally wounded. Seems like a good story for later if you ask me!"

He takes a deep breath in, "Take a moment, reset yourselves. Then let's go. Watching you fight has given me an appetite."

Let me know when ready.

all good here. All I did is shoot!

Blodgett, for good measure, stomps on each of the giant mosquitoes to be extra sure they're dead. HATE mosquitoes, he grunts again, meticulously wiping his greataxe clean on the grass but completely ignoring the ichor all over his bare feet.

Penryn holds his bow at arm's length, looking at it in disgust. "I think this thing is too big, I gotta get one that's made for a halfling, not a human," he remarks with some acid in his voice. "Mr. Mayor, is there anywhere in Plaguestone I could trade in this longbow for a shortbow? The longbow seems fine for long-range target practice, but we keep gettin' jumped by critters who rush right at us."