GM Michael's Emerald Spire

Game Master Dread

choices in order of reliability Best-Hall of Rectitude, Abernard Royst. Good-Temple to Abadar, The Chancery. ok-The Bazaar, The various Inns/taverns
G

Moving to the front of the store, Ratel sets the vials of alchemical fire down on the counter. "This will be all for me and my green friend."

He turns to see if the others are about done, pausing to try and remember who picked up the pouch with the coins. Pausing he turns to Rooip, asking "Rooip, do you have space to carry all of these or do you want me to store a couple of them?"

Arthdane browses the shop's wares carefully, finding the reagents and components he needs to write 3 scrolls. Gathering them up, he brings them to the counter and pays with a minimum of small talk. (He is unimpressed with Seferud as a person, and dislikes the whine of his voice.)

The group gets what gear they whish to purchase from the Apothecary and pay for them. Each time money is put in front of the weaselly Serfud He rubs his hands together unconsciously. Afterwards the group gathers outside...discussing where to next.

its the 5.5GP for those making scrolls. 10GP for each vial of acid

After exiting the store, Ratel turns to Edeldhur and Arthadane. "So now that you have the supplies for scrolls, I assume you are going back to the inn to prepare them?"

Turning first to Rooip, who had thought investigating the rumor of goblins a good idea, then the others. "Shall we take a few moments and head out of town to ask the Stonde boy where he found the 'goblin fort;?"

Best place to start is the beginning,” Rooip nods his head in agreement at Ratel’s suggestion.

"Yes, I should return to the inn" - Edeldhur replied to Ratel - "I will need some time to complete scribing the scrolls. Shall we meet there later?"

Smiling at Rooips observation, Ratel turns to Edeldhur. "Yes, we'll meet you there no later than dinner time. I don't intend to go looking very far this afternoon. Just to get a general direction of where the boy saw the goblins." He shrugs, "It may be a child's daydream or he may have found something Rooip or I aren't aware of. Either way we won't be long."

Shifting his pack on his shoulder, he begins to head south on North Way, toward the Juliver Gate. Nodding politely to Maralictor Bolgur as they pass the gate. Heading south past the corral, he leads whomever didn't want to stay in town for the afternoon east to the Stonde Homestead. Stopping near where the path turns to the house, he calls out, "Hello the Homestead. Widow Stonde may we approach? we'd like to speak to Davon."

Rooip travels at the barbarian’s side while they make their way to speak with Davon. As the giant of a man yells out to the house the grippli reminds him, ”Try to look less intimidating, maybe you could slouch a little.”

"I will join you Edelhur; after all, the sooner my scroll is scribed (RAW, you can only scribe 1 scroll per session.), the faster I can get back to proper Caydenite libations!"

"I will join you Edelhur; after all, the sooner my scroll is scribed (RAW, you can only scribe 1 scroll per session.), the faster I can get back to proper Caydenite libations!"

Can you do one before dinner and one after?

several of the group head back to the Inn, while Ratel and rooip head Towards the Stonde Homestead. A small farm. As they approach, a buxom gray haired woman with a ready smile came outside and looked up at Ratel, and down at Rooip as she picked up a garden hoe from her porch.. She cocked her head. This is an odd combination that has come to my door to speak to my boy. Can I ask why an apparent member of the Wolfmanes of Thornkeep and a Frogling want with my boy? Ill warn you, you may take me, but I can promise Ill give as good as I get.

Letting out a loud "Ha! I believe you would!" Elek slaps his leg as his eyes light up, he continues. "No need my good lady, You have a keen eye. I am Ratel Dier, and this is my companion Rooip. We had heard that your son found a goblin camp. We came to ask him about it to learn it's location." looking from the woman to Rooip, then back. "So we can assess the possible danger and deal with it appropriately," Giving an honest smile, "May we speak with him?"

she relaxed slightly...and said Only If Im present. will you peace knot your weapons?

$5 says grandma can take both of them!

Raising an eyebrow, Ratel shifts his polearm off of his shoulder and buries the tip in the dirt. "Any who wants may be present, we'll ask no secrets and offer none of our own." He unbuckles his wide leather belt, hanging it on the end of his Bardiche. "Instead of a peace bond, let me leave the weapons here." He points up the drive a little. "Bring the boy out, we can meet halfway, it will not take long."

The driveway looks to be about 30 ft, meeting halfway in between is the idea.

She nods and Says Ill meet you there by the porch.. Ill bring water for ya and my boy. Hes a good boy Davon is. A bit curious and daring. but a good boy.

Nodding Ratel turns to Rooip, seeing what he thought of the plan. Then walked near the porch, waiting for Davon and his mom to join the two adventurers

A few minutes later she comes out with her son following her. She said Here he is Sir. Heres some water for you and your...errr...your frog?

The boy stood looking a little curious and sheepish at the same time. Mom says Im to answer your questions.

Nodding politely, Ratel accepts the water, chuckling at the frog comment. Crouching down so he was eye level with the boy, Ratel introduces himself. "Davon I am Ratel." Gesturing towards the Grippli, "This is my friend Rooip."

Looking back to the boy, "We heard from a couple of the children over by Kettlefoot's mill that you found a Goblin 'fort'." looking to the boys mother then back again. "Could you tell us where it is at?"

Yes. I was curious about the Emerald Spire and all the talk of it. I went hiking the other day through the forest along the trail folks take to the Spire. I hadnt ever seen it. It goes up into the air like 60 feet yanno. Green glass. But I saw the same green glass had made some sort of fort on a hill top at the center of the clearing with the spire coming out of it. And I saw Goblins riding hairless dogs coming in and out. I hurried away from there before they caught my scent. It was scary.

Giving Rooip a knowing look, Ratel nodded at the child. "So they have moved into the clearing with the spire." Looking to the child's mother, "Thank you for letting us talk to him."

Fishing into his pouch he pulled out two silvers. Handing them to the boy. "I don't have a lot of money, but you shared what you knew with us, so I want to share what I have with you Thank you."

Standing, he looked at Rooip. "Master Grippli do you have any questions for the boy?"

Once they are done speaking with the boy, Ratel returns to his weapons and rearms himself. Smiling at Rooip. "So whether the others want to or not, we may need to deal with the goblins before we enter the spire proper." Gesturing back towards the town. "Shall we go tell them the news?"

Rooip just looked up at Ratel and shrugged his shoulders. The two adventurers headed back to others after thanking the woman and her son.

While the spellcasters go about their business and the out-of-towners head to the farm in search of goblin forts, Nycholas returns to the hall of Rectitude for any information on the Spire that may be found. Abernard would probably have more information, but he isn't ready to risk facing his fiancée.

Sorry I been abscent. Was sick for a week then started something of an impromptu vacation. AC in the hotel broke first day and I haven't been able to think well enough to post until now. Is there a roll for researching or anything like that needed?

Returning to 'The Julliver Arms' he sees a couple of the group sitting in the taproom. Walking up the the table Ratel leans his polearm against the wall, removing his pack he sets it beside the bent-wood chair and takes a seat joining them. Smiling "Good news, the goblin camp is at the 'spire' we won't need to detour to deal with them."

Waiving his hand at one of the waitresses, it was time to relax for a bit. They were headed to the 'spire' in the morning.

I'm assuming Baerlon or Arcanus are here since they didn't post otherwise.

Ratel returned with Rooip to the Inn, Edeldhur and Arthdane had retired upstairs to work on scrolls. Of Brunner there was no sight. Hed left after obtaining the Warrant without saying where he was going and had not returned.

Arcanus was sitting downstairs listening to folks talk and seeing if there was anyone talking bout the Spire.

Nycholas had mentioned going back to the Hall of Rectitude and left a few minutes ago.

Of Brunner there was no sight. ...

LOL, he headed to Phaendar...

Sitting down beside Arcanus, Ratel orders another small ale, asking the bard. "So learn anything new?"

"No. I think we're as ready as we will ever be", Arcanus answered. "It sounds like your detour was fruitful."

Nodding Ratel sipped his ale, "Yeah, the goblins are near the spire, probably would be in our best interest to dispose of them also."

In de Hall.
"I was just wondrin' if I could look at whatever records you have regarding the Spire. We're fixin' to go in on Abernard's behalf."

The pinch faced man scowled. Of course ye can. I have 4 boxes full. what do you want to see> anything in particular?

"Uh, I have a few hours to kill. Could I take all four boxes to a desk or private study or somethin?" Nycholas had extensive experience sorting, cataloguing, and compiling information from his working for Abernard and assisting him in his research and he is confident he can sort through the relevant information quickly enough. "If you could point out which box contains information from people who've actually been inside the spire, I would like to start there."

He leaves and returns with the 4 boxes. He says Box 1 is of the many groups that obtained warrant and never returned.

Box 2 is of the compiled information from The Orders exploration.

Box 3 is of the few groups to return after entering

Box 4 is a compilation of rumors, divinations, etc.

Nycholas starts with the second box. The Hellknights are nothing if not litigious and they would have the most comprehensible and organized notes. He takes the second box to an unused desk and starts unpacking its contents.

Nycholas’ heart stops for a moment when he sees Chaid DiViri’s name on the journals. He had expected to find her hand here, but it still somehow surprised him. DiViri had come to the fort city when Nycholas was only a child. Like most boys his age, Nycholas wanted “to be a knight”. DiViri took him on as a squire of sorts, probably to appease his wealthy parents as much as anything. She taught him of armor and martial arts, but the edicts and beliefs of the Hellknights never stuck with him. Four years ago, she had disappeared in the Spire. Nycholas was on the cusp of manhood (or far from it, depending on who you ask) and he was lost without his mentor. Never enamored with her Order, he fell away from the Hellknights without her influence and found a new obsession with Abernard: the arcane arts.

Nycholas breaks out his new chronicler’s kit, happy to get some use out of it so quickly and begins taking notes on his lost mentor’s journals. The lack of any sort of maps or diagrams strikes him as odd. Hardly Hellknight to just wander around in the dark hoping you are not running in circles. He leaves his findings for a moment and returns to the clerk’s desk. ”Good sir, is this all the Hellknight’s were able to compile on the spire? There are no diagrams or maps. Surely the Lady Commander wished the place mapped as long as she was sending her men down there?”

If the clerk doesn’t have any info in this regard for Nycholas, will move on to box 3. Actually, unless there’s a reason why Nycholas can’t look at all the boxes, you may as well post the contents of all of them at once to save some time.

Nycholas goes through

After the 3rd box, he opens the

The pinched face man, comes and says Sir you need to be going now. I need to lock up and it is well into the night now.

The waterclock shows it to be past the 8th hour into the eve.

Nycholas is startled by the return of the clerk. He had gotten lost in the journals and lost track of time. "Ahh, yes. Of course. Thank you for your assistance." Nycholas tells the man, trying to sound like a professional adult. He repacks the journals and loose pages in their respective boxes and helps carry them back to the clerks desk. He pours pounce - powder to dry ink faster - on the fresh notes he took and, once appropriately dried, closes his journal and packs his writing utensils. He felt quite upbeat. Despite the lack of any sort of maps of the spires in the documents, he was very pleased with the information he had been able to find; more information than he had expected. Researching and studying always felt good to him. Something about the acquisition of knowledge was satisfying.

He bids the clerk a good night and steps out of the office. Thankful for the cover of night to hide him from Imariel, he works his way back to the inn. He sees most of his new companions gathered at a table and joins them, pulling his journal from his satchel and clearing a place on the table to set it. "Went back to the record hall. Found some really useful stuff about the spire, more than I thought I would." After cautioning the others to wipe their hands before handling the journal, he recounts what he can from memory to the assembled party. "Mind the ink isn't fully cured, Rooip." The young man warns the grippli, unsure if the little frog man had the same highly-absorbent skin more primitive amphibians do. Finishing his recollection, he awaits input from the others.

I tried to make the notes like he was copying them in a hurry before the store closed lol. The notes are in a spoiler at the bottom of Nycholas' profile for easy reference.

'The hall of records. Smart. Wiping his hands on his buckskin pants, Ratel accepts the journal, flipping through the pages too quick to actually read everything, he passed it on to Rooip.

Gesturing towards Rooip he tells Nycholas, "Rooip and I learned the goblin 'fort' is very near the 'Spire.'" He looks at the others. "I was thinking we may need to clear it before we actually proceed into the spire. I don't know that we'll want surprised by goblins coming home."

"That's a good idea." Nycholas says, digging into the food again. "We can get stuff from the goblins and buy the things we need to fight the eclectic things in the Spire. This isn't going to be easy. A couple dozen Hellknights fell down there. They have plate and greatswords and arcane spells. They aren't pushovers and they got a bigger budget than we do." With the initial excitement of the 'assignment' wearing off, the difficulty the Hellknights had in the spire is beginning to tug at Nycholas' mind. He is not afraid, but he personally knows how skilled Chaid and her crew was. He would wager she was more skilled than any that MacDugal had assembled.

"Great work, Mr. Hyll", smiled Arcanus as the bard cautiously flipped through the varisian's meticulous notes on the Spire.
Bluff: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9

sense motive: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

Nodding in agreement with Arcanus, Ratel echoes the pathfinders sentiments. "Yes, Nycholas, well done indeed."

Wiping his mouth on his sleeve, having finished a bowl of the stew and a dark piece of rye bread. Ratel looks towards the western window and the setting sun. "Well, shall we call it a night? I figure we'll head out at dawn."

The group gradually goes to their rooms and sleep comes for them amid the anxiety of the next day.

Sorry I was sick yesterday
After finishing his scroll (Bless), Arthdane comes down to the common room, and joins the common table. After reading the notes, he asks "Could this ground floor keep and the 'Goblin Fort' be the same thing?"

Retcon
As Arthdane reads the notes and asks his question, Ratel shrugs. "Don't know. Guess we'll find out in the morning." Nodding to the others he heads to the room he's sharing with Rooip.

in the morning
After a good nights sleep in a real bed, Ratel double checks his gear, then heads to the common room. After a large breakfast of oatmeal, apples and milk. Once it looks like everyone is ready. Ratel stands, holding his polearm in hand. "We may as well head out. It will be a few hours before we get there."

once there ready
As the group rises he heads out the door down Juliver Way,, towards the gate of the same name. Nodding towards Maralictor Bolgur, he heads of the beaten path to the north east and the 'spire.'

Morning came early and both Edeldhur and Arthdane were upstairs scribing their second scroll, Whie the others began to gather in the Inn's common room. preparing to go. Noone had seen the Dwarf since the first meeting though, and noone knew why.

Still with 6 the party would be ready to face whatever they encountered.

Once I have 4 saying they leave for The Echowood Ill post the the beginning proper

Nycholas smiles smugly but says nothing... What could he say? He has a passion for research.

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 1 = 12
========================

Nycholas drags himself out of bed at the last minute, torn between his teenage tendency to sleep in and the lust for adventure. Luckily it seemed the cleric and the wizard were taking time in the morning to scribe scrolls - something he was nearly able to do himself under Abernard Royst's tutelage - so he wasn't too late to join the others in the common room for a quick breakfast before setting out. He wears his shining new half-plate. Unable to afford full plate armor, the silvery steel suit covers most of the body parts that were common targets in combat. His pack is positively stuffed with equipment, including a folding shovel, crowbar, and hooded lantern. A leather satchel belted round his waist carries his journals, writing implements, compass and equipment to map the Spire and chronicle their journey. An equally new greatsword is sheathed upon his back. All the fruits of his parents betrothal gift.

Under the heavy burden of his armor and gear, he is secretly thankful Rooip's tiny legs would be slowing the whole party down. "What are we waiting for? Let's go find some goblins!"

Arthdane has been up since sunrise, having said his prayers together with the first tankard of the day. He has prepared spells:

Having broken his fast earlier, once he has completed his scroll (Bless), he is ready to brave the goblin fort! He asks his compatriots "Do we want to bring my mule?"

we can start the journey to the Spire and let folks catch up. Im sure the 4th has folks messed up. I bet we see most return on Monday.

Getting together outside the Inn the adventurers head out the gate and crossing the farmland heading towards the echowoods. They estimated it would take 3 hours to get to the Spire Glen.

give me an order of march

The group moves through the fields, Ratel and Nycholas moving to the front instinctively.

The Wizard Edeldhur and the Bard Arcanus followed up with Arthdane towing his mule and Rooip hoping along in the rear.

of the dwarf, there was no sign.

The moved through the farmlands with no worry and entered the echowood. The forests edge was not dense, and it didnt take long to find the overused trail that many had sought The Emerald spire on. Travel ws uneventful and the heat of the day began to rise, the forest held in the heat like a blanket. The closer they got to the Glen, the less life was found. Birds stopped chirping, insects werent flying along, it was as if nature held its breath in this part of the woods.

Then there came break in the foliage and ahead in the center of the glenn could be seen a spire of green crystalline mineral jutting out of the top of a hill surrounded by a fort of the same material. It almost seemd like a shroud of darkness was over the top of the hill. The Edge of the woods was at least a good 100' away from the hill. This area here was supposed to be where random portals would open disgorging some sort of denizon of the depths.

Encounter forest 20%: 1d100 ⇒ 58

I will always be rolling to and from, and always be rolling in the glen as well. However I thought to pause for effect.---Its on