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You arrive in Sauerton during the late morning, after a long trek north from the Andoran coast. You have traveled here on orders from Venture‑Captain Brackett;
The town of Sauerton is primarily comprised of row upon row of neatly kept vineyards, interspersed with old stone villas built in the Chelaxian style. Each plot of grapevines is accompanied by vats for crushing grapes
and extruding their juice, along with a large warehouse for storing and
aging the wine. The vineyards bustle with the busy hands of numerous
workers, though the packed dirt and cobblestone roads have few other
travelers during these industrious hours.
To my illustrious associates,
I hope this missive finds you in good health. Recent news from out of the River Kingdoms has made the Society aware of important histories that may have been resting directly under our noses for the past several centuries. One of the founding Pathfinders, a woman named Kerinha Napsunar, whose exploits in the Chronicles have often had curious gaps and omissions, appears to have once had a temporary lodge in or near what is today the town of Sauerton. I implore you to travel there and speak to the locals. See if you can track down any documents or records of Napsunar’s time in the area or the purpose of her lodge.
You should find an ally in Sauerton in the form of the town’s mayor, Thalia Andares. Several years ago, the Society assisted Thalia in navigating a difficult situation with her father, and she has remained a trusted and reliable ally ever since. Her knowledge of the town and its families should quicken your investigations immensely.
If you discover that the lodge still stands or any of its contents have been preserved, please do your best to obtain any documents or possessions of the Society that remain. Once you have obtained whatever evidence there is to obtain, please report back to me hear in Almas.
Yours most sincerely,
Venture-Captain Brackett
”Hello, uhm… everyone. My name is Delta. Venture-Captain Brakett summoned me here…”
A white-haired lad introduced himself while scratching his bowed down head. He is kind of introvert but he has no choice but to speak. He is seen wearing an all-white robe accented with a brown leather belt, tucked awkwardly inside his studded leather armor he is also wearing. Attached in his belt is a pouch on his right side that contains a sling and a set of smooth round stones. On that same side on his shoulder slung to his healer’s tools that contain some herbs and medicine. On his back, he wears a bag full on things worthy for an adventure, in which a staff is sticking out. Lastly, he is holding a mace with his right hand and a shiny steel shield on the other.
”Hmm… I am not sure if this is the place that Brakett guy wants me to go,” murmured to himself by the tall, fair-skinned, blue-eyed, angelic in handsomeness lad, possessing a toned body and short wavy white hair with a small ponytail at the back, and finds himself lost in a vast plain of rows of vineyards while scratching his tilted head with his long and slender fingers. He is wearing an all-white sleeveless and collarless textured chiton made from pure cotton, slightly revealing his smooth hairless chest that glistens with his sweat, and runs down to knee length (thus exposing his long handsome legs and sleek Grecian sandals that partially cover his uncalloused feet and toes). It is lined with thin purple color along the clothe's edges and accented with a brown leather belt, tucked awkwardly inside the studded leather armor he is also wearing. Attached in his belt are two adjacent pouches on his right side. Slung from his left shoulder to his right side is a leather-made healer’s tools kit that contains some herbs and medicine. On his back, he wears a bag full of things worthy for an adventure, in which a short wooden staff is sticking out. Lastly, he is holding with his right hand a fine golden mace with intricate otherworldly patterns that seem to change when gazed upon, and a shiny steel shield on the other that has an embossed face of a screaming woman with snake hairs in the middle.
A 6 ft tall brownies skinned, sharp nose and bold face human approaches. It was obvious to him that he had gone through hard training. He was wearing armor and a metal shield behind him, He had his sword on his left waist, A shortbow and arrow on his right shoulder.He was quietly observing the whole place
A half elf appears out of nowhere, humming a tune as she approaches. You would'nt know from her face that she has come from a long journey and was in fact very tired. Beeming with radiance and exuding confidence,she has a slightly taller stature than most humans, slender and has a beauty and charisma that will captivate even the most hard-hearted creatures. She is wearing a studded leather armor, a violin on her left shoulder and a backpack.
She looks at the vineyard and then to the 2 male humans and smiles....."[b]Hello! I like this place, I think I can use some drink. Do you two want to join me?[b]"
Arriving on the yard along with a red face, long beak, and wings a semi-human who’s most prominent feature is a bird said..
" “Hope not intruding your meeting. I’m Sorce..Nice to meet you all "
Uhmmm, are you all summoned here by Venture-Captain Brakett?
(nod)Im Conan!
(To Conan) I'm Delta.
(To Sorce) And you are Sorce.
(To Arya) I would love to have a drink! And you are???
Smiling to Delta offering her hands
" So you’re the famous Delta.. You're really handsome. "
Suppressing a smile because of what Sorce said, she then looks at the others and said..
"Hello I'm Arya! Nice to meet you all. I was called for by Venture-Captain Brakett and told to meet here."
Looking at Delta.."Come lets go and see what this vineyard offers. I bet we can know more interesting stories over a few drinks."
He then looks at the others.." Don't you wanna join us? I think Conan too can use a few drinks to untangle his tongue"
" Let’s go for that drink. And get to know a everyone.. "Kanpai" "
"No, I'm not..." he responds shyly to Sorce, bowing and scratching his head, "but yeah, thanks," he added with a sincere smile on his face.
"Maybe that is the best thing we can do for now. I don't actually know how to start the things that Brakett person wants me, or us, to do. I just hope these busy vineyard people would help us." he replied to Arya.
{Smiles at everyone as he thinks about how much alcohol he's going to drink} Let's start drinking, as we wait for Venture-Captain Brakett to arrive
" Gulp!!! Gulp !!! " as Sorce tasted the wine the vineyard has to offer…." now let’s get down to business on what Captain Brackett summoned us to do. " " Gulp!!! Gulp !!! Ekk..Ekk "
The townsfolk cheerfully direct you to a large villa they refer to as “the old Sauer estate”. The estate itself has clearly been rebuilt recently, and the vineyards around it are sparse and covered with fresh loam and soil.
"“Hey there, strangers!” The call comes from a human woman in her mid-thirties with long, dark hair and an open, friendly face. “You must be the Pathfinders Brackett told me to expect.
I’ve done a little digging on your behalf but haven’t turned up much yet. Why don’t you all join me on the veranda for a glass of wine while we talk about your mission here?”"
You are led to the veranda and Thalia pours you each a glass of wine. The wine is a sour red whose best quality seems to be that there’s a plentiful supply. Thalia takes a seat on a chaise longue and asks "So, what can I do to assist you?"
Ms. Thalia can you please pour me another glass of wine?
' Mayor or do you prefer Ms. Thalia?.. What have you found out so far?
"I would like to excuse myself for a while and go to the town's store. I think I have something to buy there. I'll be back in a minute," he announces to the three Pathfinders and the mayor. He turns to the mayor and courteously bows to her and goes to the town's store.
"I would like to excuse myself for a while and go to the town's store. I think I have something to buy there. I'll be back in a minute," he announces to the three Pathfinders and the mayor. He turns to the mayor and courteously bows to her and goes to the town's store.
He buys from the store 30 pieces of sling bullets and goes back to the villa.
"I'm back. I'm sorry if I kept you all waiting," he announces to all.
He goes to the mayor that sits in the chase longue, shortly bows his head and says, [b]"Thank you for the warm hospitality you have given us. I would like to introduce myself, my name is Delta." He gives his warmest smile.
"This place is nice," he compliments as he looks around inside the villa and the vast plains of vineyards outside.
Ms. Thalia, I also need to buy at the towns store, Arya, Sorce, do you want to come?
[looks at Arya} Ok then.Please excuse for a while [looks to everyone} I need to buy a healers tool said to himself
"I don't think I can go to town... Ekk.. Ekk tipsy and intoxicated after drinking so much wine..
[ooc]lasing.. [/oo]
With a smile, Thalia refills the pitcher and places it on the table. "Here, help yourselves.
Turning to Arya, "Frankly, not terribly much. The Strickmund winery was built long before I was born, but from what I was able to find in old
records about Sauerton, the land the lodge was built on was bought by Ven Strickmund’s great‑great‑grandfather about 100 years ago. Apparently Ven’s ancestor was a Pathfinder, so he might be able to tell you more. Be patient, though; Ven likes to talk and takes his time getting to the point. Particularly when he’s interrupted before he finishes his thought."
"I think we need to talk to that Ven person then," Delta chimes in. "What do you think?" he asks Arya.
While waiting for arya's reply "I think there is where we need to start"
(he looks to Ms Thalia while pouring his glass with wine} Thanks Ms Thalia, {sip his glass of wine, "ahh this wine really taste good"] I agree with you two .. (looks to Delta and Sorce}Arya your not answering!
Smiles at Conan. " I am savoring this wine ." Stands up and looks at Ms. Thalia. " Thank you Mayor for your warm hospitality, but we all agreed to better go now and head to Ven."
Thalia directs you to Ven Strickmund's winery.
A winery rests on the hilltop ahead, surrounded by fields with neatly ordered rows upon rows of grape vines and trellises. The winery is built of dark, well‑polished wood, the steps leading to the front door grooved with the passage of many feet.
Ven Strickmund sits in an old wooden rocking chair in the shade provided by the covered deck that serves as the front porch of his winery. The old human man bears a long, gray beard, and his teeth are stained a light magenta color from years of “tasting” the wine he and his family produce. When he sees the PCs, Ven raises one hand in a vigorous wave and calls out to them,
"Well, ’ello there friends! Welcome t’ Sauerton! Thalia let me know ye were comin’. Grab a chair and sit a spell!"
Ven loves to talk and hates to get to the point. He talks to you about the weather, the most recent harvest, and the political savvy of politicians from across the Inner Sea. After meandering through his stories, Ven finally gets to the matters of interest.
"Well, round 'bout a hunnerd years or so ago, my pappy's pappy's pappy's pappy bought this here land from a feller from the Pathfinder Society. Got a great deal too, on account of how he was a Pathfinder hisself. My pappy's pappy's pappy's pappy that is, of course the fella sellin' the land was a Pathfinder as well. Anyways, this wasn't a great place for a lodge at the time; too much a goin' on, too many folks riled up about Pathfinders. Your group hasn't always had the best reputation in all parts, though yer allus welcome 'round here. Where was I? Right, right, the old lodge. It was a big t'do at the time, on account of the money from the sale of this here estate being used to buy the deed to Diggen's Rest, an ol' keep 'bout a hunnerd miles east o' here. Folks 'round these parts know the stories 'bout the battles and such fought 'round there back during the empire days, an' suppose'dly there was e'en a ghost or some such. Pathfinders at the time figgered it was a proper place to move their books an' such. Ghosts tend to keep the vis'ters away, y'know? Funny thing is, I don't know as that Pathfinder ever came back through here. Maybe they's still out at Diggen's Rest, maybe they went somewhere else? Yer best bet's probably to go look for yerself. I kin mark it on a map fer ya, or close 'nough, and I'm sure you can get supplies fer the hike here in town."
Ven has little else of value to share with you, though he’s happy to talk as long as you let him.
"Does anyone among us has a map so that he can point for us where is that place he is talking about? Or, much better if any of you know the place.", he asks the party.
"Good sir," he speaks to Ven with a sincere look on his glistening doe eyes, "thank you for your help." And then he smiles and bows his head to the old man.
" I have no knowledge of any map. I think we better go now as I have a feeling this will be along journey.
"Thank you Ven, as much as we would like to hear and enjoy your stories, we have to go and start looking."
Facing the others, " So, where do we start?"
" I dont have any map either. Maybe we can start at Diggen's Rest? It's better to have a place to start with as we do not have any other lead."
"Conan can lead the way. "
So what's everyone doing? Are you proceeding to Diggen's Rest?
Arya! Delta! can we proceed to diggens Rest?
' Let's go. "
The party proceeds now to Diggen's rest.
" Delta are you coming? ” AS SHE HAS ALREADY PREPARED FOR THIS JOURNEY
"Yes, let's go."
Despite the elven communities and dangerous forest-dwelling predators that call the forest home, the route to Diggen’s Rest is strangely free of travelers and beasts. Gadicus, Sebastian and Dinardin feel increasingly uneasy the deeper they travel into the forest along the marked route, and the most sensitive among them begin to have nightmares of a blood-drenched battlefield and the screams of the dying.
After several days’ travel with these premonitions and feelings of dread, you come across an open clearing in the forest. Though the ground is covered with thick moss and tall grass, here and there the ancient hilt of a sword or rusted crown of a decayed helm remains unconquered by the vegetation.
The densely packed woodlands give way to a sprawling pasture. Rising out from the grass and moss covering the ground, the ancient, rusted hilts of old swords stand out in silent testament to some long-past conflict.
The warriors who died on this battlefield were slain during a battle that occurred as part of a failed attempt by local landowners and their allies to secede from the Chelaxian empire. As part of a show of force to suppress any further thoughts of secession from other citizens in the region, the Chelaxian forces in the area forbade anyone from burying the slain insurgents or performing any religious rites on the corpses. Over the many years since, the battlefield has become haunted, the skeletons of the slain animated by the lingering hatred and disquiet of the spirits.
As your group begins to cross the ancient battlefield a group of flaming skull skeletons rise up from the grass to attack those who disturbed their peace.
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COMBAT TRACKER
Round: 1
Tactical Map
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BOLD may go
Conan (Shield Raised, AC 20)
Delta
Blue S
Sorce
+++++
Green
Blue C
Red
Arya
ilalabas ko bow and arrow
arrow shot to first skeleton