[Outpost V] PF2e B18 - From Family Lost (P1) (Inactive)

Game Master UncleFroggy

Please dot (add a post) in here and then delete your post to add yourself to this campaign.

1) I am based in Southeast Asia (UTC +8) so my posting hours may be unusual (especially for those in North America). I usually update at least one or twice per day. Just to keep the game moving, please post at least once every day and at least once during the weekend. If you disappear for more than 24 hours, especially during combat, I will simply place your character on infinite delay just to keep things moving.

2) Please label all three of your actions. Even if you think what you are doing is obvious.

3) If I am unavailable for longer than 24 hours, I will let you know in the Discussion Tab. Out of respect for your fellow players and myself, I ask that you do the same. Real life happens, and real life will always take priority over the game, but out of fairness for your fellow players, please let us know if you will be unavailable for an extended period of time.

4) Please complete the Macros and the Slides linked at the top of the page.

5) Questions, concerns? Feel free to share them in the Discussion tab.

6) Let's have some fun and tell a great story together! After all, that's what we are here for.

Your adventure begins in Nerosyan, the capital of Mendev and once–central command for the war against the demonic hordes that spilled out of the Worldwound. You answered a bounty posted by Castor Lebris and you meet with Castor at his architectural firm office, where he explains the details of the job.

"Have you heard of the settlement of Bulviss? It was a small hamlet near the border with the old Worldwound." Castor sighs. "No, you probably haven't. It was wiped off the map by demons during the Fifth Mendevian Crusade, when the crusaders fought the demons. I want you to travel there and retrieve a deed that should be among the rubble. Mendevian law says you're entitled to whatever else you find, as the only others who may claim it are the villagers' next of kin. And since I'm the only next of kin that survived the town…"

Castor trails off as his gaze drops to his desk. His expression is full of barely repressed grief.

"My brother, Pellas, and I grew up in Bulviss. I'd acquired a valuable tract of land after settling here in the capital, but I sent the deed to him for safekeeping. Now he's missing, and I don't know what happened to him."

"My hope is that by scouring the town, you'll find clues about my brother's fate. You can't be less helpful than the crusaders, at least. Help me recover my deed and bring back information about my brother. Whatever else you find at Bulviss is yours to keep."

You may introduce your characters here and ask Castor any questions your characters might have

"So, yer sayin' ev'rythin' we find der is ours, 'cept dat deed? Which you wan' fer yerself? I t'ink dat can be arranged." says the surly dwarf.

A large shirtless with numerous weapons held to his back by various leather straps, most notably several tridents, grunts loudly.

Khagra asks "Khagra want to know why you can't just go yourself."

"We shall do as you have asked," replies a stern-faced hobgoblin. "Then, you shall pay us."

The warrior pauses for a moment, then asks, "Do you have anything with your brother's scent on it? Grur has a strong nose for tracking."

The hobgoblin exchanges a glance with the sizable, black-furred canine at his side. "Grur demands to be paid as well."

"So, been t'inkin'. Where would we go about findin' that deed. If we gotta dig through the whole ruined town, it is gonna cost you more for our time.

"Dat bein' said, we respect your losses. Gotta be hard losing yer whole fam'ly."

Castor turns to Khagra. "Well, I do have a business to run here. But also I guess I'm afraid of what I might find. Besides, it's not like I'm the sort who can fend off bandits or worse."

"If the demons broke through the crusader's ranks and were behind the lines for hours, how is it that they managed only to ransack a small town? Even the smallest unit of demons could've wreaked havoc from that position, yet they were ultimately routed before going any farther than Bulviss," Taldrok notes aloud.

"One would expect, due to proximity to the Worldwound, that Bulviss had a watch system in place," he continues. "Time would have been limited, but the town should have had warning of the demons' approach and, those in their wake, would presumably have fled. The lack of apparent survivors or refugees implies that was, somehow, not the case."

"So, yeah. I get dat. I ain't a one to wanna git meself int'a danger, neither. But what's really th' problem, Castor? What ain't you tellin' us.

"Me pappy always said, its th' danger ye' don' know about dat's gonna git you. Y' can always prepare fer th' danger ye' know about, and its feelin' like there's danger we don' know about here"

Khagra scratches his head at Denthor's parental wisdom but doesn't press further. Maybe it makes more sense in Dwarven thinks Khagra to himself.

Castor sighs.

"I'm afraid that too much time has passed to find either the deed or answers to his brother’s fate. Adventurers started leaving Nerosyan once the Worldwound closed, so my calls for help went unanswered for months. The crusaders are equally uninterested in helping beyond hunting for lingering demons. I actually want to sell the deed and leave Mendev behind. But I need closure before I can move on."

"So will you help me?"

Khagra looks at at coin purse, looks up again at the man and nods.

Didn't realize gameplay was active.

Rovina, who has been mostly silent in this meeting, speaks up, her Ulfen accent very noticeable, "I accept this mission. Surely not too many demons are still around. We look like a capable bunch that could hand a few or more bandits."

The trip to Bulviss takes a day and is uneventful, save for the sign of patrols of hired mercenaries who lazily watch out for demonic threats. The approach to the hamlet shows evidence of an attack. Farmhouses are destroyed and fields lay fallow. The town itself is little more than the shells of buildings and a ruined well. A survey of the area indicates three buildings with the least amount of damage, the most promising places to search for clues.

Area Map is here.

"Let us start with the big building in middle of town. Then we work our way out"

"Let us start with the big building in middle of town. Then we work our way out"

"It is clear that you have fought few wars," Taldrok responds gruffly, recalling upon his militant upbringing. "One does not try to seize the heart of hostile territory without first securing the perimeter. Otherwise, one risks having to fight on multiple fronts or being left to being besieged."

The hobgoblin pauses for a moment and recollects the instructions given to him by his mentor before joining Iolite Squad. "But, I suppose, I should consider alternative strategies. And the structure potentially does potentially offer an area of high ground."

"Very well," Taldrok concedes. "I will scout ahead." He moves toward the large structure in the middle, his bow in hand.

Dethor listens to what Taldrok first says, and then shakes his head at his actions. He then tries to sneak up along the walls, taking cover in any brush, or whatever, he can find.
Exploration mode: Avoid Notice, but he does have Trap Finder and is expert in perception.

Khagra nods to his allies. "Weapons Out." he calls, as he spreads out, eyes open for danger, a trdent in each hand.

Scout

The town's deserted. Nothing moving, apart from small critters.

With Khagra's suggestion, Dethor takes Ol' Stabby out. "Gotto go steal back his deed, just so he can sell it. Would serve him right if I just made a copy of it..."

He searches around the town hall,

Dethor, you going to search around the town hall or in it? The town is pretty much deserted. No threats from any creatures. It's been destroyed for the most part.

"You boys are so jumpy." Rovina says with a smirk. "Weapons out" She adds mocking Khagra. "Why? What for?"

"What if we come cross scared child, you gone poke them with your fancy spears and knife."

"If this a tomb known to be infest with draugr or active battlefield with demon, yes, weapons out, but we are in deserted town with no sign of life"

Dethor goes into the town hall, carefully searching for any traps, lookin for where records such as a deed would be kept.

The signs of battle are obvious upon entering the hall. Battered and torn remnants of barricades litter the floor and dark stains have seeped into the stones. At the back of the main hall is a shrine to Iomedae that looks remarkably intact. Upon it lays a dusty but unharmed copy of Iomedae’s holy book, opened to act four — Iomedae convincing mortally wounded soldiers to stand against attacking wraiths until reinforcements arrive to save them.

Taldrok inspects the book. "If the townsfolk here followed this god's advice, it did not go well for them. It is better to heed the teachings of Hadregash that it is best to regroup and attack when one has a unified numerical superiority in battle."

"Meh. Better to run than fight that sort of undead. Ain't nuthin' good gonna come out of it."

Dethor keeps looking around, just to be sure.

Khagra heads into the town hall, to help provide another set of eyes to search for further clues.

"Honorable death to die in battle." Rovina comments. She says a small prayer and explores the building with the others.

"Hang on... looks like sumwon haz trapped th' book, der. I got dis."

Dethor carefully moves up and tries to snip the wire leading from the stand. "I seen dis sorta thin' back in th' tombs of Osirion."

Thievery: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (20) + 11 = 31

Dethor successfully disarms the trap.

You also notice something painted at the back of the altar.

"Oh, what's dis?" says Dethor as he checks out what is written on the back of the altar.

The back of the altar has been painted with a message:

“May the Inheritor judge our final acts.”

Under the words are the names of townsfolk, nearly a hundred people who stayed behind.

Dethor also finds a crossbow with 10 bolts stashed in a back room somewhere.

"Well, apparently they did make a last stand here." says Dethor, as he points out the saying. "Can sumone check dis crossbow? See if its magic?"

"If a last stand was made, then where are all the remains? Even if their bodies were consumed by the demons, I would think we would find some remnants of the fallen," notes Taldrok. "If there is nothing more to see here, we should check the other structures."

Khagra grunts and nods to Taldrok "Agreed."

Dethor shrugs. "Didn't say if the last stand was in dis building... just dis town."

He then moves to investigate the old house to the north.

Dethor is heading north to the old house. how about everyone else? Area map is now linked to my Icon.

Khagra noda and joins him, still feeling paranoid and on the lookout for danger.

With bow in hand, Taldrok follows the others to the house to the north.
"I suggest we split up and cover the entrances, then the orc and I will breach a door way."

There's only one door. I moved Rovina up. I forgot he's at a convention

With the team joining him, he sneaks into the house.

Again, avoiding notice

Rovina posts up outside.

This house’s interior is largely intact and light filters through closed shutters that haven’t opened in years.

However, when Dethor enters the house a swarm of bats living in the rafters panics and tries to escape the house. They don't attack you but they generally make a mess, causing dust and papers to go all over the place.

Survival to calm the bats or Athletics to cross the room and force open the windows. Other solutions possible as long as you can make them fit. You need 3 successes.

"Bats," grunts Taldrok. "I can deal with these." The hobgoblin moves to begin scaling the walls to get to windows above.

Athletics: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (9) + 7 = 16

Khagra pushes forward as well, trying a path through in case Taldrok gets held up.

athletics: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (7) + 11 = 18

Rovina moves across the floor and tries to force open the windows.

athletics: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (12) + 8 = 20

Rovina makes it across and forces one of the windows open. Taldrok tries to make his way across the room, but his foot suddenly drops into what appears to be a weakened part of floor. Khagra makes it to a window as well and forces a window open, allowing the bats to escape. However, his foot also plunges through an apparently weakened board.

You need one more success. Dethor, what are you doing?