Ed's Rusthenge

Game Master fine_young_misanthrope

Blueberry Peat walks into Elsie's shop and begins looking around. "Hello!" they say to any shopkeeper or clerk tending the store.

Heading to the shop you know of in town! The main room of this building smells of baked goods and strange, bitter odors one might expect in an apothecary’s shop. The room’s decor seems undecided about whether it wants to be a tavern, a curio shop, or an alchemist’s laboratory. The low shelves that line the walls display a staggering mix of elixirs, unguents, jars of glue, fresh-baked goods, cutlery, mugs, and the occasional smokestick or bundle of tindertwigs. Moments later, a skinny halfling emerges from the back room, Oh! You’re new, ain’tcha? Where you
come from them? You here from that fancy ship, or did another weird ship
come floatin’ in when I wasn’t lookin’?

"Ah, no. We're just travelers from down south. Lot of outsiders come into town lately?" Caleb asks.

"Aye, we be new around here. Do ye sell strong drink or draughts of healin'? We're goin' tae be adventurin' into the castle for...reasons." Kazmuk says to the halfling.

Turning to Caleb, Apart from those Thassilonians that came in a week ago and then shacked up in Stonehome, things have been fine hereabouts lately. Not too many outsides. Should I know about something? She looks at you expectantly.

Looking at Kazmuk, I mostly sell lots’a things alchemical, but
mostly glues for ship making and dyes for just about anything. I have a healthy stock of medicine too. And baked goods too, of course, although those are best in the morning when they’re fresh out of the oven. I do got some local things, but we dont specialize in making anything fancy. It will take apart some grease or give you a headache in equal measure!

Apart from those Thassilonians that came in a week ago and then shacked up in Stonehome .

Caine purrs.
Tell us more about that....

Kazmuk whispers to Caine and Jacen, who took the money off the shipmistress.

"D'you think I can have a wee bit o' gold for some elixirs of life?" He asks.

Kazmuk whispers to Caine and Jacen, who took the money off the shipmistress.

"D'you think I can have a wee bit o' gold for some elixirs of life?" He asks.

"I was thinking the same my friend, I actually was hoping that the good lady would go 5 for 15 with us. I have a few gold to spare, and would gladly chip in."

Blueberry Peat avidly listens to the halfling to find out more about the Thassilonians. "So the people at Stonehome aren't from around here? They're newcomers as well? Interesting. What was your name, by the way? I'm Blueberry Peat!"

"Thalassa," she introduces herself with a courteous bow.

"Tell us more about these Thassilonians."

Looking at the group, Stonehome is run by the Gorumites. Not my deal, but I appreciate the stability they bring. They like to fight and think the best person at fighting is the best person to be in charge. Seems weird to me, but it’s not my religion. Place has been quiet for the last week, though, ever since them Thassilonians showed up. Fine with me.
Fewer Gorumites on the street means less clanking armor and, more importantly, less noisy praying. But still—it’s not normal for them to be shut in this long.

As for the elixers, I'm happy to sell you as many as you need! spend as much gold as you want as they cost the normal amount

And nice to meet you all! I'm Elsie... You can see a thought go through her, she looks off then looks at all of you, ok, ill take your help if you'll offer it! things have been a bit off in town, ever since the Thassilonians arrived. I don't know whats up, but you might want to seek out local hermit Derrol Finnick, who’s been squatting in one of the abandoned manors at Gold’s Ruin. He’s a strange one, and not actually a citizen of the village, but the Thassilonians might not even know he’s living out there—means he might have had a chance to notice something more.

Kazmuk noisily browses through the store, looking for healing elixirs and the like. He returns with an amount of Elixirs of Life.

"Ah, this is what we need. D'you happen to sell Artisan Tools too?"

If so, Kazmuk will go back and buy one set of Artisan Tools for the party, removing some elixirs if needed. Can I decide on the exact amount of elixirs I buy after we find out if she sells tools?

Kazmuk noisily browses through the store, looking for healing elixirs and the like. He returns with an amount of Elixirs of Life.

"Ah, this is what we need. D'you happen to sell Artisan Tools too?"

If so, Kazmuk will go back and buy one set of Artisan Tools for the party, removing some elixirs if needed. Can I decide on the exact amount of elixirs I buy after we find out if she sells tools?

and maybe we can all decide if we're spending our own money also

Blueberry Peat pulls out his money pouch, and has enough money to buy artisan tools and healer's tools. They say to Kazmuk, "I can mix those up if we need them, and treat wounds, so I don't know that we need to buy that much. If you want to get some for emergencies, of course, that's fine."

Assuming she has these items at the standard rate, I'd be spending 9 gp, so I'm down to 8 sp in my personal funds.

Caine purrs.
Thassilonians and Gorumites. Nice pairing. Nothing could have happened. And a Hermit.

Blueberry Peat pulls out his money pouch, and has enough money to buy artisan tools and healer's tools. They say to Kazmuk, "I can mix those up if we need them, and treat wounds, so I don't know that we need to buy that much. If you want to get some for emergencies, of course, that's fine."

Assuming she has these items at the standard rate, I'd be spending 9 gp, so I'm down to 8 sp in my personal funds.

In which case, Jacen is totally cool to chip in 5 gold so that the party can by 5 healing potions with 20gp total

If so, Kazmuk will go back and buy one set of Artisan Tools for the party, removing some elixirs if needed. Can I decide on the exact amount of elixirs I buy after we find out if she sells tools?

She's gonna have tools. You see them. Also, you get the feeling shes friendly, so this will be the supply shop you can come back too to get gear this adventure.

Looking at Kwai Chang Caine, It was tolerable before, but not it's just ~off~. Things seem to be building to something...

Thalassa has 2 gold and 4 silver to share, if needed.

"Tell us how to find this local hermit that you are telling us." Thalassa instructs her while counting her coins to see if she has enough to buy what they need.

Blueberry Peat, being a keen-eyed investigator, looks around for a sign or something that indicates a direction from the pier to Gold's Ruin.

Just to confirm, everyone is fully healed from our earlier encounter on the road, right?

Caine smiles.
We will straighten them out.

The swashbuckler rests his paws on his Starknives.

Caine has 4gp for potions if needed.

Yep! You can rest up, buy, and hell for a few copper get a cold meal here. there's a few hanging salted meats and some bread. Also, have a hero point!

Looking at Thalassa, Oh, you can find Derrol out at Gold's Ruin. It's those old manner houses out of town. That's B5 on the map

Is there really no inn here?

As you look around the town out the door for an inn, she says Figured we’d get here sooner or later. One of these days, someone’ll have to build a proper inn here in town, but in the meantime... Inn the meantime... get it? Ummm... Yeah. I can help you out. Elsie ushers you to the largest table, telling them she’ll bring out dinner momentarily before bustling into the back room. She returns a few moments later with a tray of individual and delicious (but cold) grouse pies. During this time, she says, So as you can see, we dont get many visitors, so what brings you here? She doesn’t charge for the meal, but asks for a payment of 5 sp per night the PCs wish to sleep on her floor.

Blueberry Peat motions off the offers of food. "I eat sunlight, but thanks for the offer! Has there been any sort of illness in the town? We found someone from your community who came to Osprey Cove and they died of some kind of rusting disease."

Caine eats. The Amurrun points at Peat as he chews.
You not eating yours then.

In between mouthfuls, he says
Thassilonians and Gorumites are at Stone home making a mess of things. A Hermit may know something. And you have zero Inns in your...Hamlet. I smell a conspiracy involving rust.

Thalassa prefers fish but receives the offer, anyway.

"I think we should gather more information to prove that. But that would be a good starting point for our investigation." she tells Kwai.

Caine eats. The Amurrun points at Peat as he chews.

You not eating yours then.

In between mouthfuls, he says
Thassilonians and Gorumites are at Stone home making a mess of things. A Hermit may know something. And you have zero Inns in your...Hamlet. I smell a conspiracy involving rust.

"We should split that, I am really hungry."

Elsie looks at you, mmm I think that might be Blanton.. I haven't seen him lately. He is... I guess was a Gorumite. Funny he should die... I dont like any of this... She seems distracted/worried as you all eat and talk.

"So he was known to have the rusting disease around here? Is there anyone else sick with it?"

Kazmuk eats, drinks and becomes merry.

"It seems like there is danger afoot, lads, ladies and plants! By the Accidental God, this sounds like an adventure!"

Kazmuk slams his fist on the floor with enthusiasm.

Noticing that Elsie is behaving somewhat unusually while they eat, she silently observes whether their host is hiding information from them.

Perception +7 to Sense Motive of Elsie

Elsie seems trueful. Nothing seams out of place, but she is worried.

Elsie thinks and says, I haven't seen anything. What's the rusting disease? She's being trueful.

We should go rattle some cages at Stone home. After we eat of course.

Checking in! Any last ideas after food or where to next? Direct approach, check the guy in the manors, or head somewhere else?

Once we buy our potions, I guess we spend the night here. Kazmuk's ready to go see the hermit or bust through the gates with the fabricated key that Blueberry Peat is probably going to make. I'd prefer the direct approach though.

Crazy people are really good for clues though - let's go see the hermit in the morning. I mean, if he's already squatting in abandoned homes, maybe he nows of a secret direct-approach passage we could use to enter the castle."

Leave no hermit unturned.

Caine rubs his paws together.
Let's bring the Hermit some supplies.

If you are settling here for the night, Blueberry Peat turns their attention to crafting the key with the new artisan supplies. If anyone wishes to assist, they are happy to accept their aid.

Crafting: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (16) + 6 = 22

Thalassa agrees to settle to rest for the night. She also helps Blueberry Peat with their work before she goes to sleep.
DC 15? Aid in Crafting: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (7) + 3 = 10

No luck on the helping, but with Blueberry Peat's efforts, you got a key! And now off to the hermit after a brief rest. Elie is happy to give you space and leave you with a nice breakfast of cold meats, bread, and cheese.

Off to the manors! There you find three manors. There’s little to find other than musty and ruined furniture, seabird nests in the rafters, vermin nests below the floorboards, and half finished houses direly in need of repair. The western manor is little more than a foundation, while the eastern manor is partially collapsed.

The central and smallest manor is the soundest of the trio, and while it includes a mostly leak-free roof, its interior walls are nothing more than a framework. As you walk around, you are greeted by a darker skinned hairy man. As he sees you he says, Derrol’s the name! Derrol Finnick. Used to be—well, used to be a lot of things, but most recently an underpaid architect and now just Derrol. These are my houses! The rest of the town doesn’t like them because they think they’re haunted, but I don’t mind. Ghosts never bothered me much, and there’s plenty of space. Not many visit Iron Harbor, but here you are! What can ol’ Derrol do for you?

Kazmuk looks at the houses sadly.

"Aye, the housin' market 'ere must be cheap as!" He remarks to Derrol.

"Ahm Kazmuk. We're here from Osprey Cove and want to know how to get into the big castle run by the Gorum people."

Architecture Lore: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 = 12

Blueberry Peat looks at the buildings, trying to see if there's anything easy that could be done to shore them up.

"So are there actually ghosts here?" He nods in agreement to Kazmuk. "Yes, we were told you might have useful information."

Caine walks up to a wall, knocks gently on it and turns to smile at Derrol.
Solid as they come, my good fellow. Now, about that castle...

Diplomacy(T) to Make An Impression: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (9) + 6 = 15

His ears perk up when you Mention Osprey Cove, always wanted to
visit! Probably more to my liking than this place, from what I’ve heard. Iron Harbor’s got a tough name and tougher people, and it’s not really for me. I tried being tough and failed; I’d rather just fish and make art.

When you ask about the castle, “I stay away from the place— went there once years back and felt like I was being watched that was enough for me! But lately, I’ve been seeing weird lights up there late at night. Nothing bright. Thought I was imagining it the first time. And I doubt you can see them at all from down in the village. But up here, on this cliff, you’ve got a better view of Rusthenge, and yeah. Weird lights. My take is that
them Thassilonians are up to something there, and makes sense since Rusthenge is one of their old buildings anyway, yeah?

When blueberry Peat mentions help and Kwai Chang Caine attempts to make friends, he turns to him and says, Maybe.... im tried of living alone. YOu take me back to the cove and Ill tell you what I can. Deal

"Sorry, but I'm a little confused about the local culture. Are the Gorumites locals, or are they from Thassilon? Or are the Gorumites and Thassilonians two different groups of people? The boat is from Thassilon, so are those the Thassilonians you mean?"

"However, I'm sure there will be no problem with us taking you with us back to the Cove when we leave here. I know a great fishing spot near the farm where I live, actually!"

"Sorry, but I'm a little confused about the local culture. Are the Gorumites locals, or are they from Thassilon? Or are the Gorumites and Thassilonians two different groups of people? The boat is from Thassilon, so are those the Thassilonians you mean?"

"However, I'm sure there will be no problem with us taking you with us back to the Cove when we leave here. I know a great fishing spot near the farm where I live, actually!"

"In fact, we are excited to return home ... but we can't. We can't leave without our Elder, and she went up to that verschtunken castle with some Gorum people, and we can't really invite you to come to live in Osprey Cove without an Elder's permission, so I'm sure you can see that we are in a little bit of a bind here. Which is awful really because my parents have an extra room at their place and I know you would love it, and no one cooks like my mother; wow, she sure likes fish too."

Jacen breathes ...

"We could really use your help."

Kazmuk crosses his arms and lets the sociable people talk their way through this conversation. He closes his eyes and thinks about his favourite beer.

Caine purrs.
Perhaps you tell us the proper way there and anything else pertinent and once we rescue our Elder, we all can chat over a good warm bowl of milk.

Derrol responds to Peat's question, With that I can help! We are in Thassilon. All these people are not quite friendly in this town. The Gorumites are the locals who are part of the crazy religion. Either way, I want to get out of here!

turning to everyone, Those Gorumites' home is well defended from the
ground but neglects defense from above. Stonehome’s position nestled within a steep nook in the cliffside leaves it open to infiltration from above. The safest route up the cliffs to a narrow ledge that sits 20 feet over the rooftop. If you want, you can get in that way. So, will you help me get out of here after you get your friend back?