Age of Ashes (Team Dahak)

Game Master Delta Arena

Selling all four items would come to 58gp, or 14.5gp each.

The Bumblebrashers not only agree to watch the entrance, but they are rejoiced at the news of your progress. Without hesitation, Helba tells everyone to get ready to move back in into their wing of the basement.

"But what should we do about the bear?" is the only thing they inquire.

Before leaving the mess hall, however, the bumblebrashers do offer you so roasted hare and some boiled quail eggs.

They also have no interest in the magic items, but Breachill has no shortage of opportunities to sell them.

"Brilliant Burnis not want miscellaneous magics. Sell and get gold."

"Friends I will make only one suggestion, and I am not nearly as studied in magery as our friend Markus, but, I'm fairly well traveled and well seasoned."

He says this, and yet no one has ever seen prestidigitation applied so aptly; they knew in principle that Kiilo wasn't a bird ... but they'd also just witnessed him "preening" for over an hour.

"We do not yet have a way to make magic weapons or even to easily move any runes we find. I think perhaps the armory bracelet, which can make a magic weapon for us once per day when we need it, could prove to be more useful than we now think."

Selling the other three items and keeping the armory bracelet would come to 33gp, or 8.25gp each.

While carousing in Breachill, the happy goblin visits every watering hole, eatery and gambling den that he can find!

The cleric of Cayden Cailean is already known enough in the watering holes of Breachill that he is greeted by name in the four major establishments of the city - Cayden's Keg, Lamond's lament, the Pickled Ear and the Wizard's Grace - as well as six smaller ones. He even receives a complimentary keg from Brynne, from one cleric to another, in exchange for the tales of what the heroes of breachill have seen and faced.

What else are you guys doing in Breachill? Are you just spending the night, doing daily preparations and taking off again? Or would you like to do anything else?

Markus checks in on his sister to make sure she is all right. Both physically and mentally. While she is happy to see him, they end up arguing again about his decision to become join the Call for Heroes. Markus ends up in a foul mood for the rest of the day, even Cranky goes away hunting to be away from his bad attitude.

And much to her dismay, the job is not over. Even through hangovers and family quarrels, you gather again the next day.

After a full rest, do you all head back to the citadel? If so, where in the citadel are you headed to explore? Are you staying in Breachill for a day or two? Does Markus reach an agreement with his sister? Does she know he’ll carry on exploring the citadel?

1st level spells stay the same, but I switched out Daze for Needle Darts

Markus proposes to the others that they should continue exploring the citadel undergrounds. He avoids talking to his sister for now, there's no room in his mind for drama. He doesn't eat much for breakfast, but packs a sandwich for later.

Cranky comes to try to talk to him, but he just answers monosyllabically. Cranky eventually gets bored and goes play with Mosquito.

For his part, Kiilo remained as grounded as he could on the road back to Breachill, until the town was in sight that is, when he said, “Friends, I need to touch the sky. I will rejoin you soon.”

He lept up and began winging his way to the clouds.

He flew. He flew long and hard. For the rest of the afternoon into the evening when he reached Mount Sinatuk and he collapsed on its peak. He prayed. He prayed to his quiet long forgotten god Easivra, praying for the strength and the guidance he needed to carry on. He knew The Dawn Eagle would not forsake him … and he collapsed in the embrace of the sky.

When he woke, he found his power changed; he felt the divinity of Easivra within him. With a shiver that ran through the end of his wings, they then started to glow; he had never cast a spell of Light before, but this seemed to be that. Except that when he stretched out his palm, the light seemed to gather there, as though he could hurl it. This power seemed so different from his occult studies, and yet so close to his heart.

He hastened back to Breachill, delighting in the sky around him, and giving thanks. First to his patron, for bestowing this new path upon him, but also to the ever spirited Cayden, who held him up when his wings were without the sky. He needed to celebrate with his friends … and then retake the citadel.

After the full night's carousel, Mosquito meets everyone in the morning for Citadel exploration time! The goblin seems excited!
Maybees wees kin fight da dragon!

The excited Caydenite races back to the castle....

You may assume he is heading back in through the tunnel...

Markus

Noted

It seems like Markus’ mind is set, to the castle it is!

Kiilo

Reborn into the light of Easivra, the mighty strix comes down from the sky. As he approaches Mosquito and Markus can feel that there is something different about him. Mosquito feels a presence of the divine, while Markus can feel the expansion of Kiilo’s magical capabilities.

Hopefully the trip to Mount Sinatuk and Kiilo’s personal awakening will not be in vain.

Kiilo has retrained winged warrior dedication into oracle dedication to explore different combat tactics.

Mosquito

Onwards you go!

Which wing/room/door are you all exploring next once you are back in the castle?

The Bumblebrashers took no time in settling back in the wing, and they are discussing what to do with the trapped bear that has only grown angrier since they were kicked out. Otherwise, they report noticing nothing strange going on while you were in Breachill.

”Well, besides that weird knight guy who went passed by.”

Sadly, they don’t have any more details on the knight guy, as they weren’t paying much attention.

Markus takes a moment to realize what they meant. Then he explodes "What? Who? What happened? Where did he come from? Where did he go? Was it a he?" He realizes that someone might indeed have been trapped inside the dungeons only to be released when the group dealt with the hellknight skeletons.

He massages his temples, realizing that his mood was not improving.

"Yeah, I think it was a he. He came in the same way you and us did, and he went where your goblin friend is running to."

As Mosquito approaches the room at the end of the hall of graves, he notices that the door is ajar. There are soft rumaging boxes coming from the inside, as if someones was going through boxes or drawers, and the soft clanking of metal as that person moves around.

That would be the door right under mosquito, or east of the map's compass.

Markus instructs Cranky to take a peek and report back.

His Stealth is +6

Mosquito seems a bit preoccupied by determining if the door is a jar...

Cranky

Cranky moves past the thinking goblin. The smell of metal and human sweat are obvious to him as he approaches. Moving more carefully he peeks in through the gap in the door. There is a human man wearing a plate of armour with similar design elements to those of the skeleton fought the day before. This armour is obvious new. Hanging from his side, he carries a sheathed greatsword. Two javelins are slung across his back.

The man is going through lockboxes set all around the room, which seems to be some sort of vault, methodically inspecting one by one.

Mosquito

If Mosquito thinks really hard about it, he realizes that a room is just a giant jar with a lid to keep the contents dry.

After Cranky gets back and reports, Markus says "It seems there's a man in there. He's sweating and he seems like a hellknight himself. He's checking lockbox contents in there. I think maybe he's looking for something specific. He's heavily armed, so we shouldn't annoy him. And also... Well, you heard Cranky, you can conclude by yourselves."

Mosquito comes to the conclusion that this particular door is not actually a jar. The goblin sites reasons mostly pertaining to getting ones head stuck while trying to eats blueberries.

At the mentioning of "It seems there's a man in there.", the Cleric of Cayden Cailian jumps up excited racing inside!
Hellos strange human in hellknight armors! Mees bees Mosquito! Wees bees da Heroes of Breachill!

Kiilo smiles: some things were not about Law & Chaos, some things were not about Good & Evil; some things were simply about constants in the universe. Mosquito was a Constant in the Universe. The only evidence of entropy was how long he had remained focused on the door, because in principle he generally wouldn't have waited for Markus to finish speaking. There really were gifts that kept on giving ...

Kiilo, following, does not race. He feigns enthusiasm, but is also not excited per se. No one wore Hellknight armor for the benefit of others.

"Greetings sir, if not quite well met. Mosquito seems to have introduced himself, and I am Kiilo; it is probably a longer discussion whether the moniker applies, but, another time. What brings you here?"

The hellknight turns around to look at the party.

”Heroes, you say? I very much doubt that by the looks of you,” he says. His hand is very obviously on the hilt of his greatsword. ”As to what brings me here, I should be the one asking you that question. My business is mine and mine alone. Regardless, I will take my leave as of this place as soon as I can, it seems to be overrun by goblins and other savage creatures.”

His starting attitude is Unfriendly.

Mosquito puts on his friendliest face he can find!
Diplomacy(T): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (15) + 6 = 21

The hellknight observes the group for a few moments, looking suspciously at Mosquito's smile. His muscles relax a little, but his hand remains on the sword's hilt.

"What is a ragtag group like you doing in a hellknight citadel? Are you looters, here to desecrate our tombs for treasure, or have you some other business with this place?”

The hellknight observes the group for a few moments, looking suspciously at Mosquito's smile. His muscles relax a little, but his hand remains on the sword's hilt.

"What is a ragtag group like you doing in a hellknight citadel? Are you looters, here to desecrate our tombs for treasure, or have you some other business with this place?”

"Ah, Hellknight manners, no surprise there. Must be the poor manner in which you were raised ... impossible for you to realize that you might be polite to anyone. You are, trust me, equal to or less than us. We've given you our names, we've been courteous; you've been rude, and you are arrogant. We actually came here to protect our neighbors, which you clearly cannot say. You have no right to treat us as if we're beneath you, but we can teach you that if we need to. Keep your name and apologize to my comrades, or we will take you down like the pathetic guards of your worthless ancestors. At least we know there's space to bury you."

Intim: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (18) + 8 = 26
Diplo: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (13) + 8 = 21

"Apologies." He hides it well, but there is a slight quiver in his voice. "You are clearly more civilized than I had assumed. The state of decay of this place has me on edge. We are sworn to keep savagery at bay, and yet we have let our own keep be overrun by all manner of beasts.”

He turns to keep looking at the lockboxes.

”It matters not, I won’t get in your way so long as you don’t get in mine. This citadel no longer belongs to the hellknights.”

The hellknight is now Neutral, rather than Unfriendly. He is also Frightened 1.

"Apologies." He hides it well, but there is a slight quiver in his voice. "You are clearly more civilized than I had assumed. The state of decay of this place has me on edge. We are sworn to keep savagery at bay, and yet we have let our own keep be overrun by all manner of beasts.”

He turns to keep looking at the lockboxes.

”It matters not, I won’t get in your way so long as you don’t get in mine. This citadel no longer belongs to the hellknights.”

The hellknight is now Neutral, rather than Unfriendly. He is also Frightened 1.

"Once upon a time, my enslavement in Cheliax ingrained some rather negative biases in me, towards people who look and dress like you. I am not proud of this, and I have learned there are many men and women, especially here in Breachill, who are kinder than the human norm."

Kiilo takes a breath and let's go of a little of the tension he was holding.

"Could we possibly do a bit better? Could we possibly do better than simply not being in each other's way? We are a resourceful group, but my instincts say you know a great deal more about Hellknights than even I do. As brave as you are, our might and magic couldn't hurt if an altercation ensued either. If no one owns this keep, maybe we could all trespass together for a time."

Intim: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (6) + 8 = 14
Diplo: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (9) + 8 = 17

Was tempted to throw in a Deception roll, but Kiilo is being sincere

Yes.

The goblin seems to answer the hellknight's two questions.

Still smiling innocently, Mosquito watches the conversation between the two before raising his hand...

After a full 4 minutes of raising his arm into the air, the small goblin giggles, prior to scrambling up onto a spare bit of rumble.
Wees bees here from da Breachill ta investigate goings-on and what's what's. Wees found Dem monkeys and frogs and something bout gates.

Diplomacy(T): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (18) + 6 = 24

Kiilo

"I may know more about hellknights, but not of this citadel. This place is from before my time. From my parents' time. I am just here looking for an heirloom, one that should be here, in this very room. After that, I need to return to my posting in Vraid.”

Mosquito

”Monkeys and frogs? I did run into two monkey faced creatures on my way here, they didn’t look like anyone I’ve seen before. But I have not seen any frogs. At least not besides the regular kind by the creek. Are the gates you seek related to the monkeys?”

He remains Neutral, but is willing to answer questions as best he can.

Markus says "Well, if you tell us about this heirloom, maybe we can help. If you can prove you're the rightful heir, then it's our duty to get it to you. Otherwise, this place is dangerous, we don't recommend you go about it alone."

"I just need to find my father's jewelry box, which should be inside a lockbox with a false bottom. The key I have for the jewelry box should suffice as proof of my right to it. As for dangers, I faced none on my way in, although there’s clearly been conflict recently. The blood of the birds still glistened. I was honestly not planning on staying once I’ve found my father’s ring.”

Please roll a secret Sense Motive check for me to detect whether Markus thinks he is being sincere.

Markus says "Maybe share the name of your father, so that we may find his resting place faster." He is suspicious of the man, but he doesn't want to stay between a person and their rightful heirloom.

The goblin seems to have been showing great restraint by not rampaging about for the hellknight's treasure!

If anyone looks at the goblin, they see him playing jacks...

"His name was Thrasius Stagram, but this is not his resting place. His resting place is somewhere in Hell, where he died. The ring was missed when the order moved due to the false bottom."

He seems sincere, and he makes the comment about hell as a statement of fact, not as an insult.

Markus relaxes and says "Very well, I'll help you look. Cranky get on that side, while I start from this side." He purposefully didn't say the man's name in case he wants to distance himself from it. He has learned not to ask too many questions about a person, but is very curious about this man's father.

Society to remember the name: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (2) + 8 = 10

"Well Markus seems to have taken quite a liking to you Son of Stragram, pity to only know your father's name and not yours though. I am sorry for your loss in any case, peace be with you. Not sure that I completely want to set aside the task that the town hired us for, but Markus does. So let's find your lockbox and get you headed back to Vraid if that is your wish."

Kiilo smiles genuinely, "There are worse places than Breachill to rest from the road though. We'll head back to town after we've cleared this place out."

”My name is Alak, Arminger Alak Stagram.”

Neither his nor his father’s name are familiar to Markus.

”Thank you for your condolences, and thank you, for helping me with my search.”

Markus, Kiilo and Cranky begin searching the vault methodically, with the Arminger making fast progress as he checks only for lockboxes with the false bottom. After the first couple of minutes everyone starts catching up to his speed, as everyone becomes accustomed to the regular size and depth of the lockboxes.

”What is this task of yours? How come it brings you here, to the vaults of the citadel?”

Absently cheating with himself at jacks, Mosquito answers the hellknight's question.
Wees bees da Heroes of Breachill. Dey send us to investigate dis castle to rescue da Bumblebashers. Wees den did Dat so now wees exploring.

”How would you be setting the task aside, if you have already completed the task?”

As the Arminger keeps searching on the other side of the room, Markus finds the false bottom on one of the lockboxes. With a little bit of pressure the false bottom comes off, revealing a little jewellery box inside. The box is small, meant for, at most, one piece of jewellery, and it is locked by key.

Mosquito squints at the hellknight's question.
Because nows wees investigate da stupid frogs and monkey folks. Dey bees all over dis castle.

The goblin then swears as he catches himself cheating....

Markus, not paying much attention to the discussion is happy to have found the box. He says "Oh, it seems I've found something. Now is the time you prove you're indeed the heir. There's a little hole here for the key, if you have it."

Cranky, hearing this, hides in a hole he finds.

”I haven’t seen any of them inside the castle, but I came straight to the vault. Path was clear to this room.”

Alak stands up and walks to Markus.

”You found it. You really found it.”

He takes out a key that’s hanging from a chain around his neck. The box offers no resistance, and he pulls a silver ring with a garnet stone out of the box. He slides it on his finger.

“Thank you for reuniting me with my father’s ring. You have my gratitude. I should depart soon back to Vraid, but I remain for the reminder of the day.”

Alak is now Friendly.

"Would you join us as we look through the rest of the fortress? We really do want to make sure that it is secure for our neighbors, and while the armor might put some people off, maybe you could come back to town with us for dinner. You could leave refreshed in the morning maybe?"

"Let it not be said that hellknights are ungrateful, I will join you for today and fight alongside you if the need arises."

Where are you headed to next? Did Mosquito beat Mosquito at Jacks?

Through the door where Mosquito is standing I think :)

Yes, but there's an entire covered section to the left also. But Mosquito's door is as good as any.

Mosquito is heard complaining that everyone always cheats at jacks, as the goblin makes ready to proceed...
Exploration mode Defend

As you enter the room, you notice a low table set up with with melted candles and a pile of ashes. The floor around it is dusty, but there is a set of footprints leading to and from the table. Against the walls of the room, there are multiple mostly empty shelves.

Markus is a bit suspicious and starts to detect magic before moving further.

Detect Magic

The Swashbuckler races into the room, leaps on the centered table and begins dancing, while the Wizard does wizard stuff....

Kiilo follows, smiling but trying to keep it unoticed while the wizard is wizarding. Unexpectedly however, Kiilo also begins an incantation ...

Kiilo, in that way he does, begins to conduct. He'd watched Mosquito just long enough to sense where his rhythm was at, and the music begin to build around that. He removes his wing harness, just so that their new friend can get the full effect. He nods to the little goblin as he gyrates."

Casts Musical Accompaniment