Ace Haven's page

Been on a Doctor Who and spin-off kick. Just finished Torchwood: Another Life and starting on Torchwood: Slow Decay

Listening to Doctor Who - The Resurrection Casket.
Reading Evil Ways by Justin Gustainis

City of Ashes by Cassandra Clare, the 2nd of the Mortal Instruments series.

Just finished listening to City of Bones by Cassandra Clare
Gave up on Harlequin by Laurell K Hamilton
Starting on Unnatural Inquirer by Simon R Green

I've read the first book so far and consider it a good introduction to Scion at least from my point of view...

I didn't think of that. My gaming group is playing Scion now, just using the campaign in the core books. If we do another story, it would be a good backdrop for another campaign.

Tensor wrote:

I just started "The Gunslinger" by Stephen King.

I didn't even know the Dark Tower series existed until a few weeks ago.

Tensor wrote:

I am starting book II, "The Drawing of the Three".

The Gunslinger rocked!

Tensor wrote:

Now, I am starting book III, "The Waste Lands".

Starting Book IV !! "Wizard and Glass"

I love the Dark Tower series, but had trouble reading "Wizard and Glass". It started to drag for me.

Been listening to the Percy Jackson series by Rick Riordan while ar work. About the start reading Soulless by Christopher Golden.

I have to concur. The first one was very good, but the second and third not as good, and I haven't bothered to pick up the fourth.

I've had the same reaction to the author's Weather Warden series, as well. After the first couple of books, I lost interest in reading any more.

Is this series worth reading?

I've read the first three. it starts off good, but in my opinion the series stars to drag by the middle of the second book. I think book three will be the last one I read.

Read all four so far. Can't wait for the last book in March of 2009. They are also doing a movie based on the Lightning Thief, directed by Chris Columbus.

Add me to the list. Order #935348. I got the Pathfinder #9 today but no Gazetteer inside.

One of my platyers was discussing that as well, some type of check to let them find that weak point.

I consider myself a Discworld fan, but I absolutely had no idea there was a Hogfathr movie until recently. I own Wyrd Sisters and Soul Music VHS tapes. I watched Hogfather on DVD this weekend and thought it was awesome.

The PCs in my campaign actually had the Smuggler's Tunnel bricked up before exploring it so they never even got the chance to get to the Catacombs of Wrath.

Awesome. Love all the new changes.

Consider me signed up

The stats for all four will appear with #7.

Name of PC: Haywood
Class/Level: Druid 6
Adventure: Hook Mountain Massacre - Graul House
Catalyst: Down Pit Trap and Swallowed by Muck Graul

one member of my group has a habit of using some of the worst names for his characters

Elmer, half-orc barbarian
Ugh, half-ogre barbarian
Cheesy Mac, human paladin
Hot Pocket, aasimar paladin/cleric

then we have our newcomer
Haywood Juhanmethat, human druid

Name of PC: Summerlily
Class/Level: Sorceress 5
Adventure: The Skinsaw Murders - Shadow Clock
Catalyst: Xanesha's Wisdom drain

Name of PC: Haywood
Class/Level: Druid 5
Adventure: The Skinsaw Murders - Shadow Clock
Catalyst: Xanesha's Impaler of Thorns

Still looking over it, but I might sneak one or two in somewhere

I notice it showing "pending" on my subscription screen, right below the notice that it shipped. If I'm one of the lucky randoms, cool, I can let one of my players use the extra copy to see if I can entice them into subscribing.

Awesome. Like the plot of some of the best horror and mystery movies, a group of strangers (in the case of the PCs) locked in a haunted building must solve a murder before everyone inside is killed. Can't wait to play this one, maybe one of my current group will run it while I'm still DM'ing RotRL.

Those covers are awesome. Love the color-coding. Keep up the excellent work.

Hip Hip Hooray!

IRONHARD wrote:

Looking forward to the web enhancement. Heres hoping that its the first of many.

It probably won't be. Web enhancements take a good amount of time to produce, yet that time has to be carved out of our already overly busy schedules. In a perfect world, we would have had the enhancement up and running when Pathfinder 5 released, but as it is, we'll be lucky to have it going by Friday.

As a result, yeah, we'll be doing Web Enhancements now and then, but most of the time I'll be trying to get EVERYthing into print (and as a corollary to that, making sure that my authors have more accurate word counts).

And we all appreciate the hard work and extra effort being done by you and the rest of the Paizo crew, James.

New Event!

Monday nights, 9pm EST - Monday Night Movie Chat. The first event, on 1/21, will have Corean's Disciple, Wyvern, Russ Taylor, Sir Wulf, and Daigle renting "Dragon Wars" and watch it simultaneously and make fun of it.

I'm getting a MST3K feel from this already...

Woohoo!! Someone call Joel and the 'bots!

Name of PC: Jukka
Class/Level: Rogue 3
Adventure: Burnt Offerings - Thistletop
Catalyst: locked alone in room with barghest

Name of PC: Valeros
Class/Level: Fighter 4
Adventure: The Skinsaw Murders - Misgivings
Catalyst: failed save on Suicide Compulsion Haunt

Name of PC: Ephaestus
Class/Level: Cleric 3
Adventure: The Skinsaw Murders - Misgivings
Catalyst: failed save on Iesha's Vengeance Haunt

Name of PC: Cheesy Mac (replacement of Valeros)
Class/Level: Paladin 4
Adventure: The Skinsaw Murders - Misgivings
Catalyst: ghoul bat while trying to defend unconcious Sorceress

Name of PC: Avenall (replacement of Ephaestus)
Class/Level: Rogue 3
Adventure: The Skinsaw Murders - Misgivings
Catalyst: party member wrath -- rogue ran off on his own, eventually pulled the ghoul bat into the battle where the PCs were already fighting off Aldern's ghoul guards. Sorceress was paralyzed when the bat struck her to below 0 and she blamed the rogue for nearly getting her killed

suffice to say those 2 particular players haven't had much luck in Misgivings

Just skimmed the issue now, didn't read anything, just checked it out. This I have to say.

The art is top notch. Now I liked all the art so far in pathfinder, but in this issue I couldn't find a picture I didn't want to make a poster out of and hang above my bed. It's freakin' awsome!

That was almost word for word my initial reaction. Awesome artworkl. Can't wait to read the whole thing.

Shayliss went after the gnome in our party.
And I'm actually thinking having her follow the party around as an NPC after her sister's murder and her father's incarceration.

Congrats!!!

Jukka and Valeros gathered local workers to brick up the smugglers’ tunnel beneath the Glassworks, using their status as heroes of the town to influence the locals. Mayor Deverin encouraged the initiative the group took and asked if they would ride up to Thistletop to get an idea of the forces they could be expected. She would messenger Hemlock to have him return as soon as possible. Gnomelody suggested contacting Shalelu for aid as well.
Jukka balked about leaving town, especially since he saw nothing in it from himself.
Eventually the heroes left Sandpoint, Summerlily and Ephaestus still using the horses paid for by Aldern during their boar hunt while the other rented mounts. After two hours of wandering though Nettlewood, with Summerlily and Jukka stumbling into stinging nettles and Valeros eating goblinberries, Ephaetus located a path though the nettles.
Another two hours passed before Summerlily located the four foot high tunnel through the dense briars. Valeros attempted to hack his way through, but opted to make his way through the tunnel rather than constantly fight the stinging barbs.
Gnomelody discovered a camp of unarmed goblins and Summerlily attempted to speak with them, which turned out wasteful since Valeros screamed out, “I am the Law Giver!!!” before she had even finished her sentence. When the battle was joined, Ephaestus caught the sight of a fire pelt cougar and four goblin dogs coming up from behind them.
“I’m skinning that thing,” said the gnome with a grin.
Ephaetus ran from the approaching animals, pushing Summerlily into the nettles.
Jukka managed to take out the goblin dogs before the cougar could get close enough for battle. Behind them, Valeros hacked away at the unarmed goblins until those who remained cowered in the corner.
Jukka joined the others in the camp area, leaving Gnomelody alone against the charging cougar and goblin dogs. He caught sight of a goblin druid moving through the thorns in their direction and ran to join the others.
Valeros piled up dead goblin bodies as a barricade against the coming attack while Ephaetus swung his mace to keep the goblins cowering. Gnomelody took to song, encouraging his friends.
When the goblin dogs reached the corpse barricade, the cowering goblins struck back, attacking Jukka, Summerlily, and Valeros. Angered, the elf swung her quarterstaff with such rage that she decapitated the goblin that had struck her. Another started to run, but Jukka slammed him into the stinging nettles that surrounded them.
Distracted by the sneak attack by the goblins and Valeros taunting the goblin dogs as he shot them with his crossbow, the party lost sight of the druid and the cougar.
Valeros decided to throw the dead goblins into the hole they had passed upon entering the goblin tunnels, trying to get a sense of what waited in the water below. Jukka and Gnomelody searched ahead, attempting to track the druid, eventually discovering an end to the briar tunnel and a rope bridge that stretched across to Thistletop.
Ever eager for action, Valeros charged across the rope while the others noted the island’s eerie resemblance to a head. Finally easing across one at a time, the party was stopped just on the other side by the fighter who pointed out a goblin patrol. Behind them, Jukka cut the ropes and watched as the bridge dropped, cutting off their only way of escape.
*

"Taste of Night" by Vicki Petterson
"His Dark Materials" by Phillip Pullman

“Mornin’, Ameiko,” Hemlock said, coming into the Rusty Dragon early the next morning. The young woman smiled up at him and he added,. “I’m looking for your new tenants.”
“They’re in here,” she said, leading him towards what he knew was the inn’s dining area. Sure enough the five adventurers that had assisted defending the town against the goblins were gathered around the table, enjoying the breakfast cooked up by the Dragon’s owner. He took a moment to size them up, wondering exactly why this rag-tag bunch had decided to stick together, even after the raid. But he was glad. Sandpoint needed heroes.
The fighter Valeros was stuffing his face, possibly trying for the record of most eggs eaten in one seating. Hemlock had heard that the man had downed the hagfish water the day before. Not many had the stomach for that. Across the table for him, attempting to say grace over the food before it was all eaten, was the cleric Ephaestus. Hemlock had never known a cleric of Irori, did not even think that the god even had clerics. He had assumed all of the god’s followers were monks. The elf sorceress Summerlily was doing her best to look distinguished and regal, probably below her station to be in the same room with this bunch. He doubted the elf was one of the Forlorn for he could not picture her being raised in human society. The shifty one Jukka was sitting off to himself, carefully examining each piece of food before he put it into his mouth. Hemlock took note of his actions. Lastly, telling tales of a prince that Hemlock had never heard of was the bard Gnomelody. The sheriff had seen the traveling gnome several times over the last few years, passing through with entertainment for the local children. He never once pictured him as an adventuring type.
“Sheriff Hemlock,” the cleric intoned, seeing the man come into the room. “What a pleasant surprise. What can we do for you this morning?”
Hemlock cleared his throat. Ever since the surprise visit this morning from the town’s unofficial guardian, his mind had been racing with the idea that yesterday’s raid was not the last the town would hear of the demented little goblins. “Mayor Deverin has requested your presence in her office this morning. Something has come to our attention that we think you can assist with.”
After a few grumbles from Valeros, they followed Hemlock to meet the mayor of Sandpoint. The woman was pleased to finally be introduced to the group that had saved their city, but was worried about the news she had heard this morning. She turned to the person at her side. “This is Shalelu Andosana.”
The beautiful elf nodded in greeting to the party. By her garb, they could tell she was a ranger and it was explained that she passed through town every few months for supplies. “There’s something stirring with the goblins in this region,” she explained. “Normally they are unorganized and the five tribes fight amongst themselves. But the raid on Sandpoint last night involved members of several of the tribes. It leads me to believe that someone is organizing the goblins.” She explained how the goblins had raided not only Sandpoint, but several of the local farmlands as well, destroying homes.
“What can you tell us about the goblins,” Gnomelody asked her.
Shalelu went into detail about the five goblin tribes and the known goblin leaders and heroes. Valeros perked up when she mentioned one goblin had a magic sword.
“Let’s go get him,” the fighter said.
The others ignored him, requesting the elf continue.
“Sheriff Hemlock has asked that I investigate the goblin tribes and see if I can learn what kind of force is driving them together.”
“In the meantime,” Mayor Deverin added, “I’m asking the sheriff to journey to Magnimar to seek reinforcements in case of a second goblin raid. As he may be gone for several days, we would appreciate you staying in town and acting as our defense, if the need arises.”
Valeros, of course, grumbled about wanting to kill the goblin for his magic sword. Ephaestus, nominating himself as the spokesman for the group, said, “We will be happen to assist.”
Shalelu asked the group to join her for dinner at the Rusty Dragon so she could go over in more detail what she knew of the goblins of the region.
*
“Oh, please! Someone help!” Ephaestus’s eyes opened the next morning when he heard the woman’s cry and the door to his room open. A small halfling, her hair already graying, came in, waving a letter. “Ameiko is missing!”
The cleric rose and set about waking the rest of the group before asking the halfling to explain. She told them how Ameiko had not risen early to fix breakfast as she normally does she when she went up to check, she found the owner missing. The only clue a note written to her by her half-brother Tsuto. The maid explained some of the family history of Ameiko and her half-brother. Lonjitku’s wife, Ameiko’s mother, had given birth to the half-elf Tsuto much to the anger of her husband. Five years prior, their mother had apparently taken her own life, jumping from the cliff behind their family home. Tsuto blatantly accused Lonjitku of killer her at the funeral and, after that argument, left Sandpoint. Ameiko also left Sandpoint, pursuing life as an adventurer for three years before returning to take control over the Rusty Dragon.
Tsuto’s note to his sister indicated that he had proof that Lonjitku was involved in the golbin raid during the Swallowtail Festival. The maid begged Ephaestus to locate Ameiko and make sure she is safe. The logical place to start would be the Glassworks, owned by Lonjitku and the location Tsuto had asked his sister to meet him.
Before venturing off, Summerlily searched Ameiko’s room for more clues, but found nothing else.
The Glassworks appeared to be open and in operation as they approached, though the front door appeared to be locked. To avoid drawing attention to themselves when they attempted to pick the locks, the group moved around to the delivery entrance. Valeros, however, opted to climb to the roof to get a better look since all of the curtains were drawn on the windows.
From the room, the fighter peered down one of the skylights to see a scene of chaos and horror. In the main room of the Glassworks, six goblins were using limbs cut from several dead bodies and throwing them into the huge furnace. At the desk of what must have been the manager, a body encased in glass was set up for display. The fighter screamed out, “I am the Law Giver!!” and shattered the skylight, raining crossbow bolts down upon the surprised goblins.
Hearing the cry of battle, the others entered through the Glassworks backdoor and attempted to find where the battle was happening. Summerlily and Ephaestus were caught moving through the building by two goblins that had retreated for reinforcements. The half-elf that had appeared and was being guarded by the goblins stayed concealed as he shot an arrow that downed the sorceress. Jukka and a singing Gnomelody joined to help their comrades, completely oblivious to Valeros’s one-man stand against goblin who lacked ranged weapons.
Gnomelody was shocked into forgetting the next line of his song as he rushed in to aid his fallen comrade. Jukka’s blade bit into goblin flesh as the cleric came around to heal Summerlily. The elf sorceress rose to her feet just as Tsuto shot another arrow into her before fleeing down the steps behind him.
At that time, Valeros burst through the door, sword swinging. Behind him lay nothing but dead goblin bodies. “What did I miss?” he asked, looking over as Summerlily took a swig of a healing potion.
“He went downstairs,” the cleric added, nodding his head in the direction Tsuto escaped. Jukka moved first, scanning for traps as he went. They split up once they were downstairs, Summerlily and Ephaestus taking a northern route with Gnomelody and Jukka taking south. Valeros went on his own to a tunnel he had found, wandering in the dark without a torch or lantern until he finally decided to return to catch back up with the rest of them.
When Jukka found the bound and gagged Ameiko, Gnomelody cast a healing spell on her. She explained how Tsuto had attempted to gain her assistance in his action against Sandpoint. When she had refused, he had tied her up below the Glassworks. The discovery of Tsuto’s journal led to discovery of the plot against Sandpoint, with the half-elf aiding the thought-dead Nualia. Gnomelody attempted to keep the erotic images drawn of the aasimar for himself.
While Jukka tried to determine where Tsuto had disappeared to, Summerlily led Ameiko upstairs to identify the glass-encased body in the furnace room. Valeros explained that he had followed the tunnel below the Glassworks as far as he could go. Jukka came up with the idea to brick up the tunnel, preventing any intruders. Gnomelody pointed out that the journal had noted Thistletop as the base of the leaders of the invasion, which prompted the fighter to hope the goblin with the magic sword was also there.
*

Belor Hemlock watched the crowd mill about the small town he called home, Sandpoint, the largest town along the Lost Coast. The Swallowtail Festival had begun that morning, following speeches by several notable persons including the mayor and himself. It was good to see the city celebrating. They all needed it.
Hemlock had become the sheriff of the town five years ago, following the murder of the previous sheriff by the killer that everyone called Chopper, even though the whole town knew his true identity. Hemlock supposed it was easier to not refer to a man they had all known and trusted, but to the killer that had disrupted their lives. It was just as they had a name for that period of time, the Late Unpleasantness.
A nice way of referring to a time of murder and fire. The fire had ruined several of the local business, totally destroying the old cathedral with Father Tobyn and his foster daughter Nualia still inside.
Now Sandpoint had a new cathedral and a new cleric, Father Zantus. The time for celebration was at hand. Folks that never left their homes or businesses were in town, which was good to see, but also meant that there was chance Hemlock would run into his brother Garridan and that old argument would start up again. There were also several travelers passing through to witness the town’s annual autumn festival.
Hemlock’s eyes had just caught those of Kaye Tesarani when a thunderstone exploded in the center near the cathedral. It was time for Zantus’s speech and the firework celebration. With a nod to Kaye to signify that he needed to return to business, Hemlock started toward the sound of the echoing thunderstone when the first of the screams broke through the night.
*
The cleric Ephaestus stood outside the House of Blue Stones and waited. His journey to Sandpoint had been long, but it would be worth it. Within that building was a library of knowledge that would greatly benefit a follower of Irori such as himself. But they were closed due to the Festival going on all around him. But that was ok, he would wait as long as it took to gain the secrets that must be held within.
When the thunderstone erupted to gather everyone’s attention, the aasimar turned towards the stage where the town’s priest had stood, about to start another speech. When the priest’s mouth open to begin, a scream of terror filled the night. Ephaestus’s eyes scanned the crowd for danger, landing on the body of a dead dog, near a wagon it has just been using for shade. Something small darted through the crowd, rushing passed a scarred fighter whose attention was on the meat he was greedily shoving into his mouth and the mug of ale he was washing it down with. Near the fighter, another small shape moved into action, but this one was dressed flamboyantly with a wide-brimmed feathered hat and wielding a shortbow. The gnome had also seen the blur rush into the crowd.
Epahestus grabbed his mace, certain that he would be needed soon and that his quest to Sandpoint may have been for more than just knowledge.
He joined the crowd, eye searching for the shape that had killed the dog when the sound of shrill voices singing brought his attention to the small images that were invading the town. At once, the cleric knew what had killed the dog.
Goblins.
*
Gnomelody Finetuner had been enjoying his trip to Sandpoint. He loved to visit the town on his travels, spinning tales of adventure for the children and young ladies. He had even heard that Cyrdak Drokkus, owner of the Sandpoint Theater, was about to start another of his award-winning plays. The bard thought the opportunity to audition would do wonders for his reputation. Gnomes were few and far between in Varisia and even Gnomelody could not remember having seen an actual gnome community. He supposed that his whole life had been spent on the road, looking for that chance to write his own story, sing his own song.
When the goblin darted through the crowd, fresh after killing the dog, the bard had no idea that this simple act would be the start of his adventure. He drew his bow but knew that firing into the crowd would not be a choice. So when the other goblins came into view, he opted to take his chances with them.
Reaching for an arrow, he stopped when a flash of magic exploded into the crowd of goblins, downing one of the creatures. At the edge of the crowd, a dark-haired elf in a flowing regal robe moved her fingers as she prepared another spell. Not too far from her, Gnomelody saw a human with a handlebar moustache sneak around the crowd. At first, the bard thought the man was an enemy but a tossed dagger hit one of the goblins and it was obvious he was no friend to the invaders.
The bard put back his arrow, reaching for his whip. The sorceress and the rogue could handle those goblins. He would get the dog-killer himself. He pushed himself passed the armored man that had been nearing him, ignoring the angry outburst that erupted from him. Gnomelody’s eyes were scanning the now dispersing crowd, looking for the goblin. He caught sight of a cleric just seconds before the small creature came into view.
*
Valeros almost had his ale to his lips when the small gnome bumped his leg, pushing past him. “Hey! Watch where you’re going!” he called after the little guy, wondering what could have caught his attention. It was then he became aware of the crowd screaming and running away from the square. The sounds of battle hit his ear and the fighter dropped his food and drink, immediately drawing his two blades. Action. At last.
It had been long since he had traveled with the Band of the Mauler, too long since his last job as a hired sword for that nobleman in Korvosa who was afraid of every corner and every shadow.
He bounded after the gnome who was drawing close to a lone goblin. “Wait up, little guy!” he called when he reached the bard’s side. “Let an expert handle this.”
“My name is Gnomelody,” the gnome replied back, snapping his whip at the goblin who managed to dodge both the bard and the cleric that had stopped to tend to a wounded woman.
Valeros laughed. “Let me show you how it’s done, Genome.” He reared back with his swords and struck. “I am the Law Giver!!!” The blades decapitated the goblin with ease and the fighter turned his attention to sound of more approaching goblins. Yes. The day had gotten more exciting indeed.
*
Summerlily Winterbreeze watched as the mustached man was hit by one of the goblin’s dogslicers. She called out for aid and saw a cleric on his way, followed by a gnome and a fighter carrying two blades. Father Zantus also came down from the stage and was making his way to join them.
An explosion rocked the street as the goblins found the wagon filled with fireworks. Seeing this before the rest, the sorceress bolted forward towards the goblins. A goblin bard was nearby, continuing to singe the creature’s ominous battle song. The elf reached for her quarterstaff so as not to exhaust her spells and got caught between four of the goblins, critically hit by one of them carrying a dogslicer while another laughed as she fell and lit her on fire with a torch.
*
Jukka pushed himself off the ground, giving a nod of thanks to Ephaestus before the cleric ran over to put himself between the goblins and the fallen sorceress. He got a look at the assembled crew that had joined the battle and quickly ducked behind some barrels to allow a sneak attack on goblins.
He had just been passing through Sandpoint to gain new contacts and had not expected to get caught up in a fight, let alone an apparent goblin invasion. He was thankful the strangers had joined into the fray so not a lot of pressure would be put on him to play the hero.
The rogue moved cautiously waiting for the chance to strike at the goblins who were distracted by the others. He unleashed a crossbow bolt, striking the bard and breaking his concentration, allowing the fighter who kept screaming, “I am the Law Giver!!” to move close enough to fight side-by-side with the cleric.
Seeing no longer any reason to be involved in the battle, Jukka took in the chaos around them. The sheriff had appeared nearby, organizing a group of guards to fight off more goblins that were invading from a different direction. Father Zantus ran to join them, calling for someone named Monty to help with the bodies.
The goblins were dispatched quickly and Jukka returned his attention to see Valeros arguing with Summerlily about jumping into battle. The elf ignored him and started toward the sound of someone screaming for help.
Nearby, a nobleman was surrounded by goblins and a goblin commando atop a mangy dog. The group arrived just in time to see the commando kill the man’s dog and start to advance on him. Valeros screamed out, “I am the Law Giver!!” bringing the goblins attention to the them.
Jukko move past the man, watching him out of the corner of his eye for any tricks, while Gnomelody came to stand at his side, the noble’s eyes glued to Summerlily as she threw magic missles at the goblins. Valeros charged into battle, only to be struck by the commando, knocked unconscious. Ephaestus moved to aid him but was overcome with an allergic reaction to the goblin dog.
*
Aldern Foxglove watched as the group of adventurers came to his aid, though most of his attention was focused on the elf sorceress. She looked so much like his beloved Iesha, but more than that he wondered if she could possibly help him defeat the depression that had eventually driven him away from his home to find assistance for his trouble. He had only just returned from Magnimar, stopping to enjoy the Festival before returning to his family home to complete the quest set about for him by the Brothers of the Seven..
But, as he watched the group defeat the goblins, Aldern found another excuse to stay in town a little while longer. He offered his saviors a dinner at the Rusty Dragon and decided to invite them to hunt wild boar in Tickwood. Summerlily, much to Aldern’s joy, agreed, as did the assimar cleric, but the others decided to find their own entertainment the next day.
As Aldern left the group to prepare to meet them later, he passed Sheriff Hemlock who came to praise them for their assistance defeating the invaders.
*
“Father Zantus!” The priest looked up from where he was seeing to the wounded. A lot of folks had died in the raid, but it could have been much worse. Hemlock’s men did the best they could, but if not for the small band that had jumped into battle at the square, he was certain that more would have perished.
Abstalar Zantus recognized the young man who was calling to him. It was the caretaker’s helper, Monty. Zantus always had an odd feeling around the young student, though he seemed sincere in his studies. Zantus had asked him to be the Naffer Vosk’s assistant when he showed interest in becoming Sandpoint’s next undertaker but he had shown a great deal of interest in the clerical arts, at least when it came to prayers of life and death. He had also noted how Monty had started hanging around with the town’s resident historian, Quink. Zantus wasn’t sure how he felt about that, but the old man was harmless, just filled with wild theories about the ancient empire that had occupied the land now called Varisia.
“Yes, Monty?” he rose now, moving away from the wounded and coming to stand next to him.
“Naffer sent me to find you, sir,” he said, referring to the caretaker. The young man leaned forward and spoke in a conspirator’s whisper, “Father Tobyn’s bones are missing.”
*
That night, the strangers found themselves treated to dinner at the Rusty Dragon and offered free rooms by Ameiko Kaijitsu. Word had already started to spread in town about their brave deeds during the goblin raid and Aldern was telling tales of how Summerlily had saved him from the goblin commando. Gnomelody added his own tales to the stories told that night, much to the delight of Ameiko, whom the gnome learned had also spent time as an adventuring bard.
Aldern again tried to talk the others into joining the boar hunt the next day, but no one else seemed interested so when morning came, he left with the sorceress and the cleric for Tickwood.
*
Jukka managed to keep his name off of the lips of the townsfolk who were already granting praises to the adventurers as they passed through town. He followed Valeros to a local tavern called the Hagfish. The boastful ex-mercenary took up the locals’ challenge to drink a mug of hagfish water.
Watching the festivities and knowing all eyes were on ‘the Law Giver’, the rogue moved about the tavern, picking pockets here and there from the more drunk patrons.
He finally sat back to enjoy himself a mug of ale, watching Valeros as the fighter did his god proud by not only finishing his mug of fetid water, but also downing every mug of alcohol bought for him by the impressed locals.
Jukka laughed to himself. He could have found worse folks to join with.
*
Much to Gnomelody’s surprise, Cyrdak sought him out about auditioning for the starring role in his new play. The theater owner also wanted the charismatic Ephaetus to audition as well, but the gnome managed to gain all of the man’s attention, possibly even winning the part before he had to audition.
Earning gold and praised for his skills at drama, Gnomelody was as happy as even when he was approached just outside of the theater by a young woman who introduced herself a Shayliss Vinder.
“I’ve heard of your great deeds again the goblins and I wonder if possibly you could be spared to help me with a small problem. You see, my father’s store has rats in the cellar.”
“Your father sent you to kill them?” the gnome asked, knowing the Vinder family by reputation. Ven’s general store was the best place in town to buy some very potent orc rotgut. It was a well-known secret that the general store’s cellar held the best stuff. Rats in the cellar could possibly cause business to go down. Ven. Gnomelody knew, had two daughters, with Shayliss being the younger. Her older sister, Katrine, had a bit of a reputation from the gossip the bard heard the last time he had passed through Sandpoint.
“No,” she replied, explaining that she hoped to make her father proud of her by finding someone to get rid of the rats.
Gnomelody agreed, following the attractive human back to the general store, but once down in the cellar he noted a distinct lack of rats and the obvious presence of a cot. “What’s going on?” he asked, turning to the human in time to see her take off her bodice.
“So what do you think?” she purred.
Gnomelody moved past her as she reached to embrace him. “Um, listen .. I’m flattered...”
“Don’t worry,” Shayliss said, following the gnome as he backed away. “Just because you’re a gnome and I’m a human doesn’t mean things can’t work. After all, size doesn’t matter.”
The bard opened his mouth to respond, backing onto the stairs just as the door above opened.
“Shayliss?!” boomed the gruff voice of Ven Vinder. “What the hell is going on down here?” His clouded eyes looked down, seeing his youngest daughter half-naked and the gnome backing his way up the stairs.
“It’s a misunderstanding,” Gnomelody said, turning to face the old man. “I was told there were rats in the cellar and offered to help.” The words raced out as his attempted to explain to the shopkeeper. Vinder’s eyes darted back and forth between the bard and his daughter before he finally nodded, stepping aside to let the gnome go.
“I don’t expect to see your face in my shop anytime soon,” he said as the gnome passed him. Gnomelody only nodded, anxious to get back to the Rusty Dragon, wondering what his newfound friends would have done in his situation.
*
As night approached and Valeros continued to get drunker than most of the locals, Jukka slipped out of the Hagfish and wandered about town, buying a local map of the city and region and trying to decide what to do. Would he stay near the others and see where that relationship would take him?
He moved through the city, searching for a shop that sold the good equipment, but only the standards were sold in Sandpoint. The expensive stuff, the good magical equipment, would have to be found elsewhere. Maybe if things didn’t work out, he would head to Riddlepoint. There was always use for a good rogue in that town.
While heading towards the only place in town that sounded interesting, the landmark called the Old Light, he encountered a woman screaming and holding her baby while dragging another son out of a nearby building. “Goblins!” she said, explaining that her son had found a goblin in his bedroom and her husband was still in the house trying to drive it out. “Will you help me?”
Jukka looked at her, not really wanting to get involved, but he shrugged his shoulders, entering their home. As he made his way back to where she had told him the bedroom was, the rogue took note of the items of interest the family had kept in them home.
In the bedroom, Jukka found the corpse of a dog as well as a man laying face down on the floor, partially in the closet. He pulled the body out of the door, drawing a dagger as he did so. The man’s face was gone, as if eaten by something.
When the goblin pounced from the doorway, Jukka knew that the thing had been hiding, possibly since the raid the night before and was probably starving in the closet. He threw his dagger, killing it with a wound to the throat.
Turning his back on the dead husband, the rogue made his way from room to room, pocketing valuables before heading outside to tell the woman the bad news.
*

I will attmept to write out the adventures of my group's journey through RotRL. The party started out with:

Valeros, human fighter
Gnomelody Finetuner, gnome bard
Summerlily Winterbreeze, elf sorceress
Ephaestus, aasimar cleric of Irori
Jukka, human rogue

I normally type up a synopsis recap following each session, but I'm in the process of transferring it to more of a story mode. So here goes.

I haven't been disappointed yet with any of Paizo's writers. And as far as Logue, the man is twisted, but that's what makes him cool.

A very stream-lined elf. If the rest of the races follow this approach, I'll be impressed.

I was amused by it, frankly more by the gnome's lines. I do like the redesign of the tiefling, since I've been wanting to play a tiefling for some time (have a tiefling binder in the wings for whenever I get a chance to play).

Seeing Red by Frank Beddor, the 2nd of the Looking Glass Wars trilogy

Instead, we'll likely move to 96-page books that cost even more, so I'm not sure if that's good or bad from your point of view. :)

Will all the detail that goes into a single issue of Pathfinder, I for one say "bring on the extra cost!"

The way I see it, your standard young adventurer knows nothing (or next to) about the Runelords or the empire they once ruled. It's slowly revealed to them as they progress through the AP.

I use a Battlemat I bought from Chessex and D&D Minis. The Battlemat is great for ease of drawing and erasing. Except when we can't draw a straight line and put it down to "that wall shows the great skill of dwarven craftsmanship".

I've read every Discworld book and all the non-Discworld I can find. Such a wonderful author. I wish him the best.

Awesome! Sign me up!