Aleksander Kramer's page

"AMEIKO!" The cry is on his lips before he realizes it.

"Viviana! I NEED YOUR HEALING HERE!" Suddenly, all tactical sense (and common sense) forgotten, Aleks rushes to cradle her prone form.

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And to all... since I misssed it, Merry Post Christmas

I realize my posting has been spotty as of late. I'm currently on my Air Force Reservist call up so it's likely to continue to be erratic until next year.

After all... I would much rather spend my Christmas on duty rather than spend it with my family. [/sarcasm]

DM Doctor Evil: Please run my character as necessary.

To Everyone: Merry Christmas and Bah Humbug.

Disable Device: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (18) + 8 = 26 Jamming the door shut

Aleks silently slides over to the door, notes the damage inflicted by the wildly swung dogslicer, and jams a pair of arrowheads into the cuts made in the door frame to foul the hinges and wedge the door shut.

"They're in a ten by ten room with no visible exits. That should keep them occupied for a moment." He whispers to the rest of the group.

Ranged Attack Roll: 1d20 + 4 + 1 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 4 + 1 + 1 + 2 = 18
D20 + Dex + BAB + Point Blank Shot + Favored Enemy

Ranged Damage Roll: 1d8 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 1 + 2 = 8
D8 + Point Blank Shot + Favored Enemy

%age Miss Chance vs 1-20: 1d100 ⇒ 13

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Aleks hastily backpedals, loosing a hastily aimed shot at the Half-Elf Archer and planting an arrow squarely into the desk.

Swearing, he backs up.

I can't see the combat grid from the office, so going to rely a bit on DM charity.

Ranged Attack Roll: 1d20 + 4 + 1 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 4 + 1 + 1 + 2 = 17 D20 + Dex + BAB + Point Blank Shot + Favored Enemy

Ranged Damage Roll: 1d6 + 2 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 + 1 + 2 = 10 D6 + STR + Point Blank Shot + Favored Enemy

%age Miss Chance vs 1-20: 1d100 ⇒ 30

I should probably provoke an AOO from the Goblin.

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"CONTACTED!" Aleksander yells, sidestepping the Goblin's poorly aimed swing.

As he dodges, he uses his momentum to send the spear sailing across the room towards the archer.

"GOBLIN AND SUSPECT! MOVING TO ENGAGE!"

Aleks cautiously advances to the second door along the corridor, weapon drawn.

With his free shield hand, he waves a "cover me" to the group and slowly slips the door ajar to take a peek, weapon drawn.

Aleks advances behind Viviana, cautiously treading around the debris with his spear drawn.

Not a good place for a fight, the Other grimaces, Terrain favors the Defender.

"Likely why they chose it."

Smart for a gob. I don't like this.

Leaning out around the corner, he snatches a quick glance.

"Trail looks dead." Aleks announces, slipping into the terse statements which filled his speech under pressure.

"We should double back."

Survival: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (20) + 5 = 25

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Aleks shrugs. "Judging by tracks, I'd say 'Down'. Someone's been here rather recently."

"Then again, I've had just about enough of being jumped by things from the shadows."

He nocks another arrow and braces for a dynamic entry, leaning out and waiting for a clear shot. "Your call."

Basic search and seizure. The 'Other' admonishes. No doors behind you.

He blinks for a moment.

"One moment. Just going to check the broom closet."

Aleks backtracks into the main hall and checks the door leading north-east.

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Figure might as well check the small room in A16 first. Would feel really stupid if we searched the facility from top to bottom with the Goblin hidden in the closet behind us.

My personal preference is for 4 or 3. Personally okay with either.

Apologies for the slightly snippy reply. Squeezing this out between case reviews.

Percentage: 1d100 ⇒ 37

Eh. No dice.

Mechanics:
Round 4:
Standard Action: Ranged Attack With Longbow At Red Goblin

Ranged Attack Roll: 1d20 + 4 + 1 - 4 ⇒ (16) + 4 + 1 - 4 = 17 Dice + Dex + BAB - Cover
Ranged Damage Roll: 1d8 ⇒ 7

HAH! 95 feet!

Combat Gear - Parade Armor (+3 ARM), Buckler (+1 Shield), Longbow, 24 Arrows, 20 Blunt Arrows, Sap.

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Not an easy shot. The 'Other' reminds him as the goblin darts through the doors.

"Shut up and let me concentrate."

There is a glimmer of clarity, and he looses an arrow.

-----------------------------

EDIT:

Red2 then steps out the double doors, pushing them closed as he can while leaving the main room.

Crap. I missed this. If I don't have LOS for that shot, I'll Double Move towards the door I guess.

Mechanics:
Round 4:
Standard Action: Ranged Attack With Longbow At Orange Goblin

Ranged Attack Roll: 1d20 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 4 + 1 = 12 Dice + Dex + BAB

Combat Gear - Parade Armor (+3 ARM), Buckler (+1 Shield), Longbow, 25 Arrows, 20 Blunt Arrows, Sap.

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From his commanding perch, Aleks will take another shot at the fleeing goblins.

Mechanics:
Round 3:
Move Action: Advance (Blue Arrow), Climb on table (10ft).
Standard Action: Ranged Attack With Longbow At White Goblin

Ranged Attack Roll: 1d20 + 4 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 4 + 1 + 1 = 18 Dice + Dex + BAB + Point Blank Shot
Ranged Damage Roll: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4 Dice + Point Blank Shot

Combat Gear - Parade Armor (+3 ARM), Buckler (+1 Shield), Longbow, 26 Arrows, 20 Blunt Arrows, Sap.

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Aleks calmly surveys the scene before him, noting the fleeing goblins, he vaults onto the table, taking a shot at the nearest goblin.

One of the remaining goblins shrieks in goblin:** spoiler omitted **

Making an OOC request for translation.

I take it that since we are still in combat order, this is not a rout?

Ranged Damage Roll: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7 Dice + Point Blank Shot

Oops. Should have been a D8 on damage. Realised I was shooting with a Shortbow for a moment.

EDIT: Heh. No change.

Mechanics:
Round 2:
Standard Action: Ranged Attack With Longbow At Blue Goblin

Ranged Attack Roll: 1d20 + 4 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 4 + 1 + 1 = 18 Dice + Dex + BAB + Point Blank Shot
Ranged Damage Roll: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7 Dice + Point Blank Shot

Combat Gear - Parade Armor (+3 ARM), Buckler (+1 Shield), Longbow, 27 Arrows, 20 Blunt Arrows, Sap.

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"Amazing how so many Goblins got in 'undetected'. The 'Other' mutters with disgust, calmly reaching over and nocking an arrow from the quiver on his back.

Making a mental note to have a few choice words with Mr. Kaijitsu, Aleks hunkers down and keeps shooting.

Mechanics:
Round 1:
Standard Action: Throw Shortspear At White Goblin (Pink Circle).
Move Action: Advance (Blue Arrow), Draw Longbow as part of move.

Ranged Attack Roll: 1d20 + 4 + 1 + 1 - 4 ⇒ (17) + 4 + 1 + 1 - 4 = 19 Dice + Dex + BAB + Point Blank Shot - Cover (Dolgrin)
Ranged Damage Roll: 1d6 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 2 + 1 = 9 Dice + Strength + Point Blank Shot

Combat Gear - Parade Armor (+3 ARM), Buckler (+1 Shield), Longbow, 28 Arrows, 20 Blunt Arrows, Sap.

-----------------------------

"Goblins. Why am I not surprised."

Aleks drops to a combat stance, completing the motion with an almost contemptuous flick that send his shortspear sailing towards the face of a nearby goblin.

Unslinging his Longbow, he nocks an arrow and scuttles into better cover.

-----------------------------

DM: Is that rectangular thing a shelf or a table? Way I look at it, plenty of improvisational fighting options with either.

People should know that Doc Evil is an awesome DM. It'll be worth it. I promise.

Mechanics:
Surprise Round
Move Action: Squeeze Past Gudada (10ft), Squeeze Past Dolgrin (10ft), Move to Square Indicated By Blue Arrow.

We have choke points. Lets use them.

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Aleksander advances.

"Am I that transparent?" He tries, to deflect the question with humor, but fails. "Actually. No."

He shrugs.

"This is as much for the part of me that vainly clings to idealism as it is for the people of Sandpoint. It's to keep me from letting go completely and becoming the wreck smelling of cheap alcohol you encountered on the first day you met me."

She didn't ask for your life story.

"But you didn't ask for my life story." He nods politely to Viviana and turns to the rest of the group.

"Lead the way, Gentlemen."

He unslings his shortspear and twirls it, feeling the weighty reassurance in his hand.

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Going by the positioning, I'll run rearguard unless someone has a better idea.

She looks at the man.

"Could you find someone that have a key to the building? It would be very helpful."

Without giving the man chance to respond Viviana turns to the group.

"While we wait Alex could try the climbing ,and Gudada,what were you suggesting?"

Not in public while we have a crowd. Let's try to avoid having to play the "We're The Watch So We Can Do Whatever We Want" car except as a last resort.

"Somebody keep an eye out for the sheriff or watch."

I'm going to hold a casual conversation with the neighbor while slowly using social cues and 'bureaucratese' to "pull" him along with me as I casually walk along the blue line around out of sight of the door.

And for the record. Maybe we should have started with the back door instead.

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Aleks narrows his eyes as he realizes what's about to happen.

"Aiding and Abetting," the 'Other' snorts dismissively.

"Right, Mister...?" He pauses, looking the commoner in the eye, then begins to amble casually along the side wall. "Working with Sheriff Hemlock on the case. Was hoping you'd be able to provide a statement."

"FOCUS ON ME."

Keeping his voice low as if avoiding a scene, but similarly forcing him to remain close to listen clearly, Aleks runs the man through basic protocol, keeping him focused with a battery of mundane but important sounding questions.

Slowly, he attempts to reel the nosy neighbor away from the rest of the party, to buy them time to do their thing.

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Inter-spaced amongst the basic protocol related question like name, age, family size, etc, I'm going to slip the unfortunate nosy neighbor several real questions regarding when the factory went into lockdown and other questions about the number of workers, strange behavior and odd visitors.

"Works for me."

Aleks turns to the neighbor.

"Not feeling particularly heroic today. You say they've been working on a big project? Just today or has it been some time?"

"Anyone up for a climb? Might be able to pre-empt anything or get a better grasp of the situation from above."

In the spirit of getting my papers in order...
Sense Motive: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 1 = 16 Fail DC20

"Sadly, no. Though given your own suspicions, I expect your father is involved in this turn of events as well. I'd ask if he had reasons for causing your mother's suicide, but that would be prying too deeply."

"Just... stay safe." He turns to leave.

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Depending on whether the doors are open or not, either I barrel through the doorways in a double move (green line), or I stop at the door to open it (blue line).

Shut up. Hear that? The 'Other' grimly notes the sounds of the scuffle coming from within the house.

"No... I'm obviously deaf."

Good for you. I hear it. Get moving.

Tensing in preparation for combat, Aleksander unslings his bow and heads for the door.

Data Gathered, Statistics Checked, Reports Written, Review Board Contacted, Conferences Attended...

I'm green. Good to go.

** spoiler omitted **

I picked Vietnamese, because it looks at least as foreign as I think Goblin should.

*Raised Eyebrow*

I'm fairly sure that didn't come across the way you wanted it to.

Something big just landed in my department's lap and I'm going to have to take some time off the game to put the whole dog and pony show together.

I'll be following the posting from the shadows, but I'll likely need a couple of days to get this sorted.

I'll post and update when I next can.

Apologies in advance for the wall-of-text. Untrained Diplomacy if necessary.

Diplomacy: 1d20 ⇒ 15

Situation may, at DM's discretion, also trigger the built in bonuses from my Parade Armor for an additional +2 circumstance bonus to my Diplomacy.

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"I thought that was glue." Aleksander deadpans.

"And I'm going to apologize for maybe over-representing what information I currently do have. The others already think I'm crazy for pursuing rumors of an angry half-elf with desires to burn the town."

"But, I'm getting ahead of myself." He sighs. "There's not a lot to go by, but I'm starting to suspect all the deaths during the 'unpleasantness' were planned, even Father Tobyns... and if this holds true, by extension... your mother's suicide might not have been a suicide at all."

"Whoever this ringleader is, he's powerful enough to unite the goblin tribes. And judging by the obvious attempt to burn the cathedral and steal father Tobyn's corpse, it's almost as if they're trying to stage another repeat of the 'unpleasantness'."

"I'm actually concerned about your safety, Ameiko." He's fairly certain he managed to get that out without blushing. "I don't doubt your ability to take care of yourself, but out of all the people in this town I've encountered, have two, rather than one connection to the 'unpleasaneness'. The first is from your mother, the second from you taking over running of the Rusty Dragon from the previous murdered innkeeper."

"I hope I'm not asking too much, but if there's anything at all you can tell me about your mother's suicide, it might just help me crack this case before more blood is spilled."

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TLDR Version:
Inform Ameiko about his hunch that she is a possible target.
Ask for information regarding her mother's suicide.

"Sorry you had to see that, folks." Aleksander casually takes a seat at the table again. "He doesn't get out much."

"Apologies all around if he offended you, Beagan. If you want to ask about what just happened, feel free."The tone used is far calmer, warmer and a lot more glib than the icy delivery earlier.

He turns to the innkeeper. "Ameiko. If you could spare a moment of your time, I would like to speak to you in private. "

"It's about you and your father." He lowers his voice, letting the bustle of the inn drown it out beyond the table. "My companions here might disagree, but I believe that your family is somehow connected to the current troubles."

"Give me a moment, Beagan. I've got something that needs to be sorted out. Be back in a moment."

Aleksander steps away from the table, massaging his temple.

"And... this is why I don't let you out."

Gnome asked a question. I gave a reply. The 'other' shrugs nonchalantly. Either way, I have the information I came for.

"You could have done so without being an ass to Beagan."

What's done is done. I suggest speaking to Ameiko now.

"At least let me smooth things over with the rest..."

Fine... The 'other' fumes at the distraction and consigns himself to doing all the actual work.

"Your assumptions are wrong, Gnome. Neither the gender nor age of the bones matched. I checked." The response is professional and even in its delivery, if coldly arrogant.

"All signs point to an outside organization and magical assistance. I will work on whatever I can unearth about this case in Sandpoint. Thank you for your time and assistance, Miss Andosana. "

He stands and makes to leave.

Done, and Done.

I've got this.

"Wait... what?"

Just be a minute...

"Miss Andosana." The 'other' steeples his hands, peering over with an coldly intense look of deep thought.

"What you've described would clearly explain the totems the rest of the undirected mob were carrying. However, when we engaged what appeared to be a goblin rearguard action, the warriors we encountered were wearing a symbol of a seven pointed star. I believe the gnome has a few. Can you identify this from experience?"

"Eye-witness reports indicate the goblins were directed by a half-elf during the raid. While undirected goblins were expended to distract the guard and cause havoc, a second team group into the Sandpoint Boneyard and escaped with the body of Father Zanthus, the local priest who perished in the fire when the previous church burned." Almost mechanically, the 'other' pauses to cut itself a neat slice from the nearest meat platter.

Do the local Goblin tribes respond well to outsiders and what would it take to band the tribes together? As the resident expert, have you crossed paths with this half-elf before? Also, do the Goblin tribes have access to reliable necromancy? I sustained significant wounds from a pair of animated skeletons I fought while investigating the break in at the churchyard mausoleum."

"I was originally hoping you were able to assist with the interrogation of a number of goblin prisoners captured during the raid. However, as it appears you are riding out post haste, I will have to find a local solution."

Aleksander takes a sip from his tankard, keeping his expression inscrutable as he waits for the ranger's response.

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Question Barrage Summary For DM:
- Can Shalelu identify the unidentified Goblin Totems?
- Do the local Goblin tribes respond well to outsiders and what would it take to band the tribes together?
- Does Shalelu have any experience with a half-elf leading the goblins? What can she tell us?
- Do the Goblins have ready access to necromantic abilities?

Aleksander Kramer's Investigation Plans:

1 - Speak with Ameiko regarding her mother's suicide
It's kind of cruel to drag her back, but there's something about this that still bothers me. I think Ameiko's heavily tied into this. Aside from the obvious part about her mother, she's tangentially related to the chopper since she took over ownership of the inn post-Chopper.

2 - Get Shalelu's Assistance On Interrogating The Goblin
She's made it her life's work dealing with goblins. I figure Shalelu would probably be a huge help getting any goblin captives to squeal.

3 - Find the Local Midwife/Healer
If Nualia was with child, anyone involved in this trade might be able to enlighten him a bit more on her disappearance.

4 - Go Spelunking On Choppers Isle
Might need to stop by the general store to pick up rope, a grapnel and climbing gear, but this looks like as good a place to start a search as any.

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Ambitious? Maybe.

"Easy there brother. I don't like what you're implying about the Varisians. There's good and bad sorts regardless of the culture so watch out who you're tarring with the same brush." Aleks raises an eyebrow.

%$#@ bigot. The 'other' snarls as he departs. Being Chelish doesn't give you carte blanche to act like racist trash.

"Either way, I've no more questions."

Aleksander nods a goodbye to Vosk and steps back out of the cemetery, deep in thought.

Girl socially ostracized due to her outsider status ends us falling for a cad. Any way this could NOT end in disaster?

"Love is blind."

And a poor judge of character, given that he was apparently more interested in the 'hump and dump'. The 'other' responds brusquely. Now go socialize... I've got a case to crack.

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Heading back to the Rusty Dragon Inn. This whole thing isn't making me feel any better about the situation.

I got slightly bored between cases at work. Cribbed together something.
Originally this started as this player's own idle notes, but then I had the idea to express this in-character.

If you want an idea of how Alek's somewhat fractured mind functions... this would be a pretty good place to start.

And for the record. It's been extremely cathartic being the crazy guy for a change.

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The Unpleasantness: (5 Years Prior)
Ameiko's mother commits suicide
The Chopper murders 25 people including the local sheriff
Cathedral burns down killing local priest

Connections: Tenuous - Temporal Proximity - see cult activity suspicions.

Current:
Inside job suspected of contributing to success of goblin attack. (Pre-placed Ladders? Guard distraction?)
Goblins led by unknown half-elf.
Goblins attack town and steal body of local priest.
Attack takes place on reconsecration of cathedral.

Connections: Strong Relations: Obvious military raid abetted by insider

Connection (Unpleasantness to Current):
Local Priest - Tobyn. Central case fulcrum.
Cathedral Reconsecration - Central Target? Target of Opportunity? Sending a Message?

Radial Connections: (Tobyn)
Nualia - Aasimar Daughter - Poor Relationship. Pregnant. NO BODY FOUND. (SUSPICIOUS)
Delek Viskanta - Lover of Aasimar daughter (Need More Information).
Eamon and Vosk - Friends of Tobyn. Character references.

Radial Connections: (The Unpleasantness)
Ameiko - Daughter of deceased. Poor relationship with father.
Lonjuku - Husband of deceased. Poor relationship with daughter. Absent during festival. (SUSPICIOUS)
Sheriff Hemlock - Promoted following murder of previous sheriff (Casp).
Chopper's Isle - Site of Chopper's residence. Confirmed Site of Demon Worship.

Possible Connection: Cult Activity?
Demon Worship? Possible Central Trigger. Chopper may only be most visible of the worshipers.
Leader: Unknown. Suspected Half-Elf?
Motive: Fits Situation: Disruption of Sandpoint - Use of local goblins as a tool - Consistent with previous aims of disruption, killings.
Possible Targets: Those with previous connections to the Unpleasantness.
- Physical Building Itself (May have been a target of the goblin raid. Maybe we stopped something while unaware of their motivation. Must interrogate goblin prisoners: Possible Lead. Need Shalelu in on this - Don't Speak Goblin.)
- Ameiko?
- Lonjiku? (Target? Suspect? Murdered wife? - Unlikely but needs more research.)
- Current Clergy? Eamon? Vosk? (Killing Vosk, possibly consistent with assumed motives - Skeletons may have been left behind for him to 'discover' as he does his rounds - all friends with connection to Tobyn)
Suspicions regarding status of Delek and Nualia.
- Delek? (Need Status Update)
- Nualia? (Possibly alive? Body never found.)

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DM DoctorEvil: I swear, I will crack this case. *SHAKES FIST AT THE HEAVENS*

Taking an hour off working a real world case to go muck around in a fictitious mystery does interesting things to one's cognitive process. The reverse, is also true.

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Aleksander, pauses for a moment to consider. "Beagan's got a point. I'm letting myself get distracted with the peripherals."

I still say cult. The 'other' intones softly, having fading back into the recesses of his mind to ruminate further.

"Brother Eamon. To the best of your knowledge, why would anyone want to steal the body of a priest? Someone's already gone to great lengths to do so."

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DM: Feel free to roll this along at any time, or I'll stand here and continue questioning him all day.

It's irritating. It's all connected somehow, but I'm missing the center piece to this jigsaw somewhere. Might be time for a road-trip to Chopper's Isle.

Aleksander resumes massaging his temples as the 'other' begins a frenzied pouring over the new information.

An assimar who was abandoned at the door of the church and was treated like crap by the rest of the village... The 'other' sighs cynically. Then she gets herself pregnant and 'daddy' finds out.

Poor girl. She's going to be almost as messed up as you.

"Eamon, what do you know of Delek Viskanta?"

------------------------------

Suspicion: Nualia eloped with Delek, setting fire to cover her tracks. Tobyn burned to death. Nualia and Delek are out and about.

Alternatively: Delek abducted Nualia. People assumed Nualia died.

Diplomacy: 1d20 ⇒ 19

Situation may, at DM's discretion, also trigger the built in bonuses from my Parade Armor for an additional +2 circumstance bonus to my Diplomacy.

Aleks is going to go over the information provided by Ameiko, not because he currently doesn't trust her, more because it never hurt to check one's assumptions.

Here are the questions, in machine gun fashion.

- What was Tobyn like personality wise? Did he have many friends? Any personal enemies worth mentioning?

- What was Nualia like personality wise?

- How was his relationship with his daughter? Who was the mother?

- Can you describe the layout of the old cathedral? Were there any major fire risks like lit candles, burning incense, etc?

- Were there any signs of arson in the aftermath?

- What time did the fire in the cathedral break out?

- Why was Tobyn unable to escape the blaze? Was he trapped?

- Why was only Tobyn's body recovered? Not Nualia's? Is it possible Nualia was kidnapped and that the fire was to cover her abductor's tracks?

The sudden realization that Ameiko could be an unreliable narrator is worrying.

Yay, Paranoia!

"I'm thinking there's a chance there was a central, related cause. Cult activity perhaps. Demon worship perhaps."

He massages his temples, as the 'other' plunges into another pile of unsorted information.

"Motive fits for the mass murders and the church burning. Ameiko's mother, maybe not so much. Could have been an accident. On the other hand, maybe the fall was purely 'accidental'."

He raises his hands, making 'air quotes'.

In his minds eye, the 'other' marches over and contemptuously dumps a new pile of information at his feet. Fire was started inside the Cathedral. Ameiko's claim. Only Tobyn and his daughter lived in the Cathedral. They recovered Tobyn's body. But not Nualia. Covering an abduction?

"You're jumping at straws now..."

The 'others' normally cold mannerisms are gone now, replaced with a manic surge of angry energy. WHY WON'T YOU LISTEN?! Ameiko's mother? I'll give you the benefit of that being a coincidence. Twenty-Five killings, possibly two more... Murders? Or sacrifices?

"Unless..." The thought running through his mind is cold.

Unless what?

"Unless she was lying to us..."

$#@!

"Just a hunch, Beagan. Just a hunch."

The 'other' glowers in its corner, restlessly arranging and rearranging memories like pieces of a puzzle. You're not giving up so easily are you?

"They're right. Does sound kind of crazy."

And you would know crazy, given the conversation you're currently having.

"Cheap shot."

At the very least ask Ameiko what she knows. The connection I suspect could well be there.

"See what I can do."

"Mr Purrun has a point though. We should still make an effort to find out what she knows. At the very least, she might be able to point us in the right direction."

Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8

Nada.

"D'oh!" indeed. Lets hope that wasn't important.

-----------------------------

"Could be. Could be not." He sighs. "As I said. 'huge logical leaps.' There's something about this whole thing, how I keep running face-first into little reminders of the 'unpleasantness' that keep pointing my intuition along."

"I have no proof. Just a gut feeling that something terrible is going to happen and that it's somehow tied to the 'unpleasantness'. Maybe it's just someone from Tobyn's past. Maybe it's cult activity. I don't know for sure."

Really huge leaps of faith involved, but the Kaijitsu patriach is involved in this whole growing storm somehow.

-----------------------------

"Not much luck with an answer beyond 'goblins', Vosk." Aleksander shakes his head. "Still have no idea why they'd target him."

"If you think Brother Aemon knows more, I'd like to meet him."

Something's not right about this whole thing. The 'other' looms in a dark corner, shuffling and rearranging thoughts and memories like a card-shark. Tobyn and his daughter killed in a fire. Casp killed in action by a demon-worshiping serial killer.

He pauses.

Ameiko's mother killed herself - same period. Doesn't match the profile. But consistent with other untimely deaths during the period. The 'other' begins to pace agitatedly.

"She's tied into this somehow."

You're talking aloud again.

"Don't you see..." Aleks turns to his companions.

"Ameiko's mother was killed during the 'unpleasantness'. Ameiko took over operation of the inn in the immediate aftermath. Her father wants her to flee the town on the fifth anniversary of the 'unpleasantness', after an incident he was conveniently absent from."

"I'm making some huge logical leaps but it seems to me that the Kaijitsu family is somehow part of this whole mess."

Slightly out-of-sync with the meeting with Naffer, but hey...

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"Can't argue with logic like that." Aleks nods at Dolgrin's comment. "Not my style to turn down help when offered."

"Bit worried about Miss Andosana getting involved in this." He glances at the rest of the group. "Heard stories about a cold elven beauty who tracked and killed rogue goblins up in the hinterlands while I was stationed in Magnimar. If the region's premiere Goblin Hunter is getting personally involved, I suspect something huge is going on with the local goblin tribes."

He considers for a moment. "Beagan... You still have those goblin tokens we couldn't identify? Might want to show them to her later. She might know something we don't.

Aleks - sorry i hadn't read over here until after I posted the wisecrack about donuts. Shalelu, who shows up in a future AP, is stat-blocked as a Fighter 2/Ranger 4, so she's a little superior to Aleksander so far, but she has some approach-ability issues so there's that...

Great... ANOTHER Ranger with trust issues. As long as she doesn't suffer from paranoid anxiety, have parental abandonment issues or experience persecutory delusions, we should probably get on fine. :-P

I do feel like there's little holding the group together and I'm just pushing you to encounters, and to some extent that's true; the early action has to be done and certain concepts introduced, but as of now, the action will be driven more by you. There are some breadcrumbs out there to try to follow (Aleksander is chasing some down based on the above) or there's a whole town/area to explore.

It's been what? 3 days? I'd say Aleksander has a much stronger attachment to the town than he has with the other members of the party. As a player, I'm finding it rather difficult to chain off the other PCs.

Alek's dissociative identity disorder is to a certain extent symptomatic of this. It's a bit of a crutch technique I'm using to establish personality at the risk of making him that much more difficult for other characters to respond to as well, so I don't know if that's part of the problem.

I can't say how it's working out for you people. So, feedback is always good.

"Vosk!" Aleks calls out warmly, "Thought I heard you!"

He chuckles as he steps through the churchyard gate.

"Found anything amiss lately? I mean, besides the occasional skeleton trying to take my head off?"

-----------------------------

Here to check in with Vosk over any new disturbances. Also going to pump him for information regarding Tobyn, the church burning and any information he can provide on the "Unpleasantness".