Bumolin Bitterkelch's page

It looks that way. Makes me really sad. This group had real potential! Hope to meet you in other games.

Exactly my thinking. I just hope he is alright...and will not disappear like our first DM.

Hey DM, hey everyone else. I'm starting to worry: is everything all right?

"Imps? Strange Bat-men? Dire Wolves? Kobolds being bold? If I didn't know better I would think there was something bigger going on in town, but I can't see a conspiracy for the life of me in all this nonsense. How often do things like this happen around here I wonder...?"

"Funny you say that. Ritti said something similar today and first I couldn't see what she means. But then we smelled the trail of that bat thing and when I looked into the direction where the trail got lost, I was looking straight at that old ruined tower. We also met the Kobolds and the crowthing there. So maybe those things are connected somehow...anyway - whatever we do, we should hurry. If this bat-thing has not killed his victims already, they are probably running out of time."

"Oh, and Bumolin heard some stories from the folks on the northside about a flying Batman or something. You ever hear anything about that? Not sure if it's related to the giant wolf reported up there. It does sound like a lot is going on around here."

I think Bumolin had wanted to ask the Abadarans about Batman as well, but our dwarf has been unusually quiet of late.

sry, kinda dropped out of my habbit of checking daily for updates for some reason.

When they arrive at Bassys place, Bumolin asks with a rather sheepish expression, if he might take Abon inside. "It's just...I'm a bit afraid for your garden, if we leave him outside alone. His digging hasn't been very successfull for the last few hours and such an assortment of fine vegetables presented in neat little rows - I fear it will be too much of a temptation... But if you might have some kitchenscraps, he will probably be content to take a nap in the hallway..."

handle animals - to make Abon behave: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (12) + 6 = 18

During dinner Bumolin is especially interested in the sausages, savoring the taste and asking their host about the seasoning - sharing his own rather rustic recipes, which rely heavily on herbs native to his mountain-home.

To Xylas' mention of the bat-thing he says:
"I wouldn't make such a fuss about it, if it were just children's tales. Abon and I have... convinced ourselves and I have no doubt that they saw, what they are telling." he taps the side of his rather ugly, chunky nose meaningfully.
"And I'm also rather convinced that the wolf is something different: what those hunters told me , points to a rather big, but otherwise 'ordinary' direwolf. That's dangerous enough in itself, but that would mean there is no planning involved in what he's doing. Just a very big predator, following it's instincts."

Bumolin looks after Ritti, still confused...then he shrugs it off.
"I wonder what got into her head so suddenly... anyway: I think we have several reasons to visit those Abadarans again - let's drink up and go!"
He proceeds to do just that himself.

Bumolin smiles "that's probably me as the blind dwarf in these matters thinking you the one eyed king. So maybe we should have another chat with this Abadarian. And then we probably have to take a closer look at this tower. Xylas, I think this boy and his sister didn't exagerate in the least: this thing is abducting people..."
Mid sentence he is interrupted by Rittis question. His worrying face changes into a confused one.
I... don't know...I suppose there must be one. We arrived yesterday and didn't have that many bodies to dispose of yet. Actually there was the one of the wizard, but Thorfinn and Xylas took care of that..."

Bumolin nods "I will miss Talias stew if we are eating somewhere else this evening, but I see your point."
When everyone has settled down, Bumolin waits for a moment when Swerlo and the hunters are occupied with their own business, he tries to talk to Xylas without having the strangers listening:
"if you managed to find that out about the bird, there is probably more for your expertise about devils and suchlike..."
He fills Xylas in on the clues they found on the Druid's Isle
"...could it be that this is also the work of that 'imp-creature'? Maybe that birdshape is only one of many skins it can wear?"

[b]”You said this thing had rocks in its skin. Do you mean like rocks or was its skin more like a rough hide? I don't mean to sound dumb... but I never seen anything like that.”

"What I suppose this is, is called a 'direwolf' in the common tongue. And a rather big one by the sound of it. I've never seen one myself, but I heard tell that some of them look like rocks grow out of their pelt. Don't know, what this could be. Maybe some kind of boneplates?

When the saucy humor starts again his expression becomes a bit glaced again. He senses the harmlessness of it all, but he still feels like listening to a language, where he knows a lot of the individual words but gets lost, because how people use them doesn't seem to make sense.

When the others arrive he greets them warmly "Good to see you again. Finding you would have been our next step. I think we found what we could...and also a bit more than exspected. How did your shopping go?

When Ritti makes her move, Bumolin matches her goggle-eyes from back on the isle. At least. Like someone who watches a strange kind of theatre that's interesting, but not totally understandable, he just keeps watching open mouthed until things start to make sense again.
During Bitons tale, he becomes focused and concentrated again. When the hunter has finished, Ritti gets the impression, that the dwarf has already heard, what he wanted to know.
Finally he says:
"You are talking wisdom, Biton. That sounds like a really dangerous creature. Do you think it was leading the other wolves or did they rather keep a distance when you met it?"

Greyhand's Tavern
Still a bit bewildered, but reassured by (and inwardly very thankful for) Ritti taking things in hand, Bumolin lets himself be guided towards the stools and sits down next to her. The look in her eyes gives him food for thought however and he starts to take in the room and it's occupants, somehow exspecting some kind of danger.
1d20 + 7 ⇒ (10) + 7 = 17

Also glad to see you back up again, DM and to hear that everyone is well again.

Greyhand's Tavern

While returning to town, Bumolins determined and self-assured demeanour starts to change visibly: the revelations on the isle have taken him off balance: with this otherworldly creature he is on unknown territory.
When they enter the tavern he also suddenly feels he is again in a place, where he doesn't understand the rules. A feeling that gets worse with Greyhand's comment towards Ritti. Unsure of all the implications and of what to do, he stops at the door, trying to estimate how she feels about it.

Has everything moved to discord?

"They can be surprisingly hard to spot...but at least concerning the Kells, I fear we have to take the boy on his word: they have probably been abducted by that flying...something. The best we can do for them is to unravel this whole mystery as quickly as possible. Let's go!"
Bumolin leaves the isle and moves towards the town.

Bumolin thinks for a moment, then he adds: "Actually we could just go to Greyhands tavern. Maybe we'll meet those hunters there. And we can ask around for a specialist on flying batwolves. What do you think?"

Bumolin is overwhelmed with his first experience of animal senses. He is only able to differentiate the different scents and trails after Abon pointed them out. He squeeks: "thank you, little friend! I think we found something you can teach me!"
He stands up, looking at the Witchtower when his face becomes normal again.
To Ritti he says:"In the end it all seems to lead back to that tower. Maybe this town doesn't have that many problems but only one big one as you already suspected...I think you are also right with this: we should find someone who knows a thing or two about really strange creatures. It's very likely the thing with the bat wings is the same that made this wolftrack here - it seems like it flew off towards the tower. And I'm at my wits end here. But before we go back, we should probably talk with those wannabe wolfhunters. I'd not give much on their expertise, but I would really like to know if they saw something strange about their wolf apart from the fact that he was big. Meaning: could be this was'nt a wolf either. Let's go talk to them and then meet up with the others again."

Bumolin ponders Rittis words, moving his head slightly from one side to the other.
"Yes, you are probably right. But I don't know who could know something about this. Maybe we should ask around at the inn?... The thing that's making me rather mad is this wolf track"
He points at the print he found.
"I don't know what to make of it...For all I know it's fresh and it comes from some creature with paws but walking upright on two legs. That's strange enough by itself, but I can't find another one... so should we throw in a pair of wings into the picture?" his tone sounds amused and frightened at the same time. After another few moments of thinking silently while watching Abon combing through the bushes, he suddenly says:"Let me try one more thing, before we go back to town. It won't take long!"
He starts to search his bag, obviously for something not easy to find. He pulls out his bowl and several small pouches and containers only to put them to the side. It takes some time, before he suddenly produces a single tusk on a string. It looks like it belonged to a grown boar - at least it's noticably bigger than those of Abon, who seems suddenly interested in what his master is doing, comes over and sniffs the tusk.

Bumolin starts to make a low humming sound as he takes out his knife and carves a single symbol into the tusk. Then he puts it around his neck. Suddenly his face starts to change: the hair from his boarskin-fur-surcoat seems to grow up his neck and starts to cover his suddenly longer ears and face. His nose changes into a porcine snout.

Totem Transformation - senses

He puts his knife away with shaky fingers and turns to Abon with a series of porcine squeels and grunts.

Speak with Animals - he is trying to make him help to find the scent of the wolf-creature - is there a bonus to handle animals if you can actually speak with them?
push animal companion: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (12) + 7 = 19

Bumolin goes on all fours and tries to sniff out the scent of the creature, starting at the track he found earlier. If he finds it, he tries to follow the scent as far as he can. If he doesn't find anything he gives up after a minute, stands up and becomes his normal self again.
Don't think I want to wiggle info out of you at all cost - just felt like a fitting occasion to brag a bit with my new toys. But if there should be anything to find:
Survival: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (12) + 7 = 19

can he estimate how old the track is? Meaning: does it seem like worth following? Is it even possible to follow it?

could you point out, what makes it look different than a wolf track? Just so I can refer to it in character. Or is it just a irrational gut-feeling?
Bumolin looks puzzled at the departing boy. "Maybe we should talk to his parents and sister. I don't want to cause any trouble for him, but whatever is happening here - they seem to be tied in with it. But first there is something I have to do here. Excuse me, it will not take long"
He climbs down the rocks and collects some water from the river and then puts in some of his black berries, crushes and mixes them with the water. When he reaches down with a hand dripping from the dark red mixture to pick up some soil to mix it in, he discovers the track. He looks at it from different angles and sighs. "The more I find out about this, the more it becomes a mystery..." he puts a bit of dirt in his bowl and mixes it in. Then he walks up to a tree near the path, thinks for a moment and then starts to write with his right hand on the bark. In the secret sign-language of druids he composes a short warning about the threat of the wolves and it's probably otherworldly nature. He adds a little message to the Kells, stating that he assumes that something has happened to them and asking them to contact him at the inn, when they read this. He signs with two dwarven runes, meaning: "bitter" and "cup". He stands back a step and admires his work. The dark paste itself is hard to see on the bark, but it's sweet odour already attracts the attention of some ants, flies and other small insects. Bumolin is sure that anyone who can read it, will not miss it.

Knowledge Nature: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (20) + 7 = 27
"a walking bat...are you sure that's what she said? Who is your father, by the way? If you want, we could walk you home, if you want"

While on the island, Bumolin keeps his eyes ooen for druidic signs.

Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (19) + 7 = 26

Bumolin shakes his head at Rittis question. To the boy he says with a very earnest voice, going eye to eye with him (having to bend only a little I suppose): "Have you seen them being taken by those star monsters? How did they look like? Where did they come from? It's very important that you tell us! We want to save them, if we can."

Druid's Isle
Bumolin was in a hurry to get here, but once he does he slows down to get a feeling for this place. He stands for a few moments on the shore, while Red is hopping on the stones, taking in the sounds and smell of the river, wind and trees. Even Abon seems to register that this place is special: his constant rummaging for something edible on the ground suddenly ceases, he lifts his head and looks alert and attentive - almost solemn.
"Yes...to find a real druid would be really helpfull at this time... whatever the decor of his hair." Bumolin says earnestly and starts to follow her across the stones with an almost ceremonial attitude. Abon right behind him.
climb, if necessary for Abon: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (13) + 5 = 18
Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 7 = 10
When Red mentions the kid, he tries not to let his surprise show and sneek a sideways glance up at the tree. Judging the boy rather harmless, he calls up into the tree:"Good day to you - how is the view up there? Might it be worth for us to come up and join you?"

Or maybe he just missed that there is a new page and just keeps reloading the old one. Like I did a few months ago.

"Let's go, Chief!"

"Yes let's take a look over there. If this is anywhere near as bad as I fear we should find some sign of it there."

Bumolin says his goodbye to Brenlow, swallowing the insult as part of an otherwise usefull answer and walks with Red towards the Fork.

Is it possible to get to the island without a boat? How big/deep should we imagine the river at this point?

sense motive: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (19) + 3 = 22
Bumolin tries to keep a straight face and humor Brenlows self esteem:

bluff: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (7) - 1 = 6

"Really impressive... especially how you managed to make the cows read the timetables...
But actually I wanted to ask you something else: your neighbour implied that you were one of the last people to see the Kells. Do you have any idea where they could be found right now? Or how someone would go about it if he had to talk to them urgently?"

"I don't know. I think I let you be the judge of that. Don't know what a normal 'rate of trouble' would be for this kind of town. Keeping your ears open can't hurt for sure. But let's first see that nobody gets eaten...and let's hope that it's not already too late for that."

For a moment Bumolin looks a bit like a big fish himself: mouth silently moving, the gearwheels in his brain almost visibly turning.
"Nah... didn't see any of that. Was just angry that they didn't seem to care about the wolves. But it makes a whole lot of sense...but what puzzle are you talking about? The kobolds? The tower?"

"treasure the possibility to go back. Even if it's not only good memories.
That's not how it works for me. I suppose I have left for good.
I'm still a bit confused by how things work in a town as big as this. But her son at least seems to hear about what's going on with his people."

"thats far...must have ruined quite some pairs of boots getting here...what made you undertake such a huge journey?
I havn't come that far myself. I was born and raised in Olora, a small settlement of dwarves in the caves in the southwestern walls of the mountain Onik, which again is in the southern part of the Five King Mountains. Climb a big enough tree on a clear day and look to the West: you can probably see the Onik from here. And it's just north of the Darkwood - you maybe heard of that: they cut that special wood there and sell it all over Golarion.
But "home" is a different matter. Olora isn't that anymore. I was going to maybe find a new one with a great cousin of mine who runs some business or other in Maheto. But truth be told, I'm not actually in a hurry to get there..."

Bumolin has a rather grim and thoughtfull look in his eyes. His thoughts are "out there" among the wolves and about all the things that might have happened to the Kells. He desperately tries to remember every little bit his father has taught him about such a situation. Or even anything usefull he could have learned when he went to the Moot of Ages.
But when Ritti starts to talk, he seems rather relieved for the opportunity to push his thoughts away for a few moments.
"You're welcome! It was a great performance. Would've served no purpose to spoil it.
So you've also had your fill of mountainair back home? The Malgorian Mountains? Can't say I've heard about it. Are you far from home?"

"alright, we'll talk to him. But first, I'll see if your neighbour Brenlow has any idea where the Kells could be found...are you coming, Red?"

Is everyone else alright? The sudden silence starts to make me worry

Yes I can do that, I can also summon any other creature like a normal druid. But when I summon boars, I can use summon natures ally as a standard action and I can add templates.
But summon minor ally is a different spell, So sadly no advanced giant guinea pigs for me.

Thanks DM, I think we are through the worst of it.

No problem, I'll just stick to those three.

I see - so a paper pig-mask could be massively usefull. If an enemy is too strong, Thorfinn just holds him tight, we put the mask on his face and Bumolin uses wild empathy until he likes us.

Haven't seen those on the summoning lists, but even if they were: like the porcupine pig they are technically rodents

Alright. That somehow got "chanceled" in my brain by "core-only". Which is nonsensical because there are no archetypes in the core rules.
Thank you, I get to it then!

And one rules question coming with it: the rules often allude to "boars and other porcine creature" e.g. with Summon Nature's Ally - I don't know what other creatures than boars could be meant in the summoning list.

A humble question - and I could absolutely live with a "no"- would it be ok if I reworked Bumolin into a Boar-Shaman? I would have gone this way right from the start, but DM Minotaur restricted us to core-classes only. But I doubt he will ever take over again. It's also rather a nerf in terms of efficiency. But it would fit the character-concept and at lower lvls it would give me something to do when spells run out.

"So there is a big one? You've seen it? That pig Biton said him and his hunting buddies would go track the wolves down, but they came back from their first attempt talking about the huge tracks they've seen. Since then they've claimed they're 'training' and 'preparing'. I thought they were sitting around getting drunk afraid of whatever they think they saw out there, but maybe there really is something?"

Bumolin looks around obviously pleased by what he is seeing. Pointing at Abon he says:

Bumolin whistles for Abon, who again had to wait outside during the audience, to follow them. On the way he says to him:
"we are visiting a farm - there will probably be other pigs and there will probably be another boar. I - want - no - fighting! You keep away from his trough and you keep away from his sows! Understood?"
Handle Animal: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (18) + 7 = 25
And to Red:
"keep your eyes open. Especially how someone treats his livestock will tell you a lot about who he is and how far you can trust him."
When he meets Prake, Bumolin offers to join in any work he is doing at the moment to not waste his time.
in case Bumolin indeed helps him with farmwork:
Profession Swineherd: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 7 = 10
"We'll do our best. But first I need to find out more about what is going on. Have you seen the big one? Apart from the size was anything...odd about him? And where can I find this Kell at the moment? They can't be that mobile in her situation. Has anyone seen them after the wolf-troubles started?"

By the way: I wouldn't mind in game and out of game, if you left Bumolin out of the shared loot. It wouldn't really fit the persona to collect treasures apart from maybe something magical he has a spiritual connection to.
Mechanically druids are also comparatively independent from finding better equipment. At least during the lower lvls.

For a moment Bumolins face lights up with a grin: "Nah!...for the most part they are as much a smallminded and thickheaded bunch of dwarves as you can find in every mining shaft."

He looks at Red, being surprised to see her suddenly next to him:
"yes...you are obviously someone who can stay unseen while not missing much yourself. Am I right? That could be usefull!"

Then his mood gets thoughtfull and dark again
"thing is... something like this...the dying always starts way out there. Far away from any barons and baronesses. If you'r a shepherd you wanna stay where your sheep is, when the wolves are howling at night...so you drive your little comfy cart with all the blankets out there...and people soon get used to not seeing you around... I should know. Done it myself often enough... people get used to you knowing how to get by yourself out there...until you suddenly don't...
What did Talia say about those greenfaithers living in the woods?...Oh I got a bad feeling about this."

Bumolin didn't say a word anymore in the baronness'presence. He seemed a bit insulted about something she said.
"yes, if you don't mind, I'll visit the farmer first. I have to find out how bad it is. If anyone wants to join me they are welcome. But I don't know what I could need from the market at the moment - maybe new rations. But I'll wait with those until I'm not needed anymore here and can resume my journey.
He points back at the residence they just left.
"That one is wrong not only about one thing! She doesn't take the wolves serious and she takes the kobolds too lightly: my clan has never so much as touched a pickaxe and never owned more than they needed to get through the winter. But kobolds don't care about that - if you have something they want, they take it. If they think they can get away with it"

Bumolin nodds. "I'll also help with your kobold-problem. But to put my darkest worries at ease: is there one of the peasents who saw that big wolf or any of the pack, I could talk to?" the last part is directly addressed to the baronness' son.

I guess that I should have explained better. I had a GM that would allow us to do several rooms simultaneously by posting a header for each room if it wasn't anything too important. I intended to continue the breakfast discussion while pushing ahead with the baroness discussion.

It's a handy trick when I let you all know what I'm doing : )

That's actually what I thought was supposed to happen when DM Dickie put the audience scene in the spoiler.

During the audience Bumolin looks rather nervous: you get the impression that if he owned a hat with a large brim, he would hold the hat in front of him, playing nervously with the brim while speaking. Usually he is not very self-councious about his rather "common" appearance. But here the feeling that there is a lot of "protocol" in meeting a baroness he isn't understanding and therefore doing everything wrong somehow gets to him. He only starts to talk, when Xylas refers to him:
"what I would call a group of kobolds...a bloody nuicance probably. I don't like kobolds, I'll admit that. Back home I've raised too many pigs just for them to grow scaly legs all of a sudden. But Thorfinn is right - the ones we found were not happy with their chief. All they needed was a bit of courage to turn away from him. And oddly enough: Thorfinns blade gave them that courage ... courage is a strange thing sometimes."
Bumolin looks thoughtfull at nothing for a moment, then he shakes off that thought.
"Anyway - I think Belhaim might have an even bigger problem. I made camp northwest of town last night right next to the Rogue Creek. And in the night I heard a pack of wolves to the north on the hunt. One of them sounded...very big.... You might want to dismiss that as not important, but my father once said to me: sometimes you get a wolf that is much bigger, stronger and brighter than the normal sort. And if one of those decides to take over a pack - and they usually have no problem defeating the old leader - they rule over those wolves not as a leader but like a no... like a master over his slaves. They despise them and think it just right they should only live for their pleasure and convenience. And suddenly you've got wolves that want to get into your barn at all cost, that fight your dogs tooth for tooth instead of running because their biggest fear suddenly is punishment for failure. If something like that happens, you need to find the big one and put him down. For the sake of people and wolves alike."

Bumolin cuts a piece from his sausage on the table and starts to eat. Between bites he says:
"Good morning. My name is Bumolin - back home they called me "Bitterkelch" for some reason. Don't know what you are used to, but so far I liked everything Talia brings out of that kitchen.
Not really sure what happened with the wizard - went down into the tower and got himself killed somehow when it collapsed. Or did I miss something, Xylas?"

"Thank you Talia - about those wolves - has anyone ever spotted the big one?"
DM, can I assume Bumolin knows a thing or two about worgs and other "big wolves" - him growing up near the Darkmoon Vale and rolling a 20 on the Knowledge Nature when he heard the pack howl?
Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (16) + 7 = 23
While Red enters the room she is almost sure the wild-haired dwarf looked straight at her for a moment. But he is not calling her out. If anything there seemed to be a bit of amusement in his eye.

If anyone happens to be interested in a Starfinder game I'm starting one via VTT on Sunday nights. Check out my Sunday Starfinder Against the Aeon Throne

It's a half-AP, by which I mean just three books, so not a huge commitment. Starships, ancient empires, guerrillas, a Babylon 5-like black market space station, and the kind of bad guys you just can't feel bad about shooting!

Ah man I would really be tempted. But it starts 6 hours before I have to get up and go to work on monday. Probably not a good idea.