GM Aria's page

The old wizard's nigh colorless eyes immediately hone on Arkadi when he speaks, the slit in his wrinkled face where his mouth should be hardening. "If you are in need of wisdom, dhamphir, you should address yourself to the temple, where the authority sits," he says in flat, featureless tone very much like the one he was using to lecture previously. "I am a wizard, and as you can see," he gestures to the children behind him, "not one blessed with those particular talents if I remain in this town. These are my pupils at my advanced age," his voice begins showing some color at this argument, as though it is one he has thought of several hundreds of thousands of times before.

He studies the group for a time, giving the impression of calculation, then tilts his head slightly. "Ten gold," he says finally and casts a spell and the door opens behind him.

"That is, ten gold to access my library. Per person please. No negotiation."

We will. My brains get scattered when separation from my husband is nigh, and I've been suffering from jet lag since I got home a few days ago.

Sorry for being a flake. It is very bad of me. :(

Okay, moving on. At some point today I'll stop being lazy and post a better map of the town square area on googledocs in the info page and list what the buildings are for you.

Pevrin dutifully shows you about the town square, which has settled significantly since your last encounter there, though some peasants milling about on their daily chores do give you dirty looks as you pass. He takes the time to explain that the Wealday Post, which he was waiting on, is Ravengro's news and is pretty big business in a town where word of mouth is, as you are witnessing, fairly unpredictable.

As his father suggested, Pevrin shows you to the Silk Purse, and simply points to the jail. He seems reluctant to enter the Silk Purse, which despite a completely bland edifice features two rather exotic looking guardsman sitting sentry outside its doors. The female on the right is heavily scarred and wary, and piercing hazel eyes follow each movement you make. The male on the left is far less intimidating at a glance, but his armor is clean and smells faintly of oil, and his greatsword has a particular gleam in the low light. He smiles softly as the women of the group pass and says "Good day," like a polite gentleman, but you get the feeling that such pleasantries have been meticulously trained rather than voluntary.

Another point of interest to Pevrin is the Outward Inn, the only Inn in town, owned by Ravengro's Belle, Sarianna Vai. "She sang in Caliphas," the young boy croaks, his voice cracking, and flushes. Adolescence is not being kind to him.

At the other side of the round about, your group encounters the stray dog again. Pevrin pauses for a moment and tosses the creature what seems to be a stale sweet roll, and continues on his way. The dog attacks it voraciously, his tail wagging throughout.

...

The Unfurling Scroll is some ways from the town center, in fact rather close to the bridge you crossed on your original trip in from the Restlands not to be confused with your clandestine trip the night before. The somewhat large home appears rather shabbily maintained, with actual spiderwebs in the eaves that look to have been built upon over the years, and still hold quite a few dessicated occupants, frozen forever in time. Two children, one young boy and one larger, rather rough and tumble girl stand outside on the porch. The boy is wearing a bright orange pointed cap upon which has been printed Draconic script, and the girl wears a pail filled with water. Neither look at you as you approach, which you find rather odd. Inside you can just make out what sounds to be a lecture, which halts as you mount the stairs to the porch. Within moments, the front door opens and a weathered old man in a dour suit, starched collar and sagging bowtie peers at your assembly quizzically.

"Oh," he says, managing to make the interjection derisive. "It's you. Come on then, what do you need? Those little... They'll tear my scrolls if they're left alone for longer than a breath."

Okay, i've been trying to figure out how I want to do this.

I think, I'll make it so that you guys just tell me where you all want to go, and we'll just fast forward from there. I know some folk were interested in the unfurling scroll and the wizard there.

Essentially, you'll be able to consult the map and just know where it is you want to go.

You have unlocked the Town Hall records as a resource, ostensively as long as the Matron is there, since I think I have established that Heathmount is a bit of a prick. If you want to spend the day researching, it's cool, but so far you've only unlocked the first two tracks, as you've yet to puzzle out the significance of the song IC.

Andrezi could be sleeping one off at the inn, I suppose, if you guys are up for having fighty mcpolearms back. It has not been that long in game.

Solve it like a Gorean, James. Beat that b*tch up and make her your slave!

If we got our tracker back online, I'll think about resuscitating this thing. Right now Stanis has become immersed in SW:TOR, up from Skyrim when it ended.

The young boy brightens considerably when you mention a tour, and wipes his hands on the towel hanging from his apron.

"Tour?" he inquires, and then smiles. "Sure! Where'd you like to begin?"

He seems to think a moment, then scratches the back of his neck and looks to the impeccibly dressed man sheepishly. "Sorry, sir. If you leave the master with my dad I'll copy and post it. You can pay me next week."

Councilman Muricar's eyes are narrow as he regards Kendra in a somewhat unfriendly, if not entirely hostile way, then looks to Zokar, sighs and resumes his former seat after giving your group a dismissive wave. He favors both the females with a rather rude glance over the rim of his coffee, then sets the mug down and continues writing.

Zokar has a frown on his face as he regards his patron, apparently dealing with the insufferable man is quite a chore. "Won't ask you to excuse his behavior none," he says to you all, then looks to his son. "Acquaint the lady and lads with the folk at the silk purse 'fore ye take them round the jail, I think," he suggests. "Wouldn't pay for any to be mistaking each other."

Cool beans, everyone.

Sorry for not checking in, got rather lazy during the holidays and spent New Years reading the Millennium Trilogy by Steig Larsson. Gotta say I enjoyed the first book best, when it was only implied that the male lead was a complete bastard, until he proved himself at the very end.

My husband's statement at the end of the movie was "way to go, a**hole."

"Talk?" the councilman repeats, his emphasis expressing increduluity. He tips his head back and laughs. "Lords of the Upper Planes, you cannot expect these yokels to be able to hold an intelligent conversation!"

"Whatever the Mistress and her companions desire, Zokar," the man says to the barkeep. "Come, sit. If you'll not provide an adequate quote, perhaps a brief exchange of pleasantries? As you might imagine, it is not often that we see visitors, and my information about the world abroad is likely grossly inaccurate, by now."

may wish to wait until you would normally prepare spells. I do not plan any more encounters for this day... currently.

Am more than a little "toasty" at the moment. In a few hours, I should be of sufficient sobriety to post something to move the game along.

Unless of course I discover a new source of the sweet, sweet life sustaining liquor. :P

In the spirit of Christmas, I will announce that ya'll are now level 2!

Well, christmas and the fact that uh... stuff and things. I haven't done the actual math yet, but you've had a few encounters, and know some things, and this dang AP moves so darn slowly anyway - Level it up, my fine folk!

Because soon or late, stuff will be getting REAL as the mysteries surrounding the harrowstone jump up to bite you in your soft adventuring posteriors!

And, let's be honest, I know you would all very much like to be gettin' to the meat and potatoes of this AP and start crawlin' around the ruins doin' stuff rather than waiting around for stuff to happen to you.

So - HP advance

either take Average +1 + your Con

or...

if you're feelin' lucky, you can try to roll for max hp. But if ya roll a 1, yeah... well, okay, if you roll a 1 I'll let you reroll, because i've done that as a cleric. Level 3 cleric with 13 HP. Seriously, folks, it ain't funny.

ummm. yeah.

Happy Holidays everyone. Be sure to tip Baby Jesus as he is parking your manger for the night, or let the Wiseman drive if you've chugged back more than your share of Aquavit, or baileys irish cream and coffee.

"No, I shouldn't think the taste of gore is quite so sweet as magic," he declines Uriah's offer and releases Kendra's hand.

"I was all too formerly penning the Wealday Parchment, a periodical of mine own design, and had by happenstance only just come upon our latest... unpleasantness. And how fortuitous it is that you arrive!" he says. "Might I get a statement from you concerning the foolishness of our lads? Any will do, but one particularly scathing is best."

There. Councilman Muricar everyone. He's slick like Christopher Walken's Continental. Glad I held off on that post for a bit, coz I wanted to convey how creepy this guy sounds and the folks at Paizo say "well, everyone in the town figures he's harmless."

Anywho, you can introduce yourselves to this guy, oooor let Kendra. I leave it in your capable hands.

"Why, you can-" Zokar begins with a grin.

"Mistress, you are already in the finest company Ravengro has to offer," a smooth baritone voice with a quality like oil interrupts the jolly barkeep. The man in the impeccable suit steps up close to Kendra, who presses Levelle's hand like a life line as her other is caught up in the elder man's embrace and kissed, each and every knuckle, and then each fingertip in succession, all while his eyes are boring holes into Levelle's.

"Gharen Muricar," he introduces himself with a sly smile, and slowly rolls his eyes up to acknowledge Kendra finally. "Enchanted to see you again, Miss Lorrimor. You spend too much time in the house of late. Is your health ailing?" he inquires with all the concern of a disinterested housewife passing the time among strangers.

"I am... well," Kendra answers in a somewhat strained voice.

"Yes, well," he dismisses with an air that confirms that he was not at all interested in her well-being. "Might you introduce your companions?"

"Tour? Zokar repeats and rubs his main chin with a scarred hand. He hums a little tune and ducks beneath the bar a moment to bring up a jug of what you can approximate is the house wine, and pours two fingers of a light amber fluid into something only slightly larger than a shot glass and sets it on the bar in front of you. " 'Spose you could ask my Pevrin to show you about, when Councilman Shameless Tease has finished his business," he nods to the impeccably dressed man, his eyes hardening for a moment.

"Can't say as it'll be much of a tour, but he'll take ye the ways 'tween the posts," he says. "Something in particular yer lookin' fer?"

The contents of the strange glass smells strongly of pears, and faintly of alcohol.

"Merry, the witch's brew!" he calls back to the kitchen. In a few moments, a young woman, easily a decade the large man's junior meekly steps out of the kitchen carrying a cup of steaming brew on a saucer, and a small plate adorned with what smells to be a sweet and looks to be sticky pastry. Her face is plain, but her complexion is good and her hips and endowments suggest that she is healthy. She sets the plates down on the bar in front of you.

"Courtesy Pevrin and me, for yer help at the service," he says if you try to question his hospitality. "The Professor was a good man. Weren't yer fault that young bravo stirred them boys." When his wife, Merry returns to the kitchens, Zokar leans forward and speaks a little more softly. "My wife was minding the till that night. Were it me, none of them lads would have been allowed to cause such a ruckus."

Zokar casts a worried glance at the man in the impeccable suit, whose interest in his previous work is now cursory, preferring instead to look upon the females of your party.

"What isn't good to drink?" the 'keep answers in a booming voice, and laughs beartily. think Brian Blessed. "This late in the morning, the coffee is a bit burnt. My wife, she's a good woman, but a bit miserly with the caf'."

The keep looks out at the party, his eyes also narrowing on the ladies, then darts a glance at the impeccably dressed man. "Where are my manners? Zokar is my name, welcome to the Laughing Demon."

No worries. Is the holidays, and everyone's head is probably a bit scattered. Between my husband being poorly and now my persistent pains acting up and keeping me from sleep, I know I have been.

I will expect most folk to be busy between the 23rd and the 2nd or so, so don't worry about not posting during that time. Got my 3rd anniversary on the 30th so I'll likely not be around much that day.

"I will be at the hall til this evening," Councilwoman Faravan says before you depart, sparing a glance for Councilman Heathmount's flabby impression of an upset exit.

The whispers of the town folk seem to follow you as you walk through the square. Glancing anywhere but directly at their faces and hard stares, you perchance notice that the mangy dog that growled at the stirges earlier receiving some affection from a local man.

Within a short walk from your destination is another post to which bills have been hammered. This incantation differs from that closer to Kendra's home as the residents have modified it for functionality. Several placards are nailed into place with advertisements for local businesses, including Jofra's forge, Jominda's Apothecary and The Silk Purse.

The Laughing Demon is an elder building, though all signs indicate that it is well maintained and... jovial, after a few moments. In point of fact, there has been a great deal of cosmetic work done to give the building a... gothic appearance. Latices in the eaves of its gables have been worked to include spiders, bats, and cats with arched backs. Ceramic pots crafted to resemble pumpkins decorate the stairs and landing, their empty mouths gaping dumbfounded at your approach. The porch is swept and seems recently cleaned. Curiously, the glass of the tavern's windows, rather than being frosted for privacy is clear, and the shutters of the place are far from decorative.

As expected, the double doors of the tavern open with an ominous groan, alerting all those within to your presence. At this time of the morning there are few, however. The young boy who assisted the Professor's final journey to Pharasma's domain seems to be drawing out a half hearted attempt to buff some manner of mark from a table near where an older man in a spotless suit sits marking notes on a piece of paper. The man looks up at your arrival, seeming to mark your collected entrance, and his eyes narrow when he sees Kendra and Levelle. The young boy spares Kendra a quick glance, flushes and continues working, now no longer waiting on the elder man. The large man Kendra identified as the 'keep continues drying glasses behind the large bar.

Scene is set, lemme know where ya'll wanna go, or conversely you can continue talking amongst yourselves.

was waiting on him, yeah.

I'll have something up tomorrow regardless.

Okie doke. There's a third research topic which you can be working on, but you haven't made the connection just yet, so i'm not putting it up.

Kendra's got some theory which I suppose Levelle can exploit, and ya'll can talk amongst yourselves a bit about what's going on.

So yeah, lemme know in your next posts what you would like to do and we'll move on. :)

Apologies for the delay, gents. Let's do some research!

Kendra Diplomacy 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (14) + 4 = 18

"My father had reason to believe that there were unsavory characters interested in stirring the spirits of the Harrowstone," Kendra adds. "He selected these men and this woman to complete his work here. Youknow that he was ever a goodly defender of this town. Please, let us examine the archives."

Mistress Faravan looks to her companion, her expression hard. "You see, Vashian, these folk have cause. They wish to help us," she says, and looks to all of you. "I do not know what other help I can be, but if you would follow me?"

"Actually," Kendra opines before the mistress can continue. "We will join in a moment," she says and reaches out and takes Levelle's hand. She turns and points down a wide path to the north east, "You'll find the Laughing Demon overlooking the beach," she says. "The big fellow is Zokar, his son is Pevrin. For a few coins, the boy can show you the city on his rounds."

Essentially, popping open the map, you go to C to find the pair, and from there, any who wish to can go wherever you would like in the city today. Or you can try random doors. I will be going through earlier pages and seeing where you stand on the research as of now. Oh, and going with Pevrin will earn those of you who do a basic understanding of how the city lies, since there's no "map" per se...

Things are kinda crud at home at the moment. Husband has some dental issues that are scattering my brains for GMing purposes. I have 3 NPCs in this scene, plus you guys, and I already screwed up in the one post i did for my JR game.

I'll have this moving before the weekend, likely.

oh wow. Go Arkadi. If Sandman can help him out, and Kendra rolls well, too, you got this lady in the bag!

Will update tomorrow in my AM. Is closer to midnight here and I want to be asleep before 2 tomorrow.

Sandman finds the child's flute near him and returns the toy. His hands are scraped, and though he is no longer bawling, he does not seem to have the energy required to play any more.

"They are magical beasts," Kendra continues, for a moment seemingly oblivious that the Councilwoman is speaking to her, then she flushes and takes a few startled moments to collect herself. "Oh, yes. I have decided that I will be selling my father's house, and continuing on to Lepidstat with... my companions," she says after a pause. "I will need to discuss the terms of the sale with Councilman Heathmount," she says and smiles.

"Very good, the portly barrister says with an air of relief. "If you'll come with me, then, your companions can see to the mess they've made of our squ-"

"My companions will be accompanying me," Kendra corrects, showing a length of spine previously unobserved. "They wish to examine the archives."

"The archives?" the fat man jumbles, clearly upset by the implication. "Impossible! No, I will not allow-"

"To what purpose?" the slender matron inquires, raising a hand that silences her peer. She looks over your group with a discerning eye. "The Professor's death shocked us all, and these... incidences since are troubling to say the least. If these folk are interested in our town, they must have cause. We should hear them."

In case that was not obvious enough, time to argue and roll your diplomacy checks to inspire the lady to let you get your research on!

"There, Vashian, it is fair enough. See, theirs are injured as well, and the creatures are proof enough that they struggled, too." soothes the elder matron.

"Timothy Fletcher, you stop that bawling now," she immediately snaps to the young boy with an air of authority. "I know your mother would not have allowed you out without your hat in this weather, and she would have told you that there would be no players today."

Sandman, you see that the child is injured in much the same way you are. A day of rest should allow him to recover. When Sandman bends to assist the child, Kendra rises, her previously beleaguered expression serene. At the elder woman's words, the boy begins simpering, no longer howling as he once did, sits up and scrubs at his moist eyes with filthy hands.

"Where's my flute?" he whines.

Kendra looks to the matron, and inclines her head in a show of respect. "Well met, Mistress Faravan," she says. She looks to the boy when he whines, then Levelle, her eyes narrowed. "It is as Miss Mahe says, they boy began playing and the stirges attacked. All save one," she purses her lips, lost in thought.

Vashian Heathmount does not seem pacified. "From my reading, I recall that your companions were required only so long as you remained in the town. Have you decided upon what you will do with your property, madame?" he inquires, casting an angry glance over all of you.

"I believe what my peer intended to ask is if you are adjusting well to your recent change of life," the councilwoman corrects lightly, "and if there is any way we might assist you."

While Uriah crushes the stirge beneath his boot, citizens begin pouring out of the various businesses lined up in the town center to investigate the child's shrieking. Miraculously, the mangy dog that was barking earlier trotted off, leaving only the stirge carcasses and the solution humanoid blood makes in their bellies to smell disgusting. From the direction that Kendra tenatively identified as holding the town hall, you recognize a certain portly character gallantly waddling towards your position, Councilman Vashian Heathmount, but he is quickly overtaken by a elder and handsome matron with wings of white in her dark hair. Kendra kneels beside the boy and begins speaking to him softly in Varisian, from her tone and inflection likely asking him to bear up. The elder matron settles near Kendra and the boy, observing, but Councilman Heathmount is scarcely the type to abide in silence when his own voice could be heard.

"Now what is this all about?" he demands. "Assaulting our lads in the Restlands weren't trouble enough, now you pick on the slightest of us? Explain yourselves!"

Round 2 Summary

Uriah manages to strike the offensive insect creature currently ensnaring him, but does not break free. The Sandman's swing goes wide, proffering no assistance to him. Levelle ends the threat to the shrieking child Arkadi's mighty swing cuts the air near Uriah. It is clear that he desperately intends to assist his companion, but simply cannot hit his target.

Round 3

Stirge retain Grapple vs. Uriah CMD 14 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (12) + 11 = 23 ouch... this dice roller hates players.

The lone remaining stirge continues to cling to Uriah for dear life, and he takes a third point of Constitution damage as yet more of his life blood is sucked from him. The sack containing what has been drawn thus far, cut free by Uriah's strange crooked dagger, swells and pulses.

Kendra ranged touch attack Acid Splash w/melee penalty 1d20 - 4 ⇒ (17) - 4 = 13 if she hits she will deal 1d3 ⇒ 1 damage

Kendra's summoned magics strike the remaining stirge in its wings, causing it to shriek and rear back, pulling its proboscis from Uriah. Unable to fly it falls to the ground like a stone. It's legs twitch as it attempts to scurry away, but it does not seem as though it is able to move.

Kendra's eyes are wide with fear. There is perspiration on her brow as she looks between the injured Uriah and the shrieking child. "I... I helped," she says in a small voice.

The stirge is simply staggered, but I should say you can coup de grace it if you wish. Combat is now over.

Round 2 continued

Kendra range touch w/penalty for Melee 1d20 - 4 ⇒ (10) - 4 = 6 if she hits with Acid Splash she will deal 1d3 ⇒ 2 damage.

Kendra summons her offensive magics again to assist Uriah with the pest, but they strike the ground and simply go inert. Uriah's strange bent blade manages to cut the offensive creature, and a foul mixture of its viscera and his blood spill from it, but it stubbornly continues to cling to its victim. Levelle's missile of light slams into the stirge tormenting the boy, and punches a hole into its chitin, dispersing disgusting arcane gore across the empty stage. Arkadi's mighty swing hits nothing, likely concerned that if his strike misses, he will harm his companion further...

Will update the summary after Sandman posts his action, if there is a need for a Round 3

In the interest of continuing combat, I will roll Levelle's CMB. The results will be just as random.

Levelle's CMB vs. Commoner Kid CMD 10 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (9) + 5 = 14

Levelle's Hyrdraulic Push manages to bull rush the little boy off his perch on the gazebo, sending him face first into the cobblestone below, and breaking his toy flute.

"Owwww!" he groans, and begins making keening noises as a prelude to sobbing.

Round 1 Summary

Uriah and Sandman are attacked and drained of blood by the stirges. Uriah struggles to kill the creature, but his blade does not find purchase. Sandman does not break the intimate embrace of the insect, but Arkadi is able to kill it. Kendra injures the third stirge, hovering above the child, and shortly thereafter a wave of water summoned by Levelle's magic knocks the poor kid over in full view of the town.

Round 2

The stirge that was humbly listening to the boy's song seems in a frenzy now, having been scalded by Kendra's magics and now assaulted by the furious cries of a young boy. It sweeps down and attacks the boy.

Stirge 3 touch attack vs. Prone Boy +4 to Attack... 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (15) + 11 = 26 provided the attack roll is not a 1 the stirge will hit, and the boy takes 1 point of damage.

Stirge 2 grapple on Uriah vs CMD 14 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (9) + 11 = 20

The young boy's cries turn shrill and painful as the stirge's proboscis plunges into his side. The stirge embracing Uriah manages to keep his grip, and drains another point of Con from his helpless victim...

Indeed. Folk are allowed to have brain farts, though. I have them all the time.

I just survived the death walk with the in-law's dog. Horten's residential streets are an adolescent girl who lives in a temperate climate's erotic dream, covered in almost two inches of ice that would make for some great figure skating fun, but walking on it in rubber rain boots - not advisable.

It's early December and I've already slipped on the dang ice. Winter proper ain't even started yet.

Oh yeah. Apologies for being silly. Count that as their surprise and first round actions since they go before you anyway. Sorry for being so scattered, just started up my Jade Regent game, and wires are crossed everywhere.

Arkadi's attack on Uriah 1, Sandman 2 *based on Init* 1d2 ⇒ 2 nice.

Round One (thus far)

Uriah's attempts to cut away the stirge fail, and he is hopelessly caught in its vaguely, and terrifyingly, intimate embrace as it feasts upon his life's blood. Sandman struggles within his, but fails to find purchase.

Kendra Lorrimor ranged touch attack vs. AC 16 1d20 ⇒ 18 if she hits she will deal 1d3 ⇒ 3 damage.

Kendra fires a bolt of magical energy at the stirge hovering above the child, hitting it square in the torso and melting away a good deal of flesh. Unfortunately, the damage is mostly surface, and while disgusting, does little to disable the threat.

Arkadi steps forward to assist Sandman with his enemy, and cuts the foul creature in twain. The proboscis is jarred in the act, sending another thrill of pain through the cleric's body, but as its weight falls away, so too the offensive projectile, with some aide from Arkadi.

Will update when Levelle posts her first round action. Sorry for the random assistance, but Arkadi did not specify who he would help, and I thought it the fairest way.

Rolling Intiative (except where otherwise rolled)

Arkadi Spektor 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 = 10
Uriah Hays 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (13) + 5 = 18
Kendra Lorrimor 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 1 = 18
Levelle Mahe 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (4) + 7 = 11

Stirges 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (16) + 4 = 20

Wow, tough break on them dice rolls

Surprise Round

Having effectively gotten the drop on the party, the tiny insect like creatures buzz and begin their assault on the two closest targets, Uriah and the Sandman, while the third hovers above the child while he plays.

Stirge 1 touch attacks Uriah vs. AC 10 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (9) + 7 = 16 if he hits, Uriah is Grappled and deals 1 point of Constitution damage.

Stirge 2 touch attacks Sandman vs. AC 10 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (18) + 7 = 25 if he hits, Sandman is Grappled and deals 1 point of Constitution damage.

Ouch, these guys are deadly.

Uriah and the Sandman are stabbed with the elongated proboscis of the horrible pests and you can see as their life blood is sucked from their bodies. The creatures barbed legs close around their victims, locking their arms in place as they seem intent on continuing to feed.

Kendra looks on, horrified, "Stirges... suck their victim's blood," she says, the information now mostly moot. She casts Mage Armor to protect herself.

Arkadi, feel free to post your surprise and first round actions, and I will sort them out.

Sorry, luckily I still have this book on a flash stick, and combat will be ensuing shortly.

"Aye. And bring some coin wit'cha the next, and I'll set out tea and cakes," Jofra jests and laughs, mild grumbling sound.

Jofra leads you out the door, presumably and you surmise from the sound, adjusting for the amount of air that pours into the forge at your exit. Without, in the town center, a little boy sits on the steps of a rather large gazebo, its focal point, a crude wooden flute in his hands. A disgustingly filthy and matted stray approaches him, and though any person with sense should clear the mutt away and reduce the risk of contracting disease, the young boy reaches a chubby hand out and scratches behind the animal's ears. Behind the pair, on the dais is a series of progressively higher stands arranged in a semi circle, likely to host a band. As you approach, the boy appears quite dower, you suspect that he was hoping for some entertainment, and all he was afforded was some queer comfort from the mangy dog. The little boy sighs, and then bring the flute to is lips, and begins playing a tune.

After a few moments of the song, the dog falls back on his haunches, the fur on his back rising and he begins growling and barking.

If you make that, roll this since you are currently threatened.

Not going to bother with a map for this encounter, since it is three creatures that you are facing, in a relatively small space, so if you say "I try to flank that flying creature with my friend for the bonus to hit" it may or may not happen. Unless you want me to map, then I will.

"If it be you and the lady there, you might try Councilman Muricar," Jofra suggests.

Kendra blanches almost immediately, and pulls at the cuff on her gloves to avoid making eye contact. "I do not believe that that will be necessary," she demurs.

Jofra throws her head back and laughs, then begins closing the box displaying the pistol. "Can't say as I blame ya, Lady," she says. "Look," she continues and rests a broad hip against the counter. "Folk here ain't got much, and ain't too eager to understand much more. Lookin' for an ally, I say visit the Laughing Demon. Zokar's son ain't what you'd call learned, but he ain't dim neither. Posts what counts for news 'round here." Jofra shrugs. "Spend money. Not in charity, mind. Everyone feels a little more secure with coin weightin' their pockets."

No, Levelle, you do not need to roll superfluous checks unless you are thinking of something obviously crass like telling a lady who you know just lost a child that she's done a great job of working off the baby weight.

Jofra sighs. "Listen, they say the place is haunted 'round here. Have since it burnt. Now," she pauses and looks at each of you, "I hardly be in on the know seein' as it's pretty obvious that I don't really belong. I keep mah nose clean, pay mah rent on time, and I do my job with courtesy. I ain't got no beefs with these folk.

"Seem to me, though, eh, that if you don't want yer young pokin' about dangerous places, you make up all manner of stories," she continues and gives a decided nod. "It be news to me the Professor was interested, so it may be as you say. And if that be the case, I be real careful about who you go runnin' to with that sort of tale. Way I heard it at the tavern was there plenty of folk who won't be bothered none to smile at ya, if you get mah meaning."

Pretty sure this one is dead.

I could get more folks for it, but... I don't know if it's really worth saving at this point. You haven't gotten all that far, but you've already started in on the long game stuff, and I don't want to undo that if new folk don't agree to what you're doing.

"I can craft the shot, sure, but... specializin'? Seems to me that you'd need see the priests if you've problems with undead," Jofra says, her eyes narrowed. "Why exactly you lookin' in to the prison again?"

Sorry about the pause, guys. Husband's been poorly and I'm trying to get to the folks who want in on my JR game as well

Jofra looks at her display with some amount of pride. "This model is 1300 crowns. Ain't none all that special, bit more polished than the rest, but any with the coin to buy it can call it theirs. Last call I had fer makin' ammo was with the warden, for his piece, and none if it were anything like you describe. His were more of the intimidatin' shot than the killin' shot."

Jofra looks to Levelle. "Did the work for the good Professor some month before he moved in, bout... 10 year ago?" Jofra answers, looking to Kendra for confirmation on the time table, then shrugs. "Crafted the warden's piece and his bullets, but couldn't call him or the lady friend. She wasn't frequent in town, and him lesser still. The lads vouched for him bein' a good man."

It's my job as GM to alter the magic items given so that they benefit the party. Already I've done my homework and see that there's essentially nothing for gunslingers, but there is something pretty cool that it is unlikely that any of you will use, so I have foreshadowed Uriah getting something cool in the future.

And if you guys say to me "Aria, we don't get enough cash to buy the stuff we need" after that, then it's on me to adjust that as necessary, too.

Jofra handles the pistol carefully, laying it on a display case and taking a good long look before she slides behind it, ducks down and picks up lock box. From a throng around her neck, she produces the key, then opens it, pulling up on the lid to show three different compartments not unlike a jewelry or a tackle box displaying several components you recognize belonging to pistols and finally a completed one in the final compartment, resting on a bed of satin. It certainly looks very shiny to your eyes.

"Been buildin' 'em for years," she says. " 'Course, not many of the hicks here can afford 'em. Last time I showed any was for that arrogant c*ck Heathmount," she grumbles. "Aye, but fer the chance to disable the firing mechanism on that piece. Pegged him for the type to shoot at bottles, way he spends money."

Hmmmmm... Time to do some research.

Quick note on loot distribution:

Don't. be. miserly.

The AP throws in stuff for you guys to use. If you decide as a group that no one can use what you've found, you can sell it for gold and then distribute the gold amongst yourselves equally.

I really hate getting to that point in games, and people decide that I need to pay them for the privilege of wearing the masterwork armor that we found together, or for the magic potion that i'll be carrying that may save their life some day.

So. Healing items given out are free. If you want more, purchase them, but I'm pretty sure if Levelle were dying no one would go "oh, but I spent 50 gold on this healing potion, you're going to owe me the cost of it if it saves your life."

I'm pretty sure that if a INT item is found it can be assumed that it will go to Levelle, if a WIS item found, to Sandman, DEX to Uriah, and... dunno what specifically Arkadi would want more, WIS or STR. But I assume you can all be adults and not go charging other folk for the items that make your team more effective.

You can take 10 on Knowledge checks that are unspoilered, ya know...

"Father used the lead in his laboratory to bar divination magics," Kendra answers, slightly flushed. "It... was security."

Jofra shrugs. "Can't say as I've any talents with magic. Can be as the lady says," she says. "As for the prison, I don't know much. It was built when I arrived. I did some minor works for the warden and his boys, same as any who liked to eat in the town. Watched it burn, too," she admits and shakes her head sadly.

"There was a riot," she recounts, "and it and the boys, the warden and his wife burned. I take it some thing musta gone wrong there, weren't no reason or no place for the lady. And would be a damn s$#%e prison if it weren't able to keep them animals contained in that event. Lem, he said could disable the lifts..." Jofra spits a curse in Dwarven.

"That place is a mess. Ain't seen but the outlyin' buildin's, and they just as soon crumble if ya look at 'em wrong. You plannin' on takin' that?" she asks Uriah and nods to his pistol.

Okay, I may or may not get something up tonight. Been having trouble with this persistent cough. If it settles down I might be able to think again to answer your questions. If not, my tomorrow morning.

well, i've lost two players already in my KM game and the rogue and the fighter have been half assin' it since I resurrected it, and my wizard (who is my husband) is swamped with work, and then comes home and plays skyrim most of the day, so nothing is really advancing.

at this point, advancing a whole new crew is just going to be a pain, since this group has saved a bunch of bandits and are trying to integrate them into something more, which... is long term, and it's just stalled. It's not like I don't have the time, but the interest has just died.

Feel free to pop into the JR recruitment and lay out a concept. I know how infuriating slow moving games can be. I'm trying to be impartial, but a lot of the submissions are the anime style characters I really don't want to run with at all. Is why I am asking for a history and concept and not crunch, to weed out those types.

Don't worry, won't hold it against ya... too much.

Jofra smiles faintly at Arkadi, and inclines her head in a nod to acknowledge the Sandman, though her eyes linger considerably longer. She, however, sighs. "Whelp, can't say as I've anything better to do than gab," she says with an air of complaint. "Was hoping to drum up some business, like the lead walls we put in over at the Professor's or," her eyes slide to Uriah's pistol again, "some work with arms. What manner of facts be ye interested in?"

Jofra gestures to a corner of this reception area which is devoted to displaying her works, leading you away from the door, and the source of air for her forge.

The young man narrows his eyes and is silent for a few moments, then he lifts the hook and pulls the massive door open further to admit you all. From further inside the shop, you hear a alto curse in a harsh language

and the pinging sound of metal on metal stops abruptly.

"Mistress, these folk are the professor's," the large young man answers, gesturing for you to hurry so that he can replace the door.

There is another curse, and abruptly a loud screeching sound as hot metal is introduced to cool water. A number of bangs and a clash later, a relatively tall dwarven woman wearing a thick leather smock and several faded tattoos on her impressive arms appears from further in the building, dabbing at her massive brow with a soft cloth.

"Go on, Vlade. The good Lord knows we've practiced enough shoes in our day. You'll not need my supervision to continue," she says to the boy in Common and jerks her head in the direction she recently quitted. She looks to you next, her brown eyes evaluating each of you. Her eyes rest on Uriah, and then widen briefly. "Now then, I hope that you have interrupted my droll employment with something considerably more exciting?" she says. "Was a b*tch to get those damned fires stoked this morning, winds whipping and changing at will."

Kendra gives a brilliant smile, and leads you to the forge, a simple but sturdily built building featuring large timber support beams carved with elaborate runes.

The front door of this building stands open slightly, and is held that way by a large iron hook. Standing this close to the opening, you can distinguish the smells of smelting and working metals, and feel the vacuum and pressure shifting inside the building. It would likely correspond to the billowing smoke above if you could see it from this angle. You also see that the door is quite thick, more than two inches. Knocking upon it would likely prove futile.

"Mistress," Kendra attempts to call politely between strikes upon the anvil, but how could raising one's voice be considered so? "Mistress Jofra! I've visitors!"

The strikes scarcely pause, but after a number of beats, a rather thick male figure appears near the crack of the door, but does not make the mistake of blocking it. The lad's face appears young, but his full frame is that of a man grown, easily.

"The Mistress is engaged," the lad says in a voice that does not seem congruous with his speech, as though he has been couched to civility. "Might I ask what this is concerning?"