Neppka's page

"Grimbeard you say? A dwarf? Let me recollect..." he wipes his small spectacles on his robe, not really getting them clean as the gears of his memory start turning. "In fact, I do know that name. And so should you if you study your history. Grimbeard was a dwarven warlord, a rebel and a renegade some say. He led a revolt in the Five Kings Mountains about a century ago. Unsuccessful revolt, I should say, but it was a near run thing, as these things go. Why on earth do you ask, my good fellow?"

Neppka reaches across the table to gently pick up Brodert's glasses and then he wipes them with a clean napkin from the table. As he is doing this, he explains that when they encountered the Varisians who were harassing people, their leader was in cahoots with a glowing, ghostly dwarf who called himself by that name.

Vako pops up right next to Quink on the other side and goes Oh and a Brown Stone. Some people are looking for one and I was making a mudball to give to them but I lost it and I think they might not want any sort of a brown stone.

He smiles at Vako who pokes in from the side. "A brownstone? Like a building? I don't believe I know the reference, but am somewhat familiar with the architectural style, if that's what you are referencing."

A building would make sense Vako nods, attempting to mimic Quink's sage mannerisms. They were in these rolling building things, maybe they want a change.

Neppka shakes his head vigorously, as if that act alone will stop the conversation from veering further off course.

"No no, not a building. Some gem that they call the 'brown stone.' Two words."

He says as an aside to Vako, "Those rooms on wheels are called wagons, or sometimes carriages. Lots of Varisians use them to travel around and bring their things."

Returning his attention to Quink (and returning the gnome's spectacles), he continues, "We also met the dwarf Festus at the Varisian camp." If Festus is in the room, Neppka will introduce him. "Festus seems to be pretty familiar with Grimbeard. He's interested in us helping him explore a vault beneath a small cemetery we discovered, but the doors to the vault are locked up pretty tight. We could probably break the doors to get in, but that doesn't seem like the right thing to do.

"I'm also curious why the town was attacked by goblins, yesterday."

"Good morning, Master Quink!

"Did you sleep well, and also have you ever heard of a dwarf named Grimbeard?"

Thanks for pushing that through, DMDE.

Welcome, newcomers!

Torgar Earthbreaker seems to be a frequent poster on the boards and the character feels like will fit well with the Dwarf parts of the game.

I've also played with this player before (briefly), and I've seen them around on the PbP section of the boards for a long time. Also, they don't seem to be in a ton of other PbP games. I bring that up because I've noticed a trend that if a player is in too many games, their involvement overall tends to suffer. (Myself included!)

I've never played with GM_Drake/Barbie Rivers, but I've also seen them around often, and they also don't have a plethora of existing games.

I'm very happy to have another player join us, but I don't know anyone that I've played with often enough that plays 2E.

Alternatively: We buy a crowbar!

"How would we get past the lock?" Neppka challenges Vako before stuffing half of a slice of bread in his mouth.

Hobgoblins attacked Sandpoint. We stopped them.

And after checking the Gameplay thread to make sure I spelled Brodert Quink's name correctly, I remembered that the hobgoblins have a black fist tattoo we want to ask him about.

I was mostly asking you to recap what you learned as a review and to make sure you have internalized the important things as the story moves on, but its up to you if you want to speak them aloud, or just understand them.

My story threads can be hard to follow especially in PBP when there are real-time weeks in between things happening.

If you are not with me, let's review in discussion.

Okay, fair. I guess my intention was sort of to review that, but only the parts that I thought Ameiko hired us for, and then also why we want to talk to Brodert Quink.

I think that Krrys'tall covered events as I recall them, and I genuinely couldn't remember why "brown" was associated with the crystal until Vako's post just above.

I appreciate the communication, GM.

Before Neppka gets too wasted

Too late, but he tries to answer anyway.

"A ghostly dwarf who just disappeared with the old hag? Where did they go? What did they want anyway? Do you think you have seen the last of them?"

"Yes!

"I don't know!

"They were looking for a crystal or a stone. Brown? The dwarf was a guy named Grimbeard, who might be supposed to be dead. My new friend Festus can tell you ALL about him!"

Neppka puts his arm around the dwarf cleric, happy to help make the introduction. He indicates that Festus should speak, but then immediately interrupts to ask for another mug for each of them.

When he gets to the inn, Neppka makes sure that Ameiko knows that he thinks they've taken care of the Varisian bandit problem. He'll catch her up to speed and anyone who wants to hear when things slow down a bit, but right now he's distracted by all the adulation the group is receiving.

He does ask after Brodert Quink, and promises to Festus that they can try and track him down later this evening, but that promise is soon forgotten as Neppka consumes the free drink and attention.

He is very appreciative of the free room the innkeeper promised, but he'll have to enjoy the room tomorrow night, because he passes out in the common room tonight.

Maybe he'll remember his promise to Festus after his hangover passes tomorrow morning.

Okay, when Vako asked about "group loot," I immediately assumed that they meant a list of the loot they've acquired, which gets sold and/or divvied up whenever makes sense.

But I feel like Krrys'tall might be meaning "group loot" in a different way?

A loot sheet is a good idea. But it was just 18 coins for now, and this seemed easier.

Neppka is assuming Brodert Quink is at the inn, or that the gnome will find the party there. Krrys'tall promised him an ale, after all.

Without thinking twice, Neppka pockets the coins. When he sees them next, he'll give Vako and Krrys'tall 4 sails each, and he'll give Festus and Candalreth 3 sails each.

So add them to your sheet now so I don't have to remember them. :)

Neppka does, however, show the scrap of paper to Sheriff Hemlock. "My friend Festus and I need to go ask Brodert Quink some questions. Since he knows so much, maybe I can ask him what this says. Or if he's heard of these black fist tattoos."

"Oh. Yeah. After we took them down, we were too distracted by the fire to check the bodies."

Neppka checks the corpses for anything interesting, starting with the hobgoblins.

Neppka looks at the others to see if they have any theories they want to bring up before answering himself.

"No idea. We were just coming back from taking care of something for the innkeeper at the Rusty Dragon when we saw the flames and rushed back. While out there, we saw plenty of Varisians on the road and a few giant bugs, but no signs of goblins.

"Is this the only part of town they attacked?"

Neppka asks a likely townsperson if there's any other attackers in the town. If that threat is over, he'll help with running water.

I think we should try and get to Ameiko's inn but hook up with any town guard we see on the way and help out.

I don't disagree, but if there's no apparent threat elsewhere that we can see, Neppka can't justify ignoring the threat right there in front of them.

I think white hobgoblin needs to be removed from the map.

Neppka sees an opening when one of the arsonists turns to flee, and uses the momentum of his spin to lash try and chop the goblin down.

↺ Reactive 2H Bastard Sword Attack + CA: 1d20 + 9 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 9 + 1 = 30
Damage: 1d12 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 4 + 1 = 9

He then takes a moment to shout at the townsfolk who have been watching since before the group arrived. "There's just one little guy left! Save your town!"

He points to the purple goblin still spreading the flames before stepping up to the final combatant. ◆ He changes his tactic by wielding his sword with only one hand and uses the other to try and hinder the goblin.

◆ Snagging Strike + CA: 1d20 + 9 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 9 + 1 = 17 <-- If this hits, the target is off-guard.
Damage: 1d8 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 4 + 1 = 9

◆ Snagging Strike + CA + MAP: 1d20 + 9 + 1 - 5 ⇒ (9) + 9 + 1 - 5 = 14 <-- If this hits, the target is off-guard.
Damage: 1d8 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 4 + 1 = 9

Emboldened knowing that Vako and their healing abilities had his back, Neppka focuses purely on taking down the two goblins attacking him.

Three strikes, targeting yellow until its down and then blue.

2H Bastard Sword Attack + CA: 1d20 + 9 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 9 + 1 = 25
Damage: 1d12 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 4 + 1 = 15

2H Bastard Sword Attack + CA + MAP: 1d20 + 9 + 1 - 5 ⇒ (6) + 9 + 1 - 5 = 11
Damage: 1d12 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 4 + 1 = 7

2H Bastard Sword Attack + CA + MAP2: 1d20 + 9 + 1 - 10 ⇒ (11) + 9 + 1 - 10 = 11
Damage: 1d12 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 4 + 1 = 9

Yes, they've said multiple times in the past that they will be upgrading the forums (which probably means replacing them), but none of their language suggests that the forums will go away.

Paizo.com will go dark at 8 a.m. Pacific on Monday, November 3rd. You won’t be able to access any Paizo services, including Paizo Connect, organized play reporting, forums, downloads, order history, etc., while we work to bring an all-new experience online.

Neppka does his best to ignore the pain, but with a massive blow like that, ignoring the pain is difficult. It sill doesn't stop him from trying to take down the black hobgoblin in front of him, though.

"Selfish. I could have used that potion after you're dead."

2H Bastard Sword Attack: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (10) + 9 = 19
Damage: 1d12 + 4 ⇒ (10) + 4 = 14

He swings again.

2H Bastard Sword Attack: 1d20 + 9 - 5 ⇒ (1) + 9 - 5 = 5
Damage: 1d12 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10

After his second attempt, he backpedals, trying to lure the enemy back to the rest of his allies that are still near the gate.

2 strikes and a stride

Neppka draws his bastard sword and screams a battlesquawk before charging.

Neppka is able to cross the distance between him and the black hobgoblin who fired on him, and he tries to bring his heavy sword down on them.

2H Bastard Sword Attack: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (18) + 9 = 27
Damage: 1d12 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 = 11

2 strides and a strike

I think we have to!

There's nothing ambiguous about what's going on to Neppka, so he's ready to defend Sandpoint while its residents are watching! (He'd probably do the same if the townsfolk couldn't see him.)

Neppka draws his bastard sword and screams a battlesquawk before charging.

I assume we'll need a map and initiative before moving forward, but if it matters, Neppka wants to target one of the humans that seem to be in command, unless there's a goblin between him and the humans.

Neppka follows.

"Well, shit," Neppka declares, stunned into inaction for a moment.

However you guys want to approach, I'll go along with it.

Neppka nods at Vako. "Let's head back to Sandpoint, then. We'll report in, and then we'll see about what to do about this crypt."

Assuming nobody disagrees, the party heads back to Sandpoint.

Neppka turns to Festus.

"I don't think any of us know how to pick that lock. We can try and pry it open, but it looks like that's already been tried. Plus, we don't really know what's down there, nor how large it is.

"There's a guy there, Brodert Quink, who knows lots of things, or he can hopefully point you in the right direction."

"I looked for personal effects like a ring or something similar when we first found him, but I didn't see anything other than the scrolls I gave you and his holy symbol."

I'm assuming Neppka gave Festus Fingrin's holy symbol with the scrolls earlier, but if he hadn't, he does that now.

"And the only shield we saw was that one," Neppka points to the shield that the spiders were using as bait.

Despite his assurance that he had already done so, Neppka helps search the area for the items Festus is asking about.

Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (16) + 5 = 21

I'm good to advance to the next morning.

Neppka nods at Candalreth's summation of his life, and then turns his head so that he includes Festus, Krrys'tall, and Vako.

"Ghostly? I don't know. Do we think that was really a ghost? He didn't seem very ghost-like. He just glowed. If he was a ghost, why would he need his own tent? And then he seemed to need Olga for some reason. And he wasn't haunting anything."

Leaning back on his pack near the fire, faced so he can see any threats from the graveyard in the distance, Neppka looks at the minstrel in their company.

"So, Candalreth. What's your story? How did you come to be caged in a Varisian camp?"

Neppka agrees to find a place to camp for the night. But... not too close.

I asked someone who posted looking for a game if they wanted to join us BTW. Not sure if they will want to but I sent them the gameplay link so they could read up. Offered them one of these NPCs or making a whole new PC if they wish.

Did this person ever get back to you? It's fine if not, I'm just curious.

Are you just going back to Sandpoint, or are you showing Festus the way to the graveyard etc?

It's on the way we took to get here, so I was assuming we'd accompany Festus at least to his brother's body at the graveyard.

The quieter Varisian say: "Ja! The Brown Stone, that vhat dwarf mate us searchink for." She motions with his hand a round stone about the size of a grapefruit maybe. "Ve never see dis stone, ja?"

Neppka squawks in annoyance. "He didn't make you do anything! He and Olga told you to lock people in cages, and you just decided to blindly follow orders instead of think for yourselves!"

Neppka takes a moment to compose himself. He takes a deep breath and starts speaking again.

"Whatever. Olga's got a lockbox in her wagon. You can keep it and the harrow cards. We're leaving.

"Are you ready to go?" Neppka asks Festus. And then to the other former prisoners, he asks, "Are you all good? We're making our way back to Sandpoint. You're welcome to come with."

Neppka is keeping the three vials and the crystal. At some point, he'll ask someone who can tell such things if it's magical. After they leave, he'll give one vial to Vako, another to Krrys'tall, and keep the last for himself.

He finally looks at the papers written in dwarven that Neppka left with him right before the fighting started and looks awestruck as he reads, his face turning ashen pale. "Where did you find these did you say? I must go there at once!"

"At a graveyard nearby. We'll take you there; it's on the way back to Sandpoint.

"What's going on?"

Neppka has heard of Grimbeard before....

That was a pretty good roll...Any other questions about that old history?

Anything connecting Grimbeard to other allies? If he was so dwarf-centric, why is he working with Varisians?

"Well, dwarves are long-lived, right? If the battle with the elven settlement was 100 years ago, it's possible he'd still be alive, then.

"Well, whatever. With nothing else to go on, the best thing to do would be to go back to Sandpoint," Neppka cocks his head in acknowledgement of Vako's suggestion, "and let that innkeeper Ameiko know what happened. That way, if Grimbeard or Olga cause more trouble, then people know about them already."

Neppka raises a feathered arm and points at the remaining Varisians. "You guys. You're free to go, or you can just wait here until we go. You locked innocent people in a cage without questioning why. You got what was coming to you." Neppka indicates the dead Varisians.

Neppka brings out the big crystal, harrow deck, and vials he found in Olga's tent. He asks Vako, Krrys'tall, and the other former prisoners if they know what any of them are for.

If Grimbeard was a general or similar sort of leader, Neppka might have heard of him. Warfare Lore is +3.

Just to make sure I understand, Festus is saying the glowing dwarf is Malgrath, and the letter is implying that the dead dwarf we found in the cemetery is Grimbeard?

"Right. There's also some interesting stuff in Olga's wagon. A big crystal, a big harrow deck, some maybe-poison, and a lockbox.

"I don't think we need to steal their wealth, but I don't want to leave anything dangerous with these guys if they're locking up random travelers."

Neppka glares at the closest Varisian as he mentions being locked up.

I agree with Krrys'tall. We said we'd let them go.

Neppka leaves things where they are in Olga's wagon for the moment. He'll let Vako and Krrys'tall know about them when there's a moment.

He goes back to listen to the conversation with the Varisians. When it's over, he'll ask Festus if the papers from the glowing dwarf's tent is written in dwarven and if he can tell him what they say.

Neppka wrote:

Did this exchange with Festus actually get to happen, or was it cut short by the beginning of the battle?

You may have given him the writing, but he did not have time to read it yet. And may have forgotten about it in the hullaballoo (just like me).

As long as I've handed the scroll over to him and briefly described that we found it on a dwarven corpse in a nearby graveyard (and generally where it is), I don't need to do anything else. I just didn't want any ramifications from it to not happen because I had assumed wrongly about the communication. Thanks!

Did this exchange with Festus actually get to happen, or was it cut short by the beginning of the battle?

I didn't expect that we'd just walk right in to their camp to be captured. :)

But yeah, that fight could have gone very differently. I also think that you had dropped enough hints for us to reasonably guess that we weren't in immediate danger from the Varisians.

Neppka grabs the papers, and then searches Olga's tent, if he knows where that is.

While his two companions talk to the Varisians, Neppka wanders over the tent the dwarf came out of and looks inside.

Was I supposed to lead here? I thought Neppka had stuff he wanted to ask. I don't mind taking the lead.

Oh, I see. I mentioned that we should question them in the Discussion thread as a player, but Neppka hasn't said anything. He's been too busy gaining and then losing the dying condition.

Vako had first brought up talking to them, and Krry'stall followed up with a similar request. I think the Varisians would probably me more open to talking if the questions were from one of those two.

Kudos for the communication to get us back on track!

Neppka doesn't sheathe his sword, but his posture visibly relaxes and he stays well away from the Varisian that Krrys'tall is trying to convince to stay.