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San shares what he remembers of the story of Nualia and Ripnugget. He pauses the process of repacking the bones as Morga calls out to the barricade. Injecting a bit of levity as they explore beneath the graveyard, "Are we taking odds on if the thing beyond is hostile? Hah! You need a hand getting through there?".
Handing over the wand, "Here, I doubt I would be able to make good use of it." Seeing the grotesque shape of the bones, or at least one arm, San thinks back to what he knows about the girl.
"I'm a bit concerned about the whimpering beyond the barricade. Let's get these remains out then come investigate."
Now that the fighting is over, San switches to investigation. Some castings of a detection charm around the area to figure out what might be magical followed by a more robust aura reading spell as necessary. First up is the rod Autumn handed over then the alter followed by the bundle if it seems necessary.
With the little bugger trapped, San attempts to end the conflict.
Not intending to let the thing escape easily, San gives chase!
Reactive Strike?:
San takes advantage of the goblin thing's momentary lapse and strikes out. Taking a moment to focus, he strikes out again and again.
Keeping up the pressure, San follows the casting ghoul into the lair.
Feeling an unnatural weakness come over him, San finds he can still maneuver the spear but without as much force. "A magical one over here!" Trying to turn himself into a liar, San strikes at the casting ghoul.
Fighting a bunch of Ghouls, I guess this is a good time to be an elf.
San steps over to keep a gobaghoul between himself and Morga before striking out with his spear.
Seeing the jaws spring to life once more, but tearing into Mora this time, San decides he's had enough of this caster. Seeing the other ghouls have been thinned, he sprints to the creature from the other room. Ending his charge, he thrusts the point of his spear out.
San decides the time for stealth is obviously over. Striding in front of Vildran, he strikes out at the closer Goblin. The invisibility drops off just as the spear tips make their way into the creature. Standing a vision of danger, San readies for the next foe to approach.
Agreed! That's how I knew I had too many E skills. I have a copy of San on pathbuilder but I copied things over incorrectly.
I was going over all my expert skills and I think I had one too many. I'll check again once I can but I think Stealth is supposed to only be trained +10. I need to detail my level up progression so I don't lose track of changes. That may have been a mix up of society vs stealth with the archeologist dedication.
San peers at the bundle on the stone slab (altar?) for a moment before he makes his way back toward the entrance. Need to regroup before the goblin things prevent that entirely. He's starting to run in to more possible enemies and being on his own when hostilities break out would not be a good thing.
Brevity is ideal here. Whispering back, 6 creatures, goblin shaped but grey skin and red eyes and claws. Suspicious now, be ready.
A little more explanation of my idea. I'm trying to have San move as thought the light is a projection that will move in a straight line and bounce off the walls. Only moving at 30ft per round while in exploration mode (2 actions at 15 ft each while stealthing). Hopefully it's not obvious that it is a person projecting the light so they aren't immediately hostile. Also, trying to keep the invisibility spell so I'm trying to not put myself in a position where hostilities will be necessary. Especially while I'm separated from the group.
Of course the light being here is going to be suspicious... Might as well try to maximize Autumn's spell. Keep moving.
Meanwhile, he racks his brain trying to think of what these things are.
Whispering, "Voices, more than one. Speaking some language I don't know. Sounds unpleasant though."
San makes some space at the bottom of the hole for the others to come through. Hearing the noises, he keeps his senses trained on the other end of the tunnel.
"Vildran, can you attach a light ball to me?" He takes the rope and starts a controlled slide down the dirt pile. Arriving at the broken coffin, he takes a steadying breath and starts his wriggling traversal.
Having fallen back into a a routine at home, San is a bit surprised messenger is for him. He shrugs to his dad as he rushes out to follow the herald. Arriving, he listens to the story with growing dead... and a little excitement! "A mysterious tunnel under a graveyard? I'm definitely in! I'll need to go gather my gear, I left in a rush. Do you or Naffer have an idea of how to get underground in this area?"
San nods along with Autumn. "Break the ritual in case of emergency. Got it." He waves his goodbyes to the others to get himself ready for their activity tomorrow.
"Is there anywhere else in town I can brush up on Nualia's history in town? I'm sure there are some details that weren't exactly public. Perhaps they were recorded somewhere. Maybe Autumn can ply some details out of the people that were around at the time. In the mean time, how do we deal with a ghost? I can slice up some physical enemies but something like that?"
"Given our recent experiences, I'm all for exorcising demons... but are we going to try to summon the spirit of Nualia just to slay it? Or is our goal to calm it? I'm happy to provide martial reinforcement either way, just not sure of our goal quite yet." San ponders his own question while he awaits an answer. Thinking also of his knowledge and his recent edification in matters occult, "I can probably help with the ritual directly if that is needed as well."
Greeting the woman, San listens with rapt attention. Something in our town?? This is almost more exciting than Iron Harbor!
That's great! The bookkeeping can be tedious... thanks for doing it.
San spends his time with the guard trying to make sure Sheriff Hemlock knows he is taking his duty to watch out for the safety of the horn seriously. He also tries to give some of the younger militia some pointers on their form. Of course, the stories he brings are of great interest but San isn't the best story teller...
San smiles as Autumn comes with treats. Letting the two talk, he makes his order with Vorvashali, handing over the weapons to have their enchantments moved. Preparing himself to re-integrate into everyday life in Sanpoint is a much harder task. Bracing himself to reuinite with his parents, San stops off at Hanna's to procrastinate. He ends up spending a good bit of time telling her all about the cult and the skymetal lab and the dangerous and interesting things they found. He stops short of telling about the horn but the rest of the story is free game. Finally getting around to getting home, he readies himself for the combination of relief and scolding his mother is going to give him. Is father going to be proud? Aloof? Seemingly not caring but secretly happy San is back? After all the doting and story telling and judging looks, San finally gets a moment of peace in his room. He reflects on his recent experiences and what his life looks like now. Obviously his parents are glad he is back... but this minor crafter's life is not for him. He also realizes that he's glad he never ran in to any real trouble in his excursions to junkyard beach and the surroundings of Sandpoint. It was only with his companions that they were able to overcome the challenges below Rusthenge. He wouldn't fare nearly as well by himself. The days following are filled with finding out if he could have some greater role with the guard than just training and joining Vildran in their joint quest to gain entry into the Runewatchers.
Good point on keeping an anti-fiend weapon so I'll hold on to the cold-iron long hammer. It does need a +1 rune if for no other reason, to hold the fiend bane rune as well. I'll need 3 +1's moved and a striking rune moved at 3.5 gold each and 6.5 gold. The bane rune is 10 gold to move. Totaling 27 gold if basic math hasn't failed me. That should leave me with a +1 composite short bow, +1 striking elven branched spear, and a +1 fiend bane cold-iron long hammer. Plenty of options there. Downtime for San would be... helping Brodert catalogue his esoterica using Lore (academia)? Or helping the sheriff with athletics? Or just taking some time off to tool around with his parents and/or getting Hannah Valerin back up to speed on his adventures as she's has had to fix him up before.
Cold iron (even low-grade), at this point, sells for quite a bit. I'm not sure how much fiends will be present in this next set of adventures so I thought the gold would be worth more. We can hold on to it and make it a super fiend killer if we want to though. We have all the parts. And bane runes are kinda hard to come by...
Weapon list is accurate if you already removed the cold-iron dwarven long hammer. I also believe you are correct that the runestone was moved to the longbow.
That's a good idea. I haven't actually made any changes to weapons on my sheet yet. I can sell the (low-grade?) cold-iron dwarven longhammer for 24 gold to add to the pot. I think I have an extra +1 rune on the warhammer as well if anyone wanted to use it. Otherwise, I can keep it as a backup bludgeoning weapon.
San accompanies Vildran to visit Brodert. They do still have their friendly rivalry to gain membership into the Runewatchers after all. After telling their story and sharing the rubbings and other data, he'll go find Morga, leaving Vildran to discuss finer points of Thasselonian sky metal workshops. But first he points out some of the other mages in town that might help.
While discussing weapons at Savah's, San asks about an odd elven weapon called a branched spear. Somewhat disappointingly, she hadn't heard of it. Instead she suggests a similar dancer's spear. Fewer pointy bits but it's balanced similarly and has a few different uses. Figuring it's close close enough, San accepts. He also makes an inquiry more so that Savah can be helpful rather than San not knowing the answer. "You wouldn't happen to know anyone with skills in magical metalwork do you? We have some runes we need transferred from some of the items we acquired on our trip." He holds out the halberd as an example.
San would try to find an elven branched spear (or a dancer's spear) and transfer the striking +1 from the halberd. He's also learned that most situations don't need the range a long bow provides. I'm not going to be cheesy and look for a Bow Staff (combo weapon) even though it would be really convenient... hah! Instead, I'll acquire a composite shortbow to move the +1 from the longbow. Although... the elven branched spear is uncommon whereas the bow staff is common. I don't think I need any of the other weapon runes from the other loot.
"Well... we haven't actually. We weren't sure if that would release even worse things. And it was desperate times! We had just slain the cult leader and were recovering in town when another demon we thought we had run off showed up to try to take the horn. We couldn't leave it there. They had no chance to defend themselves from that kind of threat. We should probably gather some of the mages as well... either way, we can discuss my lack of forethought at the temple. Perhaps Father Zantus can think of what we can do." San starts taking steps toward the door to try to encourage their departure.
It might be a surprise to see the 'young' elf come marching in with not only a serious face but also an arsenal of magic weapons. "Not today sheriff. I'm afraid training is over. We... that is, Vildran and some others and I made a decision that may affect the town. It seemed prudent to make sure you were informed of the situation. We should head to the temple to meet up with the rest of my group. Long story short, our rescue mission turned into a cult stomping demon slaying adventure! As part of that we recovered a relic that was being used to try to summon a demon called Xar Amak. After the fact, we discovered this thing either attracts demons or is desirable to them if they can sense it. Not sure which one. We couldn't leave it in the tiny town of Iron Harbor so we brough it with us... back here." San is slowly realizing what he signed the town up for without any kind of guidance. I was trying to do the right thing! Quickly continuing, "We thought it best to gather the authorities in town to try to come up with a solution."
As much as he longs to go let his parents know he's made it back and is ok, better even, responsibilities come first. "Lets take the horn... to the temple or the guard? Combination of both? I can go get Sheriff Hemlock if you want to head to the temple? We'll meet back up and discuss options with the heads of physical and spiritual security." Assuming the others agree, San dashes off toward the guard house to hopefully find the sheriff and explain the situation.
"Yeah, I think Ordwi has found a new calling helping these people. There's certainly a need with Vanda being the only Gorumite left that wasn't corrupted. And Gorum doesn't seem to be the caring type anyway and these people could use some nurturing after that demon showed up in town. I'm sure she'll be fine." San is telling Art as much as he's telling himself. Ordwi being in trouble sparked this whole adventure in the first place. It feels kind of wrong to be leaving without her but if that's what she wants to do. On the way back to Sandpoint, San goes back to scholar mode now that fighting isn't imminent. He sits with Vildran going over notes and writings trying to edit things into a consumable format. All this to try to improve their standing with the Runewatchers. And I guess Vildran has the Arcanamirium he needs to answer to as well. Always in the back of his mind though is the horn of Xar Amak. What can they do with it? Can they use it or should they just destroy it. That rust cloud Meitrimar summoned was pretty effective when they fought. If he could learn to use the horn...
In an effort to indicate the threat is over, San stows his hammer. Before Vildran can start burning though, he holds out a hand. "I'm assuming the Thasallonian renegade called it here somehow. Or it was left over from the first group that tried the ritual below... Lets get this thing out of town at least. I don't think they will want this spot to be charred demon forevermore." Getting some materials together to make a makeshift litter, San leaves whomever whishes to stay behind to mollify the crowd and drags the thing away to be burned away from 'civilized' areas. As much one can call Iron Harbor civilization at least. He even pitches in to try to set the fire with his own innate magic.
San waits for the summoned demon to dissipate. When the fiend doesn't disappear though, he isn't sure what to do. Looking to the more learned of the group he tries to brainstorm the next step for the corpse.
"You think there's more demons we missed on our clean-up? We were down there a while."
Not intending to let the thing escape that easily, San dashes after the beast.
Seeing Morga taking more hits, San rushes to leap to her aid. Getting up the raised area, he swings the hammer with ferocity.
San strides forward, closing the distance then a little closer to the big demon. Whirling the hammer around, he strikes at the winged beast.
He can't get a good shot on the winged foe that's harassing Morga so San fires a few arrows at the flying beasty that attacked Vildran. Feeling the time for ranged is coming to an end, he finally swaps his bow for the hammer he should have grabbed at the start.
San is about to retrieve the hammer when he hears the flapping. Using his trained senses, he strains to locate the source of the sounds.
San finds his hand returning to the cold-iron hammer he thought he had put away for now. "What we do with this demon relic is our business. Your... advice on how it will go is noted. You, however, will not be staying in this small town. You need to leave. If we need to force that outcome, so be it." Difficulties fighting another demon just the other day are pushed out of his mind as the sunshine warms San's mood. What's another demon that was cowed by images of itself last time.
Cataloging for posterity... Lvl 1:
Swap PB Stance for Combat Assessment. Change Skills, remove religion and nature; Add Stealth and Thievery Lvl 2:
Lvl 3:
Lvl 4:
I'm going to build up a composite short bow vs the long bow as I can't negate the volley trait. Also going to build up an agile weapon to use dex to attack in melee. Still trying to stick to the fighter that wants to know things. Less emphasis on archery until lvl 5 & 6 where I get to choose fighter weapon group then Eldritch Archer.
Nodding to Ordwi, San also agrees to try to figure out how to deal with the horn, though he doesn't actually take possession of it. Also, seeing that the blacksmiths in town aren't capable of or are unwilling to help transfer runes, he bundles all the gear the others don't want and packs it away for the trip back to Sandpoint. San doesn't exactly share Vildran's excitement for consulting with the Runelords. Their crew wasn't the most helpful until it benefitted them. If the rest of their society is similar, it would be an exhausting exchange. And he certainly wouldn't want to bring the horn there either.
Surprisingly, San seems to go the opposite rout of Vildran. Morga is a friend but he doesn't know her great aunt. He can commiserate with the feeling of loss but they are of the moderately short lived races. It was going to happen sooner rather than later anyway. The disease just moved the timeline. He is happy to accompany her to the depths again to destroy the alter and is willing to let her do the deed. Though the concepts behind the summoning are intriguing. He tries to memorize some of the symbols to research for later. San is also willing to play research assistant for the more proficient Vildran. Offering insights to what things might mean and different interpretations to the smarter elf's observations. While down in the depths again, he investigates the locks Autumn disabled and some of the traps that were disarmed, including the one that almost took his life at Stonehome. While they have some downtime between delving, San asks the more magically inclined party members to show him some finer points of spellcasting. Some cantrips to enhance his investigating items at least. Offensive magic can come later, his skill with weapons is good enough.
San always trained with the Sandpoint militia as more of a just in case. He never expected to be in a fight for his life much less the existence of at least a small town if not a wider area. This was supposed to be a fun little excursion to bring back a marooned priestess. What does he do when they get back to Sandpoint? Redouble his training? Turns out he was pretty good at more than just the bow. Focus more on his scholarly pursuits? They always hold an interest at least. This place was hiding some terrible secret... what if there's some terrible secret undiscovered at home? Not likely but still, what if? But more immediately, what to do now. Kick this renewed rust creep at least. When Autumn asks how he got it he gestures at the general area. "One of those terrible creatures we encountered down there. It looks like this is an imposed condition rather than transmitted like other diseases. If we don't find something that can give it, we shouldn't get it again." He gives her a reassuring smile despite the weariness in his bones. Thankful the others are explaining the situation, San finds a quiet corner to examine the weapon he's been using more closely.
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