Hi
Adding another journal thread for anyone that's interested. We've had three sessions so far which I'll post up in a moment. First, some background to the party.
The players have been allowed any classes (no firearms), anything from CRB, UM, UC, UE, APG, ARG (only Aasimar and Tiefling races). 25 point buy (20pt for Aasimar or Tiefling)
I've got 5 players and their characters are:
Rena, female Angelkin Aasimar, Paladin of Sarenrae. Native of Sandpoint. Have rewritten the Turandok Academy to be run by her family who are Ulfen humans from the North. Father is Ilsoari renamed. Mother is a 4th lvl paladin of Sarenrae, also has elder brother (no PC class levels). Rena is played by my wife, who is very good at hiding player knowledge, so I have been able give lots of background to the late unpleasantness, and also the Kaijitsu family history without risking metagaming.
In case any of my players read this:
Rena's parents retired as adventurers 20 years' ago when her mother fell pregnant with her older brother. They took over the academy, where Tsuto was already in the orphanage. She and her brother grew up with Tsuto and Ameiko's visits to she her half-brother.
Tsuto grew more distant as he entered his moody teenager phase, and started to develop a big chip on his shoulder about feeling rejected by his mother as well as Lonjiku and his real unknown father (who will turn out to be one of the NPCs from a future chapter - I'm sure you all know which one!
The other players are:
Samoth Aggaagak Krok, male Half-Orc Conjurer (Teleportation).
Tig, female Tiefling Rogue. Has the Maw and Claw, Prehensile Tail, Fiendish Sprinter and Scaled Skin traits.
Kazillan, male Human Sorcerer.
Rose, female Half-Orc Cleric of Gorum.
First Session:
Welcome to Sandpoint
23 Rova 4707AR
It’s the day before the Swallowtail Festival and the consecration of the new Sandpoint Cathedral. The townsfolk are busy getting everything ready for the festivities.
Rena lives in Sandpoint with her family, all of whom are involved in the celebrations in one way or another. She is handing out leaflets and welcoming visitors at the entrance to the town. Young and enthusiastic (not to mention slightly over-excited about the festival), she gives directions and informs people about some of the things they can look forward to experiencing during the festival period.
Once in town, Rose heads for the brothel and tries to embrace her human side (among other things). Tig sets herself up in a corner of the Fatman’s Feedbag and observes the events around her. Later, Rose arrives and buys drinks for the whole bar. Samoth Aggaagak Krok tries to communicate with the humans, eventually finding himself fetching drinks for the locals (including Rena and her brother Stig) who are building a stage in the square outside the cathedral. Kazallin gets food at the Rusty Dragon and organises a room for the night, as does Samoth. After being accosted by Rose in the Fatman’s Feedbag, Tig and her new friend arrive at the Rusty Dragon to book rooms, after being reprimanded by Ameiko (the landlady) for their lateness.
24 Rova 4707AR
The following morning, everyone gathers in the square for the opening speeches. First is Kendra Deverin, the Mayor, whose speech is perky and welcoming. She is followed by Belor Hemlock, the town Sheriff, who lowers the mood by asking for a moments silence for those who lost their lives five years earlier. Cyrdak Drokkus is next, with an animated and enthusiastic advert for his theatre and an attempt to lighten the mood. He is a replacement for Lonjiku Kaijitsu, who is, as head of one of the town’s founding families, conspicuous in his absence. Drokkus introduces the final speaker, Father Zantus, the High Priest of Sandpoint, who declares the commencement of the festivities.
Rena joins her family for the basic combat display by the students at the Turandarok Academy. Samoth, Tig, Kazallin and Rose take part in the games and competitions that are laid on. At noon, everyone gathers in the square for Father Zantus to tell the Parable of Desna, followed by the release of the Swallowtails. After the butterflies have flown, it is time for lunch, when all the local producers and vendors provide samples of their finest offerings to see which is the most popular. Tig expressed surprise that all the refreshments were free, having filled every available inch of pocket and bag space with food.
After more entertainment in the afternoon, at sunset, everyone congregated in the square again, this time for the consecration of the cathedral. Father Zantus dropped a thunderstone, to call the attendees to order, ready for the special one-off event.
Just as everything was about to start, the square was stormed by a horde of goblins, who ran amok and started to kill random townsfolk in a variety of grisly ways. Two waves of goblins are fought off by the combined efforts of Rena, Samoth, Tig, Kazallin and Rose, with support from Ameiko and help from Father Zantus.
When things have calmed down in the square, they hear screams from the direction of the north gate…
Second Session
Goblins! Attack!
24 Rova 4707AR
The party race to the North Gate to discover another group of goblins attacking a finely dressed nobleman. They fight off the goblins, capturing one. They also note that the North Gate has been left open. The noble introduces himself as Aldern Foxglove and seems to take quite a shine to Rena, much to Rose’s amusement and misunderstanding.
They take the goblin back to the garrison to interrogate it, with Zantus, Belor and Kendra in attendance. Kendra tells the gathered townsfolk that the immediate threat is over, they should return to their homes and she publicly thanks the PCs, who she proclaims the Heroes of Sandpoint. The goblin tells them that the attack was planned by a “longshanks”, and that the goblins were to keep the townsfolk away from the graveyard.
Racing over to the graveyard, they discover that one of the vaults has been broken into. Zantus says it’s where Father Tobyn and the other victims of the Sandpoint fire are interred.
They approach the tomb, and Rena detected evil within it. They are attacked by Skeletons, but between Rose’s channeling and the others attacks they are quickly despatched. Inside the vault they discover that Tobyn’s remains have been stolen. They also find a discarded and used up Robe of Bones.
Zantus can offer no reasons why someone would want to steal his predecessor’s remains. The party returns to the garrison intending to question the goblin further, only to find that an overenthusiastic guard with a dog has killed it.
They decide to return to the Rusty Dragon, where Ameiko gives them free board and lodgings, and proceeds to sing a song honouring their deeds, to Rena’s embarrassment. Aldern invites them to join him, reqarding them with a pouch with 150gp and offering to take them boar hunting the next day. His obvious attraction to Rena is making her somewhat uncomfortable, and the party decline as they want to follow up on the day’s events. Aldern offers to take them the day after instead. The Heroes all retire for the night.
25 Rova 4707
The group meet at the garrison to discuss what might be done to investigate how the goblin attack came about. Rena tells them some of the history of the town, including the Chopper murders and the major fire from 5 years ago.
There is some suspicion about Lonjiku and why he wasn’t at the festival yesterday. Ameiko says she isn’t surprised and paints an unpleasant picture of her father to the group. They decide to speak to him to see if he really was ill. Rose accompanies Kendra to the Kaijitsu mansion, while the rest head to the Glassworks. Rose learns that handkissing is not a standard human greeting, despite Aldern’s insistence on kissing Rena. Lonjiku turns out to be at the glassworks. Apparently his absence was merely coincidental.
The get back together at the Dragon, only to be interrupted by screams. It appears that one of the goblins hid in a house and has now attacked the residents. The party races over and dispatches the goblin, saving the father of the family from a grisly fate.
They resolve to accompany Aldern the next day, and then split up to spend the rest of the day following their own interests. The results in Kazillian getting caught in a basement, by with owner of the General Store, in a state of undress with the owner’s younger daughter.
The rest of the day passes off uneventfully.
26 Rova 4707
The team meet Aldern at the Goblin Squash stables to be bought a horse each by Aldern, prior to the hunting expedition. In spite of initial hesitation, Rena decides to join the hunting party, largely because she finds Aldern untrustworthy.
Third Session
A Family Dispute
26 Rova 4707
The PCs all set off for the hunt with Aldern and his 3 msnservants. During the journey he asks them each where they’re from and how they came to be in Sandpoint. After an hour of travel they arrive at the Tickwood.
Samoth sends his familiar, Baztarj to scout out the location of some boar. An idea that impresses Aldern immensely. Aldern sends two of his servants off to scare out the boar, while the party line up to intercept them.
The first boar emerges, charging at Rena, the second charges at Rose, and the third at Tig, who spears it mid-charge. The other two boars injure their targets but are soon despatched. Aldern pronounces the hunt a great success, despite not doing anything himself. The group return to Sandpoint with 3 animals for feasting at the Rusty Dragon.
Back at Sandpoint, the group split up to follow their own interests for the day, when word comes out that Shelalu, the elven ranger, has returned. The PCs gather at the Town Hall with Mayor Deverin and Sheriff Hemlock to see what she has to say.
Shelalu, tells them of the 5 local tribes of Goblins and how their infighting has kept the region relatively safe. That has now changed, with reports that they have been co-ordinating their attacks across the region. She describes the tribes and their bases of power.
Both Kendra and Belor are seriously concerned and decide that Belor should head to Magnimar to request help. Samoth argues that the group should head off into the hinterlands to track down the Goblins, but Belor and Kendra ask that they stay here to look after the town.
The PCs head back to the Dragon to partake in the feast of boar. The inn is packed out with guests as word of the feast has spread. As the night draws on, there is a slam as an angry Lonjiku bursts in demanding to see his daughter. When it’s apparent that she is not in the room, he rounds on the PCs, ranting about filthy adventurers and the danger and trouble they bring. At that point Ameiko appears and they have a loud and violent argument which culminates in Lonjiku attempting to manhandle Ameiko out of the inn and her smacking him around the head with a ladle. After he departs with a stinging rebuke to Ameiko, the evening resumes and then draws to a close.
27 Rova 4707
The PCs that are staying in the inn, awake to discover that Ameiko is missing. Her cook has discovered a note from her estranged brother Tsuto. The note asked her to meet him at the glassworks during the previous night. Surmising that Ameiko may be in danger the party sends for Rena and then heads to the Glassworks.
They find it locked up and break in. Tig scouts out the rooms until she discovers that there are Goblins in the main workroom, playing around a figure covered in molten glass.
The group attack the Goblins, who fetch their boss – Tsuto.
The battle continues with Rena trying to talk Tsuto into surrendering, until Rose strikes a huge blow that forces him to flee.
The battle in the workroom comes to a close with the PCs wondering where Tsuto has run off to…