Wednesday, January 2, 2013

Carrion Crown Session 26


Session 26
DUNGEON MASTER: Afternoon blends into evening, with alcohol, food, and cheer all flowing free in equal measure.  It is late when the heroes stumble home, full of corpse soup and the well-wishes of the towns folk.
JOHAN D’ALMENTA: Johan acquires a masterwork composite longbow +4 STR for 720gp (inc 10% discount)
JOHAN D’ALMENTA: Johan sells his mw heavy crossbow and mw heavy mace to the store keeper
DUNGEON MASTER: Over the next couple weeks, the heroes attend to their business and assist Kendra in packing up her father's goods, in prepraration for selling the house.
JOHAN D’ALMENTA: Johan purchases a few quivers of common arrows, stashing one into his backpack and another over his right shoulder.
DUNGEON MASTER: Several days later, after the townsfolk have had adequate time to appreciate their deliverance, Councilman Hearthmount presents the heroes with all the reward money the townsfolk have managed to scrape together: a sturdy rosewood chest containing 427 gp and 32 sp.
SOLAR CE’NEA: Solar spends his days helping Kendra prepare the house for sale he steals a few hours a day to look in the various libraries and places of knowledge to continue and feed his love of learning.  At night he alternates in spending time with Kendra enjoy as much time as he can with her and spending time with his new companions. 

every three to four days he takes some time to tell stories from the knowledge he knows to groups of people in the square.  Although he is not a bard, his knowledge of legends and great deads is vast and he can spin a good story. (he always chooses storys of victory, joy or love, thinking the town has seen enough of horror or grisly deeds.
SOLAR CE’NEA: In the Libraries Solar particually looks up Lepidsted and the area between this town and it to learn as much about the area as he can as he knows when this is finished he will be travelling there soon
SOLAR CE’NEA: SOlar also looks up any information he can find on the Whispering way
JOHAN D’ALMENTA: Over the next couple of days Johan researches the journey they will soon be making by pouring over old maps, researching locations of interest or places to avoid between the two towns.
DUNGEON MASTER: Kendra appreciates the attention *and* the assistance from Solar.  Her smile is warm whenever she looks at the sorcerer.
DUNGEON MASTER: From his books, Solar learns that the country between Ravengro and Lepidstadt is rife with conflict and subject to frequent raids by the orcs of Belken Hold.
JOHAN D’ALMENTA: Solar reminds Johan to attempt to open the professor's book know that they have some spare time to do so. Johan seats himself at the dining table with his masterwork thieve's toolkit before him as he carefully works to release the lock on the cover of the book.
Disable Device (take 20): 20+13 = 33
SOLAR CE’NEA: Solar talks to the teacher at the school asking if he can talk to his contact in Lepinstad to have a Hady Haversack ready for them when they get there pay in Lepinstad
DUNGEON MASTER: The book’s covers are rimmed in polished steel and clasped with a small but intricate lock, the keyhole of  which  appears  to  be  for  a  key  with  a  strange, triangular shaft. After several tries, Johan successfully picks the lock.

The  book’s  contents  are  written  in longhand.  The words appear to be Varisian--however, there seems to be no regular meaning to the words written therein.  A typical sentence reads: "Apple ass tail razing hogtie."  Thus the tome reads from cover to cover.
SOLAR CE’NEA: Solar asks Kendra if she can read the words as he clearly can't
JOHAN D’ALMENTA: During the morning Johan heads off to hunt within the forests edge that surrounds the town for rabbit, hare and other small game. During his hunting trip he encounters a wolf, with a careful use of wild empathy, Johan calms and befriends the beast, creating somewhat of a bond together as they hunt together over the next few days. Johan spends this time training the wolf simple tricks such as attack, follow and heel on command.
DUNGEON MASTER: Kendra looks from Solar to the book and back to Solar.  "You opened it?  I don't know--daddy went to a great deal of trouble to keep us from reading this..."
SOLAR CE’NEA: I thikn he went to a lot of trouble to keep this from the whispering way, I don't think it was ment to be kept from us.  I need to know what this is, I am worried we may be targeted on our way to deliver it from agents of the whispering way.
DUNGEON MASTER: "I--well, I suppose," she says hesitantly, and takes the book into her study.  Kendra spends the remainder of the afternoon pouring over the thing; next morning she reveals her findings.  "I don't know what this is really.  I've cracked the code--it wasn't *that* hard--but I don't understand why my father went to such trouble to obscure this book.  It's about magical things--arcana, mathematics, and astrology.  Here, I've taken notes on everything I could make out.  I-I hope this helps," she says, handing the notes to Solar.
SOLAR CE’NEA: Solar tries to understand what the notes mean Knowledge arcana 1d20+13=31
DUNGEON MASTER: Upon reading through the notes and thinking the matter over, Solar realizes that this is a copy of the Manual of the Order of the Palatine Eye--a particularily rare book that is said to distill the philosophy of the order that is the book's namesake.  The order is a secret society that has an interest in all things political and arcane.
SOLAR CE’NEA: Solar spends some time researching the Order of the Palatine Eye in the various Libraries around the town
SOLAR CE’NEA: the Professors library of books and the school and temples collection
SOLAR CE’NEA: Knowledge arcana 1d20+13=25
DUNGEON MASTER: The books addressing this topic are surprisingly sparse.  The order warrants a mere paragraph from Professor Breverius Trusdale in his perennial work, On Secret Societies.

"They are the true masters of the old world and the powers behind thrones. In secret they meet to judge the fate of Ustalav in strange whispered tongues. In ritual are they reborn, and in mystery they forever remain. Engraved in keystones of buildings old and new, the Order’s blazing eye sees all. We do not understand their bizarre contemplations, but we know without them all would be lost, as they are the saviors of our lands.
SOLAR CE’NEA: Solar shares his findings with his Companions and Kendra and then annouces he will be locking the book back up unless anyone else wanted to look at it
DUNGEON MASTER: Mesodias spends the time thinking over his recent adventures.  He spends a few days getting Gibs back on his feet--the crotchety old man is freed, of course, on the heros' advice--and seems to take a shine to the proprieter of the Laughing Demon.  Beyond that, he sharpens his sword, and waits.
DUNGEON MASTER: "I wonder," muses Kendra.  "Father certainly never mentioned anything of the sort to me."
SOLAR CE’NEA: Solar buys some general items
Alchemical Grease
Alchemists fireBags of flour

Lamp oil
JOHAN D’ALMENTA: Johan returns from his hunting trip with a new companion, a majestic and graceful wolf. Whilest taller than a common dog, the wolf is by far fastest then most animals. He has long, slim and muscular legs, with a long snouted head with bright yellow eyes, a deep chest, and a short tail used for balance.
DUNGEON MASTER: The wolf wags its tail and nuzzles Kendra, much to her surprise.
SOLAR CE’NEA: Alchemists Grease 5gp x 5 =20gp/10%       =18gp
Alchemists Fire   20gp x 2 =40/10%             =36gp
Bag of Flour 2cp x 10 = 20cp/ 10%               =        18cp
SOLAR CE’NEA: Lamp oil 1s x 10 = 1gp

total cost = 55gp 18cp
SOLAR CE’NEA: Solar ask Johan if he things it would be worth the group buying a net together?
JOHAN D’ALMENTA: "This is Shadow, he must have been seperated from his pack, either way I have befriended him and I think he will make a good hunting companion. "

Johan listens to the news that Solar has well researched with interest, "That certainly makes for a grand conspiracy story if I have ever heard one. The Order of the Palatine Eye, I have never heard of such a thing having lived off the fat of the land. I don't have much experience with politics however if these guys exist it sounds like they have a lot of influence and power. We should keep our eye out for anything related to them during our trip if the Professor went out of his way to highlight this for us."
JOHAN D’ALMENTA: "Ah yes I think a net could be good for those situations we don't want to kill everything that threatens us. I'll grab a few nets did you each want to keep one straps to the bottom of your backpack?"
SOLAR CE’NEA: Yes I agree, maybe we get one each?
SOLAR CE’NEA: Solar buys one net
JOHAN D’ALMENTA: Johan and Mesodias purchase a net each and strap it to the bottom of their backpacks.
DUNGEON MASTER: Upon asking around, Johan discovers that the only person in town with any knack for handling animals is the cranky old farmer named Gibs.
JOHAN D’ALMENTA: Johan heads over to find Gibbs to enquire about this training services. "Gibbs, how goes things? I hope you are feeling better since we last met?"
DUNGEON MASTER: "YOU!" he sputters, as Johan approaches.  He seems momentarily at a loss for words.
JOHAN D’ALMENTA: "Yes me." Johan offers his hand. "You do realise we saved your life and that was the difficult of our choices. I have a favour to ask of you. I have heard you are the man to see about training animals and I must admit I need your help training my companion here."
DUNGEON MASTER: Gibs' face contorts into a snarl, as if he is about to lash out--but at that moment, Shadow growls menacingly at Gibs.  The old man actually breaks into a smile.

"It was a difficult choice!  Ha!  I can't say as I like you, but I shore do like your mutt.  Tell you what, I'll train him right and proper for a hundred gold."
JOHAN D’ALMENTA: "That's the spirit. See I knew you were a decent guy that's why we subdued you instead of something more permenant. In return of our good will for returning your gem and belongings, can you do it for a mates rate?"
DUNGEON MASTER: "Tell you what," he replies.  "Sixty gold and you let me give him a second name."  He squats down and makes a kissing noise with his lips.  "You wouldn't mind havin a name from me, would you boy?"
JOHAN D’ALMENTA: "You have yourself a deal." Johan hands over the gold and shakes Gibbs hand.
DUNGEON MASTER: Gibs looks Johan in the eye as he shakes his hand.  "You're allright, for a foriegner," he says.
JOHAN D’ALMENTA: "We are planning on travell to Lepidstadt so I'd prefer if I could you know, walk around town without him getting skittish so he follows me otherwise he might find himself in trouble with the cityguard. Also being able to make him break off from a fight if we need to retreat because I've heard the hills between here the there are plagued with bloody orcs."
DUNGEON MASTER: "Can do.  Come back in three weeks and I'll show you a *real* huntin' dog. ... Won't I, boy?"  He smacks his lip in a kiss again.
JOHAN D’ALMENTA: "I can't wait. Look forward to it. Thank you again for your time."
DUNGEON MASTER: True to his word, Gibs returns the dog to Johan three weeks later.  "All trained, this one is... Aintcha, smarty?  Alllllll trrrrraaained."  He makes the smacking noise with his lips again.  "His second name is Splatterface.  Geddit, Splatterface!  Cause he'll splatter your enemies' guts all over his face!"  Gibs lets out a hearty laugh at this joke.  "Take care of him now!"
JOHAN D’ALMENTA: Mesodias walks off to the local blacksmith. He writes on his blackbaord "make holy symbol metal?"
DUNGEON MASTER: The old dwarf woman looks at Mesodias and grins.  Three hours later, he returns with a holy symbol cast from iron to his specifications.
JOHAN D’ALMENTA: "That's exactly it.! "
JOHAN D’ALMENTA: Mesodias pays 25 gp to the blacksmith and walk back with a huge smile on his face.
DUNGEON MASTER: The dwarf takes his money and sends the hulking cleric off with a deep bow.
JOHAN D’ALMENTA: ""HHuuon" Mesodias make sure each person notices and comments on his new iron holy symbol of Gorum.
JOHAN D’ALMENTA: But then he realises it is too clean, being free fro the forge so he draws his blade across his hand and then drips his own blood onto the now crimsonc olour iron holy symbol in deep prayer to Gorum about the battles they have faced recently.
DUNGEON MASTER: The townspeople eye Mesodias cautiously; they don't hesitate to smile when he shows off his symbol, but while doing so they are sure to give him a wide berth and hustle away quickly.
DUNGEON MASTER: As the days fly by and the heroes' visit to Ravengro moves towards a close, there are two notable events that occur.  The first is Kendra's announcement that she would like to accompany the heroes to Lepidstadt.  She makes this announcement with shining eyes and her smile is directed primarily at Solar.
SOLAR CE’NEA: Solar tries hard to not grin from ear to ear with the announcement, but he certainly lets her know how happy he is to hear the news
DUNGEON MASTER: The second notable event is less auspicious than the first.  Not one day before the heroes set out for Lepidstadt, a young dark-robed priest knocks on the Lorrimor house with a message that they are wanted at the temple.  The heroes arrive to find the place in a bustle--they are presently led to the office of Father Grimburrow.

The old man stands glowring over what appears to be a flayed human skin.  He scowls at the heroes as they enter.
DUNGEON MASTER: "One of my alcolytes, if you like," he barks at the heroes.  "They left us a note that I thought might interest you," he says nodding off to his own desk, where a dagger has been used to pin a torn sheet of paper to the wood.
SOLAR CE’NEA: They?
DUNGEON MASTER: "They, he it--the specifics ain't known," he repleis.
JOHAN D’ALMENTA: "That's must unsual isn't?" Johan looks around the room.
SOLAR CE’NEA: Perception 1d20+4=20
DUNGEON MASTER: The office is undistrubed, but for a couple of chairs that have been toppled, and for the human skin at the Father's feet.  The flaying was neatly done--the skin is entirely intact, from the hair on the head down to the toenails on the toes.
SOLAR CE’NEA: What does the message say?
DUNGEON MASTER: "Read it yerselves, and then maybe you can tell me," he replies.
SOLAR CE’NEA: Solar cast detect magic on the message
DUNGEON MASTER: Solar detects no magic from the message.  A few sundry sources of magic do exist in the room, but nothing that appears out of place in a holy cleric's office.
SOLAR CE’NEA: Solar looks at the message to see if he can see what it says
DUNGEON MASTER: The top edge of this paper is jagged, as if it were part of a larger note that had been torn in twain.   The parchment also has several holes--these are more neat and precise, as if cut with a knife.  The surviving portion of the letter reads:

"I trust that you will not fail to meet my agent in Lepidstadt.  It would be most unfortunate [this word is underlined] if someone were to let slip news of your activities to the authorities.  They would no doubt be delighted to learn [here several words have been ripped out of the paper].  Do not fail us.

The letter is signed: Your Newest Friend,
A. Vrood
JOHAN D’ALMENTA: Johan Perception check: 1d20+11 = 18
JOHAN D’ALMENTA: Johan Sense Motive check: 1d20+6 = 7
JOHAN D’ALMENTA: "PLease enlighten us where abouts or how did you find this in your possessions?"
SOLAR CE’NEA: Do you know who this Vrood is?
SOLAR CE’NEA: SOlar does a knowledge local check to see if he knows who Vrod is 1d20+13=27
DUNGEON MASTER: "It came in my posession when it was found stuck to my desk with yon dagger," he replies.  "I don't know about any Vrood, and I don't like it.  The mention of Lepidstadt mighta sort of brought you adventuring folk to mind, since that's about where you're supposed to be headed."
DUNGEON MASTER: Solar does not know this name.
JOHAN D’ALMENTA: "We that maybe someone we wish to enquiry about, subtley of course when we get there."
JOHAN D’ALMENTA: "For the purposes of gathering intell on his habits, friends and anything out of the ordinary."

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