Runelords 2E IC

[Farmerbink]

Jannis smirks. "See? Nothing to worry about," he quips. "And I can confirm that Old Deadeye will always look after us. This is my home, and Erastil blesses homes and those who defend them." He looks back and forth between the young priestess and the swordsmen- jaded early for his years.

He scowls, thoughtfully. "You worry too much, Lysander. Things are far from good right now, but we're already well on our way to making them better. The answers might not be what we were hoping for, but they were answers. And there will be more."

[DrK]

With reassurance from both Jannis and the young Sister of Desna they both wait expectantly for Lysander to respond and answer any further questions the young mercenary has before you look up and realise that the evening is drawing in, shadows springing up around the town as they trudge back to rowdy and noisy Rusty Dragon, their seats still free and empty beside Alexji and Jon

---

The night passes by with each of you having fitful dreams, a yawning cavern, an eerie laugh and a great feeling of rage and hate. Each of you waking up several times doused in sweat from the roubling dreams and thankful that morning has finally come.

[stack]

Jon puts the dreams out of his mind as morning dawns, replacing them with thoughts of the tasks ahead. Well, vague ruminations on the tasks ahead. The task at hand was breakfast and not giving it proper consideration would be unthinkable.

[Bunny Commando]

Lysander - HP: 34\34 - Conditions: None - Active Effects: None

---------------

The sellsword seems clearly unconvinced by the two priests words, but says nothing. He quietly follows Jannis to the Rusty Dragon and goes to sleep, even though sleep doesn't come easy. Blood-filled dreams, deep-seated anger that makes getting some rest quite difficult. When morning comes Lysander gets dressed and grogginly makes his way to the common room of the inn, hoping for a decent breakfast that would make his day at least bearable.

[Zero Prime]

Alexej Vladislav, Human Evoker AC: 16 | HP: 22 | Class DC: 18 Fortitude: +5 | Reflex: +6 | Will: +8 | Perception: +6 Spell Slots: 1st: 4/4 | Focus Pool: 1 Active Effects: None. Conditions: None. Alexej, after retiring to his room, spent much of the night conducting a ritual of summoning, calling forth a small, dishevelled barn owl from the neighboring farm lands surrounding the town. Then he infused the creature with a portion of his arcane energies, transforming it from a tiny, feathered rodent, into a reservoir of energy that he, himself, could draw upon in times of dire need. What he hadn't accounted for, was the solitary, stubborn nature of the creature, and it's insistence to flap about the room during the ritual, While successful, he surveyed the shards of crockery, the draperies that had been slashed by the owl's talons, and the roken chair, that he, himself, had tripped over trying to prevent the creature from escaping. In the end, the ritual was a success, but given the creature's tired, snarky attitude, he named it, simply, Grump. His sleep, when he finally did manage to bed down as equally as disturbing, visions of a possible future, or errant memories of the day's discoveries seeping into his unconsciousness. He was not thrilled as the sun began to crest the horizon, however, seemingly in apology for his behaviour the previous night, he woke up to three dead rats on the pillow beside him, Grump perched on the end of the bed, squawking at his master. He sighed, and wandered downstairs, towards the strong smell of ground kaffa beans steeping in water. He looked at the faces of his companions, who looked equally tired and disspirited. Shrugged his narrow shoulders, "At least the kaffa smells good." As the wizard spoke, a small, mangy looking owl, brown and grey feathers landed on his staff, the coloration over it's right eye a deep chocolate brown, compared to the golden brown around it's left giving it the look of a brawler who just came out of a scrap. SQUAWK! "Enough outta you," Alexej said, as he eyed his friends, "always thought familiars were a benefit to a mage. Beginning to believe that might have been a line of bull, masters wanting their apprentices to suffer as much as them." And with a sigh he went back to his coffee.

[Farmerbink]

Jannis returns to the Rusty Dragon, content for the time being to continue following his last instructions from Father Zantus to do what he can to help. Despite a few years of bunking mostly in the acolyte's chambers of the cathedral-in-remodel, he still finds himself a hair uneasy- longing once more for the comfort and familiarity of his childhood bed at home, despite the undeniable truth that acolytes sleep on finer stuff than farmhands. In his lodgings at the Rusty Dragon, he finds himself for the first time in a bed who's primary design is to attract business, and the deliberately-designed comfort feels decidedly out of place. Between that and the odd rustling and occasional hoots permeating the walls, the young cleric finds sleep only by divine meditation.

In the wake of such a demanding and stressful day, he drifts to sleep. Pestered by nightmares of unkind laughter and decidedly unusual anger, Jannis struggles to relax. After the third such time of waking in a cold but angry sweat, he abandons any thoughts of being well-rested, instead resigning himself to another dreary day as if back on the farm. Still a few hours before sunrise, he wanders downstairs and finds a table along the wall in the empty common room. He uses a coal from the smoldering fire to light one of the evening lamps, and pulls out a small journal. Unable to rest in the conventional sense, he puts his thoughts and worries to paper.

When Jon and Lysander make their way down, Jannis greets them warmly, if not precisely happily. He quickly begins to scowl and worry when it's revealed that they all shared a similar experience with (or perhaps without) sleep. For the next several minutes, while the group struggles to wake and start the day as best the can, Jannis finds himself occupied by pestering each and every person he sees, anxious to know more about this bizarre communal nightmare.

Spoiler: OOC

Show

Dunno if you need rolls, but I would like to know as much as we can about the nightmares. Was it us? did other patrons at the Rusty Dragon have these nightmares? How about townsfolk sleeping elsewhere?

[DrK]

Awakening in the morning, each of you appears bleary eyed after a poor nights sleep. Each of you having shared the same sort of horrible dreams of rage and murder where you had visions of you strangling people, killing them or going down under a mob of fists and kicks - troubling dreams indeed! As you enjoy some fruits, bread and a light breakfast ale you overhear several of the waiting and kitchen staff discussing similar and you think that its not just you that suffered.


----

After breakfast you make your way to the clifftops and the glassworks. Arriving you see one of the local guards, Brent. He nods to Lysander, "Morning Lysander, quiet night here. You lads heading down into those caverns?" He unlocks a heavy padlock and chain that has been slung across the door. "Desna's luck be with you. I'm up here but if I hear screaming I ain't likley to be running down there." Nodding you in he offers a wry grin and lets you back in.

Heading down the caverns you reach the narrow storage area and can see beyond the broken sections of wall the ancient caverns and on the wall daubed in paint the ancient Thassilonian rune of wrath. The cavern splts left and right, one heading towards the coast, and as you consider the direction you realise it heads to the small outcropping known locally as "Choppers Isle" after the hideout of the towns serial killer many years ago. The cavern to the left follows the coast South. As you begind to head down there you can see the dust and ancient walls are dry and bear no sign of salt water or seaweed. EVentually after some 300m you can see a pair if caverns opening to the right and a a long path continuing forward

[stack]

We do visit the nicest places." Beorn quips. "Shall I scout ahead?"

[Farmerbink]

Jannis nods uncomfortably to Brent as the party files past. "Can't rightly say I blame you," he mutters, beginning to wonder what exactly he's gotten himself into. The glassworks is much like he remembers it: only much too messy and gross to be acceptable to the late Kaijitsu patriarch. It's a bizarre, unsettling place- so nearly resembling something normal but yet quite apparently off. Before setting off either direction, he takes a few moments to proclaim a simple incantation, causing illumination to appear from the grip of his repurposed bow.

In the caverns, he quickly notes the final destination of the right-leading tunnel. "This has gotta lead to Chopper's Isle," he offers, from a few paces behind Jon. "Explains how he was able to get in and out without being caught for so long," he adds, with a near-silent shudder. "Let's head back and check the other way."

Back at the fork, the young cleric glances uneasily into the dark tunnel leading towards the town. "How far do you think it goes?" he breathes. "Never thought there'd be some vast Thassilonian cavern under our sleepy little town..." He turns to nod at Jon, grateful for the man's steady presence. "Don't get too far ahead," he whispers.

[stack]

If no one objects, Jon will move ahead and shift into a rat again, advancing cautiously.

Spoiler

Show

getting the lay of the land and avoiding trouble, Have 10 minutes on the pest form, so trying to stay where he can get back without shifting again, though he has a second focus point in an emergency.

[Bunny Commando]

Lysander - HP: 34\34 - Conditions: None - Active Effects: None

---------------

Lysander groans a bit when he hears Brent's words, then smirks maliciously "Better that way. In the dark your ugly mug could be easily mistaken for one of the goblins." and then proceeds to follow the others down in the tunnels. After a while, when Jon offers to be the party scout, the sellsword points the blade towards the darkness ahead and says "Be my guest. Do not worry, if you scream, guess at least the priest's going to try to save you." Lysander shrugs and waits for Jon to go ahead and find if there's any threat down there.

[Zero Prime]

Alexej Vladislav, Human Evoker AC: 16 | HP: 22 | Class DC: 18 Fortitude: +5 | Reflex: +6 | Will: +8 | Perception: +6 Spell Slots: 1st: 4/4 | Focus Pool: 1 Active Effects: None. Conditions: None. Alexej, despite his sardonic demeanor, was unnerved as they descended into the caverns beneath the Glassworks. He could feel Grump's presence, some arcane connection established by the ritual, and despite the scraggly owl's abrasive nature, that was of some comfort to him considering the images and dreams which had invaded his dreams last night. Flashes of, ineffectuaqlly, commanding his body as it performed acts abhorrant to him, was not unfamiliar to him, given his apprenticeship under Maester Immaldur's Geas. On waking it took him sometime to seperate that which was a corrupting influence of the Thassilonian rune, from his own memories, and the crimes he committed while under the influence of his mentor's sadistic compulsions. He looked at the rune as the descended, "Dunno that I mentioned it yesterday, but that rune is an acient Thassilonian symbol depicting Wrath," he looked at his companions, "be careful mates. Somethin' down here is mighty pissed at something," his mind wandered to Lysander's outburst the other day, blaming this raid on some hidden secret, crime, that had been committed by the citizens of Sandpoint. "'n it knows it's stuff, Thassilonian rune's ain't somethin' you learn about outside o' specialized schools. So we're dealin' with something, or someone, who is smart, 'n driven enough to learn ancient 'n arcane lore."

Spoiler: Out of Character Actions

Show

OOC: Not sure if I rolled previously, but what does Alexej know about Thassilonian Runes, specifically Wrath? Relevent skills might be Arcana or Lore (Archaeology), both at the same bonus, +8. So, in the event that a check is needed, (1d20+8)[14], and we'll see if that nets us anything useful or relevent.

[DrK]

Alexej looks at the runes, but aside from remembering that there were the 7 "sins" of magic from the ancient Runelords he can remember little esle. As the party shuffle up the tunnel, lamp light glowing and flickering flames lighting the way. As you see the walls slowly changing and showing signs of more working Jon pauses, his form shifting into that of a small rat as he scurreies forward.

Peeking up the corridor the rat form of Jon can see a natural cave branching off to the right, a second cave juts off o the right some 10ft further on. The corridor curves slighly and ends with a stone door some 80ft ahead (assuming you are 20ft short of the first cavern). Even as the rat-Jon pauses his whiskers twitch and he can creep forward to the edge of the cave and spy a natural cavern (like a 30ft deep tear drop 20ft wide off the long tunnel you approach from. In the chanbler holding a long glaive an pacing is a bizzare looking emaciated creature of alien build and savage form...

[stack]

Jon returns the the others, resuming is usual form, and reports his findings, sketching a layout in the dirt. He describes the creature as best he can. "Only saw the one. Probably could get the jump on it if we are careful, not sure what is beyond though. Could be more somewhere."

[Farmerbink]

Jannis snorts at Lysander's quip. "Darn right, I will." When Alexej pontificates over the rune, the young cleric starts frowning. "Worst kind of enemy, that. A smart one, I mean."

When Jon returns and starts describing some kind of hideous, alien creature, Jannis frowns even deeper. "Wrath, yeah? So who wants to play bait? I figure it'll charge anyone it sees, right?"

[Bunny Commando]

Lysander - HP: 34\34 - Conditions: None - Active Effects: None

---------------

Lysander grins at Jannis and his righteousness, then listens to Alexej and scratches his head like he's trying to figure out something; then he shrugs and says tentatively "Well, those two - Tsuto and Nualia - seem quite wrathful. I mean, they want to burn Sandpoint to the ground just because they had issues with their parents." a brief pause, he looks around and grimaces "Well, that. And the dreams. Don't dream much, most of the times I am too wasted for dreams to show up. But I never dreamt such things - butchering faceless people, anger fueling my every strike." he shudders a bit, uncomfortable and worried.

When Jon comes back from his reconaissance, the sellsword sighs and says to Jannis "I'll do it. Need to feel my blood pumping, way too many thoughts in my head right now."

[stack]

"I will be right behind you."

[DrK]

As Lysander steps out, deliberately and loudly making noise there is a snuffling sound and the sin spawn stalks out into the corridor. It pauses, a single word "Wracko" hissing from its weird segmented maw. Its eyeballs Lysander before snarling....

OOC
Its 20ft away from lysander, but the party has won the initiative

- Do any of you speak Aklo?

[stack]

"Wracko yourself." Jon sends an arc of lightning toward the creature.

Spoiler

Show

1st action: Intimidate to demoralize (1d20+4)[22]
2nd & 3rd actions: electric arc (1d4+3)[7] Basic Reflex DC 17

[Zero Prime]

Alexej Vladislav, Human Evoker AC: 16 | HP: 22 | Class DC: 18 Fortitude: +5 | Reflex: +6 | Will: +8 | Perception: +6 Spell Slots: 1st: 4/4 | Focus Pool: 1 Active Effects: None. Conditions: None. Alexej crept behind his companions, "Don't you bloody well die Lysander," he grumbled, "haven't had a decent pubmate in years, ya?" As the creature turned towards them, the party fanned out, and the invoker moved his hands in an complex gesture, weaving a thread of elemental fire into a complex knot and casting it forth towards his foe. "Adolebitque et fragmen stercore!"

Spoiler: Out of Character Action

Show

OOC: Action 1&2: Cast Produce Flame, (1d20+8)[27] vs AC, for (1d4+4)[6] fire damage, doubled with another (1d4)[4] persistent fire damage if the attack is a critical success.

[Bunny Commando]

Lysander - HP: 34\34 - Conditions: None - Active Effects: None

---------------

After the initial magical salvo of his companion, Lysander rushes forward trying to overwhelm the creature with speed and aggression, a powerful overhead so the fight would end quickly. Doesn't seem to notice much of what's being said, more focused on killing and not be killed - after the strike, he immediately steps backward and put his sword in front of him to parry any kind of retalation by the beast.

Spoiler

Show

Action 1 & 2 - Sudden Charge (1d20+20)[28] Damage (1d8+4)[10]
Action 3 - Dueling Parry, +2 AC

[Farmerbink]

Jannis follows closely as Jon and Lysander lead the party down the tunnel. Whatever he was expecting from the druid's description, the bizarre creature before them isn't it. He's visibly unnerved by the alien being, but wastes no time with idle chatter. As his companions unleash a magical barrage, the young cleric fires off a lance of divine energy and a quick arrow.

Spoiler: Jannis, Round 1

Show

Jannis Sotheby
M NG Human Cleric, Level 2, HP 26/26, Speed 25
AC 16, Fort 5, Ref 6, Will 10, Perc 10
Composite shortbow +6 (1d6+2 Piercing) deadly d10 (Emblazon Armament)
Sickle +6 (1d4 slashing) trip, agile
Dagger +6 (1d4 piercing) versatile slashing, agile
Abilities Str 10, Dex 14, Con 12, Int 10, Wis 18, Cha 14
Conditions
Divine Spells: Cantrips: Divine Lance, Forbidding Ward, Guidance, Read Aura, Shield
Soothing Words (1/1 focus)
Bless 2/2
Magic Weapon 1/1
Heal 3/3 (d10)

(1d20+8)[10] divine lance
(1d4+4)[5] good damage

(1d20+1)[14] arrow attack (with penalty)
(1d6+2)[7] piercing damage

[DrK]

The sin spawn roars loudly in the corridor, its greying skin rancid and slimy. Then its roars of anger turn to shrieks of pain as its struck by crackling lightning and then set ablaze in a great sheet of flame by Alexej, even as it staggers free from he flames Lysander is there sword cleaving down with a massive swing that hews the creaures head in twain leaving nothing but a collapsed body of the crumpled alien creature

[stack]

Jon looks at the fallen form, getting close enough to kick its weapon away, just to be safe. "That went well, I would say."

[Zero Prime]

Alexej Vladislav, Human Evoker AC: 16 | HP: 22 | Class DC: 18 Fortitude: +5 | Reflex: +6 | Will: +8 | Perception: +6 Spell Slots: 1st: 4/4 | Focus Pool: 1 Active Effects: None. Conditions: None. Alexej nodded, "We certainly got lucky, despite my feelings on the gods, perhaps your Old Deadeye is watchin' out fer us, eh?" He toed the charred corpse, rolling it over with his staff. "I don't know what manner of creature this is, it appears warped, or twisted, perhaps demonic influence?" Images of the Thassilonian rune filtered through his thoughts, "Or perhaps ancient magicks."

Spoiler: Actions

Show

OOC: Going to try to Recall Knowledge to identify the creature, however, I am not sure what check it would be, it looks like Recall Knowledge can be done untrained though, so I will roll d20+INT, if it is Arcana, add a 4 to the result. (1d20+4)[23], nice! 21 for Religion or Nature, 23 for Occult, and 27 for Arcana, depending on the approriate skill.

[Farmerbink]

Jannis lets out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding. "I'll say," he mutters, nodding resolutely to Jon.

When Alexej begins voicing his thoughts, the young cleric listens closely. "It's outside my expertise, that's for sure. I'm just glad we didn't get to see what those claws could do. Shall we press on? So far we only got more questions, where we're looking for answers...."

[stack]

If the weapon appears to be worth selling, Jon will take it before proceeding.

[DrK]

Staring at the weird greyish flesh Alexej tries to recall what he knows of them, then he remembers, Sinspawn are corrupted products of magic used by spellcasters in a past era as shock troops for their armies. Literally the embodiment of a sin made flesh, they are sentient abominations of distilled ectoplasm imprinted with the soul-image of slain creatures that possessed an abundance of a particular sin. Beings crafted from corrupt magic they reflect the rune magic being used - wrath/ anger in this case

As Alexej examines the body the others look around the small cave but it empty save for a few rags and scraps of flesh, the weapons are crudely made and you realise relatively new. Peering back into the corridor the party can see another pair of corridors turning right 10ft or ~50ft away...

[Bunny Commando]

Lysander - HP: 34\34 - Conditions: None - Active Effects: None

---------------

"Doubt this is the only one down here. Remember what Tsuto wrote on his diary - Nualia was trying to strike some kind of deal with the Quasit so she could have her monsters when she would've attacked Sandpoint again." Lysander kicks the corpse a bit, just to make sure that thing is dead "Guess this is one of them. Never saw anything like it. We should proceed with caution, would be useful if Jon could scout ahead. This place gives me the shivers."

[stack]

Jon nods, holding up a finger. "Give me a few minutes; I don't want to be tapped out if there is a bigger brouhaha."

Spoiler

Show

need to refocus; if there is a fight, I want lay on hands available, so don't want to use all his focus. After 10 minutes, shift and scout.