Wayward Expeditions - Rise of the Runelords - Episode 13

 	Intro: For much of written history world events followed chartered routes. Oracles and seers mapped out the future in the stars above and their prophecies always gave a reliable view of the ages to come. Until a god died a century ago. No one saw that coming. And now the old prophecies are failing, oracles go mad and seers desperately tried to account for the loss of the future. While some cry out that the world is at an end, they've been doing so for a hundred years now and the world is still here, it's just unclear where things are going. The future of Golarian is open, ready to receive the triumphs and failures of a new generation of heroes. Welcome to Rise of the Runelords!

GM: We left off with a weird twist of fate that caused Fenwarin to both fall prone and deal damage.

Fenwarin: Smack that pixie right into the wall.

Loyal: That's pretty cool.

Taury: It was fucking rad that's what it was. It was the best thing we've done so far.

GM: Yeah, and that's where we ended. It's now her turn. So she's going to provoke - double checking - yes she is going to provoke from Taury and Fenwarin.

Loyal: Oh, yeah. Yeah nice, nice, yes.

Morana: And ah whip?

Fenwarin: Good stuff yeah.

Taury: Oh my God, yay.

GM: Yes. I forgot about the hair. I, I need something on you so I remember there is hair. We'll go with that one.

Taury: Morana has got the power of the 80's on her side.

Morana: Four hours left yeah.

GM: So yes, all of you will get attacks of opportunity as she begins to fade from sight, again.

Fenwarin: Oh, God damn it.

Taury: She's such a fucking... Oh, my God!

Loyal: Bitch. 

Fenwarin: Yeah that's putting it lightly.

Taury: This Bitch needs to get rent... Oh fuck yeah boy! Oh hell yeah man! 

Fenwarin: That's good. Hell, yeah! Max damage, finally.

Taury: I think it's the first time I've actually done that [laughs]. 

Loyal: Yeah! Max damage and it hit!

Fenwarin: Ooh hoo.

Taury: Ooh.

GM: Alright, Taury, you do hit, which will deal a little bit of damage and then she needs to make a concentration or lose the spell.

Taury: Oh, come on boys please come on.

Loyal: Oh, please fail it you little .... please fail it . Probably makes it.

GM: That is not enough.

Loyal: Oh, nice!

Fenwarin: Yes!

Loyal: Nice!

Taury: Let's fucking go!

Fenwarin: Bum rush her, bum rush her! [laughs]

Loyal: Fuck your invisibility! Get her, get her now!

GM: Do any of you have combat reflexes to make a second attack of opportunity?

Taury: What does that mean?

GM: She's standing up, which is also provoking action, but you can only do one attack of opportunity per round unless you have the feat, combat reflexes.

Taury: Umm, no.

Fenwarin: No, I don't have it.

GM: Alright.

Taury: Note to self, I should get that.

GM: If you did have that feat you would be able to do one attack of opportunity plus a number of attacks of opportunity equal to your dex modifier, per round.

Loyal: Yeah, that would actually be pretty good.

Taury: Ah that would have been so good, that would've been 3 attacks, that's what that would have been. 

Fenwarin: Oh, nice.

Markus: But it's a feat, and it means not getting other feats so.

GM: It is a feat.

Loyal: Yeah well.

Markus: It's.

Taury: Yeah.

Loyal: We get we get a feat next level so.

Taury: I'm so torn between the hero points and antihero points, so torn. I still haven't decided what I'm doing with that.

GM: We'll leave that up in the air for your decision until you spin them then, if you spin to hero point, you're locked into being a hero.

Taury: Uh huh.

Markus: Does she try to go invisible? She's now standing up.

GM: Yes.

Markus: Would be the entirety of her turn.

GM: It is.

Loyal: Nice, she's still on the ground then?

Taury: And she's still prone-ish?

GM: No, no. She is no longer prone.

Taury: And she's not on Fen's back anymore because she hit the wall?

GM: Right. She does move 5 feet in the air.

Loyal: Oh.

Taury: Of course, she does like a bitch.

Loyal: [laughs] Could be worse.

GM: So that's one square up, but because it is straight up I do need to make a fly check for her.

Taury: Imagine if she fails, man.

Fenwarin: Hopefully.

GM: I would be impressed.

Loyal: That would be pretty funny.

Taury: You know because she would be concussed, it would makes sense.

Loyal: She's got a very high modifier to that, but it rolled very low.

Markus: Ooh.

Taury: What's that?

GM: She needed a 15.

Fenwarin: Ooh.

Markus: She did yeah.

Taury: Wow. Oh she's having a shit day!

Loyal: Everything that she tried to do, just got. Everything she tried to do just failed.

Fenwarin: Hey, it's about time she had a shit day.

Taury: Yeah well, she's concussed as fuck because she got thrown up against a a fucking wall.

GM: She's a little startled by that. Yeah, that's a...

Loyal: That's perfect, gives me time to do what I need to.

Taury: Hey I'd be I'd be caught off guard if Morana threw me up against a fucking wall! Jesus.

GM: Morana didn't do it. It was Fenwarin right?

Taury: Well, yeah sure.

Fenwarin: Sure, I can take the credit. 

Taury: Attack wizard, lets go.

GM: Fenwarin, it is now your turn.

Fenwarin: Can I get up?

GM: You can.

Taury: That provokes.

Fenwarin: That provokes yeah, yeah.

Taury: Maybe drag her down with it.

Loyal:  5 foot roll. [laughs]

Taury: Combat roll! [laughs]

Loyal: Five foot combat roll.

GM: Sadly, you cannot crawl or move while prone like that.

Taury: I want to see him do that. I mean, that's bullshit but ok.

Fenwarin: Well I'll provoke her then, I'll just stand up.

GM: Alright. It doesn't provoke because she has to be in your square to attack, you.

Fenwarin: Oh good stuff.

Loyal: Oh, nice. Too tiny.

Taury: Yes! 'Cause she's tiny.

GM: You've regained your footing Fenwarin.

Fenwarin: Should probably not cast this close to her. I'm just going to smack her with my quarterstaff... hopefully.

GM: Alright.

Loyal: Maybe, possibly.

Fenwarin: Ah Goddamn and of course.

GM: That will miss. Markus.

Markus: Will finish casting his spell.

Loyal: Yeah Forgot he was doing that.

GM: Ok. What are you bringing in?

Markus: I think an eagle.

Taury: You gonna get some of that freedom.

GM: Putting it there?

Markus: Yeah yeah, that's about right. And before the eagle does stuff, Markus will try throwing shadows at her. And-

Loyal: Ooh!

Markus: Yeah I think that hits.

GM: That's a nat 20.

Taury: That's a natural fuck you. If ever I saw one.

Loyal: Oh.

GM: Yeah, that hits.

Markus: Ok, so she's entangled for one round.

GM: And your eagle.

Markus: Yes.

GM: Is she radiating darkness from these shadows?

Markus: Yes, she would be it's that.

GM: Yep alright. Your eagle will have a 50 percent mischance on all attacks because it cannot see in the dark. 

Taury: Oof.

Markus: Yeah but her AC is lower, so.

Loyal: Also, she's restrained now so.

Markus: Yeah, it won't last long. So make the most of it.

Taury: What unrestrains her? Attacking or nothing?

Markus: Time

Loyal: Duration probably yeah.

Taury: Ok, cool, I was just thinking is if she can break it, that would bee annoying.

GM: Alright.

GM: Would you like high or low?

Markus: High served me well last session, so let's go with that.

GM: Go with high, alright. So the bite has potential to hit. It does not. The talon, one of the talons also as a potential to hit.  Sticking with high? 

Markus: Yeah. 

GM: It does not.

Loyal: Ah unfortunate.

Markus: Oh well.

Taury: I was going to say, switch it up. God damn it.

Loyal: Yeah this session seems to be the opposite of last session, so I was gonna say go low.

Taury: Yeah yeah, yeah, it does.

GM: Alright so that was Markus's turn. Loyal.

Loyal: Standard action drink anti toxin, that's happening first. So I do that, it's a +5 on my checks against the poison now. And I want to run over to the door if I have enough- I have enough speed yeah and get there perfect. I'm over the door I wanna close it.

Markus: Should already be closed.

Taury: No she, did she open it no?

Loyal: No it's open. I don't- yeah no one has closed it until up until now.

GM: No one had closed it.

Markus: Oh ok.

Loyal: I don't know if this is possible, considering I've used my standard action already, but I do want to grab Taury's scythe off the ground as I'm running over there.

GM: It is not possible.

Loyal: Ok. In that case then I just want to close the doors.

GM: Ok. So you pull your flask out while you're running over there, you swig it and then slam the door shut. I need a Fortitude save now against this beautiful poison.

Loyal: Alright. +7. Yeah, there we go it's one save.

GM: Alright. You've made one save.

Loyal: Still take the damage though.

GM: Yup, have another point.

Loyal: Ok. That could be, could be worse. Still drops my modifier again but.

GM: Alright. That takes us to Taury.

Taury: Ok. So what's restraining her right now?

GM: She is entangled.

Taury: So that gives me bonuses to attack it yeah?

GM: Yeah. 

Taury: Okey doke. Alright, I'm going to take a swing at her this time with the axe. Rip.

Loyal: Well, you do get a bonus for restained. Probably wouldn't hit yeah. 

Taury: I still don't think that hits but. 

GM: That does miss. You doing anything else?

Taury: I don't think so.

GM: Ok, that takes us to Morana.

Morana: Imma hit her with the hair.

Loyal: Ah it's looking more like last session now.

Taury: We started so strong.

Fenwarin: You just had to breeze in.

GM: Nat 1, that does miss.

Morana: My wig!

Taury: Don't fuck with my weave.

GM: Her turn. She is entangled and surrounded. What does she do with her turn?

Taury: She's gonna just curl up into a ball on the floor and just pretend to not be there. 'You can't see me.'

GM: Well I guess she's just going to fling her dagger at this eagle, because it actually managed to hit her a couple times.

Loyal: Would that provoke because it's range or no?

Taury: Ah it should, shouldn't it?

GM: Yes, it does. It will provoke from Taury and Morana.

Taury: Would it not also provoke from Fenwarin, no?

GM: Fenwarin cannot see in darkness, and she is radiating darkness.

Taury: Oh, I forgot about that, yeah.

Fenwarin: Yeah, you special people with your dark vision.

Taury: All other humans on the party have dark vision.

GM: Yeah.

Loyal: Yes.

Fenwarin: [Clears throat] Uh Hum, Yeah ahmm.

Taury: All humans except Fenwarin.

Fenwarin: Totally human.

GM: The disadvantage of being elf? Shrug?

Fenwarin: I don't know I hear yeah. [laughs].

Markus: There are elves that can see in the dark.

Taury: Yeah not this one, though.

GM: Ok, Morana, you do hit. Alright, the eagle will take a point of damage. Don't think that really affects anything in the long run?

Markus: Probably not, but you never know.

GM: So you see the little glowing dagger fly out of the shadows, stab into the eagle and then return back. Fenwarin it is your turn.

Fenwarin: Yeah, I'll just try and swing at it again... Come on dice. Hey that's better.

Taury: Oh, that's nice.

GM: Alright. Would you like high or low?

Fenwarin: Ok. Now it's got to be high so let's go there.

GM: High?

Fenwarin: Ah hmm. 

Loyal: Oh nice.

GM: High it is, you do hit.

Loyal: Nice yes.

Taury: That clutch though.

Loyal: So you were returning to the other session, last session's luck, and that's why you went high.

Taury: Don't you dare jinx it son! [laughs].

GM: Alright. You do have a solid hit on her, but it feels like you're hitting a wall. Maybe you did hit the wall. You're not sure. You can't really see.

Fenwarin: Alright. I guess that's me done.

GM: Markus.

Markus: Well, the entangle will end. And that mischance is hurting as much as it's helping. So let's see if the eagle can do anything by itself... No, apparently not.

GM: No, all misses.

Markus: And because it's flying, yeah it continues to hover. Ok. Yeah ok. Now I'm gonna have to- let's throw some more shadows at her... and miss.

GM: That does miss.

Taury: It's been so many 8s.

GM: Loyal.

Loyal: Ok. I'm DM'ing you something, to see if I can do it.

Taury: Ooh, the power of DM.

GM: Yes.

Loyal: Ok. I don't know who would actually see this, I don't know who's facing Loyal. Who would actually see this? Probably Markus, maybe Morana. He's just kind of like rushing over to the door, close it and you just see, like a green tail come out from the back of his robes, grab Taury's scythe and drag it over to him and then, quickly disappear under the robes. And then I went to grab the scythe, wedge it in the door to essentially lock the door, bar the door shut.

GM: Ok.

Taury: "Better not damage that fucking scythe."

Loyal: I think that'd probably be standard action to shove the door shut?

GM: Yeah, give me a Disable device.

Loyal: Ooh boy, and I actually have points in this so.

GM: Alright. Yeah you manage to almost do a perfect disabling of this door. It will not open until what you've done has been undone.

Loyal: Solid. And then I guess I still have, (because the tail was a swift action,) I still have  my move action, so I guess I'll just like- I'll just reel out my crossbow actually.

GM: Ok.

Loyal: That's what I do, and then activate the save again. +7 go, cool.

GM: That was the DC, on the nose.

Loyal: I do have a +7 on top of all of that from poison resistance and antitoxin as well.

GM: You do not take the poison this turn and you are no longer affected by it.

Loyal: Yes!

Taury: Nice.

Fenwarin: Good shit.

Loyal: Still sickened, and my dex is still at 11 but. Thats my turn.

GM: Taury.

Taury: So Taury is going to reach out and try and grab it by the throat to restrain it.

GM: Will be a combat maneuver.

Taury: Ah hmm, which one is that, the CMD, CMB?

GM: Combat maneuver bonus, CMB.

Taury: Cool.

GM: It will be applied against a combat maneuver defense.

Fenwarin: Ooh!

Loyal: Cool yes!

GM: That's a nat 20!

Fenwarin: Oh, my God!

Loyal: Yes!

Taury: Yes, it is.

Loyal: Yes. 

Taury: Yes, it fucking is!

Loyal: Yes!

GM: Huh.

All: [Laugh]

GM: Well done.

Taury: Ah huh.

GM: You have grappled the creature.

Taury: Cool. Well then that's the end of my turn.

GM: Alright.

Taury: She's going to hold her out there for them to fucking swing at her like a piñata.

GM: Morana, it's your turn.

Morana: Continues to whip her hair back and forth.

Taury: Don't you get bonuses for that cause she's fucking restrained?

GM: Yes, but that is still far too low of a roll.

Taury: Still a miss, it's pretty bad.

Loyal: Yeah, does a grapple, get like get rid of their dex bonus or something like that?

GM: It's pretty bad.

Taury: Look, her hair can't be restrained, it's all good.

GM: Is that all you're doing?

Morana: Yeah. That's all I can do right now.

GM: Ok. It's turn. It is not going to attempt to break the grapple. Instead, it is going to claw the ever living shit out of your hand.

Taury: Ah hmm, I saw that coming.

Loyal: Gets a penalty, at least, it's grapple.

GM: A penalty of a -2, which will not be in the rolls, we'll just add it in after. So that is a bite,

Loyal: Ah well.

GM: A claw.

Fenwarin: What the hell?

Loyal: Oh, my God. Oh, my God.

GM: And a claw, so 1 claw misses, the other claw crits.

Loyal: Double and crits on the crit confirm.

Taury: I mean yeah but look at the fucking damage, like.

Loyal: It's like 1 but the claws are what poison?

Taury: Yeah. But I just have to do a Fort save yeah?

GM: Yes. So go ahead and take 4 points of damage total and give me a Fort save.

Taury: Okey dokey, I'll just Fort save first.

GM: As this little thing has bit and clawed you.

Loyal: Oh man.

Taury: The one time a fucking nat 1.

GM: That is a nat 1.

Loyal: I can help you with that, but hmm.

Loyal: Does a nat 1 do special?

GM: Uh... No. 

Loyal: Ok. I was about to say. 

GM: I wish it did.

Taury: I didn't like the pause, the pause made me uncomfortable.

Loyal: Yeah he said that is a nat 1, pause, and I'm like ah.

Taury: Does it do anything special? Long pause. "No."

All: [Laugh]

Loyal: Like, what the fuck? So is that 3 damage I'm taking yeah? 

GM: You took 4 points of damage total.

Taury: 4 ok cool.

GM: And then the poison will do 2 points of damage to your dexterity.

Taury: Oh that's that's fine, so it's -2. I don't like the way numbers all changed when I put that in. I didn't like that.

Loyal: Yeah it's rough! You just see your AC drops, your range and attack drops.

Taury: Yeah everything just dropped and I was like, wow this is great.

GM: Yup. So that's the entirety of her turn.

Loyal: Doesn't affect damage your damage of attack, at least.

Taury: Yeah, that's the most important thing.

GM: Fenwarin.

Fenwarin: Yeah, what kind of bonus do I have against her if I swing the staff?

GM: You have a +2.

Fenwarin: Ok... Wow. [Laughs]

GM: That will miss.

Loyal: Oh boy.

GM: Are you doing anything else?

Fenwarin: No.

Taury: Just accept weeping. [Laughs]

GM: Alright, Markus. It is now your turn.

Markus: "Well, bye bye eagle, you served us well." Um, she's already grappled. I'll step in there to make sure she's still surrounded and draw my sword again.

GM: Ok.

Taury: Oh, was she supposed to get 'attack of opportunitied' when she attacked Taury? 

GM: No.

Taury: That wouldn't provoke, ok.

GM: And she doesn't need to be adjacent to you because you're literally holding on to her. So she's just clawing at your wrist and hand.

Taury: Oh, yeah. Yeah cool.

GM: Loyal, it is your turn.

Loyal: Ok, I'm going to five foot step and then I'm going to use my standard action to treat poison on Taury. So I have to make a Heal check against the DC of the poison.

GM: Is there a time allotment to that check?

Loyal: One standard action.

GM: Ok, some uses of the heal skill require up to an hour, so I'm just-

Loyal: Yeah yeah, this one is a standard action.

GM: Alright.

Loyal: So on the saves against the poison now Taury you have a +4 competence bonus.

Taury: Ok, sweet.

Loyal: Doesn't give me a, how long that lasts, but.

GM: Yeah, it's for the next check.

Loyal: Ok so your next check is a +4. 

Taury: Sweet.

Loyal: And uh... I've got my move, no  and I five foot step. Yeah that's my turn.

GM: Alright, Taury it's your turn.

Taury: Ok so do I have to make that save?

GM: First, you'll need to make another grapple check to maintain the grapple.

Taury: Ok sweet. And that's another CMB?

GM: Yes, you get an automatic bonus of, I believe, +5, maybe +4, I forget off the top my head, to maintain a grapple and because of that, you succeed.

Taury: Ok.

Fenwarin: Good stuff.

Loyal: Ooh ok good.

Taury: Nice. Everyone can no longer panic. [laughs] . Ok do I have to make the Fort save as well?

GM: At the end of your turn.

Taury: At the end of the turn ok sweet. So we gonna take a swing at this bitch with an axe?

Loyal: Like cutting off the head of a chicken, just a really ugly chicken.

GM: That will hit.

Fenwarin: Nice.

Taury: For an overwhelming 4 damage.

Loyal: I mean, could be 3.

GM: Alright.

Taury: You can hear the sadness.

GM: As you're holding onto her, you almost lay the axe on your arm and just slide it down towards her face. She just tilts her head down a little bit and you hit right into the horns, it does nothing to her.

Loyal: Oh, my God.

Taury: Sounds about right.

Loyal: Hate this little shit. Fort Save [Whispers].

Taury: Yeah, I was going to say the Fort save.

GM: Oh, yes, Fort save, thank you for reminding me.

Taury: And that's +4 to that.

GM: Alright. That will save. Go ahead and take another point of dexterity damage.

Taury: Ah what happens if I just say no?

All: [laugh] 

Loyal: He can go into your sheet and change it manually, that's what happens.

Taury: Yeah, I know I know, proceed.

GM: Morana, it is now your turn.

Morana: I keep trying to snatch a weave.

GM: Uh huh.

Morana: And +2.

GM: Yes, that will hit.

Loyal: Nice, well... Fuck.

GM: Does no damage. It is now her turn.

Loyal: I hate this, I hate this.

Fenwarin: Ah.

GM: Alright. She actually will do an attempt to break free, rather burn her entire turn on wriggling. Yeah she does not have the escape artist skill, so it is a straight strength check. And she fails.

Loyal: Yeah who would have thought?

Taury:  Shock and surprise.

GM: And she fails, as she attempts twice and burning her entire round, just wriggling. Fenwarin. Now it is your turn.

Fenwarin: Well, there's not much I can do, so just take another swing at her... Yeah no, never mind.

Taury: These sixes and sevens, Jesus. 

Loyal: Boy!

GM: Markus.

Markus: Ah well lets see... Yeah let's see if Markus can be utterly ineffectual with sword again. Yeah, apparently so.

GM: Yay for consistency.

Loyal: Not yay for consistency, we don't want consistency in this case.

GM: Loyal.

Loyal: Alright. I will treat poison on Taury again. Well probably doesn't beat the DC, I tried.

Taury: What's the DC like? 12?

Loyal: I don't know.

Taury: 13, wasn't it I think?

Loyal: I think it's 13 yeah.

Taury: I think it's 13.

Loyal: Rough.

GM: It is 13.

Loyal: Damn it. Stupid sickened.

Taury: Sickened fuckin sucks.

Loyal: Annoyed. And then I guess I'll like step over here, get out of the way. Yeah. that's my turn.

GM: Taury. 

Taury: Ok so with said thing gripped, I want to attempt to bring her over to the pool and drown her. Whilst continuing to restrain her.

GM: You will need to maintain your grapple first, when you have succeeded at maintaining your grapple. You then have the choice of pinning. So you're taking it from grappled to pinned, which makes her helpless.

Loyal: Oh that would be awesome, that would be perfect.

Taury: Yeah. Let's hope that works. So we got that combat maneuver?

Markus: Yes that would be really useful.

GM: Yes.

Loyal: Very good, I think the auto...

Taury: Oh boy, don't get too excited because if it doesn't work, that's +5 to that though isn't it?

Fenwarin: Ooh.

GM: ...That succeeds.

Loyal: Oh fuck yes! 

Taury: Yes! 

Loyal: Oh my God! I feel like that barely succeeds. 

Taury: Yes it succeeds by 1 I think.

GM: It was so close. If you would have failed that, she would have wriggled free.

Taury: Of course she would have. Alright, so another combat maneuver to pin her?

GM: Yes.

Fenwarin: Ooh!

Taury: Fuck yes! Let's fucking go son! Taury the fucking wrestler up in this bitch.

Loyal: 'Helpless' like will fuck them up if I recall.

GM: Yes, essentially her AC is now 5.

Loyal: Yes.

Taury: Nice.

GM: She can do nothing but attempt to escape.

Loyal: She's also considered paralyzed.

GM: Pretty much. So how do you do this?

Taury: I think it's a full on flip, its throat grab, over the head slams her down onto the ground, holding her by the throat still. So it's  a full on wresting maneuver.

GM: In the same spot? 

Taury: No, flips her over to the other side.

GM: To right there.

Taury: Uh hmm.

GM: Is this your entire turn?

Taury: That would be the end of my turn, yeah.

GM: Ok.

Loyal: [Whispers] Coup de grace.

Taury: I think that is like the fifth or sixth time I've rolled a 22 on a combat maneuver. It's like the one thing I've rolled successfully.

Loyal: The one thing you're good at.

Taury: Well on consecutively yeah.

GM: Morana.

Morana: She's still within 10 feet, so I got 2 rounds left to attack with the hair.

GM: Oh sorry, first, we need a Taury to make a save.

Taury: Oh, yeah.

Loyal: Oh, yes. You don't get the bonus unfortunately, but.

Taury: Yeah. I mean, luckily enough, that negative doesn't affect fortitude but.

Loyal: There we go.

Taury: Oh, for fuck's sake.

Loyal: There we go. 

GM: Huh.

Taury: The power of battle.

GM: That's two consecutive saves in a row. You're no longer affected by the poison.

Taury: Oh hell yeah man!

GM: Now, Morana.

Loyal: "End it. Do it."

Morana: Is it still the +6 or?

GM: Well yes, more or less, she's pinned, prone and grappled. So don't roll a 1.

Taury: She's practically screaming, 'please kill me, kill me now.'

GM: It's not a 1. You hit.

Loyal: Ooh, max damage.

GM: Which deals 1 point.

Morana: No way.

Loyal: Fucking DR 6?!

Fenwarin: Oh, my God!

GM: No, it's 5. You deal 2 points,

Loyal: Oh, ok ok ok.

Fenwarin: Still. Still, it's 5

Loyal: Still sucks, but.

All: [Laugh]

GM: Thank you for the math. Anything else Morana?

Morana: No that seems like it.

GM: Her turn. Once again, she attempts to struggle free. No and no.

Loyal: Oh thank God. Oh my God. This is going to be good this is gonna be good.

Fenwarin: That scared me, the first one scared me.

Loyal: The first one really scared me.

GM: Yes, even with rolling a 19, she was not able to.

Loyal: She literally needs a nat 20.

Taury: She needs a 20? Fucking sweet!

GM: Yes. Fenwarin.

Fenwarin: Yeah, coup de grace on her.

Loyal: Yes!

Taury: Yes!

GM: Alright.

Taury: Hit her with your little elf fists!

All: [Laugh]

GM: This is an automatic hit that counts as a crit. So roll double damage and go ahead and describe how you're doing this.

Fenwarin: Alright, so I'm just lifting the staff above my head and just take all my strength, just slam it at the end bit of the staff right on her head, as hard as I can.

GM: Alright.

Fenwarin: You can just hear it smack the pixie bastard.

Taury: It echoes through the fucking cavern.

Fenwarin: Yeah.

GM: It does kind of glance off her horn and then strike into the tile. But you do still get a good hit on her.

Loyal: Then just make like a Fort save I think?

GM: Yes. When you deal a coup de grace, they then have to make a Fort Save of, I believe it is 10, plus the damage that you have dealt them. If they fail, they die instantly.

Taury: Ooh. 

Fenwarin: So 10 plus 4?

Taury: So she needs no, 9 is it not? You dealt 9 damage? 

Loyal: All depends on what she took.  

Taury: Oh, what she took ok.

Loyal: Yeah he dealt 9 but she took what 4?

Taury: Does it not say what the damage dealt?

Fenwarin: Well, she has DR5 so 4 damage.

Loyal: 4 damage was dealt so it depends on how you want it yeah.

Taury: I mean, she's either dead this round or she's dead next round, it's all good.

Loyal: Yea all of us get to go and do this so.

Taury: We're all just fucking hacking at her fucking body.

Fenwarin: Smack her into dust!

Taury: Like so fucking walking dead up in here. Fucking intestines everywhere.

Fenwarin: Yummy.

GM: Alright. So I need a 7 or better to not die instantly.

Loyal: That's a 7 or better.

Taury: Oof Yeah.

GM: She she does not die instantly.

Loyal: She still takes the damage, thats the good part.

GM: Yes. Alright. Markus.

Markus: Step up and see if I can coup de grace with the magical long sword.

GM: Alright.

Fenwarin: Hell yes.

GM: Roll crit.

Loyal: It's gonna to be more than 1.

Taury: It is going to be 2 damage.

Loyal: It's a 2! [laughs].

GM: It is double so.

Loyal: Hey there we go!

Markus: 9 Damage again.

Taury: 9, 9, 9, oh yes yes yes.

GM: You're starting to see a little bit of wounds happen to her as you are now more easily dealing damage to her.

Fenwarin: Oh!

Loyal: I think that fails.

GM: That does fail.

Loyal: Oh, yes, yes!

Fenwarin: [Laughs]

GM: Alright Markus. How do you kill Erylium?

Taury: Oh, such joy!

Loyal: God that was awesome!

Taury: The poetry in Markus doing it too.

Loyal: Yeah [laughs].

Markus: Yeah he's basically just trying to find purchase, trying to find weak spots and then just does what he can to drive the sword in. He's not particularly strong, so it's not all that effective but apparently, he does find a vulnerable spot.

GM: Yeah. You line it up directly with her eye. 

Fenwarin: Oh, that's fucking sweet.

GM: And though she's struggling, she's held still just enough by Taury that you see your opening and drive this point of the sword home, right at the right time.

Taury: Right into her brain.

Loyal: There's your heart moment, Runty.

Taury: Oh yeah, fucking eyeball juice everywhere.

Fenwarin: Ooh.

Loyal: The artwork moment. Taury shoving her onto the sword, essentially.

Taury: She's like holding it at target practice, like 'hit her fucking hit her.'

Loyal: Fucking hell.

GM: Ok.

Taury: I think that deserves a GG everyone.

Morana: Yup. Very well done.

Loyal: GG here.

Fenwarin: Finally done.

Taury: I think we've found our method of killing things. [Laughs]. Just I'll hold it and corner it. 

Loyal: Things that won't die Yeah.  Hold it and then we stab it a lot until it dies.

Taury: Yeah with the 1 damage. Just keep doing the 1 damage. But while it's grappled

Loyal: Oh, my God. I don't think we might have been able to kill that thing without the coup de grace.

Fenwarin: Not without the grapple and pin, nope. I don't think so.

Taury: Not with those rolls, not with those rolls.

Loyal: No way.

Taury: On another day maybe. I can't I can't get over the fact that my combat maneuvers are more effectual than my fucking attack rolls. It's so broken.

Morana: Should've been a brawler.

Taury: I should have. But you know, it would have, it would have been the opposite that would have happened.

GM: Ok. So with her dead, what are you guys doing?

Loyal: I guess the 'sicken' probably wears off.

GM: It does.

Fenwarin: "Someone take the dagger."

Loyal: Yeah I'll like grab the dagger and just kind of like look at it. See what I can recognize about it.

Taury: Psst give it to Markus.

GM: That would be an appraise or spellcraft.

Loyal: Appraise.

GM: This is a very expensive and exquisite dagger. It's a little too small for you to use, considering it's sized for a tiny creature. It's almost like a toy. But man, that's an expensive toy.

Loyal: "Well, it certainly seems like whatever this is, is worth the trouble."

Morana: "Well with that, we've taken care of most of what was down here."

Loyal: "Yeah, yeah."

Morana: "I think we perhaps clear out the rest of the tunnels after taking a look at the altar."

Loyal: "I don't know about you, but I'm quite in a bad way after that fight, I may not be of as much use, but I'll do what I can."

Taury: Taury is searching the body of the thing that we just killed.

GM: Alright. Now that you're getting a good look at her and you're not in the throes of combat, in the craziness of all that, you notice the robes she's wearing are very fine silk. And she's got a tiara on.

Loyal: A what?

GM: As you rummage through her pockets, you find 25 gold pieces and an obsidian unholy symbol of Lamashtu. It looks like a jackal's face.

Taury: Yeah, Taury is going to throw that to Markus and take the gold.

Fenwarin: "5 each Taury come on."

Taury: Absolutely not. It's already in our pocket. Looks at you confused like, what are you talking about?

GM: We are out of initiative, so you can remove that.

Loyal: Loyal seeing that just kind of shakes his head. He's gonna walk up to here and examine this like like orange liquid further.

Fenwarin: Fenwarin is also curious about it.

GM: Alright. Fenwarin, you approach it and as you get close, your torch light gets canceled out.

Fenwarin: Oh.

Loyal: Oh, yeah.

GM: You can still see it burning but you have to hold it like almost next year face to see it, as you walk into this radiating area of darkness that's around this plinth.

Loyal: Yeah.

Fenwarin: So it's just sucking up light. 

Loyal: How long does that last?

GM: One minute per level.

Loyal:  Ok. It will go away soon?

GM: Yeah.

Loyal: Ooh, guess I've got the dagger now.

Fenwarin: Do I see anything else but the torch thing?

GM: Well, essentially, you do, but you have to almost like run into the pedestal with this liquid and stuff coming out of it, before you realize it's right there.

Fenwarin: "Ok hmm, I can't see shit."

GM: And as you do touch the stone work around this lava bubbling pedestal, the stone is ice cold.

Loyal: "Gonna try something. I'd recommend standing back." I'm going to take out a vial and I'm not going to get my hand near that liquid, I want, I mean, I want something to essentially like, dip it into the liquid like tongs or something.

GM: So you want to test this liquid, but you are afraid of the other liquid?

Loyal: This one.

GM: The stuff that was identifiable as water you won't touch, but the stuff that looks like lava but is cold here it-

Loyal: I said I wouldn't touch it now, I was  literately gonna grab a sample of the other one and then I think ah people said, do it later.

Taury: Markus, Markus said, don't do it.

Loyal: Yeah he said don't do it so, listen yes.

GM: Ok just, just clarifying this.

Loyal: Yes.

Taury: Stop perpetuating the fear Furtive.

GM: [Laughs].

Loyal: Plus, it's also isn't water, it's lava. Different rules apply.

GM: Alright.

Taury: I think we established it was cold lava which is clava.

Loyal: Clava. Yeah.

Fenwarin: Clava?! [Laughs].

GM: Alright, so because it's not water, you're willing to risk it. I see.

Loyal: I essentially want to have tongs that I can kind of like dip a vial in and try to get some of it.

GM: Alright. You estimate that this is about three feet deep.

Loyal: Alright, alright.

Taury: Taury is gonna put the tiara on top of Morana's head. Gonna walk over just put it on her head.

GM: It's a very small tiara but ok.

Loyal: The size of a fist.

Morana: Morana just stares at Taury with a deadpan look.

GM: Give me a reflex save Loyal. As you are carefully dipping this vial in to extract some of this mysterious liquid.

Loyal: My dex is low.

GM: It's kind of roiling like it's on a boil. Yeah. You think you time it right but as you do, the churning waters just happened to nip your fingers.

Loyal: Ow.

GM: The best way I can describe this is it's almost like your fingertips just got dipped into liquid nitrogen.

Loyal: Hmm hmm.

Fenwarin: Oof

Taury: Hey frostbite is fun.

Loyal: Very clava, very clava.

Fenwarin: [Laughs]

GM: Alright. So-

Loyal: Ok. How much cold damage have I taken?

GM: 11 points of cold damage.

Fenwarin: Oh!

Loyal: Ok, I've got cold resistance 5 so a 6.

Taury: Ooh.

GM: And I need a Will save.

Loyal: Fucking hell!

Fenwarin: What is this crap?

Loyal: Ok so cold resist 5 does reduce that to 6 yeah?

GM: Yeah.

Loyal: Ok.

Taury: I mean still rip though.

Loyal: Ow! And then Will save, ok.

GM: Alright. As the waters touch your fingers for a brief second, you feel the most murderous rage you've ever felt wash over your mind, but you push it out just in time before it overwhelms you.

Loyal: Ok. Do I have a vial of said liquid now?

GM: You do.

Loyal: Ok, a vial of rage liquid. Rage nitrogen.

Fenwarin: [Laughs] Rage clava.

Taury: [laughs].

Loyal: A vial of rage, yeah rage clava! [laughing].

Taury: It's a bottle of rage clava?!

Loyal: I put that in my inventory.

Taury: Does he write that on the label too?

Loyal: Not yet, but. And then I'll stopper it and put it away somewhere safe. And just kind of shaking his hand that got hit by this stuff. "Alright, don't, don't touch that stuff, definitely don't touch that stuff." And then he'll just kind of start walking down and kick the corpse a couple times.

Markus: Sorry, which corpse are you kicking?

Loyal: We'll go with both of them, why not.

Fenwarin: The tiny one, especially.

Loyal: Yeah.

Markus: Ok Markus has been staring at her corpse this whole time.

GM: Alright. Knowledge planes. The longer you stare at her corpse, the more it sets into your mind, she's an outsider. When you kill an outsider, they're supposed to dissipate and return to their actual plane because they're not actually here. This one's actually dead, it's not disappearing. She was bound here or summoned here with a gate or something specifically. You have literally killed a demon permanently.

Loyal: Hmm, that's a good thing.

GM: Anything else while you're staring at this corpse?

Morana: Would Morana be able to figure out what could cause something like that? a spell or?

GM: Markus is well aware that it requires high level magics to bind such creatures in this way, or literal favors of the gods to be gifted them.

Morana: I see.

GM: Whether or not Markus is sharing this information, I don't know. But that is what you're realizing as you stare at this body, while they're all messing with the clava.

Markus: Is Morana actually asking or?

Morana: Ah she'll probably be muttering to herself, like under her breath.

Markus: Ok, what would she say then?

Morana: Basically trying to puzzle through our ideas on it, "So if it's not disappearing and it's still here, could it have come here on it's own? Was it sent?"

Markus: "You're wondering about how she got here?"

Morana: "Oh what, well, yes."

Markus: "As near as I can figure, powerful magic or divine intervention, one or the other."

Morana: "So summoned by a priest or something?"

Markus: "She was- possibly. It would fit with their being a shrine if the person she was to serve was a devotee, but that wouldn't explain what she was still here. She talked about her master. I think she was bound."

Morana: "Tsuto was that, Tsuto was that strong?"

Markus: "You understood what she was saying?"

Morana: "Well no, no."

Markus: Yeah, okay.

Morana: Tsuto was that strong goes here.

Markus: "Oh, no she pre-dated Tsuto by- this tower or these ruins that are left of the Old Light pre-date Starfall. She was here then."

Morana: "Hmm... Don't Taury probably don't poke at that." 

Loyal: [Laughs]

Taury: No, she's not touching it. She's just investigating it. She's trying to figure out what what it is.

Loyal: You just hear Loyal, "Don't touch that by the way."

Taury: I don't think she's listening. She's not touching it that's for sure. God, it would be madness for her to just reach her hand in there

Loyal: Loyal has like one eye on her.

GM: Knowledge religion, Taury.

Taury: Okey doke.

GM: You have this sensation that, this pool of liquid is Wrath incarnate.

Loyal: Hmmm!

GM: And that any wrathful acts that happen in some sort of area, you're not sure how big or small, power this thing somehow.

Loyal: Holy fuck!

Taury: Ok.

Loyal: Pretty cool actually, but... Dope as fuck.

Taury: That's really fun but also fucked up.

GM: It seems to be glowing less now than it was when you first walked in, and you think that's tied to the creation of that sinspawn, that some of the wrath that this thing was holding, was used in creating that abomination.

Taury: Ok, so it's in effect powered by rage, and it summons demons, or not demons, but those things, the sinspawns, because of that.

GM: Yep, and you get this just faintest whisper of "will you fight?"

Taury: In what language is this whisper?

GM: All languages simultaneously.

Loyal: Ah.

Taury: I mean, in her head, she's answering yes. She wouldn't say anything out loud though.

GM: Alright. You as a character Taury now know 100 percent without a doubt, you can 'defeat', quote unquote, this roiling liquid by summoning more sinspawn and fighting them. Doing that enough, however many that it takes, will drain this thing of its power. That knowledge excites you.

Taury: Low key want to inside check that shit.

Loyal: I feel like that- that's interesting, 'cause it can actually hurt sinspawn.

Taury: I mean, is this is this fact or, is this like what Taury thinks?

GM: Ah, based on your Religion check, you're all but convinced that that's the way to, quote unquote, 'defeat' the liquid.

Taury: Ok.

Loyal: Is Taury, just like dead pan staring at this thing, or is there any like, physical reaction we're seeing?

Taury: No, she would be walking around it, sort of looking at it, but she's not touching it in any way. And she's thinking at this point, just considering what that means. And she's going to walk over and take her switch scythe out of the door.

Loyal: [Laughing] Its in the door.

GM: Give me a disable device check.

Loyal: [Laughs]

Taury: Yeah, that's not going to go well. 

Loyal: I got a 17. 

Taury: I think- was it not an 18?

Markus: Are you even trained in that?

Taury: No.

GM: Yeah, as you attempt to un-wedge your switch scythe from the door, you're not sure how Loyal wedged this thing in here, but you can't get it out. It's like some sort of puzzle, you try to pull it one way and it like jams and then you try to go the other way and it jams the other way. He had to twist it in some way to get it in here.

Taury: Now she's glaring at him. Like waiting for him to just fucking take it out.

Loyal: "Oh, right sorry."

Taury: Without saying a thing.

Loyal: I'll go over, and I'll take it out.

GM: Simple device check.

Taury: Oh, she looks especially fucking angry.

Loyal: I figure I get a bonus or something, because I'm the one who got it in there.

GM: I'll give you a +2 if you want to roll it, or you can just spend the time and take a nat 20.

Loyal: Yeah I'll just spend the time.

GM: Alright.

Loyal: Get it out there.

GM: You're not sure how you got in there initially in the heat of battle, you just got it in there. And it takes you a few false starts but then you realize 'oh ok,' and then twist it the right way and pull it out easily, hand it over.

Taury: When Taury takes it out of your hand, she practically like, you know, fucking forcefully grabs it out of your hand, even if you're like, wilfully passing it to her. She looks absolutely disgusted that you put it in the door and she's examining it to make sure there's no damage on it or cracks or anything like that. And she looks positively disgusted that you used it to jam a door. Like you've personally offended her.

GM: There might be a couple scrape marks on the handle, but it's not damaged.

Taury: Yeah, she's still upset about it.

Loyal: "Listen, I'm sorry, but I did what I figured would help, as we didn't want that thing getting out."

Taury: She's staring you down, just not saying anything.

Loyal: "Right, sorry." And then he just walks off. I wanna kind of look at this ring of skulls in the center, see if there's anything that does, or if it's just like a decoration piece.

Fenwarin: Yeah Fenwarin has been looking at that too.

GM: It seems like a very macabre decoration.

Loyal: "Doesn't seem like that will be doing any harm."

Fenwarin: Did my torch flicker back to life when I got away from the clava?

GM: Yes.

Fenwarin: Ok.

Taury: I love that clava's a thing.

GM: In fact, now it's radiating light as well, as the darkness spell on that dagger has dissipated.

Loyal: Oh yeah I'll go pick up my dagger.

Taury: And while they're doing that, Taury is going to walk over to Markus and basically relay what the - I suppose what you call the pulpit - basically what that communicated to her. But she's gonna try and be quiet about it.

Fenwarin: Can I investigate the ring of skulls?

GM: Sure. 

Fenwarin: What would that be? 

GM: Perception check... These are humanoid skulls.

Fenwarin: Does it look like they're human, human or just humanoid, Monster-esque skulls ?

GM: That will require a Heal check.

Fenwarin: Ooh, ok.

GM: They do look a little larger than yours. But you are an elf.

Fenwarin: I am not trained in this, so.

Taury: I mean, you can't kill it, it's already dead so. [Laughs] 

Loyal: You can also ask the guy with +11. 

Fenwarin: [laughs].

Taury: It can't go far wrong [laughing].

GM: Ok. You know that they're not dwarven, human or elven, they could be orcish? And they're far too large to be halfling or gnome.

Loyal: Loyal will walk over, say. "What you looking at, everything concerning about that or? Apart from the fact that it's skulls?"

Fenwarin: "I was just trying to find out if they were human skulls. Like if they're victims from the town or something, I don't know."

Loyal: Loyal, will take a look.

GM: As you examine these skulls Loyal, you realize fairly quickly that these are the skulls of giants.

Loyal: Ok. "Uh well. They're somewhat humanoid, they're giant skulls. So I guess the concern about them being townsfolk aren't ah, isn't an issue."

Fenwarin: "Ok."

Loyal: "Not sure, what giant skulls would be doing down here though. Not well versed in pre Starfall, or."

Fenwarin: "Yeah, I wonder how they got them here?"

Loyal: "It's a good question." Would I recall any war as far as giants in relation to this area goes?

GM: History.

Loyal: History?

GM: Knowledge history. Giants aren't uncommon, especially on the Storval Plateau. There's clans of stone giants out that way. The lowlands around this area are known to have ogres.

Loyal: And are these giant skulls, are they a particular type or like assorted types?

GM: They're so old, you can't really tell. Hill giants are also common in the area, especially over in the forests, closer to Korvosa.

Loyal: "Well there's, there are giants around here, I'm not sure the reasoning for them specifically having giant skulls down here, but."

GM: You've heard a lot of tales of the Shoanti tribes on the Storvel Plains and the plateau fighting both the orcs, the hordes of orcs, in that land and the Cinder Barrens as well as stone giants on the cliffs. If it weren't for the Shoanti peoples on that area defending Varisia as a whole, who knows what type of troubles would come down from those cliffs.

Loyal: "Well if the giants have been as long here as Starfall, that would be certainly interesting. Nonetheless, it doesn't seem like it's dangerous in any way, just a brutish decoration piece. So what ah..." He kind of like looks over everyone, "What's the plan, what are we doing?"

Taury: Has Markus reacted to a Taury told him.

Markus: Yeah, I was just waiting for a good point, he would reply quietly, "Do you think it came from the thing self or from somewhere else?"

Taury: She nods.

Markus: "If I'm not mistaken, I have seen you invoke divine magic, yes?"

Taury: She shrugs. 

Markus: "I was wondering if this might be a message from... But you don't know do you?"

Taury: Visible confusion on her face.

Markus: "And you're certain it would work?"

Taury: "Well we might as well try."

Markus: "Perhaps not today. And I would very much like to know more about what that thing is before we try."

Taury: Taury is glaring at the pit, sort of transfixed on it.

Markus: "We don't know that sinspawn are the only thing it can summon, that's my concern."

Taury: She doesn't say anything.

Markus: Markus will just let the silence be and then, "Sorry Loyal, you were saying something?"

Loyal: "I was just wondering what our plan of action was from here. We seem to have killed the creature that was creating these things, as well as seemed to run the show down here."

Markus: "I doubt she entirely ran everything."

Loyal: "Well yes but as we saw, she could clearly create more of them, so ideally, there won't be any more created down here for at least a little bit."

Markus: "Oh, yes she was probably the source of the sinspawn, but."

Loyal: "Nonetheless", any he pulls out a vial, "I do have some of it, if we plan to return to town and come back down later, I can test it, see what I can find out about it."

Markus: "I think there's still, I don't know, something about the way she spoke suggested there might be more to this place than we've uncovered so far. And if she was bound, depends to what extent, she might not have been in charge if anyone even is in charge of this place?"

Loyal: "Yes well, I am all for clearing out this entire place. I fear that we might be a bit-"

Taury: Taury gives a side eye to Markus when you say that about clearing out the place.

Loyal: "We are relatively weak currently, we seem to have expended a lot of our resources in trying to kill that thing." and he nods towards the quasit.

Markus: "Yes, we did."

Loyal: "We can certainly push on, but it may not end well for us."

Markus: "Oh, I'm not suggesting we do so today."

Fenwarin: "No, I suggest we rest. We're looking a little worse for wear."

Markus: "Some healing from the temple might not be a miss either."

Fenwarin: "That's true."

Loyal: Loyal looks slightly, visibly uncomfortable when you mention the temple, but kind of shakes it off.

Markus: "They have good priests there."

Loyal: "Yeah, I'm sure they do, I, it's nothing, it's fine."

Markus: "Oh, is there anything magical about that pool or is it just the-?"

Loyal: "Ah, I'm not sure it hurt like hell when it touched me but. Oh this pool?"

Markus: "Ah yes, the one with the skulls I mean rather than-"

Loyal: "The giant skulls but no, it seems to just be a decoration piece."

Markus: "Right ok so it's not enchanted like some of the others?"

Loyal: "Doesn't seem to be."

Markus: Out of character, am I misremembering when I thought, I know Morana got knocked out by the overwhelming aura from the thing up on the pedestal, but was there not a second magical aura or am I completely misremembering that?

Loyal: I think there was.

Fenwarin: Wasn't there a trap on the pool?

Taury: No she summoned it, it triggered the other thing.

Loyal: She was invisible and when you walked up to the pool, she sleep spelled you, and so we thought the pool did something.

Markus: Yeah.

Taury: But she also had the thingy set up the-

Loyal: She'd summoned the elemental yeah.

Taury: Yeah I think that was what that aura was, no?

Loyal: Yeah, probably.

Morana: Can always try to look again.

Markus: Oh yeah, we can always double check.

Morana: Morana's going to step over here, looking away over the pool, away from the altar and cast Detect magic."

GM: Alright. As you cast to Detect magic, you are instantly aware of the thing off to your right that you're trying not to look at. It is definitely the strongest aura in the entire room, and it takes you the full three rounds of focusing to block that out of your concentration and focus solely on this pool as it is that much of a magic source here. You notice the magic long sword, the magic dagger. If anyone else is carrying anything magical, you would notice those auras well. The pool itself is completely benign.

Morana: "There's nothing magic about that. The main thing is that over there. But  looking at it again, nothing else, really."

Markus: "Ah good. Thank you for braving that again, Morana."

Morana: "No problem." She's rubbing her right eye, like she's trying to clear after images from it.

Taury.: Taury's going to pick up the quasit and throw it over her shoulder, start to walk out the door.

Markus: "Oh what was in these side rooms?"

Morana: "I saw nothing in them."

Markus: "Nothing at all?"

Morana: "No."

Markus: "Odd." 

Morana: "Ancient broom closets, apparently. I mean, I can look again now that we have time."

GM: Are you looking at the door, Markus?

Markus: Yeah, Markus is opening the door yeah.

GM: As you look at the door, it's got little sign on it that says 'Felix's Curios'.

Loyal: Oh my God.

Fenwarin: That again?

Markus: Ok, I'm going to try to open the door.

GM: As you open the door, you hear a little bell ring, like you're entering a store. And you open the door and see into what looks like a shop. There's a little counter next to the door. And what looks like a human child sitting on a very large stool to be able to see over the counter. He turns his head at the sound of the bell and looks at you, and just kind of lifts one hand up in a wave and then looks back down at his desk, at the counter in front of him. On the counter you can see various magical knick-knacks, a couple decks of cards, a crystal ball of some form and there's some incense burning on it.

Markus: Ok?! Markus is going to cast Detect magic now.

Morana: Oh no.

Taury.: I thought he was going to like slowly back out of the door and just close it and pretend he didn't see anything [laughing].

Markus: No, I fully expecting to pass out here, but yeah.

Taury.: Rip Markus.

GM: When you cast Detect magic, it's really strange. It's like you can't see beyond the doorway. You can see normal vision, but all the magic auras that you expect to see, there is nothing that passes past this doorway and all you can sense is that, that pedestal off to your left as you're looking into this shop.

Markus: So there's not even magic coming from the door itself?

GM: No. The kid turns and looks at you and goes, "Are you coming in?"

Loyal: Does Loyal hear that?

GM: No. 

Loyal: Ok. He does not notice.

Markus: Yeah, Markus will step into the doorway, sort of like trying to stay on the boundary, as it were.

GM: Alright. Anyone that's in the room looking at Markus as he walks through this doorway, it appears as if he just walks through a closed door.

Loyal: "Uh...Uh...Did...?"

Fenwarin: [Laughs]

GM: Taury, you have proceeded on uncaring. Morana, you do notice the little plaque on the door. It wasn't there when you opened it earlier.

Morana: On the other door right?

Loyal: Can Loyal see the plaque as well?

GM: Yeah. 

Loyal: What does the plaque say?

GM: 'Felix's Curios'.

Morana: Morana is going to open the door.

GM: You open the door and see Fenwarin. Sorry, not Fenwarin, Markus. They are different people.

All: [Laugh]

Taury.: There we go, it's back,the curse is back! [Laughs].

GM: I was looking at Fenwarin's token when I said that, that's why. You open the door and see Markus standing in front of a kiosk- What was the word I used earlier? 

Loyal: Desk?

GM: I used counter.

Taury.: Counter.

GM: Yeah, somewhere between all three of those.

All: [Laugh]

Markus: Point of clarification, I was deliberately keeping Detect magic as I walked through.

GM: Ok, we'll get to that in a moment.

Markus: Am I unconscious on the floor or am I stood up?

GM: You're still up, but you are blinking your eyes like crazy.

Markus: Right ok.

GM: Morana, you see Markus dazed, apparently standing in front of this thing, where seated behind a very tall stool is what looks to be a child, who as you open the door the little bell rings like in a story, you see like aisles, like racks and stuff like it would be in a store. A kid looks at you and goes, "Hey."

Loyal: [Laughs]

Morana: Morana just walks through the doorway.

Loyal: Has Loyal just seen Morana disappear through the same door now?

GM: Yes.

Loyal: "Ah, Taury? Fenwarin? Ah, might want to come back?"

Fenwarin: "Ah why? What's going on?"

Loyal: "Markus and Morana just walked through a door."

Taury.: Taury is well gone at this point.

Loyal: [Laughs] I don't think he'll hear.

Fenwarin: What do I see when I go up to the door?

GM: You see a door that looks like a store front door with a little plaque on it right next to the door, handle that, says 'Felix's Curios'.

Fenwarin: Hmm. "Hey, uh Loyal, come and take a look at this."

Loyal: "Dont want to really leave Taury alone. Ah fuck-" he comes over and takes a look. 

Morana: "Ah she can manage."

Loyal: "I hope so."

Fenwarin: "Do you see that on the door?"

Loyal: "Yeah, I do. Was that there earlier?"

Fenwarin: "Ah, I didn't check thoroughly but I guess so."

Loyal: "Huh." Loyal will open the door.

GM: Alright. You're greeted with the same site, Morana and Markus are both standing in the entryway looking around, Markus is blinking rapidly.

Loyal: "hmm. In we go, I guess?"

Morana: "Yeah, I guess so."

Loyal: He'll walk in.

GM: Alright. We'll follow you guys then as Taury returns to the surface, I guess? Is that what-?

Taury.: Yep, yep, 100 present, she is 100 percent expecting that they're all behind her.

Loyal: [Laughs]

Taury.: Like, she hasn't looked, she just is like they're coming.

GM: You would notice very quickly the lack of light being shed by Fenwarin's torch. It was following you and then receded back.

Taury.: Yeah, she, she's going, she's gone not coming back.

Morana: Going, going, going, gone. [laughs]

GM: You are aware they're not following you, or at the very least, Fenwarin isn't for whatever reason.

Taury.: They're coming eventually. That's what she's thinking.

GM: Alright. With the rest of the group, you're in this little shop. There's this kid sitting there. He's wearing what looks like a bowler hat or a derby hat, that type of hat. He's in a button up vest, like a little waistcoat type thing, shorts, he's got a sloppily tied bow tie on.

Loyal: Race? Do I like recognise, what is he human?

GM: Give me a Knowledge local.

Loyal: Oh boy, Knowledge local. No. Guess I think he's a giant.

Fenwarin: Yes, same here.

Loyal: [Laughs]

Markus: Yeah, I'll try 'untrained' but.

GM: Alright. Fenwarin and Loyal, you both believe that this is a human child, Markus and Morana.

Markus: Ah bear in mind, I'm untrained, so it's not actually that high.

GM: Oh ok. Markus, you also believe this is a human child.

Markus: Ok. 

GM: Morana, you happen to notice that while he seems to appear to be a human child, his mannerisms are giving him away. You identify a gnome.

Loyal: Oh, my God!

Fenwarin: [Laughs]

Taury.: Yay, I'm so sad I'm missing that.

Morana: Morana kind of rubs her chin, says "Well this is interesting and not what was behind the door last time."

Loyal: "Last time?" 

Morana: "Oh, when we were still fighting, I checked those two doors and there was nothing in them."

Loyal: "Oh, yes."

GM: "My door wasn't there, of course it wasn't here."

Morana: "Yes."

GM: "Because you're not there. You're now here."

Morana: "That does make sense."

Loyal: "Yeah, yeah."

Morana: "So, where is here?"

GM: "Ha! Ah...hmmm."

Morana: "I know it's an abstract question."

GM: "Well it's not. You're asking one question that is really several questions. What one do you want the answer to? Do you want to know what this place is? Where you are? Something else? There's a lot of ways to answer this innocuous sounding question." The rest of you are all very clued in now that though this appears to be a human child, the speech patterns in his mocking tones. It's not a human kid. He's definitely way older than what his appearance is saying. Something's a little off.

Loyal: "I guess because the best question might be to be, first of all, where are we?"

GM: He kind of like sighs and gives a hand gesture. "We just went over that with with this fool."

Loyal: "What is this place, what is this place?"

GM: "That's a question I can easily answer. This is Felix's Curios."

Loyal: "I got that from the sign."

GM: "Welcome. I am Felix, this is my curio store."

Loyal: "Nice to meet you Felix."

Morana: Morana starts looking over the things on the counter slash, desk slash,  kiosk slash, whatever.

GM: Alright. You see a couple of decks of cards, some incense burning, it smells really good. There is what appears to be a crystal ball. Mats laid out that any of you who are Varisian noticed instantly as a harrow mat. It has not been treated with any type of respect whatsoever. It's almost just a coaster to this kid. Let's see, as you look around the store, the shelves are lined with all sorts of magical items potions, scrolls, magic, daggers, swords, armors. Anything you could want is here. There's like one of the curio's like display cabinet is just like this box full of rings. They're all magic rings just thrown into a box.

Loyal: Ooh. Cool.

Taury.: Can I just point out the incense smelling good is clearly an oxymoron because it doesn't [laughs].

Morana: As long as it's not patchouli it's fine.

Markus: I'm assuming Markus is somewhat overwhelmed by the sheer number of auras?

GM: "So what is it that you need? My door only shows up for those that have need."

Loyal: "Oh, interesting. Huh… Well, I guess I'll take a look around." I'll start looking around for like healing related or alchemy related things.

GM: Ok. As you're looking at the things Loyal, you're noticing attached to each of them is a little tag with what you assume is a price written on it, but it's, it's weird things.

Loyal: Oh.

GM: Like one of them instead of like saying like 50 silver or whatever, like the prices you would expect, it says like 'a child's laugh'.

Loyal: What the fuck? [laughs] 

Fenwarin: What the hell?

GM: Or, 'your right toenail'.

Loyal: Your right toenail?! 

All: [Laugh]

Loyal: Weird prices make that note.

Taury: I mean, are they weird prices when you step through a door and end up somewhere else, but also not somewhere else?

Fenwarin: This gnome is a witch or something.

Markus: It depends where you expect to be.

Fenwarin: Well, wherever you end up, there you are.

Taury: That's so philosophical. Oh, my God.

GM: Thank you Yogi Berra.

Fenwarin: So that's a Diablo reference right?

Taury: Yeah. My whole perspective has changed now, thanks to this, I'm so enlightened.

Fenwarin: Fenwarin wants to look at the deck of cards.

GM: As you reach for the deck of cards, he's going to slap your hand.

Fenwarin: "Ow! What's wrong?"

GM:  He's just looking at you. "What?"

Fenwarin: "Am I not allowed to touch those?"

GM: "No. Why you trying to mess with my stuff?"

Fenwarin: "Oh so look but don't touch, I see".

GM: "You don't want to touch those."

Loyal: "This is a shop, is it not?"

Fenwarin: "Ok, what are they?"

GM: "It's not for sale, don't worry about it."

All: [Laugh]

Loyal: Its a deck of many things or some shit?

Fenwarin: Can I do a Sense motive on this little thing?

Taury: I love this.

GM: Sure.

Taury: This gnome would totally get on with Taury, they're the same person at the core.

GM: You are astutely aware that this item is not for sale.

All: [Laugh]

Morana: Morana is looking around, muttering to herself, "Oh, what could I need, are there things I wouldn't be able to find in town that could help, maybe.. ah, let's see..."

GM: "What town?"

Morana: "Ah Sandpoint."

GM: "Uh hmm, uh hmm, never heard of it. Where's that at?"

Morana: Alright so still looking around, she'll just start going into detail about local geography. Fuck it.

Loyal: [Laughs] Is Markus still sitting staring there dazed?

Markus: Markus has slowly begun taking his coat off and stowing his shield away.

Taury: And careless whispers starts playing.

Markus: No, no definitely not.

Loyal: [Laughs]

GM: "For people who have a need, you're sure taking a long time browsing the shelves?"

Loyal: "It's just, I'm not sure exactly what we need."

Markus: "It is a difficult question when you've never been faced with it before."

Fenwarin: "Oh, I had a question. Do you have a wand of magic missiles?"

GM: He points over to a, what most of you would think of as a like a magazine rack, that's just lined with a bunch of twigs. "Ah it's  probably over there."

Loyal: "Yes."

GM: "If you're looking for it, it'll probably be there."

Fenwarin: "Ok, thank you, I'll take a look." 

GM: He shrugs.

Loyal: "I'll take a look at the rings. What are we looking at ring wise?"

GM: Appraise check. He'll pull the box out and set it on top of the counter for you so you can paw through em. Alright, yeah any type of ring you want is here, rings of protection, rings of magic shielding.

Loyal: "How much is a ring of protection?"

GM: You look at the price tag that's tied onto it. You looking at it just a +1?

Loyal: Yeah +1 .

GM: Alright. It's clearly labeled 'ring of protection +1'. So you don't have to like try to detect every single one of them. Lets see that one says 'love' is the price.

Loyal: "What, how would I pay with love?"

GM: He looks you up and down and kind of gives you a wink,"How do you think?"

All: [Laugh]

Taury: Whole new meaning to gnome fuckery.

Loyal: Umm, he'll just put the ring down.

GM: "Don't need it that badly huh?"

Loyal: "I don't think so."

Morana: "There's some kind of alter or font making monsters out there. Maybe something to disable or destroy it. We could use something like that perhaps?"

GM: He shrugs, kind of  gives a bit of a purse lip pout and goes, "You know, there's all sorts of stuff that could do things, just depends on what things you want to do or how many times. How much do you got to pay with, how much you want to risk, that's another part. If the price is cheap, there might be some other risk to it."

Fenwarin: Oh boy.

Morana: "I don't need anything permanent spell wise, maybe a scroll of some kind, some kind of maybe 'dispel demonic magic', 'destroy demonic item'?"

GM: "That's holy stuff, right?"

Morana: "I suppose it might be?"

GM: "No, you're not going to find anything holy here."

Morana: "Oh, that's, That's disappointing."

GM: "I don't know, maybe you will, it's, it's what you need."

Morana: Morana starts looking through scrolls.

GM: Alright. 

Markus: And yeah, while conversations been going on I think Markus begins casting a spell, casting that one spontaneously.

GM: It fails.

Markus: Really?

Loyal: I'll stroll over to the armor section and see what's around there.

Markus: Do I get the impression it failed because it's an invalid target or because something about this place negated it?

GM: You have no idea. The spell happened, there's just no results from the effect.

Markus: Ok, fair enough.

GM: As you all continue to peruse the store, you realize that almost every drawer you open, every box you look into, is some sort of extradimensional space. Every shelf you pull out or drawer you pull out is much larger inside than its dimensions externally should be. This place is packed with everything.

Loyal: Yeah so is there like magical armor? Specifically looking at medium armors? 

GM: Yeah. 

Loyal: Ok. What about like ah God I dont know, so there's literally just like everything?

GM: Everything.

Loyal: Ok. What about like a +1 breastplate? 

GM: Yup.

Loyal: Ok.

GM: Special material? There's all sorts.

Loyal: Ok.

GM: There's like a full drawer just for those.

Loyal: The +1 breastplate, what's the cost there? 

GM: Ah hmm, says a wrist bone.

Loyal: He looks at his wrist "I think I need that. Hmm if only we had brought like a demon with us, we could take the demon's wrist bone, but we can't. Hmm, alrighty."

Fenwarin: Fenwarin just found a wand of magic missile. "What's the price tag?"

GM: "The tears of a sea urchin."

Loyal: Of a sea urchin?! What the fuck?

GM: Right next to it is a couple more of the same types of wands. There's not just one of each thing. They each have different prices.

Fenwarin: Ok.

GM: You  want to go through and look at some of the other prices?

Fenwarin: Yeah, I'm, I'm curious.

GM: Alright, I'm going to roll a D6 to see how many you look through, in addition to this one. Alright, you look at five of em. So you got 'tears of sea urchin', you've got 'a lucky coin', one of them says 'a piece of my mind'. One of it says 'the heart of an earthworm'. One says '50 gold'.

Loyal: Oh my God!

All: [laugh]

Fenwarin: Did it stop there at 50 gold? Or did you-?

GM: Yeah, it just says '50 gold'. And then the last one says 'tears', just 'tears'.

Loyal: Punch someone in the stomach.

Fenwarin: "Well, I'll grab the one with 50 gold and ask to buy it."

Loyal: There you go.

GM: He looks at it, looks at you, shrugs, "Ok." He pulls out a little box from behind his counter. It looks like a chest carved from stone. He sets it on the table. "Put your payment in there."

Fenwarin: "Alright." I put 50 gold in there.

GM: You don't. As you go to lift the lid, you realize it's not actually cut. There's no seam, there's no hinge, there's no joints. It's just carved to look like an ornate chest. It's just a stone cube.

Markus: With a nice, neat slot in the top like a piggy bank, perhaps?

GM: Nope.

Fenwarin: Is it a puzzle cube?

GM: "Just open it up, put your money in there."

Fenwarin: "How do I open it up?"

GM: "Do I got to do everything for you?"

Fenwarin: "I'd appreciate some help with this one, yes."

GM: "Just tell it you want to give it some money. Say I have a payment. You got to get real close and whisper it, petting it might help too."

Fenwarin: Alright, well Fenwarin's gonna do that. 

GM: As you lean close and whisper, "I have a payment for you," and stroke the top of the chest very gently. You hear him snicker. The seam magically appears and you can open the box. 

Loyal: What the fuck?

Fenwarin: [Laughs]. "Alright, so I put the money in?"

GM: Alright. You drop in your 50 coin. You don't hear anything as it falls in, you look into the box, it's just black.

Fenwarin: I'm a little perplexed by that, but I just, "ok?"

GM: "Is that it, is that all that cost?"

Fenwarin: "That's what it said on the price tag." 

GM: "Oh. Well hey!" He snaps the chest shut. Magically, the seam disappears again and he puts it back underneath his counter. "Ah, all sales are final. Good luck."

Loyal: Fucking hell.

Fenwarin: Oh, man, ok.

Loyal: How much is some, like mithril half plate? What's the price on that?

GM: Mithril half plate? Ah let's see... [laughs]. Two giggles and a schoolgirl's lock of hair.

Loyal: Well, the last one's probably going to be kind of be hard to get. How about just like a regular old breastplate?

GM: Just a regular breastplate? Your left thumb knuckle. 

Loyal: Well, I kind of need that.

Morana: Furtive, I sent a DM, if you could have a quick look.

GM: Alright, ah yes, Quiet, that is correct.

Taury: I just can't wait until you guys leave this place and all the items you buy disappear. I can't fucking wait.

Loyal: I haven't bought anything yet. How about some masterwork thieves tools?

GM: 20 silver.

Loyal: Done! I will walk over, "I have ah- I wish to buy this."

GM: "Oh, alright. Tell you what, I waive the price if you can take my hat off my head."

Loyal: I'll reach for the hat. Does he try to pull the hat off I guess?

GM: He's got a big smirk on his face as you're slowly reaching for it and the closer you get the like, the more twisted and maligned his grin is becoming. You can see him like shaking from trying to hold back his laughter.

Loyal: "I'll just pay the 20 silver."

GM: One eye is blinking like-  You just lay down 20 silver on the counter?

Loyal: Yeah, I'll just pay the 20 silver, that's fine.

GM: "Oh Ok." He scrapes it off the counter and puts it his pocket.

Loyal: "This, is it done? Did I buy that item?"

GM: "I didn't take the item from your did I?"

Loyal: "Fair enough." Oh, what's going on?

GM: He kind of like wrinkles his brows, gestures like 'what?' Looks at the others who are still perusing the shelves.

Loyal: So confused.

Morana: Are there books in here as well?

GM: Yeah.

Loyal: Yeah, I want to look for something involving like alchemical formulae.

GM: Ok.

Loyal: Would I be able to just kind of like find any formula or is there a specific set to choose from?

GM: You find a couple.

Loyal: Ok.

GM: None of them are prices that interest you.

Loyal: Ok, unfortunate. In the ring box, was there just like one ring of protection or are there multiple?

GM: You don't know. You only dug 'til you found the first one.

Loyal: Guess I'll go back, keep digging, will look at the various prices.

GM: Alright. Explain how you're digging?

Loyal: Just kind of like move them all to one side, pick up one ring , look at it, put it on the other side of the box.

GM: Right, as you try to do that, you realize there's no bottom to this box. It's just more rings.

Loyal: Start picking up, picking up ring by ring.

GM: Alright. By the time you find what you're looking for, you realize you've got like four or five handfuls of rings on the counter beside you. The box still seems full of rings, like you haven't even pulled out a few.

Loyal: Oh, my God. Do I find some rings of protection?

GM: Yeah. 

Loyal: Cool. "What do they cost?"

GM: "What are you willing to pay?"

Loyal: "It's kind of hard to tell if you don't know the cost." I just pull out a few things.

GM: "Simple stuff like, you know, thumb knuckles, you're barking at like I don't know what to tell you."

Loyal: "I feel like I need my thumb though."

GM: "But do you need to bend your thumb?"

Loyal: "Yes, actually, I think that's the point of a thumb."

GM: "Ok, if you say so."

Loyal: "I guess I can give you some of this." I pull out the rage liquid.

GM: He looks at it. This is the first time you've noticed, as you're seeing him look at this liquid. His eyes flash a brilliant blue like they are azure. "You want to pay with holy water?"

Loyal: "This definitely isn't holy water."

GM: "Yeah it is, it's just been boiled."

Loyal: "I guess not then." I don't know and he just starts rummaging through the things he has.

GM: "I'll take trade, but that's not going to get you a whole lot."

Loyal: "I have this Silver Dagger."

GM: "Oh? Well, that's a pretty piece."

Loyal: "Would you would you like the dagger in exchange for this ring?"

GM: "Not that ring." You see him reach his arm all the way down, like up to about halfway up the bicep as he reaches into this little box on the counter. He rummages around a few seconds and then pulls out another ring. "For this one, not that one, you don't want that one."

Loyal: "What does what does that one do?"

GM: "Well, this one's that one. Only, this one isn't cursed."

Loyal: "Ah, ok got to. Oh, yeah, I guess so. Yeah, that sounds like a good deal."

GM: "Ok." So you've traded that dagger for a ring of protection?

Loyal: The Silver Dagger, not the not the super expensive dagger, I have a Silver Dagger and I have the Cold Iron Dagger.

GM: Oh no, he wants, he wants the other dagger, not the Silver Dagger.

Loyal: "This one is a bit more expensive yeah, no, thanks." I thought he was talking about the Silver Dagger?

GM: "Oh no. No. For the Silver Dagger, you can have the cursed ring."

Loyal: I kind of look over to the group. "Do we know anyone who can remove a curse?”

Fenwarin: "Maybe the priests or something?"

Markus: "No."

Loyal: "Maybe?"

Markus: "Are all the items here cursed?"

GM: "Many of them, yes." 

Loyal: "Good to know."

GM: "Most of them... several, we'll go with several."

Loyal: "As far as for the trade, I don't really have much of value."

GM: "You know what, a blanket yes. When in doubt, assume it's cursed, yeah?"

Loyal: I glance at Fenwarin, who's holding the wand that he bought.

Fenwarin: "Yeah, I'm starting to regret this." [Laughs]

Loyal: [Laughs] I guess I glance at me who has the masterwork tools.

GM: "Oh, don't worry, you'll you'll be fine, probably. It's whoever you pointed out that."

Fenwarin: "Probably."

GM: He squints, "Maybe. Let me look at that wand." He just kind of leans over and takes a little bit of a look and goes "Oh, yeah. [laughs] Yeah, you'll be fine."

Fenwarin: Oh, I don't trust that laugh, can I Appraise my wand, can I Appraise it?

GM: Sure.

Markus: I'd recommend Spellcraft rather than Appraise, unless you're really, really good at Appraise? 

Loyal: Or Identify?

Fenwarin: Oh, yeah, yeah. No, I'm not trained in Appraise, no.

GM: Spellcraft. Alright. This is a level 3 wand of magic missile that has been improperly crafted. It has a random percentile just to not work.

Fenwarin: "Oh, random percentile?! How random?"

GM: "Yeah. It's a 30 percent chance that it just won't work. It won't expend charges if it fails to fire."

Loyal: Nice.

Fenwarin: "Well that's good at least, but how many charges does it have?"

GM: "150."

Fenwarin: "Oh, ok."

Markus: "Wait, what?"

Taury: Of course, Fenwarin gets the one that has performance issues.

All: [Laugh]

Loyal: "150 charges, it's a lot of charges."

Fenwarin: "150 charges, 30 percent?" 

Markus: "Yeah."

Loyal: "150 magic missiles."

Fenwarin: "Maybe not successful?"

Markus: "That's a really nice one."

GM: "Is that a slant in my wares?"

Fenwarin: "No no no no."

Markus: "No."

Markus: "Not at all."

Fenwarin: "No."

GM: "Oh, well, that's too bad. I would have given you a discount."

All: [Laugh] 

Fenwarin: This is fucking brilliant.

GM: "I don't know where most of this stuff comes from, it just appears."

Fenwarin: "It just appears?"

Markus: "Yes, I'm sure it does."

GM: "Yeah, just like you did."

Markus: "Hmmm. Yes."

Fenwarin: "Are you done looking or should we move on?"

Loyal: "I, yeah I"

GM: "You should probably leave soon if you want to return to where you came from."

Loyal: "That's a good point." I'll start walking towards the door.

Fenwarin: Well, me too. Yeah. [laughs].

Markus: Markus has been looking through books for most of this time so. "Yeah it seems that none of these quite cover the information that I was looking for so, perhaps perhaps another time?"

GM: "Maybe it just wasn't a need."

Markus: "Quite possibly. yes."

Loyal: Loyal's just going "What does he mean 'need'?" as he's walking out the door.

Markus: "I do hope we see each other again. This has been quite entertaining."

GM: "Oh well, in that case, I'm sure the door will appear whenever you absolutely need me but, if you want to return" he reaches into his top breast pocket and pulls out a wooden coin type medallion type thing, which is stamped - like fire branded - with his store's information. It reads, 'Felix's Curios. Most curious shop of the witch market'. He hands it over to you. "Just snap that in half and you'll be right back here, the returning might be an issue."

Markus: "Noted, thank you."

GM: "You're welcome, please do come again."

Markus: "I'm sure I shall." and Markus will leave.

GM: He has a very forced smile on his face as you all leave.

Loyal: Ok.

GM: Walking out the door, you actually emerge from the other side.

Fenwarin: Well, then.

Morana: "Well, that was certainly a moment."

Loyal: "Yeah. I hope Taury's alright."

Fenwarin: "Interesting, interesting to say the least.'

Loyal: "I checked if there's something that I could get for her, but all of those prices were odd."

Markus: "Yes you did catch where we were right?"  

Loyal: "Ah I kind of, I feel like we weren't here." 

Fenwarin: "No we weren't."

Loyal: "Anyways, I suppose we should head back yeah?"

Fenwarin: "Yeah, we should probably catch up to Taury."

Markus: "Yeah that's probably going to be a good idea."

Morana: "I can agree with that."

Fenwarin: I'll just start moving.

Loyal: Can I get an idea of how long we were in there? It's hard to tell down here."

GM: It is very hard to tell. When you get to the surface, you realize it's been about three hours since you came down into the catacombs overall.

Loyal: Oh ok, hmm.

GM: Taury, wherever you were headed, the rest of the group will be roughly 40 minutes behind you.

Taury: Nah, she would've gone to the Father Zantus I think?

GM: Alright. So you head to Father Zantus, carrying a dead quasit.

Taury: Uh hmm.

GM: Ok.

Markus: Yeah, this isn't going to help.

GM: Go a head and describe that scene, how you enter that. 

Loyal: [laughs].

Taury: I mean casually as ever, it's just over one shoulder. I doubt she's even holding it. I'd say at this point, it's probably just resting on her shoulder while she just walks straight on into the church.

Loyal: With a demon. A war priest, a demon and I don't know, walk into a bar.

Taury: Yeah. There's a joke there somewhere. And she's just looking around trying to see if she can spot Father Zantus.

GM: Alright. As you're looking around, he appears to be tending to someone's needs. One of the acolytes starts to approach you, sees the thing on your shoulder, and then just turns around and walks away, not even to go get Father Zantus just away from you.

Loyal: Nope, nope.

Taury: Well, she's gonna like prop the demon, like against a wall, like in the corner somewhere and then proceed to go request some healing. She's not even going to put like a cloak over it or anything, she's just putting it in the corner somewhere, not super far away, she wants to keep an eye on it you know, make sure no one steals it.

GM: Give me a high or low.

Taury: Ooh, go high or go home.

GM: Alright. You will not notice this until it is far too late. You will get a check but at the appropriate time. So you go over to one of the acolytes and they begin telling you that they don't mind healing up the hero party, but this is becoming an all too common occurrence and a donation would not go amiss. They're politely telling you you need to pay spell casting service costs.  By the roles.

Taury: Yeah, she's just, just looking at them like waiting for them to just heal her, not taking that for an answer. Yeah just you know, pretending to like, empty her pockets. She just pretending to be like empty out her pockets like, oh I have a thing, you know, I'm poor.

GM: As you do that, the 25 gold that you pocketed earlier clatters to the floor as you turn your pocket inside out because you forgot you'd done that.

Loyal: [Laughs]

GM: And the acolyte looks at the coins and looks up to you and kind of licks their lips and purses them together in complete utter disbelief of your flagrant lie. Blinks a couple times and just-

Taury: Taury's going to look down at it and act surprised like, 'Oh my God. where did that come from?' kind of thing. Not saying anything, just all hand gestures. 'Oh, my gosh.'

GM: The acolyte will shake their head, sigh. "Thank you for your donation." and then heal you.

Taury: Awesome [laughs]. Is that going to be full HP?

GM: It will be. Reluctantly, yes.

Taury: Awesome. Hey, a reluctantly is still a yes, I'll take it.

GM: It does not heal your-

Taury: The dex mod yeah.

GM: Yeah your dex damage.

Taury: So she just heals me and she's all chill.

GM: Yeah, at this point you turn around and see a couple kids poking at the dead quasit and like lifting its wings. One picks it up and tries to like, do puppet work with it?

Taury: They're just playing with it, though? Nothing-

GM: They have no idea what it is.

Taury: I mean duh, but like, it's not you know, reanimating and eating them? 

GM: No. 

Taury: Oh ok, that's fine.

GM: Ok.

Loyal: Oh my God. If I were a parent, I'd probably want someone to stop my child from playing with a dead demon, but.

Taury: Nah. Taury's going to like walk over to the opposite side of the room to where she put the demon and just sit there waiting to see Father Zantus, to just sort of wait till he walks by, you know, pretending she didn't bring the demon there. But watching it at the same time, make sure it doesn't leave.

GM: This is hilarious, but you are a terrible person! [laughs]

Taury: Taury is a terrible person

Fenwarin: [Laughs].

GM: This is amazing [Laughs]. Ok. As Father Zantus finishes up and turns to look around the room, he sees you and then scans the room for the other heroes, not finding them he instead finds some children playing with this little demon and rushes over to stop them. You see him take the the body and scold them. He looks at it and he's just like utterly confused. Then he just turns to you slowly and then begins coming toward you.

Taury: With or without the demon?

GM: Oh, with it.

Taury: Ok good. 

GM: He's like holding it by the neck. Middle finger and thumb around the neck, like just holding it that way.

Taury: Yeah, she's watching. 

GM: Just looking at its face and looking back at you and looking around. When he gets about halfway to you, that's when the others- Are you all returning to Father Zantus as well? 

Loyal: I think that's where Taury said she was going so, yeah.

Taury: Well, it's where Morana said we should bring the demon. That's why she's bringing it there.

Loyal: Yeah.

Markus: It's also where certain people could probably do with getting a restoration cast.

Taury: Well, the only reason she brought it there is because that's where Morana suggested they go.

GM: Alright. So he's almost to you Taury, very inquisitive about what this is doing here.

Taury: Her facial expression, for the record, is completely unreadable. But inside, she is dying of laughter. This is the funniest fucking shit she has ever seen.

GM: And at this time, the rest of you will enter seeing Father Zantus with this thing walking towards Taury who's sitting.

Loyal: Loyal has tightened his hood, making sure it's even kind of further over its face and head.

Taury: Morana face palms.

Fenwarin: Fenwarin is just shaking his head.

Loyal: "Ah not surprising. Anyway."

Fenwarin: "Hey, that's Taury for you."

Markus: "Yeah, maybe we should think of getting a leash for her or something?"

Morana: "We're just trying to get something healed."

Markus: "Anyway. Good afternoon, Father."

GM: "Yes." He's looking at the demon. "I assume it is a good afternoon. What is this?"

Taury: Who is he looking at? 

GM: At Markus.

Taury: Ok good.

GM: Because Markus was the first to talk.

Taury: Good. Just checking.

Markus: "I assume you recognize what it is?"

GM: "It's an Imp, right?"

Markus: "Close, quasit."

GM: "I don't know what the difference is."

Loyal: "It's probably not too much."

Markus: "I know there is a difference but, I'm not too familiar with the specifics."

GM: He hands it to you. "Why is it here?"

Markus: Markus turns and looks at Taury.

Taury: She's looking in the opposite direction like she's not even paying attention to the conversation.

Markus: "I assume it arrived with our companion."

GM: "Ah of course it did. Why it's dead appears to be self-evident, why it's here and left alone for children to play with however is not."

Loyal: Loyal just looks at Taury.

Fenwarin: Yup, Fenwarin too.

Taury: She looks at you guys, and just shrugs. Just shrugs like 'what?'

Loyal: Everyone's looking at her.

GM: "Anyway, how can the church be of assistance today?"

Markus: "The fact that it's still here, suggests it passed through a gateway or had some sort of permanent binding placed on it. I think we were hoping that you might know, or know someone who would know a proper way of dealing with the body?"

GM: "Drown it in holy water and then burn the remains, I guess."

Markus: "Reasonable enough. I believe there are some scholars who, well, I suspect if there are certain scholars that hear of this, they might be interested in studying the body first. But yeah that seems a suitable thing. I believe a number of us were also injured, in particular I believe there was talk of poison?"

Loyal: "Yes. This things claws are quite poisonous."

GM: "Thank you for that information." He looks to see the children are ok.

Loyal: Loyal's about to say, poison some motherfucking children. [Laughs]

Taury: The sake of the children. [Laughs]

GM: "They appear fine." He shakes his head, "Yes, the church is happy to continue servicing your needs as you continue dealing with the threats of the area. But we will need to start accepting a donation as you're able."

Loyal: "Yes." And he pulls out a donation.

Morana: Morana looks at the one that keeps keeping all the money.

Fenwarin: [laughs] exactly.

Loyal:  Loyal pulls out 10 golds, says "Ah here."

GM: "Thank you."

Fenwarin: "Father Zantus, here's, here's a donation as well from me." and I give him a platinum coin.

GM: "Thank you." He looks to the others, expectantly, "You got 3 gold?"

Morana: Morana lays down a few coins.

GM: Alright.

Markus: Oh um, would I've been able to pick up my coins from the ground where they were before the whole fight started?

GM: Yes. Taury did not pick those up as she walked out.

Taury: No, I don't think so.

Fenwarin: I'm surprised by that.

GM: [laughs].

Taury: I mean, I don't think she'd have really noticed them. She was busy transporting a demon.

GM: Ok. He accepts your donation and then will heal you all up.

Loyal: Yay!

Taury: Is Taury going to get that restoration as well?

Loyal: Does it help with the dex penalties or not?

GM: He's just doing healing, unless you mentioned that you need a lesser resto.

Taury: Did Markus? Markus mentioned it I though?

Loyal: I mean, I will mention that.

Taury: Markus mentioned it I though?

GM: You mentioned poison but you didn't specify what.

Taury: Oh

Loyal: I will specify as I'm somewhat well versed with poisons.

GM: Ok then yes, you will also get the lesser resto.

Taury: Well, Taury will walk forward and just casually get that as well without saying a word.

GM: They're going to make you say something because they don't know why you're just hovering there until you speak up.

Taury: "The restoration." and she's like gesturing her hand like, 'hurry the fuck up, got place to be, I'm busy'.

GM: Heavy sighs as they heal you of your ability damage.

Loyal: Yay.

Taury: Yay.

Morana: Morana looks at her and says, "I guess it's true what they they say, you get what you pay for."

Taury: Yeah, Taury's probably going to growl at you as she walks past.

Morana: "You might want to get that looked at, it could be serious."

Taury: Her like sharp teeth show, and she like grins that you like in a forced sort of like 'fuck you' kind of smile.

Morana: Stares back with wide eyed innocent look.

GM: "Please keep providing your valuable service to our community." Several long blinks.

Taury: Taury tries to do like a friendly smile back, but it looks awkward and painful.

Loyal: "We appreciate your services and we'll try not to bother you as much. I can't promise anything for the others of course, but-"

GM: "This is a place of worship as well, please feel free to come and pay homage to your god."

Morana: In the middle of that sentence, Morana is out the door.

Taury: Taury's rolled her eyes and follows.

Loyal: Loyal just kind of sighs, "alright."

GM: "I'll assume that their patron deity is not among our pantheon here?"

Loyal: "Your guess is as good as mine. And thank you." And Loyal walks out.

Markus: "Yes, thank you Father. We'll try not to be too taxing."

GM: He bows as you all leave. "Thank you, thank you."

Fenwarin: "Thank you Father, sorry for the disturbance." 

Loyal: Did anyone take the demon, by the way?

Fenwarin: No.

Taury: No.

Loyal: Loyal will remember this and go back and grab the demon.

Taury: Didn't he hand it to Markus?

Loyal: I guess Markus has the demon, yeah.

Taury: I think Zantus handed him the demon.

Loyal: Has Markus taken the demon?

Markus: Yeah I suppose he would.

Morana: You kill it you clean it.

Fenwarin: [Laughs]

Taury: Yeah, that's that's how it works, that's law.

GM: Ok.

Markus: Markus would however not be carrying it openly through the streets.

Loyal: Smart. 'Look at this demon everyone!' 

Fenwarin: La la la [Singing]

Taury: It's not that she's not smart, she just doesn't give a shit. It's not alive, so it's not a threat. That's-

Fenwarin: And certainly not eye catching either.

Taury: Hey maybe it was a good looking demon, you don't know that?

GM: She did have a very nice dress and tiara on.

Taury: Aha. She was delightful. So won't have you shit talking her?

Fenwarin: We killed, we kill royalty [laughs]. 

Markus: I assume neither the dress nor the tiara, are magical?

GM: They are not, they are valuable, but not magical.

Markus: Yeah.

Taury: Is Morana still wearing the tiara?

Morana: No, she'd have put that away.

Taury: Ah man, That would have been so funny.

GM: Alright. You all leave the cathedral, you're back in the Sandpoint area on Church Street.

Loyal: "I guess what now?"

Fenwarin: What time is it?

GM: Little after noon.

Loyal: "Should we go inform the the city guard of what transpired down there, and at least for the meantime, if we think like the immediate threat might be dealt with."

Markus: "Oh, um..."

Taury: "We should return immediately, vanquish the rest of those things."

Loyal: "While we all are healthier now, I'm not sure how much resources we may have?"

Morana: "The abilities we've used and expended is another matter."

Fenwarin: "I could seriously use a rest before we venture down again."

Loyal: "I feel like a good option maybe to inform those we need to, retire for the day, and head back down tomorrow morning to clear out the rest of that ruin."

Markus: "Speaking of which we probably ought to..." and Markus turns her back into the temple.

Loyal: "Where's? Where's he going?"

Fenwarin: "I don't know."

Loyal: Loyal will follow him.

Taury: Taury's leaving to go to the Rusty Dragon.

Fenwarin: Yeah, Fenwarin starts heading there too.

Morana: Morana is going to head back to the Rusty Dragon but on the way, she's going to swing by the sheriff's office to let them know what's going on in the tunnels.

GM: Alright.

Taury: I've forgotten what number the Rusty Dragon is. It's like 36? 

GM: 37.

Taury: God, my god, I was so close! Damn it.

Loyal: So close, so close. 

Fenwarin: Yeah [laughs].

GM: Alright. Morana, you stop by number 10, the city garrison. And Markus and Loyal have returned to the cathedral to talk to Father Zantus about what to do with that well of churning red liquids.

Markus: Uh hmm, Yeah.

GM: Alright.

Taury: The clava.

GM: Ah, we'll start with Morana. As you enter the garrison, you would have expected things to calm down here as the city streets seem a lot calmer than they were this morning. But the garrison is solemnly quiet. It's a lot calmer than you expected.

Morana: Does she see the sheriff?

GM: You do. He's talking to the Paladin.

Morana: Well, she'll slowly approach the two of them and say, "Things seem to have improved? Maybe, somewhat?"

GM: "Oh Oh! Morana, right? Yes. Ah yes things have improved greatly. Our Paladin friend here is not required to leave for Magnimar any longer."

Morana: "Oh, what joy." [Sarcastically]

GM: "Yes, it is quite a boon."

Morana: "Well, we've cleared out more of the tunnels and taken out a quasit that had taken up residence down there."

GM: "Good good, you killed the whats-it, good."

Morana: "Yes, the demon that had taken up residence under the city."

GM: "Wonderful!" He slaps you on the back. "Just, just as you should be doing." 

Morana: "Right. And while there are some other things to take care of, I just wanted to let you know where things stood on that front as of now."

GM: "Good, good keep up the good work. Thank you. Thank you." He turns back to discussing stuff with the Paladin.

Morana: On the way out, I'd be trying to see if she can hear anything that they're talking about.

GM: Ok. Give me a Perception check. Alright, as you're leaving, you hear something about disposing of the body, burial or burning, something about Ameiko will probably want a burial.

Morana: Oh right, that makes sense.

GM: "Does Tsuto deserve a burial?"

Morana: Of ah, that Morana stops, and slowly turns around and says, "I'm sorry. I thought I heard...? What happened while we were down there?"

GM: "Oh, nothing of consequence. A criminal took the coward's way out. That's all."

Morana: "How did he do it?"

GM: "Bit his tongue off."

Morana: "And that doesn't seem-? Any marks?"

GM: "Marks? Like bruises? What type of marks are you talking about?"

Morana: "Anything to point to some kind of attack."

GM: "He was no more injured than what you had done to him when you brought him in."

Morana: "Yeah I mean, I'm sure you'd agree it's rather odd for someone to bite their own tongue off. It's not really the ah shall I say, normal way someone would eliminate themselves. Maybe? No?"

GM: "And most people don't conspire with goblins to destroy a town either. Who can think with this psychopath was thinking?"

Morana: "I want to see the body."

GM: "It's in the cell downstairs."

Morana: Morana is gonna go check out the body.

GM: Ok. You go downstairs. The body is laying there, clearly bled out from biting off the tip of his tongue, or biting his tongue in half or whatever that is.

Morana: Detect magic on the cell?

GM: No magics.

Morana: Alright. Can I look at the body for any marks or symbols, anything like that?

GM: Alright. How are you going to do that when he's in a cell and you're not?

Morana: "Why wouldn't he give me the k-? Ok alright." She goes back upstairs and says, "I want the key for the cell so I can make a closer examination of the body."

GM: "Why?" 

Morana: Morana rubs the bridge of her nose, "Because there's a lot of strange things going on in this town and I'd like to be sure that this isn't part of them."

GM: He calls over one of the guard and, "Open the cell for her, she has a need to be nosy."

Morana: "Oh, yes, totally. I'm just trying to be nosy that's all I'm doing." She's mumbling to herself as they're going back downstairs.

GM: They'll open the cell for you so you can go in.

Morana: Alright she's going to start looking over the body, checking for any kind of marks, burns, tattoos, anything like that.

GM: Ok. No apparent wounds, no markings, no tattoos, no brandings.

Morana: "Well that's strange. But it's not my area of expertize I should probably get the others, someone like know more."

GM: Alright. Markus and Loyal, you've reentered the cathedral.

 Markus: Is Father Zantus occupied again?

GM: No

Markus: Well I assume we approach him then?

GM: As you do, he'll turn and get an inquisitive look on his face. "Hey, you haven't become injured again already have you?"

Markus: "Oh no, nothing of the sort."

GM: "Oh, good. [Mumbles] It would be a record in speed of injury. Haha ha! Ooh no, no good."

Markus: "Yes, sorry, there was something that we probably should have mentioned earlier."

GM: "Oh, ok go on."

Markus: "We found, well not quite sure what it is, but it seems to be responsible for summoning some of the malformed creatures down there. I believe it's a sinspawn they're called."

GM: "Sinspawn? Sinspawn. That doesn't sound like a friendly name."

Loyal: "It's not, uh, it's not."

Markus: "They are feral things. When they bite, these ones in particular seem able to impart rage, unnatural rage."

GM: "Hmmm."

Markus: "And we found what appears to be their origin, the thing that was summoning them."

Loyal: And Loyal will pull out the liquid in the vial that he has, put it down. "Don't touch it, but it's very damaging to those who touch it. As well as uh, well it seems to cause rage in those that it affects."

Markus: "Which would match with the Creatures."

GM: He looks at the vial, which is still glowing about as much as like a candle would be. "And why are you telling me this? What do you need from me? Is this just for my information or is there some way that I can assist you?"

Markus: "We were hoping you might have some idea of what this thing is. More importantly, how we destroy it?"

GM: "I'm afraid I have no idea."

Markus: "Do you know anyone that might?"

GM: "No, no. Unfortunately I'm probably at more of a loss than you are."

Markus: "Fair enough. Have you heard of artifacts, things capable of speaking to people without needing to make contact?"

GM: "Um yes, I believe I have heard of some very old and powerful magic items that have developed a sentience of their own."

Markus: "Ah. Now that's a possibility I didn't consider."

Loyal: "Hmm, it's concerning to say the least."

Markus: "Well this pool spoke to Taury."

Loyal: "Did it now?" 

GM: Oh?" 

Markus: "Well, something did."

GM: "And what was it that it said?"

Markus: "It recommended that a way to deal with the pool would be to repeatedly summon the sinspawn out of it. Not my first choice."

GM: "Maybe, maybe it's just me, but why would an item tell anyone how to deal with it?"

Markus: "Yes?" 

GM: "Could it have been lying if it was this thing?"

Markus: "The other possibility, I've seen Taury do things that are magical but I wouldn't normally associate with the arcane."

GM: "Oh?"

Markus: "Some small healing things. She doesn't seem to like talking about it though."

Loyal: "She doesn't seem to like talking in general."

GM: "Ha. I've noticed."

Markus: "Well the other possibility, that occurs to me-"

GM: "I haven't seen her for a long time, maybe something happened while she was away? Perhaps some deity has chosen her to be an oracle, a divine messenger of some form?"

Markus: "That was to be my next question. Could it be a deity?"

GM: "It's it's possible, I'm afraid there's not much information to go on."

Markus: "In other words, we need to convince Taury to talk to get a definitive answer on that."

GM: "Yes."

Markus: "We might have an easier time fighting an army."

GM: "Ha. Yes. Maybe her brother can help you?"

Loyal: "She- she has a brother?"

GM: "Oh yes, he's currently working as one of the bouncers down at the Pixie's Kitten."

Loyal: "Oh did you know this, Markus?"

Markus: "No."

GM: "Then again, maybe that isn't the best idea."

Loyal: "Ah. Don't want to pry into your private lives but?"

Markus: "She never mentioned him, but there are many things she hasn't mentioned, so."

Loyal: "That's true. I'm not sure if that's just a matter of she's not a talkative person or she doesn't want to talk about it?"

GM: "Uh... it could be both I, I don't know, her brother's not very talkative either anymore."

Markus: "Well, thank you."

Loyal: "Yes, thank you." 

Markus: "At least we've eliminated some possibilities and you've helped crystalize my thoughts on what we do next."

GM: "Ok. Glad I could help you out. I don't know what I did. I'm glad you've found some value in it."

Loyal: "Yes. Thank you again."

Markus: "Thank you Father."

GM: "Feel free to return anytime."

Loyal: I'll start heading out.

Markus: Yeah, Markus is heading out as well.

GM: Alright. Fenwarin and Taury at the Rusty Dragon, what do you guys do?

Taury: Taury would have ordered her fish stew and probably whatever she would see Fenwarin usually eating, she would have ordered that too. And then sat down and started eating.

GM: Alright.

Taury: And playing cards, hopefully teaching Fenwarin how to play cards.

Fenwarin: Yeah.

GM: [Laughs] "The special today is a rabbit curry."

Taury: Yeah, no she's not eating that shit.

Fenwarin: Well, Fenwarin will definitely try that one.

GM: "It is fantastic. It's the right blend of spice and herb."

Fenwarin: "Sounds good." And I'll try and follow what Taury is trying to teach me with the cards as well.

Taury: Yes, I think she would basically silently teach you so she would start dealing cards. Then every time you played like the wrong card, she would just fucking like swat at your hand.

Fenwarin: Deja vu.

Taury: Mm hmm.

Fenwarin: "Right just don't get all physical, just tell me what I'm doing wrong and I'll, I'll learn."

Taury: She grunts and just continues doing it exactly the same way that she was doing it.

Fenwarin: "What do you call this game?"

Taury: "I, I, I don't know?"

Fenwarin: "Well fine ok."

GM: Out of character, what game were you playing?

Taury: I mean, I don't know if you all have played it, but it's like 'lives'-

Loyal: What? I'm sorry?

Taury: - it's called.

Fenwarin: No.

Taury: Yeah, it's like usually you play with a group of people. I mean, I'm not going to explain the rules of it. It's incredibly complicated to explain in five minutes.

GM: That's fine.

Fenwarin: I've never heard of it. Ok.

GM: I was just curious what game you were using. You guys probably finished your meal or gone very close to it when the others enter.

Markus: Oh, Markus isn't going back to the Rusty Dragon, not directly anyway.

Taury: Of course he isn't.

Loyal: When he split off he'll ask, "Where are you going?"

Markus: "Oh, to talk to a scholar. You're welcome to join me."

Loyal: "Hmm. I think I might- I'm gonna start getting research done on this." And he kind of like shakes the vial or like push it in the vial, "But good luck."

Markus: "Well he is an expert on Thassilon, so maybe he can help with that?"

Loyal: "Perhaps, you make a good point, I'll go with you."

GM: Alright. Morana, you arrive at the Rusty Dragon as they're in the middle of this game and just about finished with their meal.

Morana: Morana walks in sees 'em there and says, "Well, at least you seem to be enjoying yourselves." Drops into a chair, irritated.

Taury: Taury would completely ignore that you've even come in.

Fenwarin: Fenwarin would turn to Morana, and ask, "What's wrong, what happened?"

Morana: "Tsuto is dead."

Fenwarin: "How?" 

Morana: "Apparently he bit his own tongue in half."

Fenwarin: "That sounds really weird."

Morana: "Doesn't it though? And I would say that ties into strange events in the town. Nobody appears to share my concerns so far." She's completely ignoring the fact that Taury is ignoring her, but not acknowledging Taury, as far as Morana is concerned Taury might not have the perceptive abilities to notice someone walked in.

GM: [Laughs] I'm sorry.

Loyal: [Laughs] Damn.

GM: Continue.

Taury: So unnecessary like this fucking insult.

Loyal: He takes shots at her, just 'cause!

Taury: [Laughs] Like-

GM: That wasn't shots. That was a shot gun.

Loyal: Yeah damn!

Morana: That's a fusillade actually.

Taury: I mean, we have never established that Taury is in-perceptive, we've established she just doesn't care.

Morana: But there could be underlying reasons for not caring.

Taury: Oof oof, oh that hurt.

Morana: "Yes, the sheriff and paladin seem completely unconcerned about what happened. I tell them about the tunnels and they're like, 'Oh yes, well done. Keep up the good work.' But I bring this up and they're like, 'oh, that's just what happens to criminals.' And I'm like, do you not see the correlation between things going on in town? Suddenly someone bites his tongue in half doesn't scream? Ah whatever. This town is utterly fucked." And she orders a glass of wine, and just drinks it.

Fenwarin: Fenwarin is just speechless at the information.

Taury: And Taury at that point grabs the cards like out of Fenwarin's hands because he's clearly not paying attention, and just continues to play on her own.

Morana: High or low Taury? 

Taury: Is this in character you're asking this?

Morana: I'm asking out of character, but it may affect in character.

Taury: Uh, low. Fuck it.

GM: [Laughs].

Loyal: Bam.

Fenwarin: "Ah have some of the rabbit stew, it's very good."

Morana: Morana just eye twitches slightly.

Taury: It's totally not triggered by Taury, no? 

Fenwarin: No it's ah just Fenwarin being, 'Oh, have soup.' And Morana's just like, 'Are you kidding me?!'

All: [Laugh]

Taury: This is just what like Morana does on the daily. She just sits down and has a bench and everyone's like, 'I don't care.'

GM: Alright. That scene feels completed [laughs].

Loyal: Boy, it ends with Fenwarin saying  'Have some stew.'

Taury: That's the most tense like dinner ever.

GM: Right? I love it.

Taury: Oh my god. It's like fucking Christmas dinner with family members you don't like just passing the salt, but it's filled with bitterness.

Fenwarin: Awkward silence. 'Have some food.' [Clears throat]

Taury: [Laughs] Yeah.

GM: Oh, man! [laughs] Markus and Loyal have gone off to me with Brodert Quink.

Loyal: Oh, I met this guy yeah? Technically.

GM: As you approach Brodert, what are you going to be talking to him about?

Loyal: I kind of let Markus take the lead.

Markus: Oh right well, we are going to be talking to him about, not what we going to be talking to each other about sorry.

Loyal: Yeah to him. 

Markus: "Hello, my friend. Are you busy?"

GM: He looks up from his book. "No, no no I'm not busy." He puts a finger in his page and holds it closed in one hand. "Oh, no, I wasn't doing anything at all. How can I help you?"

Morana: "Oh, quite the opposite, I think, well a bit of both, perhaps, turns out you might actually have been right all along?"

GM: He raises an eyebrow.

Morana: "The Old light."

GM: "Yes, I know what it is, go on."

Morana: "You remember the theory you discussed with me when we met for the very first time?"

GM: "Yes, yes, yes, yes. You're being very drawn out about all this."

Morana: "Oh, we recently had cause to speak with a resident there, or I did at least, none of the others seemed to speak the language, but-"

GM: He adjusts his glasses and re-situates himself in his chair.

Morana: "Are you familiar with the term hell flume?"

GM: "As the wench quietly asks, 'Come again?'"

Morana: "I believe that's the terminology or the translation for the name of the construction, constructed by Alaznist on the borders of her region capable of spewing fire for a mile or more directed against Karzoug, who had built similar monuments along his border during a period of ah - of what would - the Cold War I think would be the terminology, translation? And apparently all this, well what's left of the Old Light destroyed in the Starfall." 

GM: "Fasinating." 

Markus: "So yes, it seems your theories were all correct, at least according to a certain quasit that was residing there."

 GM: "Well of course they were correct, they were my theories. Ha, ha ha, ha! Validation!"

Loyal: "As as much as they are- you are excited, I would not recommend sending anyone down there yet, it's yet to be secured."

GM: "Hmm."

Markus: "Oh yes, we still have work to do in that regard."

Loyal: "I guess if I'm not sure how much you may know about this, but we did find a pool of this liquid down there." and I put the bottle of that clava, the liquid rage, essentially. "Do not touch it, it's extremely dangerous. But you can touch the bottle, just don't touch the liquid."

GM: He takes the vial from you and looks at it and, "It's a little cold."

Loyal: "It's very, the bottle may be cold, the liquid, it's much more so."

GM: "Really hmm, seems to be giving off a little bit of a glow."

Loyal: "Yes, it does glow, actually some of it splashed on me, it, that's how I know how cold it is, as well as I resisted it but there was this almost a rage that almost came over me."

GM: "A rage you say?"

Loyal: "Wrath, rage, yeah?"

GM: He uncorks the vial and sniffs at it.

Loyal: "I  wouldn't recommend that."

GM: He looks at you with a furrowed brow of consternation and then re-corks the vial and hands it back to you.

Markus: "Well, there's plenty more of it down there."

Loyal: "There's a lot of it, but I'm not sure if it will be safe to send anyone near it until we figure out how to deal with it."

Markus: On an out of character note, how much would Taury have shared? Would she have shared everything about her examination of it? Or just slight details?

Taury: Oh, absolutely not, just that key points.

Markus: Would she have shared about it collecting rage?

Taury: No. 

Markus: Ok 

Taury: She would have expressed that for one reason or another it was feeding off the room, but I don't think she would have specifically said rage.

Markus: Ok, but she would have phrased it as feeding off the room? 

Taury: Yes, something that was making it like the light was brightening because it was more potent because of something in the room, and then that dissipated. I think she probably would have implied that it was like the sinspawn being killed that made it less powerful. It's probably how she would have phrased it.

Markus: Right ok. 

Taury: Implying that like killing the things is what made it lessen.

Markus: Yeah, ok.

Taury: But she would have been pretty vague.

Markus: Ok back in character. "This collection of energy or rage or whatever it is, seems tied to the sinspawn, in particular it summons them."

Loyal: "Yes, yes when a quasit spilled its blood over this pool and a sinspawn crawled out."

GM: "Hmm."

Markus: "Do you have any idea what this thing might be?"

GM: "None, none whatsoever. Isn't that fabulous?! It's exciting."

Markus: "It is, but it doesn't help us in working out how to get rid of it."

Loyal: "I'll do some tests tonight to see if I can figure something out."

GM: "Hmm." He reaches into his pocket and pulls out a couple of pieces of paper, puts one of them into the book to hold the spot, and the other he puts on the cover and then grabs a pen, and scrawls something down on the note and then hands it to you Markus.

Markus: Ok. 

GM: "Head to the general store and hand this to the to the minder, and he'll put it on my tab."

Markus: "Ok." What's actually written down?

GM: The note has written down a couple of kits for doing archeological digs.

Markus: Ah ok. 

GM: The kits comprised of measuring tapes, journals, paper, charcoal to do rubbings on the paper, ink pen to write in the journal all your findings and stuff. I will find the name for you here in a little bit of what this kit is.

Markus: Yeah, but it's that type of thing.

GM: Yeah. 

Markus: Ok. "This might be a little premature, we're not entirely certain it's safe down there yet."

GM: "That's why I'm getting it for you. You take this kit, you go do all the measurements and bring me all the data. Preferably rubbings of any inscriptions that you might find or, the artistic renditions of things you see, if you can."

Markus: "I see." 

GM: "We need to document this as much as possible. Much of what is known of ancient Thassilon has been lost, and what we do have is what has been gathered from barely legible carvings on the surface monuments, and from adventurers exploring these old ruins, or what we have been able to compile from old myths and traditions of Varisian seers and storytellers. Most of my contemporaries think that Thassilon fell seven to eight thousand years ago, but I think they're older." He taps his forehead as he says that.

Markus: "They pre-dated the Starfall?"

Loyal: I was about to say, when you mentioned that.

GM: "Yeah?"

Markus: "Yeah.

GM: "So I'm right, they did collapse no sooner than ten thousand years ago. Oh, wonderful! I'm right again! Wonderful!"

Markus: The Starfall was what destroyed much of the towers, and presumably a good chunk of Thassilon as well, but I don't know that for certain."

GM: "Ah see many, many think that the Thassilonians were the survivors of the Azlanti, but I thought they were contemporaries to each other, rivals even." 

Markus: "Well there is some similarity, the language obviously incorporates elements of Azlanti but yeah, we can discuss that another time." He glances at Loyal.

Loyal: Loyal will just say "This seems to be out of my area of expertize, I will- I'm going to head back and get a head start on this testing."

Markus: "I'll join you there shortly." 

Loyal: "Alright."

Markus: "Probably have a little to eat and yes."

Loyal: Then he will look at Brodert and say "Nice to meet you." and heads out.

GM: "Yes yes, good to ah... Who was that?"

Loyal: I forgot I never told my name! [Laughs]

Markus: "That was Loyal, one of the companions of mine that went down underground."

GM: "His name is Loyal?"

Markus: "Yes."

Loyal: Here we go.

Taury: Here it comes. I was waiting for it.

GM: "Uh?"

Markus: "Yes, I know, he hasn't explained it yet either."

GM: "Hehe, he doesn't look like a dog ha ha ha." He's obviously more amused with himself at that joke than he should be.

Markus: "Oh, there's another thing you were right about."

GM: "Oh? Do tell."

Markus: "Experience does teach better than books."

GM: "Aaah." He taps the side of his nose, then points, "Yup."

Markus: "Thank you for your help. We'll, make sure everything is documented, but I can't guarantee a time-frame."

GM: He nods and then opens his book back up to where he had saved the page. "Very well. Let me know when you have found things of interest."

Markus: Markus will nod, wave and wonder off. He will call at the general store on his way back to the Rusty Dragon though.

Taury: Classic Markus, shopping still.

Loyal: But do us once we sell his motherfucking dagger.

Fenwarin: Shopping spree.

Markus: Retail therapy and eating are things anyone stops for.

Taury: Nah that's Fenwarin. Oh no way they're the same. [Laughs] 

Fenwarin: Oof.

Markus: Ooh.

Loyal: Man!

GM: I'm sorry.

Fenwarin: No, you're not.

Taury: He's absolutely not sorry.

Loyal: Many shots being fired this session.

Fenwarin: Yeah.

GM: I'm mildly sorry.

Taury: No, I don't believe it.

GM: Ok. I tried to be sorry.

Loyal: I can't believe it.

Taury: Yeah that's closer.

Fenwarin: 'Tried to be sorry' it was not allowed.

GM: Ok. So you all eventually reconvene at the Rusty Dragon.

Loyal: "Anything new?" I just say as I walk in, looking at everyone.

Fenwarin: "Well no, not really, but Morana had some troubling news."

Morana: Morana just blinks at, 'not really'.?

Taury: Taury would roll her eyes like just the minute Fenwarin opened his mouth. She was just like, 'oh for fuck's sake, why did you bring that up?'

Fenwarin: It's important.

Taury: Oh no she didn't say that, she's thinking that.

Fenwarin: Oh, ok, ok.

Morana: "Have a seat."

Loyal: "I'm actually going," I pull out the vial of liquid, "I'm going to start running some tests on this liquid, see what I can find out about it. If there's a way to neutralize it, so on."

Morana: Morana holds out her hand to Loyal and says, "That is the first useful thing anyone has said to me in an hour, thank you."

Loyal: "You're welcome." And he starts walking upstairs to his room. I start running tests and pull out my alchemy lab.

Morana: Did Markus sit down?  

Markus: Ah Markus will be slightly later than that, but when he does arrive.

Morana: Oh I think he said when everyone else arrives, ok.

Markus: Yeah so Markus will arrive, will order some food and will sit down.

Morana: Yeah, Morana now on her fourth glass of wine.

Loyal: Alright. So as far as his tests I'm running, I'm testing for just pretty much all the properties of this thing, I'm trying to figure out specifically, a way to neutralize it, that's the main thing I'm looking for. On top of that, what it does, as well as possibly it's origins, how it's created.

GM: Roll me a Craft alchemy check.

Loyal: I'm good at those, boom! Except when I roll a 2.

GM: The liquid is..

Loyal: I guess there's some bonuses on top of that.

GM: Ok? 

Loyal: There is an additional point, it's a 13 so there's an additional +1 because of the portable alchemy lab.

GM: Ok. The liquid is nowhere near as cold as it was. It's over the course of time has been warming up. It's glow is fading, the orange hue is dissipating. You are detecting amidst the water, traces of silver.

Loyal: Alright, interesting.

GM: But that does seem to be what the components of this liquid are, whatever it was, it's becoming water and silver.

Loyal: So it seems like the liquid itself is just kind of like deteriorating when it's removed from that pool?

GM: Yes, you estimate within 24 hours of removal, it will become holy water.

Loyal: Oh.

Markus: Holy or unholy? 

GM: Holy.

Markus: Interesting.

Loyal: It's really interesting actually. Ok. Is there any way to neutralize it by just like throwing something in? Or does that seem to be the main way to neutralize it by just removing it?

GM: You don't know.

Loyal: Hmm. After the tests have run, not sure how long it takes, if anyone's still downstairs he'll join them.

Taury: You probably meet Taury on the stairs walking back up to her room.

Loyal: "Well, I figured some things out at the very least. I suppose if everyone's leaving, it can wait till morning though."

Taury: She just keeps walking.

Loyal: Take that as a yes, and he'll go downstairs, order food because he hasn't eaten yet.

Taury: And in her room, she's going to start sort of- I want to say polishing, but not properly polishing, trying to get the scratches out of the switch scythe.

GM: Alright.

Morana: Once the others are back at the table, Morana starts filling them in on what's she's found out.

Markus: Ok just laying it out or?

Morana: Yeah.

GM: She's at least a half bottle down in wine so I doubt tact is out the window for her.

Taury: Oh, because she was so tactful before. 

GM: Good point.

Taury: The wine actually makes her more eloquent. She suddenly becomes polite.

Morana: It's taken the edge off her personality anyway.

Taury: I want to hear her slurring explanations.

Morana: She's not that drunk.

Taury: I mean, ok in my head she is.

Morana: And she'll finish off the explanation with, "Yeah, that's where things stand. I don't know what to make of it, I don't understand what's going on in this town anymore. But it seems a bit strange."

Markus: "Yes."

Loyal: "I guess it doesn't make complete- it's not complete nonsense, as wanted to be with I guess, his true love or whatever is described in the journal. And if he probably would never be with her as they were gonna ship him to Magnimar, and he would most likely be sentenced to death there. So I'd imagine he just decided to just end it now. Though I agree, it is a little strange. On a different note, I have determined a few properties of that liquid. First of all, it seems to be deteriorating and whatever it was, it started to not be what it was. It seems to be... Turning into holy water, as odd as that sounds."

Morana: "That, ah right yeah?"

Loyal: "It's made of water and silver."

Markus: "Yes, interesting. Particularly that it's 'blessed'?"

Loyal: "Yes, I guess to be fair, there are different types of deities, so it could be blessed at the same time be evil? If that makes sense?"

Morana: "Nualia had a holy family. Maybe she had training in the same path as her father?"

Markus: "She definitely met the quasit. Her and boyfriend, I'm assuming, that's who our now deceased friend was referring to? Her and Tsuto. It makes sense."

Loyal: "That's my guess. It named the quasit from below, and it was a quasit that is below the town."

Markus: "Yes. The fact that she met both of them is interesting. The fact that the quasit itself appears to have been a follower of Lamashtu."

Loyal: "Yeah it's concerning."

Markus: "And Nualia is now a follower."

Loyal: "Yes, I think, one thing I do notice is that if all else fails, one way to neutralize that liquid is to well, remove it and just let it sit for 24 hours. It's a possible way we could neutralize it." 

Morana: "If we could figure out how to get it all out of there."

Loyal: "With the right equipment, it wouldn't be too hard."

Markus: "It depends how we look when we get there in the first place, if it's an endless well?"

Loyal: "Good point. It looked to be about three feet deep when I originally checked."

Markus: "Yeah Taury seemed to suggest- well, you heard me mention it. Calling out the sinspawn and destroying them would- apparently destroying the sinspawn that it summons makes it weaker?"

Loyal: "I mean, the liquid did look duller after we killed the sinspawn, after the sinspawn was summoned and killed."

Fenwarin: "Should we risk it, though?"

Loyal: "It's a good question. I feel we could, if we get the right equipment we can try and remove it and let it sit. And if that doesn't work, if it continues to fill or seems to be endless, then we can try the other method."

Fenwarin: "Something has still bothered me a little bit. What you said Morana. You said the guard at the sheriff's office was barely even reacting to the fact that you said it was a demon underneath the town?"

Morana: "Oh no, the Sheriff just slap me on the back and said 'Good job. Keep it up!' The Paladin didn't even seem to care."

Fenwarin: "That's very strange."

Morana: "Yeah. You telling me."

Fenwarin: "Well, that's one of many things that's wrong with this town."

Markus: "Only one of many."

Loyal: "There's something weird going on here, and I don't know what it is and it concerns me but... Well, I think the first order of business would be at the very least, to clear out those ruins so there's no risk of attack from below."

Fenwarin: "Yeah, so is that our plan for tomorrow then?"

Loyal: "I believe so."

Markus: "Maybe?"

Loyal: "Secure the ruins, then after that, turn our eyes towards Thistletop perhaps?"

Markus: "No, not yet. Before we go near Thistletop I want to have an understanding of that creature that Nualia is trying to summon."

Loyal: "Yes." 

Markus: "We, we knew there was a quasit in the area. And look at how tough that fight was, we were underprepared."

Loyal: "I'd agree, perhaps we could purchase better equipment, items to assist us, so on, so forth?"

Markus: "And that means earning money."

Loyal: "Well, we do have this." And I kind of just stab the dagger into the table. "It's worth quite a bit."

Markus: "Not openly, please."

Loyal: "Fair enough." I put it away.

Fenwarin: "So should we sell it?"

Markus: "We do."

Loyal: "It's a bit too small for any of us to use."

Fenwarin: "Yeah, I guess it would be better then."

Markus: "Unless you have a familiar you're planning on gifting it to?"

Loyal: "I do not, I feel like it would be best if we sold it to use the money to invest in equipment, materials, whatever we need."

Fenwarin: "I agree, we do need the money."

Loyal: "In that odd shop earlier, I was looking specifically looking for something to possibly assist with, better armor for Taury, as while she is a good fighter, better armor can never hurt. The hide armor she's wearing may not cut it in future?"

Markus: "We certainly get that."

Loyal: "Or just a better weapon. Perhaps we could have that scythe she loves so much enchanted, then I wouldn't have to worry about scratching it."

Markus: "You scratched it?"

Loyal: "When I shoved it in the door to lock, to bar the door."

Markus: "Oh dear." 

Loyal: "I have a feeling she won't be talking to me for a couple of days."

Markus: "How is that different from normal?"

Morana: "I was going to ask how that changed the status quo."

Loyal: [Laughs] "It's a good point. Is there anything else people wish to discuss or. I think it seems like we have our plans?"

Markus: "Do we know for certain it was foul play involved in Tsuto's death?"

Morana: "I looked over the body and I didn't see anything out of the ordinary."

Loyal: "Bit his own tongue off and doesn't doesn't have any marks, no? Nothing?"

Morana: "No, not that I saw."

Loyal: "Well it that's all," And he's like finishing up his meal, "I suppose we should all get a rest for the night, probably need it tomorrow."

 	That's all the time we have for now. To learn more about the show, the cast, etc. head over to http://wayward-expeditions.com/ .