Wayward Expeditions - Rise of the Runelords - Episode 14

 	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: When we last left off last session, you all had had some conversations and a little bit of venting over your evening meal, and then went about your separate ways to turn in or do a little downtime stuff, if you wanted to. So it is the next morning, you're all coming down for breakfast.

Loyal: Ah, Loyal's probably- He's probably down relatively early. Order some breakfast and such, the usual.

Fenwarin: Fenwarin just needed to make sure that everything was packed before going down for breakfast.

Morana: Morana comes down rubbing her temple and, "Ah, god!"

Loyal: "Anything the matter?"

Morana: "Nah, just a headache."

Loyal: "Unfortunately, nothing I have that can help with that. But, ah, did you sleep well, at least?"

Morana: "A bottle of wine will always help you sleep better. It's the waking up that's the problem."

Loyal: "Fair enough." And Loyal will just continue to eat, finish his breakfast, and he'll probably start making his - since they don't take too long to make - start making his infusions for the day.

Markus: Ok. Markus will be down, like, just before they stop serving breakfast. So he'll, he'll, order something, and then either ask Ameiko directly or ask the service to pass the message on, if they can have a word after breakfast is done. 

GM: Ok.

Taury: And Taury would have probably come down a lot earlier and brought breakfast upstairs with her. And she would've been attempting to write a letter, but struggled to write the letter, thrown it away, and eventually probably come down, maybe, probably at the same time as Markus? Probably, maybe just after him.

Loyal: Seeing Taury go back to her room. I just kind of like, turn to Morana and say, "I hope she's not still mad about the other day with the scythe and everything." So, I might as well glance outside. What's the weather looking like today?

GM: It's a foggy morning.

Loyal: Pretty standard.

GM: Bit of mist.

Loyal: I'll ask Morana, "It's normal for there to be, like, a mist over the town in the mornings, yeah? Not super familiar with this place."

Morana: Kinda looks at him, "Just a seaside town. Kind of happens."

Loyal: "Oh, there's been a lot of weird things going on lately, so no harm in wondering."

Markus: "Really? You're just starting to get paranoid about the weather?"

Loyal: "At this point, considering everything that's going on, you never know. Weather can sometimes be a precursor to disaster."

Markus: "Only if people start messing with it."

Loyal: "Well, considering we're dealing with demons, you never know."

Markus: "I'd be more worried about the weather if we were dealing with druids."

GM: Knowledge local, Morana.

Morana: Alright. 

GM: You're listening to this conversation. Yeah. I'm going to go ahead and whisper this to you. 

Loyal: Uh-oh! 

Taury: I don't like that!

Loyal: I was right, motherfuckers! You guys are all doubting me. 

Fenwarin: This is fine.

Loyal: With reason to do so.

Fenwarin: It's fine. 

Taury: It's fine!

Morana: It begins!

Loyal: No one was saying anything, so I'm like, "I'll check the weather."

Taury: Yeah, Morana is going to leave us all to die.

Fenwarin: Yeah, suddenly it's gonna be like "I- I- I just remembered, I had an errand outside of town," yeah.

Taury: "I had a thing. I had a thing. A really important thing."

Fenwarin: Yeah, "I had a thing."[Laughs]

Loyal: That's when we find out Morana is actually a druid and is controlling the weather.

Taury: It's like a mist fucken dragon or some shit.

Loyal: A mist dragon.

Taury: Yeah, literally 'mist'.

Fenwarin: [Laughs] What is this, Final Fantasy Seven?

Taury: I don't understand that reference because I don't like Final Fantasy.

Fenwarin: Well, too bad for you.

Taury: [Laughs] You can judge how awful the thing is based on how long it takes him to DM it.

Loyal: Type, tap, tap, tap, tap, tap,

GM: I don't know what you're talking about.

Taury: Yeah, there we go! When he says that, almost confirmed!

Fenwarin: [Laughs] Something's fucking attacking us.

Loyal: Turns out the fuckin army that they've been raising is already here.

Taury: Yeah, the army- the army never wasn't here. 

All: [Laugh]

Loyal: It was here the entire time.

Taury: They're all going to pull off their masks- 

Loyal: The army-

Taury: -like real comic style, and they're all just fucking goblins. [Laughs] Every one of them.

Fenwarin: They are in the mist?

Loyal: They are them. Every townsperson person here is, like, two goblins in a trench coat.

Taury: Yeah, yeah, yeah. Two or three of them, yeah. Even the horses, the horses are just goblins, just in two ended suits.

Loyal: There are like four of them in the horse. 

Taury: Hmm-mmm. Goblins in a trench coat! [Laughs] That sounds like a movie I'd watch.

GM: Alright. There you go. 

Morana: Ok.

Fenwarin: This is good.

Loyal: He just wrote a really long paragraph saying "yeah, the weather's fine." 

All: [Laugh]

Morana: Morana just kind of sits there for a second. "Yeah. Nah. Anyway, hmm?"

GM: Give me another Knowledge local, Morana.

Loyal: Oh my God! [Laughs]

Morana: Ok.

Loyal: Oh, my God! 

GM: Yeah.

Morana: Alright. 

Taury: Oh boy!

Fenwarin: Oh, what the fuck?

Taury: Don't waste all those good rolls now.

Morana: As it turns out, I'm good at knowing things.

Loyal: Loyal says, "Something on your mind, Morana?"

Morana: She's lost in thought again.

Loyal: We'll go outside and there's like a fucking tornado coming straight for us.

Taury: Worse, it's a tornado with, like, sharks with laser beams in it.

Loyal: Sharknado, yeah. 

All: [Laugh]

GM: That is an appropriate reaction to that. Continue.

Morana: Hmm- Morana frowns and starts muttering to herself in- "..but that...now. What? Hmm! But this doesn't make any- No! But- Hmm! No, no, no, no, no, no. Hmm!" 

Loyal: I kinda just look at Markus and Fenwarin, "Is this normal?"

Fenwarin: "I don't know, I've never seen this before."

Markus: "Morana talks to herself is probably the wrong description, but, yeah, she has conversations that don't involve us."

Loyal: "Alright, fair enough."

Morana: She looks at her doll. "That you don't think that could mean-? No. Because the possibility that- But that doesn't make any sense though, why would that-?"

Fenwarin: "Morana, are you Ok?"

Morana: "No, they'll be fine- Huh? What? Hmm. Oh yeah, I'm fine, just-"

Fenwarin: "What are you mumbling about?"

Morana: "Nah, just thoughts that occur to me, I think of things..." kind of waving her hand like- "Ah, nah-"

Loyal: "Alright."

Morana: "Don't worry about it. It'll be fine."

Fenwarin: "If you say so, otherwise you can go ahead and share."

Loyal: Can I do a Sense motive on that, please? On the "Yeah, it's fine," that, yeah?

GM: Yeah.

Taury: Always Sense motive on the, "It's fine."

Fenwarin: [Laughs] It's a rule of thumb.

Taury: Rule of thumb. Yeah.

Fenwarin: Yeah.

GM: Umm, are you attempting to be diplomatic or bluff with this? Or is it just a straight Sense motive against your general-?

Loyal: Just straight Sense motive.

Morana: One moment.

GM: Oh! I'm getting a message then, back, I see.

Taury: Oh, I don't trust that.

Fenwarin: Oh what is going on?! 

All: [Laugh]

Taury: Loyal's just going to be knocked unconscious. Fenwarin slams him up against the wall, and we're like, "What the shit?!"

Fenwarin: I'm going to do another Matrix trick!

Taury: Yeah, I love that Morana used you as a puppet. It's very satisfying. [Laughs]

Morana: "So, no, no, I was just- I was, you know, thinking about, you, you started asking about the weather, and that's it start, starts bringing in thoughts about, you know, different air patterns and possible storms brewing off of the coast. And, you know, sometimes you start thinking about, you know, old weather that may have sprung from situations in the same vein. It's just one of those things."

Loyal: "Alright."

Morana: "I started thinking about something from a couple years ago, but I don't think it's relevant. The conditions aren't right."

Loyal: "Alright then."

Markus: "Something bad from a few years ago?"

Morana: "No, not really. It just could get really hot in the next few days."

Loyal: "How hot?"

GM: As Morana is talking about weather and stuff, as you say "how hot" in this discussion, you realize you're not actually talking about weather anymore. 

Loyal: Oh. 

GM: And that Morana is actually not a meteorologist. Those don't exist. 

Taury: [Laughs]

Loyal: "We're- We're off the topic of weather now, what, what are you talking about?"

Morana: "Hmm?" 

Loyal: "What- I get the feeling like you're not exactly talking about the weather getting hot, but rather something else. What are we talking about here?"

Morana: "Well, there is potential that somebody's messing with the weather. So I suppose they could have potentially summoned some kind of fog."

Loyal: "Right. Would you have any suspects as to who?"

Morana: "There are a couple possibilities. One, I mean, one probably just a legend. I don't know that I've seen any evidence that it could be it." In the meantime, is there a way to check if, like, detect if the fog is unnatural or-? 

GM: Mmph. No. 

Morana: No.

Loyal: Cool. The laugh followed by that answer. 

Taury: Yeah.

Markus: I'm assuming Detect magic wouldn't if it was an instantaneous effect, so.

Taury: I have a feeling everything from now on is going to be instantaneous for that exact reason.

Loyal: Well, yeah.

Markus: No, some stuff can't be, but- 

Morana: And she starts ticking off her fingers. "Could be some kind of a coven, a hag, there's a legend that there's the spirit of an ancient druid in the area." 

Loyal: "Ah-huh?"

Morana: "Or it could just be a natural phenomenon." 

Loyal: "Right." 

Morana: "And I don't know of any way to tell, so there's not much we can do about it, except deal with the fact that it's moist outside."

Loyal: "Interesting choice of words, but ah-"

Markus: "If in doubt, assume it's natural. If nothing else, it will give you greater peace of mind."

Loyal: "I guess, but kind of hard considering the past, past couple days been a lot of unnatural-" 

Markus: "Really?" 

Loyal: "Well, we fought a demon in an ancient ruin that is a giant artillery weapon, found a pool of liquid rage or something of the sort, as well as fought creatures that I've never seen before."

Markus: "Ok, I know I'm not much of an adventurer, but you came to answer the sheriff's call. I'm assuming you've had some experience?"

Loyal: "Before this, I was a medic. I worked for a Temple."

Markus: "Oh right, Ok. Remind me to loan you a book or two."

Loyal: "Right. Can do."

Markus: "You really should know a bit more about your chosen vocation."

Loyal: "I have no problem with it. It's just a matter of, I feel it might be safe to assume that a lot of things are odd or off."

Markus: "We live in a world where there is ancient and inexplicable magics, the gods themselves can shape the world in ways we can't even perceive, and you think you're not going to encounter odd things as an adventurer?" 

Loyal: "I never said that we wouldn't. It's just a matter of, if that's the case, then it might be safe to assume that things are odd if there are a lot of odd things."

Markus: "I think that depends on your perspective, but yes."

Loyal: "Perhaps. Morana clearly seems to have some sort of idea that something's odd about this fog."

Markus: "Oh, Morana got distracted by shiny thought."

Loyal: "That's fair. Anyways, today we are getting rid of that pool of whatever, yeah?"

Markus: "Good idea. How do you plan on doing that?"

Loyal: "Well, can- one idea I may have is that, I noticed that this material when removed from the pool, does decay into holy water. If we remove it all, perhaps goes away? Decays?"

Markus: "Hmm, Ok. Umm, what happens if that doesn't work?"

Loyal: "Well, then, I hope that some of you have some ideas."

Fenwarin: "Well, we have to be prepared for anything. There might be more monsters coming at us."

Loyal: "It's also true."

Markus: "I don't think, unless anybody's been interfering with it, I don't think we have to worry too much about new monsters immediately."

Loyal: "Hopefully not."

Fenwarin: "Man, I hope you're right."

Markus: "Remember, it was in her domain and she had to actively do a thing to summon them."

Loyal: "It seems she spilled blood in order to summon those creatures."

Fenwarin: "That's true. As long as we don't do that then we might be safe from it."

Markus: "Ah, safe-ish."

Fenwarin: "We know so little of it."

Markus: "Exactly."

Loyal: "Here's what we do know: We know that it's very cold, I can confirm that. When it touches you, it tries to overwhelm you with some, with rage essentially. I managed to shake it off, luckily, but we know that when removed, it, within 24 hours, it decays into holy water. And we know that if blood is spilled over it, then it summons one of those creatures."

Markus: "Yes, and none of that tells us what it is or how to destroy it."

Loyal: "Well, my method of removing it may work. It's possible."

GM: Morana has begun whispering to her doll, but it's not in Common anymore.

Loyal: Do I understand it?

Fenwarin: Do any of us? 

Loyal: Yeah, it's a good question.

GM: I need to look at your Character sheets to know that.

Loyal: I guess I could say my languages: Common, Infernal, Draconic, Chelaxian, Elven, Abyssal. A lot. I have a lot of languages.

Taury: What language is she speaking?

GM: I'm not going to tell. 

Loyal: That's fair. 

Fenwarin: Hmm-mmm.

GM: -Off the bat.

Taury: Well, does Taury know what it is?

GM: I will tell you if you understand what's being said. 

Taury: Cool. 

GM: Alright, Fenwarin.  

Fenwarin: Hmm-mmm?

GM: You are aware of what's being said. 

Fenwarin: Ok. 

GM: So, ah.

Markus: Is it a language I've heard Morana swear in before?

GM: It is.

Markus: Ok.

Loyal: Loyal, would just kind of glance over at her and then, as the group has said this is normal, go back to the conversation. "Taury, you were looking at it for quite some time yesterday, you have any ideas?"

Taury: She shrugs and sort of looks at Markus.

Markus: "We had a discussion. Fundamentally, I think dealing with the liquid might not solve the problem, because I don't think the liquid's the thing that's enchanted. I think it's the receptacle that is."

Loyal: "That would certainly make sense."

Markus: "At which point, dealing with the liquid is going to be a temporary solution, at best. Maybe temporary in the sense of 100 years or so, but."

Loyal: "It's probably best to destroy this thing just once and for all."

Markus: "If we can. And, well, not to put too fine a point on it, if all it does is what we've seen it do, then yes, but if it can do other things as well, it's always a chance it might be useful for other opportunities."

Loyal: "I think I know what you're, what you're, talking about. Considering there is an army forming at Thistletop, from what we understand, this thing was used too, as a long-range artillery weapon."

Markus: "Oh! No, no, ah."

Loyal: "No? Well- There's always a possibility-

Markus: "The long-range artillery weapon was the tower itself. This thing-"

Loyal: "Ah, I see."

Markus: "Um, I don't know enough about what this thing is. It might be it just does what we've seen it do and that's the end of it."

Loyal: "Oh."

Markus: "At which point, yeah, destroy it."

Loyal: "Perhaps, maybe-"

Markus: "Maybe it has other properties. That the fact that it essentially produces holy water is interesting."

Loyal: "I agree, it's definitely interesting. Well, its, its effects seem to be unholy and it- it's- the liquid decays into holy water. Perhaps the holy water is just corrupted in some way?"

Markus: "Perhaps. Anyway, we, we haven't finished exploring down there."

Fenwarin: "Yeah, that's true."

Loyal: "I agree. I think it might be a good idea to clear out whatever's down there, if there are any of those creatures remaining. And then after that, perhaps we could set up and study that pool, see if we figure out some things about it."

Markus: "Maybe, yeah. And, something she said got me thinking. I think there is more, quite a bit more that we have yet to discover in that place."

Loyal: "I agree."

GM: The entire table can give me Perception and Sense motive.

Loyal: Oh god! Ok. 

Fenwarin: Ok. Whoa!

Loyal: Ooh, he got really good!

Fenwarin: Yeah.

Loyal: We got pretty good. Ok.

Fenwarin: Jeez! Nat 20s!

Taury: Get on that, that, that 'nat 20' hype train.

GM: Alright. The entire table, is, as the morning progresses and you're finishing your breakfast and having this discussion, you're becoming increasingly aware that something is going on with Morana. She's started acting strangely. It's both in and out of character at the same time.

Taury: Define 'strange', cause she's strange anyway?

GM: This is a little beyond what you've experienced from her so far.

Loyal: You say that there are a few stranger things going on? Ah.

GM: On top of that, you notice, the rest of the table, that Taury and Morana keep giving shifty glances at each other, trying not to, like, 'notice' each other, but also keeping an eye on each other, very subtly.

Loyal: Is-

GM: There's some tension going on there.

Loyal: I look over at the two and say, "What's going on? What's between you two? What's happening?"

Taury: Taury looks ambivalent like she has no idea what you're talking about.

Loyal: I look her in the eyes. [Laughs]

Morana: Morana blinks, starts a little bit, "Ah, wah, hmmm. What?"

Taury: Taury would stare right back at Loyal.

Loyal: Shakes his head. Looks it at Mor- Looks very, like, confused at the two about what was going on. Looks at Fenwarin and Markus to see if they know, just, like, what their response is to the situation.

Markus: Markus is giving both of them assessing looks right now.

Fenwarin: "I don't know what to make of it. She's whispering to that doll, but I just don't know how to make sense of it."

Loyal: "Clearly, something's going on. Considering we are, for the most part, working together, I feel it might be smart to put these concerns out on the table so we can work through them."

Fenwarin: "Hmm-mmm."

Loyal: "Or at least so we have knowledge of what the hell is going on."

Markus: "Well, the obvious question: Is it going to interfere with what we're going to be doing?"

Loyal: "That's a good question." Looks at the two again.

Taury: Taury would just be looking at you all, slightly confused as to why there's a big concern.

Morana: Morana just has a pensive look on her face. At length, she will say, "I don't think it's anything to worry about just now."

Loyal: "Is it something to worry about in the future? 'Cause I'd like to know if- know it if that's the case as well."

Morana: "If I knew that, I'd be a seer. That's not my line of work." 

Loyal: "Oh yeah, right"

Markus: "Safe to say we all have secrets, or at least private memories we prefer to keep that way."

Morana: "Indeed and such things are not my prerogative to disclose."

Loyal: "Fair enough. So long as it won't endanger us in any way or complicate things to the point of danger, then, I think we'll be fine."

Fenwarin: "That was my thought too. You'll say something if something's coming up, right, Morana?"

Morana: "In this case, yes. But I don't see a need to right now."

Markus: "Good enough for me."

Loyal: "So I guess the plan is to head back down there?"

Markus: "There are a few things we probably ought to take care of first, but yes."

Loyal: "Yes, I know, many of you need to prepare yourselves and whatnot."

Markus: "Yes. And other things."

Loyal: "Alright. So, how much time do you think you'll need? Perhaps we could split up? Get an idea of what we want to do?"

Markus: "For myself, we need to have a conversation about an entirely different topic. But that needs to wait for somebody else to join us. For the rest, after that, maybe a couple of hours, maybe a bit more."

Loyal: "Alright. Do you need us to stay here for that first conversation or is that more of a personal matter?"

Markus: "Yes, because we need to have a conversation as a group, but there is a certain thing that needs to be discussed before we have that conversation. Whether or not that's going to be a public discussion or not is not at my discretion."

Loyal: "Very well. It's alright with everyone?" I just glance around at the table.

Fenwarin: "Yeah, sure."

Morana: "That sounds fine to me." 

Loyal: "Taury?"

Taury: She's gonna nod. You get the impression that Taury probably wasn't paying attention, she was thinking.

Markus: What? Taury ignoring conversation? Never!

Taury: That's unheard of, I know. 

Fenwarin: [Laughs]

Taury: She's such a socialite.

Loyal: "So, ah, what is this conversation you wish to have?"

Markus: "Like I said, there's somebody who needs to be here."

Loyal: "Alright."

Markus: "Were you paying attention when I arrived?"

Loyal: "Ah, I was a bit busy making..." - and I, kind of like, show the infusions that I made - "these. I saw you talking with the- was it the barkeep, yes?"

Markus: "Mmm, yes. You really don't have a clue?"

Loyal: "Not really, no."

Markus: "Fine, I'll spell it out. I need to have a quiet word with Ameiko. Whether she's happy having that conversation in front of the group or not, is another matter." 

Loyal: "Very well." 

Markus: "I imagine she will be, but that's for her."

Loyal: "Very well then. I suppose we must wait for her then now, yes?" 

Markus: Markus will nod.

GM: Bethana approaches the table, clears your dishes away, asks if you guys want anything to drink or if you need anything else.

Loyal: "I'm fine, thank you."

Taury: Taury shakes her head.

Markus: "Not for now, but if she's free?"

GM: She says she'll check.

Markus: "Thank you."

GM: A few moments go by and then Ameiko exits the kitchen and approaches the table. "You wanted to see me?"

Markus: "Yes, it's a matter of some slight delicacy. Um, are you happy talking here or would you rather go somewhere where we can talk more privately?"

GM: "I don't really see the need. Why?"

Markus: "I have in my care currently, certain items that once belonged to your brother." 

GM: "Ok." 

Markus: "Normally, if we were adventurers on the road having slain some bandits, I would have no qualms, but these items belonged to him and now he's gone."

GM: She stands there quietly for a few moments, taking in what you're saying. "So, thank you?"

Loyal: "I believe what Markus is trying to say is, do you want his things?"

GM: "Ah, no."

Markus: "Thank you, Loyal. I was trying to be perhaps a little too circumspect about it."

Loyal: "It's, it's fair. You're trying to be- being careful with your words, I understand."

GM: "No, I appreciate the sentiments, and no, that's fine."

Markus: "Thank you. Well. Thank you, Ameiko. I just wanted to be certain."

GM: "Oh, no problem. If that, if that was all?"

Markus: "Yes, that was everything."

GM: "If his belongings can do some good, that's far better than he's done."

Markus: "Oh, I'm sure they will, yes."

GM: She turns and leaves.

Markus: "Well then, can you guess what the conversation I wanted to have next was?"

Loyal: "Is it the con- I suppose it's probably who gets what, yeah?"

Markus: "Mmm, kind of. More importantly, how are we going to handle disbursement of things? What's the plan for that?"

Loyal: "Well, I suppose we should know exactly what all he had on him. Just lay it out and perhaps it should be put in the possession of the person who will make the most use out of it? I'd imagine."

Markus: "Ok, yes. Can anyone in particular use a tiny returning cold iron dagger?"

Loyal: I pull out the dagger, but, like, subtly, not like, "Oh, ok, I have a dagger," but just subtly it's like, "I don't know if any of us can use this, but we can certainly sell it. According to that odd man in the shop, it was, it seems to be worth quite a lot."

Markus: "Yes, it would be. And what are we going to do with that?"

GM: Alright. Rules for oversized or undersized items: You can use an item that is not sized appropriately for you at a -4 penalty.

Loyal: Nice.

GM: So, it's not that it's completely unusable, but it is difficult because of its size.

Loyal: It's -4 and it also does, like, a D2 damage. 

Fenwarin: [Laughs]

Taury: You know what you do? You give it to Markus and he can actually roll 0. 

Loyal: [Laughs] Ah. I think-

Markus: Oooh! No.

Loyal: It's like, "Well, this could be used, but it's about, it seems to be about the size of a letter opener, so."

Markus: "Yes, my point exactly. And when we sell it, what do we do with it?"

Loyal: "The money? I supp- Well, we all participated in killing that thing, so I suppose we-"

Markus: "Yes, but- Of the items that Tsuto carried, some are far more valuable than others, et cetera. So, how? I would rather not be in a situation where someone just grabs something because they want it and we wind up having to argue about it as a group."

Loyal: I think everyone's staring at Taury at this point, but- 

Fenwarin: [Laughs]

Markus: Markus is pointedly not looking at Taury, but yes.

Loyal: Corner of the eye!

GM: Based on the comments, at least, Loyal is.

Loyal: Just kind of out of the corner of his eye, just, like, one glance.

Taury: Taury looks absolutely confused as to, as to, this accusation. She'll be staring at Loyal. Or staring through Loyal, I should say.

Loyal: "Through Loyal!" Loyal is not effected.

Markus: "The other side of this, we were all there in the church. They, they are still happy to help, but donations?"

Loyal: "Yes, they- It seems we won't be getting much free service from them as often."

Markus: "Exactly. Now, we have within the group, those of us capable of spending the time to memorize healing spells or infusions, or whatever it is your little potions are called-"

Loyal: "Extracts, infusions, it's interchangeable."

Markus: "Ah, Ok. Yes, so we have the means of healing ourselves, just not necessarily in immediacy."

Loyal: "Of course, yes." 

Markus: "So, we have a choice in that if they're going to be asking for donations, if someone who wants to get healing from the temple chooses to do so, they could pay for it themselves?"

Fenwarin: "Yeah, seems fair.

Loyal: "Seems like a reasonable solution." 

Markus: "Yeah?"

Loyal: "And more, of course, I'm more than willing to- help with the hea- If anyone does not want to pay for healing from the temple, then I could certainly help with the natural healing process. As well as faster if we need it."

Markus: "Oh, the other option is, potentially, we start putting together a fund to pay for expenses like that, as a group?"

Taury: Taury rolls her eyes at that, you hear like a deep sigh.

Loyal: "It's not agreeable to you, Taury?"

Markus: "I've heard tales of troops that- Well, each group of adventurers seems to has, have, its own dynamic, so."

Taury: "Well, I would usually operate under the 'finders keepers' rule."

Fenwarin: "I don't think that should apply to our adventuring."

Markus: "But when it's looting dead bodies and you're the one that does the looting, and you come off away with all the loot and none of us helped, none of us who helped you get that victory get anything, then- Well, I think you'll find that as time goes on, we will be less inclined to help you."

Taury: She shrugs.

Markus: "You take my point, I assume?"

Taury: "I think we'll find Morana has a rather nice tiara. I didn't keep that." 

Markus: "Really?"

Morana: "Mainly because I haven't found time to sell it yet. And I was probably going to split whatever I got for it."

Markus: "Mmm, yes."

Taury: "Am I correct to assume that you are all accusing me of being a thief?"

Morana: "No."

Loyal: "Not necessarily a thief, just a bit selfish."

Markus: "I was going to go with 'greedy', but 'selfish' is, yes, perhaps more accurate to what I was trying to convey."

Taury: She, like, leans back in her chair and folds her arms defiantly.

Loyal: "Well, I guess considering Morana mentioned selling, that does bring up another point. How do we plan to sell this dagger?

Markus: "Hopefully, we can persuade one of the merchants in town."

Loyal: "Hopefully they have enough to buy it."

Markus: "I believe there's someone who deals in magic items, so they probably ought to. I don't imagine they'll find a buyer here, but Riddleport, Magnimar?"

Loyal: "Yes, Magnimar tends to have quite a bit to sell. But that would be quite the journey, just to sell a dagger."

Markus: "Yes, but they deal with magic items, so presumably they would have trade connections?" 

Loyal: "Perhaps, yes."

Markus: "I would hope so. Otherwise, they are going to be relying solely on adventurers passing through, which, well..."

Loyal: "Fair enough. Well, nonetheless, what else did you find on Tsuto?"

Markus: "The important one was the journal." 

Loyal: "Of course."  

Markus: "Most of his gear was non-magical, but he did have an interesting ring."

Loyal: "What does it do?"

Markus: "I believe it's something meant to offer protection." 

Loyal: "Interesting." 

Markus: "Mmm. Yes."

Loyal: "I was looking for one of those in that odd shop we found yesterday, but I wasn't really willing to trade this dagger for it."

Markus: "Well. The general discussion, however, seems to me we didn't actually all agree on the splitting of the loot."

Loyal: "Yes, it's does not seem an agreement was made."

Markus: "No."

Taury: "And nor shall we."

Fenwarin: "But we shall, we need to come to a consensus about that."

Taury: "You shall, I shall not."

Markus: "Really? Ok, fine." And Markus will stand up and walk out.

Taury: Is he storming out?

Markus: No. No.

Taury: Oh, Ok. I was going to say, it was like a big dramatic storm, or is he just leaving?

Markus: No, he's just leaving. 

Taury: Ok.

Loyal: Loyal puts the dagger away. "I have some business I want to attend to," and he walks away.

Taury: Taury leans back and puts her hand up to, sort of, call someone over for another drink.

GM: Bethana will come and take your order.

Taury: What's on the menu?

GM: Um, they have rum, ale, whiskey.

Taury: What do they have that's not alcoholic?

GM: Water, milk.

Taury: She'd probably drink milk.

GM: - Ah, various teas?

Taury: Yeah, I feel like she'd drink milk.

GM: Milk? 

Taury: Mmm.

GM: Alright.

Taury: So she would just sit there for the next extended period of time, waiting for everyone to come back, just drinking her milk. And probably attempting to write the previous letter and not succeeding again.

GM: Ok. Ah, so you're drinking milk and writing the letter. Only two people specifically mentioned that they left, did everyone leave? Did I miss that?

Fenwarin: I'm about to. I'm finished with breakfast anyway. 

GM: Ok. 

Morana: Morana is probably not going anywhere. There's nothing really she needs to do right now.

GM: Ok. Morana, you're sitting there talking to your doll and watching Taury struggle to write a letter. Fenwarin. 

Fenwarin: Hmm? 

GM: What are you doing?

Fenwarin: Well, after being disappointed by Taury's answer about how we split loot and everything, I decided to get back to some problem I had coming to Sandpoint. And I'm, I'm looking for more clues as to find out the answer. 

GM: Ok.

Fenwarin: I'm not sure how much I can talk about it.

GM: Ok. Fenwarin, based on what you've seen of the people of this town so far, you're thinking that the person you're looking for likely came and has left. 

Fenwarin: Yeah.

GM: Maybe on their way up towards Riddleport. Or, maybe took a boat to somewhere else. You're going to probably need some sort of diviner's help to get back on this trail.

Fenwarin: I see. 

GM: The only diviner in town that you're aware of, would be Madame Mvashti.

Taury: Fuck that lady! 

Fenwarin: [Laughs] 

Taury: She's the worst. [Laughs] That's so unfortunate.

Fenwarin: Well, any lead is helpful, so Fenwarin is going to make his way there, to her house.

GM: Ok. You knock on the door and no one answers. You wait a little while, you knock again, no answer. Seems like no one's home.

Fenwarin: Ah, and it's just morning right now, right?

GM: Yeah.

Fenwarin: There's no note on the door or anything like that? Just quiet? 

GM: Yup. 

Fenwarin: Well, I'll have to try some other time, see if there's anyone home.

GM: Alright. So leaving there, where are you headed?

Fenwarin: Maybe I can talk to some guards or something? Maybe they've seen anything?

GM: Alright. Give me a diplomacy check. As you are attempting to gather information.

Fenwarin: Yeah, that's not a good one. I'm untrained.

GM: Yeah. Over the course of an hour, you talk to a couple guards and the only information they can give you about new people in town that might have been suspicious, is the people that were in for the festival.

Fenwarin: Hmmm-mmm.

GM: And there were so many people and so much has gone on, both during and since, they have no recollection of any one specific individual over any other.

Fenwarin: And would it be futile to ask them if they saw anything suspicious before the festival?

GM: Give me another diplomacy check? 

Fenwarin: Ok. 

GM: Everything seemed normal.

Fenwarin: Ok.

GM: As normal as a port city with a known Sczarni problem can be.

Fenwarin: Yeah, it was a stab in the dark. I guess my best course of action would be to try later on in the day, see if they're home? 

GM: Alright. 

Fenwarin: So, Fenwarin's a little frustrated right now. Makes his way back to the Rusty Dragon to just relax.

GM: An hour passes, little more, like, maybe an hour and a half total. For Fenwarin's absence, does everyone else reconvene around the same time? Or a few of you out longer than that?

Loyal: Loyal has some actual specific things he wants to do.

GM: Alright. What's Loyal up to?

Loyal: Ok, so Father Zantus mentioned that Taury had a brother and he was a bouncer at where?

GM: The Pixie's Kitten.

Taury: Does Loyal know what that is?

GM: He does not. 

Loyal: Nope!

Taury: Okay, great. 

Loyal: I'll ask around for it.

GM: Give me a Diplomacy check?

Loyal: Ha, not great for that. Low charisma. Yeah!

GM: Alright, the people you ask about where this place is, refuse to talk to you most of the time. A few of them blush and run away. A couple of them just laugh and walk away.

Loyal: I think I know where this place- what this place is.

GM: It takes you about an hour to find directions to an easily located place down near the wharf. You do manage to find out before you head there that it is a brothel.

Loyal: I figured as much. Alright. I, kind of like, fix my hood.

GM: You know what? Let's go ahead and switch to the map.

Loyal: Oh boy, there's a map for it? Oh yeah, there's a map.  I thought it was a map for the brothel just alone, I'm like, "Oh, really?"

GM: [Laughs] Maybe.

Taury: No, there's a slideshow for that.

Loyal: Oh, I see.

Fenwarin: Ah!

Taury: An animated PowerPoint presentation.

Loyal: [Laughs] Ah, what number is it?

GM: The Pixie's Kitten is number 43.

Loyal: Ah, cool, like a 10-minute walk from the tavern.

GM: Yeah, if that.

Loyal: Just walked in circles for like an hour.

GM: Ah, yeah. Well, you had gone up to the cathedral and started your search from up there.

Loyal: Yeah. 

GM: So, you were on the other end of town from it, starting in an area where the people are less likely to go there, so, yeah. The Pixie's Kitten: Many of Sandpoint's crasser locals have a much more colorful name for this establishment. But Kaye Tesarani, a female human, she runs the town brothel with class and distinguished grace. She pays her girls and boys quite well and the three Shoanti bouncers she employs are more than enough to handle troublemakers. Although prostitution isn't illegal in Sandpoint, the Scarnettis have long lobbied for it to be outlawed, publicly condemning the Kitten as a place where vice and criminal activity can take root.

Loyal: Fun. Alright.

Taury: I hope Loyal brought his dollar bills.

Loyal: [Laughs] I got some gold, I guess.

GM: As you approach the Kitten, two of the bouncers are outside. One of them is tossing somebody. The other is being a normal door guard. And as you approach and see this, out of the Pixie's Kitten, is walking the sheriff.

Loyal: [Sniggers] Ok. I will just, kind of like, move my hood to where he doesn't notice it's me. Kind of try, hopefully.

GM: You stick out. "Oh, hey! You're with that group-" He snaps fingers a couple times thinking, "Right, the heroes! How how could I forget your obnoxious lot?"

Loyal: "Some more obnoxious than others."

GM: "Did you come looking for me?"

Loyal: "No, I'm just here to ask someone a few questions."

GM: He looks a little confused. Scratches his head, "Ok", and walks on.

Loyal: "Alright, that's interesting." I'll walk up to the bouncers. "Ah, pardon, I was told that- Well, I want to talk to one of you, I'm not sure which one. Do either of you have a sister?"

GM: They both look at each other and look at you. "Why?" one of them asks.

Loyal: "I just-"

GM: -Narrowing his eyes.

Loyal: "I just have questions about one of your sisters, if you have one? I- I've been"

GM: The other one steps up and raises a hand, "You're coming here asking a question like that?"

Loyal: "Yes, I-"

GM: "You just turn around and leave right now."

Loyal: "I'm with the he- I'm with the heroes, I work with them."

GM: "La-dee-freakin-da!"

Loyal: "I have- I have no quarrel with any of you, just a few honest questions."

GM: "You don't yet but you're about to."

Loyal: I pull out some gold, "How much?"

GM: They look at each other in disbelief. One of them, without even looking back at you, just smacks your hand. However much gold you pulled out of your pocket goes flying.

Loyal: Like, five.

GM: "Can you believe this guy?"

Loyal: "I just have questions, that's literally it. Why's everyone in this town, so rude?"

GM: "Just walk away." 

Loyal: "Whatever." 

GM: "You can take your coin with you if you want, but walk away."

Loyal: I pick up the coin- Pick up the coin, walk away. I could do a thing here. Hmm. Hmm.

Taury: Do the thing, go on, do the thing! Always do the thing!

Loyal: Do the thing?

Taury: If you have an option to do a thing, do a thing. That's what I say. 

Loyal: Ok.

Markus: It depends on what the thing is.

Taury: I mean, he already suggests that he wanted to buy one of their sisters, so I, I don't think, I don't think it can go much further wrong.

Markus: Oh, I know! 

Taury: You know? 

Markus: But, still. 

Loyal: Oh, shit! Ok, sisters are a different thing here, Ok. Oh boy!

Markus: You were told what this place was!

Loyal: Yeah. List- I just- Hmm! [Growls]

Markus: Anyway, carry on, carry on. 

GM: [Laughs]

Loyal: Fuck it, I'll do the thing! Ok?

Taury: Such a sweet boy,

Fenwarin: [Laughs]

Taury: Such a sweet, sweet boy and he's getting caught so hard. Oh, man!

Fenwarin: Right? That, that little growl. [Growls]

All: [Laugh]

Loyal: Ok, since I can do this, I'll go around the corner, pull out my alchemy kit, I'll disable my Cure light wounds infusion and make a Disguised self infusion.

Taury: Oh, please, please put on tights?

Loyal: Tights? 

Taury: Yeah.

Loyal: Oh, I got to think of a character for this shit now, Ok.

Taury: Fucking netted tights. Go full drag! Do it, please?

Loyal: I could just be the sheriff?

GM: Alright, if I'm not mistaken, Disguise self lets you change your physical appearance, but not your clothes. It's not a glamor-type illusion effect, right? It's only like a physical polymorph transmutation?

Loyal: Aaah, let me look. Oy!

GM: Alter self does kind of both, like-

Loyal: "Make yourself, including clothing, armor, weapons and equipment look different."

GM: Ok, so it is the whole shebang.

Taury: Fishnet tights!

Loyal: Oh yeah, full thing.

Markus: Yeah, Disguise self is an illusion, Alter self is transmutation.

GM: Describe your new appearance, please? 

Fenwarin: [Laughs]

Loyal: Oh, fuck! Ok. 

Loyal: Let's go with- Ok.

Taury: She-Hulk.

Loyal: Let's do this shit! She-Hulk? Yeah. 

Fenwarin: [Laughs]

Loyal: No, it's not great. He looks like a normal human. He is clad in, well, we'll go with studded leather armor. He has- Firearms are a thing in this, in this, world, yeah? He just has a single pistol on his hip in a holster, has a cowboy hat. Yeah, you can imagine what I'm probably making- what, what he looks like right now!

Taury: What color is the cowboy hat and does it have glitter on it?

GM: [Laughs] Fair question.

Loyal: Just brown.

Markus: Or rhinestones?

Loyal: And no! A rhinestone? Ah, fuck it! There's a- In the center of the cowboy hat, there's a very large 'M'- 

GM: Alright.

Loyal: - That is just, like, bejeweled on there. Because fuck it, why not?

Taury: Excellent. Thank you. [Laughs]

GM: [Laughs]

Taury: That's what I wondered.

Loyal: What the fuck is his name? It has to start with 'M'. Shit! Ah-

Taury: His Majesty. 

Loyal: I'm doing this, like, around co- I do this around the corner so no one fucking sees. 

GM: Alright, give me a stealth check?

Loyal: Shit! Ok.

GM: 'Cause you're trying to hide from people.

Loyal: I guess I drop my shit so I'm not encumbered anymore, just like put the bag down.

GM: You're going full ostentatious. This is going to be good.

Loyal: Ah. [Laughs] Ok. 

Fenwarin: I see no way this can backfire. 

Taury: Yeah.

Loyal: [Laughs] There are so many ways this can backfire! This is not going to end well.

Fenwarin: It's gonna be fine!

Taury: There's so much innuendo.

Loyal: Ok, ok, ok, ok.

GM: There are a few people walking in the street, not many. You managed to get into, ah, a alleyway or something right between some buildings where you're pretty sure no one saw you do this transformation.

Loyal: Cool. So I drink it-

GM: The levity of this scene after the tension of the previous, just, it's perfect. I love it. Keep going. 

Loyal: [Laughs]

Taury: What kind of shoes is he wearing, by the way? 

GM: [Laughs]

Taury: Are they heels or are they like studded fucking goth boots?

Loyal: Ah, well, they're cowboy boots with, ah, very loud jingly spurs.

Taury: Of course, and they have 'M's on the side of them as well?

Loyal: Yes. 

GM: [Laughs]

Loyal: I was literally about to say that.

Taury: I needed to see it.

Loyal: Fuck, what is his name? Ah. I was about to say 'Matt', but I'm like, ah, it sounds like 'Matt Mercer'.

Taury: It has to be an innuendo, a double entendre.

Loyal: Innuendo.

Taury: It just has to be.

Loyal: Ah, what's his stage name? Go with that. Ah, Ok, got it in my head. Cool.

GM: Alright, so you've changed, you're coming back around the corner now, and going right back to them?

Loyal: Damn right. Damn right. [Laughs]

GM: Ok. You walk around the corner, you see one guy at the door. The other bouncer you had talked to seems to have gone back inside.

Loyal: Cool, cool. Ah, he is just, he's just going to stroll up, chest high, like full posture, smiling, strolling on forward.

GM: The bouncer gives you a quick up and down as you walk by him.

Loyal: I just kinda tip of the hat, ah, "Howdy."

GM: Give me a Disguise roll.

Loyal: Ok, it's +10 on this, so. 

GM: Yup.

Loyal: Maybe more?

Taury: If he succeeds, that bouncer is gonna have to roll to save.

Loyal: [Laughs] How can he roll a save?

Taury: To not swoon.

Loyal: Yes. Yes!

Taury: That's swooning! 

Loyal: [Laughs]

GM: That is a decent roll, sir.

Loyal: Yeah. 

GM: He just gives you a nod and as you walk right by him, he doesn't even attempt to stop you.

Loyal: All righty. Stroll- I guess I stroll on into the establishment then?

GM: Alright. As soon as you enter the establishment, you're hit by the smell of perfume and incense, commingled in the air.

Loyal: Back to full posture. It's fucking obvious when he walks in too, his fucking boots are jingling. 

GM: Oh, yeah.

Loyal: I'll just take a look around, see what people might know information around here.

GM: Alright. As you're looking around, a Elvish boy, maybe around 16 approaches you in, ah, Aladdin-type dress. You know, the little tiny vest-

Loyal: Yeah, fez?

GM: And the big bazzy- baggy pants. No fez, but-

Loyal: Ah, I got you.

GM: That vest and pant-type combo. No shoes.

Taury: He's a child. 

GM: He looks you up and down he goes, "How can I be of service to you?" 

Taury: Oh no! 

Fenwarin: [Laughs]

Loyal: Hmmm. [Laughs] Loyal would just- still smiling through the, fucking, how much he hates this situation, ah, he says, "Oh, I'm ah- I'm not here to, uh, to, for anything. I just have some questions for people, but ah, here, run on-"

GM: "Oh, you're not interested in me? Ok." He waves over a halfling woman. She looks to be, you know, somewhere in 30 to 40s. "Oh, how can I help you?"

Loyal: [Sighs and laughs] Ok, let me think. [Laughs] "Is a- Oh, I just ah- taking a look around, I'm, ah, new in town." I'm afraid to look at the gifs in the Discord right now.

Taury: [Laughs] Yeah, you shouldn't do that.

Markus: Yeah, don't.

Loyal: Yeah, they're not great. [Laughs]

Taury: It'll, it'll take you out of character.

Markus: Yeah.

GM: Please stay in the moment.

Markus: Just focus on the scene. 

Taury: Do it!

Loyal: "Oh, I know. You know, ah, I'm a bit lonely. Just, just want someone to talk to."

GM: "Oh, you're one of them." 

All: [Laugh]

Loyal: [Breathes] Acting.

GM: "Is, is, is this a private conversation? Do we need a room or is the lounge-?" She points over at a large, overstuffed couch. "Will that be acceptable? Do you want any drinks?"

Loyal: "Ah, no drinks, thank you. I like to keep my mind clear, but, ah, but perhaps a private conversation could do well." I hate my life.

GM: "Alright, honey, follow me." She takes you to a backroom. 

Loyal: Hmm. [Laughs] 

GM: There's just a bed in the room.

Loyal: Oh boy! Oh boy oh boy!

Taury: Ay, somebody's getting some!

Loyal: [Laughs] Definitely not! [Laughs] Not his plan, not his plan!

Taury: I don't, I don't know that you have a choice.

Loyal: [Laughs]

GM: She goes over and jumps up onto the edge of the bed and pats it for you to sit down with her. "Might want to take off those jangly spurs, make yourself a little more comfortable?"

Loyal: "Ah, really I'm fine. Like I said, I just need to talk."

GM: "You don't want to ruin the bedspread, honey."

Loyal: "Oh. Really, I'm fine." Can't take them off 'cause they're an illusion. Fuck! [Laughs]

GM: We know this out of character, yes.

Loyal: Fu-. He knows, he knows this too!

GM: Yeah, but come on.

Taury: You can bedazzle them and make them think that you can magically take your clothes off, I don't know. 

Loyal: Can I? I don't think- Yeah, I can't. Yeah, I just-

GM: The 'M' now stands for 'Full Monty' as she attempts to get you to strip. 

All: [Laugh] 

Loyal: Ah!

Taury: And in your own head, you can just hear us all out of character chanting at you. "Strip, strip, strip!"

Loyal: Yeah.

GM: [Laughs] Anyway, continue.

Loyal: "I can stand, it's really no problem. Really, I just need to talk, ah-"

GM: "Teetotaller and a prude? I don't know where you all come from. Well?"

Loyal: "Well, I, ah- There's this woman I know, I've been told that her-"

GM: "Wait, wait, before you start, my rates are two copper a minute. That's for the talking part. If you want anything extra we'll talk about that too."

Loyal: "It's no problem. Ah, well, so, ah, I know this woman, ah, she has a brother here, works as, works as a bouncer, and I just, ah, wanted to talk to him with a few questions about her, because, ah-" Oh God, I'm gonna hate myself for this! "Ah, well, let's just say, ah, she's piqued my interest."

GM: She looks very confused to this. "And you want her brother's permission?"

Loyal: "Ah, just want to, just want to, ah, ask a few questions, what she likes and so forth."

GM: "You haven't been able to figure that out on your own? You are helpless."

Loyal: "Suppose I am."

GM: "Didn't you just say you were new in town? How are you sweet on a girl already?"

Loyal: "Ah, I knew her from a long time ago. It's a, it's a long story." 

GM: "It's your coin." 

Loyal: Ok, out of character. Do we know Taury's last name or no?

GM: You do not.

Taury: Yeah, you don't.

Loyal: "Perhaps it was mentioned, her name's Taury. She has a brother who works here."

GM: "I'm afraid I don't know."

Loyal: "Hmm. Well, do you know any ah- Which- Do you know which of the bouncers may have sisters?"

GM: "I'm sure all of them."

Loyal: "Oh boy, alrighty. Well, ah, thank you for your time." Just pull out two gold. "Keep the change, it's fine."

GM: "Well, at least you're generous."

Loyal: "That I pride myself on."

GM: "Come back any time."

Loyal: "Of course." I'll just head back out into just the main lounge area. "Oh God! Is there like a bartender or something in here?"

GM: There is.

Loyal: Well. That probably would have been smart to do first.

GM: It's an elvish lady. She is dressed all in black and yellow silks, very see-through, very revealing. Nothing left to the imagination whatsoever.

Loyal: Right. Alright. He- Still just keeping the act up, he walks up and says, "Can I get a drink? What you got back there?"

GM: She looks you up and down and goes, "I got just what you want." And she puts a shot glass down on the table, uncorks a dusty bottle from the top shelf-

Loyal: Oh no.

GM: Pours you a shot and slides it over. "Oldlaw whiskey," puts it back on the shelf.

Loyal: "Seems good." Takes the shot. Hmm, going to regret this.

GM: Give me a Fortitude save.

Loyal: Yeah.

Taury: Oh my God! If he comes back drunk, I'm gonna laugh so hard.

Loyal: Ok, that's fine. I think it's fine.

GM: It's really strong whiskey. We're talking like equivalent of, like, an 18-year age minimum. 

Loyal: Oh God! 

Fenwarin: Oooh!

GM: That's pretty good.

Loyal: Right. "I came in town just asking questions. I'm looking for, ah, a brother of a friend of mine. I was told he works as a bouncer here."

GM: "Oh, you're gonna dual him?"

Loyal: "Ah, well, no. Just concerned about my friend and want to ask some questions."

GM: At the lack of revenge, she seems completely disinterested in anything you're saying now.

Loyal: "But perhaps it could, ah, turn out to a fight, who the hell knows? This town's been a bit odd to begin with. So, do you know- My friend's name is Taury. Do you know of a bouncer who works here who has a sister by that name?"

GM: She shakes her head, no.

Loyal: "Hmm, that's unfortunate."

GM: "For five gold I'll ask around?"

Loyal: "That's very kind of you." Takes out five gold, slides it. 

GM: She slides it right off the counter onto the floor, you hear it clank.

Loyal: "Well, I guess I'll just, ah, wait here for now?"

GM: "You want another?"

Loyal: "Oh, I'm, ah, fine. Don't want to addle the mind too much."

GM: Alright, let me look up the price for the Oldlaw whiskey.

Taury: And ya'll judge Taury for her money and her greed? And, here he is throwing money at a whore house.

Loyal: This is my money, money I started with.

Taury: This is divine justice. [Laughs]

Loyal: This is money that was equally split amongst all of us, I'd like to point out, so it's now mine.

Taury: This is, this is your retribution for damaging her switch scythe. That's what this is.

Loyal: Oh, my God! 

GM: [Laughs]

Taury: This is God's work.

GM: Here we are, Oldlaw whisky...

Taury: I love that you have a cowboy too. [Laughs]

Loyal: It's the first thing that came into my head. [Laughs]

Morana: Look, at least he forewent the assless chaps.

Taury: That's in my head now. Thanks for that.

Morana: You're welcome.

GM: Alright, Oldlaw whiskey: It is a single malt whiskey made from a recipe that was developed about 200 years ago, and is a favorite alcoholic beverage of old soldiers everywhere.

Loyal: Ah, fun.

GM: It costs 20 gold per bottle.

Loyal: Oh God, I was about to say "per shot?", I'm like "Arr!"

GM: So, that will cost you one silver per shot.

Loyal: That is fine. Pay the silver.

Morana: No tip? You monster!

Taury: I think, you are, he's going to get that soon.

Loyal: Tip her the five gold.

GM: Go ahead and give me a Perception check while you're here. 

Loyal: Oh boy!

Taury: Drinking shots on your own is so sad. Oh my God!

GM: In a brothel?

Taury: Yeah.

Loyal: Hell, yeah.

Taury: I feel so bad.

Loyal: In a brothel, yeah. [Laughs]

Taury: It's so sad.

Loyal: Alright, I've never said he was charismatic. His charisma is 8. Ok? So...

Taury: Well he's in a brothel, so we know he's not charismatic. 

GM: [Laughs] 

Loyal: It's fair.

GM: Burn! Alright. As you're sitting there finishing your shot, waiting a little bit for whatever you think you're waiting for, you're overhearing people talking, people about to approach you and whatnot. And, as you're looking around and stuff, you notice the halfling you talked to. Every time someone starts to, like, get interested in you and maybe go over to proposition, she like, waves them off and, like, does like a 'no' sign, like, the hand across the throat, like waving type thing of, like, 'nah'.

Loyal: Bitch! Ah, god damnit! Well then, I will see if I can- If someone starts to approach me, I'll see if I can intercept to just have the conversation start up, with that before she interrupts.

GM: Alright. The next person that gives you this opportunity would be that Elvish boy from before.

Loyal: Oh boy! Sure. I will talk to him.

Taury: Oh boy, he's going to get arrested! [Laughs]

Loyal: May end up that way. It's definitely possible.

GM: I'm going to give you the option here. Would you like this to be small talk and we shift scenes away from you right now, or do you want to RP this out and see how tragic this becomes?

Loyal: I am going to commit and RP this out! 

Taury: Yes! 

GM: So be it.

Loyal: 'Cause I'm not a bitch.

Taury: What a good soldier! 

Loyal: [Laughs]

GM: I gave-

Taury: Yass queen! Yass.

GM: I gave you the out.

Loyal: He gave me the out and I'm not taking it.

Taury: You absolutely should have, I reckon. But, go ahead.

Loyal: Oh, I bet I should have, but I'm gonna regret this, but it's fine.

Taury: Do it, take the bullet, in more, more ways than one.

GM: [Laughs] Start this conversation, sir.

Loyal: "Ah, hi there. We met earlier, yeah? Never caught your name?"

GM: "Really, you care about my name? Really?"

Loyal: "Well, I like to know the name of acquaintances I meet, ah. It's common courtesy."

GM: "You can call me Sam."

Loyal: "Nice to meet you, Sam. Ah, now, listen, I was just, ah- I have a friend in town, kind of concerned, I need a- looking for her brother, works as a bouncer here. Her name's Taury. Would you know, ah, anyone with a- who has a sister named Taury? Specifically works a bouncer?"

GM: "Is that Warborne?"

Loyal: "I haven't heard the- I'm not sure of her last name, she never mentioned it, but, seems like it would suit her. Yeah."

GM: "Hmm, well, I think his name is Tauric."

Loyal: "Hmm, interesting. Is he on the job right now or no?"

GM: "No. No, not today."

Loyal: "It's a shame. Do you know what days he does work?"

GM: Ah, he looks contemplative for a moment, he goes, "You know, I don't. I do know that if you're looking for him, you can probably find him at the House of Blue Stones."

Loyal: "Thank you. Would you know, ah, where that is in town here?"

GM: "Well, certainly." He gives you the directions.

Loyal: "Thank you, ah, thank you for your help. Ah, it's nice meeting you, Sam." And then I will, I'll hand him five gold.

GM: "Oh, thank you."

Loyal: "It's for your help. Thanks for the information." And he will walk out with a stride.

GM: Alright. The House of Blue Stones is number 19.

Loyal: Gotcha. So, approximately how long was I in there? How long did that whole endeavor take? Took an hour to find it.

GM: Fifteen minutes.

Loyal: Ok, cool, cool. Well, it took me an hour to find the place. So I've been gone for an hour fifteen. That's, like, right next to the Glassworks. 

GM: Yup.

Taury: I mean, you didn't partake in any of the leisure activities.

Loyal: It's true, for a good reason, but I won't say that reason.

Morana: So you're saying it could have taken an hour and 17 minutes?

GM: Ah, got him! 

All: [Laugh]

Taury: No, that would be if it was Fenwarin. 

All: [Laugh] 

Morana: Oof!

GM: Double got him.

Fenwarin: Oh. Ooh!

Loyal: He will stride out and- You can just drop Disguise self when you want, yeah? Or does it stay for the full hour?

GM: If the spell has a D in parentheses, that means it is dismissible. Otherwise, it has to play out its duration.

Loyal: It is dismissable. So yeah, around the corner again, he'll dismiss it and, at this point, head back to the tavern.

GM: Alright. 

Loyal: You see him walk in, "I hate this town." Goes up to his room.

GM: [Laughs] Just right by the table, straight up to his room? 

Loyal: Yup. 

GM: Alright. Those of you at the table - which at the moment I think is just Taury and Morana - as he walks by, like, you'll get that wake of after he's a few steps past, that scent of the incense and perfume just wafting off of him. 

All: [Laughs]

Taury: He'd probably get a judgemental look from Taury as he walks past.

Loyal: Doesn't even acknowledge it.

Morana: "Did, did something smell like whores and depression?"

Taury: Taury smirks.

GM: Ok. Markus, is there anything you needed to do before we reconvene the group?

Markus: Oh, yes!

Loyal: Oh boy!

Taury: Another whorehouse!

Loyal: Yes. Hopefully he finds a second one!

Taury: Let's go!

Markus: No!

Loyal: This one's like Felix's shop, except it's a whorehouse.

GM: I feel another complete tonal change, honestly. 

Fenwarin: [Laughs]

Markus: Yeah, yeah. Markus doesn't go very far when he goes outside. He's going to the Mercantile League.

GM: Alright. 

Taury: The what?

Morana: The shops.

Taury: Oh.

Markus: No, number 40.

GM: The guild that runs the shops, sets the prices and manages trade in and around Sandpoint. 

Fenwarin: That too!

Taury: It's, it's surprising that Markus is going shopping.

Markus: Markus is not going shopping.

Morana: No, he's become Karen. He's requesting to speak to the managers.

Taury: [Laughs] Yes. 

All: [Laugh]

Taury: That's exactly it.

Markus: No, not even that.

Taury: No, 100 percent, he's requesting to be the manager, 'cause they're so incompetent. [Laughs]

GM: [Laughs] Please continue, Markus. The rest of you, shut up.

Markus: Markus is going in. The first thing he's doing is looking at the board of postings for ship timings.

GM: Oh.

Markus: Specifically, when's the next ship to Riddleport?

GM: In two days.

Markus: Ok. At which point, Markus would then return to the inn, go immediately upstairs without saying anything to anyone as he's passing, and go straight to his room.

GM: Ok, so we'll say about two hours time from when the group dispersed to when they reconvene, roughly. Sound good?

Morana: Well, while everyone is gone, you said Taury was, like, trying to write and then tossing it out, and trying to write and tossing it out?

Taury: Yeah, like anything she wrote was sort of not really good enough, not really what she was trying to write.

Morana: At some point in this, Morana will kind of look up and just say, "The words can be difficult sometimes, can't they?"

Taury: And she looks at you and sort of considers you for a second and-

Morana: There's no snark on her face.

Taury: Yeah, no, she nods like curtly in a more, like, friendly kind of way.

Morana: "I know that feeling from time to time."

Taury: And she puts away her pen and paper. -Quill and paper, I should say, parchment.

Morana: "What are you trying to write?"

Taury: "Nothing, it would seem."

Morana: "Well, no. That's what you've ended up writing, not what you're trying to write."

Taury: "Does it matter? The results are the same, equally poor."

Morana: [Sighs] "I'm trying to think of how to verbally word what's coming to my mind. Obviously, I was careful with what I've said this morning."

Taury: "I hadn't noticed." Clear sarcasm.

Morana: "Yeah, that's about the response I expected. It's an interesting situation, one I've not run into before."

Taury: "Well, it would seem now that everyone is going to run into it."

Morana: "Not by my doing."

Taury: "Hmm, you don't think so?"

Morana: "I was very serious when I said that some things are not my prerogative to say."

Taury: "And yet you allude to them anyway."

Morana: "I had to say something."

Taury: "Did you?"

Morana: "You know how they are. They would have kept asking."

Taury: "They would know nothing if you didn't open your mouth."

Morana: "They read it off my face." 

Taury: "No, I doubt that. 

Morana: "Oh, and I was the only one shooting glances at people?"

Taury: "Well, mine was prompted."

Morana: "Hmm, I get that you're this brutish stand-offish type. It's a boring look."

Taury: She laughs pretty heartily at that. "And you are not stand-offish yourself?"

Morana: "I prefer the term 'aloof'."

Taury: "Of course you would, but it is the same thing dressed up differently."

Morana: "Perhaps."

Taury: And she's, like, eyeing up the doll.

Morana: "But it garners a better rapport."

Taury: "I have learned that rapport is less important the more you travel the world."

Morana: "It can be, but it doesn't always lend itself to - What's the word I'm looking for? - Engendering cooperation.

Taury: "Well, I find that people will always like you until they deliberately uncover a reason not to."

Morana: "And what makes you think I take it as that?"

Taury: "Well, there's a tone."

Morana: [Sighs] We're going into past experience dictating the belief of future results. That's not how the world always works."

Taury: "Well, do tell me how it does work?"

Morana: "Well, as I said, I am not a seer, so I don't know how they would react to certain things. However, I can assure you that from my direction, given my-" and she kind of looks up, thinking for a moment, "proclivities, we shall say."

Taury: "Afflictions."

Morana: "I would never consider them such, unless you consider yours one?"

Taury: She doesn't say anything.

Morana: "Circumstances of our being can be taken as an affliction or they can be used as, a, necessarily a bonus, 'boon' is a little too strong, but they can be used in a way that makes them a strength."

Taury: "You would opt for harnessing such things?"

Morana: "If it improves your life then what else would you do with it?"

Taury: "Well, I think that ship has sailed rather long ago."

Morana: "I wouldn't be so sure. Things lately have become a situation. Certain things can be useful in situations, even ones that have been considered an affliction in the past."

Taury: She looks noticeably intrigued at what you're saying, but it'd be hard to tell what her reaction is, like, what she's actually thinking.

Morana: Of course. "And what I'm saying is... hmm, you can either... hmm, no that's not exactly-" Trails off a little bit. Looks at her doll, looks back at the table. "What I'm saying is that everyone, being who they are, can increase the possibility of actually doing well at what we need to do, but unless we are working as a team in these situations, it can go very badly very quickly. And I know that we have already had - I wouldn't even call them diff- well, differences of opinion, I suppose - but that doesn't preclude the fact that right now we need each other. That goes for all of us. All that is to say I won't look at you any differently and I will ensure that they do not as well."

Taury: "I would much prefer if they did not know."

Morana: "They won't find out from me."

Taury: "And what of your friend?" She looks at the doll and she sort of gestures to it.

Morana: "Considering she only speaks to me, for the most part, in my experience anyway, never seen her speak to anyone else, I don't see her starting now."

Taury: "And what is she, your pet or something? A person you know?"

Morana: "Hmm, not in so many words. She teaches me things."

Taury: "And she is helpful?"

Morana: "Oh, yes. All of the things that I can do are due to her."

Taury: "So then she controls you?"

Morana: "No. Almost more symbiotic than that."

Taury: You see doubt on her face. "Where I come from, most things come at a price."

Morana: "That's everywhere and all things."

Taury: "And have you paid a price?"

Morana: Morana actually looks away sharply at that.

Taury: Taury is going to smirk and sit back in her chair. "I thought as much."

GM: Sense motive.

Morana: Ah, from who? 

GM: From Taury.

Taury: Hell yeah, son. I don't know why, but I just love the Sense motive, like skill. Ho-ho! 

Loyal: Nice.

GM: Very nice. As you sit back and smirk, feeling like, 'yeah', you realize that the expression is of intense emotional pain. Whatever memory was just triggered, it's not a slight unpleasantness or a mere discomfort.

Taury: It's trauma?

GM: Yeah. 

Loyal: Oof!

Taury: And how does, ah, Morana look now?

Morana: You can tell she is struggling and she says, "The price that I paid was no more voluntary than any that you may have."

Taury: "Well, then I should think we are the same."

Morana: "Random fate dictates all things, and that is why, no matter their plans, the gods fail."

Taury: "Well, they didn't all fail. Only the righteous ones seem to fail in my mind."

Morana: "That remains to be seen, but possibly true."

Taury: "Well, the reasons that we hide is the very reasons that those righteous folks are so wrong, and they push others to the outside. And everyone hides their motives, they're god-fearing. I don't think that you should be afraid of your god, you should fight with him."

Morana: "Hmm. At least the bonus of being along with someone else on the outside is that you tend to see the same things."

Taury: "Repetition?"

Morana: "No, it's just, both being on the same side of this situation, you see things from the same angle, or at least roughly."

Taury: You see like a glint in Taury's eye. "You may be right."

Morana: "This actually reminds me, I haven't written a letter lately."

Taury: "Would you like my quill? I can't seem to get the hang of it."

Morana: "It would help. I think I left mine in my room."

Taury: She passes the quill over to you.

Morana: And Morana immediately begins writing.

Taury: Taury orders more drinks, probably wine for Morana and more milk for her.

GM: Alright. So, the total of two hours passes. Everyone has come back in to the establishment, to the Rusty Dragon, but they've all walked by you and gone back to their rooms. Eventually, who comes down first, Loyal or Fenwarin?

Taury: Is Markus back too?

GM: Ah, Markus was the first to return. He was only gone for 10 to 15 minutes. He was the first to return. He has been in his room since then.

Taury: Did he acknowledge either of us when he went past or did he just go straight to his room?

GM: He just went straight to his room.

Taury: He pulled a 'Loyal'.

Fenwarin: [Laughs] I guess, Fenwarin would be first down. 

GM: Alright.

Loyal: Yeah, Loyal is mentally exhausted right now.

Taury: [Laughs] I bet he is.

Morana: He pulled a 'Loyal', but he didn't smell like hookers and shame.

Loyal: It's not his, not his, the situation he likes to be in!

GM: [Laughs]

Taury: He's having a nice cold shower right now.

Loyal: [Laughs]

GM: Well, that'd be great technology if it existed.

Loyal: He's probably looked at the, the clava a bit. Has it, like, fully decayed into holy water by now? 

GM: Yes.

Taury: He's showering in holy water. [Laughs]

Loyal: Nah, I'm just, like, he's just examining it.

Morana: Never clean, never clean!

Taury: And he's shaking a shame bell?

All: [Laugh]

Taury: The shame, the shame! 

Fenwarin: [Laughs]

Loyal: Shame, ding-ding. 

GM: Fenwarin, you come down. Morana is just finishing her letter as you approach the table.

Fenwarin: "Good morning, Morana."

Morana: "Welcome back." And she'll be folding it and tucking it away in her robe.

Fenwarin: "Anything important you're writing there?"

Morana: "Just thoughts."

Fenwarin: "Well yeah, that's good to jot down now and then. So, is that all you've been doing while, ah, I've been gone?"

Morana: "Yes."

Fenwarin: "Oh, Ok. I thought maybe you needed some fresh air too. I definitely needed some after that discussion before."

Taury: "I hardly doubt the air in Sandpoint is fresh."

Fenwarin: "Well, fresher out there than in here during that morning"

Morana: "It did smell flowery in here for a moment, a while back."

Loyal: Oh yeah, Loyal has also gotten scent off of him, through various alchemical stuff.

Morana: As lex totally said in the stream chat, "And that night he discovered shame never washes away." 

All: [Laugh]

Taury: No, too real!

GM: Through a mixture of alchemical solvents to essentially Febreze your clothes and a change of clothes for the things that were still a little pungent- 

Morana: [Laughs]

Taury: 'The things?' I don't like that he said 'the things'.

GM: [Laughs] Alright, so you're joining the table now as well?

Loyal: Yes. 

GM: Alright. 

Loyal: Pulls out the flask of holy water. "Well, my theory was correct, it's holy water now."

Taury: "Would you like a medal?" Taury looks entirely unimpressed.

Loyal: He just puts the holy water away.

GM: Give me a Sense motive, Loyal.

Loyal: Ok. 

GM: Alright. Despite the comment, you realize that the table's actually in a good mood. Despite how it disbanded a few hours ago, there no longer seems to be that tension between Taury and Morana.

Loyal: Interesting. Loyal is probably in a better mood than he was earlier, not in a great one.

Morana: "And how has your morning gone?"

Loyal: Doesn't answer. He's looking at some notes.

Taury: There's a look that Taury gives Morana with a slight smirk.

Morana: "Oh, it's, it's slightly marred."

GM: Apparently, there's some inside joke that they've got going on, Fenwarin.

Fenwarin: Yup, I pay no real mind to it. 

GM: Alright.

Taury: Fenwarin's above our shit. [Laughs] He's elven superiority.

Fenwarin: I am an elf. [Laughs] Yeah, Fenwarin's just getting antsy at this point to get- get going again and, ah, explore more of the ruins.

GM: Ok, as you're sitting there getting more and more impatient, Fenwarin, Loyal seems lost in his thoughts and his notes, and the other two having their drinks of whatever they're drinking, you realize Markus hasn't returned and it's been a while.

Fenwarin: "Has anyone seen Markus? Did he say when he was going to return?"

Loyal: "Can't say I've seen him, except for when we were having that conversation."

Fenwarin: "Well, it's been a while, so."

Loyal: "Shall we go check on, check on him in this room, see if he's there? 

Fenwarin: "Yeah."

Morana: "I thought he had walked by."

GM: Alright, I need a Percentile.

Loyal: Oh, boy!

GM: Anyone of you can roll it, but I need a group consensus and agreement from all of you on whether it's high or low for whichever one of you is going to roll it. Go ahead and decide amongst yourselves and declare that.

Taury: Alright, who's rolling?

Loyal: My rolls have been high today, so in theory- I guess all rolls have been high today, so we should probably go high. Yeah?

Taury: I want to go high.

Morana: Always stay high.

Fenwarin: Yeah, I guess so, yeah. High.

Loyal: Who's rolling then? 

Morana: I can.

Fenwarin: Oh, yeah. Ok. 

Taury: Yeah, cool.

Loyal: Fuck! 

Morana: Welp!

Taury: We just got canceled. That's what happened. 

Fenwarin: [Laughs]

Taury: As a collective tribe. 

Loyal: TTK.

Taury: Yes, we are all dropping dead of dysentery. 

Loyal: [Sigh] Dysentery.

Morana: Oh look, the tavern collapsed! Oops!

GM: Ok. So what are you guys doing? What was the plan?

Loyal: Probably go check on Markus in his room, yeah? 

Fenwarin: Yeah.

GM: Alright. Are all of you going? Just one person?

Taury: Taury is not going.

Loyal: I figured Taury wouldn't go. Ah.

Morana: No, I'm good.

Loyal: Loyal will probably go.

GM: Alright. Loyal, you go and knock on Marcus's door.

Fenwarin: Why does that soound foreboding?

Loyal: Yeah, it really does.

Taury: Maybe it's because of the percentile he just had to roll. 

Fenwarin: Yeah. [Laughs] 

Loyal: Is there an answer?

Markus: Is Loyal just knocking?

Loyal: Yes. For now.

Markus: Yeah, there will be no immediate answer.

GM: You are met, met with silence.

Loyal: "Markus, are you alright? Are you there?" There a response after I called out? 

Markus: "What?"

Loyal: "We're all pretty much ready to go if you are?"

GM: Give me a Perception check Loyal.

Loyal: Yeah. Hell yeah!

GM: Alright, you heard the response, "What?", but it was faint and muffled and distant.

Loyal: Distant?

GM: As in physically distant.

Loyal: How big is his room?

GM: No bigger than yours.

Loyal: I guess I don't know that until I open it. It's like Schrodinger's room. 

Fenwarin: [Laughs]

Loyal: Uh. Hmm.

GM: You know what? Give me a Sense motive too.

Loyal: Oh boy! I'm trained in these, yeah.

Taury: Ooh, wow. Them rolls.

GM: And that is a decent roll. The way he said "what", it was emotionally down.

Loyal: "Ah, Markus, are you all right in there?"

Markus: No immediate answer to that.

Loyal: Seeing as it's concerning, he'll open the door. Is it locked? 

Markus: Yes. 

Loyal: Hmm, good thing I have Masterworks thieves tools. Oy! He'll wait a little bit more to see if there's a response. He doesn't want to go picking locks, but- If there isn't an answer for a time, he will take out the thieve's tools that he bought and attempt to pick the lock.

GM: It doesn't seem like there is an answer forthcoming.

Loyal: He'll pick the lock then. Is it going to be an extra- Assume it's probably Disable device?

GM: Yeah.

Loyal: There's an extra +2 on top of this for them being Masterwork. 

Fenwarin: Jesus.

Taury: Jeez, Loyal's becoming a rogue!

Loyal: +2, 25.

GM: Alright, 25 was the DC, so you just made it.

Loyal: Oh!

Fenwarin: Ooh!

Loyal: Masterwork! 

Taury: Oof.

Markus: How long does that take?

GM: It takes a full round, so 6 seconds, you hear the, - because you did succeed on your Perception check to hear this - you do hear the little fiddling bits of the metal and the slight turning.

Markus: Ooh! 

Loyal: Ah? 

Fenwarin: [Laughs]

GM: Yeah. Is that a pro or con for this decision-making process you're going through right now? 

Markus: Um- 

Loyal: [Laugh] What's happening?  

Fenwarin: [Laugh]

Markus: Ok, I need to clarify something.

Loyal: Oh boy!

GM: Certainly, send me all the DMs.

Taury: That's not good at all!

Loyal: Oh boy. Oh boy, oh boy.

Taury: Oh, you're going to die!

GM: I'm very interested in what's going to happen with this resolution of this scene.

Loyal: Ah shit! Fuck.

GM: I have no idea. It is entirely character-driven right now.

Taury: This is such a fucking emotional session! 

Loyal: It is!

Taury: There's feelings left and right.

GM: The answer is yes.

Loyal: Oof! What does that mean? 

Taury: I mean, that's not good!

Loyal: It's not good for me, I don't think.

GM and Markus: [Typing] 

Loyal: Fucking- The fucking clacking of the typing! 

Fenwarin: [Laughs]

GM: [Clears throat] I don't know what you're talking about. Just don't worry about it.

Loyal: [Laughs] Oh, God!

Fenwarin: He's writing your eulogy. [Laughs] 

Taury: Yeah. [Laughs]

GM: Ok, go ahead and give me a Perception check, Loyal. 

Loyal: Ah. Yes!

Taury: Ooh!

Fenwarin: Jesus! 

GM: Alright.

Loyal: High roll- I have lots of high rolls today. I'm trained in-

GM: As you're picking the lock, you hear a faint swish and thump and then a very, very faint voice saying something that you can't quite make out. As you finish opening the lock, you open the door and the room is empty.

Loyal: Completely empty? 

GM: Yeah. 

Loyal: "Uh? Huh? This is concerning to say the least." I start looking around the room.

GM: Alright, Perception check.

Taury: Oh my god!

Fenwarin: Holy shit!

Loyal: God, I'm on point today!

GM: Yeah. As you look around the room, it is like someone just cleaned it. There is no stuff here, no pack, no gear, no clothes, and the window's open.

Loyal: "Interesting." I look out the window, wow, like, "Anything out there?"

GM: You move to the window and look out. The fog is thick.

Loyal: "Still foggy? Damn."

GM: As you look around, you notice that the fog is more wispy in the rest of the area, but directly under the window, it is a thick, massive fog.

Loyal: Odd! Is it, like, close enough to where I can just, like, reach my hand into it? 

GM: Yeah. 

Loyal: Do that.

GM: Yeah, it's fog.

Loyal: That's odd.

GM: It doesn't feel like anything different from normal fog feel. You know it's slightly damp and just otherwise air. You can see it swirl as you move your hand through it and stuff.

Loyal: Hmm. I'll just kind of call out, "Markus! Some spell of some sort?"

Markus: No response to that.

Loyal: Figured. I start, like, checking the walls, the ground for anything.

GM: By 'ground' do you mean the floor of the room?

Loyal: Yeah, yeah, that's what I mean.

GM: Yeah.

Loyal: Yeah.

GM: Just clarifying.

Loyal: Yeah, that's fair. There is an actual ground outside.

GM: Yeah, and you were just looking out the window, so. 

Loyal: True. 

GM: Everything seems normal.

Loyal: Apart from the fact that there's no one here.

GM: Yeah. 

Loyal: Huh. He'll go back to the window and examine the ground-ground, see if there's anything odd about that.

GM: You can't see the ground.

Loyal: He'll leave the room, leaving the door open, just because he's in a hurry, go down and essentially walk out the tavern, doesn't say a word to anyone else, walks outside the tavern and back around to essentially where that window is. Like, on the ground, below window.

GM: Alright. I'm going to ask Loyal for high or low, and Markus, I want you to tell me odd or even. I will roll one Percentile and this will gauge both of your results.

Loyal: High. 

Markus: Even. 

GM: Alright. It is high and odd. Loyal, as you round the back of the building, you see the traces of the fog have been wisped and moved away. You follow their direction trail and see, maybe about a block away, Markus's figure walking away from-

Loyal: I pursue.

GM: Are you shouting, jogging, how are you pursuing? Are you tailing him? Like, describe what's happening here.

Loyal: Things are weird. It'll be stealthy tailing him. 

GM: Alright. 

Loyal: And drink my Ant Haul, so I'm not suffering disadvantage from that.

GM: Ok. 

Loyal: Stealth roll, I assume? 

GM: Yes. 

Loyal: Yah! Eh. The luck was eventually going to fade, also not trained in that.

GM: Markus, go ahead and give me a Perception check. Because of the distance and only because of the distance, Markus, you are currently unaware you are being followed.

Loyal: [Sighs]

Taury: You lucky bastard! 

Markus: Yeah, Ok.

Loyal: I'm lucky? Yeah, I'm lucky as fuck. Yeah, as far as you guys in the tavern, you literally saw him go up there, hurriedly walk outside and he has not come back in.

Taury: He walked past us?

GM: Yes.

Taury: Ok.

GM: A very hurried demeanour, didn't even look at you guys, just right outside.

Loyal: Beeline for the door.

Taury: I mean, yeah, he's probably just going back to the brothel. 

Fenwarin: [Laughs] 

Loyal: Shhh!

GM: Alright. Since Markus is leading this and doesn't know he's being followed, Markus, where are you headed? 

Loyal: Oh boy!

Markus: He's headed over towards Brodert Quink's house.

GM: Alright. Which is number eight? 

Markus: Yeah.

GM: Alright. Loyal, you will have had to have hung back a bit, as there's less cover- 

Loyal: Right.

GM: The closer you get to Brodert's house, but you do see him go up to the house. You make out that much. Markus, what are you doing?

Markus: He will go up and knock on the door.

GM: Ok. After a few moments, the door opens slowly and you see Brodert standing there in a nightgown with a cup of coffee in his hand. "Ah, well, you're here early."

Markus: "Sorry."

GM: Takes a sip of his coffee.

Markus: "Am I disturbing you?"

GM: "No, no, no, no. What do you want? What do you need?"

Markus: "Seems I might not be continuing with our little exploration. Circumstances have changed a little. So, since you paid for them, I wanted to return these." And he's basically holding out a package with books, pens, ink, et cetera. "I'm sure you'll find use of them."

GM: "So, ah, you giving up hunting the ruins?"

Markus: "I wish I could stay and investigate, but, honestly, that's just going to get me killed."

GM: He nods with a frown on his face. "Yep, yep, yep. That's why us academic types shouldn't be in the field. But, if we're not in the field, who's going to take the accurate measurements for us? Certainly not them muscle-headed barbarian-types, ay?"

Markus: "No. But we need them because without them, we couldn't face the troubles. And, what else are you going to do when you don't have one that you can trust?"

GM: "Well, is it a personal disagreement or is it an actual not being able to trust them? Are they reckless and endangering, or is it just a personality squabble?"

Markus: "We fundamentally don't see eye to eye on something fairly important to this profession."

GM: "So a personality squabble. Eh, if that's how you want to deal with it?"

Markus: He was taken aback a bit by that.

GM: Go ahead and give me a Sense motive. Is that a nat 20? 

Markus: It is, yeah.

GM: It is a nat 20. You perfectly read between the lines of what was just said, and get the very pointed insult that he is calling you a child in how you're reacting and behaving.

Markus: "Not really? Is this- This is a rational decision. I'm getting out of Sandpoint. Do you need me to spell it out? I would recommend you do the same."

GM: "My work's here. If I left because I had an argument with somebody, I would've left years ago and not been able to complete my work. Thanks to you and your little friends, your group, which you seem to be having a tiff with, I've learned more about confirming my theories in this past week or so, than I have in years of being here. To me, that's justification for you to work out your differences and keep going. Then again, I'm a little biased and you're doing good work for me. So, yeah."

Markus: "Don't get me wrong, I'm more than willing to consider continuing our professional relationship, I just don't plan on it being here."

GM: "The town's grown a little small for you?"

Markus: "No, I just don't think it's going to survive."

GM: "Survive what?"

Markus: "Whatever happens next. I mean, if there were an active group of heroes protecting it, maybe. But without our little barbarian, the rest of the group won't be able to explore, won't be able to stop the threat, and I'm not going to work with her. Not right now anyway. So, that leaves me a choice of, what? Doing nothing? Or getting the hell out before, well, plots and schemes that other people have put in motion result in the destruction of the town."

GM: "Destruction is fine, death a little less so, but as long as there's people, Sandpoint will recover and keep going."

Markus: "Then maybe I'll be back in a few years."

GM: "You need to get your head on straight, boy. Get some perspective corrected."

Markus: "I won't work with a bully. Not to someone who's like that to people within the party, within the group. So, say what you will. No."

GM: He shrugs. Takes a sip of his coffee. "Ah, if you don't like it here, where are you headed?"

Markus: "I honestly don't know."

GM: "Well, wherever it is, I guarantee you're going to run across more people like this." 

Markus: "Yes, I know."

GM: "And it's going to be the same story all over again, right? You got to figure out how to work this stuff out if you're going to keep going, otherwise you're going to be running for the rest of your life. Ah, but hey, run once or twice and then maybe figure it out later, that's fine, right? No harm done. Maybe a village destroyed? Yeah, eh." Takes another sip of his coffee.

Markus: [Sighs] "My heart bleeds for this place."

GM: "Well, then do something about it."

Markus: "I am. I'm warning people."

GM: "Well, sounds like your mind's made up. Thanks for the warning. Thanks for the return of the gear, unless you want to take it with you? If you're going to keep doing the work, you're going to need it."

Markus: "Oh I- I'm happy to keep doing the work. Maybe I might even swing by Riddleport and pass on some details. If you've got any messages you want-?"

GM: "Ha. I'd advise not. If you're having these types of problems here in this little place, Riddleport's gonna eat you alive. Head back to Magnimar or even Absalom where things are more to your tastes."

Markus: "Maybe I will. I suppose Absalom is nice this time of year. Thank you."

GM: "Thank you." Do you turn and leave, or?

Markus: He's gonna let the conversation end and let Brodert go away, if that's what's happening, but he's going to stay there and think for a minute.

GM: Alright. Brodert will stand there with the door open for a few seconds, take a couple more sips of his coffee, nod, and then just shut the door on you. Ah, Loyal, you were too far away to overhear anything. 

Loyal: Ok, I was going to ask that. 

GM: Yeah. During the whole conversation, you just saw Markus discussing things with Brodert, hand over a package of goods that was then- Did you re-accept it back?

Markus: Yeah, he would have done.

GM: Ok. He handed over a package and then took it back during the course of that conversation. And that's the only details you really got. As they talked, something was handed over and then taken back.

Loyal: He'll watch for a bit more, see what Markus does.

GM: After the door shuts, he just kind of stands there.

Loyal: I'll approach him.

Markus: Are you trying to be stealthy? 

Loyal: Nope.

GM: Give me a Perception check, Markus.

Loyal: Oh. Wow!

GM: Great, ok. Even though you're kind of lost in your own thoughts, Loyal is still a good 60+ feet away when you notice him approaching.

Markus: Yeah, I think it's his friend, chittering in one of the pockets, he, "What?" turns around and sees Loyal. 

GM: Ok.

Loyal: Continue approaching if anything happens.

Markus: Markus is just raising an eyebrow.

GM: Everyone at the table. It's been 15, 20 minutes since Loyal left. Markus has not come down at all. Just the three of you sitting around this table, waiting.

Taury: Taury would pull out her deck of cards and kind of hold them up to ask, sort of, silently if anyone wants to play.

Fenwarin: "Well, I would, but I'm getting a little worried about Loyal and Markus now."

Morana: "Loyal stepped out, wherever he went."

Taury: "Well, I can only assume they want to be alone. They left alone, didn't tell anybody. Perhaps they have things to do."

Fenwarin: "No, you may be right. Maybe I shouldn't worry so much."

Morana: "Hmm, potentially."

Taury: "You should only worry if you have something to worry about."

Fenwarin: "Alright. Well, let's play then."

Taury: "Morana?"

Morana: Morana shrugs and takes another sip wine, "Yeah, sure."

Taury: Taury deals out the cards.

GM: Alright. And now we'll shift back to Loyal and Markus.

Loyal: A very brief, ah, interruption there.

GM: Yeah, just to establish what's happening, and you know.

Loyal: We will now return to your scheduled programming. 

GM: Yeah.

Taury: To the field trip that you all signed up for.

GM: A brief aside from emotional wreckage. And resume.

Loyal: We'll just start with- Assuming you allow him to get close enough-

Markus: He'll be watching you approach, but he will let you get close, yes.

Loyal: "What, why's your room empty?"

Markus: Markus will look at him, blink slightly, and not say anything.

Loyal: "Listen, it's fine, you can tell me. I- Whatever the reason, I came here to help people."

Markus: "You did didn't you?"

Loyal: "Otherwise I wouldn't be here. If not for the sheriff calling for help."

Markus: Markus is nodding slightly. "It's probably not worth it."

Loyal: "Well, sometimes, no matter how little or how many lives you save, things- at least you saved a life. I became a medic because, well, before that, what I studied, it happened to work out well. Though I didn't originally learn medicine to help people." He'll lift up his shirt to where, you can kind of see the bandages and, on the lower, it's, like lower left abdomen, kind of around the stomach area. And he'll just rip- kind of take the bandages off, and you just see a black, like, mass with, like, veins spidering out. And it's almost as if the flesh there is kind of being eaten away. "This was why I got into medicine. Now, you can't tell now, but it's spreading. I haven't found a cure. But-" And he puts the shirt back down. "But, I learned that if I'm going to die from that, I might as well save as many lives as I can. And, I don't know why your room's empty, but I can only imagine it has something to do with the conversation this morning, put you off, but did- [Sighs] I was angry too. I still kind of am. But, my point is, a cause, no matter how small, so long as you're saving a life, is always worth it. That's why I'm here. Now, why are you here?" And he kind of points to the area they're standing.

Markus: "Sometimes it's better not to be in the place where the stars are falling on you."

Loyal: "Perhaps. But what if you, you could have been the one to stop the stars from falling in the first place?"

Markus: "I tried. This morning was the last straw."

Loyal: "I know she's certainly abrasive, to say the least, but perhaps there's a reason she's like that."

Markus: "I'm all for making allowances, but if she won't cooperate even on something like that? I don't know I can trust my life to her. It's fundamentally what it comes down to."

Loyal: "I understand that sentiment."

Markus: "Without, without her, the rest of the group, we wouldn't stand a chance against what's down there, down the ruins or out there," and he'll gesture. "Which means that we're not viable without her, I'm not going to work with her, and if this group is about to, you know? Either you'll succeed or you won't."

Loyal: "That's true. That can be said about anything really."

Markus: "If you don't, then I don't imagine there's going to be much of Sandpoint left. And without the heroes, I don't see it succeeding."

Loyal: "Then why are you running? You're one of the heroes, Ameiko said it herself. Without you, we fail."

Markus: "With me, you fail."

Loyal: "How so? You've not given me any reason to believe that!"

Markus: "I can't trust one of the more important members of the group in terms of our survivability, which means fundamentally, I cannot trust the group. Which means that we are not going to be working together. And if we don't work together, we won't survive what's ahead of us. I can pretty much guarantee you that."

Loyal: "I can agree with that, which is why we sit down and we tell her straight. Except we just tell her what the deal is, that we need to work together otherwise we're-"

Markus: "Tried that. Didn't work out so well. Got a flat refusal."

Loyal: "Well, perhaps we're not asking the same things? The right things, perhaps? I have- While everyone was out after that conversation today, I went to the brothel in town and I got some information. You know, Father Zantus mentioned she has a brother, yeah?" 

Markus: "Yeah." 

Loyal: "Well, I know his name, at the very least. And, I know where he, I know where he tends to reside. Perhaps we ask him what her deal is, and that might allow us to deal with her better? Or at least get an idea of what's going on in her head? 'Cause I sure as hell have no idea."

Markus: "You're quite the optimist, aren't you?"

Loyal: "Kind of have to be that way when you're dying."

Markus: "No, you don't. But, I take the point. I assume you've tried magical healing?"

Loyal: "Of course. Tried everything. Everything I've found. The reason I was in Magnimar in the first place was because, originally, where I lived in Korvosa, couldn't find anything."

Markus: Markus will nod at that.

Loyal: "I am not sure what it is, it's, it came from when I first got the magical abilities associated with my alchemy. Whatever I drank to gain those, did this. I think I probably made it wrong or something."

Markus: "So you're looking for an alchemical solution then?"

Loyal: "I'm looking for any solution at this point. But if I, I couldn't find any in Magnimar, I stayed there for a couple of years, and when I heard this was going on, that there could be lives to be saved, I decided why the hell not? It's not like I was getting any closer to finding a cure. Well the day is still young, perhaps we could find this brother while- My guess is they're probably not worried about us whatsoever. That's pretty standard."

Markus: "You still think you can salvage something from this?"

Loyal: "I don't see why we can't salvage something. You can't begin to salvage something when you only see a fourth of the materials you have to salvage with from. If that's not going to stop you, I can't stop you, you're your own person, but-"

Markus: "Fundamentally, I- She's a bully."

Loyal: "That she is."

Markus: "And she'll- Can you imagine what would happen if you tried to take away something from her that she believed is hers?"

Loyal: "Well, if that happens, it's depending on Morana, three on one. Possibly four if Morana agrees, but-"

Markus: "Yeah, that's going to go so well."

Loyal: "She may be greedy, but she hasn't shown any reason of wanting us dead, that's for sure."

Markus: "No, but she hasn't shown any signs that she wants to be part of the group either. As far as I can tell, she seems utterly indifferent to us."

Loyal: "So does Morana."

Markus: "No. No. Morana is- There's something else there. I know that much."

Loyal: "That's for sure."

Markus: "But Taury won't let us close, won't show us that there's something more to her. Like I said, this is just the last straw. It wasn't the first thing. It wasn't even the thing that set off the alarm bells. It was the thing that made me reach the conclusion that I cannot trust her. Do you have a solution for that?"

Loyal: "We talk to her with the right questions?"

Markus: "And when she utterly refuses to answer?"

Loyal: "Then you can leave. I have a feeling that she is quiet and unresponsive like that for a reason." 

Markus: "Of course."

Loyal: "No one's like that just normally."

Markus: "Oh, you'd be surprised."

Loyal: "There's always something more to someone than you expect. On the outside, she may seem indifferent, uncaring, and that irks me, I agree. But there's probably a re- There has to be a reason for that. Otherwise, why would she have risked her life to go down into those ruins to kill some things? She would have just stayed behind playing cards."

Markus: "Because she was bored? Because she wanted to kill something? I don't know."

Loyal: "There are much easier ways to do it, of doing that, than heading down to a ruin filled with monstrosities. She could've just walked to one of the nearby forests inhabited by goblins, and kill a few of those, if she just wanted to kill something. She may not be a traditional hero, but she at least got us through that. I have a feeling we probably wouldn't have survived the encounter with that quasit if not for her. If she had just wanted to leave us to die, she could have done it right there 'cause that situation was sketchy. She could have just walked out, closed the door, left."

Markus: "And we would be right on her tails running away."

Loyal: "Who's to say she wouldn't have locked the door, just to guarantee her escape?"

Markus: "You think she could?"

Loyal: "Heat of the battle, we may not notice."

Markus: "I think that would be rather obvious."

Loyal: "If we're dead, what does obvious matter? Nonetheless, I don't think, I don't think she would leave us for dead at the very least. I think she- whether she admits it or not, I think she cares about this town. Knowing that she has family here, further supports that point."

Markus: "Ah, you perhaps- Well, not all families are the same."

Loyal: "Oh, that's for sure, with Tsuto and whatnot. But nonetheless, I think we should give her at least a couple chances."

Markus: "Been there, done that."

Loyal: "It's fair, you've been here longer than me, but I still think there's more to her. I don't think she is- I don't think she's in it just for the money. I think it's certainly a bonus in her eyes. But something about her. Same way you feel about Morana."

Markus: "Oh, I'm sure there's more to Taury. But, like I said, she hasn't... Hmm- Fine, go talk to her brother or whatever."

Loyal: "Alright. Is there anything else?"

Taury: [Car horn sound] And suddenly a car?! [Laughs]

Loyal: Oh yeah.

Fenwarin: Oh?! [Laughs]

Loyal: Who's that fucking honking their god damn horn outside? Eat this ice cream. Hmm.

GM: [Laughs]

Taury: Honk if you're sad.

GM: Eat the feelings away.

Taury: Yeah, honk if you're sad.

GM: My bowl of popcorn's already gone. 

Loyal: [Laughs] 

Taury: Oh man.

Fenwarin: Jesus, this, this is deep shit! Oof!

GM: Right?

Taury: Ooh, Boy!

Loyal: Got some Loyal backstory.

Taury: There's so much happening!

Loyal: Yeah! This is a, this is a fucking big session!

GM: Ok, with the way that conversation ended, is Markus accompanying Loyal to go talk to Taury's brother? 

Loyal: That is a good question. 

GM: Or was he telling Loyal to go on his own?

Markus: He was, umm- Are you asking whether or not he's going to be there in the scene, essentially?

GM: Yes. 

Markus: Yeah, he's gonna be hanging back.

GM: Ok. 

Markus: But, yes. 

GM: Alright.

Taury: My favorite thing is he doesn't want Taury to split the party, but he's actively splitting the party. [Laughs]

GM: Okay.

Markus: Splitting? No, no, not splitting.

Loyal: To be fair, it was kind of triggered by Taury.

Taury: [Laughs] Ah, I love it though, this is great!

GM: Loyal and Markus, both of you decide on high or low together.

Loyal: Oh boy! High has been work- worked pretty well for me to begin with. 

Markus: Yeah, Ok. 

Loyal: Yeah! 

Taury: Nice.

GM: High it is.

Loyal: As they're walking, Loyal's definitely, like, reapplying the bandages. So it's just not open wound.

GM: Alright. You guys get down to the House of Blue Stones, number 19. This stone building is primarily a single large chamber. The floor decorated with polished blue stones set within winding pathways of reed mats. The structure was built about 10 years after Sandpoint was founded by a wandering monk named Enderaki Sorn. Today, the monastery is tended by Enderaki's daughter, Sabyl Sorn. Her father passed away seven years ago. This place is dedicated to the worship of Irori, the God of self-perfection and knowledge. It is well-known that Sabyl maintains a large collection of old books and scrolls in the basement chambers below, and she opens both the meditation floor and her library to fellow worshipers, but anyone else must convince her of their good intentions via diplomacy first. So as you approach, are greeted at the door, you are greeted by Sabyl. There are a few people inside on the reed mats meditating.

Loyal: "Hello, I hope I'm not interrupting. Um, I'm looking for a man by the name of Tauric Warborne? I just have some questions to ask him about his sister." 

GM: "Oh?" 

Loyal: "Ah, yes. Just questions, that's all."

GM: She nods slightly. Give me a Diplomacy check.

Loyal: Fuck, I'm not good at this! Yah.

GM: "Please wait here a moment?" 

Loyal: "Thank you." 

GM: She goes and, ah, brings somebody forward. He's a large-built Shoanti male.

Loyal: Runs in the family, apparently.

GM: Shaved head. And then she explains to him that you're here to ask some questions about his sister. And he just nods and then looks to you, without saying a word.

Loyal: "Hi, Tauric. Um, we just have questions about your sister. We've been adventuring with her, and personally, ah, I just want to know what may have happened to her that she's very stand-offish. That may just be a personality thing. But I- Is there anything I should know about her to begin with, I guess?"

GM: He pulls out a chalkboard and a piece of chalk and writes down on it, and then flips it over and holds it up so you can read it after he is done writing. It says, "Is she ok? I haven't received a letter in a while."

Loyal: "Ah, she's fine. Actually, she's- Did you not know she's in town?"

GM: He looks surprised and shakes his head 'no'.

Loyal: "It's certainly interesting. Did, did anything happen between you? She's OK. Just to preface that, of course. She's fine, but you two seem certainly very different."

GM: He erases the chalkboard and then writes down something and then turns around to show you. "We weren't always different."

Loyal: I knew it! "Ah, what, what happened that caused her to change?"

GM: He looks pensive, erases his chalkboard, starts to write something, erases that, starts to write something else, erases that, and then just puts the chalk down, and looks at you, and kinda shrugs.

Loyal: "When, when did she change? Did she just leave at some point, perhaps?"

GM: He nods.

Loyal: "Did she used to study here as well?"

GM: He shakes his head, 'no'.

Loyal: "Did you, did you both live in Sandpoint before this? Before that?"

GM: He nods, 'yes', slowly. You can do a Sense motive on that.

Loyal: So many notes that I have to write! [Laughs]

GM: Yup. 

Loyal: Ah, Sense motive. Fuck! The one time I roll low!

GM: He's nodding slowly, not because of any type of misgiving or attempt to mislead you, just, he seems to be lost in thought and remembering some unpleasant memories. And that's just causing a slight hesitation in his response.

Loyal: "Was your life here good?"

GM: He shakes his head, 'no'.

Loyal: "Family troubles, perhaps?"

GM: Nods 'yes'.

Loyal: "If it's not prying too much, do you mind telling me what exactly- I assume she probably ran away or left, is my guess?"

GM: He shakes his head 'no'. 

Loyal: Oh. 

GM: And then nods 'yes'. 

Loyal: Ok. 

GM: And then nods 'no', and then shrugs.

Loyal: "Was she just not there one day?"

GM: He writes some stuff down on the chalkboard and then, ah, reveals it to you. "Mother hates us. Taury left. When mom died I began training to go find her." He erases it, writes more, holds it up. "Then I started getting letters. My training granted me peace of mind and changed my outlooks. I still planned on becoming an adventurer one day, but that time is not right yet." And then erases it.

Loyal: "Why did- Why, why did your mother hate you two? It's just, bad mother, perhaps?"

GM: He takes on a grimace and begins writing, and erases it, and begins writing, and erases it. And he looks a little frustrated in trying to find the right words. And then just writes down one word and shows it to you. And that word is "rumors".

Loyal: "I think I understand. I'd imagine these rumors were perhaps about things involving your birth and whatnot?"

GM: He nods.

Loyal: That's all I needed to know. Alright, umm. "What do these letters say, if you don't mind me asking? Were they- They make you realize she was different now or-?"

GM: He writes a little bit down and then shows it to you. It reads, "They're personal letters."

Loyal: "I understand. I won't pry any further than that. That's-"

GM: He erases it and then writes down something and then shows it to you. "She's still finding herself." Erases that, writes down, holds up. "She's trying to understand who-" and that's crossed out and slightly erased and then written over it, hurriedly is, "what, she is."

Loyal: And there's - when he says "what she is" - there's kind of like a glimmer of, like, sympathy with that word, that phrase, specifically. Ah, he says, "I think I understand, yes. So I'd imagine-"

GM: He shakes his head, 'no'.

Loyal: "Oh, of course. I, I couldn't begin to understand. I just wanted to get more insight."

GM: He erases the board and then writes down something, shows it up. "We're twins and even I don't understand, not fully."

Loyal: "So, are you saying that she is not human? Or became something not human? No judgment, of course."

GM: He erases it and thinks for a moment, and then just writes three words, holds it up. "Taury is Taury."

Loyal: "I agree. Everyone's their own person. Doesn't matter what you are or where you came from, everyone's their own person. I agree with that."

GM: He gives one nod.

Loyal: I kind of glance back Markus, kind of like a look of, like, "Is there anything you want to ask?"

Markus: Markus is deliberately trying to keep his expression neutral.

Loyal: "Is there anything you want to ask, Markus, or no?"

Markus: "Well, there is one thing, but forgive me for the bluntness of this, but was she always such a bitch?"

GM: He gives a half-smile. And then erases the chalkboard and writes something down on it, holds it up. "No, she refers to something as-," and then like in quotes or, like, stylized writing it says, "calling. And she left because of that. I don't understand it, but it's changed her. Both good and bad."

Markus: Markus will nod at that.

Loyal: "There's one last question. We have been adventuring with her and there's been a bit of a disagreement. If- She's difficult to talk to, to say the least, difficult to get through to. If there is- If there's something we can say or do that would get through to her, what would you think would do so?"

GM: He erases his board, writes down a little bit, and then shows it up, "Try writing."

Loyal: "Alright. Interesting. I think I understand now."

GM: He erases it and then writes some more stuff down, holds it up. "Since taking my vow of silence, there's been a clarity and choice of words and meaning in taking the time to write them down. As you have a longer moment-" He erases, writes down more, shows it, "time to deliberate your thoughts."

Loyal: "I understand. Makes sense. Well, thank you for the information. It was nice meeting you, and I hope whatever it is you are going through with in your life, I hope they go well for you. And I promise we will do our best to keep your sister safe and hopefully, make her a better person."

GM: He bows as you leave.

Markus: Markus, will also say, "Thank you", as he does that.

Loyal: It's like a page of notes. "Well, there you have it, Markus, there's clearly something very, ah, unusual about her. And, like you said, she wasn't always like this. Perhaps we're just not appealing to the right side of her?"

Markus: "Perhaps."

Loyal: "I don't know what you plan to do from here, but I, at the very least, am gonna head back to the inn."

Markus: Markus will nod at that.

Loyal: "You're free to join me if you'd like?"

Markus: "I need to think."

Loyal: "That I understand." And with that, Loyal will just, kind of like, give him, like, a 'goodbye' nod and head back to the inn.

GM: Alright. Ah, we'll follow Loyal for that part. You reconvene with the group. We'll give Markus a chance to think over things, not rush that. So, Loyal, you reconvene with the group at the table. They're playing cards when you arrive.

Loyal: I'll join in. Why not?

Taury: You automatically get dealt a hand, pretty much the minute you approach the table.

Loyal: I will start playing. I'll order a drink, why not? Just like, ale or something? 

GM: Sure.

Fenwarin: "How did it go, Loyal?"

Loyal: "I think it went well."

Fenwarin: "Ok. How- What was Markus up to?"

Loyal: [Sighs] "Personal things." 

Fenwarin: "I see." 

Loyal: "I think for now, give him time to think over what it is he's dealing with. Probably best not to pry, for now, at least."

Taury: How long would they have been away for, roughly?

Loyal: Good question.

GM: About 40 minutes, give or take. 

Taury: Ok, so it's not that long. 

GM: A few hands of the game.

Loyal: Anything interesting while I was away, or just cards?

Morana: "Just cards and waiting on ya'll."

Loyal: "Fair." Loyal, who as you- You've noticed Loyal, compared to the mood when he was here and left, he's in a pretty good mood now actually. Like, a very content, somewhat happy mood, I would say.

Taury: I'd say that's probably the mood of the table as well. Unless Fenwarin is still sitting there worrying?

Fenwarin: No, I feel better now that Loyal came back. Just drinking ale and keep playing cards.

Taury: Yeah, there's probably like a bunch of empty flagons of milk beside Taury, like- 

Loyal: Of milk.

Fenwarin: I would say so, yeah

Taury: A stack, almost. A stack.

Taury: Yeah. But then bones need calcium, alright?

Loyal: That's fair. [Laughs] That's fair. Turns out this entire time she's lactose intolerant. 

Taury: [Laughs]

Loyal: She never.

Taury: That's why she spends an extra 10 minutes getting out of her room in the morning.

Loyal: [Laughs] She's puking everything up.

Taury: Yeah. Not praying at all, no, just puking.

GM: After another round of playing the game, you all realize that, once again, Markus isn't with you. Loyal had originally left to go get him and is now enjoying playing cards. At least one of you might be questioning this. It's at least on all of your minds, briefly.

Fenwarin: I think I would chime up first.

Taury: Yeah, I think with Taury it's all in her head.

Fenwarin: "So, ah, when's Markus joining us?"

Loyal: "Not sure honestly. He's taking care of some personal things right now."

Fenwarin: "But he said he would come back soon, right?"

Loyal: "Perhaps. I'm not sure currently. He didn't give me a timeframe to work with." 

Fenwarin: "Ok." 

Loyal: "It may take him a day to deal with these matters. Not sure how long honestly."

Taury: "Are they personal or professional matters?" 

Loyal: "A bit of both." 

Taury: "Well, then we might expect he won't return quickly. Matters involving both rarely go well."

Loyal: "That's certainly true."

Taury: She swigs her milk, continues playing cards.

Loyal: "Perhaps if he doesn't come in with the next hour, we could go about, see if we could find someone to buy this dagger? 'Cause I'm certain that it's quite valuable."

Taury: "Perhaps the docks? There are often tradespeople coming and going."

Loyal: "May be a good place. Is the market open today, I can't remember?"  Is the market open today?

GM: It is not. 

Loyal: Ah! Do we know when it opens?

GM: Ah, it's only open two days a week.

Loyal: Two days a week? Ok. How, how close is that next day?

GM: Ah, tomorrow.

Loyal: Ah, Ok. "Yes, if there's someone down the docks, perhaps, uh, if no one wants to buy it down at the docks, we'll check the market tomorrow."

Taury: "Well, I could join you, show you the way."

Loyal: "Can do. Maybe some- May give us time to stock up on supplies as well? After that encounter with that quasit, I want to brew a few more doses of antitoxin."

Fenwarin: "Ah, yes. Maybe also some bigger container to deal with the pulpit?"

Loyal: "If we plan on draining the liquid, perhaps, yes."

Taury: "Perhaps also a casket for the next quasit we encounter?" And she laughs.

Loyal: "That quasit was strong, and I don't like it, but it was. Hopefully that's not a sign of things to come. But knowing this town, it probably is."

Taury: Taury's gonna stand up and like, put her cards into, like, Fenwarin's hands in, like, a way where, like, she was handing you something really precious. Like, she's entrusting you something that you just cannot lose. And then gestures to, ah, Loyal to the door.

Loyal: "Oh, sure, why not?" I will head out.

Taury: Heading to the docks.

Loyal: Yeah.

GM: Alright. Morana have any reaction to any of this? Been pretty quiet.

Morana: Not really. She's just been letting people talk.

Taury: Morana secretly fucking loves cards. 

GM: [Laughs]. 

Taury: It's her one thing.

GM: Fenwarin and Morana gonna keep playing cards while the other two leave?

Fenwarin: I guess so. 

Morana: Yeah. 

Fenwarin: I would just put the cards that Taury placed in my hand to the side of me and, you know, keep playing with my own.

GM: Alright, Markus.

Markus: Yeah.

GM: What's going on with you?

Markus: He watched Loyal walk away and just stood there for a few moments, and then just started walking. First, he was, he was walking more or less randomly, just wandering around town. But, eventually he finds himself, he finds himself standing on the cliffs next to the old Glassworks. He spends a while walking the tops of the cliffs and then dumps his bag, his coat, everything that's encumbering him, and just stands on the cliffs, eyes closed, arms spread wide, and just lets the wind blow over him.

GM: Alright. Give me a Will save? Ok. Loyal and Taury, you're at the docks.

Loyal: Cool. Close on a Will save!

Taury: Yeah, right? Oh man, at least it wasn't, like, an Athletics or Acrobatics check though, I suppose. So, Taury would have directed you towards the docks and pointed at the various buildings, and, kind of, pointed out, out the signs to, sort of, indicate what they're for. And probably grumbled a few names at you, but you probably didn't understand what she said.

Loyal: I'm looking around for someone who would purchase magical items, or weapons, if you're going specific.

GM: A Diplomacy check for gathering information, trying to find out.

Loyal: Oh Boy, oh Boy!

Taury: Well, Taury is, is like, pointing places that she recognizes.

Loyal: Helping, I assume,

Taury: And people. Yeah.

Loyal: Gets rid of, ah-  Takes my -1 to a, to a +1.

GM: Yeah.

Loyal: So, basically +2 on top of whatever I roll. Bah! Ok. 17.

GM: Ok. As you ask around about this, there's people that are willing to move it, especially Sczarni. You hear mention of a Sczarni contact having people in the Aspis Consortium who are really good at moving magical trinkets like this.

Loyal: Aspis Consortium? Is that in town or is that somewhere?

GM: Knowledge local.

Loyal: Ooh, Boy! [Laughs] Ah. Ooh! 

GM: Good enough. Ah, you've heard this term before and not in a good way.

Loyal: Hmm. 

GM: You have heard rumors of the Aspis Consortium being a rival group of global-spanning networks that are essentially a smuggling / spy operation that rival and oppose the Pathfinder society.

Taury: This town is such a shithole.

Loyal: [Laughs] That oppose.  Are there any more illegal routes we could sell magic items through?

GM: Yes! 

Taury: Yeah.

GM: There are 2 specific magic items stores in town.

Loyal: Oh!

GM: One is a magic store that sells all sorts of potions and wands and staffs and rods and, you know, just general magic item paraphernalia. It is called the Feathered Serpent, which is number 44. The other is the local weapons shop that is known to have one or two magic items and armors. One specifically has been there for years and hasn't been sold because it's just way too expensive, and no one local can afford it. 

Loyal: Cool, cool. 

GM: That is Savah's Armory, No.12.

Loyal: Cool. Given this information, and Taury's as well, and given, you know, the 2 places, 2 places we could go. "Do you have a preference as to which one first?"

Taury: She shakes her head.

Loyal: I'm gonna a roll die 'cause I don't know which one to go to first. Alright, odd, Feathered Serpent, even, Savah's. Odd. Feathered Serpent it is.

GM: Well, it's also geographically closer.

Loyal: There you go. We'll, yeah. That makes sense. We'll do that one then. It's 44, you said?

GM: Yeah.

Loyal: Cool.

Taury: It's just excessive, like, you know, configurations and math problems and, it's like, yeah, or you could just go with that one.

Loyal: It's just closer. Let's just go to the closer one, yeah? [Laughs] 

Taury: [Laughs]

GM: Alright. Ah, 44. Scroll, scroll , scroll, scroll, scroll. The Feathered Serpent: This cramped and cluttered shop smells of a strange mixture of incense, spice, and dust. The proprietor, Vorvashali Voon-

Loyal: Oh God!

GM: Is an exotic-looking character with bright blue eyes, long red hair, and almost bronze-colored skin. He is gregarious and excited about everyone that walks through the door.

Taury: Oh, God! Taury's probably going to wait outside the door. Probably saw his face through the window went "No!" 

Loyal: [Laughs]

Taury: She's going to stand like a bodyguard outside the- 

Loyal: [Laughs] Cool.

GM: The first thing you notice is not everything on the shelves have a tag.

Loyal: Oh.

GM: In fact, it's arranged almost like half a museum as well as a store. Statues and monument fragments are scattered around the place, taxidermied creatures-

Loyal: Ah, what if we sell him the quasit? He might like that actually.

Taury: I think Markus has already sold the fucking quasit. [Laughs]

Loyal: That's a good question, we don't know where the quasit is. 

Taury: Yeah.

GM: As you walk in, he goes, "Oh! Yes! A new adventurer!"

Loyal: [Laughs] "Hello. Greetings."

GM: "How can I make a lifetime customer out of you today?"

Loyal: "Oh, I just have an item that I wish to sell, that is all."

GM: "Oh! Selling an item? Yes, yes. Would you like coin or trade?"

Loyal: "Probably coin is the best idea."

GM: "Coin? Coin it is. Come, come. Let me see what trinkets you have for sale for me today."

Loyal: Alright. I will pull out the +1 Cold iron returning dagger, place it on the table.

GM: He pulls out a monocle, puts it on. "Well, look at that! Hmm."

Loyal: "Has a story behind it, if you're interested?"

GM: "Oh! But, of course." He looks up from the, the item, and puts a hand under his chin, waiting to hear the story as he leans against the counter.

Loyal: "Well, ah, my adventuring group and I, we were exploring the ruins underneath the Old Light, I'm sure you've heard of those recently?"

GM: "Oh, no, no. There's ruins."

Loyal: "Oh, yes."

GM: "Under the Old Light?"

Loyal: "Indeed."

GM: "Wow. We have our very own catacombs!"

Loyal: "Ah, when we encountered a creature, in which was quite difficult to kill, it, we nearly lost our lives. And, well, it was wielding this dagger. The dagger when thrown at us would return to its hand."

GM: "Hmm." He picks up the little dagger between his thumb and forefinger and gives a little flick in the air. It flies out between the racks, stops, and then just zips right back to his, to his hand. Not expecting this, and not sure how to catch it- 

All: [Laugh]. 

GM: He ducks out of the way, at which point, the knife stops where it was thrown from, and then falls to the counter. "Huh!" He picks up a wand and pokes at it a couple times. "It seems inert now, we're safe."

Loyal: "Certainly. Like I said, returns when thrown." 

GM: "It did." 

Loyal: "Anyways, I guess we should talk about, a price, of course."

GM: "Hmm. Well, it is a nice piece. The problem is it's so small. I'll tell you what, since you want coin and this piece will likely won't move quick, can you come back in a week for your coin? At which point I will have sold it. I have many visitors from Magnimar who come up regularly. Some of them once a month, some of them on the weekly, one of them will definitely be interested in this. It'd be perfect for a familiar's use."

Loyal: "I'm sure it would. Ah, let me just confer with my compatriot outside." And I'll walk outside and, "Taury, he's willing to buy it, but, however, he wishes for us to wait a week before we are paid as he, he expects to have it sold by then."

Taury: So, out of character, would Taury recognize this guy as, like, a decent businessman, or has she never seen him a huge amount?

GM: Vorvashali's stock changes constantly as dozens of contacts from Magnimar come in, usually weekly, to buy and trade. And then Sandpoint, because of its port city location and central location on the Lost Coast roads, lots of adventurers come through here, and many of them stop by his store to refresh their supplies and pick up new things that they might need. He does a lot of business and he's very good at it.

Taury: Yeah, so it's unlikely that he's lying.

Loyal: He's not scamming us or anything. Shouldn't be.

Taury: Ok. "He wants us to wait how long?"

Loyal: "A week, he said."

Taury: "Precisely a week?" 

Loyal: "Yes." 

Taury: "Any less?"

Loyal: "It seems like precisely a week, however, that's if we want coin. He's willing to offer it for trade for items within, if that interests you, but- Though I figure coin might be the best as we could split the earnings amongst, ah-"

Taury: "What manner of items does he have?"

Loyal: "Ah, I didn't really look around. I saw a few staffs, potions, umm- I didn't take a closer look."

Taury: "Anything pointy?"

Loyal: "Let me go check." I will walk in, say, "My compatriot is considering trade, so I'm going to look around at the various items in here"

GM: "Oh, please do. Let me know if you have any questions?"

Loyal: I guess I'll look for, first of all, what Taury asked for, which is something pointy.

GM: There are no magical weapons here.

Loyal: Pointy hat, ah- 

Taury: [Laughs]

Loyal: Hmm. Is it mainly just, like, staffs, wands, that sort of thing?

GM: Yes, ah, potions, scrolls, wands. Those are the majority of the stock.

Loyal: Hmm, alright.

GM: Things that are, you know, fairly easy to make and trade quick. 

Loyal: Makes sense. 

GM: Always in high demand type items.

Loyal: Mm-hmm.  I'll go back outside and, kind of, look at Taury, "Nothing pointy, just staffs, wands, potions, scrolls, various things."

Taury: "Hmm. Perhaps we could ask him to, ah, keep an eye out for items we might request?" 

Loyal: "Maybe." 

Taury: "And upon selling the dagger, we collect our reward at the end of the week?"

Loyal: "So, what you are saying is that we give it to him as if we were selling for coin and if there is anything interesting that pops up, he'll save it for us to possibly trade rather than take the coin that he procured? Yes?"

Taury: "Perhaps, yes." 

Loyal: "Alright. I'll see what he thinks about that." I'll head- I'll head back in. "My compatriot- Well, there's nothing in here that really calls to her. She is ideally looking for an item, like possibly a weapon of sorts, if you have any? But if not, she was saying we could leave the dagger with you, sell it for coin, but perhaps if there's anything that matches the description of what we would like, then perhaps save it for us. We may trade rather than collect the coin."

GM: "Hmm. An interesting offer, umm, but no. I will trade for coin and then, when you come in to receive the coin, if there is an item that is available on the stocks, ah, then you can pay the coin price that I will have given you the coin for. But-"

Loyal: "That's fair." 

GM: "Yeah. Not the- No reserved items."

Loyal: "I understand. You are a business. In that case then, I think we'll sell it for coin and all." Place the dagger down.

GM: "Very good. I will have your- Yes. I'll have your coin available in a week."

Loyal: "Alright. Ah, is there some sort of, ah, note we may get that may notarize our purchase or just a way to ensure that we get the coin? I think you're a completely respectable business, just to be safe. Can never be too safe, especially when selling something of this value."

GM: "Yes, shall get that for you momentarily."

Loyal: "Amazing. Thank you."

GM: He goes into the back and then comes back with some parchment and a quill and writes it up, a receipt for you, that he has taken possession of said dagger, describes it, does a quick drawing of it. He takes his hand off the quill, scratches his nose. The quill continues writing. He then grabs the quill and continues writing. "It's valued at," and puts down the actual book value of the dagger, which Loyal was unaware that it was going to be that expensive.

Loyal: Oh, really? How much is it?

GM: I will have the number for you, but it, it is a very expensive dagger.

Loyal: It's worth?

Taury: Oh, hell yeah, man.

Markus: 10 302, I believe.

Loyal: Holy shit!

GM: Alright.

Loyal: Oh, my God!

GM: Leave it to Markus to have already done the math!

Loyal: Yeah! 10 302? We're rich motherfuckers now!

Taury: We buying champagne, boys. We buying champagne.

Loyal: Oh, yeah!

Markus: That, that's the price that you would buy it at. Let's put that way.

Loyal: Oh my God!

Markus: So it's 300 for the Masterwork, one or two for the dagger, and then it's a +2 item so that's 8000, plus another 2000 'cause it's Cold iron that's enchanted.

GM: Yep. 

Loyal: Oh my God!

Markus: Ooh, yeah, it will be 2 for the dagger, because it's Cold iron so it cost double. Yeah, that's where the two came from. 

GM: Yep.

Taury: Mad. 

Loyal: Nice.

GM: So, make a note of that.

Loyal: Yup, I made a note-

GM: Because I will forget.

Loyal: In my journal. 

GM: Good.

Markus: Question: Is it going to be full price that we get? Or is it going to be normal retail?

GM: Yes, he will give you full price.

Loyal: Ah, ha-ha-ha!

Markus: Oh, Ok.

Taury: Because although he's really fucking annoying, he's actually alright.

Loyal: We're rich mother fuckers!

GM: He is a good businessman. You've given him a quality item and he's going to upmarket for whoever he sells it to. So, his cut is the up mark that he's- 

Loyal: Yeah.

GM: Yeah. He's going to make some money off of this and you're going to get your value, so.

Morana: Behold the shackles.

Loyal: And then, Furtive destroys the town the day before we're going to get our fucking deck of money.

GM: Hey, shrug. 

All: [Laugh]

Taury: That's a 'keep rolling ship percentiles and yes, it will explode', while you're in it.

GM: So, yeah, he then hands over the receipt and says, "Because of that receipt," he rips off a bottom part that has, like, a copy of it, "I will match up this tear and will only give the payment to whoever is holding this, this parchment. So don't lose it, alright?"

Loyal: "Makes sense. Yes." Oh boy! I will nice and, like, gently fold it, and put it, like, underneath multiple layers of robe into a pocket.

GM: [Laughs] That is some of the items that he has for sale. 

Loyal: Ooh.

GM: Bags of holding and handy haversacks. He's got one secure paypack, which is a handy haversack that locks, so only the wearer can use it.

Loyal: Sounds like an item for me because shit will weigh a lot less when I wear it. [Laughs] 

GM: Yeah.

Taury: Also sounds like something we can't afford yet. [Laughs]

GM: When you get your money.

Loyal: When we get the money-

Taury: If

Loyal: Have you-

Taury: If

Loyal and Taury: If we get the money

GM: A-hmm. Cough, cough.

Loyal: "Alright. Ah, thank you for your business."

GM: "Thank you. Do return." 

Loyal: "Of course." 

GM: "I have a feeling we'll do great business together. Yes? Yes."

Loyal: "I have the same feeling." And I'll walk out. "So, he unfortunately was not able to make that trade, however, I don't think that will be as much of an issue because we can use the coin to buy items if he has them. Ah, it's a lot more coin than I expected." And I'll pull out the receipt and show her how much that dagger is worth.

Taury: You wouldn't see a huge reaction, but she nods.

Loyal: "Ah, only thing is, ah, we don't get our money if we don't have this receipt, so we're gonna find somewhere really safe to put it. I'm putting it very deep in my robes for now."

Taury: She looks at you a little bit weirded out.

Loyal: "I really don't want to lose this receipt. Nonetheless, ah, is there anything, ah-?" Why? Why did you roll? 

Taury: [Laughs]

GM: Don't worry about it. 

Fenwarin: [Laughs]

Loyal: God damn! Fucking, argh!

GM: You're talking about things out on the street. Just don't worry about rolls to overhear what you're talking about. It's fine.

Taury: Oh, for fuck's sake!

Loyal: It was shitty. It's fine.

Fenwarin: Receipt stolen.

Taury: Loyal is going to get us fuckin group attacked and robbed. That's what's gonna happen here. And there's going to be six of 'em. [Laughs] 

Fenwarin: [Laughs]

Loyal: Alright. "Nonetheless, ah, anything else to, ah, to take care of? Are we good for now? Anything else you want to sell?"

Taury: "No," she shakes her head and continues walking probably in the direction of the Rusty Dragon.

Loyal: He'll follow, back towards the Rusty Dragon.

GM: Alright. Back at the Rusty Dragon, ah, all the group except for Markus is there. Do you begin playing cards again to kill time?

Loyal: Well, the first thing I do, how many people are in the inn right now?

GM: It's pretty close to noon, so a crowd is starting to come in for lunch.

Loyal: I kind of gather everyone up and, like, up into one of our rooms. I'll do mine if no one in- instinctually leads to theirs or anything.

Taury: Yeah, I feel like nobody would instinctually lead to their own room.

Loyal: Yeah, I- You never know. But, his room, for the most part, is actually relatively empty 'cause his alchemy lab is portable. And so, for the most part, there's just like vials around there, here and there.

Taury: Messy vials or, like, tidy vials?

Loyal: Tidy. A couple, ah- Yeah, pretty much, yeah. Tidy vials. Ah, probably a couple of healing things out, like bandages, salves, that sort of stuff. And he, he'll close the door and say, "Alright, so that dagger's worth a lot of money. We- In a week, we will be able to bring in," pulls out the receipt, "this receipt for, well..." and then he opens the receipt to show them how much money.

Fenwarin: "Well, that will certainly help us."

Loyal: "Yes. Ah, the thing is, if we lose this receipt, we can't get our money. We need somewhere safe to keep this. Any, any ideas?"

Taury: And Taury's looking at Fenwarin, like, as if he's a human lockbox.

Loyal: What?

Fenwarin: [Laughs] "Why are you looking at me like that, Taury?"

Taury: "Well, do you have my cards?"

Fenwarin: "Yes, I do."

Taury: "Well then, it speaks for itself."

Fenwarin: "Do you want them back?" 

Taury: "Yes."

Fenwarin: I'll just hand them back to her right away.

Taury: Oh, the hand was already out there waiting for them. "I propose Fenwarin is the most trustworthy."

Loyal: "That's fair, I guess."

Fenwarin: "That's a lot of responsibility for sure."

Loyal: "It is."

Taury: "It is less responsibility than fighting."

Loyal: "True, that's true. We also don't want this, ah, receipt to be destroyed in any way. Perhaps it may not be best to keep it on our person, but rather somewhere stored?"

Taury: "You haven't been here very long, but I can assure you the people here will find it. It is much safer on your person."

Loyal: "That's fair. I trust your judgment on that."

GM: Coming from a larger city, Loyal, both Magnimar and Korvosa, you are accustomed to banks, where you could have a vault to put this in or a lockbox that is run by the clerics of Abadar. You've been in this town a few days and have distinctly noticed a lack of that facility.

Loyal: "Hmm, if we were in Magnimar, this wouldn't be an issue. Nonetheless, I guess I do agree. It's probably best to keep it on our person, someone who will notice if someone is trying to take it off of them.

Taury: The shifty eyes go back to Fenwarin again, and his pointy ears.

Fenwarin: "Alright, alright, I'll try and keep it safe-"

Taury: "No."

Fenwarin: "To the best of my abilities."

Taury: "No," and she holds up her hand. "You must not try, you must keep it safe." And she's very, like, very stern, the expression.

Fenwarin: Yeah, Fenwarin finds it very intimidating. He's like, "Oh, oh, oh, ok. Yeah, I will keep it safe."

Taury: And she pats him on the shoulder.

Loyal: I'll hand the receipt to him. "Keep it safe. Certainly more money than I've ever seen in my life."

Fenwarin: "Me too, for sure."

Loyal: "Well, now that business is dealt with, what do we plan to do?"

Fenwarin: "Well, we were talking about the Old Light, right?"

Loyal: "Just head back down there? I- Ideally, I would like to wait for Markus." What time of day is it? Oh, you said, like, noonish, so lunchtime. Yeah, so like noon to 1-ish.

Fenwarin: "And he's still not back?"

Loyal: "Yes, this- His matters may take a time to, quite a bit of time to deal with."

Fenwarin: "Yes. Well, I'm not sure about you guys, but I am not going down there without all of us five."

Loyal: "I think it's best- Yes, I agree. I think it's best to head down there together."

Taury: Taury shrugs at that.

Loyal: "Would you like to go down alone, Taury?"

Taury: She just doesn't reply.

Loyal: Loyal will kind of just, like, the kind of like a laugh, it's kind of like an inhale breath, or exhale breath, one of the two. Says, "Well, ah, if you guys have any personal matters or anything to deal with, I suggest that you probably do those now. Or if there's other things we'd like to sell off that we found down there, materials we'd like to buy for the journey down in?"

Fenwarin: "Well, the marketplace opens tomorrow, so."  

Loyal: "That's true."

Fenwarin: "Maybe, maybe get some more supplies then? Ah, for now, I just, how about some lunch and more cards, I guess? Just wait for Markus?"

Loyal: "Why not? I think we could use a break from that, probably earned at this point." With that, Loyal will start to leave the room and head back down.

Morana: Morana will too.

Taury: Taury is going to eye-up his, like, vials and setup, and just kind of give it, like, a weird look.

Loyal: Ummm, if any of you are famil- familiar with curatives, and, like, healing stuff, it's a lot of curatives. Like, various, not- most of them aren't done yet, so, like, it seems a bit, he was probably experimenting with stuff.

Taury: Are there any burn marks anywhere?

Loyal: Uh, probably not. He's pretty good at this.

Taury: Yeah, and then she'd follow the rest of you guys down.

GM: Alright. So you guys are planning all this out. You've had lunch, you continue waiting around in the bar for Markus, correct? 

Taury: Yup. 

Loyal: Yes. 

Fenwarin: Hmm-mm

GM: Ok. Eventually at sunset, right around then, a little after, Markus, you snap out of your trance, as you're standing on the cliff sides, communing with the winds, the sea spray splashing up. You- You're watching it come in on the coast, waves and stuff. You suddenly feel a clarity and a calm and a peace as you come out of this trance. What are you doing?

Markus: He's going to take a little while to gather himself and come back to, fully. Then he'll set about picking up his gear.

GM: Ok. After you pick up your gear, what's the plan?

Markus: He's going to go, ah, find something to eat. But he's especially not going back to the Rusty Dragon to do so.

GM: Alright. The closest place to where you're at is the, the Hagfish.

Markus: Yeah. Ok. He'll wander over to the Hagfish, grab an evening meal.

GM: Alright.

Markus: And then, once he's done that, he's going to head off to the library.

GM: Ok. To the bookstore? Got it.

Markus: Bookstore, yeah. 

GM: Alright. Ok, for the rest of you, evening has come, the sun's setting, still no Markus. Go ahead and give me Perception checks.

Taury: That's going to get exciting.

Loyal: Yeah!

Fenwarin: This is not good at all. 

Taury: [Gasps]

Loyal: Yeah.

Taury: It's these rolls!

Loyal: It's not gonna- Oh my God! [Laughs] We're so pers- Oh no, Fenwarin, we're not. But-

Taury: Ohh! The feels-

Fenwarin: Eh.

GM: Fenwarin broke the streak.

Loyal: Oh my God, yeah. Both twenties, Jesus!

Taury: Oh man, I was on such a hype train and then that fucking 15 landed. Jeez.

Fenwarin: [Laughs]

GM: Alright. Fenwarin, you're going to be blissfully ignorant of what's going on. The rest of you overhear a couple patrons come in, talking about this weird guy standing on the cliffs, back behind the Glassworks. He looked blue and there was like glowing stuff on him, it was really weird. And then the other one is like, "Yeah, I heard he was out dancing under the moonlight couple nights ago or something. He's really strange."

Taury: From this, would we be able to peg that it's our Markus that they're talking about?

GM: Give me a Sense motive? Kind of piece this together. 

Loyal: Bah!

Taury: Oh, boys!

Loyal: We used up all of our roll-luck on the last one.

Taury: Yeah, the fucking hype-train crashed. 

Loyal: [Laughs]

Morana: I didn't have it as a class skill, so.

Fenwarin: Welcome to my area.

GM: Ok. Yeah, none of you piece together that that's probably Markus.

Taury: And it is Sandpoint, so, I mean, there's some weird people.

Loyal: Wouldn't be the weirdest thing we've seen.

Taury: Yeah, it's probably not the weirdest thing. [Laughs]

Loyal: I mean, I'm green, could be a blue.

GM: Yeah. You don't really notice any of those things, like, you've definitely never seen glowy things on Markus before.

Taury: I don't like that you said 'things'.

Loyal: [Laughs] We'll shake it off.

GM: Don't worry about it.

Loyal: [Laughs] That always makes me worry about it. 

Taury: Right? [Laughs]

GM: And I think we'll call the session there. 

Fenwarin: Oof! 

Taury: Ooh! 

Loyal: [Sighs] Man, I need to, like, mentally recover from this. Oh, god!

 	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/ .