Nov 28: Abandoned Keep...Mostly.

The party travels through the village, following their map, heading towards the ruined keep. Indaril stays ahead, using his skills as a scout to watch for any potential trouble. But there is none, as they reach an abandoned and desolate keep.

The road ends at a squat keep, hunkered down like a pig in the mud. The analogy is appropriate, given the abandoned keeps state of disrepair. Exterior stone is crumbling, and the iron gate, halfway up the entrance wall, is heavily rusted. Cracked stone gives evidence of where an abundance of vines once grew. The gate leads into a courtyard.

Using caution, they make their way inside. After some initial confusion-and injuries, they discover the secret to the puzzle in opening the entry into the keep.

This large room is 45’ in width, and longer than your vision extends. Unlit torches in holders are regularly placed on the walls. About 20 feet in is a large table, chairs seated around it. Dishes, serving trays, and candelabra adorn the table, as if a dinner party had been in progress and the guests suddenly left. Everything is covered with cobwebs and a heavy layer of dust. You can see 5 doors from your vantage point at the end of the room, 3 on the right side, and 2 on the left side.

The party first investigates the sound of crying, and find a secret entrance into a hidden room. There, Indaril and Aezra find the ghost of a young half-breed (Half-human, half-Githyanki) girl, about 5 years old, named Nina. She wants Scruffy, who keeps her company back here. She refuses to leave her little room until her mother calls for her. Nina asks them to find Scruffy, and to meet her in the temple downstairs, the other place she's allowed to hide.

The party decides to open the 6 doors in the room, and then decide which to explore. They assume the door opposite the entrance must leave to the second level. They opt to explore the three rooms on the one side first. These are determined to be small bedrooms, similarly sized and furnished. In the first one, Sojan discovers a skeletal hand under the bed, bearing a simple gold ring. Aezra holds onto it, promising to examine it further once they have time.

The second room was quite obviously looted, but the third room yielded some interesting finds. Emberclaw holds onto the book, inkwell, and pen for examination later. Tybris unlocks a chest, and Sojan opens it, finding a quilt in excellent condition, somehow preserved from time and environment. The patchwork pieces are made of hand-stitched silk, embroidered with various draconic depictions on each panel. There is also a small blue silk pillow. Sojan's manhood rebels at the thought of carrying such feminine items, and Emberclaw carefully takes the items. Aezra's careful investigation of the desk finds a false bottom in one of the drawers, and she pulls out a small book, the leather binding dyed a pale yellow. There is also a palm-sized disk, made of or plated with gold, a stylized sun engraved on the surface.

As they are tucking away the items found, Indaril announces that he's found a secret door on the backwall. Tybris checks it for any traps, and finds the switch, and waits for the go-ahead to open it up.

Loot:
Gold Ring
Embroidered Silk Quilt
Blue Silk Pillow
Leather book, empty inkwell, and pen
Small yellow, leather prayer-book
Palm-sized disk with a stylized sun

Quotes:
Emberclaw: "...How are we going to find a ghost dog?"
Aezra smiles innocently, "How did we find a spirited girl?" **
Sojan: "Listen for ghost whining I presume. Maybe Indaril will find a steaming ghost-pile."
Indaril: it seems im looking at one

Aezra nods along, "The bedroom should be more exciting than the offices. Unless they were lonely men."

Sojan: i can't carry a quilt and a pillow... what kind of pit-fighting savage to you take me for?

The Prison House (flashback post)

The Prison House contained the chained body of a young Githyanki male. (See Sept. 19 Session.)

A worn leather pack was found on a table inside. The contents include:

Map of Hestine (same as yours)
Leather Pounch of 30 small glass balls (sling bullets)
Small leather-bound Githyanki prayer book
Empire Medallion -Tybris

Tucked at the back of the prayer book was a letter. Only Aezra has the capability to read it, but the translation is as follows:

Druustya Zithn –

Travel to Hestine. Be certain you are alone, and go without drawing attention to yourself or your destination. You are to gather information only. Avoid any interaction, unless it results in their death-or yours.

There is a small temple near the destroyed village. Venture within, looking for anything of importance in regards to my wishes. Do not return empty-handed.

Adaeus

Nov. 14 Session

With the goblin leader taken care of, the party move to the other stone building where Indaril awaits. They enter, to find 6 goblin soliders in an unwelcoming mood.

This large building was one a town hall, in which the Hestine residents would meet to discuss their discontent. Now it has become a barracks. There’s a permeating smell of body odor, and there are 16 mismatched beds (probably scavenged from the village homes) in this one large space. Small wooden chests are situated at the foot of each bed, likely for personal belongings. At the center of this room is a fire pit, creating warmth and an easily accessible cooking space.

The party engages the goblins, making short order of them with their mostly superior skill. (Emberclaw 2 kills, Tybris 2, Indaril 1 and Sojan 1.)

They spend the night in one of the abandoned homes, resting their bodies and minds. The party then decides to venture to the forgotten temple about half a day's walk outside of town. It's an uneventful trip.

Nestled in a sunken valley is a small stone ziggurat. This picture gives you a good idea of the layout and appearance of the temple. However, there is neither snow nor trees where you are looking, just sloping wasteland. Each step is a foot in height, so the length is quite impressive, and wide enough for you to walk up together. The temple appears to be very old, given the erosion of the stone. As far as what you’d imagine a temple to look like…this one doesn’t seem all that splendorous.

Going up the staircase, you arrive at a large, open doorway, and just beyond is a massive stone door. Carved into the door is some sort of stylized bird, smoothed over with time. There is no visible way of opening the door.

The engraving begins to glow, softly at first like warm coals, then brighter until it is much like flame.

Appearing suddenly before you is a male, though he lacks solidity. In fact, if you focus you can see through him. He isn’t quite human, with his thin, long nose, and large lidless eyes. He is dressed in a long, blue robe. Slender hands with too-long fingers reach up to push back the hood, revealing a head completely lacking any hair. His head turns to look at each of you, and the confusion is apparent on his face. “Why have you come to this sacred place?”

He ignores their attempts at conversation.

“It matters not. It is not time, and events will unfold in their own way. Go, leave this place. Do not return until it is time.”

The male fades from view, and the fiery symbol on the door goes out like a light.

They attempt to find some sort of way to enter the temple, but as the skilled rogue reports, there is seemingly no way in. Aezra's fuzzy companion grows impatient, and it jumps down, leading the party away from the temple back into town.

The only place left to explore (that you know of), is the ruined keep that Joel suggest you search for possible supplies. It is on the opposite side of the village, but only about an hour's walk out. If you wish to go there immediately, you'll arrive in the late afternoon.

Quote of the Session
Indaril: (look mom, im table dancing)
DM: (actually that's the cookfire)

Phat Loot
Please send me an email or offline with any items you want to claim.
You can find an ongoing list of unclaimed loot on the PBWiki.

• 6 leather armors (small)
• 4 short swords (small)
• 2 morningstars (small)
• 6 light wooden shields

• 6 small winter blankets
• 4 torches
• 3 flint & steels, crowbar
• 2 grappling hooks
• 10 sets of small-sized traveler’s clothes
• 8 whetstones
• 16 clay mugs
• 16 clay bowls
• 16 sporks (11 to Sojan, 5 to Indaril)
  
• a sewing kit (Aezra)
  
• signal whistle (Aezra)
  
• 1 large clay jug of goblin ale.

• 2 daggers
• 1 MW dagger (carved bone hilt to look like a hunting cat) (Emberclaw)
  
• 1 leather bound blank journal (Aezra)
  
• green topaz (actually nearly blue instead of green)
• agate gold earring
• ornamental silver inkpot with moonstone gems (Aezra)
  

Oct. 17: Treasure Division

There was no session on Oct. 17. Instead, we briefly discussed claims from the loot list, as well as how to divide up the value of the loot.

Claims are listed on the post below this one. This post is to address the party division of loot.

There are 5 players. However, because you are working for Joel and his resistance, you are also helping to supply those efforts. The resistance counts as a 6th member, effectively an NPC.

You may claim whatever items you wish. If another PC also wants that item, it will be further discussed. Treasure is not necessarily given out on a first-come basis. Such instances will be dealt with as they arise.

Items not claimed will be sold. The value will be divided into 6 shares.

Some players expressed that they may forfeit their share. This is fine, and you may do so when I present you with the share. (You may forfeit any amount, up to the entire total.)

Forfeited shares will go into the party pool. Your contribution to the party pool can be accessed at a later time, if you wish. I will keep a spreadsheet to track party finances. Essentially, it's a bank.

This will probably make it easier on those of you who dislike tracking every copper.

The buying of items will be discussed when the time comes. This post will be added to the PB Wiki.

Treasure List from Zorah's House

Item weight is given in brackets, "[2]" and an item with no weight worth noting is "[*]."

Goblin warriors: 32gp 16sp, 2 leather armors (small)[7.5 each], short sword[1], short bow[1], morningstar[3], 2 lt. wooden shields[2.5 each], quiver of 19 arrows[3]. All small weapons.

Zorah's Possessions:

• Masterwork Short Sword (small) [1]
• Masterwork Scale Mail (small) [15]
• Masterwork Light Steel Shield [3] -Sojan


• Gold chain necklace [*]
• Rainbow obsidian gold ring [*] -Emberclaw
• Pink Keystone [1]

In Chests:

• carved ivory scroll case with tiger's eye caps [3] -Aezra


• marble statuette, 10 inches tall, of an elven warrior
[5] -Indaril

• old masterpiece painting, (a mythical tale) (very large & cumbersome to be carried around)
[25]
• silver flask etched with designs [1]
• small ivory music box
[2] -Aezra

• carved bone statuette [3]
• intricately beaded headdress [1]
• 10 ornate silver arrowheads [*] (2 to Aezra)


• brass mug with jade inlays [1]
• carved ivory scroll case with tourmaline caps [3] -Emberclaw


• large, well-done wool tapestry, depicting a battle (very large & cumbersome to be carried around)
[40]
• silver brooch with small clear, sapphire stones [*] -Sojan


• well-wrought bizarre idol [1]

Pouch of gemstones

• coral [*]
• black garnet [*]
• star rose quartz [*] -Aezra
  
• bat cave jasper (chocolate brown to tan) [*]
• bloodstone (deep green with red flecks) [*] -Emberclaw
  
• orange tourmaline [*]
• zoiste (pink) [*]
• dark brown to green tourmaline [*] -Indaril
  
• frost agate [*] -Indaril
  
• pink topaz [*]
• zoiste (gray) [*]

Sept 19: Ghost Town

This is going to be a short summary.

You carefully searched the various buildings of the village, steering away from the two stone buildings that Indaril pointed out being occupied. The houses and small shops have been completely looted of any valuables, supplies, furniture, and anything else. Heavy layers of dust, dirt, and cobwebs, fill every building, making it quite obvious that these places haven't been occupied in a while. Probably since the "catastrophe," when apparently everyone who was living here, humanoid, animal or plant, strangely disappeared.

Eventually you made your way to the smaller of the two stone houses. Indaril decided to act as lookout at the other building, in case you drew the attention of those inside.

This 30 x 15 foot small house is remarkably well kept compared to any other place in the village. To your left are several barrels, and 3 large chests in the upper left corner. In the right corner is a small bed with linen bedding, and a small wooden table along the right wall.

This place is also currently occupied. A larger, muscled goblin snarls in your direction. Hes dressed in a fine suit of scale mail, underneath which is a blue silk shirt, and a glint of gold around his neck. His bottom teeth are longer than normal for a goblin, and these tusks appear to be gold. Hes armed and ready with a well-maintained short sword and small wooden shield. Standing near him is another goblin warrior bearing a morningstar and shield.

Another goblin was taking cover behind the barrels, firing his bow. Aezra quickly took him out of the fight with a Cause Fear spell. She attempted to daze Zorah, the golden tusked goblin, but was unsuccessful. The battle was quickly over, and all three goblins lay dead on the floor.

Tybris searched the bodies and the rest of the house, piling up the various items that he found. (See above post, "Treasure List from Zorah's House.")

Based on the items gathered here, Zorah was likely either a merchant, or a very good bandit.

Amusing quote of the session (now that I know the backstory):

Sojan: (this search idea went over about as well as The Spinning Fork)

Sept 12: Planning Ahead

Tybris informs the party that the goblins carry nothing of value except some gold, clearly Empire coin. (Empire coin is the only form of legally accepted tender in the Empire. Spending it would not attract notice, unless you're making a large or unusual purchase.) Tybris offers to hold onto the money for now, and they can divide it up later.

Indaril climbs the rocks to scout ahead, and sees the goblin bowmen moving ahead towards the village. They elect to follow after, arriving at the village about 10 minutes after the goblins. Indaril sneaks ahead to find the 2 bowmen arguing with 2 goblin warriors stationed outside a small house. Sending Sojan, Aezra, and Emberclaw down the road to draw their attention, Indaril and Tybris sneak up to surprise the goblins. The goblins quickly fall to their deaths, drawing no blood from the party. One goblin, named Fred, is pinned to the house by Sojan's javalin. Quick questioning reveals that there are more than 20 goblins in the area, not counting those that the party have killed, including one named Goldtusk. Fred says his job was to guard the prisoner inside the house. Before he can reveal any more information, Sojan pulls his javalin free, inadvertantly ending the goblin's life.

Inside the house, Emberclaw is overwhelmed with concern for the prisoner lying in the corner. She finds a newly dead Githyanki male, a young adult, with bandages on his head and chest. He was manacled to the wall, which Sojan severed using his longsword, notching it badly on one side. Tybris objects to the need for this action, but Emberclaw and Sojan see some sort of symbolism in the act. Tybris busies himself by examining the objects on the table, quite interested in what he finds.

Meanwhile, Indaril keeps a lookout, and eventually scouts the area ahead of the party, determined to learn more about the smoke rising from the chimney down the road.