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Episode 15: New Day, Same Problems

Posted: Wed Apr 25, 2018 12:59 pm
by EvilGenius
The PCs gathered up all of the NPCs and treasure and decided to head back to Farweald. Along the way, these things happened:

1) The elven mage NPC, Minayn, asked Brigga if she could spare a spellbook and some ink and possibly let her copy some spells. Minayn's spellbook had been taken by the giants and put in one of the magical chests and were not found by the PCs. Brigga gifted Minayn the recovered spellbook, Elemental Musings, having previously translated and copied all of the spells contained therein.

In return for these important gifts, Minayn pointed out several areas of planar instability in the Fellreev. The PCs already knew about the portals in the Winter Wood, the excavated portal at the site of Jareth's Tower, and the Weeping Boughs. But the elven seer marked an area on the map which contained the Singing Pools, and also an area that she hadn't been to which supposedly contained an abandoned elven villiage, several weeks to the west of Farweald.

2) Jorius asked Quarion to tell him all about his patron deity, Rillifane. Quarion happily spent the trip educating the human fighter about the elven pantheon.

3) Rill approached Bannock and struck up an in-depth conversation about small unit military tactics.

4) When the PCs turned west to skirt the top of the Fellrev Forest, heading over to the Cold River to follow it south to Farweald, the Obsidian Bay dwarves, Luc, Duklar and Moraim, split off from the NPCs and kept heading south, to Rookroost. Some other members of the OB search parties went with them, but not all. (The NPCs listed in the henchmen thread went with the PCs to Farweald. Everyone else went south to Rookroost)

Re: Episode XV: New Day, Same Problems

Posted: Wed Apr 25, 2018 1:18 pm
by EvilGenius
The rest of the PCs trip was uneventful and after another week, they approached Farweald. An unfamiliar guard challenged them at the gate but the PCs claimed that the town Councilman, Bern Haupt, was their patron. The guard immediately let them through.

The mood in town seemed suspicious, but stand-offish. No one met their gaze for long as the PCs accompanied their wagon into the center of town to the marketplace. Once in the marketplace, however, they were quickly spied by Dapple Goodberry, the halfling bard's apprentice from Shining Justice. Dapple was overjoyed to see the PCs, who had been gone for two months. The young bard could hardly contain his excitement and after the party promised to meet him for a meal, Dapple ran off to tell his friends in Shining Justice that the party had returned.

The PCs first went to Town Hall, where they met with Senior Councilor Wetis, a very old man who remembered the Greyhawk Wars, and his young and lovely wife, Allana. From the pair, the PCs learned that Councilman Haupt was likely at Haupt's Wonders or else at his mansion, the Grandwood. Eager to talk to Councilman Haupt, the PCs set out for Haupt's Wonders.

Bern Haupt was indeed at Haupt's Wonders and came out to greet the PCs in person, reminding them that he had set aside a special item for them when they were last in town. The clerk, Dendry Hawkins, went to fetch the piece while Councilman Haupt re-invited the PCs to join him in his expansive home, the Grandwood. The Grandwood was build shortly after the Greyhawk Wars, and had previously served as an exclusive inn for Iuz's senior officers. As such, it was lavishly appointed and Bern Haupt's family had kept it in good repair in the decades since Farweald had kicked out Iuz's forces for good.

The PCs agreed as Dendry brought back a satin covered object and handed it to Quarion. Quarion removed the expensive cloth to reveal a beautiful, intricately carved crystal bowl. Councilman Haupt explained that the bowl had been brought to them by a woodsman who stopped in from time to time to sell them some elven relic he claimed to have recovered from somewhere.

With a jolt, Quarion recognized the bowl as something he had owned in his previous life! Although he could not recall any other details about it, Quarion was absolutely positive that this was HIS bowl. The PCs learned that the woodsman who sold the bowl to Haupt was known as Fenhuir but they hadn't seen him in a few months and he only ever came in irregularly. Dendry thought that the woodsman took his coin and purchased other supplies in town, but didn't have any more details than that.

With that, the PCs sent their wagon and NPCs to the Grandwood to settle in, while the PCs decided to go and update Akriah and the tieflings about their troubling findings regarding the not-so-mysterious-now-that-you-killed-him, Quirinseyru.

Re: Episode XV: New Day, Same Problems

Posted: Fri Apr 27, 2018 3:12 pm
by EvilGenius
Working on the rest of the writeup so that we can do some online play. :)

Re: Episode XV: New Day, Same Problems

Posted: Fri May 04, 2018 8:32 pm
by EvilGenius
As the PCs moved through town toward the Invisibles, they quietly discussed what exactly they would tell the tieflings about what they had learned. As they started down the hill toward the burned out and partially collapsed buildings, they decided that full disclosure was the only real path forward.

The PCs neared the familiar home and saw Akriah in the doorway waiting for them. She held up a finger to her lips to shush any questions and impatiently motioned everyone inside. After a few moments the PCs were underground in the kitchen chamber they had visited several times, the thick trapdoor shut and barred behind them.

Akriah shooed out several other tieflings, including a few small children, and began setting out the abjuration ward that she had used the last time that you had spoken about Quirinseyru. After ten minutes, a barely perceptible dome sprang up around everyone, blocking magical or mundane surveillance.

"Well, you've been gone long enough. Were you successful? What did you learn?"

The PCs nervously glanced back and forth. Brigga sighed and shrugged, then proceeded to explain the whole story to Akriah. The telling took some time, with frequent interruptions and additions by the other PCs, but they eventually got out the whole story, including their final fight against their former mentor, Quirinseyru, and the dragon's last words, transcribed by thought into his Journals.

When the PCs finally fell silent, Akriah, looking dazed and sad, told them to stay put and don't touch anything, then she left the room, disappearing into the maze of tunnels that comprised the tieflings' community and living spaces. Akriah was gone for about an hour, and when she returned she looked grim and determined. Several burly tiefling guards accompanied her. "Give your weapons to the guards. I need to take you somewhere ... secure."

The PCs muttered amongst themselves for a few moments before reluctantly handing over their weapons. Akriah then produced several sets of strong iron manacles and blindfolds. With only a little more grumbling, the PCs held out their hands and allowed themselves to be shackled and blindfolded.

Akriah and the silent guards led the PCs through several twisty tunnels and through several chambers, stopping to spin the PCs around several times along the path. Finally, the PCs emerged into a worked stone chamber. Akriah arranged the PCs next to each other in a line and removed their blindfolds. The PCs saw that there was one other door on the far side of the room, which was heavily barred and locked.

"You are to stand silent. I will put the blindfolds back on and you will be examined. We must know if you tell the truth, and how much of the truth." Akriah put the blindfolds back on the PCs and double checked their manacles. After a moment you heard a knock on the barred door, followed by the sound of the heavy bars being drawn back and the door being opened.

The PCs stood nervously. Some of you had a vague sense of something moving in front of you, then nothing. The next thing you all heard was the door shutting and the heavy bars being slid back in place. Akriah came over to you and removed your blindfolds and manacles. "We believe your story, upsetting though it is. Your weapons will be returned to you on your way out. We must consider our next actions very carefully."

Onarra rubbed her wrists and asked the tiefling, "what is it that you are hiding for him? His journals didn't say." Akriah paused while opening Bannock's manacles and fixed Onarra with a frosty stare. "Quirinseyru decided not to reveal that secret to you, apparently with good reason. I am not inclined to countermand his wisdom."

All of you looked sheepishly at each other, strangely ashamed of actions you only barely remember. "Come. Follow me back to the Kitchen."
After a shorter trip back to the Kitchen, the PCs were met by the burly tiefling guards who silently handed your weapons back. Akriah motioned the PCs to the ladder leading up to the burned out building. "We have much to discuss and decide here. Do not come back unless summoned."

The PCs ascended the ladder in silence and when they were all topside the heavy trap door slammed shut behind them, bars sliding into place below. The PCs wandered glumly toward Uptown. "So, wanna go find Dapple", Quarion asked the group. With no other pressing matters, everyone nodded in agreement.

Re: Episode XV: New Day, Same Problems

Posted: Sat May 05, 2018 12:34 pm
by EvilGenius
The PCs trudged back up the road leading out of the Invisibles, past the stern statue of Telchur pointing downhill to the tiefling community in eternal judgement. Once at the top of the hill they could see the subdued activity ahead in the Center Market as people went about their lunchtime activities.

"Where do you think the cheerful little guy is playing today", Quarion asked the group. "Eh, probably Tinker's Rest or at Pef's place", Brigga said. Bannock also replied, "he also mentioned the Wheel Inn? Don't think we've ever been there."

"Well, let's try Tinker's first. I have a craving for Mistress Hodzik's apple tarts, now that we're here", Brigga suggested. The rest of the party agreed and made their way through the Center Market toward Tinker's Rest. As they passed through the Market, the PCs couldn't help but notice the tense nature of the interactions between vendors and buyers. There were no raucous cries announcing goods, no spirited haggling, just subdued and sullen transactions. There were also at least 7 deputy constables wandering through the crowds, though you didn't recognize any of them. As before, no one spoke to you, and most would not meet your gaze.

You approached Tinker's Rest, breathing in the welcome smell of freshly baked goods, which almost overcame the more earthy smells of the Lolm's Livery, directly across the road. You could also hear the faint sounds of music coming from inside of Tinker's Rest. It certainly sounded like you had found your young friend.

Re: Episode XV: New Day, Same Problems

Posted: Sun May 06, 2018 9:10 am
by EvilGenius
The PCs walked into the familiar dining room of Tinker's Rest to see Dapple Goodberry sitting on a chair that had been placed on top of a table, intensely practicing a jaunty tune about an angry woodsman arguing with a tree. Dapple looked up and saw the PCs and his face lit up with a huge smile as he finished his song.

The young bard hopped down from his perch as Mistress Hodzik came out of the kitchen carrying a tray of fresh baked bread. "Oh, welcome back Mistress Brigga! It's nice to see you and your friends, though you", Mistress Hodzik nodded at Bannock, "are still going to have to leave that muddy dog outside in the wagon-yard."

Dapple ran over and grabbed Brigga's hand. "Come on over to my table and we'll have a late lunch! No, not that one, it has a chair on it! This one!" Dapple led the PCs to a table next to the large fireplace. "Tell me EVERYTHING! Where were you? Did you have adventures? Did you see anything crazy? Iiii had adventures while you were gone! Shining Justice went into the forest 3 times! We fought some more gnolls one time, and a couple of bears once and we found a cave with a a bunch of trolls! We walloped them good! Erbard really smote them! It was sooooo great! No one even died or ANYthing!"

Re: Episode XV: New Day, Same Problems

Posted: Sun May 06, 2018 2:39 pm
by EvilGenius
Dapple then listened intently as the PCs gave a few vague details about their recent adventures. Living cloaks that screamed and bit, snakes made of bone that cast spells, giants, wyverns, living boulders that rolled down hills at you and even statues come to life!

Dapple listened intently, a look of wonder on his face. "Whoooooaaa. That sounds aMAZing!!! You guys are really good adventurers!!!"

Bannock demured and asked the musician what had been happening in Farweald in their absence and why the mood in town was so tense.

"Oh, not much. Pretty normal, really. I've been playing a LOT! When Shining Justice is in town, I've been playing two shows a day, usually! I've met almost EVERYBODY in town. I have a LOT of friends now."

"That's good to hear, Dapple, but why is everyone so suspicious and on edge", Bannock pressed.

"Hmmm. Well, there were a few murders a while back. Maybe a month ago? I don't know much about that. I had never met those people. And I've met almost EVERYBODY. So OBVIOUSLY they were weirdos who didn't even like music."

The PCs looked at each other. "Huh, so what else, Dapple? There were some people quarreling when we left. There was even a big fight in the market one day."

"Oh yeah, I remember that. There were a few more of those and then the Constable arrested a few people and drafted a bunch of people into the Guards and then they had martial law for a bit. Which was TERRIBLE because there was a curfew and I couldn't even play my evening shows! I mean, can you believe that? But that only lasted for a week, THANKfully."

Brigga rolled her eyes and grunted. "Nice quiet town here. Boring even." Bannock looked at everyone worriedly. "Something is wrong here. I don't like all of this commotion."

Dapple laughed. "Oh don't worry. This is town, it's SAFE here. Not like out in the big woods. But anyway, I've got to go prepare for my show tonight. Have to be properly rested and hydrated, after all! Will you come to my show?"

Quarion shrugged. "We may not be able to tonight, Dapple. We are staying with Bern Haupt now, at the Grandwood. We are to have dinner with him this evening."

Dapple's eyes widened comically. "The GRANDWOOD??!?! That's ... AWESOME!!!! I've been trying to get invited there to perform for Mr. Haupt! Can you get him to invite me? PLEEEEEEEAAAAASSSEEEE?????? I just KNOW he'll like my music! I just KNOW it!"

Quarion sighed, sorry he had mentioned it. "Yes, Dapple, we will ask our host if he would have you there to play for him. But we should probably go there now and check in on all of our new companions."

Dapple appeared a bit taken aback by that. "Oh. All of your new companions. Well sure, you should go and check in with them and hang out with them and go to dinner with them." Dapple's face fell even more as he continued. "Well, I guess I'll see you around sometime, then. I've got to ... I've got to go and get rested up. You know, with all of MY new friends. And my OLD friends, of course. In Shining Justice. They're probably missing me a LOT right now. So you know, I'll see you guys later, I guess, right?"

With that, the PCs said their goodbyes to the young Bard and left Tinker's Rest, off to see their host.

Re: Episode XV: New Day, Same Problems

Posted: Mon May 14, 2018 4:54 pm
by EvilGenius
The PCs made their way to the NorthWest corner of town, up a large hill that gave a commanding view of the town below and off into the woods beyond the wooden palisade. The building was a large, three level complex with smaller towers that rose higher on each end and in the middle of the rear of the building. It looked like there was a modest base of stone, about 3 feet high, but then the rest of the building was made of luxurious hardwoods, with a slightly lustrous finish.

The PCs proceeded to cross the wide front porch to the beautiful double wooden doors and were promptly let inside by a young tiefling boy who escorted them to a sitting parlor. Their host, Bern Haupt joined them shortly after.

"Oh! My friends, THANK YOU for honoring me as my guests! We have the BEST rooms ready for you! ANYthing you want! Please just ask, and my staff will JUMP to the task! I am SO looking forward to speaking more at length over dinner! Now your other companions are getting settled in and cleaned up. Please, go to your rooms and do the same before dinner. Again, THANK you for gracing our out-of-the-way town with your bravery. See you soon!"

The PCs retired to their stately rooms and spent a little time getting ready and cleaned up for dinner.

Re: Episode XV: New Day, Same Problems

Posted: Fri May 18, 2018 11:48 am
by EvilGenius
Just a quick summary of dinner. Councilman Haupt was delighted to have actual heroes staying in his home and spent some time explaining the history of the Grandwood and the pride he took in maintaining it. Not too far into dinner, though, one of his tiefling servants ran into the dinning room to tell the Councilman that there had been another murder in town!

The PCs immediately resolved to go and see what had happened, but they didn't know how they actually stood with Constable Tierny, and asked the Councilman for official permission to investigate this matter. The Councilman said that he didn't want to speak for the whole council (Councilman Lemend, the missing girl's father, isn't super fond of the PCs), but he did agree to authorize the PCs to be his specific representatives and agents in this matter.

The PCs were preparing to leave to find out what was going on when we ended the session.