CLOSED Pathfinder: Rise of the Runelords, Burnt Offerings

[Friadoc]

Once Mandraiv returns, Kael excuses himself, but leaves Mal with his companions.

"I'll wait for the guards above," says Kael. "If you've need of me, just tell Mal and he'll send for me."

With staff in hand, Kael makes his way to the outside of the factory, so that he can intercept the guards and prepare them for the unimaginable.

"Now men, you must steel your hearts against compassion," says Kael simply enough. "For the town needs you to be strong now, strong here, and later when you are elsewhere, with those close to you, then you can allow what you feel to return."

"It will not be easy," says Kael to the guards and, after a slight sigh, continues. "In fact, it may be one of the hardest things asked of you, but the town needs your strength today."

With that said, Kael will lead them to the carnage and stay with them in hopes of strengthen their resolve. He'll walk them through what he knows of the battle, but he will only skim over what was behind it since, for now, they need not know.

 

[frostrune]

Mandraiv returns, a bit flustered from all this physical activity. An old man is not cut out for this kind of work, lads. Anyway, I spotted a guard just down the road by chance. I asked him to inform the Sheriff as quickly as his feet could carry him. After getting up to speed on what has been discovered, Mandraiv nods his head in silence. He scratches at his beard and takes in everything he has just heard and seen.

OOC: What does Mandraiv know of the woman depicted, assuming it is not of this world?
Knowledge (the planes) 26

Lads, I'm afraid we are dealing with something far larger than mere goblin attacks. The woman depicted in these drawings is not, well, for lack of a better word... natural. He shakes his head from side to side. I don't believe Tsuto simply had an overactive imagination, but rather that this woman was capable of assuming different forms. And it seems she is also capable of working some kind of dark magic as well. I never knew the boy, but something tells me Tsuto would not be capable of this kind of violence on his own. I believe he was clearly bewitched by this woman. What's worse, knowing what I have learned in my travels about beings from other worlds, this woman is likely not acting alone, but at the behest of some greater power.

The old man looks up, his recently reacquired verbosity clearly seeming odd to his companions. Oh! Um, sorry about that, lads. Not trying to scare the lot of ya. It's just been a busy day for me. I'm gonna sit down for a few minutes. Will do my old bones good.

"Right", Jokad says uncomfortably; clearly confused.

He looks down at this axe, tests its edge, and shrugs. "If she can bleed, she will fall," he says with finality.

OOC: Changed my original post. Kael beat me upstairs.

 

[Friadoc]

OOC

Leave it to us to all decide to pick the same moment to reply to things.

 

[hewligan]

OOC: You may be an strange bunch, but you are all I've got

I will follow up with a proper post tomorrow.

 

[airwalkrr]

Mandraiv stares longingly and thoughtfully at the sketches and entries in the journal. He seems almost lost in his thoughts until Danth rouses him. No, um, no my lad. Just a bit tired and lost in me thoughts is all. Old demons from the past, but we shouldn't speak of it now.

Mandraiv picks up the book and places it in his knapsack. If the rest of you don't mind, I'm just going to hold on to this for a while.

The old fellow has a distraught and wearied look on his face, but his eyes show determination. After a moment's rest, he gets up and moves towards the door. Well, I suppose we ought to make sure that young lass is well taken care of. She's been through a lot, having lost her only remaining family. I shall see if I can comfort her.

 

[hewligan]

Two town guards approach the front of the Glassworks, greeting Kael with a rather bored wave. One man is short and broad, with an unshaven face that looks like even his mother would find difficult to favour. The other, a lean, wiry man with searching, active eyes and a gaunt face, greets you verbally.

"Mandraiv came to a guard post, said there was an urgent need for guards at the Glassworks. Seemed a bit distraught, they said. What's up? Has someone gone and fallen in the furnace?" His face screws up in distaste at this last bit, as if he has perhaps too successfully produced the image in his mind.

When Kael speaks his warning, the two men look at each other with 'oh sh*t' faces.

"I wish Hemlock was here!" the lanky ones offers up pathetically. "His stomach is strong."

And with that they follow the young sorcerer into the macabre scene that is the Glassworks.

 

[hewligan]

OOC: The glassworks appears to be coming to a natural close. Please feel free to continue to roleplay any elements you wish, and I will respond in part. However, when ready to move on you have pretty much got the following options:

1) Return to your inn to investigate the journal more closely (Mandraiv has the journal, it is his call to do with it as he pleases unless some of you ask him for it).
2) Return to the glassworks to search all the rooms more closely (you may get done for theft, of course, now that the guards are involved)
3) Return to the tunnels under the glassworks
4) Continue to talk to Ameiko, or if you prefer escort her back to her inn
5) Rest, relaxation, and ... ?
6) Anything else you may have ideas about.

As mentioned, you can lead this ... I am happy to respond to any choice you make here.

 

[airwalkrr]

Mandraiv will offer to take Ameiko back to an inn or her home, whichever she would prefer (after informing the rest of the group where he is headed and seeing if any of them wish to come along). If her home, he asks if there is anything he can do to make her more comfortable and stays to tend to her wounds for the rest of the day to ensure she is on the road to recovery. If she is more comfortable at an inn, he will put her up for the night and offers her some of his special-made cider (which he fetches from his hut). In between tending to her, he will go over the journal with a fine-toothed comb, trying to make sense of whatever he can. He will pick a secluded place to do so, like a private room or corner of the tavern.

He cooperates with the guards to a reasonable extent but insists on seeing to Ameiko's care first and foremost. He speaks almost as if he feels personally responsible for her harrowing experience. If the guards wish to speak to him extensively for any reason, he lets them know where he can be found. Later that evening, if Ameiko is comfortable discussing it, Mandraiv will gingerly broach the subject of how the encounter with her brother went down and what she remembers. He will use Diplomacy to be as delicate as he can, since obviously this is a traumatic incident for her.

Diplomacy 10
(Well, at least that doesn't hurt anything...)

 

[Friadoc]

Kael will defer to Mandraiv, both as an elder and as a holy man, since he is most likely more equipped to help Ameiko.

However, Kael will be within the distance of a slightly raised voice, in case anything where to happen and someone in need of assistance.

Also, if the guard try to press any point that would keep Mandraiv from helping Ameiko sooner, as opposed to later, the young man will try and either convince the guards otherwise, or volunteer to talk to them in Mandraiv's place.

OOC

If Needed: Post #309 - Kael's Unskilled Diplomacy Check (1d20+3=9)

 

[frostrune]

When the guards arrive Jokad excuses himself and heads upstairs to assist Kael. As Kael slowly walks them through the upper floor, Jokad glowers seriously from over his shoulder.

After the full horror of the scene is explained to them Jokad steps in. He immediately eyes the scrawnier of the two and begins speaking in a low threatening voice...

"Pray to whatever god you will that this is the worst thing you will ever see. But if one word of this passes your lips before you speak directly with the mayor.... even that god won't save you from me."

"Now go, and fetch her with all speed."

OOC: Intimidate 18 http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/1454798/

He doesn't even bother to watch him run out the door before he turns to his ugly counter part.

"You. Follow me. I'm going to give you a job guarding a door (the door to the unknown tunnels). Nothing is to pass through it or by you."

"Is that understood?"

"Good."

"The old one and the wizard are going to escort Lady Ameiko to her home. Danth, Jovik, and I will wait here with you until the Mayor arrives."

Jokad turns to his remaining companions, "I'm heading back upstairs to make sure no one gets too nosy until the Mayor arrives.

OOC: I figure someone has to stick around to talk to the mayor and Jokad is a little cranky from missing lunch