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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Goonalan" data-source="post: 9644368" data-attributes="member: 16069">Not KotSSession #004b: Chatting with Chopper.The Adventurers.Chromium Malifax aka C-Fax (Rob), Male Silver Dragonborn (Noble) Paladin of Bahamut Level 1Mavis Golightly aka Mave (Sandy), Female Half-Elf (Acolyte) Cleric of Chauntea Level 1Arbuthnot McGow aka McGow (Al), Male Mountain Dwarf (Soldier) Fighter Level 1Snakebite (Kenji), Female Half-Orc (Outlander) Monk Level 1Travis Pickle (Yui), Male Lightfoot Halfling (Criminal) Rogue Level 1Dead PCsThe Inspector aka Spek (Kenji), Male Rock Gnome (Charlatan) Sorcerer Level 1- Killed in Session #2 by Eggnog the Kobold Dragon Priest.To-do list/Quests-#001 Save Dicky Bird aka The Fat Pidgin, and bring him home safely to Edna Gingster, keep in mind Dicky could be travelling incognito. Reward: 2000 XP & 1000gp each.<s>#002 Find and investigate the ancient dragon burial site Dicky was looking for, he might be there. Reward: 250 XP.</s> COMPLETE<s>#003 Destroy the kobold menace, including their leader- ‘Chopper.’ Reward: 250 XP & 75gp, with 1gp paid for every kobold tail handed in.</s> XP GIVEN, REWARD TO COLLECT#004 Stop Orcus-worshipping Karl’s ritual to bring an undead army to Kirkgate. Basically, save the village, begs (eventually) Lord Crumble. 1000 XP & 250gp reward.So, the PCs attack on the kobold’s lair has been a marvelous success, they have Chopper (goblin boss/loon) ko’d and bagged- McGow is carrying him. C-Fax and Snakebite are hefting a rather nice-looking (& heavy) chest- they’ve also got the key for this container. Travis found it (they think it’s the right key) on Chopper. But they’re not going to stop running away from the kobold’s lair until they think that they are safe. Just in case.Note, the PCs initial thought was to head back to Kirkgate, but then Mavis suggested that taking Chopper back to the cells there might not be a good thing- what happens if the killer shadow comes back?Therefore, Fionulla has been directed to take the PCs to somewhere closer to Kirkgate but still out in the wilds, somewhere with a bit of cover that they can defend- if need be.Note, the PCs are worried that the remaining kobolds are going to try to hunt them down.And so…[ATTACH=full]403350[/ATTACH]Fionulla leads the PCs to an old Owlbear cave she uses, this after confirming that the Owlbear has been away from its den for at least six months now, so- it’s safe. She thinks.The PCs are, at last, getting to like Fionulla. She’s proved her worth.Then- chatting with Chopper, and in the end that’s what it amounts to, let me explain.The PCs, well some of them, get a bit het up about how they are going to squeeze Chopper until he squeaks- basically, how are they going to get away with inflicting pain and torture on the goblin when C-Fax and Mavis are in proximity.No need.It goes a little like this.C-Fax and Mavis take it in turns to explain to Chopper that a) he’s very badly beaten up, he’s unemployed and he’s broke, furthermore- b) he’s going to be thrown into the town gaol in Kirkgate- that’s the PCs next stop, and summary to the whims of the villagers there. Which probably means he’s going to be executed.The above is a given, there is nothing that Chopper can say or do to change it, however- c) if he sings like a canary now, and promises to mend his ‘foul and wanton ways’ (C-Fax’s clause) then they will both personally guarantee his safety, they will not allow the villagers to kill him, and when Kirkgate’s problems with Karl et al are resolved. They will set Chopper free.The pair promise this.So, the choice is yours.It helps that the pair’s persuasion checks are (before bonuses) a ‘18’ and a ‘19’. That’s ‘22’ and ‘23’ after bonuses are applied.Chopper immediately signs up for the sing like a canary option.Snakebite, McGow and Travis are sore amazed. No unpleasantness at all.Travis makes a meal for everybody, so flummoxed is he by the paladin and priestesses chatter here.Over the next hour or so the PCs learn the following-Pretty much everything that they thought was going on is, in fact, going on.Ka-ah-ar-ah-al-la-la (Karl), or whatever he’s called is the big bad boss, a wizard or more likely a priest devoted to some fat devil pig called (Chopper thinks) Orcus-Porcus.Karl has a contract with the Bloody Heck, in fact his contract is with- Bloody Heck, who is the leader of the Bloody Heck (a terrifying battle-scarred hobgoblin, apparently).The Bloody Heck are slavers, when it pays- like right now, otherwise they are a bunch of mercenary goblins that do a variety of ‘jobs’ to make money.Chopper is (very) low level management in the Bloody Heck. Very low level.It’s Cpl. Chopper-Chop, to give him his full rank and name.The Bloody Heck got involved with Karl about three months ago, or at least that’s when Chopper and his pals were sent to the region.Note, the group that came to the Kirkgate region included thirty or so goblins, including two bosses- Big Fat Ron- head honcho, and (Sgt.) Groan, a nasty bastard hobgoblin in charge of discipline.The goblins got situated in an abandoned (small) ruined castle hidden away in some woods- the place had a few broken towers and a wrecked dungeon beneath. They were led to the place (during the night) by a very small deep gnome and a bunch of grisly looking humans with dogs.Chopper has no idea where this place is, and no idea what it’s called. He’s never been to this region before and never seen a map (of anywhere or anything). He was only at the ruined castle for one day, the deep gnome came back the next night to take him to meet the kobolds.Note, at this point the PCs ask Fionulla if she knows where this place is- her answer- maybe. There are lots of ruins in the Kirkgate region, she can think of two, both within 15-20 miles of the village, one to the north- the other to the south. From the description given it could be either one of them, she further explains that this region was heavily defended in the dim and distant past, with a series of keeps and fortified structures dotted along what were then either borders or else trade routes.So, not enough information to pinpoint the exact location of the Bloody Heck.Back to the Chopper chat…Chopper has been with the kobolds ever since.Chopper and the Bloody Heck trained and motivated the kobolds.The crazy deep gnome generally co-ordinates stuff and delivers messages (Karl’s orders), when the kobolds took prisoners, it was the deep gnome that came to pick them up.And that’s about all that Chopper knows.Chopper has no idea where Karl is based, never met him, never even seen him.To clarify, Chopper’s boss (Bloody Heck) gave him a present to give to Karl (see later, the present is in the chest that the PCs stole), but no-one knows where Karl is at.Regarding Dicky Bird, the PCs long lost halfling friend, Chopper has never seen or heard of him.If Dicky was captured then he’s either been sent to Karl, or else he’s been taken by the Bloody Heck.Lastly.Chopper has no idea who the spy in Kirkgate is, he didn’t know there was a spy in Kirkgate, point of fact.Then we move to the Fionulla interlude- we’ll catch up with this in a bit, but I want to get finished with the Chopper chat for now.C-Fax delivers a stern lecture to Chopper, about good, and right, and stuff like justice.Chopper promises to change.Note, Chopper isn’t a bright goblin- but he’s survived thus far, and so he’s not stupid. He therefore plays the game.Further note Travis, McGow and Snakebite were not silent throughout all of the above, they had a few questions of their own to ask, but Mavis and C-Fax had worked out their routine in their kitchen about an hour before the session started (they told us later). It was a pretty slick show, and I/Chopper hit all (or most) of my lines, and I hadn’t even seen a copy of the script.That went much easier than I thought it would.Although, keep reading.In Chopper’s chest (the key works) are 210 gold coins, and a suit of +1 Chainmail (good quality dwarven manufacture- McGow says), Chopper explains that the magical Chainmail was to be used to bribe Karl, but- as stated above- nobody knows where Karl is at.Note, McGow later lays claim to the magical chainmail, it’s dwarven- he’s a dwarf, it’s a no-brainer- he should have it.Plenty of PCs make a variety of checks (throughout the Chopper chat) to see if Chopper is lying, or else dissembling, they’re all (mostly) good- Chopper was (they think) not trying to hide anything.There, now that we’ve done all of that let’s skip back a bit to the seemingly random point in the conversation between Mavis, C-Fax and Chopper, when this happens-Fionulla stands up, rage in her eyes and screams.[ATTACH=full]403351[/ATTACH]“CHEGGERS!” Follwed swiftly by- “Where is my Cheggers?”And then the slight elven ranger dives on Chopper- trying (badly) to pummel the already badly injured goblin to death.McGow and C-Fax quickly get her off the now sprawled goblin.There’s a kerfuffle for a while and then…Fionulla explains.She and Cheggers were lovers. He was/is a smooth-talking forester- she was supposed to be protecting the forest. They met- said angry things to each other, and then- eventually- fell in love.Fionulla was happy.Then Cheggers just disappeared from the woods, that was two months ago.Fionulla has been searching for him ever since, although…At first, she thought that Cheggers had just left her. Flighty humans etc. Perhaps he didn’t love her after all.Then, when it started to become apparent that the kobolds were getting fractious- attacking folk, or else- and eventually- kidnapping folk, then she started to fret that they had taken him.She’s not an adventurer, she reminds the PCs, and so she took to spying on the kobolds, and spying on the folk in Kirkgate, she became… isolated. A little… paranoid.At which point the PCs all turn to look at Chopper.“Where is Cheggers?”Chopper hasn’t the first clue. The Bloody Heck are slavers- they don’t take a register. As previously explained- Cheggers (like Dicky Bird) has either been sacrificed (or is about to be) by Karl, or else he’s a slave of the Bloody Heck.There’s not a lot to be said to that.Although Mavis tries.The Priestess of Chauntea promises that she and her companions- the Inspectors, will do everything they can to find/save Cheggers.The DM, because he’s a big softy, decides to make this Quest #5.#005 Find/Save Cheggers. That's it really, the PCs just need to find/save Cheggers, for Fionulla. Reward 100 XP.Fionulla still isn’t happy, but then again- nobody is.There’s still more to do, however.Then, because this all took a lot less time than the PCs anticipated- they thought they’d be here in the cave for the night, instead they all head back to Kirkgate, it’s very late when they get there- just after 10 bells.It’s the cells for Chopper, Rondo, the guard captain, has been expecting them, she stayed up. She’s also going to put a guard on Chopper’s cell and will be making sure that there are plenty of lit torches in the area.Chopper, obviously, doesn’t know about the shadow assassin.Then back to the inn for food and sleep.The Inspectors have another busy day tomorrow.Which comes to pass, and we’re moving very swiftly now because we’re in the last thirty minutes of the session, and so-[ATTACH=full]403352[/ATTACH]Chopper is still alive; the PCs take the goblin (hidden in a crate) to meet with Lord Crumble.Lord Crumble gets an update- Chopper spills the beans for the ‘great Lord’ and then pleads for forgiveness. Crumble is for execution, but Mavis and C-Fax (and then McGow, and Snakebite) have their say. Chopper is for the cells. For now.The PCs get paid, and then hired again- basically the same deal as the kobolds except the target is the goblins, the Bloody Heck. Find them and put paid to them. Recover any prisoners- and find out where this Ka-ah-Ar-AH-Ul-La (Karl) is. This is Quest #6.#006 Find and kill/capture the Bloody Heck- including any leaders. Recover any prisoners they have kidnapped. Find out where Karl is based. Reward: 400 XP & 100gp, with 1gp paid for every member of the Bloody Heck confirmed dead or captured.Then, a bit more chat- Lord Crumble is not for telling the people of Kirkgate what’s going on yet, at least not while there’s still a chance that the PCs can make this whole thing go away. Hubris, maybe- we’ll see, but the PCs concur with Crumble’s position- they’re on it.Next, the PCs head off to meet with Jefron Puddleduck, this meeting has been organised by Lord Crumble- Jefron has been examining the artefacts the PCs brought back to Kirkgate (the mirror and jade dragon statuette).Note, Jefron obviously doesn’t know anything about the Karl problem that Kirkgate is presently experiencing, and so-Jefron confirms that the symbol scratched into the jade reclining dragon statuette is indeed a symbol used by Orcus worshippers, the sage is curious as to where the PCs found this item.It’s the PCs turn to dissemble.The mirror is a valuable artefact of Netherese construction, not magical, but from a magic-infused society. Undoubtedly it could have been used as part of some sort of scrying ritual, although the mirror is so tarnished that actual scrying (seeing) would be very limited. It could however serve as a two-way communication device, which is what Lord Crumble told the sage.Jefron has further questions about the mirror (like, where did the PCs get it etc.), but- the PCs are in a rush, they therefore warn Jefron to keep the mirror safe/covered-up/locked away. The sage heeds their warning, although- more questions arise…The PCs flee the sage, the LG-folk are keen to tell no lies.And this is the last bit of this session.It’s about eleven bells, the village is in full swell- the gentle folk about their business, and the sun is shining.But the Inspectors know that in just six days time an army of the undead is coming to Kirkgate.The Bloody Heck are the next bad guys on the Inspector’s list. They need to be taken care of.Ideally today- the PCs are heading to the market, even now, to stock up for their next trip.But which way do they go- there are two possible answers to the ‘Where the bloody heck are the Bloody Heck?” question. Both ruined castles (in dense woods) are maybe five hours away from Kirkgate- but in opposite directions.Mavis 80 XP, C-Fax 60 XP, McGow 50 XP, Snakebite & Travis 40 XP each. Cheers goonalan and the Tokyo Massive.</blockquote>

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