FINAL DAYS! -- The Awfully Cheerful Engine on Kickstarter! An action comedy RPG inspired by cheerful tabletop games of the 80s! With a foreword by Sandy 'Ghostbusters' Petersen, and VTT support!

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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Carlo-One" data-source="post: 8235193" data-attributes="member: 7015827">The four adventurers decided to attend to their separate affairs that morning, regrouping in the early afternoon at the Gatereach. Jandrico Swift took a deposit of 100 gold from each of them for the guest house lease, promising to include personalized furnishing requests for their individual rooms. Shanni eagerly asked for a nice soft bed with a snuggly quilt and a tub of her own, as she and the others handed the coin over to the innkeeper, who then left to see about the purchases.In response to a question from Shanni, Darrow confirmed that he had been able to touch base with their elven friend, Lomilith the wizard, who was still at the tavern they had met him in. The dwarf mentioned the elf had asked after Shanni, who seemed pleased to have been remembered. As Aerikoth had not met Lomilith, Darrow summarily explained that he was a third-rate wizard they had encountered at the Black Boot in River Gate, who was concerned about disappearances of people in the Shore district. The dwarf related how Lomilith thought the cave/sewer entrance they had found there was being used in the disappearances.Dermot mentioned that he had looked up old stories about the first Night King and suggested that the Lathander temple might know more about the subject, as according to some, they had beat the old Vampire the first time. Both Shanni and Darrow were up for accompanying Dermot to the temple, although Shanni irreverently said it would just perhaps be to stick out her tongue behind them. Aerikoth observed that he had not had the best interactions with priests and their ilk, as the wizard put it, but he would accompany them.Joking about the rain, which Darrow pointed out seemed to follow Shanni around like a small dark cloud, the four took the long way to the Lathander temple, forgetting at first that it was in the West Gate and not the Temple district. When they arrived, the priest on duty was finishing a religious discussion with a woman, while some other Westgate citizens were exchanging whispered rumors, earning a frown from the Lathanderite.As the priest approached the group to welcome them, Darrow playfully punched Dermot in the shoulder, but apparently harder than the ranger was used to, as he reflexively hit Darrow back. The priest, slightly taken aback, wondered if they had a dispute among them that needed resolution, offering to assist. Darrow, who had been unfazed by the exchange, said it had just been a friendly punch on the arm and offered his apologies. Dermot went along, but wheezed a bit and under his breath told Darrow to be more careful.The priest looked a little skeptical, but introduced himself as Jotan. As the adventurers reciprocated, he eyed Aerikoth's staff and the various weapons and armor visible, then asked if they sought potions or other aid from the temple. Dermot took the lead in explaining their interest in the old history of the fight against the Night King, Shanni nodding along in an eager-to-know manner. Jotan, appreciative of the fact that he had a willing audience, held forth on the history of the subject.He related how before the founding of the Dalelands, the Night King had emerged from the Westgate catacombs and in a single night of blood, claimed the city for himself. The Night King never appeared in the daytime and wore a porcelain mask to cover his features, always, even at night. It soon became evident that it was a clan of vampires, let by the Night King - named Orlak - who had taken the city. Dermot interrupted, asking if it was more than one, and was informed that the court was all of the undead, it was told, and their servitors.The priest continued, saying how the rule of the Night King had endured for more than a century of terror. Eventually, it could not be denied what the nature of the Night King's dynasty was. Yet none could stand against him, until Dawnknight Gen Soleilon and his companions came to Westgate, from the Vilhon Reach. Sent by the divine inspiration of Lathander, in Jotan’s words, Gen put the vampires to the sword and exposed them to the light, ending the reign of the Night King. Gen stayed to found the Soleilon dynasty of Westgate, which ruled for a long and prosperous time.Despite the ending of the tale, the priest cautioned that it was rumored certain powerful items held by the Night King were never recovered. Symbols of his authority. Which meant that perhaps, the threat was never completely destroyed. One must remain vigilant against the dark, the priest concluded, and not forget the role of the Light.Dermot expressed an interest in seeing whatever writings the temple had on the Night King, which drew a slight frown from Jotan, who explained that normally one must be of the Morninglord’s order to access temple records. However, the priest was willing to speak to Lady Sunrise Tylanna of the Seventh Rose, the head of the temple, who he suggested might hear their petition favorably – if she knew more of their motives.At this, Dermot withdrew a short distance with his companions and conferred with them in a low voice about what they should do, suggesting they could just lay out all their information to the temple. Neither Aerikoth nor Darrow could see why they should not, although Shanni was more cautious, suggesting they should just say they read it in a scroll somewhere.They returned to the priest and Dermot began explaining they had run across some related information in a scroll, but was interrupted by Aerikoth, who queried if they were to speak to the priest or to Lady Tylanna about the situation and their interest. Jotan said that he would listen to their petition and then present it to the Lady Sunrise Tylanna, to hear her judgment on it. Dermot was explaining about hearing about a prophecy from a Kelemvorite when Aerikoth interrupted again, suggesting they move to a move private area, and the priest led them to a study.There, Dermot continued by explaining something of the background of Helm’s Shadows, as the company was called, and how it had defeated a lich with the aid of a Kelemvorite, before the ranger’s time. Jotan appreciated their intention to fight any vampire menace and recalled how Brother Veran, who he confirmed had previously been with the company, had conducted a rite with a fellow priest named Oravan at the Shore, some time before. Apparently impressed with their request, Jotan suggested that they return in four hours, as perhaps the Lady Sunrise Tylanna would be able to speak with them then.</blockquote>

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