Part 1 - The Search for a Cure

[CharmingSatyr]

"Blackscour Taint."  Most of you had never heard of this affliction before a month ago.  Now, it is the defining theme of your lives.  More than half the town of Falcon's Hollow have succumb to the terrible wasting disease.  Even now, miles away from town, you are haunted by the sick and dying painfully coughing into blood-stained rags as the malady slowly eats them from the inside out.  The local priests and herbalist are doing their best -- trying potions and scrolls, tinctures and infusions, but nothing seems to halt this plague.  The old and infirm were the first to go -- nearly a half-dozen already dead, and more slowly creeping to death's door every day.

 

You lucky few are some of the only people uninfected.  Which is why you are where you are -- standing at a crossroads with afternoon sun hanging low in the sky, and a crude, hand-drawn map in hand.  The ingredients are north, you know that much.  But don't know exactly where.  You can continue traveling west to the Lumber Consortium HQ as you were directed, in hopes that one of the loggers there can lead you in the right direction.  Or you can take your chances, traveling north, possibly cutting days off your journey, but without a clear destination in mind.

 

Game Mastery/Mechanical Stuff

Players, feel free to describe your character, and make your arguments for traveling west to ask for help, or north to venture out on your own.  Also, pick one of the ingredients and roll either a knowledge-local or knowledge-geography.  A success will mean that you're confident you know the general location of that one hint.

 

Show the Ingredients/hints

Elderwood Mold - This will only be found growing on the oldest trees in the forest.  Maybe the loggers will know there to find some.  Jarlben Trookshavits runs the camp, but the man to talk to is Milon Rhoddam.

Rat Tails - Ulizmila is an old witch who lives deep in the woods.  She's crafty, mean, and knows all sorts of strangeness.  If she doesn't have Rat Tails in her larder, she'll know where to get some.

Ironbloom Mushrooms - Dwarves used to live way up north.  They're not there any more, but I'll bet if you can find their forge or their foundary, you'll find Ironblooms.

 

[iantruesilver]

  

 Valeria Claudianus

At first it was just a couple of the townsfolk. Nobody went out of their way to find out why they were even sick. And then they started to go to the temple and to the apothecary in droves.

 

The first Valeria had noticed was when one of her patrons, one of the town’s lumberjacks started coughing blood right onto his beef stew. Scared the living colour right out from under her skin. She too had thought nothing more of it after confirming there was no bone or any spoiled ingredients in the food, but perhaps that was in hindsight a foolishness Val shared too.

 

When more of the lumbermen began to take ill, Val had tried to caution her brother Cam. She’d tried to ask him to quit his job… or at the very least take a break from it for a little while and come work at the Falconer’s Pub instead… But of course he never listened, and now he too is amongst those afflicted.

 

With her father too old and infirm to be of any help, Valeria had no choice but to close down the pub, at least for the time being, and to offer her assistance on the one hope that could save her brother’s life, and quite possibly many others. After all, she couldn’t very well just stand there and do nothing.

 

And so here she is, her mother’s old adventuring clothes flatteringly adorning her body, and with as much as she could think to bring on a jaunt, as far away from town as she has possibly ever been, Valeria finds herself staring down at this map with these other brave fellows, trying to remember if Cam or his friends in the logging camp had ever mentioned this thing called Elderwood Mold…

---

Actions Knowledge (Local) for information on Elderwood Mold

Statistics Block Valeria Claudianus Human Fighter [Free Hand Fighter] 1 CG Init +1; Senses Perception +2 Defense AC 15, touch 11, flat-footed 14 (Armour +4, Dex +1) HP 13 / 13 Fort +4, Ref +1, Will +1 Offense Speed 30ft. Melee Short sword +5 (1d6+4; 19-20/×2)         Iron Skillet +8 (1d6+4; ×2) Ranged Skewer +5 (1d6+4; ×2) Special Attacks Rough and Ready, Surprise Weapon, Catch Off-Guard, Combat Expertise, Shikigami Style Statistics Str 18, Dex 12, Con 15, Int 13, Wis 12, Cha 7 BAB +1; CMB +5; CMD 16 Traits Rough and Ready, Surprise Weapon, World Traveler [+1/CS Knowledge (Local)] Feats Catch Off-Guard, Combat Expertise, Shikigami Style Skills Craft (Alchemy) +5, Knowledge (Dungeoneering) +5, Knowledge (Local) +6, Perception +2, Profession (Cook) +5, Survival +5 Languages Common, Draconic SQ None Conditions None

 

Edited January 10, 2023 by iantruesilver (see edit history)

[farothel]

 

character block

Lummobella Ironback
Female Chaotic Good Bard (Dwarven Scholar)

Level 1, Init 1, HP 12/12, Speed 30'
AC 14, Touch 11, Flat-footed 13, CMD 12, Fort 4, Ref 4, Will 5, CMB +1, BAB 0   
Silversheen MC Dwarven Dorn-dergar  +2 (1d10+1, x2) Reach Weapon (variable), Bludgeon
Shortbow +1 (1d6 x3), 60' (Pierce)
Whip +1 (1d3+1, x2) 30' range (Slash), disarm, nonlethal, reach (15'), trip

Ammentum +4 (1d6+4, x2) 50' range (Pierce)
Studded leather (+3 Armor, +5 max Dex)
Abilities Str 13, Dex 12, Con 12, Int 14, Wis 16, Cha 12
Condition Darkvision 60'  

 

Character sheet

 

Lumobella looked at the paper map, trying to see if they had drawn some of the ruins she had been exploring.  She wasn't sure about some of the ingredients, like rat's tails, but she had held her tongue for now.  She would try to help were needed, as she had come to know quite a few of the locals during her stays here, short they might be compared to some.

"I think I know where to find those Ironbloom Mushrooms," she said to the others, "I've seen some in a ruin I explored some time ago, but I admit to not being all that familiar with the terrain.  So if anybody is, we can cut through as that will save time."

 

Edited January 10, 2023 by farothel (see edit history)

[hoverfrog]

Rawanne, level 1 half orc sorcerer Serpentine Bloodline
HP: 6/6, AC: 11, tAC: 11, ffAC: 10, CMD: 10, Init +6, Perception +0

---

Rawanne walks along with the others, who she doesn't know that well. She nervously avoids talking unless asked a question as none of the people she's with are part of the Saranrae flock that she has grown to trust. We should do as we were told and head straight for the Lumber Consortium HQ.

 

Lumobella immediately threw a spanner into that idea, "You want to wander off into the woods in search of an old ruin. Is that safe?"

 

The half orc was hardly dressed for an expedition into the woods. She was barely dressed for a walk along a decent path to the Lumber Consortium headquarters. She has a straw coloured dress that almost matched her hair, well suited to a servant, soft slippers on her feet, and a backpack hanging off one shoulder. She's been using a gnarled old quarterstaff that she'd picked up on the way here as a walking stick but her only weapon was a very new and very polished crossbow. It seems likely that Rawanne doesn't even know how to use the weapon.

---

Actions

Move action: 

Standard action: 

Full round action: 

---

Show Spells

~Cantrips~

Acid Splash

Daze

Mage Hand

Message

 

~First Level~ 0 of 4

Burning Hands

Charm Person

 

[farothel]

Statblock

Lummobella Ironback
Female Chaotic Good Bard (Dwarven Scholar)

Level 1, Init 1, HP 12/12, Speed 30'
AC 14, Touch 11, Flat-footed 13, CMD 12, Fort 4, Ref 4, Will 5, CMB +1, BAB 0   
Silversheen MC Dwarven Dorn-dergar  +2 (1d10+1, x2) Reach Weapon (variable), Bludgeon
Shortbow +1 (1d6 x3), 60' (Pierce)
Whip +1 (1d3+1, x2) 30' range (Slash), disarm, nonlethal, reach (15'), trip

Ammentum +4 (1d6+4, x2) 50' range (Pierce)
Studded leather (+3 Armor, +5 max Dex)
Abilities Str 13, Dex 12, Con 12, Int 14, Wis 16, Cha 12
Condition Darkvision 60'  

 

Character sheet

 

Bella looked at the half-orc and then at her more sensible clothes and leather armour.  She had on her side what looked like a metal ball on a chain, as well as a shortbow on her back.

"Those are indeed not really move in the forest clothes," she said, "you don't have anything more suitable.  And to answer your question, yes, I've been to those ruins before, so I know where they are, although I did arrive from the other side back then."

[Kunakic]

Damian Khinlem

Damian had buried his head under his work, the sickness spreading through town going unnoticed. Wasn't till the sick were heading to the temple in more and more increasing number that he realized what was happening. Though with the way things were going he feared for his daughter and the safety of his in laws. So when folks were asked he was the first to step up. Leaving his daughter to run his forge in his absence, he gathered up his old uniform and gear and left to meet up with the others. Hoping they could get back before everyone succumb to the illness.

 

Damian stroked his beard as he examined the sign in the road fork. Deck out in an old style of the kingdoms armour, the very faded crest of the ruling family upon his heart. A massive metal wedge shaped shield as tall as its owner and a sword were his only armaments. Though old and battered, both were in surprisingly good condition, being well maintained. It had been quite a while since he had been anywhere but his forge, his old skills for warfare and fighting being something he had nearly forgotten.

 

With his other hand patting the head of his oft times grumpy donkey, who appeared to have been on the wrong end of some sort of cougar's claws, to calm the creature down whilst they figured out where to go next. His head soon shaking at his companion's words. "I am not familiar with the terrain in these parts. But we will like have to travel north at some point regardless." Or rather if he was had been decades since he had last trudged through here. "But we know where we might find some of the ingredients we can at least narrow things down. Or at least where they might be found." Glancing towards the dwarf's map to see if he might be able to read it and orient them towards where there might be some ruins.

 

Statblock

Damian Khinlem
M Neutral Good Human Tower Shield Specialist/Fighter, Level 1, Init 2, HP 14/14, Speed 20
AC 21, Touch 12, Flat-footed 19, CMD 15, Fort 5, Ref 2, Will 0, CMB +3, Base Attack Bonus +1   
  Longsword  +3 (1d8+2, 19-20/2)
  Scale mail,   Tower shield (+5 Armor, +4 Shield, +2 Dex)
Abilities Str 15, Dex 14, Con 16, Int 13, Wis 10, Cha 10
Condition: None

Actions

.

 

Edited January 10, 2023 by Kunakic (see edit history)

[Rakle]

 Flint

Dressed in his well used armor and buckler strapped on his arm,  Flint was on the road again.   His holy symbol of Desna hung from his neck, and a starknife at his side, he was ready for action      Flint sighed.   After his last trip, he was expecting a quiet break.     He had been back in town barely a week when this plague descended upon the town.   The situation unnerved him.    Get stabbed or take an arrow,  he could save your life.   However, he was as helpless as anyone when it came to diseases.   It was frustrating.    Even worse  - one pubs closed  during the plague. 

  

"I don't care where we go first.   The mold or the mushrooms will probably be the toughest ingredients to find."  he suggests.

 

Actions

 

Stat Block

Skills

S12 D12 C12 I12 W14 CHA 18     HP 9   AC17  Fort3 Ref 2 Will4  Movement  30'  (20' armor +10 domain)

starknife   +4 attack  1d4+4 dmg  x3 crit  20' range   

Sling  (stones)  +0 attack  1d3+1 dmg  x2  50' range

Channel  7/7 per day    DC14           

Bit of Luck  5/5/day

Feat: Selective channel

[hoverfrog]

Rawanne, level 1 half orc sorcerer Serpentine Bloodline
HP: 6/6, AC: 11, tAC: 11, ffAC: 10, CMD: 10, Init +6, Perception +0

---

"Forest clothes? Why would you need different clothes to go into the forest?" Rawanne's ignorance was plain for all to see. She'd been raised in the town of Falcon's Hollow, mainly staying out of sight in the Rouge Lady. That was hardly the sort of place you'd expect a performer like Bella to frequent. The one time she'd run away to live in the woods had left her cold and miserable, covered in scratches and insect bites, and as hungry as she'd ever been in her life.

 

"Besides, I have two dresses and the other one is hanging up in my room drying at the moment." She'd spilled wine on it while cleaning the common room but was sure that it wasn't going to stain.

 

Why am I even here? I don't know anything about elderwood mold, ironbloom mushrooms, or rat tails unless it was tails of literal rats and, if that was the case, they wouldn't need to go further than the Rouge Lady's store room to find them. Those I haven't caught and killed with my magic anyway.

 

"I'll try not to slow you down and I'll go help with whatever plan you think is best. I just thought that we should do what we were told to do."

 

---

Actions

Move action: 

Standard action: 

Full round action: 

---

Show Spells

~Cantrips~

Acid Splash

Daze

Mage Hand

Message

 

~First Level~ 0 of 4

Burning Hands

Charm Person

 

[iantruesilver]

  

 Valeria Claudianus

---

At the talk of 'move-in-the-forest' clothes, Valeria consciously looked over herself, essentially doing a visual once over.  It wasn't exactly like she was at all acquainted with making forays into the forest either, though...  Everything she had inherited from mother at least looks like it fits, thank the gods.  She hadn't yet dared try on the armour yet, the suit of leather lamellar loosely draped over her pack she's lugging.  And she may as well have strapped her cooking knife on her belt instead of her mother's old sword, at least she'd know how to use that...

 

Still struggling a little bit to sort out her memories about Elderwood Mold, she walked with and did her best to absorb the conversation between these other folks.  After a while Val piped up, "Does it really matter which way we go first, as long as we get all the things we need?"

---

Actions None

Statistics Block Valeria Claudianus Human Fighter [Free Hand Fighter] 1 CG Init +1; Senses Perception +2 Defense AC 15, touch 11, flat-footed 14 (Armour +4, Dex +1) HP 13 / 13 Fort +4, Ref +1, Will +1 Offense Speed 30ft. Melee Short sword +5 (1d6+4; 19-20/×2)         Iron Skillet +8 (1d6+4; ×2) Ranged Skewer +5 (1d6+4; ×2) Special Attacks Rough and Ready, Surprise Weapon, Catch Off-Guard, Combat Expertise, Shikigami Style Statistics Str 18, Dex 12, Con 15, Int 13, Wis 12, Cha 7 BAB +1; CMB +5; CMD 16 Traits Rough and Ready, Surprise Weapon, World Traveler [+1/CS Knowledge (Local)] Feats Catch Off-Guard, Combat Expertise, Shikigami Style Skills Craft (Alchemy) +5, Knowledge (Dungeoneering) +5, Knowledge (Local) +6, Perception +2, Profession (Cook) +5, Survival +5 Languages Common, Draconic SQ None Conditions None

 

[Kunakic]

Damian Khinlem

Damian considered things for a long moment, glancing the way towards the logging camp and then towards the woods. "Guess we have a choice. Though we know nothing about the state the consortium is in, or if they are being hit by the very same plague effecting Falcon's Hollow. If they are experiencing it as well, going their might expose us to it and further lower our chances of finding the ingredients we need for a cure." Still slowly stroking his white beard. "Though is also a possibility they have remained unscathed so far. Will depend on whether we wish to take the risk or not." Though he figured he shouldn't scare the young people with a third option. That the camp is unscathed but too paranoid about being infected that they bare entrance. Violently. His head shaking just a little as he recalled a few times when disease and plague spread through a war camp.

 

Statblock

Damian Khinlem
M Neutral Good Human Tower Shield Specialist/Fighter, Level 1, Init 2, HP 14/14, Speed 20
AC 21, Touch 12, Flat-footed 19, CMD 15, Fort 5, Ref 2, Will 0, CMB +3, Base Attack Bonus +1   
  Longsword  +3 (1d8+2, 19-20/2)
  Scale mail,   Tower shield (+5 Armor, +4 Shield, +2 Dex)
Abilities Str 15, Dex 14, Con 16, Int 13, Wis 10, Cha 10
Condition: None

Actions

.

 

[CharmingSatyr]

The Search for a Cure - Post 2

---

After a short discussion, a consensus of sorts is reached.  First, the group will travel north to find the dwarven ruins.  After that ... they can decide as they travel.  As they turn off the main road, it becomes immediately apparent to even the least traveled among their number that they have left the beaten trail.  While there is a path ahead of them steadily heading in a north-ish direction, the trees begin to crowd the path, and the canopy of leaves overhead grows thicker, blocking out more and more of the setting sun. 

 

 

Game Mastery/Mechanical Stuff

Perception and Initiative checks everyone.  We're doing block initiative.  If the group average is higher than the enemy average, players go first. 

Also, marching order please.  Who's up front?  Who's bringing up the rear?

 

 

[hoverfrog]

Rawanne, level 1 half orc sorcerer Serpentine Bloodline
HP: 6/6, AC: 11, tAC: 11, ffAC: 10, CMD: 10, Init +6, Perception +0

---

"You don't think we could carry the sickness to the logging consortium, do you?" Rawanne didn't really know much about sickness but generally speaking one sick person was required to make other people sick unless they were sick from strong drink or bad food.

 

"We don't want to do that," she joins the others, choosing to walk behind Bella and try to follow her footsteps as best she can. She quickly discovers that a sturdy pair of boots mean that you can walk though puddles better than servant's slippers. Still, she has her staff to balance on so at least she doesn't fall in the mud.

 

---

Actions

Move action: 

Standard action: 

Full round action: 

---

Show Spells

~Cantrips~

Acid Splash

Daze

Mage Hand

Message

 

~First Level~ 0 of 4

Burning Hands

Charm Person

 

[farothel]

Statblock

Lummobella Ironback
Female Chaotic Good Bard (Dwarven Scholar)

Level 1, Init 1, HP 12/12, Speed 30'
AC 14, Touch 11, Flat-footed 13, CMD 12, Fort 4, Ref 4, Will 5, CMB +1, BAB 0   
Silversheen MC Dwarven Dorn-dergar  +2 (1d10+1, x2) Reach Weapon (variable), Bludgeon
Shortbow +1 (1d6 x3), 60' (Pierce)
Whip +1 (1d3+1, x2) 30' range (Slash), disarm, nonlethal, reach (15'), trip

Ammentum +4 (1d6+4, x2) 50' range (Pierce)
Studded leather (+3 Armor, +5 max Dex)
Abilities Str 13, Dex 12, Con 12, Int 14, Wis 16, Cha 12
Condition Darkvision 60'  

 

Character sheet

 

As they walked north, Lumobella explained about the now-ruined monastery once known as Droskar's Crucible in the shadow of Droskar's Crag, once home to dwarven clerics of the malevolent god Droskar, who urged them to toil until exhaustion making weapons on their great forges.

"I've seen it, but I've not entered it in depth," she concluded, "I've heard that there are Kobolds, Dire wolves and giant spiders in it right now.  So we best prepare for those kinds of foes by the time we get there."

[Rakle]

 Flint

"The disease started nearly a month ago.   They already had plenty of exposure .   Where else are they going to go for supplies and entertainment"  Flint replies to Rawanne

 

Actions

 

Stat Block

Skills

S12 D12 C12 I12 W14 CHA 18     HP 9   AC17  Fort3 Ref 2 Will4  Movement  30'  (20' armor +10 domain)

starknife   +4 attack  1d4+4 dmg  x3 crit  20' range   

Sling  (stones)  +0 attack  1d3+1 dmg  x2  50' range

Channel  7/7 per day    DC14           

Bit of Luck  5/5/day

Feat: Selective channel

[iantruesilver]

  

 Valeria Claudianus

---

For the moment at least, Valeria gave up on the idea of trying to remember anything about anything, as it seemed seemed a futile effort.

 

Watching the innocent half-orc struggle with the terrain, Val felt sorry for her for her ill preparedness, but deemed it best not to get too close, lest she suffer some of the effects of her struggle with the mud.

 

Focused more on that and keeping herself on the other side of one of the men from Rawanne, she hoped she was not stuck in the back either, as she didn’t imagine it would be all too lemony to be left behind either.

 

In effect, Val barely heard a word from the dwarf about this Whoever’s Crucible place she was speaking about. She only spoke up when Flint mentioned venues of entertainment, “I’ll tell you where they’re not going right now!”

---

Actions Perception and Initiative

Statistics Block Valeria Claudianus Human Fighter [Free Hand Fighter] 1 CG Init +1; Senses Perception +2 Defense AC 15, touch 11, flat-footed 14 (Armour +4, Dex +1) HP 13 / 13 Fort +4, Ref +1, Will +1 Offense Speed 30ft. Melee Short sword +5 (1d6+4; 19-20/×2)         Iron Skillet +8 (1d6+4; ×2) Ranged Skewer +5 (1d6+4; ×2) Special Attacks Rough and Ready, Surprise Weapon, Catch Off-Guard, Combat Expertise, Shikigami Style Statistics Str 18, Dex 12, Con 15, Int 13, Wis 12, Cha 7 BAB +1; CMB +5; CMD 16 Traits Rough and Ready, Surprise Weapon, World Traveler [+1/CS Knowledge (Local)] Feats Catch Off-Guard, Combat Expertise, Shikigami Style Skills Craft (Alchemy) +5, Knowledge (Dungeoneering) +5, Knowledge (Local) +6, Perception +2, Profession (Cook) +5, Survival +5 Languages Common, Draconic SQ None Conditions None

 

Edited January 11, 2023 by iantruesilver (see edit history)