Memories of a Manse

Chat log started at 30.5.2008 / 19:13:35
The day and a half back to town are uneventful outwardly, but a lot crosses your mind. The discovery that Russell, the Pack's leader, suspects Sundown due to the "giant of a man" that claimed to be an envoy... Walter's disappearance and reappearance as the beastial man that attacked the Pavillion... and the discovery of small, booted footprints around the Pack's camp. It presents everyone with a lot to think on as the journey progresses.
Not to mention the rats.
You approach Sundown in the afternoon of the second day. A light mist gives the day an almost dreamy appearance and blurs distant objects and sights. A chill in the air has most people staying near their dwellings, though you do pass the occasional farmer or professional with an errand that had to be finished.
Sonadora: We should go to the temple and get healed and then find Garret and report.
Ranja: I suspect we could all do with a bit of a sit-down. Maybe we could discuss what our next course of action should be?
You go up to the Chamber of the Sun, hoping to see Garret. You see some light through the windows - looks like he's in.
Sonadora tries to peak in the windows.....but she's too short.
Geyer: Aye, I think a sit down sounds good. Plan out our next moves round a nice fire with a cup of ale.
Sonadora knocks on the door.
A blast of warm air assails you from inside as Garret opens the door.
Sonadora waves.
Garret Arahnrod: Ah! Back with more answers? Or maybe with more questions?
Arphaxad: Greetings.
Garret Arahnrod greets Arphaxad.
Geyer: Bit of both, I reckon, sir.
Sonadora: We saw a giant goat man.
Arphaxad: Who was seeking his son....
Garret Arahnrod: Well, come on in. It's not the nicest day out there.
Sonadora bustles in quickly.
Garret Arahnrod: Oh-ho! So he was a goat-man?
Geyer recounts the events of the last few days, including the goat man, the discussion with the Pack's leader, and the haunted house.
Arphaxad: Indeed he was.
Arphaxad: Would he be the answer to the riddle then?
Garret Arahnrod: "Goat man" is a part of the answer, so I can tell you a bit more.
Arphaxad: Very good.
Garret Arahnrod: The Oracle bade me to press you not for the race of the man.
Garret Arahnrod: But for the...
Garret Arahnrod struggles for words.
Garret Arahnrod: Reason the satyr - for that's what the man was - was seeking for his son.
Garret Arahnrod: Hmm, how can I put this...
Garret Arahnrod: In a *very* general sense - why was the satyr looking for his son?
Sonadora: Because he got kidnapped?
Arphaxad: Because someone stole him?
Arphaxad: He was lost?
Garret Arahnrod: Why did that concern the satyr?
Sonadora: Because.....it made him sadder?
Geyer: Love, I guess. 'Twere his son, after all.
Garret Arahnrod nods to Geyer.
Garret Arahnrod: It was the son who was missing. So who was searching?
Arphaxad: The father...
Arphaxad: The Father seeks the Son!
Sonadora pulls off the necklace and looks at the red gem.
Sonadora: Would you know what this does?
Arphaxad: This oracle seems to enjoy people dying, because the last bit of information nearly cost us our lives.
Garret Arahnrod shakes off the after-effects of the Oracle's riddle and examines the gem.
Garret Arahnrod: Oh, it appears to be a Foxblood pendant.
Sonadora: What's that?
Sonadora leans closer.
Garret Arahnrod: Just the type of gem in the necklace - where did you get that?
Sonadora: In the scary mansion.
Garret Arahnrod: Hmm... Ah. I think I understand then.
Geyer: Ain't Sintilya a Foxblood? Maybe her family has something to do with it.
Garret Arahnrod coughs.
Arphaxad: Perhaps we should seek her out then.
Garret Arahnrod: I hadn't put two and two together before, but I think I know the manse you visited.
Garret Arahnrod: Yes, you may want to speak to her. It's her tale to tell, if she'll tell it.
Sonadora gasps.
Sonadora: Is she undead too?
Arphaxad: Yes she is!!!
Ranja stares at Sonadora.
Geyer laughs!
Arphaxad: And she eats people who find out about that!
Garret Arahnrod chuckles.
Sonadora bites her lip and gives the necklace to Ranja.
Sonadora: I'll wait here.
Ranja frowns.
Garret Arahnrod: Ah, before I forget - the answer to this riddle isn't something you tell me. I was told it was something you had to do.
Sonadora: Free the blood!
Ranja: We must . . . free something?
Sonadora makes a face.
Garret Arahnrod sighs with frustration at his predicament.
Garret Arahnrod: Truly I wish the Oracle hadn't bound me so.
Arphaxad: I feel that pendant has something to do with it
Arphaxad: Is there anything else you want to tell us Garret?
Geyer: Well, we can figure it out on our own...your Oracle must have foreseen that or he wouldn't have bound you at all.
Garret Arahnrod shakes his head at Arphaxad.
Garret Arahnrod: There's nothing more I can think of that I can tell you.
Arphaxad: Then we thank you for your time.
Garret Arahnrod nods to Arphaxad and the others.
Arphaxad: Lets find Sinilya.
Sonadora moves closer to the fire for quick warmth before leaving.
Garret Arahnrod: Marshal, I hope you're right. Best of luck to you all.
Geyer: If an emissary from the Pack arrives, I left instructions that they should speak to me personally.
Garret Arahnrod: Ah, that's right - the message you mentioned in your tale...
Sonadora: They don't like small people very much.
Garret Arahnrod: I received no such letter. If they truly sent it and aren't lying, it was waylayed on its trip to me.
Geyer: Anyone not following those instructions should be treated as suspect. For your safety, I would advise not entertaining strangers alone right now.
Garret Arahnrod agrees with Sonadora.
Garret Arahnrod: A constant point of tension between them and us.
Garret Arahnrod nods to Geyer.
Geyer: Does this giant man they claim came from here ring a bell, sir?
Sonadora giggles. Everyone's a giant!
Garret Arahnrod: Noone I can think of, given the time-frame. It might have been someone who passed through temporarily and has since left.
Sonadora: To the temple?
Garret Arahnrod: Think through the riddle - my hope goes with you.
Garret Arahnrod waves.
Arphaxad: This tale never seems to come together
Ranja waves back.
Arphaxad walks out the door towards the temple
Sonadora waves!
Sonadora trudges through the snow to follow.
Ranja ponders.
Ranja: Nature's strike . . . could that mean lightning?
The Temple of Oghma appears welcoming and friendly.
Geyer: Aye. Could be.
Arphaxad: Twisted by evil may be the strange happenings to the people and animals.
Sonadora: Maybe it's something in the trees where the lightening was?
Geyer: And that clearing with the lightning monsters did get reduced ta ashes
Geyer: We should return there this evening.
Ranja agrees with Geyer.
Sonadora hums.
Sintilya opens the door the Temple and looks out.
Sintilya: Ah! I thought I heard you talking out there!
Sintilya: Come in! The chill out here is terrible!
Sonadora: We found something!
Arphaxad: We can agree on that.
Sonadora sits close to the fire with Vida.
Geyer: Many thanks, Lady.
Arphaxad walks into the warm temple.
Vida lies over Sonadora's legs to keep them warm.
Sintilya: So, tell me, what did you find?
Sintilya looks at Ranja with a smile.
Sonadora: I gave it to Ranja.
Arphaxad: Yes show her, see if she knows of it.
Sintilya: Any books?
Ranja beams!
Ranja: Oh, nearly a dozen! I couldn't rescue all of them....
Sintilya: Oh! Where? Maybe we can still get them!
Ranja searches in her pockets and eventually produces the gem Sonadora gave her and hands it over to Sintilya.
Sintilya: Knows of...
Arphaxad: This.
Ranja shakes her head sadly.
Sintilya gets a strange look on her face as she looks at the foxblood pendant.
Ranja: Ghost rats...
Sintilya: That... where did you get that?
Sonadora: Spooky mansion.
Sonadora: We almost died!
Geyer: About a half day's ride north of here.
Sintilya: This pendant was mine, once.
Sintilya: I'm... I'm sorry. I have to... to think...
Sintilya: What... did you say ghost rats?
Ranja blinks confusedly.
Ranja nods.
Ranja: That . . . was yours?
Sonadora nods.
Sonadora: Big ones! With teeth.
Sintilya nods weakly.
Sintilya: The whole mansion was mine. Ours. My family's.
Ranja: But however did it get there? That mansion looks like it was untouched for years.
Arphaxad: Yes, and how old are you....
Sonadora swats Arphaxad.
Geyer: A gentleman never asks that of a lady, wizard.
Sonadora mumbles.
Geyer: That's the first lesson in being chivalrous.
Sintilya: We haven't been in that mansion in... some time. Not since we reclaimed Sundown.
Arphaxad: Perhaps...but in my village, age was honored, not a shame.
Sintilya: I suppose the elven blood keeps me looking young, but truly I'm several times your age.
Arphaxad: I thought as much.
Sonadora: But you left all those things that Ranja's all fond of. And there are rats with glowing red eyes.
Arphaxad eagerly awaits Sintylia to continue.
Sintilya: I'm sorry... I can't right now. Maybe, maybe later I can talk more.
Sintilya: This is just too sudden.
Arphaxad: Please dear lady, so much is at stake, is there nothing mroe you can tell us for now?
Sintilya turns and clutches the pendant to her chest.
Sonadora: But, we may not have time.
Sonadora: If the riddle is right, we only have until tonight.
Sonadora: Listen [1d20+5 = 11]
Arphaxad: Listen [1d20+1 = 13]
Geyer: Listen [1d20 = 3]
Ranja: Listen [1d20+3 = 7]
Sintilya mumbles a soft word under her breath. You just can't make it out.
Sintilya: I'm sorry... I know. But I can't...
Arphaxad: Very well...
Sintilya walks slowly to the back door, goes through, and shuts it quietly behind her.
Sonadora gets a stubborn pout.
Arphaxad: I wonder what secrets she holds.
Arphaxad ponders what to do next
Sonadora goes and listens at the door.
Arphaxad: Our time truly is limited.
Sonadora: Listen [1d20+5 = 19]
Geyer: Clearly ones she will share with us at the time of her choosing.
(Listen) You hear the sound of crying.
Arphaxad: Where to now?
Sonadora: She's crying.
Arphaxad: To the lightning field?
Geyer: I do not believe whatever happened in her past is the root of the town's troubles today.
Arphaxad: I believe it may hold the answer to the riddle
Sonadora: Maybe we can ask the adventurer?
Arphaxad: but either way, standing here will not answer it
Geyer: Though the mansion is a danger to the town, and I hope at some point we can learn more and make it safe again.
Arphaxad: All we need are some undead cats.
Arphaxad: chuckles
Geyer: Haha, aye.
Geyer: Then some skeletal hounds ta clear those out next, aye?
Sonadora: Maybe there's something useful in Ranja's books?
Geyer: I still haven't gotten that ale. And I want ta check on Golem. I'm going ta run by the Shade and see what's occured in the town while we were gone. We should go to the clearing before dark though.
Ranja: Perhaps I should sit down and read them.
Ranja looks rather eager to do so.
Sonadora: Or maybe we should go talk to Garret about his mother - she had some adventures with Sintilya!
Sonadora beams.
Arphaxad: Shall we meet back here in a couple hours
Geyer: Aye, meet back here and then we can all go ta the burned clearing.
Arphaxad: Well, perhaps we should speak to Garret about his mother.
Sonadora: Maybe we should ask Garret to tell the story? He told us to ask Sintilya, but if she won't tell us.
Ranja: And he'd know his mother better than we would.
Arphaxad: Lets go Sona.
Arphaxad heads out the door.
Sonadora follows Arphaxad.
Geyer: Gather information [1d20+4 = 18]
Geyer - You pass through the pavillion and keep your eyes and ears open for anything interesting. You check up on Golem and find that he's putting on a little weight, but is very well taken care of. The ale Markham serves you has a hint of fruit and tastes great.
(Gather Info) You talk to an old-timer about the founding of Sundown - he mentions that during the time Sundown was lost, the forest was wild and the creatures were feral. It took some sort of epic confrontation to return safety to the area. Also, during those three days you were gone there have still been reports of animal attacks, people injured, etc. The talk's gotten more worried.
GM: To the others -
(Listen) You think you hear footsteps through the fog, but it looks like noone's there.
Garret Arahnrod greets you as you enter the Chamber of the Sun.
Garret Arahnrod: Ah, back already? Did you find Sintilya?
Sonadora shivers and stays close to Vida.
Sonadora: She wouldn't tell us. She started crying.
Garret Arahnrod: I was worried she might still be sensitive...
Garret Arahnrod: I never knew the whole story of what happened there.
Sonadora: Can you tell us anything?
Arphaxad: About her or your mother.
Garret Arahnrod: Sintilya once had a family. After whatever happened at the mansion, she came here to Sundown alone. Or so my mother told me.
Arphaxad listens intently.
Garret Arahnrod: As for my mother, Molly Arahnrod... she was a brave and devout cleric. She never told me exactly what she had to do to renew the town, but whatever she fought it nearly killed her and all those who fought with her.
Sonadora: Maybe we have to renew the spell.
Arphaxad: I see, and how did she end up passing on?
Garret Arahnrod: My mother? She was fairly well along in years. She caught something that never quite healed, and it became her time to go.
Arphaxad: I see, may she rest in peace.
Garret Arahnrod: Thank you.
Garret Arahnrod nods to Arphaxad.
Sonadora: She was a nice lady.
Sonadora: Oh, do you know anything else about the necklace?
Garret Arahnrod shakes his head.
Arphaxad: Anything else you can tell us Garret?
GM: Ranja - You skim quickly through the books. They appear to be histories of the elves, the sea of fallen stars, and an elven romance novel.
Garret Arahnrod: Nothing else I can think of I'm afraid.
Sonadora waves to Garret.
Garret Arahnrod waves.
(Listen) You hear the footsteps again as you go to meet up with the others. You wonder if it might not just be a strange echo due to the fog.
Sonadora: There's something out here...
Sonadora: Knowledge (Nature) [1d20+3 = 23]
(Nature) Fog is a cloud in contact with the ground. Fog differs from other clouds only in that fog touches the surface of the Earth. The same cloud that is not fog on lower ground may be fog where it contacts higher ground such as hilltops or mountain ridges. Fog is distinct from mist only in its density. Fog is defined as cloud which reduces visibility to less than 1 km, whereas mist is that which reduces visibility to less than 2 km.
Arphaxad asts light on a rock and tosses it towards the darkness
Sonadora: Spot [1d20+8 = 16]
Arphaxad: Spot [1d20+1 = 19]
(Spot) You notice patterns in the eddies of the fog as you get nearer to the Temple and Ranja.
GM: Geyer (riding Golem) and Ranja - you're both with the group again.
Ranja: Spot [1d20+3 = 13]
Arphaxad: Well, we learned little, but someone or somethingthing seems to have taken an interest in us...
Sonadora: That's strange. The fog looks alive doesn't it?
Geyer: Spot [1d20+6 = 25]
Ranja shivers.
Sonadora looks up.
(Spot) You notice the patterns in the fog almost seem to be of someone moving through it behind Arphaxad and Sonadora.
Sonadora shivers and gets worried.
Sonadora: Something's wrong.
Someone: Hello?
Someone: Ah, ahem. Um.
Sonadora ducks into the fog to hide.
Arphaxad: Who is there?
Geyer: Hail there! Friend or foe?
Sonadora: Hide [1d20+7 = 8]
Someone: Oh, no! It's okay! I just happened to overhear.
Ranja peers into the fog.
Sonadora squints.
Arphaxad awaits the stranger to appear.
You see a small form shift into view not far from you.
Gnorm: Ah, hello!
Gnorm coughs into his hand.
Arphaxad: Oh wonderful...
Arphaxad: We havent any more money than we did before, I'm afraid!
Gnorm looks back and forth to see if anyone recognizes him.
Gnorm nods to Arphaxad!
Gnorm: Oh, no! This isn't for money.
Geyer: Greetings, friend gnome. How goes the work?
Gnorm: I was just, well, I was visiting Garret...
Gnorm: And I heard you five talking, and well.
Sonadora: You can help us?
Gnorm: It's about the leg actually - the one you commissioned?
Geyer: Aye. For Aaron.
Arphaxad: Yes, what news?
Gnorm: I need an animating force. I've been working hard at finding one! I even used my bedpan of vision!
Gnorm: You fill it with liquid, and search the reflection for answers...
Gnorm: But anyways.
Gnorm: The mansion you were talking about has the book I'd need.
Ranja glances at Gnorm.
Sonadora squint.
Sonadora: The killer mansion.
Gnorm: Ah, yes.
Gnorm: It...
Sonadora: The scary one with the man eating rats.
Ranja: I took some of the books we found... perhaps I grabbed the one you'd need?
Gnorm: It seems the former owners had a large collection of books.
Sonadora folds her arms.
Gnorm: Including magical grimoires.
Sonadora: Sense motive [1d20+3 = 8]
Ranja: Sense motive [1d20+3 = 5]
Arphaxad: Sense motive [1d20+1 = 12]
GM: (Sense Motive) You don't sense an ulterior motive.
Geyer: And this book will help you finish the leg?
Gnorm: Indubitably!
Arphaxad: I see, are they among Ranja's books?
Gnorm: The leg would make my 3.5 League Boot seem like a 1 League Boot.
Sonadora: I think we just want the boot to work in general.
Gnorm: That's four times as many leagues! Allowing for rounding errors, of course.
Sonadora waves her hands vaguely.
Geyer: Then we shall recover the book for you.
Gnorm: The book deals with granting vitality to inanimate objects - not undead of course, you understand. That's different.
Gnorm: Not ghost rats.
Gnorm nearly convulses with fear.
Sonadora frowns.
Arphaxad: Perhaps you'd like to go along with us then...to pick it out.
Gnorm: Ah.... no. No I would definitely prefer not to.
Gnorm: Even if I built an army of small rat catching devices... Mousers I'd call them... no, even then I'd dare not go near.
Sonadora: We don't have time to make there and back by nightfall.
Gnorm: It's not urgent, but, I thought you might go back to that place. And if you did, I could finish the leg.
Geyer: True. We should investigate the burnt clearing tonight.
Geyer: But we will return to the manor and get your book at some point.
Arphaxad: Yes, lets go to the clearing now.
Sonadora agrees.
Gnorm: Th-thank you.
Geyer: Just one question, sir gnome. How do ye know so much of what lies inside that place - down ta the books in the library?
Sonadora watches Gnorm suspiciously.
Geyer nonchalantly rubs the handle of his sword as the gnome answers.
Geyer: Intimidate [1d20+6 = 13]
Sonadora: Intimidate [1d20+2 = 8]
Sonadora stands tall.
Gnorm puffs his chest out with pride.
Gnorm: My visions were very potent!
Gnorm: I had asparagus the night before. I think that helped.
Gnorm appears not to notice the attempts at intimidation, he appears proud of his divining skills.
Sonadora goes for nonchalant in petting Vida, and just looks petulant.
Arphaxad summons a fiendish monstrous spider and slowly pets it.
Arphaxad: Intimidate [1d20+3+2 = 15]
Gnorm: Well, I've said my piece! Thank you all!
Gnorm opens his eyes and looks at the group, only to see everyone glaring at him (some more effectively than others).
Gnorm: Ah!
Gnorm falls backwards, and rolls over his shoulder, landing on his face.
Gnorm: Where's my spider deterrent!
Gnorm pulls out a strange bottle and accidentally sprays himself with it!
Gnorm: Oh no! My female troll attractant!
Gnorm sneezes violently.
Gnorm twists a ring on his finger and suddenly vanishes from sight. You can hear sneezing fade into the distance towards Gnorm's cart.
Sonadora: He...he vanished!
Sonadora blinks and looks around.
Geyer: Gnomes.
Sonadora: There's something fishy about this.
Arphaxad: Let's be on our way...
Sonadora mumbles and follows.
Arphaxad: did anyone catch the title of the book we need?
Sonadora shakes her head.
Sonadora: Maybe we should bring a cart and bring all the books back?
Arphaxad: And another cart for the rats?
Ranja: Suppose we'll just have to rescue-" Ranja pauses and coughs. "...er, bring them all back for him to inspect...
Sonadora: Maybe we can get the roof off the building somehow!
Sonadora: Then there will be sun!
Sonadora: Or we can go knock holes everywhere so we can escape from every room!
Sonadora poses with brillance!
Arphaxad: And perhaps we can come up with a good idea too!!
Geyer: Or we can just cut or way back directly into the library.
Geyer: But that's for another day.