[Game Thread] Chapter I: Fires Over Brinestump

[PopCultureBard]

Witch? Ghost? Anything? Turning, she stalks across the clearing toward the house. House seems like something of an overstatement, truthfully. Her steps slow as she approaches the corner of the building, which has clearly seen some damage or simply failed to remain standing. Is it wide enough to enter through? Or exit from, in the case of a horrible zombie cursed to protect this place? She can hear their voices, all strained and echoey through the rotted wood. "You're hardly fat, dear. Stout, maybe. Yes, I think stout is a good word. I understand men of your kind enjoy a little extra." She hears wood crunch and groan as they move about in the shack. "Aldwulf, be a dear and join me over here." The viking considers the distance between himself and the door, then looks to the dwarf and her stompy-crunchy walk. The others seem to have the main room under control, so he steps back outside the shack and circles around to where Katrina's voice rises. Her eyes struggle to adjust from the outside brightness to the dimness within. She touches a hand to the wall, leaning in towards the opening. It is the kind of bad idea that she is always eager to involve herself in. Just a little further in, just enough to see what's beyond.

[Sassafrass]

They head towards the Shack, and before it is over, they wish they had not.

Wesh is the first in, getting a good look around as he charges inward, past the phantom and into the Shack. The floor does not sag for him nearly so much as Aldwulf, and he gets a good look around. Underneath each step, the mold transforms, rolling away, or trying to attach itself to a quick-moving Halfling, too quick for it to form much of a connection. The mold is everywhere, there is no escaping it. Wesh, with his knowledge of chemicals and the world surrounding them, knows full well that this is a good indication no one has been here recently—CRASH

... her skin like leather, but it begins to take on other properties

Praeta's foot drops through the floor instantly, sending her down two feet to the wet mud ground underneath, the mold below almost seeming to shake and move. It is a yellow pus-filled wound, now, below the house, with the moist mold folding away from the light. Almost everyone is sickened by the sight, and Praeta is quick to get out of it, though not without her crashing a bit more. Ghosteye enters as well, carefully, moving onward and throughout, as graceful as Wesh and then some. Aldwulf joins his mistress outside, and Katrina does not dare venture deeper within, only going so far as the door to look onward. Beneath her, the mold that flees the sunlight seems to attempt to crawl up towards her, as if asking for her to join it. Does mold have sentience? They all certainly hope not.

Wesh goes to the door on the left of the door, finding it swollen shut. As Praeta crashes through the floor again, Ghosteye comes forward and easily breaks it open. The house groans as the door comes free of the doorway, which she sits against the wall before heading into the kitchen. Wesh, torch in hand, is very careful about stepping onward. Ghosteye discovers the kitchen, less moldy but still likewise abandoned. Spiderwebs sit in the many pots that line the tables and makeshift sink, as well as spider webs full of dead and dying insects and other creature. The spiders themselves are not present. Above her, there is a skittering, and in that motion, it sounds as though something is right above her.

Wesh, using his torch to turn the corner, sees her instantly.

The witch, Old Megus, sitting in her chair. One shoulder sits significantly higher than the other, almost bulging out of her rotten dress. The smell is disgusting, but no stronger than elsewhere in the house. Approaching, he may speak to her, but there is nothing to be said, for another step forward brings her face into view: misshapen, her jaw unhinged from her skull, the skin between jaw and skull ripped open and revealing a hole in her mouth where the teeth have been morphed into an excess of canines, incisors, and other teeth and bone he cannot name. Her face is mostly human, her skin like leather, but it begins to take on other properties.

Old Megus is dead, morphed into something beyond human, but unsubstantially so. She is very dead, and rotting.

Above Ghosteye, the skittering suddenly stops, and then there is a chattering: something said in a language she does not recognize. A language no one seems to recognize. The entirety of the building shifts.

They are not alone, but what could be in that ceiling?

 

Out of Character Jade Regent Maps Party Stats Ghosteye (and Black Moon) Praeta Katrina (and Aldwulf) Wesh DUM DUM DUUUUUM! Spooktown is achieved, where are we goin' from here, folks? If you fail an Acrobatics check, or intentionally do so, make a Reflex save DC 12 or fall prone each time. The mold has no adverse effects beyond what you lot roleplay.

[PIG]

"Be careful with the mold, I'm not sue what it is but it could be dangerous." He knows little of nature outside of his books and small lab box but Knowledge Arcana 18 | Knowledge Alchemy 25he tries to determine if they should be wary.

Wesh freezes in his tracks and has to choke back a yipe, nearly dropping the torch. 'She's in here' his lips say but his throat doesn't admit a sound- still constricting back the yipe. "What have you done to your self?" whispers Wesh to the dead witch. He was of a curious mind his self, a mind of science, but practical survival and halflinanity?humanity always came first. If not then you would become consumed by your own experiments. That day, on meeting the corpse of Old Magus, Wesh swore to his self that he would never let alchemy do this to him, no matter what. "She's in here!" he finally croaks.

Perception 7, If he has time he will Take 10He searches the room for anything interesting, his senses a little distracted by her mutated corpse in the middle of the room. She was, in all truth, a fellow alchemist and he's interested in what she was working on.

Wesh then joins the group and explains what he saw, glancing up at the ceiling with a growing since of urgency. The halfling uncorks one of his vials and is about to drink it but hesitates, thinking about Old Magus. 'But that's not me.' He downs it. He coughs and begins to change. His hair grows longer and wild, his teeth a little longer, the pointy ears growing outward and large, and his lithe form becomes even more thin and agile under the influences of the concoction. He then replaces the crossbow with a spherical bomb shelled in ceramic and metal. "I vote we topple the building down with rope from the outside. If we go up there the building will topple with us in it!" The halfling sounds more primitive and guttural in his new form, holding his torch up to press the point, but his blue eyes still sparkle with intelligence behind perched glasses.

 

Right Hand: Lit Torch
Left Hand: Bomb
Put Down: Nothing

Buffs
Mutagen Bonus
+2 Dex/-2 Wis
+2 Natural AC
10 min/10 min

Hindrances
n/a

[Jarl11]

After the second crash through the floor boards, Praeta found herself staring up at the ceiling crossbeams. "This be why tha God o' Walls an' Ditches be orderly an' proper. It keeps folk safe!" The mold curled back from the exposure and the dwarf skittered away from it and back to her feet, clanking all the way.

She looked at the others, gaze stern and unhappy. Watching Wesh drink his brew, she quirked an eyebrow but was otherwise silent. Turning, she began to pick her way back towards the entrance using the already broken spaces in the floor to reach the door and join Katrina outside. Was it convenient that the only one not to enter the treacherous witch's hut was the one that defended witches? The grumpy dwarf tried unsuccessfully to hide her displeasure.

"Aye, let's tear it down." Praeta answered the halfling while watching Katrina and absently dusting off clinging motes of mold. "Why be ye stayin' out here? Dinna ye wanna find Megus?"

 

OOC Passed first reflex for last turn (somehow), then failed the second. Since she moved twice last turn, will assume this one starts on her backside. Me name HP AC TAC Flat CBD Move Fort Ref Will Abilities Buffs Conds Praeta 10+1/10 20 11 19 14 20' +3 +1 +5 1 Judge, 1 Zeal, 2-1st virtue   Lvl Me spells Uses 0 Detect Magic, Brand, Guidance, Virtue - 1 Prot fr Evil, Divine Favor 2

[PopCultureBard]

Bratitude "What would have been the point?" She waves her left arm, the hand wagging to and fro like it is on a broken hinge. Her eyes roll as she continues, ice blue sliding behind the lids to leave only whites in an exaggerated motion. Aldwulf grunts, a gesture without meaning or purpose, which grabs her attention because she sometimes thinks the ghost himself is much the same. "You were already doing a grand job of smashing about the place." Her lips lift at the corner, pulled by the invisible thread of a cruel sense of humor. Arms cross loose over her chest, folding into the defiant stance of one who demands her space. "I wouldn't have thought to look for her beneath the floorboards. Besides, only the foolish and the dead enter a witch's home without permission." A tilt of her head in Aldwulf's direction as she says dead to indicate his role. The role of the others can be easily inferred. "I take it from the lack of wicked cackling that she is not going to help us?" And just like that the attitude is replaced by curiosity. Almost like it never was. The skittering above them draws her eyes upwards, and they narrow at the strange almost-talk that follows it. She clucks her tongue against the back of her teeth and shoots a questioning glance to Aldwulf. "Maybe you aren't the only ghost around here."

[Blackfyre]

On the inside the house looked just as bad if not worse than on the outside. Ghosteye poked at some kitchen utensils with the tip of her spear, making them shift slightly under the webs that seemingly covered everything. So much, indeed, that the question where the builders were hiding out. The thought that they might well be the source for the skittering above her rose to the forefront of her mind, only to be somewhat smothered by something that sounded suspiciously like speech.

"Hmm. Kitchen’s pretty much covered in cobwebs. Anyone know something of talking spiders?" she mused aloud about her discovery, pretty much at the same time that Wesh announced his own. What followed did not sound as if taking a look herself was worth passing through the mold that was now rising through the broken boards. Better get out of here. Instinctively holding her breath the Shoanti made her way out of the kitchen and shortly after the house again, just as graceful as before.

Outside the tiger was continuing to gnaw at the dead rat, clearly relishing the treat and oblivious to the strange noises in the building.

 

Knowledge Nature: 16 (I assume that’s enough to at least guess there might be spiders up there - or maybe even dismiss that idea?)
Perception Black Moon: 10
Rolls

[Sassafrass]

It's as though he expects her to respond. But in Old Megus' current state, she might as well respond. It's just as terrifying to think that she might.

He finds an existential thought in the heat of it, swearing to himself never to go as far as the witch had gone. Never to alter himself in such a way, never to... but never never did. He's plenty of life before him, and hard choices besides. The world is ahead. No need to make promises he can't keep, even to himself. And yet, he does. Digging about the room after alerting the others, Wesh manages to find a few things. The first, on a dry corner of the desk, is a map, with red ink upon it, drawn by hand. It looks like a strange area, but once his eyes adapt, Wesh recognizes it as Brinestump Marsh itself. Old Megus made a map of the entirety of Brinestump Marsh, writing down areas like "Vorka," "Gob," and "Faceless." most of these are useless without context, but the northern-most is "Half." That is easy to figure out: the Halfling, Walthus. Wesh dislikes the notion, but he could read the map, certainly. He could understand it.

He also finds a few trinkets, beyond the bones: a scroll case contains several spells that, though crude, are clearly made for casting. More research is needed on the scrolls to determine their uses. There is also, buried under some useless beakers and broken glass, a silver-shining dagger in a gorgeous sheath, bejeweled and well-made. Not magical, not glowing, but it shimmers in the torch-light, proving it true silver.

Soon, it is determined they should bring the house down. The voice in the ceiling, whispering and arguing with itself, seems even more frantic as Wesh leaves, everyone else ahead of him, and once outside, they make preparations. Ropes are tied, and Ghosteye contemplates what it might have been above them. The house was not two-stories, the attic likely too small. It had to have been the size of a cat or rat... but it spoke. She heard it. They all did. She doesn't think too long, and the corner of her eye doesn't catch something move into the bush as she walks around the house, away from Black Moon, busy munching and gnawing at the rats outside. Together, the four of them, Aldwulf instead of Katrina, pull the house, left and right, north and south, east and west, until it gives way, groaning too far towards Praeta and collapsing in on itself. Dust flies out, birds unsettled, and the Marsh rejects this action, it seems. But it is done, the Shack destroyed. It will be a final grave for Old Megus, and memory of her will pass, in time.

Where do they go from here?

 

Out of Character No new map this time! Jade Regent Maps Party Stats Ghosteye (and Black Moon) Praeta Katrina (and Aldwulf) Wesh Rule of thumb I've adapted to Golarion-play, PIG, when referring to PC races: I call it Mortality or Mortals instead of "humanity" or anything like that, unless referring to that race in particular. I know you were more or less being goofy, but I figured I'd share that. I do it in all of my games, but I've never really brought it up before. Well, I might have in JR 1. But no one read that, so.... Anywho, items found: Map of Brinestump 5 scrolls, 2 of them the same, 2 others the same, 1 individual; Spellcraft and the like to identify the scrolls, should be easy enough Masterwork Dagger, with a Silver Sheath Appraise and other skills might be useful for your dining pleasure. Anywho, where to now?

[Jarl11]

Dusting off her hands Praeta straightened at looked at the wreckage with only mild satisfaction. To build something better often meant tearing down the old, and since they weren't actually going to be building themselves it was for mother nature that they were doing this. The dwarf thumped over to the broken pile of rotten wood and scattered what she could so the animals, vermin and other swamp life could feed and reclaim their land easier. It was tempting to burning it but she refrained from the suggestion.

Once Wesh showed them the map he had found, she clapped the man briskly on the back in merriment. "Great find, me good man! Dare say, me wonder if'n she wou' been willin' ta share it were she still kickin'. Kinna know, aye?" This had been want they had wanted. The map showed a mark that was likely goblins, as well as a mark for the halfling and other noteworthy places.

"Ye interested in seein' this here mark fer a "ship"? Dinna look far." A stubby finger pointed to the mark nearest to where they were now while she leaned on her axe and looked around at the others. This was a group decision but she could start the discussion easy enough. "Otherwise we cou' head fer tha "gobos" ta see what be there." Praeta patted her axe to indicate exactly what they had set out to do. "An perhaps see tha wee Walthus on our way back ta town after, hey?" She smiled happily at the prospect of moving on.

 

OOC Perception to see if she notices the movement in the bush = 17 Appraise = 3 for the dagger. Rolls. Me name HP AC TAC Flat CBD Move Fort Ref Will Abilities Buffs Conds Praeta 10/10 20 11 19 14 20' +3 +1 +5 1 Judge, 1 Zeal, 2-1st   Lvl Me spells Uses 0 Detect Magic, Brand, Guidance, Virtue - 1 Prot fr Evil, Divine Favor 2

[Blackfyre]

Ghosteye was quite fascinated by the map that had been found. It would be an invaluable help to find their targets - and maybe other things as well. Curiosity stirred within her and she found herself nodding to Praeta's words. "Indeed it doesn't. The day is still young and I for one don't have any pressing appointments waiting for me." So far she has seen ships only from afar, never actually having been aboard one herself.

Black Moon, meanwhile had finished with the dire rat and fastidiously cleaning himself after. The whole process of tearing down the shack had been observed with mild curiosity that turned to indignation as it finally comes down and dust wallows over the clearing. With a huff the tiger sought a spot a little farther from the settling cloud and started grooming himself once more.

 

Sorry for the short post, I'm a bit busy this week.

[PIG]

Wesh nods his head in agreement with the dwarf and Ghosteye, the mutagen wearing off and his appearance returning to normal. "Sounds good to me." He was only half listening as he eyed the heap of wreckage they made. He feels his heart strings plucked for what ever was in that attic making the noise. What if Wesh died alone and his cat went up to the attic, not knowing what to do. He would be heart broken for the poor girl if he knew that a fate similar to this would have happened.

But he keeps all these thoughts to his self. He doesn't know Katrina all that well but he suspects she and her... ghost would shun such faint heartedness.

As they walk away towards this supposed ship marked on the map he begins to forget the whole creepy encounter of the witch's house and the pings of adventure and mystery pull him forward to their next destination. He pulls out his crossbow and makes sure it's loaded, keeping it ready for anything that jumps out.

 

Right Hand: Crossbow
Left Hand: Nothing
Put Down: Nothing

Buffs
n/a

Hindrances
n/a

 

Mutagen Bonus
+2 Dex/-2 Wis
+2 Natural AC
10 min/10 min

[PopCultureBard]

Crushing It *COUGH* Katrina sweeps a hand in front of her face in an effort to clear the dust and mold. Her nose wrinkles and she exhales forcefully, baring her teeth in irritation. As the others gather around the map she steps up to the collection of scrolls and sets to work carefully unrolling them. The chatter of the others is lost to her as she scans the contents, setting the paired scrolls next to each other on the dirt. Each is examined, then stacked up until the entire set is rolled up into one convenient tube. She taps the roll against her palm as she approaches the other, stepping up behind Praeta and peering over her head. There were a lot of x's on it, and something that a witch like Megus deemed dangerous couldn't bode well for them. "A ship. Megus thought it significant enough to mark and its close." A nod to the dwarf at her suggestion. "Could be fun." She glances back at the shack, at the rubble that would serve to mark the witch's grave. There had been mention of a familiar back in town. Some kind of human-faced rat. Could familiars hold a grudge? She waves the roll of scrolls at the others and then hands them over the Wesh for safekeeping. "Don't use them to light your pipe or anything."

Dice Spellcraft Rolls:

1d20+5	(15)+5			Total = 20
1d20+5	(8)+5			Total = 13
1d20+5	(8)+5			Total = 13
1d20+5	(19)+5			Total = 24
1d20+5	(6)+5			Total = 11

[Sassafrass]

And so, it is decided. They will go to what Megus thought was important enough to mention: a ship. The Goblins, now visible, are easily accessible. The Halfling, too. Someone named Vorka, and finally, some caverns, called "Faceless" by Megus. Odd enough, but not worth investigating. Not yet, anyway. Each of them goes through what they think would be a good idea, with Praeta leading the charge and stating her interest in the ship. Who doesn't love to investigate old ships? Each, in their turn, gives a response, though Wesh's is largely silent. And with that, they head onward, toward the direction of the ship. First, they arrive at the dock belonging to Old Megus, the boat tied there offering an easy way across the brackish swamp river. The trees hang over the estuaries, dropping moss down near the surface, begging for invasion by climbing creatures. Each of them loads up, and they row across the river, seeing out onto Sog's Bay as they go. On the other side, they find a tree and tie the boat to it, the rope threatening to fray if Appropriate check, you decide what to use, no DC listed, taking 10 allowedthey're not careful. Brinestump Marsh comes back to life, suddenly, as the shadow of the old shack goes forgotten. The bushes on the other end, the one with Megus, rustled irritatingly.

Off the trail now, they find the muds of the Marsh are much harder to trek through than simply an overgrown trail. Midmorning becomes noon as they continue, their muscles starting to feel the burn of every step, every clay or mud or soddish mix of water and mineral clinging to their feet. Even on the areas that seem like dry land, it is anything but. The trees, cypress and willow and swamp oak all grow out of the minimal earth, block the sun as it goes overhead, almost to its midday arch, but each of them knows from the eat and insects alone that this will drive them mad. If this were a more tropical swamp, they might be under threat of some insufferable swamp fever. But they are not, and they are thankful for that. But without direct sight of the sun, directions rely on their instincts and the map, and they need be careful or they will lose time in the Marsh.

And then, they find it.

What appears at first to be a strange tangle of branches is in fact the moss-covered ribs of a wrecked ship. The ruined ship lies on its side, split down the middle and mostly sunken into the mud and murky water. Overgrown with moss, vines, and ivy, the ship is largely hidden by its overgrowth, its contents inviting, and there appears to be no sign of life.

What did Megus find so interesting about the place? What lies hidden here?

 

Out of Character No new map this time! Jade Regent Maps Party Stats Ghosteye (and Black Moon) Praeta Katrina (and Aldwulf) Wesh Alright, a few things: Survival Check-DC 12 Survival check to find the right way, I need 2 successes from the four of you in total. You can roll only once. Taking 10 makes the action take longer, but is possible. The Ship-Roll any checks you think are necessary here. I leave this to your leisure. Right-o. No map here... but no one said you won't need one.

[Jarl11]

She wasn't actually born in the area but she considered it her home. The swamp was one place that she had only come a handful of times though, due to the ever present danger. However, she felt confident enough in helping out with directions after realizing she was the only one raised here. It was a matter of personal pride, not that Ghosteye couldn't do it on her own. Plus, they had a map.

Praeta helped keep the sound of the bay to the right and pointed out bends in the natural surroundings that would alter their course too much. It seemed helpful and the whole time she hoped that she wasn't going to let these new companions of hers down.

"That be tha second tenant of merchant law..." Since they had to walk she felt it a good time to reiterate the regulations for trade in the region, at least as far as it had been legitimized out here. Fairness in dealings was the overarching principle and she felt it her duty to make sure everyone was duly informed. Plus, perhaps there was another faithful of Abadar here that didn't know it yet. But then they came across the wreckage - barely recognizable in the undergrowth and deterioration. "What in tha blasted seven swamps be that sorry state o' affairs?" Was everything in the swamp like this?

 

OOC Made 1 roll for survival = 17. For the ship location I tried the following: perception = 24 (25 with guidance), knowledge local = 11 (figure why not), profession (merchant) = 19 (20 with guidance spell, maybe its a merchant ship or valuable) Rolls. Am casting guidance for assistance with checks, then detect magic for perception and lastly virtue before moving in close. If I can, of course! Me name HP AC TAC Flat CBD Move Fort Ref Will Abilities Buffs Conds Praeta 10/10 20 11 19 14 20' +3 +1 +5 1 Judge, 1 Zeal, 2-1st   Lvl Me spells Uses 0 Detect Magic, Brand, Guidance, Virtue - 1 Prot fr Evil, Divine Favor 2

[PopCultureBard]

The Mud Boat "Megus was really interested in the physical form." Katrina rocks slowly from side to side, letting her fingers dip into the river as the boat moves along. "Mending it..." She tries to determine direction but there are too many interesting plants and strange animal sounds for that kind of focus. "...bolstering it." She hops out as they reach the shore, her voice heavy with a lazy, sing song quality. Something moves in the high boughs of a tree as they dock, the rustling serving to distract her for a decent length of time. Taking up the rope, she feel the strands separate between her fingers. Living life among quality surroundings makes it easy to spot shoddy workmanship. A slow glance down the river, her desire to have to swim it weighed against giving up her property. Letting the pack fall off her shoulder, she pulls out a coil of rope and holds it up to the one attached to the boat. "That's what those scrolls indicate, anyway." Cutting a section of rope to match, she ties the boat with the new length and tosses the old set into the water. "They might come in handy." She follows the others along the trail, her pace interspersed with tiny skips and hops. Little jumps over rocks and ruts and roots. One might even be get the sense that she's enjoying this. Aldwulf, for his part, gives no indication of emotion. Just a steady trudge in arm's length of the witch. They both come to a sudden stop as the ship, or what remains of it, comes into view. Katrina leans heavy on the scythe-staff as she breathes in the musky, fetid air. "What are the chances anything of worth is still here?"

[Blackfyre]

Ghosteye regarded the small, rocking craft with a dubious eye before finally clambering into it, graceful for all her doubt. Her feelings were mirrored by the tiger who sniffed at the odd construct, but made no moves of joining the bipeds in it. Neither does the hunter urge him to. It was only a short way across the river and as the boat cast off the cat padded to the shore and into the water to follow them, showing no aversion to the wet substance at all.

The only downside of this arrangement became apparent when they all reached the other side, Black Moon getting out of the river not too far away, and the tiger proceeded to give everyone too close a shower of the brackish water when he shook the drops out of his fur.

As they continued their way through the swamp it became clear once more - at least to Ghosteye herself - that this was not exactly the kind of territory she knew all that well. Lessons she had learned on the open steppe were entirely wrong here and it would likely take quite a while to get what worked by instinct there right here.

Finally the more than a little derelict ship came into view. Or at least the vegetation hiding it did. "It must have been here a while." Ghosteye observed while Black Moon followed his curiosity and started sniffing around the edges of this odd thing they had discovered - as far as the vegetation allowed without actually stepping onto it. "I wonder where it originally came from." Of course she has no way of discerning that herself and so rather looks around for any signs of others having been here recently.

 

rolls
Well, apparently Ghosteye doesn’t like swamps. Survival: 11

Know: nature to get a feeling how long the ship has been here. Though with another 11, I doubt that’ll result in much.

Perception, looking for tracks: 14
Perception for Black Moon: 12