Not KotS
Session #003a: The Inspectors.
The Adventurers.
Chromium Malifax aka C-Fax (Rob), Male Silver Dragonborn (Noble) Paladin of Bahamut Level 1
Mavis Golightly aka Mave (Sandy), Female Half-Elf (Acolyte) Cleric of Chauntea Level 1
Arbuthnot McGow aka McGow (Al), Male Mountain Dwarf (Soldier) Fighter Level 1
Snakebite (Kenji), Female Half-Orc (Outlander) Monk Level 1
Travis Pickle (Yui), Male Lightfoot Halfling (Criminal) Rogue Level 1
Dead PCs
The 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.
#002 Find and investigate the ancient dragon burial site Dicky was looking for, he might be there. Reward: 250 XP. COMPLETE
#003 Destroy the kobold menace, including their leader- ‘Chopper.’ Reward: 500 XP & 75gp, with 1gp paid for every kobold tail handed in.
Apologies in advance, there’s a lot of ‘then this happened…’ in this one.
Also, there are no pictures because I was doing about twelve other things at once (and I forgot, there- I said it) and I’ve not trained the players sufficiently yet.
Caveats done, we go on…
The fight is over, the second kobold ambush, and Spek is dead- oh, but Snakebite has just appeared on the scene to save the day. Which is pretty much how she put it- which didn’t get C-Fax’s back up, no- not at all.
And so, we begin with an interview- it seems the adventurers have an opening to fill, I’ll not go into too much detail save to say it took a good twenty minutes to satisfy C-Fax that Snakebite was/is on the side of right.
Snakebite, it would be fair to say, is a slow-moving vehicle- at least with the chatter, a kinder soul would have said that she took the appropriate time necessary to fully consider her answers. A more accurate description would be to say that Kenji (playing Snakebite) is somehow (imho) channeling a western version of a Japanese/Chinese/oriental/eastern (take your pick) wandering martial artists righting wrongs and generally bestowing fortune cookie homilies.
Kenji is very good, by which I mean very funny- particularly when Snakebite doesn’t fit in the round-ish peg that C-Fax is trying to hammer her (and everyone else) into.
A few early Snakebitisms-
“Stuff is just stuff”, Snakebite has no stuff- just her weapons & clothes, she doesn’t need stuff. Travis fails to understand this concept entirely, ‘stuff’ is what his life is all about.
“There is no truth, only the direction of the wind”, this one needed translation, apparently, it’s as funny as hell in Japanese, but then again, I think it quickly turned into a fart gag.
“Angry man in armour needs to walk further.” The angry man in question was paladin shaped. Mavis laughed a lot at this one.
Basically, and in summary, Snakebite is trying to achieve Nirvana by kicking the heads off bad people.
I like her (and him- Kenji) a lot.
I’m almost sorry I killed his previous character.
I particularly enjoyed Snakebite’s answer to the question- “Why did you help us?”, delivered by C-Fax with derision/suspicion. Her answer- “I saw no-good kobold on hill doing bad magic hand-dance. I kick its head off… then I see you. You need help. I help!”
Later Snakebite (correctly- I checked back) pointed out that all the PCs made attacks on Eggnog (in the corn field when the dragon priest was attempting to hide from them) but none of them landed a hit. Not a single hit on the dragon priest- Snakebite killed Eggnog on her own.
Everyone (mostly) likes Snakebite- she’s funny.
We go on, eventually- with Snakebite being brought up to date with the adventurer’s quest etc.
Then, the party reconstituted, it’s time for the rifling of the bodies, and what’s this?
Amongst the coin- mostly coppers and silvers, although Eggnog had a few electrum pieces, he also has a (small) fist sized lump of jade carved into some semblance of a reclining dragon, only… on the base someone (Eggnog?), and recently- according to McGow, has scratched into the stone a skull and crossbones. Or else a ram’s skull, certainly not a dragon’s skull.
Most odd.
But then Mavis rolls a very high number for her religion check.
This is the symbol used by worshippers of Orcus, a brief explanation from the priestess follows- the Blood Lord, Prince of Undeath etc. Basically, he’s not a pleasant fellow, and not to be trifled with.
C-Fax is ecstatic. He makes a speech, or two, until his wife’s repeated digs in the ribs (in real life) shut him up.
“At last, an enemy worthy of my attention!”
Gets a laugh. Note Rob is playing C-Fax the way he is for giggles, this isn’t really what he’s like. I’m almost certain.
So, add Orcus worship- maybe, to the mix- does that explain Hagrid and his boon companions? The PCs spend another ten to fifteen minutes spit balling a variety of ideas, that is until the DM reminds them that it’s getting dark out and they’re still twenty minutes or so from Kirkgate, and they’ve only been this route the once, and never in the dark.
The PCs therefore get off home, and with no problems or encounters they’re back within the walls of Kirkgate a little before nine bells.
Then- more chatter. There’s a lot of it in this session, I think I may have already said that.
C-Fax and Mavis head off with the remains of Spek to see Sister Margaritta, who must be roused from her slumber- arrangements are made for the gnome’s burial, C-Fax (and friends) will dig the grave in the morning, the ceremony will take place soon after.
There’s a bit more chatter here but the LG-folk have decided to not say too much to anyone about the things that they have discovered- so far, at least not until they get to chat to someone in authority (the Guard Captain, or else Lord Crumble).
However, Sister Margaritta has news- she would like the PCs to meet with Fionulla, the local ranger and warden of the woods and wilds hereby. Sister M has a lot of time, it seems, for Fionulla, but of-late she’s been worried about her.
Mavis has questions, but Sister M states that Fionulla can tell her own story, and that she will arrange the meeting for the morrow.
While the above is taking place the three remaining members of the adventuring party take Hagrid to the town gaol, and there they meet with the Guard Captain, Rondo A La Turk. They tell her everything- every in and out. Rondo doesn’t know whether to laugh or to cry, she is both disbelieving and at the same time horrified.
Then, and knowing that time is of the essence- while the LG-folk are at their chatter, the three remaining PCs, with a little help from Rondo, get themselves situated in a gaol cell with a now very much conscious Hagrid (funny, the little feller came around just in time for torture- such an ugly word).
We won’t go into what happened here, let’s just state the following, Hagrid reveals that-
He, and his Master, are worshippers of the Sovereign of Thanatos (that’s Orcus).
His Master is called, and it’s a mouthful so I’ll do it phonetically, here goes- ‘Ka-Ah-Ra-Ah-Ul-La’. So- Karl, except drawn out to make it sound evil-ish.
Hagrid isn’t sure what happened to Dicky Bird, either his Master, ‘Ka-Ah-Ra-Ah-Ul-La’ has got him- in which case he’s as dead as donuts, or else he got sold to the Bloody Heck- and therefore might still be alive, somewhere.
Oh, and one more thing.
The army that is coming to Kirkgate is an undead army- natch. It’ll be here when the ritual is complete, in just eight days, the latter confirmed by - ‘Ka-Ah-Ra-Ah-Ul-La’/Karl.
Note, Rondo is present to hear all of this.
Then, well- things take a turn for the fatal.
I know what you are thinking- you’d be wrong.
So, mid-torture, and après nothing-much-at-all a pair of shadowy hands reach through the stone wall, the wall that Hagrid is chained to and hanging from and proceed to throttle the deep gnome.
To death.
Note, the PCs insisted that Hagrid was chained high up on the wall because… they needed easy access to the deep gnome’s feet.
For the torture.
Tickling.
Diabolical.
Therefore, when the shadowy limbs appear through the wall it would take a ladder for either McGow or Travis to get to them. Not that a ladder would help, because when Snakebite attempts to wrestle the hands away from Hagrid’s neck, well, she found herself grappling with shadows.
Hagrid dies, and in death sports a mile-wide grin.
That’s another grave that needs digging.
Note, a shadowy figure is briefly glimpsed in the next cell along- when the PCs remember to go and look, the spirit sinks into the solid stone of the gaol house floor.
There’s a bit of a ruckus to follow.
Then C-Fax and Mavis turn up.
The ruckus continues for quite a while. Eventually, when everyone has calmed down, a plan is made for the morrow. Rondo doesn’t have enough to wake Lord Crumble up at this hour- it’s just shy of midnight, but she will arrange a meeting for as early as she can tomorrow.
There’s a lot going on tomorrow.
Then, eventually, it’s back to the Old Gatehouse Inn and slumber.
Note, the DM has planned for a ‘Where are we at?’ chatter vis- the plot, to take place a little later in this session, so hold on.
The adventurers- all of them- are up and out early, they have two graves to dig- C-Fax and Mavis insist that Hagrid be interred, although a way off from the good folk of the village.
Then, Sister M turns up- it’s her church after all, and soon after- here’s Fionulla, the ranger with a story to tell.
Her story, delivered within the chapel, is this-
Note, the bits in quotation marks are the PCs (various) questions or else comments.
Fionulla’s an elf, an outsider- her duty is to the lands hereabouts and to the creatures that live there. That said, she likes the people of Kirkgate and hopes to teach their children to learn to love and respect the forest.
“Got it. Keep talking.”
The ranger knows where the kobolds are laired, and she knows that they have been attacking folk and that they need to be stopped.
“How does she know this?”
Fionulla has been friends with the kobolds for years, or at least aware of them, she was friends with one specific kobold who she visited with secretly in the lair, maybe once or twice every season. The kobolds used to worship a dragon- an absent dragon- she adds, but then- about three or four months ago a new leader took over the tribe.
“Chopper?”
Correct, Chopper is a crazy bloodthirsty goblin.
Under Chopper’s leadership the kobolds have got gradually more war-like, and she hasn’t seen her kobold friend since the new regime took charge.
“What was the name of the friendly kobold?”
Are you there yet?
He was a young dragon priest called Eggnog.
“Oh!”
Followed by a full and frank explanation by the PCs- culminating in the death of Eggnog.
“I kick his head off!”
Thanks for that Snakebite/Kenji.
After the tears Fionulla adds- she will lead the PCs into the kobold’s lair (through a secret way she knows) if they promise not to kill kobolds indiscriminately. She knows the route to the throne room- that’s where they will find Chopper.
In summary- get in- get Chopper- get out.
Oh, and she wants to come along- this after telling the PCs that she’s not happy with the idea of killing anything at all. Hunters must eat etc. but she’s not really cut out for the blood-thirsty adventuring life.
There follows a series of checks, the PCs are naturally somewhat suspicious, particularly after their first meeting with Fionulla- the ranger fled the bar.
But Fionulla has an explanation for her previous behaviour, it’s this-
There’s a spy, she thinks, in Kirkgate- she’s no idea who, she doesn’t know the people (save Sister M) well enough, but- there’s a spy in the village- she thinks.
She’s been watching and listening, spying on folk in Kirkgate- in the Old Gatehouse and in other places in the village, and then when the PCs arrived and started asking questions, she got flustered. She’s not a great spy, she makes clear. In truth, Fionulla, is more than a little down on herself.
Back to the PCs various checks- everyone is convinced by everything that Fionulla has said, except for one PC- Mavis, who thinks there’s more to the elven ranger’s story. But, and here’s the final vote, Mavis is convinced that Fionulla has ‘good’ in her heart.
Therefore…
Fionulla’s plan, after a little more chat, is accepted and will be acted upon with all due haste- as soon as the funerals are done, and Lord Crumble has been informed of present events.
The funerals come next, and there’s some lovely words said over Spek, although the best of them come from Mavis-
“We should call ourselves The Inspectors, in honour of our friend- his name, although unknown, will always live on, or at least as long as we do.”
The vote, as with Fionulla’s plan, is 5-0.
They’re called The Inspectors.
Although some folks are already looking to separate the ‘The’ and ‘Inspectors’ with a variety of other words-
The Death Inspectors
The Dicky Inspectors
The Dead Inspectors
And a half-a-dozen much less amusing others (so far).
Then, the ‘what do we know’ section of the session, and here in the piece to coincide with the PCs second meeting with Lord Crumble.
To begin with C-Fax goes through all events thus far again- as if I (the DM) wasn’t here to witness them. He has visuals- the mirror, the ram skull carving on the jade dragon statuette, and the word of Rondo A La Turk, who is the only other person present at the meeting.
And then, to the PCs understanding/summary of the situation-
There’s a big bad guy- - ‘Ka-Ah-Ra-Ah-Ul-La’/Karl aka the Master, the voice in the mirror, who is even now in the process of completing a ritual (in seven days from now) to bring an undead army to Kirkgate to destroy the village. Orcus is Karl’s homeboy.
Hagrid and his bandits were directing things in the field, and possibly kidnapping folk to either a) eat, b) supply Karl’s ritual with the necessary sacrifices, or c) sell to the Bloody Heck (we’ll get to them).
Then there’s Chopper and the kobolds, who are- probably- doing the same sort of thing as Hagrid and his chums were doing. Only with different priorities.
A third group, the Bloody Heck, are probably a tribe of goblins that are also doing something to help the nasty scheme along, and getting paid with live bodies- the Bloody Heck are likely slavers.
Hagrid and his gang have been eliminated, the Kobolds are next to fall (as soon as this meeting is done, there’s confidence). Hopefully, Chopper, or else a senior kobold, can supply further info leading to either the location of Karl or of the Bloody Heck.
Lastly, and this bit is from McGow’s speech to Lord Crumble, yep- McGow made a speech.
Basically, you need to believe us because we’ve got nothing to do with any of this- it’s only because we wanted to find our friend Dicky that we wandered into all of this… this…
And then McGow has something in his eye, or else it seems everyone is missing Spek.
The point being the PCs still have no idea whether their friend Dicky is dead or alive, best-case scenario atm- Dicky is a slave somewhere. Mavis further explains.
Note, Lord Crumble’s initial reaction to the above news was to be very suspicious- about adventurers trying to chisel more money from Kirkgate coffers.
This opinion was initially met with swearing and insult- thanks Travis, until McGow got a bit teary and said his piece.
So, Lord Crumble doesn’t know what to do for the best- this is big news.
He needs… more proof (and more time to consider the story he’s been told), the PCs have to find out as much as they can- whether the threat is real, how it can be stopped etc. They must keep Lord Crumble and Rondo (but no-one else) up to date with new discoveries etc. Lord Crumble will make further decisions- like when and what to tell the locals, as and when new info is uncovered.
In the meantime, Lord Crumble suggests that the evidence presented- the mirror and the ram skull inscribed jade dragon statuette should be examined by Jefron Puddleduck, the local sage. The two items are therefore handed over.
Note, the terrifying shadow creature that killed Hagrid is also discussed for a bit, but… no solutions/further actions come to mind.
Furthermore, Lord Crumble will continue to offer monetary rewards for the PCs actions to curtail this ritual, the PCs are on the books.
If/and when this threat is proven, well-
Quest #4- 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.
The PCs accept the challenge.
C-Fax is even allowed to make a speech.
Bahamut featured.
Oh, and if you are sharp, you will have noticed that the PCs have not told Lord Crumble about the possibility of a spy in the village, this because… well, they had a discussion beforehand and decided to keep this info under wraps. They don’t know Lord Crumble- could he be the bad guy?
Then, after a brief re-equip, we hit the road with Fionulla, the next stop the kobold’s lair.
XP distribution- just to note I put a tick on a page when a PC does, or says, something good- or clever- or moves the story/plot on- or makes a good check and does something with it- or… but you get me.
Mavis 120 XP, C-Fax 90 XP, McGow 80 XP and Snakebite & Travis 60 XP each.
Note, these sessions are only about three-and-a-half hours long, the above represented three hours of solid natter with only one ten-minute break.
Violence, but not a lot of it, coming in the next bit- the last twenty or so minutes of the session.
Cheers goonalan and the Tokyo Massive.
