Return of the Runelords, Book 1: Secrets of Roderic's Cove [IC]

[Blackhawk101]

The brave heroes of Roderick’s cove return to the inn to enjoy a repast and recovery. Alandra will sweet talk a local urchin into asking Audrahani to join us at the inn for dinner.

[lostsole31]

As an aside, on the road back to the inn, Ranghen casts a spell to heal Feiya's wounds. Feiya regains the rest of her breath after an hour. Meanwhile, Feiya uses a liniment to help Bořek recover more quickly.

Does this end the night for you?

[Blackhawk101]

If Audrahani doesn’t join us, then yes.

[lostsole31]

Audrahni DOES find and join you...

[Blackhawk101]

Alandra’s eyes glow with excitement at the arrival of the elven graveyard sexton.
“We have much to discuss! …but not here.” she waves a hand at the inn common room.

”We can get a room or do you have another suggestion?”

[lostsole31]

Audrahni will pay for the group to room together. The boys will be in one room; Alandra and Feiya in another; Ranghen and Ziggy in their own room.

In the meantime, she says, "Come by the graveyard tomorrow so we can talk freely and where there are no earwigs in the walls."

[Blackhawk101]

“You bet we will! First thing!” Alandra agrees.

[lostsole31]

Starday, 8 Rova 4718 AR (New Moon)
Weather: 70 / 55 F. Moderate rain (3/4").

The next day, will there be any kind of changes to Alandra's daily setup?

[Blackhawk101]

Alandra will perform her typical daily morning routine: Bath and/or Prestidigitation, brush hair, don jewelry , apply perfume. Once she is presentable, she will join the others and do her weird, mind meld implantation of the Psychosomatic Surge cult trick to: Feiya, Ranghen, Rodrigo, Ziggy, Daji and herself.
After breakfast, the group will make their way to the cemetery.

[lostsole31]

And ... at the cemetery, Audrahni greets you and makes you all tea...

[Blackhawk101]

Alandra sips her tea and smiles at their hostess.
“Thank you so much for the rooms at the inn and the tea! It’s lovely!”
Why everyone makes such a big deal over dirty water, Alandra will never understand.

“We had a very productive day yesterday at Sir Roderick’s home. We met his specter and found some clues that might help us!”

Alandra rises from the table and takes on what she hopes is an undead pose. Then, with her best Sir Roderick’s ghost voice, she recounts their encounter:
“and the ghost of Sir Roderick said: “The cove. The stone house in the wood. The gauntlet. Save them. My map. The key.”
”…and then he said in a different room!:“My map. They took my map. It holds the key. To the vault. Baraket will control them. It will control you! I should have taken the gauntlets, but I fled. I was a coward. You must be brave. You must endure where I did not. The vault. It lies still in the vault. You must save my Cove. Save. My. Cove”

Alandra regains her normal pose and sits. “We found a map to a “stone house” in the Churlwood and a sword case marked Baraket in the house. I think the map may be found in the town’s archives.”

Alandra smiles at the elf sexton and asks “What do you think?”

[lostsole31]

Auhdrani somberly repeats what Feiya had mentioned before, but this time verifying that belief and from someone who lives in the town ... that Roderic was a skilled cartographer and charted the region on several maps that reside in Cove Hall, adding, "That should obviously be your next place to go ... to seek an audience with the Lord-Mayor and ask permission to view Roderic's maps."

[Blackhawk101]

Alandra eyes Audrahani skeptically. “The Lord-Mayor interviews who can visit the town archives? Sounds like a low level bureaucrat job to me!”

Alandra considers the forthright approach briefly before agreeing. Who knows, it might work. There is always plan B…

She addresses the hostess again, “What can you tell us about Baraket?”

[lostsole31]

She shakes her head and says ruefully, "I don't know what that is."

[Blackhawk101]

“Is there a library or historian in the area who might know of this sword? It seems important.” Alandra considers things as they stand for a few moments.

“Regardless, we need a place to sell the gold and silver items we have collected. Anyone know?”

[lostsole31]

Audrani answers, "I mention going to Cove Hall to seek an audience with the Lord-Mayor Lorenza Thort, because she would probably be appreciative of being told of what happened at Roderic's Wreck and the appearance of his ghost. She also might give insight into the goings-on in town.

"As far as knowing about the sword, you could kill two birds with one stone. Remember that the trouble brewing was when the Horned Fangs and the Order of Resplendence got into a row a few weeks ago? Well, the Horned Fangs are thugs. But the Order is based in Peacock Manor, just north of town, and they're a group of scholars who share an interest in Varisian history. Perhaps they might know about the sword."

[Blackhawk101]

Alandra smiles at the elf and is genuinely excited with the information.
“Great! This seems like the logical order: 1) we sell our finds and outfit ourselves, 2) see the Lord Mayor, and 3) visit the Order of Resplendence!”

[lostsole31]

Does the entire mob of you do all the things one at a time, or do you have the party split up to run down tasks?

[Blackhawk101]

Alandra wants to keep the group together for now.

[lostsole31]

Overall, after sales and exchange fees, the party gets 1,067 gp.

Bořivoj recommends seven shares, not six .... one share for each person, and then another share as a "party share" for shared party expenses, since it seems that this group might be working together for a little bit. Does that work for Alandra?

[Blackhawk101]

Alandra give the burly night an affectionate pat on the cheek if he is sans helm or will blow him a kiss if he is helmed. “Excellent suggestion but who are you including in your count?”

“Does anyone want to do some shopping?!”
Alandra is looking for one replacement durable arrow. Ghost touch arrows if available or vials of holy water. Also flasks of alchemist fire if available.

[lostsole31]

"The dragonling has proven as capable as any of the rest of us," says Bořivoj, "but the fox is an extension of its owner. You, me, Feiya (but not Daji), Rodrigo, Ranghen and Ziggy each individually (even if that means Ranghen gets to decide what to do with Ziggy's share)."

[Blackhawk101]

Alandra nods to Bořivoj.
“Indeed! Ziggy has proven to be a most brave and courageous ally! My only concern is that Ziggy has no need of equipment so our available funds to purchase gear are lessened.”

Alandra thinks for a minute before a smile returns to her face.
“What does everyone think of having the “party” share belong to Ziggy. Any permanent items purchased for party use, will be on loan from Ziggy. Any non-physical purchases (for services and the like) that the party makes, we will pool from our own personal resources? How does that sound?”

[lostsole31]

Ranghen shakes her head. "You don't get to judge who gets how much of a share or why; if she gives it all to charity, that is her right. No, one share for each person, and one share for the group for future combined purchases."

[Blackhawk101]

“I understand your position. The decision is not mine to make, but the group as a whole. I was merely making a suggestion as to a distribution of resources that seemed to me to be the most advantageous for the party. I mean no insult to Ziggy.”
“What say the rest of you?”

[lostsole31]

The rest of the group is fine with Brennan's idea about seven shares - one for each primary (yes Ziggy, no Daji) - and a party share.

[Blackhawk101]

Clearly not happy with not one of the group siding with her but she agrees to the seven way split.

“Does anyone want to do some shopping?!”
Alandra is looking for one replacement durable arrow. Ghost touch arrows if available or vials of holy water. Also flasks of alchemist fire if available.

Spoiler: crunch

Show

I, the player, have no issue with giving a share to Ziggy. But from Alandra’s history, I judged this to be how she would respond.

[lostsole31]

The base share value is 152 gp, with the fraction going to the party share.

Assuming Alandra lets the group know what she's looking to purchase, Bořek (the resident local) will take them to Cove Armory. Distrusted by some in Roderic’s Cove, Lyndwyn Suvasa (female human) runs a small shop that provides weapons and armor to those in need. She gets many of her wares by special order from Riddleport, prompting some people in town to think that she has shady connections to that city. Lyndwyn doesn’t pay the town’s attitude much mind, and is very open with newcomers, warning them of the gossiping nature of Roderic’s Cove.

Alandra can get her single durable arrow for 1 gold here (purchased).

Before the party leaves, Lyndwyn admits that she gets her best pieces from a traveling dwarven weaponsmith who visits at least once a month to sell her new pieces and to spend some quality time with her. She calls over a friend of hers, and doing so two dwarves came forward.

The two dwarves look harried and worried. One is introduced as Galdsbredtha Morgmon (female dwarf), a skilled weaponsmith who always accompanies her shipments, partially out of honor, but mostly because she enjoys the company of Lyndwyn when she visits every few weeks. The other is her personal valet, Fordren Kulsoth (male dwarf). Galdsbredtha tells her story.

A few days ago, four dwarves from the Iron Peaks headed west to Roderic’s Cove to deliver a shipment of armor and weapons to Lyndwyn Suvasa. Their path took them west from the mountains, crossing the Lampblack River at Ravenmoor before skirting the Churlwood to the southern banks of the Chavali River. While they’d had problems a few times before with the bandits known as the Roadkeepers, the dwarves viewed this as merely a form of “road tax” and, as before, simply paid the relatively small fine the bandits demanded. Never before had they had problems with goblins.

Normally strong of nerve, the pair ended up having to abandon their wagon, walking through the night and most of the next day to Roderic’s Cove, after a group of particularly ferocious goblins attacked the camp and made off with their driver and his wife, carrying them off into the woods.

The two are very worried about the abducted dwarves. They approached the town militia for help, and Larenza Thort recognized the description of the goblins (who all wore distinctive lip piercings) as members of the Bramblemouth tribe—a group that has caused minor problems before but has never done anything as brazen as a roadside abduction. Thort sent a group of guards into the Churlwood with orders to confront the goblins, but that was 2 days ago, and the guards have yet to return. With Thort hesitant to send more guards into the woods, the two dwarves grow ever more concerned. They’ve sent a message home asking for help, but know it will be over a week before reinforcements arrive. Increasingly desperate, the pair of dwarves have been trying to enlist the help of anyone who will hear their pleas. A person they met named Kolton has heard their call and promised that he’ll keep an eye out for anything out of the ordinary.

Bořek immediately offers to help, and Rodrigo agrees to help him.

Alandra?

[Blackhawk101]

Alandra attempts to comfort the worried dwarves.
“We will be happy to help to try and locate and rescue your friends! We are heroes, after all! she announces with a grand flourish of a raised fist.

[lostsole31]

Which is enough for Ranghen and Ziggy to get excited about that.

Feiya is more circumspect. "We should talk with this Kolton first, shouldn't we?"