Its the End of the World (as we know it)

During the altercation, Lem tries to cast sleep on the whole group, but is too slow, frozen in place in shock. Afterwards, he looks at Yokini, and gives her a deep look of empathy as she witnesses her family's violent response to their tormentors. He goes to step forward to put his good hand on her shoulder, but stops at the last minute, frozen again.

He begins to wake up more as Markelhay begins to talk about treasure and they head outside.

Lem nods at Telly, saying, "that is a really nice set of scales we found for you there! Almost didn't see it." He also asks the guard where they are going to keep the dragon egg.

He gets more and more fidgety as more people carry away their possessions. He gives a very forced smile to the girl reclaiming her dollhouse, which the girl fortunately takes as a silly joke to laugh at, and gives the confused dwarf a hug. He does not return it, but he does cast mage hand and almost tries to grab the dollhouse from the girl's parents as they walk away, and stops at the last minute.

When the owner of the bagpipes comes along to get them, Lem looks at Raddunth, looks at the bagpipes, looks at Raddunth, looks at the bagpipes, and steps forward. "Actually, I believe this is ours. I've been meaning to teach Radish here how to play the bagpipes," and he grabs them, puts the piece to his mouth, and inflates it. A piercing, but beautiful melody trills out of the odd-looking bag through the bundle of stalks. He actually can play them, and he handles them in a familiar manner, mechanical arm or no. 

The guards eye you when you ask about the egg, and inform you in vague terms it will be secure in the Moonstone keep.

Lem Persuasion (I will say with advantage because of how well you played): 16

The man who stepped forward to claim the bagpipes steps back, thinking he was mistaken about the bagpipes. He smiles at the pleasant melody.

In the end, with the uncertainty of where the rest of the village is, and with the prospect of more orc invasions, Yokini's family decides to stay in Fallcrest for the time being. These are the talents the family brings:

Yokini Nackle - 200 yo - medical doctor & tinkerer

Yokini's mom, Cargyra Nackle - 280 yo - window - most recently, homekeeper (baking, cleaning, raising grandchildren) - former alchemist

Nynoa Pelbuzobs - 190 yo - organizational mind (enjoys research, overseeing projects, and financial analysis)
Keznonon Pelbuzobs, Nynoa's husband - 200 yo - brewer and cook (owned a tavern in Gorin with Nynoa)
- Zonzant Pelbuzobs, Keznonon & Nynoa's older son - 145 yo - outdoorsy - loves to hunt, fish, build things
- Agath Pelbuzobs, Keznonon & Nynoa's only daughter - 38 yo - smart, but no career yet - enjoys being artistic with "Aunt Maylene"
- Grubet Pelbuzobs, Keznonon & Nynoa's younger son - 34 - fighting growing up - lazy, mischevious

Neeprupqu Kobs, Yokini's deceased aunt's older son - 240 yo - farmer, specializing in plants
Maylene Kobs, Neeprupqu's wife - good with her hands - 140 yo - loves to sew, knit, drawing & painting

Dreketot Kobs, Yokini's deceased aunt's younger son - 220 yo - widower - farmer, specializing in livestock
- Penust Kobs, Dreketot's older son - 160 yo - farmer who wishes he were a soldier
- Zebit Kobs, Dreketot's younger son - 80 yo - farmer

So, would there happen to be a tavern Nynoa's family could rent and run? And the Kobses are all adept at farming, so that would be logical for them. Yokini is happiest being a doctor, so she'd like to hang out her shingle. Perhaps the tavern has a room she could use as a doctor's office. But she needs a lab, too. If the Kobses rent a farm, they could live there, and all the "townies" could live in one place. Perhaps the tavern has an attached abode. They're gnomes (small), and they're used to living in close proximity, so it wouldn't be a big deal for the seven of them to live together. If a tavern isn't an option, perhaps a bakery or brewery. They'd be fine with upper or lower Fallcrest.

Aside from locations and buildings, Yokini would like to check out the modifications that have been made to Lem's arm since she "installed" it. Through this analysis, she will begin to be curious about the use of crystals in her own glove. She'd also like to help get it back up to the best working order she can. She would also like to analyze the four potions she found during the recent campaign (flying, clairvoyance, greater healing, and potion of fire) to see if she can figure out how to replicate them. She's most interested in the greater healing. She'd like to make several potions of healing — greater healing if possible, regular healing if not.

Despite having noticed the former prisoners, Thistle does not react in time to stop them. When the call to put weapons down comes, she instead raises her hands out to the side, in a common "I mean no harm" gesture, and keeps them there until tempers settle. She has too many weapons to easily dispense with them all.

When it comes to helping disburse items, she is pretty uncomfortable doing so, and frankly surprised they have been tasked with the job by Markelhay. She doesn't covet though, so she's fine with people getting their things back, and smiles at the little girl's emotion, and when she makes Lem uncomfortable. That's kind of a highlight for her, actually.

OOC > Thistle takes Medium Armor Master as her Feat at 4th level, increasing her AC by 1. There's your 19 AC fighty Rogue! Woo! Also, I thought Scimitars were not finesse, but now they seem to be finesse... either I mis-read before, or it has changed. Either way, she can use them for sneak attack damage, so she's keeping them!

For the week, Thistle will ask Zashier if she can come stay at the farm with him and his sister. Assuming he says yes, she proves an able and handy helper at the chores, and has several long and private conversations with Zashier's sister, where they end up either giggling, or somber and drunk (don't know if she drinks, but Thistle does!).

In the meantime, she asks if Telly can see to fixing her saber (from the ooze damage), or if not, if she can procure another somewhere.

Over the course of the week, as things get straightened out, and the story starts to get around town, about Amros and about the party of adventurers...no, heroes, that saved the town, you all have become celebrities. Not sure where you are staying at night, or what you are doing during the day, but when you need food or drink and visit one of the inns or bars, you are greated with a round of cheers, and your tab is paid for.

Also, during this week, Lord Markelhay decides, to make it right with Yokini's family, he signs the paperwork to give Amros's estate in the city and the manor in the country so that it is now owned by Cargyra Nackle, Yokini's mom. He says "I know it doesnt make up for the damage you and your family suffered at the hands of one of our citizens, and I know it is disrepair, but it is the best I can do for now to make it up to you." How your family chooses to use it is up to you. Perhaps the farmers fix up the manor outside of town and use the acreage for farming, maybe the family lives in the house, and converts the bottom floor into a tavern, maybe you convert Amros' basement into Yokini's lab. It will take some time, but Amros' estate is now yours.

I will post another update soon about what some of the other party members are doing during this week.

I will also post do discord an updated map, assuming you all familiarize yourself with Fallcrest a bit more during this week.

SCORE!

As mentioned, Thistle will leave town for the duration, collecting her gold from the party's sales at the end of the break. She wants nothing to do with being recognized, lauded, having her name bandied about, or any of the rest of it. She does visit Telly about her saber before leaving, but that's it.

During the week she does decide to follow up on the losers who were manning the "checkpoint" earlier, and visits the site to try and discover clues or track the would-be-bandits. But she won't put herself in danger, she's just investigating.

Zashier had just bowed his head, accepting the Lord's perspective without question. Though apart of the elephantine man would remain troubled by his own thoughtlessness. Perhaps this is in part why he had been one of the most caught off guard by the former captives actions. Surprise soon turned to righteous fury, and in the next moment he is racing forth along with the guards, trying in vain to bodily pull at least halfling out of the frackus. But by then, it is too late.

Wordlessly, whoever he does given to the guard, and most arms are dropped by Zashier. Most, but not all. With a reverence most my expect a great treasure, Zashier set the Sun Touched Axe on the ground, and only retreated the bare minimum asked away from it until things settle down. It took effort, but Zashier eventually focused on the Lord once more, using the need to show respect to finally overcome whatever unspoken hold the axe had on him. Words that prove to be just the sort of welcome relief to carry the man forward throughout following proceedings without much complaint. His relief isn't so complete that he didn't catch Lem's forced reactions. If need be, he'd be ready to casually lower his hand back down or cover his mouth at the first utterance of a sly incantation heard. After the incident inside the keep, he at least wanted to try being more observant than the usual.

"Oh yea, the egg. Thank you for the reminder, mighty swell of you three. Though do be tender with it and keep it cold, as it seems to like it, much as I like a summer day. And if need be, I'd be more than willing to come back to help tend to the Dragon, when it hatches, maybe teach it a thing or two about being a hero." He would say brightly, conviently forgetting or trusting so heartily in the Lord, Jagrin, and naturally his old compatriots in at least not taking Thistle's comment not too much at heart.

In the end, items are returned, plans need be made, and for a while the group may or may not in some ways disperses. With the exception of any of Amros' attackers getting a slap on the wrist, anyone else who wishes to stay on Zashier's farm are free to at any time, and for however long they wished to. Zashier certainly had not minded it. His sister Yashiera and mother are initially concerned. But once the goodnews is delivered, the two completely brush off such 'minor' concerns. In fact, Yashiera comes to enjoy Thistle's stay, having not realized how much she longed for her sort of company without constantly feeling the need to focus on keeping things afloat. She still had to be warmed up to the idea of drinking more than once. One too many experiences having to lug Zashier's drunken ass out of the river or even out of town all the way back home somewhat tainted her perspective of it. Yet, so long as the times are infrequent and kept casual (not to mention neither breathe a worth of it to Zashier), the duo enjoy her rainy day special stash.

Meanwhile, throughout the week for Zashier....

(More to come on that soon!)

Lem takes the bagpipes and whatever else they are giving him and starts to load up another floating disc to bring back to his house above the book repository.

Before he goes, he attempts to make awkward small talk with the rest of the group, Yokini's family, and even a few guards. It's obvious he means well, and he's just trying to do what people do in social situations, but every interaction is Lem saying something awkward but kind, or a joke that delivers the punchline too soon, or a story that ends about a quarter of the way too soon before his mind is Obviously Elsewhere and his hands start to shake. Even the mechanical hand has taken on the fidgety, mindless palsy of the rest of him. Yokini is once again able to translate for him to her family and even the party, but Lem realizes it's unfair of him to burden her with it all, while she's trying to talk to her family, so he bows out, with whatever items have been bequeathed to him bobbling along on the disk. He mumbles to Thistle, Zashier, Yokini, Raddunth, and  for certain, that they're welcome to come by the top floor of the book repository, up the fire escape, if anyone wants to look at it or go over it for any reason.

He spends a few days mostly at his musty home above the book repository, copying over spells into his spellbook, looks over his new things, and only comes out for meals. Each meal is an Event, where Lem orders the food, gets thanked by the locals, and when he goes to pay, he doesn’t pick up on the offer free food and it turns into a confused argument that starts out funny, then by midweek is cumbersome and socially taxing for the proprietors, and by the end of the week it’s funny again after they know what's coming.

He'll stop by Yokini's new place to help clean things up and organize. He asks her to try to work some magic to fix his mechanical arm, and noodles with her a bit to see if there is room for an upgrade to increase its functionality (grappling hook, or increased torque for help on strength checks, etc), but really he just wants it to work more smoothly, as it's been a while since it's been maintained by anyone other than Lem. He's added some arcane components to help with his spellcasting. Yokini had added his orb spell focus to power the arm when she created it, and Lem then hacked to keep it working when the arm's normal mechanisms broke. He also realized he could use the orb to cast through it. He suggests adding a gem to see if it would gain any added functionality. He'd aerosolized the fine sand spell component of the sleep to be disbursed by a container on the wrist of the arm, so why couldn't it do more?

He does pick up any extra paper and ink that he needs (he's been scrounging for this ever since he came home for the war, with some success) to copy over levitate, blur, and likely water breathing to his spellbook. He adds some additional spells to his spellbook, based on some work he'd been doing over the last few months and that really clicked into place during the last few days.

He did head out to Zashier's farm to say hello a couple days in. He awkwardly announces he'd like to go and check on the braids again, using invisibility and Moon to try to get a sense of what they're up to and potentially listen in on their conversations. If Thistle clues him in on her intentions to do the same, he offers to work together.

If he bumps into Raddunth, he'll offer to brainstorm with him different things the large man can do with the immovable rod in battle -- pinning someone he might want to grapple, engaging it neck or knee height during a chase, to trip or injure the pursuer, or potentially using it to block.

Otherwise, he spends his time alone, working through his thoughts, trying to research the wand of wonder, and reading.

Rewind the clock back before the parties at least temporary dispersal....

Seeing as most are either reluctant, questionable, or caring not much for taking point on the final dispersion of goods and coin remaining from the return of goods, Zashier volunteers his services. Just before he does, he asks for word of his doing this not reach his sister's ears. At least, not his counting of coin. When pressed on this request, all he says is, "Listen man, as you probably figured out, my sister can be quite the character. And we've had a fairly good deal with her handling finances, under the unspoken of assumption that I do not have a head for money, which is somewhat true. But, let's just say that I am quite the savant, and would prefer she not know." With a final wink and some hand rubbing, Zashier sets to work sorting the coin and goods as the others may clear their wishes for particulars.

In the end, whatever odd magic item or weapons aren't beset upon by the others, Zashier holds on to for safe keeping until the group sorted out later in the week on finding buyers for them. So, the following for certainly either end up or remain in the hands of the party:

 While there may be some complaints or questions or resistance, if only due to modesty, Zashier tries to best assure everyone to hold off for the week(tenday?). If not to  get used to current bounty, then at least give them time to eventual round up buyers for the more specialty items. Until then, he awkwardly offers to hold on to anything not as easily convert to coin. That would include some gems, but at Lem's inquiry, at least one of each is left for him to further augment his arm -- PROVIDED that gem's aren't destroyed or proves of no help there, they are to be sold along with the rest over the week for distribution among the group.

With things eventually settled for the time being, Zashier at least tries to wrap everyone in one final hug, before suggesting Yokini's family stay on the farm long enough to get sorted. Any offer to pay in anything that wasn't volunteer work would be waved off by the elephantine man as "no big biggie". With the farm back in family hands and the recent payment recovered, he wouldn't hear of any wishes to pay them back.

Zashier is not even remotely idle during the week. While he had received an earful upon returning to the farm, all is forgiven with the goodness. Yashira almost immediately begins making plans to use the coin to replace some long in need of repairs about the farm. To which, and with a great deal of convincing, Zashier convinces her to set aside some to help Yokini's family get settled in the area. A task made easier, as the family would later learn, with the news estates and manors left in gnomish care. For all of his handyman-ship, the clumsy farmer can only offer the coin, moral support, and directions to locals that would help best in repairs. Though if/when talks shifts to what to do with the manor in the country, assuming it be the same currently occupied by kobolds, he strongly suggests leaving the property as-is until more formal arrangements could be made directly with the kobolds.

A suggestion that likely nearly falls on deaf ears if not for his insistence on trying towards the end of the week. Before then? Zashier almost finds a reason to be in town everyday throughout the week, thoroughly allowing himself to enjoy a bit of adulation in place of the usual wariness or strained kindness most tended to level in his direction. He tries to rope Lem and Raddanuth into his escapades at least once, if but to collect on coin owed by Telly(200gp) and ask him and Kemara about who to see about processing the ore.

Plus... there was the Braids to think of. He was no complete fool, however. After his mentioning of the Braids connection to Amros, he knew it to be only a matter of time before they sought some sort of recompense. So, he tried not to be alone too much. Yet the drink... with it flowing so freely, there is at least one night he wakes up at or in Nackle Manor, drunk off his ass, and a strange jar empty at his side. Or perhaps Raddunuth and he were both there, sleeping off the drink, and each in there sleep still fighting to hold on to it?

Regardless and needless to say, whenever news of /that/ gets back to his sister, the proverbial leash is tightened for a while. Which is why when Lem and Thistle mentions plans of investigating the Braids just a bit, he could only pathetically wave from the fields as no amount of subterfuge or persuading allows him to leave the farm without being tugged back by the trunk, courtesy of either his Mom or Sister at the time. He does at least ask for the two to deliver a message for him to the kobold's home. A little letter that they could secretly leave behind. "Now I'm ask ya not to read it, as its a bit of sensitive one. Only that you, I dunno, maybe leave it in such a way the kobolds get a hold of it." He requests, before furrowing his brows. "It's a dangerous thing I ask, I know. And if ya'll ain't up for it, I understand. I just... I'm hoping to open some kind of communication with them so that maybe they don't need to be hostile folks in the future, you know?"

With or without its delivery, any free time Zashier has by day three is either in the fields, or training under his sister in being more perceptive. That, and eventually find some place to release the scorpions back into the wild a good ways away from home.

Thistle is happy to partner with Lem to investigate the “checkpoint.” She will be companionably quiet, not making the dwarf talk if he does not want to.

Lem suggests they also check out the inn where the braids are holed up, in addition to the checkpoint (if the checkpoint is still there).

Thistle strongly wants to start with the checkpoint, and whether she agrees to go back to town will depend on if they find anything there, first. She doesn't want to go back to Fallcrest if she doesn't have to.

Quote from Mingofaust >>

For the week, Thistle will ask Zashier if she can come stay at the farm with him and his sister. Assuming he says yes, she proves an able and handy helper at the chores...

Raddunth does the same, asking Zashier for a place to stay during the week. (He is at home sleeping in the mud with danger all around, but why turn down the chance for a decent bed and a well-protected room?)

Whenever he isn't helping with some odd chore around the house, he is riding his horse around the neighborhood. (Watching for evil, but also to horse-ride.)

If anyone is doing investigating, and wants a little more muscle around (to be safer), he is happy to accompany them.

(OOC: I'm good with the item disbursement suggested in post 919. Also, was there any petty cash split up? I'm fine with the bulk being in a mutual "party fund", but it wouldn't hurt to have a few more coins in the pouch.)

Believe there's a tagged post in discord with the amount of the split...

The tenday after capturing Amros Kamroth and his cultists passes in a blur.

You truly are heroes in town, (Thistle, whether you want to be or not). Your names are well known, and as I said, drinks, meals, lodging - its on the house at most of these places. Even if Lem makes it extremely awkward every time he dines at an establishment.

Yokini, reunited once again with her family, is, of course, gifted with the Kamroth family estate, and the family sets to work fixing the place. It will likely be at least a month, if not more, to get everything perfect, but they are a hard working family, and they are thankful to be alive. They take advantage of every opportunity to be with Yokini, hearing her stories of her travels and adventures thus far. They are taking advantage of the time they have together, making up on time that has been lost. They decide to take the property they have been given, and convert the country property into a farm for the Kobses, and the house in town will having living quarters upstairs, and a tavern downstairs, as well as Yokini’s doctor’s office (though of course she mostly does house calls) - and the basement will be relegated to Yokinis experiments and tinkering. High Priestess Tyari Varvatos actually pays you a visit to see how your office is set up - so many people come to her for healing, she is more than happy to send some business your way, since it also lessens her load as well.

In mechanics, for seeing if you can replicate those potions, lets have you make 4 separate Arcana checks to see if you can replicate those. You will also need Alchemists supplies to replicate these things, which I am sure you will be purchasing to stock your lab anyway. DC 17 Arcana check ( which I will let you make tendayly, each tenday the DC goes down 1 as you spend more time studying the potion). If you are able to replicate them, then we can talk about supplies you will need, and how that’s all going to work.

Lem seeks out Yokini during this tenday. He spends most of his time alone, copying spells, visiting the House of Wonders (see below) to see what magic items are available, going out with Zashier once (though he likely didn’t enjoy the crowds very much), but he makes time to spend with his oldest friend and her family. Lem has not been home to his clan in the mountains in a very long time, and its nice to have a familiar face to see once again. During their time together, Yokini does a full workup of Lem’s arm, updating some modifications, and just generally tinkering to make sure it is back to its former glory - and sure, she is able to embed a grappling hook with a 50 foot rope into it. Why not.

Lem, while home, dives into his research, looking up more books about dragons, orcs, and giants, and also books about wild magic in hopes of learning more about the Wand of Wonder. He copies some spells. He practices his bagpipes, much to the chagrin of the owners of the book repository - they just chalk it up to Lem being Lem.

Thistle spends most of her time at Zashier’s farm. Before heading out there, she stop’s by Telly’s blacksmithing shop, technically called Teldorthan’s Fine Steel, but she learns that most folks around here just call it Clamor, due to the constant pounding of hammers that thunders from it during the daylight hours. She drops off her corroded scimitar, and Tellys says he would be glad to fix it for her, no charge. He turns and hands it to a half-orc female, Sara Morninghawk, to take care of. Sara is one of the few half-orcs in town. In a place like Fallcrest, with such a history with orcs, it was tough for her at first, but she seems to have made a life for herself here, and, Telly continues to tell you, she is fantastic blacksmith. Telly tells you to pop back after the festival, and he will have your scimitar waiting for you. Thistle heads out to Zashier’s farm, where she spends several days “thick as thieves” so to speak with Zashier’s sister, Yashiera - sometimes drunk, sometimes sober, they are inseparable for most of the tenday.

Lem and Thistle investigate a bit about the braids, but they seem to have vanished without a trace. From what you can gather, from bits and pieces around town, Serim Selduzar left town, and the Tiefling Braids have disappeared. They say he was headed for a larger city…something about too much attention being drawn here in Fallcrest.

Zashier spends his week busy, taking note of everything that was left behind, trying to evenly disperse to the other party members. He also freely takes part in his newfound hero status. People that before might have given you an odd or not even given you the time of day are now hanging on your every word. Everyone wants to hear the story again and again, especially about you trying to turn scorpions into pets. Romero just shakes his head every time he hears you telling the story, but you have heard that he is secretly turning it into a play. Romero, known locally for his poetry and stories, is branching out to be a playwright. After a few days, he does approach Zashier to get some more details, and to confirm the rumor that he is documenting your story - he says its just for posterity, but you know he is hiding something.  Lem and Raddunth do you join you at least once, but they are both a bit reserved, and don’t go out again…no matter, Zashier can easily enjoy all the town has to offer him and his new title of Hero of Fallcrest. As for your note delivered out to the country, there are no kobolds there. At all. Whoever took the message, investigates the tunnels. The babies are gone, the kobolds are gone, just the memories of the experience remain.

Raddunth helps with the investigation, and rides his horse, and probably helps Yokinis family, and rides his horse, and stays with Zashier, and, oh yea, rides his horse some more.

Also, during this tenday, those that are not from here take full advantage of wandering the town, Upper and Lower Fallcrest, getting to know the city - the people of Fallcrest love to talk about their city. I will mention some highlights below, as well as some of the rumors you have heard around town during the tenday. (Also, if any of this conflicts with some of the city information from way earlier in the campaign, please use this as your most up to date reference….)

You learn a bit more about the city of Fallcrest, here in the North, an area usually domintated by Orcs. But the city has survived, rebuilt after the war. The citizens of Fallcrest banded together, even though the Capital’s soldiers left to fight on the front lines, Fallcrest stayed, Fallcrest defended itself! You also learn about a tradition that began after the war, after the city defended itself against the Orc invaders. The tradition of the hope knife. The festival in the coming days is a combination of things - a celebration of the temple completing its rebuild at long last, a celebration of the new Hero of Fallcrest, as well as a hope knife ceremony for Lord Markelhay’s daughter, Ruby, who is turning 12. The hope knife ceremony began a few years after the war, and it was actually a dark beginning. As you find out more about the celebration, you find out more about the history of Fallcrest, and the history of the hope knife. Once the children of Fallcrest came of age, 12 years old, they are given a hope knife. A hopeknife is a small sheathed dagger, usually worn on a chain underneath one’s clothes, though young adults recently come of age often display theirs ostentatiously. The tradition of the hopeknife comes out of Fallcrest’s understanding that capture by orcs is often far worse than a quick death, and thus all residents need to be prepared to take their own lives or offer mercy to the wounded in the event of capture. Ironically, what was originally a grim necessity has become a symbol of adulthood and independence, and many children wait impatiently for their twelfth birthdays, on which they’re presented with their own hopeknives and shown which arteries to cut should they or their loved onesfall into enemy hands. Hopeknives are always kept well sharpened, and never used for anything but their intended purpose, though spouses often trade knives as part of a marriage ceremony.

Burned Temple/Plague House: Before the Orc invasion, this was a small temple of Pelor serving the local farming communities just to the North, outside the northern walls of Fallcrest. When the Capitol’s forces retreated and Fallcrest decided to stand and fight, the priests of Pelor joined them—yet unlike the other residents, head priest Arthuris Bain and his two assistants refused to retreat within the fortified walls, confident that Pelor’s wrath would strike down any raiders who dared to come for them. Though the priests fought valiantly, the church was burned to the ground almost immediately by the rampaging orcs, and all three of its residents were slain. The church stood as a burned-out husk for decades, then several years ago was hastily reconstructed as a place to hold those afflicted by a plague sweeping the town. Though removing the sick from inside the town walls doubtlessly saved many, the plague house burned down in a mysterious fire only a few nights after its completion, taking with it a score of patients and healers. Whether the fire was an accident or the work of an arsonist attempting to stop the plague for good, no one knows, but no one ever proposed building on the site again. Today, the site—known as both the Burned Church and the Plague House—is left alone, save for the occasional children’s dare to stand in the center of the blackened beams at sunset. However, lights have recently been seen moving about in the church at night, but even the best trackers unable to find any evidence of tracks there the following morning. The whole town buzzes with wild speculation after each new sighting.

The Ramblehouse, as the Yokini Estate in town is now being called,  though it has only been a tenday, is already a bustle with business. One of the other inns in Lower Fallcrest, run by gnomes oddly enough, closed up shop because they lost so much business. The house is still broken, but Yokini’s family decided to get the business up and running first, so after a few days working all day and night, the tavern is open for business, and there was a desire to stay there as well, likely due to the stories about Amros and his cult, so overnight, the family put up some walls to create some rooms of odd shapes and sizes, to fit within the pre-existing walls. There is still alot to do on the outside, and still some on the inside (though not visible to the patrons), but family already has their hands full with their business.

I will post more soon, but its late, and I wanted to get you something.

When she discovers the hope knife tradition, Thistle is drawn to it, and asks someone—Yashiera, or if she is not familiar, then Bireal or Ideal, on one of her few trips in to town—about how an adult might procure one of those. Of course, she can have a holdout knife, and does (several), but the symbolism of a young person (a young woman) taking her life into her own hands, beholden to nobody, appeals to her... for reasons. If she can buy one, she does, something not very flashy, but she will wear it visibly.

OOC: First of all, wow! That was beautiful. I really like the history. Did you come up with the hopeknife part yourself, or did you borrow it from something else? I'm really wanting to draw up the Ramble House. Do you have an idea for square footage?

Four arcana checks (DC17):

• flying: 21
• greater healing: 9
• potion of fire: 17 
• clairvoyance: 13

Yokini has her Travel Alchemical Kit. Is that good enough, or does she need to buy more supplies for the lab?

Just because I think it would be fun, here are some rolls on Yokini's ability to properly install a grappling hook in Lem's arm:

• Intelligence: 17
• Tinker's tools: 19

EDIT: Ha ha! Good luck with that grappling hook, Lem. But when are you going to need it? Potions of flying for everyone!