Quote from: Artifacts of Amber;806340Alric is trying to rouse the rest so we can go deal with the task at hand.

Well, all five of 'Almost Everyone' are all in the same spot, Geraldine's, and have been throughout the Short Rest. At this point the GM can only stare at the players, waiting — or have ninjas attack. (I have to admit the latter is rather tempting, like always, though not setting appropriate. I mean, who doesn't like ambushing ninjas?, especially after the Holidays.)

Caden looks to Alric "I think it's time we get moving as a group again, we ought to see what all the others are thinking and make a plan."

"Yes sir let's, light a fire under dem'"

"OK Bright, Karnath lets head on out, we got a good bit of road to cover to come up with a plan. Hana is making a stop I think we can catch up to her as we leave, Think she went to check on that widow woman."


OOC - I do believe wild Indians would be the genre "Ninja" choice. Whooping and attacking the town.

Hanalee takes her leave of the group and heads for Blushing Plox's home...

Karni, a bit groggy, loads up her gear to follow the rest of the group out of the tavern.

So far I have Hanalee visiting Blushing Phlox's home and the rest of the party walking... back to downtown's New Graveyard? Remember, your original quest — the one in which you are going to be paid — is at the Old Graveyard. Any last minute clarifications?

Outside Town, 1/4 mile from Downtown exit

1:15 PM

Alric, Bright Feather, Caden, Karnath (npcs: acolyte & weaver)

You are now 3/4 of a mile from the New Graveyard's core, where recent unpleasant memories reside. You know you are 2 and 3/4 mile from the Old Graveyard. It will be some time shortly after 2 PM (explicitly 2:10 PM) when you arrive at the Old Graveyard.

Mercifully it has been rather uneventful traveling through town, except for the expected rustle and bustle of Downtown's fomenting afternoon show. No fighting yet, but it is merely a matter of time, so it will likely sort itself out while you are all well away. The afternoon traffic on the Downtown Main Trail favors going into town, likely to wet a whistle and get some fightin' action before sundown. Even some of the passing conversation speak of as much.

"I hear yesterday was a bloody day. A good day to die."

"Well all the more room to pick up their silver, I say."

"But whose claims were they?"

"Gotta ask around."

"People'll likely kill you as soon as answer..."
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The Blushing Phlox Home

1:15 PM

Hanalee

A modest two story wood home just off Main Street a bit, midway down to almost the well. A logographic of the family name is on the entrance door jamb, and a withering patch of their namesake pink flowers is by their stoop. The door is open and an elderly couple watches out from inside.

"Flower? That lovely poppy-headed child from yesterday has returned. Maybe she needs your help, dear." The mother voice rings from within, addressing the silence inside the home. The elderly man starts to cough again, but it stops soon after and ends with a deep breath.

Returning to address you the mother continues, all while remaining in her chair, "Come in dear and share some pine nuts. You must be blessed with love to return so quick. Hand me the wooden bowl and cast the pine nuts, I'll read your marriage fortune.

"The People said I was pretty good at it in my day. But the knack has little to do with me but the Kitchen Basket Wife spirit, of course. However the People don't come around anymore like they used to..."

A hollow, disembodied voice whispers from the silence within, "Coming mother. Readying father's steam bowl." It's all as tragic as you remember.

Alric will continue on form the distractions of the crowd. For a sleepy town it has too much going on for one person to pay attention to. He'll move with a sedate pace to give time for Hana to catch up. Hopefully the side trip is on the way.

Careful to keep a distance from new graveyard he will stop and address everyone. "So did anyone learn anything about these here things, spirits what have you, that attacked you earlier?"

Outside Town, 1/4 mile from Downtown exit

1:15 PM

Alric, Bright Feather, Caden, Karnath (npcs: acolyte & weaver)

"C'mon, Jenny, that's a good girl. Gotta make it to Dusky Hollow Camp before those whiskey prices drop back down. Everyone spooked by nerves is only temporary business..."

OK, I am going to keep this moving along in a last resort way: I am decoupling Hanalee's temporal side story from the rest of the group. To reach the Old Graveyard will take until 2:10 PM, and will bypass the downtown New Graveyard. Unless anyone says anything different right now I am assuming a Normal pace of long-term movement.

If no one has anything to add from Alric, Bright Feather, Caden, & Karnath, I am going to post any encounters along the way and then speed the rest of you all up to 2:10 PM and continue on your investigation. Hanalee may or may not syncopate to your subgroup as expected, but that's part of the fun of splitting up.

Hanalee, I give you more time to continue your Blushing Phlox investigation. You are also free from the rest of the group waiting on you. I don't know if together you agreed upon a specific time to meet up again, but I'm sure it will all work out.

Hana knew where we are headed and said she'd catch up so we will muster ahead.

While Alric will note what is going along the roadway/path he is focused on finding out what is going on in the new graveyard. He took it personally. So unless it is about the Graveyard or the encounter slaps him in the face he is going to drive on to there.

Starting to wonder if I am the only one playing now

I expect a bit of it after the holidays and in the middle of sports playoffs. The Super Bowl is coming up, and college football is wrapping up, so I know Marleycat will be preoccupied. After some churn perhaps they'll return, but I don't worry if most of December to January goes slow.

As for an encounter slapping you in the face... (I rolled well, and truly merciful).

New Graveyard, 1 Mile from Downtown Exit

1:30 PM

Alric, Bright Feather, Caden, Karnath (npcs: acolyte & weaver)

You see a woman in a garish Eastern ruffled dress kneeling by a grave marker a good ways inside. She seems to be weeping softly, but this can only be guessed by the convulsive bobbing of her shoulders, and there are fresh flowers left atop. You cannot make out how fresh the grave is from here due to her voluminous dress (which is obviously being dirtied by her carelessness).
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Main Trail Downtown exit, NNW, 2 Miles out

1:50 PM

Alric, Bright Feather, Caden, Karnath (npcs: acolyte & weaver)

A dapper, but dusty, man comes from the opposite direction. He has a donkey and quite a bit of garish colored canvas atop it, flanked by a curious crew of well-covered up halflings? (Alric: their walk is not right, they don't seem like halflings.) He orders them about brusquely, and frequently beats off the dust from his sleeves from travel frustration.

Upon seeing your group he beelines towards your party. He seems to be a slick salesmen, all smiles and worn velvet. He starts into a spiel but then catches your group's haggard, bloodied (Karnath is still wearing her sacred blood sacrifice, I presume), and serious look and thinks better of it.

"If you seek that miracle to what ails you, just ask for Master Zammer Zee. That'll be me! Only in town briefly, for there's people to be saved all over the world. Just look for the big red tent, can't miss it!"

"Boss, isn't it more pink now?"

"Hush, a little sun-kissed by heaven's rays is all. What a show, save your life, tell a friend. Can't miss it!"

And they hurry on past your group towards Livonia's Lament.

(Alric, unless those workers burned their voice in a fire, they're not halflings. Alric, passive Perception 14, green paint around their eyes? Karnath, passive Perception 14, pointy ears underneath their headwraps?)
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Old Graveyard, 3 Miles out from Downtown exit

2:10 PM

Alric, Bright Feather, Caden, Karnath (npcs: acolyte & weaver)

You arrive to the Old Graveyard, and it is as beautiful as Caden remembers. Tall center stone monument surrounded by old stone headstones and a dazzle of wildflower colors in between. The steady incline levels off into a comfortable table around here. You can see the rising fold that Hanalee & Caden crested, dipped, and crested again in their late night heroics at Grim Man's Claim.

"Not Halflings" Alric comments to the others but otherwise continues. He does offer the gentlemen a look of disgust before moving on.

OOC;

Sorry for the absence, I'll catch up on what I've missed and I'm back in the game.

Where would 'Almost Everyone' like to start investigating the Old Graveyard? You have some time before night falls, likely around 7 PM-ish (gotta double check IC topic pt. 1 or sunset timetable for July 2nd).