Yin would like 2 more BoR scrolls to loan to the 3rd level clerics to use if the 1st round doesn't drop it.

Makoto gets Animal Companion - the goat
Yin gets Nature Soul
Conan gets Dodge


After some discussion, the 2 2nd lvl clerics are going to be busy attending to the churches.  So their scrolls will go to the 3rd level clerics as a 2nd round attack if needed.  So your long range artillery support will be;
8 clerics/druids (2 3rd and 6 1st) using Burst of Radiance (6 scrolls, 2 spells)
2 wizards (3rd, 1st) using Magic Missle (1 spell, 1 scroll)
with a 2nd round consisting of 2 BoR + 2 MM(3rd use scroll, 1st spell = 3 MM total)

Conan will ask either YIN or MAKOTO, Where or how do you plan to use my talents within your little plan of attack against the Quisit?

  Once we lure it out to an isolated barn and light it up with Glitterdust Conan's job is to use his cold iron flail to convince it to run, if it doesn't run just by being Glittered, by hitting it...hard.  Then it will leave and the npcs that are hiding at long range will mass cast all their scrolls.  BoR and Glitterdust saves are only vs blindness.
  Makoto thinks it has a good chance of working.  According to the local druid, the local wildlife says there is a strange wolf running around and the druid has seen a strange stork flying around the village.  She thinks it likely the Quasit is still around watching us.  It all depends on whether the Quasit figures out if it's a trap or not.  It might be a little overconfident because it's previous plan managed to kill Bobble and Tucker, and this erases Rebel from the equation as well.  A significant drop in combat capability.  The boar was a exceptional specimen, she doubts if a normal wildpig would have been nearly as effective.  So the druid is likely off trying to track down a similar type of wild animal, a bear or cat would be a good guess.  But exceptional specimens don't grow on trees, unless they are plant creatures.  Sorry, just a little Nature joke.  He may be doing other things, but quick plans are not likely.
  To keep the leaking of information to a minimum. only the Lord, the wizard, the local druid and 2 highest level clerics of both temples will be brought in on the plan until they are needed.  Most general preparations will seem normal for a town that had a demon problem.  All the clerics having Protection from Evil memorized, the pc's going around in groups and heightened scrutiny by dogs(scent) shouldn't cause any real alarm.

Don’t forget Bobble also had the two terriers. Trained guard dogs.

  So Makoto's wagon is moved out to a barn on the edge of town.  On the day of the plan Yin has the stable boy secretly take their horses and goat out to the barn.  That evening, the party sneaks out to the barn by a route that is away from where the npcs are hiding.  As you enter the barn you instantly realize your plan to "leave" was discovered as both horses and the goat are dead (negative energy damage).  A taunting voice laughs from the rafters, "You can't escape me with your horses dead.  Dead, just like your brother and the gnome."  As planned, Conan uses an enlarge person infusion while Makoto and Yin blanket the area around the voice with 2 10' radius glitterdusts.  One spell catches him in it's area and he starts glittering.  Outside, Chito and Miyogi both use 2 Candlerod's to alert the waiting townsfolk that battle has been started.
  The Quasit laughs, "Not good enough, I will see you later when my minion gets back, and then we will finish this."  Obviously, 3 to 1 odds are not in his favor.  The evil little voice flies out of the door to the hayloft and from outside you see the bright flashes of multiple Bursts of Radiance going off.  The Quasit survives the first barrage (barely), screaming in pain.  Blinded he tries to escape behind the barn but fails and is unable to escape the 2nd round of spells.
  The party arrives outside to find a very dead quasit.  Outsiders can not be reincarnated or raised by conventional rituals, so there is no need to try to prevent such things.  The local lord arrives with the locals involved in the ambush as you are searching the body;
1 quasit body
scroll of shield of faith
wand of undetectable alignment (15 charges)
4 small rubies (50 gp each)
silver holy symbol of Shax
8 gp
+2 con belt
   The lord will claim for his people who helped you, everything but the body and the belt.  The clerics will return the 1 scroll that wasn't used.  He would like to display the body for the people to see that the menace has been dealt with.
1 quasit body
+2 con belt 2000gp
scrolls left = 1 BoR(3rd CL)
How do you want to deal with the belt?  Makoto can use the quasit body as components and/or you can make it a trophy.

  Makoto and Yin are ok with giving the town most of the loot as the plan would not have worked without them.  Makoto will make 1 of the dogs her animal companion and will look for a horse.  The town/Lord will give you a good deal on some trained horses, 1 for each of you.  Makoto and Yin would like some light horses to draw the cart and plan on giving them combat training so they won't spook as easy.

Now you can complete any tasks, finish shopping, etc...

---

Conan will find a few people open to his preaching.  He and Miyogi have some good talks with the local clerics who are very interested in a new deity.  You will be allowed to setup a shrine to Maple and 1 of your girls will take care of it.  The other was a simple 1 night stand. 

---

Ragnar needs a voice color other than Purple, Seagreen, Green, Pink, Blue or Orange.
  Ragnar finally arrives at Rosehaven early in the evening.  Up until this point most everyone you have asked along the way remember seeing a strange group of a halforc, gnome, beautiful halfelf and a foreign (oriental) woman and their collection of animals.  By Ragnar's calculation he should be a couple of weeks behind, but why didn't he pass them on the way to Silverhalls?
  It is a simple task to find out this same group is here in town.  He hears about how they;
- went into the forest for some reason, came out 10 days later
- defeated a HUGE magical demonic boar (that just appeared, killed 2 locals and the gnome named Bobble, his dog and medium sized cat in a fedora)
- Bobble has been buried and the rest are local heroes
- They helped in the towns defeat of the demon responsible for the Hmd Boar
- Conan the halforc is a cleric of a new Goddess of music and art or something, and runs around with a dog and talking bird
- He has setup a shrine to his Goddess
- Yin is a BEAUTIFUL, magical halfelf healer
- Makoto is a magical, foreign and exotic dealer in alchemy and witchcraft
- They are currently at a feast with the Local Lord and many of the important townsfolk at the Lords castle

How do you want to approach this?
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:01, Tue 06 Oct 2020.

Ragnar will approach the location of the feast after stabling his horse at the local inn. He will try to brush the worst of the road dust off of his clothing during the walk. When he gats to the location of the feast he will politely ask to speak to one of the heroes if they don’t mind stepping away from the meal. If they won’t then he will wait for them at the inn.

If they come out he will introduce himself and let them know that he would like to join their quest, as his mother has also fallen ill with the same thing as the others.

Hello, I am called Ragnar the Blade. I seek the cure for my mother’s illness. If possible I would join my skills with yours. I have some useful skills besides my blade which I assure you I am able to wield well.

Ragnar the Blade is a fairly non descript man of above average height with a
muscular build. He has black hair and if generally well groomed but not like a
dandy. He favors dark colored clothing and wears a cloak and broad brimmed hat.
He moves with significant grace and wears a dueling sword on his hip. There are a
pair of ordinary daggers on his belt, and he has a bow on his saddle. He doesn’t say
a lot.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:19, Tue 06 Oct 2020.

  At first the guards block his path and ask him to state his business (-1 chr), but his skill at talking to people(diplomacy) convinces them to go get a hero.

  A young(18) pretty foreign woman comes out and, after he introduces himself, she says with a formal bow and heavy accent "My name is Makoto Kowata, it is a pleasure to meet you."  She will chat with Ragnar about his mothers symptoms and such.  She will tell you she will talk with her companions and he should be ready to travel and meet them at dawn at the Inn's stables as they will be leaving in the morning.  She has on nice clothes appropriate for a celebration, wears a pair of daggers, has a spellcomponent pouch, nice cloak and a handy haversack.

  Back at the feast Makoto will inform Conan and Yin about Ragnar and suggest they talk with him in the morning.  She will prepare her "special" spell for then.  Who knows, perhaps he is an assassin/ninja/spy sent by Iktam.

What does Ragnar do now?
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:58, Tue 06 Oct 2020.

Ragnar will heads back to the inn hoping it isn’t too expensive... he will get a cheap meal and spend some time in the common room nursing some beer. Eventually he will get the cheapest room he can and go to sleep.

Previously;
Yin and Makoto both buy combat trained light horses to draw the wagon(110gp each). They will help Conan pick out the best 3 heavy horses to choose from;(300gp)
+4str, +4con, -2dex - bigger, stronger than normal
+4con, +4dex, -2str - great endurance, light on it's feet
+2 dex,con,str,wis - all around better than normal

---

Morning of departure;

  Yin will approach Ragnar and get a far off and sad look on her face.  With a deep sigh she says "Are you sure you want to participate in this quest, I have lost 2 brothers so far and I don't think I will warm up to you to quickly.  I have already suffered enough pain so far."  She called a gnome brother, it must mean brother-in-arms.  From behind Ragnar Makoto stares at the 2 of them and she seems to give Yin a signal of some sort which Ragnar catches out of the corner of his eye.  At the signal Yin continues "We too quest after your father because he is our father as well and our mothers suffer from the same sickness as yours.  I want you to be careful with your answer to joining our quest, because the fates have not been kind to this branch of the family.  Like I said, I have lost 2 brothers already, will you be the third?"

Conan will look at Ragnar, sadly and shake his head, saying, If I were you and I had known what this quest entailed, I wouldn't have gone on it to begin with.    They say 20/20 vision is hindsight and I guess it's so.   But come help me get another horse to carry this ole body.   He says as he then puts an arm around Ragnar's shoulder and steering him towards the stables to purchase a horse.   


So, Dear brother, tell me a little about yourself.   Conan will ask good naturedly.   With everyone's input, I'll buy the all around better than normal one
This message was last edited by the player at 19:33, Sat 10 Oct 2020.

Ragnar will think carefully over what has been said by Yin and the others.

Yes I wish to join your quest. You see, my Mother is my only real family I have.
 She went against her family’s wishes when I was born and kept me as her own.
By doing this she gave up a lot. The man who raised me and taught me the sword
Has passed on so she is alone as well. My life is my own, I am beholden to no man
For my choices. I will bring my blade on this quest if you will have me. It sounds like
I have both brothers and sisters I did not expect to ever have, and I would like to
Get to know you all better. I have skills that may be beneficial.

  The party sets out after the elven caravan that their father was with. Once they are on the road and there is less chance of prying ears they will inform Ragnar of the details of what they know.  It doesn't take much to add 2+2 (both mothers have the same illness) and get that your cousin Lander is actually your half-brother.  However, since Lander's mother was married at the time, her being pregnant was not seen as unusual and no one knew she had an affair.  Also, in the interest of full disclosure, Conan and Makoto are being hunted by a powerful hobgoblin druid for capturing the druid's son who was executed as a bandit in Silverhalls. Makoto is not actually related, she is on a wandering journey and is just helping out.   Finally, she has a spell that can detect relationships, that is how she knew Ragnar, Conan and Yin are brothers and sister.
  Makoto spends much of the time traveling working on making various magical items in the wagon.  Yin and Makoto share the wagon at night as their sleeping quarters.

What does Ragnar tell them about himself?
What do the rest of you tell him about yourselves?
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:19, Sun 11 Oct 2020.

Ragnar has nothing to hide. He is not prideful but will tell the group anything they want to know about himself.

  Makoto would be interested in your story and why you reacted when they mentioned Lady Lebeda (Lander's mother)?

I rolled Bluff vs Sense Motive
This message was last updated by the player at 18:20, Sun 11 Oct 2020.

Conan is 6'2 and around 230, he is a rather old looking Half-Orc at 21-22 yo.   Mom was a fan of his father and he was the result and now she is paying the price for such devotion.   Looking at Conan one can see that he isn't all that attractive or smart but he is a cleric and a blacksmith by trade.   He is good in the wilderness and with animals as well.

Ragnar will tell the group about his mother being related to Lady Labeta and the pain she experienced when she was ostracized from the family. He will also make it clear he is no fan of his distant cousin.

   Yin, "My twin brother is dead, but his spirit is still with me and that is why I can use fire to melt the flesh off of your bones." The last part is said in a different voice, a male voice.  Conan and Makoto recognize the voice as Yang's.  Then Yin give a girly giggle.

You have Yin, Makoto, 2 small dogs and a cat in a wagon, Conan on a horse with a dog by it and Ragnar on a horse.  What is your traveling order?

In reply to aFate (msg # 278):

I think after we leave town, Conan will get off his Chestnut colored Arabian Quarterhorse, or the D & D/ Pathfinder equivalent, and take the lead.    That way I can scout for anything in the woods.    I will tie Talent up behind the wagon and summon Smoky to me so that we can range ahead.     This is what Conan will do unless told otherwise.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:16, Sun 11 Oct 2020.

If Conan is going to be in front, then Ragnar will take up the rear. He will ride his horse unless Conan insists on going on foot?

The Thrush will point out;
- walking you are not moving that much faster than the wagon, so how much "scout for anything in the woods" do you think you will accomplish?
- If you are going far enough into the woods to make leaving your horse behind efficient, you will be alone (with only smokey) and the group cannot come to your aid in a timely manner.
- you won't be able to come to their aid if they get attacked from the other directions.
- If you are not going far enough into woods to make leaving your horse behind efficient, why bother?
- Miyogi/The thrush (fly speed, faster than you, small enough to slip through woods, STEALTHY if needed) can do a much better job of scouting into the woods AND keeping up with the group.

Ragnar will state “Conan, if we are trying to hurry after our Father then perhaps we should ride?”

After much thought and deliberation with his guide, Conan will get his horse back from the wagon and will mount Talent and ride him up to the front.    He'll encourage Miyogi to go ahead and scout.    But will get a firm return of the bird after 30 minutes.

Yin agrees that Conan should ride and have the bird do the distant scouting. The terrier she has taken an an animal companion will roam around the wagon. Ragnar will ride behind the wagon about 30’.