Riddleport

The Blot in the sky over Riddleport.

Strange portents loom over the city of Riddleport, and only the heroes can figure out what new menace has arisen in Varisia's freewheeling pirate cove of Riddleport.¹

A note on the recordings: Due to different versions of Mumble, some recordings have problems with syncing.

Characters

Main Characters

Player	Character	Race	Class
Katsu	Arnon Katsu	Human	Cleric
Lorien	Brummen	Human	Fighter
MakoSoldier626	Mu	currently unrevealed	Witch
	Game Master
QSDragonLord	Kerrick	Samsaran	Druid
Rydia	Aysel	Human	Druid

Other Characters

Player	Character	Race	Class
DarkLordPaladin	Jenara	Half Elf	Spell Thief
Decasus	Ma'neha	Kin'Tuk	Barbarian

Session Summaries

Session	Airdate	Title	Runtime	Comments	Stats
Session 1	2017-05-27	Pay the Devil His Due	4:10:40	No chat log retained	Session 1 Stats
The party learns about the Blot, gain work at the Gold Goblin owned by Saul, and work the Pay the Devil His Due event
Session 2	2017-06-02	Birth of the Mountain Wizards	4:13:33	No chat log retained	Session 2 Stats
The party members work specific jobs for Saul and end the week with a fist fight with the Brothers Grimm.
Session 3	2017-06-10	The Misconduct of Clegg Zincher	2:28:56	Session 3 comments	Session 3 Stats
Jenara and Aysel talk with Clegg Zincher; a cinder snake is discovered in kitchen.
Session 4	2017-06-17	Searching for Larir	4:02:55	Session 4 comments	Session 4 Stats
The party investigates Larir's disappearance, interrogate the loan shark Lymee, and fight a dire hyena.
Session 5	2017-06-23	The Sound of Silence	3:59:01	No chat log retained	Session 5 Stats
After the memorial for Larir, the Silence & friends attack ---- Note: The recording was a bit off, especially toward the end -- there is echoing throughout
Session 6	2017-07-06	Changes in Power	4:23:33	currently unavailable	Session 6 Stats
The party makes a decision of how to proceed against Croat. They talk with Lymee, then meet and subsequently fight with Boss Lilin Croat. Kwava the Elf is introduced, and the Gold Goblin is overtaken by Clegg.
Session 7	2017-07-14	Secrets Beneath the Goblin	4:14:01	currently unavailable	Unavailable
After divvying the loot, the party has a conference with Lymee, sneak into Gold Goblin, discover and subsequently explore caves beneath Gold Goblin.
Session 8	2017-08-04	Deepening Friendships and Deciphering Puzzles	3:59:45	currently unavailable	Unavailable
Mu, Aysel, Katsu, and Brummen share a bit about themselves, then head back into the caves, deciphering the puzzle of the Cyphergate and the Blot.
Session 9	2017-08-11	Race to Save the World	4:57:47	currently unavailable	Unavailable
The party battles against Dephora both below in the caves as well as above on the Cyphergate itself.
Session 10	2017-08-18	Time to Celebrate - Or Is It?	2:38:13	currently unavailable	Unavailable
Epilogue and segue into the Time That Could Have Been campaign.

Synopses

Synopses of each session

Session 1 "Pay the Devil His Due"
The party met in Riddleport and agreed to work together to help the Cypher Mages determine what, exactly, The Blot is in the sky over the city. That first day, they split ways to both gather information as well as secure a job as bouncers at a local gaming hall. As night descended, each took his place in the Gold Goblin, keeping eyes out for its owner, Saul, during his "Pay the Devil His Due" event. After playing some games themselves, Kerrick and Katsu noticed a particularly suspicious man, Angvar, and went to inquire after his health. His reactions remained suspicious, and he attempted to leave their presence, immediately thereafter sending a bright signal into the middle of the room. With the sign to proceed, a woman with a violin, along with two other individuals, proceeded to help Angvar fascinate the attendees and attempt to steal the box of coins in the middle of the room. The party intervened, stopping the four thieves from escaping, with special thanks to Kerrick’s excavations out front, but failing to keep the coins within the building, as a previously-caged imp flew away with the gold. The party agreed to stay and help Saul recover from his great loss and clean up his scorched gaming hall.

Session 2 "Birth of the Mountain Wizards"
The party, joined by the druid Aysel, chose jobs to do for the Gold Goblin during the following week. Kerrick and Aysel went about town, attempting to draw in business. Brummen worked as a bouncer in the Goblin while Katsu worked as a card dealer that also does magic tricks. Kerrick kept his eyes on the games that were being played, even managing to talk a thief into becoming an honest employee. That Friday, a customer whom Brummen had defeated in an arm wrestling match earlier in the week, challenged Kerrick and his buddies to a weaponless, non-lethal fight. Saul, seeing this as potential to help his business, directed everyone out back to watch as the Brothers Grimm faced off against the newly-formed “Golden Goblins,” though everyone seemed instead to call them “the Mountain Wizards.” Katsu frustrated the monk brothers by healing the damage they did to his friends, while Aysel, with Brummen’s help, knocked down the four Brothers Grimm. Meanwhile, Kerrick further dazzled the crowds by using magic to enhance the show. Saul was exceptionally pleased, and Kerrick, quite pleased himself, suggested the party take the show on the road.

Session 3 "The Misconduct of Clegg Zincher"
The next morning, the party met a young woman named Sameritha who was seeking a job at the Gold Goblin until she could gain an apprenticeship at the local Cypher Guild. The party quickly agreed she’d fit right in, and she showed them some of what she was able to do by introducing and subsequently selling a Traveler’s Any Tool to Katsu. Kerrick again broached the topic of becoming something of a performing troupe, capitalizing on the success of the night before. The party, returning to their new jobs, was interrupted by an event outside: rocks and pebbles forming themselves into what looked like words in a foreign language, before suddenly stopping. That evening, Saul declared a new rule to his customers: no weapons in the Gold Goblin except for those in his employ. Although many groaned over the new changes, Brummen, the one tasked with checking in the weapons, found an unusually large number of women lining up to “turn in” a suspicious number of “weapons” (including steak knives from the Goblin itself). Kerrick and Jenara dealt with some would-be troublemakers before Saul summoned the party together to point out one customer in particular: Clegg Zincher, a rival tavern owner. Aysel and Jenara nonchalantly approached the man, flirting some information out of him before he departed, leaving them an offer of employment at his own establishment. With Clegg gone, Katsu joined Sameritha in a magical performance, ending the evening on a high note. Toward the end of operating hours, with only a few customers left, a cry of alarm and pain drew the party to the kitchen, where they discovered their new cook, Greg, had been bitten by an exceptionally large, two-headed cinder snake. The party made quick work of the snake, immediately suspecting Clegg of foul play. Aysel comforted a shaken Sameritha while Brummen attended to a Katsu-healed Greg. The rest of the party made a thorough search to verify that there were no more cinder snakes loose in the Gold Goblin, finding instead a note threatening Saul. Saul refused to give much information, leaving the party to decide how to proceed in both finding the one threatening as well as protecting Saul, his customers, and themselves.

Session 4 "Searching for Larir"
The next morning, the party awoke to find a distraught, drunk Saul, who informed them that his head of staff and closest friend, Larir, had decided to do something about the previous night’s threat and take it to the authorities. He had yet to return, however, and Saul sent the guys off to search for him. Katsu got directions from Jeremiah the baker, who supplied the group with scrumptious pastries for breakfast. It was again noted that Clegg and the cinder snakes of the night before were both rather suspicious as the party again headed out into the rain to find Larir’s home. When no one answered the door, they decided Larir would forgive them for entering unbidden. Inside, they found signs of a struggle, including a large amount of blood and streaks indicating an injured person being dragged away. Kerrick, having found a note on Larir's desk, followed the trail of blood until it disappeared on the rainy cobblestone outside. Considering the contents of the note, the party agreed to first attempt to get information from Clegg, a task Aysel undertook by again flirting with the rival tavern owner, much to the concern of her male party members. Successfully and safely extracted from the Blue Kobold, the party continued on Aysel’s gathered information to visit the loan shark Lymee Smeed. Kerrick, upon arrival, did a quick search around the building and discovered Larir’s bloodied cloak. While the party discussed a plan to proceed, Mu sent his familiar, the centipede Lambda, in through the back, but failed to find Larir. Kerrick managed to talk Lymee into letting him inside, but had to go alone. He stated a lack of faith in Saul, to which Lymee offered protection from future difficulties in exchange for information. Meanwhile, those outside discovered the back door was locked and instead came up with a Plan B of disguising Mu to look like Clegg. Upon gaining entry, Lymee observed that Saul’s employees were committing mutiny, but he felt secure to allow them in, given Clegg’s apparent presence. Lymee proved to be a better bluffer than the party anticipated, however, and they gained little information initially, other than the fact that Lymee knew things. Feigning an agreement with the loan shark, Kerrick suggested they drink to the deal, surprising Lymee by creating water in his face. When the party failed to hold down the man, he whistled for his Dire Hyena to come join the tussel out front. Within seconds, however, the hyena was wounded, and Mu sucked its soul out. Katsu jumped on the opportunity and intimidated Lymee into surrender. Meanwhile, Aysel and Kerrick searched the upstairs for any sign of the missing Dwarf, ultimately ending up empty-handed. With everyone regathered, Katsu cast Zone of Truth. Lymee refused to give helpful information at first, until Mu cast Aboleth’s Lung, requiring Katsu to continuously Create Water to keep him alive. Lymee, under duress, answered Mu’s and Kerrick’s questions about the Organization, Boss Croat, and Clegg. With Lymee thoroughly threatened, the neutral-aligned party members decided to use him as a contact, leaving a threat over his head to keep him in line.

Session 5 "The Sound of Silence"
The next morning, the employees of the Gold Goblin rearranged themselves to better help Saul keep his business going. Kerrick brought business in again to watch the River Queen on a newly constructed stage, where mirrors were conveniently placed to “help with keeping an eye on the attendees.” Sameritha performed, ending the night with a memorial to Larir. Saul reappeared toward the end of the evening and, after all customers had left, determined to keep the Gold Goblin going to preserve Larir’s memory. The group of employees and Saul toasted to Larir one last time but were interrupted by an arrow shattering Saul’s glass, immediately finding themselves on the defensive against a group of attackers. The party swiftly dealt with the invaders, only to discover that another small group was entering through the kitchen. As the last one fell in there, the group was warned to “beware the Silence.” Meanwhile, Mu had grabbed Saul, Greg, and Sameritha and disappeared with them into one of the mirrors on the stage. Aysel, having moved back out into the main room, was the first to realize what was meant by the warning, as The Silencer, levitating close to the ceiling, shot an Acid Arrow into her shoulder. The party quickly reassembled in that room, but found The Silencer a more difficult foe, as the man spent most of his time dodging in the air. Jenara, however, drew special ire from him when she stole his Vanish spell, and in retribution, he struck out at her multiple times, knocking her unconscious twice and keeping both Katsu and Aysel busy healing her in order to keep her alive. When he finally came down in blazing glory, staggering Mu with his fire, he finally met his match, as Mu and Brummen worked together to stop him. As he fell dead to the ground, however, it became clear that the party was not yet safe: a sphere rolled out from his sleeve into the midst of them. Saul, speaking from the mirror, informed them that it was an arcane bomb, set to explode if it detected any movement by a human. Jenara, hoping that her half-elf heritage would render her immune to the bomb, attempted to disable the device, but failed. Mu, thinking quickly, grabbed his mirror and placed it on top of the bomb, exploding it in a mirror hideaway. He then had to explain himself, stating that he had the ability to shift from plane to plane and use a mirror to hide in safety. Attention then turned to Saul, as he finally agreed to do something about the attacks that had been happening. Sameritha, thankful to still be alive, gave each party member an item she had made for them.

Session 6 "Changes in Power"
The next morning, Saul gathered everyone together to announce that he wished to confront Boss Croat, the crime lord of Riddleport that was threatening the Gold Goblin and its occupants. Bru and Aysel raised the concern of causing a power vacuum if Boss Croat were removed, to which Katsu suggested they replace him with Lymee, whom they could keep under control. The guys agreed to accompany Saul during his rendezvous, Jenara joining in, along with a recently-arrived Ma’neha, though Aysel opted to stay behind and keep an eye on the Goblin and a shaken Sameritha. After briefly discussing the Blot and magical ley lines converging on the Goblin, the party made some preparations then headed to visit with Lymee. Although highly suspicious and distrusting of the guys, Lymee hesitantly agreed to fill any gap of leadership that may result from their later confrontation with Boss Croat. Later in the afternoon, Saul passed on the details of the meeting, to which the guys and Jenara accompanied him that night. The party, upon arrival, prepared as best they could, before Saul stepped forward to have a private, whispered conversation with Boss Croat. Surprisingly, he returned with the news that Croat had agreed to leave them alone. This result seemed suspicious to the party, and Ma’neha confronted Croat, only to be the recipient of the effects of a charm spell that Kerrick whisked away from him with Paladin’s Sacrifice. Enraged, Ma’neha attacked, bringing the two groups into combat. Brummen, thoroughly buffed by his friends, and the raging Ma’neha quickly dispatched the guards Croat had brought along, before facing the boss himself -- or rather, herself. Boss Croat proved a tougher foe, draining strength from whomever managed to hit her in melee, before a mysterious individual, soon identified as the Elf Kwava, appeared and dispatched the Tiefling. Kwava told his tale and asked the party to help him find a wizard named Petrune. The party suggested discussing further in the morning, and made camp with Kwava, only to be interrupted by the appearance of a Wild Shaped Aysel, who informed them that while they were away, Clegg Zincher had seized control of the Gold Goblin.

Quotations

Fisherman: Just out of curiosity, what exactly are you? Blue skin, white eyes; I've never seen anything like you before. Are you one of those... mountain wizards? Hear much about them...
Kerrick: I prefer to think of myself as just a traveling herbalist, but whatever makes you feel better.
Fisherman: Feels better if I can tell my kids I saw a Mountain Wizard. They've always wanted to hear about one of them. Right. Well.
Kerrick: *gives a wink and a nod* Alright then, I'm a Mountain Wizard.
Fisherman: *gasps* I knew it! *snaps finger* Thank you!
Kerrick: And I've got a unicorn.

  -- Session 1, "Pay the Devil His Due"

"He's not in a good spot 'cause he's not sure if he can actually kill people or not."

  -- MakoSoldier626, about his Character Mu in Session 1, "Pay the Devil His Due"

Kerrick: *calls Brummen over* Um, let's grab a table and put it over this hole. Somebody--somebody apparently left a hole here by the door. Wouldn't want anybody to fall in.
Five seconds later, a banging is heard underneath
Kerrick: *stamping on the table* Hello? Someone down there? *no response* Right, I think we're good here.

  --Session 1, "Pay the Devil His Due"

"Aysel, just try to look pretty."

  -- Saul Vancaskerkin in Session 2, "Birth of the Mountain Wizards"

Trivia

• Kerrick rolled the campaign's first Natural 20 (Critical Success) with his Knowledge: Arcana check on the mage's house in Riddleport.
• Arnon Katsu rolled the campaign's first Critical Failure (natural 1) with his Knowledge: Nature check to identify the creature in the cage as an imp. He instead marveled at the tiny man in the tiny cage and wondered how he got inside.
• Jenara rolled the party's first Natural 20 on a save (will).
• Brummen rolled the party's first Critical Failure on a save (will), becoming dazed for a round.
• In their very first combat together, only two of the four adversaries were stopped inside the combat area. The other two, along with their summoned horse, died in a ten foot by ten foot pit created by Kerrick.
• There were no Natural 20s rolled in Session 3, "The Misconduct of Clegg Zincher"
• The party began the arc at level 2, and advanced to level 3 at the end of Session 2, level 4 at the end of Session 5
• The following individuals cooked in the Gold Gobiln's kitchens: Larir, Saul's original right-hand man; Greg, a would-be thief turned cook; Aysel, originally hired as waitress; and Mu.
• During the fight with Boss Croat ("Changes in Power"), despite being fully buffed by his party (Touch of Good, Sun Metal, Feather Step, Bull's Strength, Enlarge Person, and Blessing of Courage and Life), Brummen never once managed to hit Boss Croat with an attack; meanwhile, Ma'neha, landing all but one blow, took a cumulative 11 points of strength damage.

Bonus Content

Mu's Cookbook

Series Order

• The Vena Summer Festival
• Riddleport
• Time That Could Have Been
  • Frostbitten
  • The End of Autumn
  • Lord Dovimire's Birthday
  • Gifts for the Goblin
• Chanson
  • Hilm-Barad
• Armageddon's Echo
• Closing of the Kin
• No One Left Behind
  • The Good, the Bad, and the Undead
  • It Came from Below
  • Mu's Magnificent Mansion
  • Trinkets or Traps
  • The Highwayman Comes
  • Holnaf Manor
• Taking Back a Wish
• Redeeming the Fallen
• Past Tense
• Time and Again

References

¹official description of the module. Chapter 1: https://paizo.com/products/btpy84em