Arrival at Sandpoint

March 24, 2016

The group heads out toward Sandpoint from Magnimar.  It's an uneventful trip and they take it slow.  They have a half day's ride ahead of them when they decide to stop.  As they are setting up camp on top of a hill, a light appears in the distance, probably from the town.  But the dragon and the wizard can tell there is magic about the light.  Bellytimer, curious, says he's going to check it out.  He transforms into a dragon and flies toward the light.  The rest decide to try and make town.  They pack up what little of the camp they had started and head on the road.  Twenty minutes later, it starts raining.  The wizard, so mysterious that he hasn't even revealed his name, conjures up a shield to protect himself from it.  Thomas reaches into the staff and pulls out a cloak.  Fei merely shrugs and accepts the rain.  

Bellytimer arrives to see two angel like creatures fighting in the clouds!  While some of the lightning he saw was normal, some was these two casting spells at each other.  Bellytimber flies between then rears up and asks them to stop, as they are making the storm worse.  Both look down at the town and both agree.  However one of them, which Bellytimer thinks looks like a mummified angel, asks what the other's master will think and disappears.  This causes the more celestial looking one to open a portal and step through.  However, the portal releases magic, pushing Bellytimber back and intensifying the storm.

The best Bellytimber can tell, it will miss the town, but it's heading straight for his companions.  He starts flying back toward them.  When the storm gets worse and even the wizard's shield isn't helping them, they decided to stop.  Thomas pulls a cabin out of the staff and it settles down where there is room.  They get the horses and themselves inside.  The wizard starts a fire.  When Bellytimber comes back, he gets more firewood and explains what he saw.  Bellytimber then stays outside on top of the cabin.  When it stops raining, Bellytimber looks around to see that it is clear only around the cabin but it is still raining.  That's when he sees the mummified angel looking at him.  

"If you continue on this path, things are going to get worse.  Leave the area."

"Do you mean Sandpoint or Varisia?"

"Yes."  

The others noticed the rain and come out but Bellytimber extends his wings over the door to block their view.  However, Thomas can't help himself and comes out.  The angel is suddenly closer and speaking to Bellytimber in Draconic.  Thomas complains about it and the angel eventually finds a common language.  When Thomas introduces himself, the angel nods.  

"I should have known a member of the Farstrider clan would be here.  You were there at all of the Armies of Exploration.  It is fitting you are here, now."  Thomas just looks stunned.  

"Be careful."  And the angel is gone and the rain resumes.  

The group talks about what they know about Thassilon.  Bellytimber knows of the culture and ideas based on what he has found and what he has talked about with other Pathfinder members.  The wizard knows about some of their items and that there are swords that survived, called the swords of sin.  Both knew that runes were involved and that seven runelords once ruled over Thassilon but no more.  

The next day, they pack up from the cabin and Thomas pulls the cabin back into the staff.  Then turns and pokes Bellytimber with it.  However, in doing so, Bellytimber turns into a dragon!  He roars in pain and surprise, spraying his breath weapon up into the trees.  The mithral shards sheer many branches and trees, causing the debris to rain down on the others.  Again, the wizard conjures up a shield to protect them from the worst of it.  Bellytimber goes off to calm down to find that a mithral sword, with no cross guard or hilt, sprang from the staff, nicking Thomas.  In doing so, it left a vein of blood.  Fei allows himself to be nicked and another vein appears.  When Bellytimber grabs it, he can sense them both.  He offers it to the wizard, who hesitates but then agrees.  However, the sword starts to pull more than blood, his magic itself.  Bellytimber stops it and it pulls some of his blood into the sword.  Now Bellytimber and the wizard can sense each other and the others.  They can get a sense of their health as well.  They are truly Blood Brothers, and name the sword Blood Brother.  

They continue to Sandpoint the next day.  When they arrive, Minister Karzoug greets them on behalf of the mayor.  He had heard rumors that some esteemed members of the Pathfinder Society were coming and wanted to greet them.  He gave them a brief rundown on the town, including several inns and the weapon maker.  Bellytimber goes there and finds some old equipment that he has the smith melt down to make a crossguard and pommel.  It turns out to be of some red metal to go with the mithral blade.  He also has some gems he puts into the pommel.  

2 xp

GM Notes

• I think Strands of Fate may be in contention for my new favorite RPG system.  It's flexible and focuses on narration and drama, not game mechanics.  Nothing wrong with game mechanics, which it also has plenty of.  It just starts from the side of narration and then adds on top of that, instead of starting with wargaming as DND/PF does.  I say this because this session was so good!  We were able to play off of each other and really add to the story.  
• Instead of using Strands of Fate magic, I went with the Dresden Files RPG magic.  It's also based on Fate, so is quite compatible, and fits with my idea of magic better.  Plus it allows for a LOT of variation, to help in my version of Golarion.   
• I definitely took liberties with the conversation.  Hopefully it is close.  
• I'm trying to figure out my version of Golarion and this has really helped!  

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