Our first session with a full party, unfortunately the GM was called in to work earlier in the day and the session was delayed for an hour and a half.
In attendance were
Susan the Human Universalist Wizard
Tiberius the Human Paladin of Sarenrae
Villister Craig the Elderly Human Cleric
Thaddeus Whisperwood the Gnome Prankster Bard
Kumak Morudall the Half Orc Bloodrager
Both groups were returning to Sandpoint towards dusk when they spotted each other at the edge of town. A quick debriefing, and several snappish jabs from Thaddeus (whom Kumak continued to refer to as "Tiny Nuggets") and Amieko settled on playing her instrument loudly while walking through the town to raise their spirits. With the Orc Gris returning with one child earlier and the now joined party accounting for the other missing 2 many citizens took up the call to rejoice and a more subdued but still lively party was held at the Rusty Dragon. Passing a towns guard the 3 children are handed over so he may return them to their homes and Thaddeus convinces the guard to deliver the boys to the opposites homes. Amieko offered up her 3 suites free of charge to the adventurers, which Thaddeus quickly shut down for himself and demanded he pay for his own room. Susan quickly grabbed a key and Villister another. Kumak looked to Tiberius, prepared to sleep in the common room, but Tiberius seemed to have other ideas so the half orc took the last key.
Villister tired from the days activities napped at one of the long tables while Kumak sat with him and occasionally wiped drool from his face. Susan takes her drink and mingles with some locals while Tiberius tried to win Ameiko's affections by serving tables and washing dishes. Thaddeus having spied a well crafted shield sized just right for him that Tiberius claimed to have taken from goblins began loudly crafting a long and forlorn tale of the loss of his shield, damaged beyond repair while defending the innocent. While the sad story found no purchase with the paladin who was set on selling it for the coin, a man well into his cup declared that if the gnome found his way to his armor shop at the north end of town the next day, he would be sure to send him out the door with a brand new shield, free of charge. Susan is approaced by an elderly gentleman who inquires if she is one who did so well at the trivia games this morning and confirming she is if she would seek him out later and potentially assist him in his research into Thessalonian artifacts.
As Kumak takes stock of the bars current patrons looking for someone whom he feels could challenge his strength, seeing none he issues a general offer to any who would like to arm wrestle or dice for coin. Villister awakens briefly from his nap to look around and hearing Kumak talk about arm wrestling offers to join in which Susan scoffs at. Kumak seeing he will find no challengers tonight settles for judging an arm wrestle between the elderly cleric and svelte young woman. Inquiring if there was any who would like to bet on this display of strength he does find a dwarf man who wishes to join. Betting 5 silver Kumak declares he will champion Susan, seeing his choices up close the Dwarf declares he wishes to take the woman. After a quick arm wrestle of their own to see who has first choice Kumak takes Susan and the Dwarf Villister. Seating herself across from Villister, Susan clasps his hand and they begin. Susan betting on her youth to carry her finds that despite his age Villister still possesses a surprising amount of vigor as her hand is steadily lowered until it presses to the table. Pleased with the display of strength despite the loss of silver Kumak downs the last of his drink, helps Villister up to his room, then retires to his own suite. Susan makes a early night for herself and retired to her room with her owl while Thaddeus sees two men arguing and playing both sides of the argument causes enough strife that one man leaves in a huff while the other looks at the gnome for a moment for a moment before realizing what happened.
Tiberius makes a pass at Amieko while in the common room asking for a kiss for one of the heroes of Sandpoint and Thaddeus starts a chant a chant of "Kiss Kiss Kiss" which is taken up by the bar. Amieko grins wryly and nods her head in a invitational gesture. Tiberius attempts to swoop her off her feet but falls far short of the mark and while he doesn't drop Ameiko, the lack of chemistry is clear. Tiberius asks about how much room is in Amieko's bed, to which she looks around at everyone watching and mentions they can discuss it later. Thaddeus makes another play for Tiberius's shield by spinning his sad yarn but Tiberius remarks that he heard Thaddeus would be getting a new shield and this shield was for him to sell. Thaddeus makes a remark about how poor a kisser Tiberius must be to which Tiberius challenges him to do better. Thaddeus looks the human over, climbs up onto a nearby table, walks to the end, and runs towards the Paladin who only just realizes the implication and brings his arms out to catch the gnome but too late as their faces crash together in an approximation of a kiss, leaving Thaddeus's nose bleeding and a crimson smear across Tiberius's face. Thaddeus makes another hour of his revelry then retires while Tiberius looks around and sees Amieko slipped away while he was distracted and she is no where to be found. Tiberius sits at a table and passes out for the night.
In the morning over a hearty breakfast of bacon and eggs the 5 are met by Sheriff Hemlock who says that the cemetery groundskeeper found evidence that one of the tombs had been tampered with during the raid and he would appreciate the heroes assistance in investigating the matter. Walking outside they are met by a hunchback man whom the sheriff identifies as the groundskeeper who brought this matter to him. Walking through the cemetery it is evident how well maintained it is causing Kumak to catch the mans eye and give him an approving nod. Small foot prints are still visible in the dirt around one of the tombs and the group readies their weapons and prepare to enter. Tiberius tries to impress those around by running up to the stone door and kicking it open but ends up only nudging it and launching himself away from the door. Looking a bit sheepish he puts his shoulder to the door and prepares to push. Thaddeus steps up to the door and yells inside if there are any undead while Kumak mentions they should discuss the element of surprise sometime. Pushing his way in, Thaddeus finds himself in deep darkness just in time for Susan to illuminate the interior and see 4 skeletons standing before him. Unable to penetrate the paladins banded mail and shield, the skeletons surround him and block any further ingress into the tomb. Unable to move in to get a clear shot past Tiberius the remainder wait while the paladin swings with his long sword but fails to find purchase. Tiberius steps to the side leaving a hole which the half orc more than fills and with one swing of his earthbreaker shatters a skeleton. Thaddeus moves up to take the next spot as Susan tries to hit one of the Undead with a ray of frost. 2 skeletons rake at Tiberius, but his armor holds while one swings wide at Kumak. Tiberius fails to hit again and repositions while Kumak shatters the skeleton he is fighting with then moves further into the tomb to open the path. Susan, the way clear now manages to hit one of the skeletons and almost shatters it. Thaddeus moves in and swings at the undamaged one but misses, while Sheriff Hemlock joins the fray and scatters it. Tiberius finally managing to land a blow cuts down the last skeleton.
Rubbing bone dust from his eyes Kumak declares he cant see anything in the crypt and invites someone else to survey the scene. Susan detecting residual magical energies off 2 robes tossed to the corner identifies them as the source of the skeletons. Thaddeus claims one for his own and Susan the other. Having nothing further to provide Kumak retrieves his backpack and satchel from father Zantus and makes his way to the towns northern blacksmith, accompanied by Thaddeus and Tiberius. The shops owner is a woman who seeing the gnome declares that he husband was the drunken idiot who made the offer last night but he doesn't own the store. Kumak dumps the goblin gear on the table and asks if she is willing to buy, sneering at the goblin weapons she remarks that they are poorly made which Kumak counters that the metal is still good and she could melt them down and make nails and the like. Conceding the point she offers to buy at a 5% increase from the heroes of Sandpoint to which Kumak gains just shy of 40 gold. Tiberius happily offers his masterwork shield for sale and agrees on a price of 88 gold for it while Thaddeus shakes his head and inquires about his promised shield. Tiberius begins inspecting Thaddeus's current shield and loudly inquires if it is even broken to which Thaddeus asks him to step off while he is busy negotiating. The shopkeep taps her finger on the table and proposes a trade. Tiberius forgoes the 88 gold and in exchange she will provide a small sized magical shield that she has been unable to sell for years. Tiberius stubbornly refuses to part with the gold he was promised so Kumak steps in and hands Thaddeus his 20 gold share of their sale but Thaddeus claims he still can not afford it, throwing in the rest of Kumak's money fails to meet 88 gold so Kumak feeling the gnomes bravery in the goblin burrow should be rewarded asks if the shopkeep will provide him with a line of credit of 50 gold which he will repay in 2 weeks time. The shopkeep counters with instead of 50 gold, Kumak will owe her 1 favor, ensuring that Kumak retains the right of refusal if he feels the favor violates his ethics Kumak shakes on the deal and Thaddeus gains a magical shield. Walking out of the smithy Thaddeus gives Kumak 40 gold from his purse to pay back the coin spent. While counting his spoils Tiberius is approached by Villister and Susan who inquire if he has divided their share from the sale. Countering that the shield was supposed to be his and therefore the money should be his Tiberius fights back against splitting the coin 3 ways but eventually relents and 29 gold and 3 silver is passed to both Villister and Susan.
With the day ahead of them Susan mentions she found some errands that could prove fruitful if anyone wished to join her.
The session ended a bit awkwardly for me, seeing a player (a paladin no less) fighting against sharing loot with the other players that helped get it but the GM paused everything in the moment and explained how loot usually gets divided and the potential pitfalls of what would essentially become ninja looting and how a lawful good paladin should view the matter. The player is younger (20's I think) and he said this was only his 3rd game playing so I am less concerned as I feel we can grow him in what I would consider the right direction. I talked with the GM a bit after and we both agreed that we should try and have the Wizard have a moment to shine, both for the character and the player.
