"Wish her all the best from Verik and I." Brynn replies with a smile, wandering off to help Verik find a library.
Verik spends the rest of the afternoon looking up information on Dire wolves,
anything he learns he shares Brynn, otherwise he spends the rest of the day here, meeting up with the group back at the Inn.
As you go out and talk to a variety of people out in town you learn a few things.
1. There really isn't a libary of any kind, but you do hear there is a woman named Bassy. She is the oldest woman in town. The rumor is that she looks like child, but her grandmother was a friend of Lady Belhaim, the very original founder of the city, before even the evil Canteclures took over. You found where she lives in town.
2. You hear this rumor: "Isadorer Malak still hasn't given up hope that her daugther Bophre might still be alive, but she's been missing for three months now! Just last week, Malak increased the award for Bophre's return to 200 gold pieces - that must be most of her life savings!"
3. Again why there is no libary, Emarthine Willowway is a druid, and very might might know about this animal. I will assume you go talk to her about it. She has heard of them. They are large animals. Not intelligent. Pretty strong, often found in packs.
"Well that's odd." Brynn remarks when she and the others learn about Old Lady Bassy. "Not sure I want to know what her secret to youth is..."
"Well, do you want to go visit Bassy or Emarthine, Verik?" Brynn asks before bidding him farewell.
"Oh, dear? His daughter? How sad. Where might I find Mr. Malak?"
You make your way to Malak's Dairy farm.
As soon as she sees you coming, "Do you have any news about my daughter!?!".
She seems very distraught that there is no news. Apparently Bephre just left to go on a walk and never returned. She is sure there is no chance she left for another reason. Bophre was planning dinner that evening, and none of her stuff at home was missing. They have collected all of their savings to pay a reward to bring her back! There has been no other information of her location.
The Kells where a very nice couple. He was a powerful druid of sorts. They left to go adventuring and have not returned. As far as people know they should have returned, they had plans to at least.
Abrassus seems a bit distraught about the wolves. Its been a few days, but he is sure they will come back, eventually. His sheep are easy pickings.
Brynn heads back to the Wise Piper for dinner with Verik and Vors, and whatever other handsome or generous fellows seem to be around. She shares what she learned with her comrades, and any other information she heard.
If there's music again tonight she gets up to dance, and enjoys the party.
She heads to bed at a decent hour, and wakes up early enough to clean and groom herself and get downstairs in time for breakfast.
While not as organized as last night, there is definitely still music. You get the impression there is always a bit of entertainment. Your dancing brings other people on stage. You get quite a few compliments. All respectful, many saying you have the grace of Sheyln herself. You can tell, unlike the concert days, it's mostly Shelyn followers this evening.
Talia does approach you, "Breakfast is on me today, but I just wanted to let you know that I am going to have to charge for future stays and food. 5sp per person for a room and food. Stay safe, here is something to keep you going through the day." She hands you some trail food to eat while you are down in the tower dungeons.
Damn.
"Of course, Talia. I understand. Thank you for your hospitality."
She accepts the trail food gratefully.
During breakfast she greets the others, telling Grilnik and Bethany of what they learned yesterday.
"How are you feeling, Bethany?"
"Oh, Grilnik, you're a miracle worker!"
Near the end of breakfast she asks: "Are we ready to take on the Witch Tower again? Or shall we investigate Hunclay's residence first?"
Verik looks up from the empty plate he was licking and turns to the bartender, cheeks puffed and full. Oh, Shuur, I mur thaa wiffing t' ay!" He says through the full mouth.
I'm the morning he follows Brynn, feeling like she's more assertive than him in the long run...
"Oh, Grilnik, you're a miracle worker!"
Grilnik swallows "hardly a miracle, just some poultices and herbs to help draw the poison out."
Talia does approach you, "Breakfast is on me today, but I just wanted to let you know that I am going to have to charge for future stays and food. 5sp per person for a room and food. Stay safe, here is something to keep you going through the day." She hands you some trail food to eat while you are down in the tower dungeons.
"Of course, we wouldn't want to live on your charity forever."
Near the end of breakfast she asks: "Are we ready to take on the Witch Tower again? Or shall we investigate Hunclay's residence first?"
"I seem to recall Hunclay's house being locked. Maybe after we're finished with the Witch Tower. Also, think we should pick up a healer's kit on the way to the tower?"
Grilnik then shovels the last of his food into his mouth while listening.
Talia hears you mention buying a Healers kit, "Yeah if you need a set of herbs and supplies I would suggest Anagrit's Cottage. She is our local Herbalist. She tends not to trust people, but if you have the coin I am sure she will help you out"
She continues to prepare for the day.
"You are too modest, Grilnik. Look how wonderful Bethany looks! You did a fantastic job."
"To Anagrit's cottage, then," Brynn replies with a nod. "And then the Witch Tower awaits."
When it's time to go Brynn leads the way from the Wise Piper to Anagrit's Cottage, as she knows her way around town pretty well by now. She takes us down Devy road, and then down Belham road. She eyes the buildings that we pass by which she hasn't been to yet, curious what they are.
When we get to Anagrit's Brynn gestures grandly at the cottage. "There you go, Grilnik. Anagrit's cottage. After you."
As you approach the cottage it looks decently cared for. There are plenty of plants growing around the building in pots. The door is open. You are hit with a huge variety of smells. Some nice some very strong. It is a bit of an assault to the nose, but overall not horrible.
The building interiors is kept dark. Inside there are lots of bundles of dried plants hanging here and there. It looks like the windows are sealed shut.
A old woman turns to you. "Hmm.. You are the newcomers. What do you want?" She seems to pull a sack of coin off the table and under the counter as she talks.
As she comes downstaris she is positivly brimming with excitement and postive energy. Probably annoyingly so, big time morning person.
As soon as she sees Grilnik she gives him a big hug.
"Thank you for tending to me and waiting for me. I feel so much better. Like a spring day. I am sure I missed a lot but that's ok I will catch up. Where are we going today?"
After Brynn speaks she agrees. "He is too modest. While maybe not a mericle still quite impressive! There is nothing I need except Big Bro" she gestures to her hammer and then follows the group still beaming and bouncing. She sticks close to Grilnik having decided that she owes him one.
Grilnik enters the cottage "We'd like to purchase healing supplies and we heard that this was the place to go. We hope you accept platinum." Grilnik pulls a platinum piece out from his belt pouch.
She looks over to Grilnik.. "Platinum. Sure.. I accept platinum, but a single one wont buy what you want. Trying to take advantage of me? A pack of healing herbs will cost you 75gp. Or 7 Platinum 5 gold."
She looks over the whole group.
Shouldn't haggle too much if she's already so wary...
"No ma'am, we're not trying to take advantage. I just thought you'd like to see we're not here to waste your time."
Grilnik pulls four more platinum out of his pouch and then jingles the coins in his hand a little "I'm sure that extra large herb package you've mentioned is quite generously portioned, but my friends and I didn't agree to spend quite so much just yet."
Grilnik picks up a healer's kit "What if we just took this one off your hands for five platinum?"
Brynn's eyes bulge at the thought of spending more than a platinum on anything in this cottage.
I should have kept the money pouch.
She forces a supportive smile onto her face.
That seems like a lot of money!
Clearly wanting to help Bethany tries to be as earnest as possible.
"Were going to help with the tower, don't you want us to help?"
Verik pouts, Now hold on, I could go purchase a healing potion for that! Verik huffs. And I know for a fact that healing potions work much faster, and far better than any herbs! he pulls his pipe from his mouth and points the end at the woman. I know for a fact that those herbs are not nearly worth that much!
"Sorry, thats my price." She pulls the kit back off the table a bit.
Greedy old hag. Brynn thinks to herself.
Hah, she'd make mum proud.
Grilnik strokes his beard "Well, since you don't seem to like the shine of our coin very much, is there something we could help you with instead?"
Looking down at Grilnik, "Like what? I mean.. That idiot wizard owes me some money. His servant Mathezic came and bought some rare herbs. He convinced me that he would get the payment from Hunclay, but he never showed up. Now with all this tower nonsense, I doubt I will ever get paid. I need to recoup my cost somehow! You get that money, or the herbs he stole. I will give this to you at my normal rate."
She still seems super frustrated at you all. Very stubborn.
"We're not gonna work with his old hag, are we? She just tried to rib us blind", spat Vors. "Rule #1 in business, 'lady':, the half-orc said sarcastically, Never run off new customers, especially those with gold to spend"
"Come on guys and gals, let's go!" Vors turns to walk out of the shop.
"Now Vors, we happen to be looking for Hunclay anyway."
Grilnik turns back to Anagrit "I'm sure that we can take care of you after we find him. Oh, and just so he knows that we're not trying to steal from him, could you describe to me the rare herbs in question?"
Preach!
Brynn smiles at Vors' outburst, clearly agreeing with, or at least amused by, his words. She tries to cover it with a more appropriate solemn expression.
As Vors walks out, she turns to Girlnik, "I sold him a bundle of herbs. They cost 500gp. So I either want it back, or the money."
She describes the herbs. 90% of which you have not heard of.
Grilnik's eyes visibly widen at the mention of 500 gold pieces.
Sully my beard! 500 gold pieces!?
...No wonder she's so cranky...
After listening attentively and taking mental notes on the herbs, Grilnik replies "We'll let you know if we find your money or your herbs."
During the discussion with the shop keeper.
"My dad tried to teach me business and you certainly do things differently. Not wanting a new customer, we may not have much today but we are the type that could quickly earn money."
As they leave the shop, to the others.
"I guess if we happen to get her money but really I would rather shop with someone else if there is someone." she stretches [b] "Lets go do something more interesting then shopping."[ /b]
Verik grumbles, knowing full well that the deal was a sham but following along as well as he could.
Brynn lets out a sarcastic scoff. "We're better off using the rare herbs ourselves than giving them back to her, just for the honour of paying proper price for a kit of other herbs."
Realizing she's let her pleasant persona slip, Brynn smiles and shakes her head. "Of course that would be dishonest of us."
Quickly seizing the opportunity that Bethany's impatience presents, Brynn point forward down the road that leads to the Witch Tower. "Of course, Bethany! Let us be off!"
Brynn strolls down the road to the Witch Tower, being sure to smile and wave at the people we pass by.
---
She eyes the crumbling tower warily.
"Is it still stable?" she asks the others.
She lets them lead the way again, then climbs up and into the tower nimbly.
She's quiet and cautious as they descend back into the underground dungeon, not letting her guard down and wary of anything that might be different from the last time we were here.
She follows the others wherever they lead us, bow out and ready.
Bethany, seeing the lithe movements of Brynn attempts to follow suit. Sadly while feeling much better she still cannot match her grace.
As you make it back to the tower, everyone takes a deep breath before diving back in.
The fallen pile of rocks seemed to have settled a bit, and are much easier to climb up, even if Brynn shows off a bit on the way upward.
You make it down the tunnel, get the light going again.
Where to? Deal with the bodies? Or travel onward and see if you can find the cause of this tower. The torture room is easy to get to, and you know there is a secret door there.
Taking a whiff of what the dead bodies are tuning into Bethany wrinkles up her noise.
"It's going to really smell down here soon. Which way do you want to go? There is always the lever!" she says with a grin.
That's disgusting. I'm not touching those.
"We can take care of the bodies on the way out. No sense tiring ourselves out with labour before we head into danger."
Grilnik looks at the centipede corpses in passing "Hmmm, if we cut a centipede up for food, I could cleanse that..."
We'd need a good cook though...
Verik waves his hands and casts a simple Cantrip, and a sparkling mist that smells if strawberries puffs out of his hands. There... Much better he says, smiling.
And now they smell delicious. That might be more disturbing.
Looking at Verik.
"Oh my gods, that is amazing. I want to smell like that!"
Once the little spaz out is over she is happy to follow along mentioning the switch ever now and again.
Verik chuckled. Ah... It only works for about an hour... It'll go away then he scratched his head. But we best get rid of the corpses, if we don't then I'm afraid that even this spell can't cover up the smell forever...
"No one said anything about collecting dead bodies", huffed Vors. "Let's leave em here, unless the families want us to collect them..for a fee", grinned the half-orc.
I wish.
"Grilnik said it might help settle the spirits," Brynn reminds Vors.
"One hour? Too bad. Well it was a nice idea."
Surprisingly for her attitude and age once the smell is going the idea of moving a corpse around doesn't bother her.
Maybe I will bring one up anyway in case anyone needs one.
"Soooooooo... the lever?"
"Grilnik said it might help settle the spirits," Brynn reminds Vors.
"As long as the spirits don't come back, then that should mean they've found rest whether we bury any old bones or not."
"Soooooooo... the lever?"
"I must admit, my curiosity is getting the better of me too. Let's go flip the lever first. Let me lead the way in case we disturb any spirits again." Grilnik checks that his wooden holy symbol is indeed still hanging upright from his belt before moving on.
As you make your way through the dungeon, tracing your steps though the area you get down to the corridor with cells with bodies in them.
Brynn shrugs. "You're the expert, Grilnik."
---
Brynn keeps her bow ready, and stays near the back.
"You know, Bethany, you wish to pull that damn lever so badly. By all means", says Vors, making a little bow and a directing hand toward the level. "Knock yourself out, hopefully not literally."