Corinna offers Tevyn a wan smile. "She's my mother. She's all I have." The sound of Gilfroy's shouts echo down the corridor, and she winces. "Is this the part where everyone turns on each other for a bigger share of the treasure?" she asks, only half-joking. "One hears such tales of adventurers."
Tevyn coughs. "They're doing a good job of reminding me why I usually work alone. I don't have a problem with collecting spoils but there's just something really strange about this whole situation. I wish there'd been a way to communicate with the skeleton that was speaking but it was so busy killing Malan that there simply wasn't any time to try."
"It spoke? Are you sure? It wasn't a magic mouth spell?" she asks before remembering Tevyn would have no way of knowing whether it were or not. "I mean, that's not usual. If the skeleton actually spoke and it wasn't a contingent effect of some sort...," she trails off anxiously. "The skeletons we fought out here, they were first-year necromancy stuff. But a -- a sentient skeleton?" She looks very worried. "I think we ought to get back to town as quickly as we can. You're right; there's something strange going on."
Tevyn closes his eyes as he tries to remember what was said. "It began with something like, 'Death to thieves!' I guess that could just be a routine, magically implanted phrase. That was directed to all of us, I thought. But then later it seemed to speak directly to Malan, 'By my honor, I'll see you dead.' That seemed a lot more personal and I remember it quite clearly."
Melon adds, "Another thing I thought was strange - if convenient - was that the lesser skeletons all... uhm... died... when the boss skeleton was defeated."
"Blue Rajah, I do understand. I hope you can understand that I do not hold to a human sense of honor or have a human view of what constitutes high morals, though I do remain steadfast to those I do hold regardless of any brow beating I may receive from you all. Perhaps you could learn a lesson or two from me?" Malan's says in the formal tone that he is known for. "Now, we were making plans on finding where this came from and who it belongs to. Would you care to assist us, or are you to busy standing in judgment of us?"
"A lesson or two from you, you say? Well, I respectfully disagree with that. Mainly because there is nothing you have done so far as I would wish to emulate. Just my opinion, of course, please take no offense. And as far as assisting you goes--of course! I will help. But as far as judgement goes, I challenge you to prove me wrong, good elf. Shall you do so, I will humbly apologize," he says with a slight nod and a smile.
Corinna shakes her head with concern at Tevyn's recollections. "This isn't just some necromancer's makeshift bank vault we've stumbled across. There's something more ... supernatural involved." She is obviously unnerved by the possibility of magics other than arcane being in play. "If I remember the map correctly, we ought to be near the southern edge of the swamp. Do you think we could go out into the moors and get back to the road that way?" she asks him hopefully. "It would be much faster than wading through all those awful leech-filled streams again."
"Unfortunately that's not likely to work," Tevyn says with genuine regret. "It'd certainly be faster once we got up the cliff face to reach the moor but that part alone would be pretty difficult to do."
Corinna sighs. "Can we at least follow the base of the cliff back toward the road? There shouldn't be as many forks of the river to cross."
Melon completes her silent two minutes of prayer for the re-departed. She holds on to the strange short sword, intent on having Ameiko offer her insights on it.
As Melon finishes her task, "Alright, well, let's be off, shall we?" Rajah will help with whatever needs to be carried and begin to head back out of the cavern. "Time to go, you two. We've been here long enough, I say."
Gilfroy is happy to see Umbral safe and sound outside, and supervises the loading of the chest, stroking the pony's muzzles the burden is loaded on. He ignores the pony's accusing glares.
"I support Corinna's suggestion. Along the cliff's make sense to me. Probably more rocky, but also less wet."
Tevyn looks at Rajah and nods in Melon's direction. "The two of us have been ready to depart for quite some time. Is she ready at last?"
"I believe so. So are we off to the other vessel or ging back to town?"
"That depends, we don't know for certain if we've found clear evidence of what is going on. Perhaps the other ship will give us something."
"And what do you expect we'll find there, Melon?" Corinna asks wearily. "A neatly-kept diary, detailing exactly whose chest this is and where it came from and what should be done with it and why? More likely, it's just another burnt-out, rotting hulk like the last one we spent all day slogging through the mud to find. I, for one, have no desire to spend another night in the swamp with ... whatever those things were that attacked us last night. I vote to return to town by as swift a path as we can find." She looks hopefully at Tevyn.
"I dunno," Melon mutters, "you're the one that can do all the sharp thinking. Maybe a ship name. One of the nearby ports could have logs, maybe even a manifest." Melon coughs, still a little pale. "A good nights sleep will be fine for me too though."
"I can certainly try to find the quickest way through the swamp. If we really push it, we may well be able to avoid another night out here." Tevyn says.
Tevyn looks at Rajah and nods in Melon's direction. "The two of us have been ready to depart for quite some time. Is she ready at last?"
"Yes she is. We can now take our leave."
"I can certainly try to find the quickest way through the swamp. If we really push it, we may well be able to avoid another night out here." Tevyn says.
"Sounds like a fine idea to me. Very good then! Lead the way, good woodsman!" He says with enthusiasm.
"Even camping on the road would be preferable to spending another night in the swamp," Corinna says with feeling, smiling gratefully at Tevyn, as she prepares to follow his lead.
You make your way back to the cave entrance, load up the chest on Umbral, and then head back into the swamp. Following the base of the cliff makes for an easy guide to help get out of the swamp. The ground is also slightly firmer by the base, allowing slightly quicker movement, almost as if you were on a proper trail.
Over the next hour and a bit, the cliff beside you gradually gets lower and less imposing. When it's down to only about 15 ft in height, you reach an old overgrown trail leading from the swamp and up a slope to the top of the cliff. It's clear that this trail hasn't been used in quite some time as the part going into the swamp is heavily overgrown, and even the part going up the cliff is overgrown with weeds and grasses and littered with fallen stones. You suspect this may be the same overgrown path you unexpectedly passed while still following the skeleton trail. You'll need to be careful of your footing while ascending the slope, but it looks relatively safe.
"Hey guys. Look at this," Melon points up the slope. "I think we can get up the cliff from here. We could make good time and get to Sandpoint in time for Ameiko's pork pottage."
Mildly annoyed that he'd missed the trail, Tevyn studies it for a moment and then nods. "Yes, that should save us some time."
"Ah great. Let's hop on it then." Melon begins the ascent - alternating between enthusiastic climb and grimacing with inner pain. "Ale, bath, bath in ale, sleep."
The trail up the cliff is thin at points and getting the pony with wide chest past is a minor annoyance, but you manage it without anyone or anything falling. It's also a relatively short distance to the top, so it's not a long process. At the top, the trail leads south across the moor.
It's so overgrown here, it's not really a trail anymore. However, you don't really need the trail any longer as the moor is flat and solid. Making your way to the other side of it will be easy and probably quicker than wasting time trying to keep track of the trail. You can also head out straight east, which should bring you to the Lost Coast Road all the quicker.
Sure enough, within 10 minutes, you're back on the road and heading north for Sandpoint. Shortly after 4 in the afternoon, you reach the outskirts of the town and the point where the road to the Valdemar Manor branches off from the Lost Coast Road.
Corinna gives a longing glace up the road that she knows leads to a home-cooked meal and her own bed ... but there might still be time to make it back in time for dinner. She intends to go along and make sure that the chest is delivered straight to the sheriff. At that point, if he wants any of the contents of the chest identified, she'll be happy to do her best.
Tevyn looks at the others. "Well, it looks like you've completed your task. Is there anything else I can do for you?"
Rajah looks to Tevyn curiously, "I hope you do not mean to take your leave? That wouldn't be proper at all!" He smiles. "If it weren't for you, good woodsman, we would never have found the trail! Please, accompany us! You are more than welcome and we wouldn't have it any other way." He pats him on the shoulder, still smiling.
Melon doesn't care much for the chest, as far as she's concerned there's nothing much distinguishing on it that really needs outside identification. She's tired, hungry, sickly, and wants to see Ameiko for a look at the sword. "You guys can go to the Sheriff, I'll get something to chew on at Ameiko's."
I believe that the chest is tied to Umbral, Gilfroy's pony, so the question is which way is Gilfroy going?
If the sheriff's is on the way to the Rusty Dragon, I don't see where there is a problem as Malan has no issue with going to see the sheriff. If the Rusty Dragon is closer or they are on divergent paths, then I can see some potential for disagreement within the group.
Tevyn hesitates, looking between Rajah and Melon. "I would certainly be happy to accompany you further. But where are you going?"
"Why, we're going off to pilfer this chest now, divide the spoils, and blow them on cheap booze and fast women. Of course, we might first have to knock over some old ladies for their knitting money."
Gilfroy continues to grumble to himself as he leads Umbral in the direction of the sheriff's.
Confused, Tevyn watches the gnome continue leading his pony for a moment. "What's wrong with him?" He shrugs and follows after.
Melon perks up a little at Gilroy's projected actions. "Oh! I like all those things; save enough for tomorrow night. I think I'll feel up to it then." In a calming voice Melon explains to Tevyn: "Don't worry, he's just joking about the bit with the old ladies."
You pass by Sandru's small camp, but no one seems to be there at the moment. They're probably in the Rusty Dragon or somewhere else in town. You then cross over the bridge into town, past the Rusty Dragon. Melon separates to go in to see Ameiko, only to discover once inside that Ameiko is out at the moment. She's gone with Sandru to pick up a few supplies for the kitchen. The rest of the party hasn't gotten very far ahead, so Melon is able to run and catch up to them.
People on the street look wide-eyed at the huge chest being carried on the back of the pony, and a few make whispered comments as they pass. Word has definitely travelled ahead of you, as the sheriff is already waiting outside when you reach the Sandpoint Garrison.
The sheriff smiles broadly as you approach. "Looks like you've had a good day," he says.
"We've had ... a day," Corinna sighs, rolling her eyes. She looks as if the descriptor 'good' is not one she would ever apply to a day which involved slogging through mud and being accosted by animated skeletons. "And very glad it's over."
Tevyn shrugs. "It was certainly better than yesterday. Or last night." He raises his hand in greeting to Hemlock. "Evening, Sheriff. We bring you a puzzle.
"Yes, on that we can be agreed. A puzzle indeed. Perhaps one best discussed in a more private setting?" He indicates the gathering snoopers with a glance of his eyes.
"And quick please, if possible," Melon adds, "I've not been feeling well for a while."
Sheriff Hemlock nods. Once the chest is unloaded from Umbral's back, he leads you into the garrison and to a room where you can put the chest down. The room is mostly bare, except for a couple chairs and a long table. The sheriff pushes the table up against the wall to make room for the chest to be placed on the floor in the middle of the room.
"So, what's this puzzle?" he asks once everyone is inside and he has closed the door.
"The puzzle is where this chest came from, why it was in a cave in the middle of the swamp, and why there were animated skeletons guarding it, one of which seemed to have a sentience to it."
"Someone put it there for safe-keeping," Corinna chimes in, "but we don't know who or why," she glances at Tevyn, "or whether we've done wisely in removing it to town. The old goblin said her people took it, and skeletons came to take it back by force. We think we've damaged them all past the point of reanimation, but...." Her voice is anxious.