"I'm not completely sure, Hallister, but I think Amdelise spoke for the town. She seemed to have a good amount of sway with the town." Miagnik said from behind the Dwarf.
"Maybe we should look into sealing up that passage underground somehow. No one should be going back there anymore."
He then wanders off around town, thinking over the amount of wealth he has attained and realized that he isn't sure what to do with it exactly.
He had heard of not openly spoken of markets where one could get a hold of any number of dangerous objects not normally allowed by the knights and decided that some silvered bolts made of good iron would be worth looking into.
My magic is strong enough that I shouldn't need much in the way of weapons. I wonder if there is anyone who can train me to become stronger?
"I'm gonna go find her." he said grumbling out the door.
"Miagnik, do you really think just sealing this tunnel is going to do anything if someone with an actual lust for power catches wind of what is down there? Depending on what spells the mag eof this town knows I might be able to seal up the tunnel with stone as a stop-gap measure. I know clerics and druidic faiths have a spell to manipulate earth and stone, perhaps windel could pray for such and we could seal the tunnel with a selective collapse?" Stephaine says as she glances to the ruined structure of the mansion.
"We may need to go back down there, see if the Lusson's left any journals. The eye called them its Jailers even if it won their souls eventually. That should mean they had a method to transport it this far, and an understanding of how it is bound would mean we could try to move it some place less likely to be found."
"Stephanie... even if we seal it your way someone determined enough to gain power could dig it up again using the very methods you described. But for now every safety measure you can imagine to keep unfortunate or foolhardy folk from making contact from that thing is a good idea."
He followed her glance, a worried expression crossing his face.
"I've thought on what that eye told us. It's not as uncaring as it claims. I just can't believe anything alive, no matter how powerful, is that unmoved by the events surrounding it. If it is powered by apathy as it said, then why bother with the Lussons souls at all? To gain more power it supposedly doesn't need? To lull us into a false sense of security regarding it? I don't know."
He shook his head.
"Besides even if we moved it, or found out how and in what interpretation it considered the Lussons it's jailers, do you really want to move it. What if all you accomplish is drawing it's gaze down upon you? Where would you put it even? A cave... some vault guarded by a group like the one Hallister and I belong to.... the capital city... or maybe even the Palace of the Vampire Queen?"
"A particularly devoted miner with a pick axe could break that defense. The best defense for such an object is ignorance to prevent people from seeking it in the first place, so the fewer people we tell of it the better."
Stephanie sighs as she considers the newly added obstacle.
"I won't guess the eye's motives, if it has any, as to the rest would you prefer we leave it here? I can't imagine the town won't talk about such an event more so if we ask them not to."
"Maybe we could throw a bag over it and take it with us. It might just be the thing we need to give that ol' Vampire Queen some sauce…" Mae adds helpfully.
Hal had left the spellbooks on the table.
Stephanie notices the books on the table and give a glance to their covers, seeing minor indicators to the fact. She opens them nd needs to push her jaw back into the closes position.
"that.. is a lot of spells."
Stephaine glances about with the collection of books blocking much of her face.
"I'll be back... uh at some point. need to see what are in these. study them for clues and such."
At the Chapel, Hal nodded slowly, coming to a decision.
"Alright priestess. Its on you then. You're going to want to sit down."
"Have you heard the stories of Lakoradak?"
"Because one of its eyes is in that basement. Hal says flatly.
We need to talk about what you are going to do with that information."
Rownig and Windel will buy the tobacco several pouches of loose leaf and the high quality cigars. They frown at the price but Windel ultimately agrees. "Fer what we've been through, it's a worthy indulgence."
They pay it out in copper pieces, to lighten the weight.
Hal lit his pipe and nodded, eyeing her as he spoke. "It does, and it is the most dangerous thing I have ever heard of. My advice is the bury it. Build a new temple, right on top of the foundation. Seal it in stone. Tell no one, and let time do the rest."
After leaving weapons for enchanting and silver-smithing, the two dwarfs resupply with the tobacconist. Satisfied that they've accomplished their top priorities, they look for tavern to partake in a few tankards of liquid joy. After spending the time wetting their parched throats Windel will sit down and scribe some scrolls over the three days of rest.
"I was considering buying the land m'self, just to be sure I could keep an eye on everything. I'll need to bring in a few people to oversee the construction and whatnot. This ain't somethin' I can turn over to anyone I don't completely trust."
"Find out how much the land is worth, and don't tell anyone about any of this." Hal said. "I gotta git back t' work."
Miagnik spends a few hours checking out the merchant district for exotic foods, herbal mixtures, training guides, and other supplies that would give him the knowledge and energy to start a rigid training regimen.
Rownig would wave Miagnik and Mae over to the tavern if he sees them. "Found someone t'enchant my weapons and to do a little silver-smithing. YHow'd you do, get everything you need? Where to after we rest?" He waves the bartender over to bring tankards for his companions.
"Haven't found nut'in to help with healin'."
"Well that's a plus. Rather than focusing on enchanting weapons I probably won't use, I decided to spend my resources to strengthen myself." He shows them the various supplies he's acquired.
"Once we're ready with all of our supplies I'd say we should head back to the Vampire Queen's Palace. I know I pushed for the capital before, but we need to go back as soon as we can."
Mae spends all of half an hour sampling the local color before deciding the rash that is starting to appear on her arms and shins is due to proximity to "poor people".
She returns to the hut in a mild panic, and once safely ensconced spends the rest of her time maintaining her morningstar, (largely superfluous but extremely flavorful) armor and other various adventuring equipment. For the umpteenth time.
[ooc]Bump to get this game moving forward,[/ooc[
Stephaine spends every waking hour greedily pouring over tomes and cackling at varied intervals, shooting doom-y glares at any and all who interrupted her private little bubble. The little spell caster pressganging poor whiskey barrel into acting as messenger bird at the threat of cursing him so all bacon tasted like brussel sprouts.
Unfortunately whiskey had no idea what a brussel sprout was. So then bribery came to play and Stephaine said he could buy bacon with some of the money. The grumpy bird with a sack of money and letters flapped about the city giving no concerns to two-legged shopkeeps or priests and their preconceived notions as to the intelligence of birds.
Amusingly enough what the gnome ended up purchasing was time, requesting the town cleric prepare castings of lesser restoration the following day. The spellcaster taking a ten minute break each morning to walk to the elder cleric and receive the blessing.
Occasionally she would send her familiar out to ask if the village held one tome or another, many of history bout the region.
Then the gnome would return to her desk and stare glass eyed at the books she had collected, Whiskey barrel occasionally returning to feed or water his master as needed in between deliveries and his own hunting.
Flapping in the front door on an explosion of feathers whiskey barrel hoots as he lands. Looking up at the two legged meat seller with an indignant glance and sliding the solitary gold coin, previously held in its beak, across the table.
"Hoot." says the owl, as it slowly locks a stare on the shop keep giving a looking from the coin now on the table and to the meat said butcher had for sale.
The Owl obviously scrutinizing the various meats available
Windel and Rownig inspect their weapons, store their gear and begin to pace around anxious to be back on the road. "Those are some powerful tools to use." He will explain their functions to the group.
"that shield could really help Hal or Mae on the front line." He exhales, "One of the casters Princess Steph or Miagnik could use that wand and that ring is just plane potent on anyone's finger."
Rownig stops pacing the room and unconsciously starts to twirl both of his hand axes, weaving them a defensive pattern. The two blades whistle as they cut through the air. "We need to put dirt between us and this town."
There was a half knock as Miagnik stepped into the room. He hadn't spoken much to the others over the past few days, getting up early and coming back late in the evening. To those who didn't know him he would merely look like a haggard goblin, but to his companions they could just start to see the results as it was obvious he had spent those days rigorously training his body.
"Rownig. Windel." he said, nodding to each in turn. "I am ready to go just as soon as everyone has arrived. You were saying something about me or Stephanie carrying the wand? I think she should have that one."
Mae looks sideways at the shield.
"I suppose I could use it. Although I do like to swing with two hands...but you say I can...bash with it? Hmmm..."
Sorry we took so long, I was helping Atharessa get dressed
This armor and battle dress once belonged to Dwarbon’s wife. He insisted I have it, for the kindness we showed him. I feel, sort of silly, but, it’s good armor, and, and well, it fits pretty good, doesn’t it?
greetings, friends of Goblinkind, Hallister, Miagnik, princess Maelodakh and princess Stephanie
I sent for a small tribe of goblins that I knew would be loyal to the old gods, and together with those few I still had under my command, we tried to take the second level. Two days ago a bridesmaid returned when we were near to gaining the stairs to the third level. We were pushed back by the trolls and the bridesmaids, who have gathered together, and some strange giants who arrived at the palace only yesterday. We fought a retreating action, setting fires where we could, the bridesmaids don’t like the heat, and we fell back to here. We number only forty two now, but we are keeping any of them from coming out. The giants, brutish monsters from the west I think, fought straight through our ranks, while one of the bridesmaids, who seemed to be in possession of a strange box, also seemed to ignore us and slipped through our numbers with her allies. We ended up fighting three other bridesmaids, and a horde of undead. We did everything we could. Another tribe of goblins, spider hunters from Eight Fountain Springs arrived late yesterday, at about the same time another horde of undead came up the mountain. We slew as many as we could, but many of our number died, and came back under the control of the bridesmaids. When dawn broke, the undead fell where they were standing, and we pilled the bodies in the entrance and set them on fire. We know they will return undamaged tonight, but until then, the fire is keeping the trolls and the giants from attacking us demurring the day.
"Chains and manicles. Locks too." Hal said, getting straight to work without nothing with any sort of greeting.. "Gather as many chains you can and start dragging the bodies out of the fires. Chain them together, foot to arm, so they can't move without pulling one of their fellows off their feet. Turns 'em into a big helpless mass."
of course! That's brilliant. If only we'd thought of that before
Miagnik looked momentarily surprised by the state of the spider priestess. "Well, you've held your own, Galinea." He paled a little at the thought of facing another Giant. "How many Trolls are there and Giants are there now?"
Windel grumbles to himself but nods approvingly once Rownig whacks the priest's shoulder. "Don't be an arse...she did her part."
Mae is dazzled despite herself, seeing Atharessa seem more powerful, merely by donning raiment and finery... The pitiful goblin princess looks to her own sad deportment - mismatched leather and chain armor, shiny bracers, yes, but little of value or beauty.
I am lost. I thought prowess was the necessary path, but...presence has such value.
Mae considers her trusty masterwork morningstar.
Perhaps if I brain her I could st...No. You have money. Survive, and equip yourself for more than raggle-taggle adventuring. Dress the part you already act...
Mae bows to Galinea and listens with royal concern. She watches with undisguised interest and disguised horror as Hallister sets to work.
Yeeuch. I am NOT touching such filthy things. Nor any undead...
Stephaine had spend the entirety of the three days in her fugue of books, her mannerisms becoming increasingly zombie like as the days moved.
On seeing Atharessa's clothing that cloud of mental fog lifted.
"Oh that is such a beautiful cut of clothing, I love that they managed to make it look attractive working around the sacrifices they had to for the sake of making it work well as armor. It looks very good on you."
Stephaine frowns in concern as she looks over the company of goblins.
"I'm sorry you had to suffer so much loss in this. We obtained the answers we needed in our journey and hopefully we can end this soon. goblin, Dwarf or other manner of creature it is a pain I would never want on my greatest foe to have to fight the corpse of a friend and ally."
The gnome says as she looks over the group of goblins.
"Hoot" says whiskey who had unwrapped a piece of bacon from his personal stash, the butcher paper quite dirty on the outside but the bacon itself quite pristine. The bird noisily snacking on pig meat as the others conversed.
Miagnik seemed heartened by what Galinea and her forces had done so far. What you've attempted to do is commendable, Galinea. Let's hope the king hears what you have to say. Is the first level open to us? If not then we'll just have to force them back."
He then looked at her. "Why don't you try to get some rest for now. We'll take it from here. It wouldn't do to have you falling over from exhaustion."
Miagnik looked at the entrance to the palace. "We should get moving. The sooner we get in there the more time we'll have to deal with the defenses."
Rownig twirls his axes subconsciously, mumbling to himself. "Let's git it over."