"Thanks again, Atol" Glimmil nods at the Cuthbertan that has provide him with copious mending since they met.
Glimmil rubs his shoulder, his hands aglow with divine energy again as he then moves his arm about in a circular motion, testing it's strength.
As Glimmil watches Finneas pound on the door, he wonders, "so why exactly is there a frozen door in this inn?"
Maybe it's where they keep their iced cream.
Glimmil smiles and mouths the word yum while he waits.
Glimmil HP: 25/42
Cog HP: 28/28
Lay Hands Used: 4
"Thanks, Atol. Maybe just a quick draught to take the rest of the sting off."
Toffitt drinks the healing draught that the party just found.
"Interesting prayer, Finneas. Would you happen to have another of those. Hrm. Or perhaps one of my simpler elixirs to ward off the elements. Slow down, big fella. Give us a moment."
"C'mere Glim...let me have a look at that shoulder."
Dyrant moves to knock Glim's shoulder back in its socket.
healing
*crack*
"How's that Glim?"
Dyrant offers him a potion of CLW (from the sack) as well.
* * *
Dyrant puts the potion of Jump in the sack then puts the sack around his waist, taking time to ensure that it is a comfortable and snugly fit.
Dyrant will move his scrolls and Pearl (though used) into the sack as well and practice calling up items.
Dyrant smiles.
"Wonderful, just wonderful...I've always wanted one of these."
* * *
"Now, who wants the ring? Finneas? Glim? Dr. Toffitt?"
"I would love the ring, but I fear Glim needs it more. However, my special brew doesn't last forever..."
- Dyrant's dungeoneering
Dyrant studies the area of cold expecting to find magic, but instead finds the source of the inventive refrigeration.
"Do we need to destroy the mold to get through the door? Can't we just send in someone, quickly, to search the space beyond and come back?"
No need to damage the mold if we don't need to. It feels like something that belongs here, like some of the loot upstairs - and likely this headband.
Maybe it's value can be used to raise the priest. That would be nice.
Even enlarged it takes Finneas several attempts with the crowbar to pry open the frozen and warped door.
-10 for energy resistance included
The temperature in this room is near freezing. A thin layer of frost coats the floor and walls of the northern portion of this room. A low, circular well sits in the center of the room, its mouth partially covered by a few planks of wood. A woman with long silver hair and dusky skin (at least part drow) is crouched behind the well.
"Atol, when we finish here, we should bring that body back for proper burial. Your people at the Church might want to give him a proper burial...or bring him back to life."
Dyrant moves to study the mold frok a safe distance. He pulls out his pad and begins to sketch the area and the mold.
"Ingenius, really. Completely dangerous, of course, but genius."
"Really, we don't need to destroy this Inn any more than has already been done. We just need to peek and seek for the wands."
Dyrant wonders if the half Orc corpse upstairs might not be the better one to query from the dead.
"I'm not interested in looting the high priest Dyrant, you can keep the ring."
*********************
"That'll do it. Hello there. Guys there's a woman in here. Don't worry, you're safe now. Unless you're a bandit, but you don't look like a bandit."
Glimmil grunts briefly as Dyrant helps right his wounded shoulder.
At least he used his hands and not a cudgel!
"Yes, er, Dyrant. Thank you." Glimmil manages a smile at the older man.
~*~
When the topic of the ring is broached, Glimmil looks mildly uncomfortable. "I suppose I can hold the ring for a bit, for safe-keeping until it can be returned? It provides a bit of luck in protecting the wearer?"
Luck! I could use some more luck - Garl had so much. I don't mind carrying the ring, it's a burden us little people are good at bearing - carrying rings and such...
Glimmil HP: 31/42
Cog HP: 28/28
Lay Hands Used: 4
Dyrant sees if he can see the woman in the freezer.
"Lady, by the Cudgel, whether you are good or evil, come to us to be judged."
Dyrant readies his cudgel for trouble.
"Dyrant, Dyrant. Put your cudgel aside for now. Let's not offer Cutherbert's repentence before we even ask the lady's name. Madame, my name is Dr. Toffitt. My companions here seek some very special items that we suspect might be stored here. What do you call yourself?"
And how are you surviving here? If indeed you have survived.
Clearly she is alive and healthy, if dusky.
The woman looks at the extra large half-orc who has busted through her defenses and considers her options.
"I'm no bandit and I'm guessing you're not one either. Are they gone? Did anyone survive?"
"We have incapacitated the bandits, though there is more to be seen in the house. Wherefore are you in this freezing place? How have you survived the cold?"
"The bandits are dead, the ones that were with the baboon man. His pets are dead too, and it seems everyone else here too. How do you survive? Let's get out of this gold and back to the kitchen, you'll be safe with us. My name is Finneas. What is yours?"
Finneas reaches out a hand to the dusky skinned woman.
The woman continues to take in Finneas who occupies half the room. "I'm Shensen Tesseril. I was staying at the inn and returning from a walk when I heard the sounds of combat. I ran in, but found most of the guests and employees already dead. There was a human cleric that seemed to be the focus of the bandits' attention. I assisted him the best I could, but we were cornered into the basement where the baboon man killed the cleric. I was able to flee and barricade myself in here."
"You mentioned the baboon man, but what happened to the woman with red hair. She was beautiful and had red hair, facial tattoos, and a suit of spiked full plate emblazoned with Hextor's unholy symbol."
"I'd accompany you out, but I don't think I'd make it past the fungus. Could you spare some healing?" Shensen does look quite battered and has several fresh wounds.
"Of course, I can heal you and make you mostly immune to the fungus."
"Now, let's get out of here and somewhere warmer. There will be a young priest and an old priest. The young one will finish healing all of us. The old one will ask you a lot of questions. The gnome is fine as long as you like spoons."
"Thank you for the healing." Shensen stands and walks out to the other rooms. Finneas's magic keeps the cold from damaging them.
Once outside, she'll answer any other questions the party has. In response to Toffitt. "I was able to stay back from the mold and warp the wood to make a barrier. However, I hadn't figured out how I was going to escape myself. The well goes nowhere."
EDIT: - She appears truthful.
"My lady, are you still injured? I know a few of us are and I can help if you'll just come a little closer - forgive me but I'm staying away from that door." Atol grins.
When the party is close enough, he will channel again to top everyone off. The thought of a tattooed red head in heavy armor bearing down on them makes him a trifle nervous.
"There, that should help a little."
I wonder if there's a way to improve that healing so it does better? It's been a little light of late. Healing is critical to our survival and I don't like seeing us wasting our cash resources for it. Dyrant seems to be able to heal at a touch, and far more often than I. I should ask him about that.
Atol makes a mental note.
Glimmil bows at the woman.
"Hi, madam. I'm Glimmil!" He stands from his bow and wonders about what Finneas just suggested.
Spoons! I wonder if they have a Limited Edition Sasserine Hot Nights sugar spoon upstairs in the kitchen!
"I'm going to go check the kitchen." Glimmil states aloud, coming to the decision himself.
Glimmil HP: 35/42
Shensen accepts Atol's healing with thanks and turns to Glimmil and Finneas. "Cuthbert, Glittergold, and Kord. Well aren't you an interesting group. I'm guessing you were help to help the priest. I'm sorry you were too late for him. Thank you for the rescue though. Are you headed back to Cauldron tonight or in the morning?"
A search of the building for any more baboons, bandits, or brods is fruitless. Outside the lizards have made short work of the bodies and have wandered off. Smaller scavenger birds and other animals now pick at the remainss.
The rains return and look like they will continue most of the next day. The horses are worn out from the ride down and are not rideable unless healed magically. At a normal pace, you figure it will take you the whole day tomorrow to ride back up to Cauldron.
Dyrant introduces himself to Shensen.
"Greetings, lady. I am Dyrant, a pri--, uhr, a cler-, uhm...a follower of St. Cuthbert. Well met." Dyrant speaks awkwardly to the woman.
"Are you in need of more healing? Mind if I tend to your wounds? Such are the gifts from St. Cuthbert and his Angels."
After the woman has had a chance to get comfortable, Dyrant will press her with some questions.
"You seemed to have fought well. How have you learned to fight so well? This symbol..." Dyrant holds up the Ebon Triad symbol, "...seems to be one that I'd like to confirm. Do you recognize it?"
Dyrant smiles and waits for an answer.
"Might you be willing to meet with the Head of the St. Cuthbert Church when we return to Cauldron. I'm sure she will have many questions."
I'll wait outside.
Dyrant's tummy growls.
Gristle stew!
* * *
After checking to see that there are no more survivors in the Inn and grabbing all the loot they can carry on their horses, Dyrant will, indeed, return to town.
Yet again I have failed St. Cuthbert. We have not succeeded in our goal.
Dyrant looks sadly at Atol, then at Atol's new cudgel.
Dyrant winces.
I must have the Cudgel teach me again.
We have no clues save for this holy symbol (Ebon Triad), a description of the woman: 'She was beautiful and had red hair, facial tattoos, and a suit of spiked full plate emblazoned with Hextor's unholy symbol', and this strumpet who hid in the freezer.
Shensen accepts Dyrant's healing. "I will meet you in Cauldron later, but I'm guessing the chapel of Fharlanghn here will need some repair. Then I will have to check in with my friends. But, I will find you at your congregation."
"I've been training to fight most of my life, but I prefer to amaze people with my music."
"I'm not familiar with the collection of symbols. Evil churches each and I'm always on the lookout for evil, but I'm not familiar with them working together."
Atol will channel once more with anyone who may still require healing, and the noble steeds who did their work well in getting us here, even if it was too late.
We did at least save a maiden in distress and that counts for much!
Atol is also careful to return with the priests body in the event that a raise dead is called for.
"We should return quickly and carry the bad news of these deaths and the missing wands to the church. At least we have a lead to follow - that's better than no leads at all!"
"Atol, do you think that your superiors would consent to converse with the spirits of the lycanthrope and Sarcem? It would likely require that we bring their bodies, or at least heads..."
Atol considers his own options for investigating the matter further. Then asks his companions. "Have any of you the means to borrow the tattooed woman's likeness from Shensen. Shensen, would you consent to assist in such an effort? Or perhaps you can point to some trace that she may have left behind..."
After this conversation and their casing of the inn, Toffitt will turn his attention to the disposition of bodies. "We should burn the corpses, or however else your gods attend to the bodies of the dead. They deserve whatever grace we can offer them."
"We should rest here until tomorrow. If Shensen is repairing the shrine then we can spend some time digging a grave for these poor souls that died here. Except the baboons and bandits, them we should burn."
"Borrow her likeness from me, Doctor? I'm not sure if we're that close yet. If you wait until tomorrow, I could summon an image of her for you. I'd sketch her face, but I'm afraid my skills lie with the lute."
Shensen will join you in the bloody work of identifying the bodies and separating them. She has been living at the inn off and on for a year, but still only a few of the bodies are actually identifiable. Many are buried in unmarked graves. Shensen says she will erect a tombstone with each of the names when there is time.
Dyrant will assist with digging of graves and burying of bodies as best he is able (about 2 shovels and then a break, repeat) and aiding in the religious rites for those who have an identified faith preference. For those without a preference, he will put sticks/clubs/cudgels in the hands of the dead so that they might visit St. Cuthbert with proper weaponry in the afterlife.
Know (religion)
He will suggest that Sarcem's body/possessions be returned to the Church.
While working, he will ponder upon the description of the red haired woman.
Know (local)
"My apologies, lady. I did not intend to be presumptuous or invasive. I am a practical man and sometimes forget my manners."
Toffitt considers her description of the tattooed woman.
Hm...
Atol pays special attention to the prayers Dyrant uses over the dead and compares them with what little he knows of the official cannons.
Clearly I have much to learn if I'm to lead my own flock.
Atol does his best with helping dig, but likely is more helpful in hauling the bodies thanks to the Muleback Chords.
While that haversack of Dyrants is impressive, these chords have been worth their weight in gold! Someday I'll have both and I'll be able to find all the things I'm carrying!
"I agree Dyrant. Sarcem and his possessions, as far as we are able to identify them, should absolutely go back to the church. They can raise him, or if not, use them to obtain fresh wands of weather control to control the flooding."
For those without a preference, he will put sticks/clubs/cudgels in the hands of the dead so that they might visit St. Cuthbert with proper weaponry in the afterlife.
"Alas, the city is at risk for flooding right now. I doubt that ordering more wands is a solution to our worries, Atol..."
The next morning, Shensen conjures up a silent image of the red haired woman.
After having time to take in the damage, Shensen gathers some symbols and relics from the shrine. She announces that she will join the party as it heads back to Cauldron.
A search of the inn and conversations with Shensen don't reveal much about the deceased. The inn was run by a family, all of whom appear to have been killed in the massacre. There were no other longterm residents like Shensen. The other travelers had been there at most for a couple nights. No journals, distinctive jewelry or other unique items are found.
The party gathers what it can of the basic valuables such as loose coins. Glimmil picks through the spoons. Following the theme of the inn, most of them are engraved with monkeys or have their hanles in the shape of monkey tails. Some of the large laddles have scenes involving monkeys.
It rains and rains and rains some more on the journey back up to Cauldron. It is slow moving, but the road is still in fairly good condition and the party is able to arrive shorly after dusk. Shensen excuses herself and tells the party she will find them the next day at Dyrant's church.
Glimmil still has time to get in his Drink the Lake Down match.
= DC 9
= DC 10
= DC 11
= DC 12
= DC 13
= DC 14
The party is greeted at the front gate by Terseon Skellerang.
"The Cauldron Five! I'd heard you had left this way yesterday. Rumor has it that you went to help Sarcem bring back some wands of control water. It's a good thing. The lake has risen a couple feet in just the last day. The other churches say they don't have any wands or at least aren't sharing them yet."
Hah, recognition!
"We have sorry news Master Skellerang, but I think we need to talk to Janya first. Will you accompany us to the Church of St. Cuthbert? Also, do you know any red-haired women?"
"I'm not much of a religious man myself, but I do appreciate their contributions to the town. I would be glad to join you. I know many red haired woman. Could you be more specific?"
DC12:
DC13:
DC14:
Glimmil downs a couple drinks with the man, and starts to form a plan in his mind.
If the flooding continues, perhaps I can get all the gnomes together to simply drink the lake away...
He shakes off the thought and examines the monkey-themed spoons, turning over one that isn't straight-handled but is curved in the shape of a partially-peeled banana.
Perfect! Simply perfect - for getting through a barred window.
"A red-haired woman covered with tattoos. Likely a cultist worshipping fell gods, or a gang leader. Shensen, perhaps you could share your illusion. Or would you be willing to sit with an artist to create some broadsheets?"
Dr. Toffitt will somewhat quickly make his apologies to the group, splitting off to check his sources about the woman.
I'm somewhat relieved that my patients don't know about an evil cult leader..
Dyrant greets the Captain with a head nod, more pressing things on his mind.
He appreciates that Finn has filled him in on what happened at the Inn.
"Let's get you all to Janya.."..and me to a warm bowl of stew.
Atol tries to steer the group to the church quickly before we all get too sidetracked.
Once there he reports in detail to High Priestess Jenya Urikas.
"...and so we came here. There is a bard, uh, er, who's name I cannot now remember. But she is able to conjure an illusionary likeness of the red haired woman who is our best chance at getting those wands back."
"Oh and here is the gear we collected. I'm not sure what of it is the priests, but those things should go to his recovery - or to new wands of weather control I think."
The captain of the guard cuts off the party and brings them inside the gate and away from the other guards.
"The wands are lost? This is not good. I must speak with the mayor at once."
"And why do you ask after this tattooed woman. What happened to the wands? Where's Sarcem? What happened out there?"
Terseon is unable to hide a bit of his shock and adds to the events. "The woman you describe could be Triel Eldurast. She was a guard here in Cauldron almost a decade ago before she murdered several other guards. She managed to escape and I'd assumed she had fled the area or perished in the wilds by now."