Larissa nods to Moondancer and starts making the rounds among the fallen enemies, looking for any possessions of interest.
Healing:
" Thank you Moondancer. "
I strap on my leather breastplate again and sit on a log listening to the song as I catch my breath.
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Leave initiative alone once it is rolled. In the event of close ties between you and the enemy you may go before or after depending on your actions.
Urgo give me a Charisma check to use the staff. DC 15
Larissa, you declared it first so I was considering it to be your spell slot. Toede was unaffected due to the hit point total.
Where to now? Continuing to Solace?
Larissa, you declared it first so I was considering it to be your spell slot. Toede was unaffected due to the hit point total.
With the boys all patched up, Moondancer wrapped up the remaining rags in a bundle and stowed them in her pack - they were sure to be needed eventually - and rose to her feet.
"No sense wasting more of the day - although we should take care entering Solace. There could be more like those hobgoblins about, although I can't imagine Otik and the others would allow hobgoblins to run around the area if they knew they were about. We should share word of the attack before they commit more evil somewhere else."
"Of course," Urgo smiles, "I always defer to your wisdom, Lady Moon-dancer."
Re-wrapping the staff in his cloak, and trying to wrap the straps around its length to salvage the broken strap. Then, he hefts it over his shoulder and stand to his full 7'4" height.
"Otik's spiced potatoes sound so good right now!" the half-ogre says with a grin!
"It's not goblin rabble I'm inclined to worry about, Moondancer," Larissa says, "It's people with focused objectives, such as acquiring a very specific staff. These goons were working for someone named Onyx, and it would be prudent not to assume that this Onyx person's only resources are the sort that everyone knows not to let into town."
Larissa scowls at Urgo's lighthearted comment about potatoes. "We've got targets painted on our backs, so we'd best be careful."
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No, nothing of note on the bodies save for some crappy armor, and your standard fair for weapons.
Solace
A warm autumn breeze rustles the great Vallenwood trees of Solace. The great road that wanders through the trees blazes in the bright colors of autumn. The richly stained buildings of Solace rest cradled overhead in the boughs of the trees.
Around 500 people live in Solace, not counting the farmers of the outlying fields. The town is built entirely in the huge boughs of
mature Vallenwood trees. These trees grow to their full size very quickly.
Solace is primarily a farming community. It has no local government but is ruled by the Theocracy of Seekers from their central city of Haven, some three days journey to the west. As in all Seeker communities, Solace uses the Emas exchange system for money as well as trading in goods. Precious metals, other than silver, have no use here: bricks of gold may prop open doors or hold down papers.
All services that adventurers expect from a town of this size are available for reasonable rates. The exception is smithwork: Theros Ironfeld, town smith, charges usual rates for work on iron items but, because steel is so valuable, charges extra for weapons. Because he works with precious steel, Theros is the most respected
man in town.
Urgo (being surprisingly insightful) gives an apologetic smile to Larissa, and heads down the path toward Solace, humming a solemn Solamnic marching song...
"Alright," Larissa says, "We need to find out who this Onyx is and why he wants Urgo's staff. I suggest we start by asking Theros, then maybe canvas some local taverns or something. Sound good?"
"Hmm," Urgo says slowly, as if thinking, "Otik tends to hear all the goings on around Solace at the Inn of the Last Home. I am sure that he would know, if anyone does... Plus, we get to eat!"
Growing a little more serious he continues, "Onyx does not sound like much of a name. Perhaps it is some bandit with the flair for the dramatic..."
"Or it could be some kind of earth elemental, or a wizard taking the name of his favorite spell component. I advise caution."
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The Inn of the Last Home rests cradled high in the boughs of a Vallenwood tree as do all the buildings here, for Solace is a treetop town. Warm laughter tumbles from the Inn. The worn steps wind around the heavy trunk up to the familiar, carved door.
The Inn of the Last Home never changes. The polished wooden bar weaves about several living branches. An old man weaves stories in the corner and delights the crowd gathered about him. The delicate windows of stained glass behind the bar are being polished by Otik Sandath, the barkeeper.
He turns and waves, smiling at you, and motions the barmaid in your direction. The low murmur of voices fills the inn. The bartender turns thoughtfully to polish the glasses. At a far table, near the storyteller, a man and a woman sit together and speak quietly. Another man stands beside the now-silent storyteller while a small boy stares thoughtfully into the fire.
The barmaid steps toward you, smiles, and shows you to a table. Something about her seems familiar. The hair? The intelligent glint of her eyes? Could this be Tika, the little girl who swept the tavern floors a short five years ago? The Inn never changes, but surely its people do.
Urgo smiles a toothy grin at Otik as he waves, then grabbing a seat, he looks at the barmaid...
"Ti-ka?" the half-ogre's eyebrows raise as realization dawns...
"Hi Otik, hi Tika," Larissa says, as though she assumed the girl's identity was as obvious to everyone as it was to her. Upon hearing Urgo's confusion, she adds, "What, you don't recognize her? It's only been five years; extrapolating physical differences due to natural aging isn't that h-"[/b] Larissa stops, remembering that not everyone is as sharp as her, least of all Urgo.
"Yes, Urgo. It's Tika." Larissa says with a smile.
Turning to Tika, Larissa says, "An ale for me, and one for Urgo, my treat."
Bel ducks as he enters the Inn, watching that his horns do not get tangles in the entryway. He nods to Otik and give Tika a smile, surprised to see the little girl now grown up.
Only 5 years! Humans sure can change quickly in such a short time. he thinks to himself.
"I'll have a tankard of ale as well Otik", he calls out as he joins the others at the table, forgoing trying to sit in a chair, and simply plopping down on the floor.
[b]"A little cider for me, dear," Moondancer said, smiling at the now-grown girl. She remembered a time several years ago when Tika had begged her for a mixture that would dye her fiery hair a nondescript shade of black or brown. Now the young woman seemed to revel in the notable color.
Good for her, Moondancer thought, before glancing around the room. But be wary of some of these rogues.
As the others placed their orders, Moondancer let her eyes wander across the crowd, searching for faces she did not recognize and any hint of those who did not belong among Solace's kind folk.
At Larissa's confirmation, a large smile splays across Urgo's face. "Tika!"
The big man gathers her up in a huge hug, careful not to crush her.
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Yes, Yes. It's me, Urgo. she says blushing, Now put me down I have tables to wait on.
You sit down at your table, when the old storyteller confronts your group, I foresee great and terrible destiny in your eyes. There is a Blue Staff which you must return to Xak Tsaroth. There, in but a few days hence, you shall face your greatest peril in contest for the greatest gift given to man.
Larissa's attention snaps abruptly toward the storyteller, as Larissa knows that storytelling typically happens in the past tense, not the future tense.
"I beg your pardon?"
"Sorry, Tika," Urgo says sheepishly, his baritone voice resounding in his barrel chest. As he watches her leave, he adds with a little bit of a blush, "She grow'd up..."
"Huh?" the half-ogre says in confusion, "What did you say?"
Moondancer's breath catches at the mention of the city - she hadn't known the name before, but hearing it triggers memories of the visions she experienced in the knight's tomb.
"The city where death rides on black wings," she says, breathlessly. "White Osprey, Blue Dove ... the stories ... From the dead priest's book. It is fated."
She falls back heavily in her chair, overcome by images only she can see.
Larissa's head suddenly spins the other way to face Moondancer. "Come again?" She looks back and forth between the storyteller and her own comrade. "Somebody want to tell me what's going on here?"
"Moon-dancer, do you know what he is talking about?"
"How does he know about the staff? And is he talking about that old ruin in the swamp?"
Moondancer seems dazed, as if drunk or suffering from a knock on the head.
"I wintered in a cave ... bones of old knights, and a priest. I read his book, it spoke of the gods and warriors with shining spears, fighting winged serpents with ice and fire and strokes of lightning," she says. "I burned some of my herbs and ate thimble-caps. I had a vision ... of a drowned place. A blue dove had a nest it shared with a white osprey. Its eggs shone so bright I could not see ..."
Rael takes a seat at the table ordering a cup of wine and sipping slowly listening to the conversation.
" What have you gotten us into Urgo? "
"That's some winter, Moondancer," Larissa comments. "And here all I did was study books of magic."
Larissa sits and blinks, stunned with confusion, as the "storyteller" leaves the bar.
Looking around, she asks, "Does anybody know what in the name of the vanished gods he was talking about?"
Urgo shrugs, listening to the rumble of his tummy, "Dunno, this couple that I came across when skirting the plains... they gave it to me. The lady asked me to return the staff to its rightful owner, but couldn't tell me who that was. I figured to talk to you guys when we got back here. Now this old man say I gots ta take it back to this Xak-something or other. I dun-even know wheres that might be!"
Turning to catch the old man before he can leave, the half-ogre calls out, "Hey, old sir!"
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The man pays no attention and with astonishing celerity he is gone.
Rumors courteousy of Larissa:
The barkeeper: A magical staff! I bet it
was forged by demons from the terrible
Darken Woods. There are terrible mysteries in
that place, there are! Och, what an evil
place.
A man at a table: Hooded men have
been in town asking about that staff! An evil
lot they were, too. I wonder if they were offering
a reward.
A man by the storyteller: A man of the
Holy Guard rode through two days ago asking
about that staff. He said that anyone who had
it or had knowledge of it should make haste to
the Capital of Haven and meet at once with
the Prelate of the Temple there but I certainly
do not want to get involved!
A girl at a table: It was probably found
in Darken Wood. I hear that the ruins there
are filled with wealth and dangers to
match. No one who has entered that place has
ever returned to tell the tale.
A boy dreams by the fire, I saw the
white stag up near Prayers Eye Peak just a few
days ago! If only I could catch it. He who
walks the paths of the white stag is blessed, I
hear tell.
Unnerved by the old man's decree, Urgo looks solemn and says, mumbling, "Follow some crazy old man, or head to Haven to meet with the prelate? Or do we continue on and talk to Theros?"
" Well it seems to be a popular item, this staff, no doubt having it in our posession will attract all kinds of fun. " I say with a smile, mainly to Urgo.
" Are you alright Moondancer? Do you know anything about Xak Tsaroth?"
"No, we shouldn't go to the Seekers - they abandoned the old gods and have found nothing to replace them," Moondancer says, gradually recovering from her dazed state. "We are the ones chosen to carry the staff. We are fated. We must go to the black city, Xak Tsaroth, as the old man said, and go with haste."
"I've heard the name in songs but never where it lies. Perhaps we can find someone who knows more."
History:
Nature:
"I tracked a man to a ruin in a swamp a number of years ago. Maybe that is the same place?"
Urgo looks thoughtful, "I don't think the Seekers would be so bad, they are looking for any sign of the old gods... but I will defer to Moon-dancer's judgement. Her visions are usually right... Right?"
The young man grins, "Where are those potatoes?"
EDIT:
"No!" Urgo shouts as he runs to the fire to save the boy!
Initiative:
Strength Check:
" Oh S!@&. "
Rael ducks under the table drawing two daggers.
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