Musami looks at Alison, hoping for some insight.
Fil sits, wondering about Toruk, preparing to study for the evening.
Braggi nods at Musami's idea, though inside he's not much hopeful to see Toruk again.
Ostler Gundigoot is tending the bar this evening, his wife Molly working in the kitchen. The barmaid Alison is sitting by the fire, reading quietly from a small book, slowly mouthing the words to herself and one of the pot boys, Ian, a friend of Tomi, looks on, doing the same.
The craftsman and amateur alchemist Kalizar sits in the corner by the stairs to the lodgings, together with two men dressed as woodsmen. They appear to be deep in conversation among themselves, paying little attention to the rest of the room. A small collection of roots and herbs are spread over the table, with a couple of sacks on the floor nearby.
A fat old merchant is at a table close to the fire, nodding off a bit in his chair. You learned earlier in the day he had intended to transfer from the caravan which left earlier, heading into Celene for one bound for the Wild Coast. Unfortunately the latter group didn't arrive this morning, nor at any point yet today. Most likely it's delay is due to the weather which has gotten steadily worse as the day progressed.
Ostler comes round with a small platter of drinks, politely interrupting first Kalizar and company with refills, then your own conversations, to offer the remaining cups. A short round if you will, to liven the mood. Yours and mine, though I'm not sure which is worse on a day like today.
As he walks away he stops, turning back to you. Since your friend left his things upstairs, am I to take it he will be coming back? Traveling on a day like today seems ill advised, but I suppose he and they had their reasons. Waving his hands and the empty try, I know, I know it's not my place to ask. I was only just wondering if he should be charged for the room, not that anyone will be asking for it, not now.
Musami comments, I will cover the cost of his room, then wonders whose room it might be. After a brief while, at what seems like a break in Alison's reading Musami moves over to speak to Ian. Lad, you are of an age with young Tomi. Have you seen him today?
Taking a moment away from his apparent studies, Ian looks up at the dwarf. Not since last evening, good sir. He seems a bit apprehensive, looking at Alison before hanging his head, looking away. He was with Mickey and Corl, and a few of the other boys. Shuffling his feet, he grows silent, Alison looking at Musami a bit confused.
Alison comments, Mickey is an older boy, 16, and friends with the teamster's hooligan son Corl. They seem to find many new and inventive ways to cause trouble. Alison closes the book and looks at Ian, staring until he looks up at her, feeling her gaze. He adds, They were going to Nulb Miss Alison, to visit, well, to see you know, ummm... that place.
Musami looks at Alison, hoping for some insight. He notices she seems a bit shocked, turning red herself at the boys confession. Blushing and embarrassed, she explains, Lady Ophelia's Emporium, it's well, it's a brothel in Nulb. Shaking her head she stands and gathers up Ian. I've heard of the place from Cavanaugh, my fiancee. He works with Mickey at the brewery, and says Mickey has been spending time and coin in Nulb, but I never imagined he or any of the boys from around here would ever actually GO to that place. I assumed he was gambling or drinking and didn't want the braumeister to know. But for him to take the boys there, let alone drag along poor innocent Tomi.
Alison takes Ian by the collar and goes back into the kitchen. Musami hears Alison calling to Molly. A loud but unintelligible conversation follows. It seems likely Ian is in a spot of trouble, and undoubtedly so too will be Tomi and Corl, once word gets out what Mickey has gotten them up to doing.
Elsewhere Filnefillan sits, wondering about Toruk, preparing to study for the evening as Ostler's comment rattles around a bit in the back of his mind.
Zokama tells the party
I'm going to see if I can find out what happened to Toruk. Be back soon.
She wraps up in her cloak, using prestidigitation to weave an umbrella for herself, and proceeds to Jaroo's grove, remembering that Toruk had mentioned it.
She wonders if the bear she had encountered was still there, and if Toruk somehow had offended it.
In the gloom and failing light Zokama finds the grove fairly as she remembered it, if now somewhat damp and muddy. There are signs of trampling and scuffling around the area of the large stone, some deeper than others. The majority seem to be boot prints, though there are a few bear tracks as well.
The door to the small cabin is open, but no light shows from inside. Muddy and smeared tracks lead inside.
Zokama casts light on her spear and holds it so that she can see better. Unfortunately, that means that she is now getting wet, but she knows she can dry herself off easily, so she tries to enjoy the rainfall.
She approaches the cabin cautiously. She uses her totem spear as a walking stick, not holding it in a threatening way, but will use it to defend herself if need be.
Zokama's magic casts the scene in a somewhat different light.
The muddy prints look to be not the normal tracks of passersby moving through the grove but rather what appears to have been something more akin a struggle. Multiple persons scuffled near the center of the circle, around the small meditation spot situated before the large stone menhir, the heart of the druid's copse.
What had before appeared as merely darker mud splattered about now has a glistening, reflective quality under the soft white light shining from her spear. Sniffing the air, Zokoma squats down and checks closer, her nose and eyes in agreement the smears are in fact blood.
Two pools lay near the large stone, staining waterlogged long depressions in the mud, each about the size of perhaps a human body. Another smear leads into the druid's open cottage. Shining the light in that direction the flannae woman sees the wet and matted fur of the bear she'd seen before, just at the edge of her spear's glowing radiance.
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"So, what do we know of the Moathouse? We know there is some form of demon below that can mess with our heads. We need to end that threat. We also know of gnolls and undead, which is likely where our bugbear priest undead Hruggin went with Toruko and likely Kobort. I believe that we should be planning that expedition. I'm certain that Zokama will be back, wetter for the wear, but we need to have a plan for what we need. I think we should plan for this to be an expedition of a few days at least." Fil looks to the others for signs of agreement.
"Coming to and from Hommlet will waste precious daylight, and we will need every drop of that that we can muster. So, let us plan to be there for 2-3 days. We should bring enough food for this, and, appropriately, we should bring enough water as well, as the water could be unsafe to drink there."
He looks again. "Perhaps some prybars for doors? Maybe some acid if we can find some, and buckets of holy water. Navith, can you make holy water? I would gladly pitch in for any materials you would need for such a task."
Thinking a bit more, especially of Braggi's description of what he found, and the description of the scene, he notes "It is odd that Zert is there. I believe he may be stirring the trouble over there. But, most concerning is that Xaod is now missing. Perhaps, just perhaps, he is in cahoots with the entirety of this plot. That would be a painful revelation, but not uncommon for someone of his priesthood, to bring his own stamp of law an order upon the populace. I believe we could possibly see him as well in the moathouse, but we have to deal with Zert and the others in the tent city, lest there be other problems there soon as well. We need an official title from the Lords if we are to do that, and cleansing the Moathouse will give us that possibility to have that meeting and that request. Soon there WILL be a riot there, have no doubts. Those people deserve better treatement."
"I agree with that course of action" Braggi nods. "Stick our weapons up the Moat demon's arse, then stick'em up Zert's arse. With Lordly permission, all of that."
He then calls Alison and tells her about the food - and a new round, of course.
Braggi interrupts the scolding occurring in the kitchen with his order, which Ostler delivers to Molly. The innkeeper brings around the drinks in the interim, attempting to downplay the clattering and banging echoing out of the backroom. Alison is not working tonight, she was to be teaching Ian to read. Molly will have your food out shortly.
After a short time Molly brings out a tray of food, placing the order on the table. She appears somewhat red in the face, with ringed and bloodshot eyes suggesting she'd been crying recently. Alison has taken Ian downstairs, he is thinking about his behavior and about keeping dangerous secrets from his masters.
As she moves back to the kitchen she stops, straightens her dress and appearance, then turns back to the table. I'm sorry, that was rude of me. Ill news should not breed ill manners. For my part I apologize. If you need anything further, please call or ask Ostler for his service.
I agree with what Fil has said Musami takes a deep drink from his mug. I doubt that we will be able to gather all of that this evening though. Shall we spend tonight making plans and tomorrow gathering supplies? That would have us ready to depart the day after, when hopefully the waters have receded and we can travel a little more freely. Looking down he realizes that his mug is dry. He orders another drink from Ostler, and a little food also. Some roast meat perhaps, and bread and cheese?
Ostler agrees to the request, refills everyone's tankards, then goes into the kitchen to assist his wife with preparing the food.
A loud crack of thunder, followed immediately by a flash of light from beyond the closed shutters, jolts the old rotund merchant with a start, nearly tumbling him from his chair. Embarrassed he straightens himself, looking about to gauge if anyone saw his reaction. He gets up sheepishly, leaving a few coins on the table, and dodders over to the stairs and slowly climbs them, likely retiring for the evening.
Kalizar and his guests seem to be wrapping up their business, laughing and joking a bit louder than before. The Rhennee alchemist hands over a double stack of coins, as well as a few gemstones, then relieves the men of the small sacks and bundles they brought with them.
Zokama moves a little bit closer to see if the bear is still alive and to see if she can see inside the cottage in case that is also where Toruk is. With all the blood, she imagines that he is likely dead, but wants to see for herself before taking word back to the group.
She isn't sure why anyone would fight with the blessed bear, or in this peaceful grove, unless they encountered the corrupt powers that she seemed to encounter the last time she was here.
If the bear is alive and no one else is around, she might try healing it, but she's still afraid that whatever was doing the killing here could also threaten her, so she isn't committed to that course of action entirely yet.
Zokama finds the bear is still alive, unconscious and badly wounded, but most of the bleeding has stopped. It's thick fur and hide appear to have been rent, stabbed, and burnt in multiple places during whatever altercation took place outside today. The beast seems to have crawled here afterwards, though the door appears to have been forced open by someone or something else. The doorjamb is splintered and muddy boot prints cover the floor, some partly beneath the bear's pooling blood.
The cabin appears to have been briefly ransacked and tossed about by the assailants, then abandoned. Toruk doesn't appear to be around, though the bard does find a small wooden disc with a curved line cut into it, laying beside the overturned table. The leather cord which once held it around the warpriest's neck lays broken nearby.
It would appear Toruk was here, as was Jaroo's bear. Multiple unknowns fought with the priest and beast, clearly beating the bear and likely absconding with the priest.
Zokama heals the bear.
She then cleans up the bear and the cabin as much as she can. She doesn't know how to heal desecration, but this feels like that to her, and she does what she can with Prestidigitation and Mending to make the place clean and whole again.
Outside the cabin she leaves the tracks and the blood in case anyone else wants to see it. Then she trudges back to the Inn and quietly informs the group about what she found, showing them the wooden holy symbol.
Weakly the bear opens it's eyes, peering about at Zokama, sniffing at the air. It chuffs a few times, gives a low growl, then drops it's head back down on it's paws, exhausted, content the bard is not one of the attackers, and apparently acceptable to be in the grove.
Fil looks to Molly "Are you okay, young one?" He shows some odd bit of tenderness.
"Musami, I fully agree with your plan. I do plan on trying to learn something from the books we have obtained. Perhaps there is something I can use in them, that way we are more armed than before.
Looking to Braggi, "I hope that we see Toruk soon, as well as Navith and Zokama. We can then get this plan moving and get everything truly moving. I like the idea of then getting into the tent city to resolve that before it becomes a problem for Hommlet. Justices of the peace, not knocking heads, Braggi. Although, knocking heads sometimes has to happen." Fil smirks as he says the last part, knowing Braggi probably has that in mind, especially for Zert.
Molly pauses only long enough to again apologize. I'm sorry for my outburst. I know I shouldn't let it get to me, but season after season Nulb has grown more wicked, more depraved. She wipes her hands over and over with the small towel tucked into her apron. It's just not right.
Leaning forward a bit, It's said they harbor river pirates, cutthroats and harlots openly along her slick planked streets, shaking her head. That brothel, that Emporium, is only the latest atrocity they've launched to try and swindle good folks out of the honest coins they earn. She wipes at her shoulder, warding herself as she continues.
We lose more and more of our good souls to the wickedness they spread, almost spitting as she gets angry again. Who knows when it will reach our door, with some customer trying to have his way with Alison or myself or one of the helpers. She glances back at the kitchen, checking to make sure Ostler isn't about. For all I know they could be doing such things or worse even now over in tent town. That place is chock full of people who ride back and forth from Hommlet to Nulb.
She straightens her gown and picks up her empty tray. But I shouldn't burden you with my worries. Enjoy your meals.
Navith listens to Fil and nods along to the planning, smiling a grimace when Braggi offers to conduct improper violent intercourse with fiends.
Fil takes Molly's hand gently and smiles. "I don't believe all souls are wicked. But I do believe in teaching them manners. Everyone needs proper manners. People also have a tendency to fear that which they do not understand, something I know all too well having learned the wizardly arts. Despite the weather, let's have a peaceful and happy eve, and thank you for the meal," Fil says as he turns to his meal, still smiling, hopeful that Molly is less afraid than before.
So Nulb is a hive of scum and villainy. Perhaps a visit in the future to see for myself what, exactly, they harbor. Tent town definitely raised in my estimation of danger, and is likely the reason for some of the problems in the village.
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As Molly leave earshot Musami clears his throat. Quietly he speaks to the party Perhaps we should go to Nelb and see it for ourselves, once the moathouse is set to rights. It is not my place to tell others how to live, but if the young are being influenced by unsavoury elements we may want to investigate.
Thinking about it, Musami and Filnefillan remember Cedryk commenting the fake Jaroo had originally been leading him in the direction of Nulb before he discovered the creature's subterfuge and they fought in the marshes north of the Moat House.
"Musami, Nulb could lead to the Mastermind of the problems here. We do need to keep the people here safe, but sending rabble rousers and ne'er do wells seems like an excellent distraction."
Fil pauses, thinking of the threads to tie together.
"We have the fake Jaroo, the murder at the farm, both likely caused by the fake Jaroo or the undead bugbear. Then we have the desecration of Emridy Meadows, also a huge problem, but unlikely to have been caused by the undead, thus a living component. Fake Jaroo has to be a hired hand. We also have the illness the Smith is being treated for, something horrible. The mayor was afflicted with something akin to what I was infected with. These require other people to be near them.
Fil pauses a little bit more.
"We have some suspects. Xaod, for disappearing in such a rush. Toruko, whom has allied with the bugbear, and the monster in the Moathouse. At best, these are the lesser evils. Then there is Zert. Zert is a rabble rousers, for sure, but he is a bully. I wonder why?
Perhaps we should arrest him once we have authority."
So our plan to gather resources tomorrow stands and we'll go to the moathouse the day after? We can go to Nelb after that. Or do you think we go to Nelb now?
I think Moathouse, Tent Town, Nulb. That order takes care of the good people of Hommlet as best we can. Then, we can move to more dangerous territory.
Braggi is overwhelmed by the amount of information and the strategies used to put it in order and use it properly. In the end, though, he gets the general idea of 'screw the moathouse, screw Zert, screw Nulb' and approves.
Navith nods in agreement.
"The moathouse appears to pose a significant and evil threat. I have little understanding of the events or general character of this "Tent Town", but given its proximity to Hommlet, it would be a valid next target. And then, Nulb, which through its apparent iniquity does indeed seem to be somewhere we should focus our attention."
I agree we should confront the evil of the moathouse, but I'm also concerned about the undead creature that Elmo was rambling about. It might have just been rambling, but it sounded like a real event that we might want to look into.
It appears the party has decided to spend a day in town purchasing supplies for a few days provisioning. The group then intends to march back to the moat house and clear it out, likely bedding down as needed in either the partly collapsed tower or the former brigands' chambers, as they are likely the most defensible spots thus far.
Key elements about the moat house you have learned include an unknown entity is influencing behaviors from below, there exist physical undead of the skeletal and zombie varieties, there are perhaps ghoulsih like undead in the lower levels, the troops include bugbears and gnolls, and that human cultists with their bandit minions are likely the ringleaders, including someone named Lareth.
It is suspected but not yet proven the undead bugbear priest, Turuko, and Kobort are also at the moat house. They were served only by undead minions, with no evidence of living troops thus far.
It is suspected that Toruk and maybe Xaod were taken prisoner by forces unknown, the former from the Druid's Menhir, the latter from his room in Tent Town. Xaod has been suggested, but not proven nor cleared, as a suspect in Toruk's abduction.
Ostler Gundigoot may have been the last person to see Toruk in town.
Elmo may know something about the undead bugbear priest, though if he does he would be best approached before his daily inebriation.
There are spies in Hommlet reporting to the moat house or cultists or intermediaries which have not been reliably identified, so be aware your actions are possibly monitored.
The remainder of the night passes slowly, and loudly. Near dawn the thunder and lightning subsides, giving way to thick heavy clouds, though the rain has stopped, for the time being.
A damp grey dawn greets Hommlet, deepening the doldrums which rose the day before. The town is subdued and quiet, only a few people about, tending to necessary chores before hurrying home to escape whatever else the clouds may have in store.
The inn greets a dreary short caravan making a mad rush to Verbobonc, stopping only for a few hours to dry the horses, check the wagons and shoes, make a few quick trades if the market exists, then heading out again at lunch, hoping to beat more storms rolling into the area.
Molly informs Musami that Tomi returned with the missing youths late overnite, the group attempting to sneak into town only to be apprehended by the night watch. The boy is safe, but he was returned home to face any punishments his parents might have for participating in the ill-advised trip to Nulb.
Elmo brings in Fennit towards the end of the brief breakfast rush, the old man aching a bit from the damp and cold. He settles himself by the hearth with a mug of warm cider and doses a bit off and on, his large companion partaking of a large flagon before promising to return after attending to some chores his father gave him. Me pa wants me to check the bridge, the mill, and the grove for any damages from the storms last night.
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While the group will be doing their thing, Fil takes his shopping trip and makes it as short as possible. He is in a hurry.
Once back, he will attempt to learn Reduce Person and then craft the Scroll of Mage Armor.
If the above is correct Fil succeeds with both checks, spending the remainder of the afternoon doing so, after his shopping trip. He will be free to meet up with everyone at dinner, deducting the scribe and copy costs accordingly.
Musami shakes his head at Tomi's plight. Silly lad. Mayhaps he learns his lesson.
After breakfast he has a brief discussion with Ostler about storing some items in the inn. He heads out and makes a handful of purchases from the caravan, packing them into his backpack, and opens the forge, placing the bucket of nails out for collection.
Musami just potters around in the forge, sweeping up and generally making it seen that the forge is manned, should anyone need smithing done.
Ostler informs you that he has a small storage area in the basement that he uses for lost and misplaced items from previous guests. He can have Ian clear away an area for the party's use if desired. He currently has one empty medium chest and a partially filled large chest for the other items, roughly two thirds empty.
Overhearing Fil's discussion of strongboxes he indicates that the Church, the moneylender Nira Melubb, and the Tower could provide such safe protections. While he would be willing to do so as well, he prefers to avoid such entanglements, to avoid complications down the road. Neither a borrower nor a lender be, and you will always know what's yours is yours, as Delleb would say.
"Musami, Before we head out, we should visit the tower, then. We have things that we should report, and a handful of trinkets to secure. Let us ensure the Lords have them, in the event that they are needed for the town. Thank you, Ostler." Fil says gratefully.
Musami puts the forge to rights quickly and heads to the tower with Fil. His new armour is chafing slightly but it will wear in soon.
It takes roughly fifteen minutes to climb the hill to the tower, the recent rains making the mud and grasses somewhat slick and slippery. At the tower the guards have you wait a few minutes while Lord Burne is summoned, then you are ushered into the main hall where Lord Burne is waiting, talking quietly with an apprentice and a senior guardsman. Good morning sirs, how are you today? Dry I hope. He nods to the pair and they step away from their lord, giving him space to speak with you. This weather is something unexpected, and reports are still coming in from outlying farms who suffered wind and water damages.
Fil raises an eyebrow at the 'dry' comment, giving him a wry smile.
"Actually, if you would be so kind, we would like to discuss some private matters with you. We are leaving on an expedition, and what we do will hopefully save Hommlet from a great deal of trouble. The first is a bit of an embarrassing request. The second bit is more of a report of findings and our plans. But these are for your ears alone."
"Something very bad is happening, and I bear my trust only so far, my Lord." Fil says very carefully.
If he agrees:
"Lord Burne, our request is simple, we wish to have a small space here within your tower to store our goods while working on behalf of the good people of Hommlet. I would be willing to pay a fee as well. In return, any research we find will be shared with you, including that of the demonic or undead entity in the Moathouse, which had likely allied with Toruko and an undead Bugbear of some sort, which was spotted and escaped us when we restored Emridy Meadows. The Moathouse has filled with Gnolls and undead, and this entity had attempted to mess with Toruk's mind, nearly succeeding."
He pauses, letting that sink in.
"During our battle at Emridy Meadows, Furnok escaped, at my fault I'm afraid. Doing so allowed my companions and Xaod to restore the site at least enough to restore my condition, which was similar to the Mayor of Hommlet's. Now, I received that condition from below the Moathouse, and only someone who had been there would have known about that particular poison or disease."
He pauses again.
"During our last return, after fighting in Emridy Meadows, Braggi found out that Tent Town is filled with troublemakers who bear a great deal of grudges against you, and was thrown out of a bar. While Braggi is a barbarian by any standard, he is a wonderful companion, and I stand by that. There has been no trouble at Ostler's from him, so hearing this at Tent Town makes me wary that someone is stirring trouble there. Nulb has been a suggested site for this, but adding yet another distraction to the problems of the province is not good for your reputation, nor ours. We are here to help, but we cannot do this without yours. We wish to clear the moathouse, and, upon doing so, become deputized properly, so that Tent Town becomes part of our purview as well. This way, we can ensure that the ne'er do wells are frightened away by law, not by force of arms. Although, if that needs to happen, we certainly have the arms for that, and Braggi would be happy to help, I'm sure." He smiles broadly.
If he does not agree:
"Lord Burne, I appreciate your time, but we are headed to clear the Moathouse of a great evil that threatens Hommlet. There are other evils nearby and within Hommlet doing harm as we speak. Our group would love to provide our research with you, but we are quickly running out of time. We do humbly ask, as we are trying to help Hommlet, that we be allowed a small storage locker here, so that we can store some goods here whilst we are working on behalf of this lovely village and your Lordly domain. I would also be willing to pay a storage fee as well."
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Musami attempts to help Fil in his negotiations by nodding and making sounds of agreement as Fil delivers his proposal. Unfortunately this is not dwarven negotiations and he gets it very wrong.
Lord Burne agrees to allow you to store one wardrobe worth of goods in the lower levels of the Tower, which you may access upon request, while in the company of Lord Burne or one of his delegated guardsmen. There would be no fee for the use, but he does hope you won't be demanding access at odd hours or storing volatile or dangerous items under his roof.
On the matter of legal standing he will need to discuss the matter with the Town Council. While I am Lord of these lands as directed by the leadership of Veluna and Verbobonc I do not stand alone in my duties here. Out of deference to the people I am obliged to seek support from the council, as a measure of respect. I'm sure the councilors would welcome your assistance and a deputy position under Marshall Odell or some other special envoy arrangement can be made, should sufficient evidence be discovered warranting such needs. Tent Town is a delicate matter, arranging the funding for the castle expansion has nearly bankrupt myself, the town, and Lord Rufus. Any disruption would likely expound those costs and make further progress difficult. But I will certainly consider the request, and evaluate any evidence you have garnered with proper deference and gravity necessary.