Kip passes the gold coins to Malthir, The spoils my lord. There seems to be more, but it will take some time to... unearth them. Kip wrinkles up his nose as he says the last bit. I also detect another magical aura buried quite a ways down.
In response to Malthir's question Kip adds, The Owlbear came from the larger opening to the east. The spiders from the passageway to the north, and the shambling mound from the south passageway. We still have at least 3 spiders on the loose. Two retreated into the north passageway and one fled out of the caves entirely. Are we to leave the swarm alive? It distresses me to think they are feeding and most likely going to reproduce, increasing their numbers.
Kip looks somewhat confused at the magical ring. I don't understand. The ring appears to function similarly to a ring of animal friendship, but for magical beasts, such as the owlbear. What has me perplexed is, why is the owlbear wearing it? Was it using it to control other magical beasts? The ring also has a compulsion ability which I do not fathom. Perhaps with more research, we can ascertain the rings true function.
Does anyone wish magical enhancement of some kind? Should Kalev and I scout the tunnels again? I do have the energies to make us invisible...
Your initial words are met with approval from the Statkari, in particular Jhod who tells you about the assassination attempt upon his life in detail. You notice he places a great deal of emphasis on the Fey-Blooded halfling sorceror who was recently made a Guardian after potentially saving Jhod's life- striking a blow against Grigori's plans and shattering a cult of Gyronna in the process. He is clearly trying to endear the sorceror to you by pointing out his strides against mutual enemies, so as to dampen your distaste of all things Fey. You are given permission and encouragement to pursue Grigori and this cult if you are so inclined by Vaysh, but Karina seems a little uncomfortable at the prospect of an interview (although she consents). You are asked to use non-lethal means if violence becomes necessary, but may use any means to take down Grigori himself.
Vaysh seems unconvinced by your warnings of the Fey but she smiles and replies diplomatically-
Perhaps we will learn much from each other, Hellknight. Let us talk no more of politics for now and get to know each other a little better. Here, try this wild boar- the forests of the Narlmarches are famous for it.
Hmmm, we should get the buried magic you speak of on our way out.
East it is then! Let's go, Varn, you are with me.
Malthir trundles off past the gorging centipedes not giving them much thought.
They speak 10-15 feet ahead of the rest of the group, Malthir's sword lighting the way.
So Varn, I was a little surprised to be honest that you would be willing to endanger you life for the sake of our trade alliance. Your priest is one of Gorum who delights in battle, no matter who wins. To have died here, in a cave in our part of the GreenBelt showed me more of your character than 20 conversations.
I owe you a debt, one I don't take lightly. If there is ever a day that you need Kardas' help to defend your people you have my word that we will come and lend what aid we can. The trade route will be open and help to make both of our kingdoms more prosperous, but this...dare I say friendship...matters more. What say you Varn?
Casimir follows close behind Varn and Malthir.
"Best we stick together. No need to worry further about the swarm. The region is thick with dangerous critters and a few more or less won't make much difference."
So Varn, I was a little surprised to be honest that you would be willing to endanger you life for the sake of our trade alliance. Your priest is one of Gorum who delights in battle, no matter who wins. To have died here, in a cave in our part of the GreenBelt showed me more of your character than 20 conversations.
I owe you a debt, one I don't take lightly. If there is ever a day that you need Kardas' help to defend your people you have my word that we will come and lend what aid we can. The trade route will be open and help to make both of our kingdoms more prosperous, but this...dare I say friendship...matters more. What say you Varn?
It is not just a trade alliance I seek, but a genuine alliance with Kardas. Inevitably our borders were going to meet and when they did I wanted it to be in the name of trade and friendship, not warfare and hardship. These 'Stolen Lands' are a hard enough place to carve out a living without worrying about our closest neighbours. I came today to show you the seriousness of my commitment to lasting peace and an alliance- let the rest of the River Kingdoms squabble and fight, but between our two fledgeling nations let there be only peace and prosperity. I also came because this was a dangerous beast- and only by continually testing oneself's limits can one continue to grow. I thank you for allowing me to accompany you today; and be assured that I will likely take you up on the debt you owe me someday- but only if I am in dire need. Your eastern border can be considered secure; and my western border too.
Walking down a slope to the east, you enter a large chamber which appears to contain the next of the Owlbear. The ceiling of this huge cavern arches thirty feet into the air. A murky pool of water stands in the western portion of the cavern in front of a narrow passage, little more than a crack, that opens in the wall. Wider, sloping tunnels lead out of the cave to the northeast. A jumble of bones, rocks, fur, and feathers sits piled against the southern wall.
Search the nest thoroughly and look for tracks coming into and out of this room from the other entrances...
Assist in the search and tracks:
We should also scan the pool for magic or any mundane items that might have been left behind.
Kip follows after the others, giving the centipedes a long sideways glance as he goes, muttering to himself, I should think a few less would be desirable...
As they arrive in the large chamber, Kip assists with the search by trying to sense magical auras , concentrating first on the nest... and then the pool, followed by the rest of the cavern.
"Even if we kill these," Fenna says to Kip as they move through to the partially submerged cavern, "more would simply take their place... until civilisation spreads this far they pose little threat, and we have little hope of permanently removing them. "
The somewhat pale Kalev starts examining the ground, looking for tracks that don't belong to an oversized owlbear.
Could it be that the owlbear used the ring to control the shambling mound, but was in turn controlled by someone or something else? Grigori, perhaps, or some other foe we are at present unawares of?
Ricter passes the rest of the dinner as plesently as can be expected. Once it is over and the rest of the diners retire he turns to Karina
"If you will, milady, I need what knowledge you have of Gregori. Most pressingly, how did he manage to enchant you in the first place? Were you in his presence or was it some sort of remote effect? Were you even aware it had taken place? Such details could be vital to your leige and his peers"
While Kalev doesn't find any tracks, he does realise that the ring couldn't have been used to control the shambling mound, as they are plant creatures. He speculates that perhaps the Owlbear killed the wearer of the ring and put it on for some unknown reason; it would not have the intelligence to use the magical item on others. Stashed underneath the gigantic Owlbears nest is a dead body, still bearing some impressive gear- a +2 chain shirt, two masterwork throwing axes, two potions of speak with animals, a jar of restorative ointment, a vial of antitoxin, two smokesticks, a tanglefoot bag, two thunderstones and 34GP. In addition, you salvage 112GP from the nest. Not far from the bodies hand, lies an ornate flail you identify as bearing a moderately powerful enhancement (+2), and made of cold iron.
Searching the man carefully, Kalev also finds a crude map of the Greenbelt tucked into the mans boots. The only things marked on it except the geography are the Owlbear's Lair, Swordhaven, Northgreen and Vierkirche.
After a detect magic on the pool to make sure there is nothing in there, should we search out the remaining caves? Any other ideas or thoughts?
Kip scans the pool with his arcane vision...
Kip quietly offers his opinion to Malthir's query, addressing nobody in particular as he looks about the cave, A search of the remaining caves seems prudent... but then, I thought wiping out the centipedes seemed like the right idea...
Shaking his head a little, Kip snaps to it and stands tall before adding in a firmer voice, Lead on my Baron, and I shall follow!
As Kalev views the parchment pulled from the dead man's boots, Kip tries to get a look at it, standing on his tip toes to get a peak. Seeing the map, Kip muses, A map of Kardas? Could this man have been the one responsible for sending the owlbear against Swordhaven? Looking back at the mangled corpse and then again to the map, he adds, Curious. I wonder why the owlbear killed him?
You move back into the initial chamber and head south into the next cave opening. Rotting leaves and other vegetation fill this small, irregular cavern. Water drips from slimy vines and roots that hang from the ceiling, collecting into puddles on the uneven floor. Three small openings, little more than wide cracks in the stone, lead to the northwest (this is the entrance you entered from), southeast, and south. The southern exit appears to be another exit (or entrance) from the main cave, close to the main tunnel but well obscured by a nearby tree. You surmise that the tunnel to the south-east is likely another end of the tunnel from the pool in the large chamber the Owlbear came from.
Let's check this room to be sure...
Kip scans each cave in turn for magical auras...
The raven haired Karina seems uncomfortable with the questioning, but answers in a slightly trembling voice.
I... I was simply walking through the streets of Swordhaven, on the way back to the castle. Grigori materialised out of thin air, chanting and waving his hands. The next thing I knew, I was his thrall for a week. My will was not my own. I was aware of what was happening, but I felt compelled to obey him, like I was just watching my body live my life. He had me prick Jhod with a needle in the night and take some of his blood and he was using me as a contact for the Cult of Gyronna. I joined the cult under his commands and helped him make an alliance with them. Then once the cult was destroyed, we made our escape on a shadowy, flying horse to the south. Thats where I finally broke free of his compulsions- I fled, riding a horse to death to reach Swordhaven in a single day.
She shivers, clearly disturbed by the memories.
If your going to go after him, you might want my sisters help. Her name is Kressle and shes married to Casimir, one of the Baron's closest friends. Shes also a great warrior and has been looking for Grigori or signs of his passing in Swordhaven for days now.
You find nothing of interest nor do you see any magical auras in either chamber. The spiders that fled are nowhere to be seen. The cave they came from is full of sticky webbing but you can see another exit on the eastern side of the chamber- likely leading the same way as the Owlbear cave's north-east exit led.
After we search this chamber and if we find nothing of interest lets head back to the main chamber and find the last magical aura then head home.
A buzzing fills this cavern, which arches up to a height of twenty feet. Two tunnels exit the cavern to the north, one narrow and one wide. In the eastern portion of the cavern lies the giant carcass of some great beast, surrounded by at least half a dozen humanoid bodies who look like they were probably bandits. Upon closer inspection, the bodies are all human, scattered around the carcass- which is a huge and female Owlbear. The corpses of two owlbear cubs also lie nearby, along with one surviving cub, about the size of a small dog. It appears to be starving and hoots pitifully next to the body of its dead mother. The corpses of the men still wear their gear, consisting of six suits of studded leather armor, six light wooden shields, six daggers, six longswords, six shortbows, 84 arrows, and a total of 96 gp. The Owlbear cub watches you as you enter the room, its eyes wide in terror and body shivering in fright.
Kip lets out a low whistle as he surveys the scene of carnage before him. I guess that answers why the Owlbear killed that man...
Kip eyes up the cub, and a part of him sincerely regrets his part in killing the things apparent father. He reaches into his pack and produces the balance of his rations, throwing them within reach of the cub, before crouching down and watching to see if it will eat the offered food.
Not taking his eyes off of the cub, Kip theorizes out loud, Do you think that some of these men might be from that seedy bar we visited towards Miven? It appears someone directed these men here to use this owlbear as a tool of Kardas' ruination. Kip strokes his chin as he continues to ponder. If not Grigori, then someone else. Someone yet unknown to us.
Kip pauses and scrunches up his face before adding, Regardless, it still doesn't make sense. Why send a group of men armed with a ring capable of befriending the owlbear? To send it upon some nefarious path of destruction? And then slay the things whole family, causing it to turn against its apparent masters, killing the lot of them? Kip's gaze hasn't left the owlbear cub.
Kip shakes his head slowly before turning at last to look at the bodies of the men strewn about the chamber, nodding at them. Do you think one of them might be more able to answer your questions from beyond the grave m'lord? Lady prophetess?
Kip looks back to the cub, and calls out to it in a low pleasant tone, You were just pawns in someone else's sick game weren't you? You never meant anyone any harm did you? No you didn't... oh no you didn't...
Ricter stares hard at her, looking for that tell-tale flicker of fear he's seen on the face on dozens of cornered lawbreakers
"He is a destructive hatemonger but he is no fool"
Kip lets out a low whistle as he surveys the scene of carnage before him. I guess that answers why the Owlbear killed that man...
Kip eyes up the cub, and a part of him sincerely regrets his part in killing the things apparent father. He reaches into his pack and produces the balance of his rations, throwing them within reach of the cub, before crouching down and watching to see if it will eat the offered food.
Kip's gaze hasn't left the owlbear cub.
Kip looks back to the cub, and calls out to it in a low pleasant tone, You were just pawns in someone else's sick game weren't you? You never meant anyone any harm did you? No you didn't... oh no you didn't...
The Owlbear hoots pitifully as it eagerly eats the food offered by Kip and wails softly in response to his cooing.
Varn offers a suggestion to one of Kip's lines of inquiry.
Perhaps they came here seeking to enslave one Owlbear, but the second returned from a hunt. The fight may have provided the male enough willpower to break free after his mate was attacked. This does not however, explain its strange journey all the way to Swordhaven to attack your city.
I... I am not sure why he made that claim so boldly. I suppose once I was spotted with him my usefulness within the castle was at an end. He would have expected the Guardians to come after me so perhaps he was to use me as bait for a trap. He is cunning.
This saddens me profoundly. While I am fully aware that we did what we had to, and that nature can often be even more rough and unkind, this fate seems especially cruel. We have two options, as I see it. Either we kill the remaining cub or we take it back to Kardas and try to train it, but that's likely going to prove very difficult, as these beasts are truly feral. I certainly don't possess the necessary skills to train it, but we might be able to find someone able to, if anyone dares take the risk. Even a small one like this could probably kill a grown man with one swipe of its claws...But what say you, my fellow lords?
"I suppose that stands to reason. It is fortunate you escaped before he had the chance to. It's clear I do not have the magical knowledge to learn much from your account. Where is your sister?"
If Ricter's suspicions aren't roused he will find Kressle to decide if between them they have a shot at bringing down Gregori. He has decided that seeking out Gregori before the Guardians return could be a calculated risk - apprehending him would drastically increase his chances of winning the Baron's favour.
"Given the destruction wrought by the parent of this creature, it may not find itself a welcome guest in Swordhaven," Fenna comments, after watching Kip's reaction to the young creature curiously, "but given the presence of an owlbear at the event that allowed the founding of our nation, perhaps it would be a fitting mascot for Kardas."
"As for communing with the departed souls of these men, I imagine Jhod would be more capable of such a thing than myself... though the dead are often extremely vague with their answers, even when they wish to be helpful, it is doubtful that we will gain much insight from them."
Casimir regards the carnage of the room with skepticism.
"We can stand here all day and speculate at what caused the beast to go berserk, and who these men are. Let us gather up their possessions and see if they yield clues to their identity. I do suspect the owlbear's behavior is tied to the ring it was wearing, since it showed signs of compulsion magic. We should be careful about how we handle it."
He shoots a look at Kip's attempts to befriend the cub.
"If we can manage it without frightening our horses, I'm all for taking the cub back to Swordhaven, if nothing else then to ensure that it does not grow into a dangerous threat like the one we just killed. Otherwise, we had better kill it now. In any event, we have done what we came here to do. Let us gather what useful items we can find and return as soon as possible. We have other pressing threats to our realm to deal with."
Before they leave, Casimir makes sure to secure some samples from the shambler, remembering something about Bokken requesting such items.
The cub could be worth around three thousand gold to a dedicated beast trainer if it was nursed back to health. My Lord Dalgum would be interested in purchasing such a beast, if it pleases you.
** spoiler omitted **
She'll be helping out with the wounded citizens I expect. Shes fairly well known in the city so ask around and you'll find her.
[/b]"Thankyou. That is all I need to know. I'm sure you've already been told to watch yourself more closely in future."[/b]
Ricter leaves the noblewoman and returns to the chamber made up for him. His armour stands ready on it's stand. At a glance it is impossible to tell if it is occupied or not. He stares at the faceless helm for a while as he often does when making a difficult decision.
I will search the town for the fugitive but I will not seek to engage him. That will strike a compromise between proving my abilities and avoiding putting him to flight. First, though, there is the matter of donning my armour.
Malthir and Fenna will look at the bodies to try and determine any likely candidates for speak with dead.
He has been silently looking and considering the beast and what it represents for Kardas for some time before he speaks.
We can not bring the beast back to Kardas to be some kind of circus freak. We either find a purpose for the beast or we kill it here, now.
Do we know someone who is capable of training such a beast?
@Varn Your offer is a good one Lord Varn but I feel that we should use the beast or destroy it. Profiting from it just doesn't sit right with me. Well Guardians, do we know someone who could likely train it?
One of the bandits looks in good enough shape to have a Speak with Dead cast upon him. You don't find any other belongings that might identify the bandits on them. You personally (Malthir) don't know nayone who could train or would have any interest in training the cub. Varn replies-
Oh, it would see use under Lord Dalgum, mark my words. Such a prized beast would be a mighty force in itself.
** spoiler omitted **