Brynn stays up late eating and drinking. If anyone else is also awake she tells a few stories to entertain them and pass the time.
.
Eventually Brynn turns in the for night, bidding everyone "Goodnight! Sleep well."
Verik goes up to his room and repreps his spells, figuring because they are not planning to go in tomorrow he doesn't spend too much on combat spells...
He then goes to bed as soon as he finishes with his spells.
"Are you trained in medicine then, Grilnik, in addition to being a cleric?"
"Trained? Not very much. Learned? Quite a bit, yes. Caravan Guards are more often in need of mending than we'd like to admit, you see."
"How about you Brynn, anyone teach you any of your fancy acrobatics?"Grilnik takes another bite of his cheese hunk.
"Oh, plenty of people have taught me plenty of things, but none stuck around long, I'm afraid. I'm a bit of a drifter, I suppose," she replies with a sheepish smile. "Never in one place long."
"And you? What drove all of you to the glamorous life of a travelling guard? Someone has an exciting story, I hope?"
"How are you feeling, Vors? You certainly had a run of misfortune down there."
The half-orc gave a soured look. "A bit."
Understanding that Bullseye was trying to make conversation, Vors's scowl relented. "There's always tomorrow to be better."
Brynn smiles and nods at Vors. "Of course," she replies, understanding he doesn't want to talk about it.
---
When the next morning comes, Brynn gets up and grooms herself, making sure her clothes and hair are perfectly clean, smelling like flowers and arranged perfectly Then she heads downstairs for the breakfast Talia promised them.
"Good morning," she greets Talia (and whoever else is around) happily.
Verik sits at the bar, he has woken up at the first sign of food cooking, his keen nose easily able to tell what was cooking, he waited patiently for the food to finish cooking. Top of the morning to you, Brynn. It's a good morning isn't it? I wouldn't know, I'm used to living underground, and only got I to the habit if sleeping at night recently. he says, puffing on his pipe, the smoke smelling of sage.
Talia is up pretty early making oats for everyone who is awake.. A few random townsfolk come in, seemly for their meal before heading to whatever farm or other workplace they work at.
The party gathers, enjoying the breakfast.
"Undergroud? That sounds so dour. Why did you live underground?"
Verik snorts. Well, Ratfolk are ah... Well we live underground to avoid the much larger things that live above ground. We don't live so deep that we are in what is called the darklands, hardly... No we live on the level that humans typically build their sewers. he thinks for a moment. Infact... I actually think most of our barrows are in the sewers of human settlements... Of course we keep it meticulously clean. You know your near a Ratfolk Barrow when the sewers don't stink.
"Wow! How.... Innovative." Brynn replies politely.
Eww! How disgusting!
"Well, what are your plans for today, Verik? Would you like to come with me to speak to people, or shall we split up? Or perhaps you gave something else in mind? "
The half-orc nods, listening intently to the ratfolk's tale .
Hmm. Store that bit of information away for a rainy day. Brynn certainly has a knack for getting people to reveal themselves.
Grilnik comes down the stairs, heavy bronze plaque in hand.
"If you all don't mind, I'd suggest finding someone who'll buy this first. We can use those funds to help pay for a second night here."
Grilnik carefully sets down the plaque by Vors "Here, I'm sure that you can carry it."
"I suggest going together so you can talk whoever it is into paying more. Also see if anyone knows about that tower, I bet anyone interested in buying the plaque would know something."
Grilnik starts accumulating enough of the honeyed breakfast for two. "Anyone think the baroness cares about that 'Good Baron Sarvo' or whoever the previous baron was?"
Verik thinks for a moment... Well I know most you folks find our living choice a bit unsanitary, but trust me, Ratfolk are some of the cleanest beings around! I mean, rats are so misunderstood...
He sighs, puffing from his pipe. I mean, you don't see me covered in grime, head to toe. I know humans who quite often are! he Scoffs. But that's beside the point. Yes, I will be going with you! I'm not good at talking to people, but I do know my stuff. My studies involved human history as well as your standard arcane magics and religion...
"Wonderful! We'll visit Mr. Devy to sell the plaque, and speak to the Baroness. I'd like to pop by the Sheriff's office next. It's best to keep them informed of our movements, especially considering the rather rude way the baroness pushed them out of the investigation... Then why don't you try to find a historian to learn as much as you can about Belhaim and the Witch Tower, Verik, and I'll go ask around with the townsfolk? Sound good?"
"How about you, Vors? Are you going to come with, or do something else?" She smiles brightly. "We take suggestions..."
"If you all don't mind, I'd suggest finding someone who'll buy this first. We can use those funds to help pay for a second night here."
Grilnik carefully sets down the plaque by Vors "Here, I'm sure that you can carry it."
Vors smiles his roguish smile at Grilnik. "And here I thought we might never see eye-to-eye."
Vors stops and considers what he said and holds his hands up in surrender."Sorry, Grilnik. That was not meant to be a short joke. My bad!"
"How about you, Vors? Are you going to come with, or do something else?" She smiles brightly. "We take suggestions..."
"No, no.", the half-orc said in an agreeable tone. "I'll go with Grilnik to help barter for the best price for the plaque. Then hit up the baroness and help Verik with any research he needs. Sounds like a plan!"
Brynn smiles. "Wonderful!"
As Grilnik wanders off with the food Brynn waves. "Take good care of Bethany, Grilnik."
Brynn then happily finishes up her breakfast and waits for Verik and Vors to do the same. When they're ready we're heading out to sell the plaque.
As Brynn, Vors and Verik gather up your stuff for the day and head out. You know where to go to start out. Mr. Devy lives in Devy Manor on the hill. As you cross the bridge you can see the ruins in the distance. You also get another glimpse of Hunclay's Manor.
As you turn south on the road to head up to Devy's Manor house you can see some stables to the left of the manor.
The three of you walk up to the house. Its a pretty decently size manor house. You give a good ring on a large bell outside the door.
After a few moments a human woman answers the door, "Hello, oh, are you here to speak with Lady Origena?"
"Hello, I'm Brynn, and this is Verik and Vors. We're here to see Anholde Devy and Lady Origena. Might we speak with Mr. Devy first, please?" Byrnn smiles sweetly.
Verik bows and smiles, not sure if he's helping... It is of utter importance, and is in regards to the fallen tower.
if course, he does this rather blazingly, hardly remembering proper human etiquette which only leaves him a clumsy looking fool.
With an odd look to the two of you, "Um.. Let me go get him for you"
The door closes. A few minutes later the door opens again with a man. Still in his prime, definitely has the look of Taldor Royalty in him.
"I was told the traveling group my mother hired to head into the witch tower wanted to talk to me? How may I help you?"
"Hello, good sir." Brynn says sweetly with a smile and a curtsy. "My name is Brynn, and this is Verik and Vors. We found an object in the Witch Tower--a plaque to be precise--which may have some historical significance. We've heard that of all those in Belhaim, it is you we should seek out for information. May we come in?"
Looking at the odd group Arnholde seems a bit confused for a second, but then his eyes clear and he gets rather excited looking.
"Oh! You actually found items down there! I have been very curious what is down there, but have been unable to send anyone down." He does a quick look behind him, as if looking for someone.
"Yes yes, come in. Come into my office so we can talk, and I can get a look at that plaque"
He ushers you in. Taking a pretty sharp left turn into a door off the main entrance way. The interior of this house is pretty grand for being a small town. There must have been a lot more money flowing through this area at some point.
You reach his decently humble office. He has a few books and items on shelves. Things are kept very organized here.
"Would it be possible to take a look at the plaque?"
He takes a good look at it. Its pretty heavy and he places it on his desk.
"Hmm... interesting.. This phrase 'Confessions Cleanse the Soul - Pain Clarifies the Mind', is the Canteclure family motto. The Canteclure's were the old rulers of this area. They ruled for almost 900 years. They were pretty hanus people. The most recent one Baron Sarvo Canteclure, a vicious lord who imprisoned subjects for even the slightest infraction, joined an ill-advised rebellion against the Grand Price, and his family and the castle were destroyed in retaliation. What remains of that castle is what the locals call 'Witch Tower'. This was about the same time the Monks at the Monastery of Saint Kyerixus vanished. After the collapse of the Canteclure family my ancestor Sir Arkold Devy was awarded the Barony of Belhaim. This plaque is at least over 200 years old. I worry to think of the things you found down in that tower. I assume its the dungeons that you traveled into."
As if breaking out of a historian monologue, he looks to the group. "I would like to offer 100gp for this item. It means a lot to me, both as a local historian, but also as a strange memento of my father's. See he died exploring that tower, years ago. Having this will show he desire to explore that strange place did not go completely to waste. I fear that is one of the reasons my mother never accepted Hunclay's request to tare down that tower."
"I see. Very interesting." Brynn comments, nodding along with Arnholde's monologue.
"Yes, it was very dangerous, down there. Unquiet spirits, dangerous devils, fearful beasts and all manner of despicable contraptions... In fact one of our own is recuperating, so hurt was she by toxins..." It's not worth what we're getting paid... "Perhaps we might be better positioned to discover more if we were better equipped..."
"Still, I am glad something good came of it so far." Brynn comments. "A hundred gold... Hmmm... Well, I suppose for you we could part with it. You have yourself a deal, sir." Ha! Take this junk off our hands! Foolish scholars.
"Now about that Baron Sarvo... What can you tell us about him? His name is of interest to us." That freaky bast***. Glad he's dead.
"And Hunclay wanted the Witch Tower torn down, you said? Any idea why?"
"Wow, it sounds pretty horrendus down there. Well thank you for taking care of it."
He rummeges through his desk, and walks over and hands Brynn a small bag. "I hope you are ok with payment in Platinum"
"Ah Baron Sarvo.. He was just the last in line of terrible people. He rebelled against the crown in 4500 AR. Don't think he was missed at all. I imagine you know quite a bit about him as a person, based on what you have said about what you found in the dungeons"
He looks to the others in the room. Though he cant help but maintain a bit more eye contact on Brynn. His aristocrat training is let him control it a bit.
"As for Hunclay's dislike of the tower.. Well, seven years ago Balthus Hunclay moved here, I believe from Rahadoum, based on his accent. He purchased the land, where his manor stands now. He clear cut every tree on his property, then built his house. I am pretty sure he has some sort of Observatory in the manor. He wanted a clear view of the stars, for whatever reason. That tower was in the way. He offered to buy the tower, but my mother had denied him. My father had died 2 years before this, you see. Eventually he started submitting requests to demolish the building. My mother kept denying him. I think he submitted over 30 requests over the years. So you see it falling, and him being missing.. is a bit suspicious."
Vors is perfectly fine with Brynn handling the investigation. The half-orc eyes glimmer at the sound of 'platinum'.
"Platinum will be fine, thank you." Brynn assures him accepting the bag of coins.
Hello, beautiful.
"Hmm... That is strange," Brynn agrees when he finishes speaking about Hunclay.
When we're done, Brynn smiles. "Thank you SO much for your time, Arnholde." Brynn says with a flutter of her eyelashes. "Oh! I'm sorry. How forward of me! May I call you Arnholde? Would you prefer Lord Devy?"
"Please assure Lady Origena we are making progress, and will head back into the Witch Tower tomorrow."
Verik glances around the room mostly, adjusting his glasses to see better. Ahh... I ah... Am sorry for the loss of your father, but might I ask how long ago your father went down there?
"Arnholde is fine. Thank you." You catch a small blush on his part.
Looking at Verik, "Ah thank you, he was a great man. He died 9 years ago. 2 years before Hunclay's arrival. We actually were able to recover his body. He died in the tower portion that fell. Misadventure, you see."
He stands, recognizing the conversation is nearing completion. "Thank you for this item. It means a lot. I will let my mother know you are still working on finding out what the cause was. I don't think she expects an immediate result. So take whatever time you need."
He walks you all out to the front door as he speaks. Not rushing any of you, but being very polite.
Brynn stands after Arnholde does, and smiles. She follows him out to the front door.
"Goodbye, Arnholde." she says sweetly as she gives a little curtsy. "Until next time?"
She then leaves the manor with Verik and Vors.
"Interesting, that bit about Hunclay wanting to tear down the tower... Do you think he knew something? Or was it just for his stargazing?" After a moment she sighs. "We'll have to check out his home sooner, rather than later."
"Shall we visit the Sheriff's office next? Best to keep on good terms with the law, especially with the way our last form of employment ended..."
As you all make your way to the Sheriff's office, its right across the street from The Wise Piper, you hear a group of people chatting in the street.
"There've always been wolves in the woods, but lately, there's a pack led by a beast of a wolf that's got a taste for livestock! Ol'Prake Abrassus saw it run off with a sheep in its mouth like a dog carries a bone! Guess that's why he put a bounty on it, hmm"
Verik shivers when he hears the Description. The way it sounds, makes it seem like the thing is a Dire Wolf! he jokes, looking over to those talking. My name's Verik, one of the Adventurers who got stranded here, who is it I might be talking to?
A middle aged woman, breaking away from her conversation, "Um.. I am Lezara. These are my stables" She gestures to a small set of Stables that sit next to The Wise Piper. She seems to almost not want to pay attention any of you. She start to talk to her companion again, being kinda gruff with you.
Noticing how the woman is brushing off Verik, Brynn steps forward and smiles apologetically. "I'm sorry, folks, we didn't mean to interrupt. We were only wondering if we could help. Would you mind sharing what you know with us?"
"Would you mind giving us directions to Mr. Abrassus? Perhaps he'll be willing to speak with us."
Pulling away from her conversation again. "I am sorry. Its ok." She looks to the person she is talking to, who looks like one of her employees. He leaves to go back to work.
"Sorry about that. I was a bit in it. Yeah, Abrassus had one of his sheep taken away. There is some big beast somewhere in the area. His farm is north on Devy Road, then take a left on Wolf Hill.. That name is a bit on the nose now, I think."
"Thank you," Brynn replies, quickly guiding the group away from the rude woman. She gives Verik a pat on the back as they walk away.
"Interesting, but not a priority now, is it? It's just a wolf, right?" she asks her comrades.
"Hopefully", shrugs Vors. "I'm a city boy."
Brynn continues to walk through town towards the Belhaim Garrison, with the intent on speaking with Deputies Mulle and Hodd. She smiles at the people we pass by happily, waving hello when appropriate.
As you walk toward the Garrison you hear a few people talking. "Careful if you go wandering into the hills. There's old mine shafts and caves all over the place out here. A lot of them are infested with ghosts of miners, I hear!"
You make it to the door of the Garrison. You head in and notice just a single person in this room. It looks like there used to be quite a few more people. Quite a few more desks sit empty.
You recognize the single law official in the room. Its Letha Mulle, one of the two that you found outside the tower, when you first got here.
"Can I help you.. Oh its you! Has Lady Devy asked for our help??" She seems very hopeful.
Ghosts? Wow, I want nothing to do with THAT... Brynn does not ask for further details about the mines and caves, but does file that information away for future reference...
---
"Hello, Deputy Mulle," Brynn greets her happily. "I am Brynn, and this is Verik and Vors. Lady Devy has not sent us, but I wanted to come speak with you personally. May I?"
"You may have noticed that we were in Belhaim today, not the Witch Tower, and I wanted to assure you of our continued dedication to our task. We needed to take a break today, you see, as the Witch Tower was full of powerful devils, restless spirits and otherworldly beings, which caused one of our members to be in dire need of healing and recuperation. Devil poison, as I'm sure you are aware, is quiet deadly." She smiles sadly. "Poor Bethany.... Still, she will be healed in time and we will be back on site bright and early tomorrow."
"Today, however, as we are in town by necessity, we hoped to get some information, particularly on the Witch Tower, and Mr. Balthus Hunclay. We're new in town, and of course, you and Deputy Hobbs are highly qualified for your posts. Who better for us to ask for information than yourself?"
"Have there been any complaints about the Witch Tower lately?"
"Mr. Hunclay. I've head he has attempted to have the Witch Tower torn down many times. Did he show any interest in forcing it down? Any strange purchases on his end, odd sounds from his residence or things like that?"
"Have there been any other strange occurrences around Belhaim? I heard tell of large wolves and ghosts. It seems fanciful, of course, but with kobold corpses discovered, you never know what those little rascals might be involved in. Does anything come to mind?"
"I apologize, ma'am, for how we came to be investigating this disaster. We only desired to assist you and Deputy Hobbs, not step on your toes."
"Is Lady Devy often in the habit of giving commands to law enforcement officials? You'll pardon me asking, but it seems strange to me. I would have assumed it was you who had authority over her..."
"One further question, Deputy Mulle. We found the remains of a few people--quite ancient--locked in the dungeons below the Witch Tower. Where would you like us to bring the bodies of those poor souls? I'm sure a proper burial would do their soul's good. Here?"
Hearing that Devy didn’t want her at all, she looks a bit bummed.
”Well, glad you are going back in there. I guess someone has to do it. You all seem capable. Sorry about your friend.”
She seem kinda frustrated, but not directly at you. ”Other than Hunclay, there has been no real complaints of the tower. People just left it alone. Other than the old Baron. Hunclay’s finances were not something we dealt with. As for his house, there has never been noise complaints, at least not after he finished building it.”
”We have had some strange reports of missing sheep and the like, but we are only able to do so much. Right now I am still working on paperwork. Those Abadar folks sure love their paperwork.”
”Well you are right about Lady Devy, but she is the ruler of this town. She is the Baroness, we are just here to keep the peace. If we found evidence of her own wrongdoing, it might be interesting, but, as far as I know, that has never come up.”
”As for the bodies you found. I am sure you can take them up to The Sunset House. Calladastina Honas is our local undertaker and there are graves there. That would be the best bet”
”Sorry if I feel a bit rushed. I just have all this paperwork that needs to get finished to send into the big city.”
"Of course, I understand." Brynn assures Deputy Mulle. "We'll be on our way, then. Thank you for your time."
Once Brynn and the others are outside she turns to them and asks:
"Hmmm... There's no one else I can think of who I'd like to speak to specifically... Can you think of anyone?"
"I'd like to do some mingling in town, to see what else I can pick up on the tongues of the locals. You're both welcome to join me, if you like."
verik shrugs, Well... i might be looking to find a library or place of local research... but to be honest that's just to look up the traits of Dire wolves, you see, i haven't studied the natural world, so i wouldn't be able to tell you the difference between a wolf or a Dire wolf... except that it's like a wolf, but Dire
Brynn laughs. "Well, let's find one, shall we?'"
Brynn asks the next few people she sees where they might find a library, or place of learning in Belhaim.
---
"And you, Vors? What do you desire, aside from the lovely Miss. Orem?" Brynn enquires with a knowing smile.
---
"Other than check on 'the littlest patient'", shrugged Vors. "I'll probably visit Bethany and see how she's doing."