Mukluk will also use the Identify spell on the bronze key, looking for lingering traces of magic.
"This is the key?" Mukluk holds up the key for people to look at.
"It doesn't seem like much." Mukluk will look around for a locked object to try the key on.
"Maybe this key has a non-magical dwoemer..."
As Mukluk inspects the key for signs of magic, he catches the faintest remnants of an aura before it winks into oblivion.
With all his studies of magic, he believes that the lock on the necromantic tome was so powerful, it could have drained all the power from the key and rendered it mundane.
Mukluk will pick up the book, the writings, and explain to anyone who needs translation what the say/mean.
Only one clue remains, a scrap of parchment with a message in Common:
"Veltargo, remain here and guard the temple. We shall return as soon as we gather the necessary components required by the book. Soon all of the unholy secrets will be within our grasp."
Reading the note aloud, Mukluk ponders the meeting.
"Sounds like whomever will be back to those place. If it were possible, I'd bury this dump. However, I'm not sure we have the man power to do that. What I wouldn't give for a 10 dwarven sappers right now. We'd have this place buried in no time."
Mukluk scratches his beard.
"Are we ready to go back to town? I can't see what to wait for except to come back in a few weeks to see who this note was from. However, we came to recover the key and we have."
"Let's get back to Theldrat. We get paid, friends."
"Interesting. We should return this book to the library at least and perhaps see what it might have contained when intact. As much as I want to put this place behind us, I don't like leaving knowing evil is afoot."
"Still, as you say, we came for the key. Let us return it, and safely convey the dwarf and elf away from here. Learn what we can, and see what future task our employer holds."
"Let's get back to Theldrat. We get paid, friends."
"Theldrat? He wouldn't happen to be in or near Greyhawk would he? Um. Where exactly are we? Have I asked if you have a drink yet?"
Tiabrar will check on Rinalda. "No offense, but you look awful. One of my potions managed to survive. Here, drink this. No, it's not one of 'those' potions and I am quite sober right now--unfortunately."
Mukluk will look at Tiabrar and wonders if he would give the man something to drink if he had it.
"Yeah, we're going back to Greyhawk. There is an Inn that we'll be hitting on the way back. You should travel with us, but we'll not hold it against you if you wanted to go your own way. I should warn you that there are orcs in the area."
And I thought some of my fellow dwarves were lushes.
"We're going to spend a day here to recover from our wounds before moving on. We suffered quite a bit in there. I hope you can wait a day."
"We're going to spend a day here to recover from our wounds before moving on. We suffered quite a bit in there. I hope you can wait a day."
"I don't think we have much choice. My bow and armor are back at the inn. I think I'll be able to mix together some new extracts in the morning, but I would not risk Rinalda's life, or my own, traveling now.
Tiabrar looks around for food or anything that might relieve his pain.
- survival
"I have used all the power Pelor gave me today, but tomorrow I will be able to help you more with healing. I've only a few days rations but you're welcome to share them with me."
"Tiabrar, I have a short bow here and a handful of arrows for your use and we've plenty of rations, just wait for the fire to settle a bit and we'll have a proper supper."
Doruk gives Tiabrar his bow and a dozen or so arrows (whatever Aralynn had left after the battle - other than the sleep and bludgeoning which Doruk keeps for now).
As Mukluk Muletender tends to the mule and helps Doruk make camp, he will wonder if the new elf has any better aim with bow than the last elf.
Splash on, Aralynn, splash on.
You all make camp and Rinalda comes to.
The dwarvish woman immediately rolls to her feet and gives you all a wary look before she spots Mukluk amid your ranks. Then a wide grin spreads across her face at spotting one of her own kin.
"Oww... that's gonna scar." she says, feeling the location where Veltargo dragged his sacrificial knife along her arms.
She smacks her lips and looks about for a drink, too.
"Tiabar... did ye ask these folk if they had a drink? We should toast them for saving us!"
With water (tsk...) in hand, she guzzles it down quickly and continues to regard you all.
"So, what? You're adventurers or tomb-robbers?"
"An interesting distinction, however right now we're employees of Mukluk here, attempting to recover a stolen key. It happened to lead us into a tomb, which we then adventured in and subsequently robbed, although Petrel did restore a corpse to it's original resting place."
Mukluk moves to address Rinalda.
"Blessing of the ForgeHammer upon you. My name is Mukluk Muletender, 3rd cousin to the Clan Highforge. Who might you be?"
Mukluk examines his scars and numerous wounds as he speaks to her (3/14 hp).
Chicks dig scars.
"We are from Greyhawk. Those who kidnapped you also made the mistake of stealing from one of my kin...heck, *our* kin. He won't do that again. Ever again."
Chicks dig revenge.
"What can we do for you? Where did you want to go? We have business in Greyhawk, but could see you elsewhere if needed...or find passage for you in Greyhawk. We dwarves need to stick together."
Chicks dig family.
Mukluk smiles.
Nailed it.
You can't get away with all that dwarvish diplomacy without making a Diplomacy roll...
In fact I'll take 3 rolls from Mukluk, thank you.
You guys will have up to a week of down-time if you like to train, identify, sell, buy... there's nothing "urgent" that will press you guys between modules at this moment.
Presumably Mukluk identifies everything during this time.
Veltargo carried:
* Wand of magic missile (full 50 charges!)
* Cloak of resistance +1
* Scrolls of contagion (x2)
* Unused potion of cure moderate
Isalnarr carried:
* Breastplate +1
* Unused potion of cure light
Diplomacy
Diplomacy
Diplomacy
* * *
Mukluk admires and is pleased to take the Wand of MM.
"If no one objects, I could use this to great effect."
Mukluk holds up the cloak.
"This cloak will protect the wearer from fell magicks. Who wishes it? The breastplate is sturdy but unfit for my casting. Anyone wish it? Or should we sell it?"
Mukluk hands the scrolls to Martigan to see.
"I cannot think we can either use these...but I'll leave that to you. Maybe we could sell them to a research facility?"
Mukluk plans his return to Greyhawk as he tends to the atol.
1) Visit Geraal Wistroan, the librarian, and return the book. Maybe Geraal will be more open to helping Mukluk in the future?
2) Visit Theldrat. Get paid, give him the unfortunate news about Aralynn.
3) Sell goods and buy other goods. Not sure how much money he'll have yet.
Petrel was bummed to lose one of the crew but looks absolutely dismayed when he learns the magic key has been drained of all unlocking power.
That was my chance to cut to the front of the line for joining a top crew of thieves! Stupid Vecna.
"This cloak will protect the wearer from fell magicks. Who wishes it? The breastplate is sturdy but unfit for my casting. Anyone wish it? Or should we sell it?"
Petrel will proudly display his divine mark. "You should keep it, I've been magically protected by one of the Gods of Greyhawk!"
Once I am back in town I need to find out who is in charge. Maybes I can get the job of official temple thief. Sneaking up on evil clerics and stabbing them in the neck!
Petrel doesn't mind rescuing some stray civilians, especially when he hears one of them is a princess.
Oh. Lumpy Dwarf princess. Well maybes there will be royal level loot rewarded if we escort them back to town.
At some later date, considering things after several drinks, his boozy thoughts turn to metaphysics.
"I wonders if there is like, a flow of elves through our group, Mukluk. Like, you lose an elf, you gain an elf. But never two elves, or, never no elves. You know?"
At some point during the walk home...
"Martigan, what can you tell me of Pelor? It seems there's a greater war out there, larger than any I've been involved with so far, and an important one. Perhaps I should not sit so idly on the sidelines embroiled in my own petty fights. That priest was not just evil, but part of a larger organized evil with far reaching plans!"
"Fighting in a well tuned army was always what I thought I wanted, but this short trip has taught me much..."
"The gods war with each other Doruk. Pelor is the god of the Sun, and his light shines upon us, warms us and gives us life. Vecna is an evil deity, his worshipers vile and pestilential vermin that feed upon the underbelly of society. The war we fought in the Shieldlands was but a small part of that greater conflict. Aralynn was our first casualty, but hopefully our last. Your noble spirit does you well friend, hold on to that and we will make it through the dark places."
That great mucking weapon of his will help too of course.
Mukluk hands the scrolls to Martigan to see.
"I cannot think we can either use these...but I'll leave that to you. Maybe we could sell them to a research facility?"
"Bah, these are spells of evil Mukluk, I will not sully my faith by using them. I'd just as soon see them destroyed, but if you insist on selling them perhaps you might find a church of Kord or Saint Cuthbert. Those cretins will do anything to further their goals."
Rinalda sits and listens to Mukluk's espousing of his scars, revenge and family.
She then starts to chortle and guffaw, almost falling over as water shoots from her nostrils. She rolls around on the ground kicking for several moments before Tiabrar helps he back upright.
"Yer a wizard!" she finally manages to say, her face flush.
"I dun think ye 'ave ever swung an axe or a hammer int'a a feer-soom orc 'ave ye?" she says as her eyes glance down at the military pick at Mukluk's side.
"Or izzat for gathering samples of fey-urns and mooses for your wizarding ways?"
As she composes herself she finally becomes more regal and composed.
"Ach, well if ye all be good enough to fend off these cultists, that's more than me n' Teeb could do alone."
She clears her throat.
"If only I had a good axe I would've cleft heem in two when he tried that trick."
She holds up her waterskin (loaned by Doruk) and toasts.
"To new friends - sheed ye be worthy, I might've a proposition when we get t'th Free City!"
~*~
You all pack up, take a quick stop at the Inn of Last Chance and arrive back at the Free City with the Atolian mule more heavily laden than when he left.
The gate guards eye your bounty and immediately inquire as to if you are all adventurers, and if you are returning from the Cairn Hills with spoils of your profession.
"The gods war with each other Doruk. Pelor is the god of the Sun, and his light shines upon us, warms us and gives us life. Vecna is an evil deity, his worshipers vile and pestilential vermin that feed upon the underbelly of society. The war we fought in the Shieldlands was but a small part of that greater conflict. Aralynn was our first casualty, but hopefully our last. Your noble spirit does you well friend, hold on to that and we will make it through the dark places."
"Thanks. I see clearly I must get involved at a higher level than I have been. But why Pelor? There are a multitude of gods in this war are there not? Why limit yourself to just one? Forgive my impertinence... I am just grasping like a child for the truth." Doruk grins.
I must better prepare myself for this war. Force of arms may not be sufficient in such a battle as this. But what is my calling? Terrestrial war, or a war of the ages fought on many battlefields in many states? I wonder if I am up to such a challenge as that. Perhaps it is better to focus on what I can effect. Or is it affect? I can never tell what's more important...
The gate guards eye your bounty and immediately inquire as to if you are all adventurers, and if you are returning from the Cairn Hills with spoils of your profession.
"Yes, sir! These are some mighty adventurers that saved me and my friend here. We were taken away with only the shirts on our backs and return as such."
"Their atol is barely able to stand with all the loot they took out of those hills. They'd do any dwarf proud--even that odd wizard dwarf--with the extent of their mining. They found magic and weapons, gold and silver, treasure galore!"
Huh, that's gratitude for you.
"We've returned with little for our troubles but a dead companion and two rescued princesses. We were sent by this man's uncle to recover a key and we have done so. The items you see here were taken from our fallen companion and several bandits. Mukluk Muletender can enlighten you further."
Mukluk looks at the elf and wonders where he found drink on the road.
"The elf has a less than good concept of reality, I'm afraid. We come back only with the gear from a thief that stole from us and the gear of a companion who died trying to help us get it back. We are not acting as adventurers here, but agents of law and order."
Mukluk shows off the gear on the atol.
"This bow here was from our companion, as was this armor and these swords. We have a few other items from our quarry..." Mukluk points to the breastplate, "...but little else to claim. Our atol could carry much more if needed. However, you are the fair and experienced arbiter of such things. What do you think we owe?"
@the Princess:
"Ah, I wish it were true that I had not needed to bloody my pick in rescuing you, but I have on several occasions, be I a wizard or not. It was the first priest that died to my pick." Mukluk does not lie.
"It's funny how you scorn what the high chiefs of my Clan revere: prowess in battle...be it with brawn or magic. It's probably because your beard is short and you have not seen much of it, I suspect. I practice both."
Mukluk smiles as he raps his pick on his buckler.
"If you had more work, that would be appreciated, I think. I have some free time to expand and practice my craft while I await word from the clan for when we begin our assault on the Pits of Azak Zil."
"..What do you think we owe?"
More diplomacy rolls from the dwarf, please! Just one, actually.
Skill Focus (Diplomacy) is suddenly looking good...
"Owe?"
Tiabrar turns to the guard.
"Why would they owe anything? They did your job. How was it my friend and I were just scooped up off these streets and taken out of here? Why wasn't anyone watching out for us? Perhaps someone should hire them to help protect this lawless city."
"Talking is thirsty work. We should all sit down and discuss this over a drink or two."
- Diplomacy
Diplomacy
Petrel consoles his buddy Mukluk.
"Princess problems? Looks like she shot you down so fast, she coulda given old Aralynn archery lessons."
"Don't worry I know all the best places in town to meet girls. Plus you can afford them once we get paid."
Knowledge Local
"Looks like she shot you down so fast, she coulda given old Aralynn archery lessons."
Mukluk bobs his head in agreement with Petrel.
Yeah, she coulda given Aralynn archery lessons. Training from blind one-armed gully halfling probably would have improved her aim.
"Ah, thanks Petrel. You always say the right things."
Oh, I do love me them whores. Especially them pretty ones with the long beards.
"I'm not talking to you, elf."
The gate guard appears annoyed that Tiabrar would interject into his questioning. He appears satisfied at Mukluk's response, mumbling something about possessions from a fallen companion as he makes some notes in his log book.
He writes down all of your names (standard practice really) and waves you through into the city.
The princess continues to chat with Mukluk from time-to-time.
"Not seen much? I've seen the magic of the Duergar rip apart my clan. Give me an axe and a pit with my enemies to sort out matters, that's the kind of reckoning I'd like..."
Rinalda pulls Tiabrar aside at some point before they return to their inn.
"Keep an eye on them, see if you think they would be worth revealing the location of the ancient fortress to, and see if you think they might do the job for whatever magic they find within, as long as I'd get ta' keep whatever ancestral weapons of my people they uncover."
She will make her way back to the inn to check in and tidy up before meeting with several of her clan to announce her return - there will likely be some sort of celebration that she has returned unharmed.
Unfortunately, this princess - and her people - are currently somewhat poor. :)
"What all do we have in this pile now? What are we keeping and what are we selling? I like the look of this breastplate but I think we should sell it for cash if nobody wants it. I'll keep the well crafted heavy mace, nothing marks it as evil and it'll be ironic."
"Why Pelor? Well I suppose he called and I answered. You serve the god that suits you, and in my case that's Pelor."
"Doruk, you should follow We Jaz! He is the God of Magically Doing Stuff, like kicking Vecna's butt. Also I met him, so I can put in a good word for you, get you the perks."
Petrel wraps up his pitch by pointing and winking at Doruk while making the "click click" type sound.
"Really Petrel? You met your god in the flesh?"
Doruk wonders...
"Oh yeah, he showed up in the cave and blessed me when I buried his priest, remember? He gave me this amazing magical tattoo!"
Upon entering the city, "Thank you everyone for your assistance. Rinalda must check in with friends and family tonight, but no one has missed me. Might I buy you all a drink tonight? I wish I could offer you more, but I might at least be able to peek your interest in another matter."
"I could use a good drink, I will take you up on your offer Tiabrar. Allow me to clean up and visit the local temple to Pelor, I must pray for a lost friend."
"I'm up for a drink now the job's over and we'll hoist one for our fallen friend!" Doruk jingles his coin bag a little, and frowns at how empty it is.
Seems like we did a lot for a little. Still, it was a very short period of time... perhaps Tiabrar's job will be more profitable.
"Where to?"
"I'll meet you at the Blue Dragon Inn, near the Silver Dragon Inn. The kitchens aren't as nice as the Silver Dragon, but I'm not interested in the food."
At the bar, Tiabrar orders round of drinks for the party including a bottle of elven wine for himself.
"Let us drink to your success and your loss."
"You appear to be a resourceful group. Perhaps you would be interested in further work together. Rinalda and I are pursuing some claims passed onto her by her father. He was unable to pursue them in his own too brief life, but hopefully his kin will be successful."
Mukluk agrees to meet Tiabrar and Rinalda later.
He smiles at the prospect of more work.
I have learned much of the last few days. Each day, I learn more and grow more. At this rate, I'll be able to clean out the Pits on my own.
Before dinner and drinks, Doruk takes the Temple Sword back to where Aralynn bought it.
"I'm afraid Aralynn didn't make it. Rather than sell this sword to any dealer, I thought you might want to buy it back instead." Doruk looks unhappy.
"Will you take it back?"
Petrel will get cleaned up and head over to the Temple of Wee Jes.
@Doruk: It not being one of the days where the Bazaar expands it's business, you don't find the same stall where Aralynn purchased the sword. However, after asking around you receive directions to the old man's home and knock on his door. After what seems like an eternity he finally answers and recognizing the sword, you see him quietly and humbly nod.
"Of course, young man..." he says as ushers you within.
"I am afraid we don't have much by way of coin, but I could give you this for bringing it back to me..."
He hands Doruk 15 gold.
~*~
@Petrel:
You make your way through the Free City to the Garden Quarter. You recall that Wee Jas does not have a large presence in the city, but remember hearing bits and pieces about a shrine that you could visit. Sure enough, you spot a small brick building bearing the sign of the Ruby Sorceress. However, instead of her holy symbol - a skull surrounded by flames - the sign here portrays the goddess herself - an attractive, red-haired women dressed in dark colors.
As you enter the small shrine, a middle-aged man with an impeccably well-groomed short beard greets you, looking you up and down.
"Yes? May I help you?"
~*~
@Everyone: Feel free to continue role-playing at the Blue Dragon Inn while I finish prepping the adventure.
"What manner of claims Tiabrar?"
"I am afraid we don't have much by way of coin, but I could give you this for bringing it back to me..."
He hands Doruk 15 gold.
"That's quite agreeable. I'm sure she would have wanted it to go back to you."
Doruk sells the remaining items here and there in the marketplace. He doles out the shares to the remaining party (253.25gp) and joins them and Tiabrar at the pub.
I'll need a more profitable run for this next adventure or I'll not be able to maintain my armor and weapons! Perhaps the nobles will be more willing to part with their wealth than the merchant was.
Mukluk with enjoin Doruk and Martigan to the bar.
"What manner of claims Tiabrar?"
Between drinks and toasts and drinks. "Claims to weapons of her clan. Supposedly, hopefully, still in a fortress."
"I'm not exactly sure about much more. I've been more of the messenger and drinking companion for Rinalda so far. She can tell you more, but she'd be happy to let you keep whatver else you find. She just wants to reclaim her heritage."