"Zer is water an' streams close by, mon petit loup-garou, we can 'ave a bath 'ere an' wait for ze fire to die away - it will be a large campire, non?" Esteriande shrugs with a smile. "Is anyone still injured?"
If everyone is in agreement, we can find a beech close by with a stream. Esteriande will lead the girls down to bathe first, then send the boys down. We can camp the night using the ruined out-building as partial shelter (but keeping an eye on the well in case there was anything nasty left down there!).
For the first time since you arrived in this area you feel a lifting of the sense of dread and gloom that has surrounded you..the house burns through the night until finally with a thunderous crash the whole structure falls into the basement.
Dawn follows a couple of hours later..
Assuming we keep watches, we should all be rested up with spells and abilities restored. Before we turn in Esteriande will use her last two lay on hands to do a channelling for healing everyone:
Channelling (heal):
She is full of energy the following day, raring to get to Sandpoint, the nearest town and trade some of our recovered items for a new horse and other supplies, so that we can go forth to Magnimar ...
Muchorak will remain alert while the others bath, a tradition he is used to keeping. Once the bathing rituals complete and all are at camp he will offer to stand the first shift.
As dawn enters the camp and the companions awake to begin their daily tasks, "Do we still wish to return to the farm or just back to Sandpoint?" Looking at the decomposing body, "I would much like to be rid of that."
"It feels good to wash off the filth of that place" Inikai says to no one in particular. "Hopefully, the people of Sandpoint will heed our account of Foxglove instead of heaping more slander on us."
"Lady Esteriende, please accept my apologies for our less than courteous reception when we met you. Please understand our natural suspicions in light of recent events and surroundings. You have shown yourself to be an extraordinary individual as well as an inspiring warrior."
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Marak is introspective, pondering the difference between Esteriande's channeling of energy and his own. The power of Nethys feels like the heat of a forge, combined with the tingle of a storm's approach, surging through the body to cleanse away injury, and yet her goddess' touch is gentler, like a soothing cleansing rush of cool water, that leaves the skin prickling and sensitive to touch.
He cleans himself off with smooth, mechanical efficiency, somewhat perturbed that his arts do not include the least of arcane tricks, that would afford him the ability to simply wave away grime and sweat and the dust of the road with a flick of his fingers, not for the first time feeling a twinge of envy that he did not have the gift for the arcane arts.
Muchorak will remain alert while the others bath, a tradition he is used to keeping. Once the bathing rituals complete and all are at camp he will offer to stand the first shift.
As dawn enters the camp and the companions awake to begin their daily tasks, "Do we still wish to return to the farm or just back to Sandpoint?" Looking at the decomposing body, "I would much like to be rid of that."
"The farm I just want to make some notes about the statue head and I wouldent be more than 20 minutes."
Muchorak nods at Naria acknowledging her request, looking about the camp at the others as they finish their morning 'tasks', "Shall we be on then?"
Ok going to wind this section up quickly
You make your way back the 4 miles to the farm,the Boggards are obviously not morning people as you see no sign off them.
After Naria studies the head. you move on to the farm where you left your horses.The farmer lends Esteriande a mule to get her back to Sandpoint and a second mule to transport the body.
Arriving back in town you find the Sherrif organising a Milita foray to deal with the undead.it would appear that people thought you were not coming back.
Most of you find that your actions have wiped out the recent ill will towards you..it is a hero's lot it seems to veer between being feted and being reviled.
As the group returns Muchorak will make his way through the crowds to the Sherriff, "Did anything else happen while we were away?" He will give a pause to allow the sheriff to answer the question then continue, "We found this one," gestures to Esteriande, "In the home being held captive, the house has been burned to the ground to purge it of its vileness and information we found within would indicate a need to go to Magnimar. Are there any caravans heading in that direction within the week?"
Most of you find that your actions have wiped out the recent ill will towards you..it is a hero's lot it seems to veer between being feted and being reviled.
"Lady Esteriende, please accept my apologies for our less than courteous reception when we met you. Please understand our natural suspicions in light of recent events and surroundings. You have shown yourself to be an extraordinary individual as well as an inspiring warrior."
"I was not in ze best of moods myself, Monsieur Inikai, and eet was an unusual circumstance," Esteriande shrugs easily. "You all 'ave your own talents, it seems. Tell me, are you resigned to pursue zis threat to eet's source? I am, and I believe ze answers lie in Magnimar. As soon as I 'ave procured a new steed and rested, I intend to make my way zere."
Esteriande thanks the farmer profusely, and once at Sandpoint goes about reacquainting herself with the town - she has been there before, but not in recent years. She takes lodgings in the Rusty Dragon, greeting Ameiko as an old friend, arranges the return of the mule and goes about reacquainting herself with many in the town - including the priest of Shelyn at the new cathedral, Sheriff Hemlock (giving him her own account of what has trasnpired), Savah at her Armoury, the Goblin Squash stables, even making a point of dropping by on Madam Mvashti.
On her rounds she tries to find out as much as she can about the new local heroes and their exploits:
Diplomacy:
Diplomacy:
Diplomacy:
She will also find out the price of a good horse to replace her lost one.
After Naria studies the head. you move on to the farm where you left your horses.The farmer lends Esteriande a mule to get her back to Sandpoint and a second mule to transport the body.
Naria takes notes and tries to puzzle out as much about the head as possible
Knowledge History
Knowledge Engineering
Appraise
Ameiko welcomes you all back to the Rusty Dragon but seems preoccupied by something..perhaps her new responsibilites as head of House Kaijutsu are weighing heavily upon her.She is also,you note,shadowed by two men in Tian garb who carry that nations strangely crafted blades openly and look with suspicion at all who would converse with her.
There is no dedicated Priest of Shelyn at the Cathederal although a shrine to her is present.Most of the gods are served by lay preachers or by mendicant priests. Esteriande could preach there if she wished as a member of an authorised church organisation in good standing.
Sheriff Hemlock confirms the identity of the bandit and takes charge of his body.It's destined for a crossroads gibbet. He pays you the reward in gold and thanks you for your services.He adds a further 1000 gold as a reward for ending the Ghoul menace and the local merchants and farmers contribute a similar amount.
Tomorrow is Market day and the Magnimar Merchants will be returning homme the day after that.You could accompany them
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Marak assists Naria in her studies, his own fascination with ancient thassilon and her ways having been tempered somewhat by his previous encounters with the twisted remains of those they had victimized, but not wishing to taint her enthusiasm for the topic.
He'll also translate any inscriptions, if they happen to be in Thassilonian, or use comprehend languages, if non-Thassilonian writings are present.
Inikai will, naturally, visit Ilsoari and brief him on his latest exploits. He will ask the old sage for any insights he might have into them. He will also ask what has happened in the town during the last days. Of particular interest to him is who has come and gone from the town, what traders and travelers have come in on this caravan.
Inikai will also pay a visit to Cyrdak Drokkus to see what he has observed. For Cyrdak's own safety, Inikai will leave out most of the details of the foray into the Misigivings. Instead, he will make his account focus on the human dimensions and dramatic themes of it. This should make for the type of story that the theater owner enjoys.
In both cases, Inikai makes a point to ask about the young woman who accused Romon and about her father as well.
Diplomacy rolls, if needed:
With regard to the statue you can confirm that it is Thassilonian but are unable to determine whether it was part of an isolated monument or of a settlement.There are no inscriptions although a full investigation might be warranted in the future.
Nothing of import that you have not been involved in has occured in Sandpoint since you left for Magnimar 8 days ago. The town is beginning to make preparations for the Harvest Festival.
As for Shayless and her father..it appears that the Madame of the Pixies Kitten had a long talk with the man and whilst he is not happy about the situation he realises that his daughter was not the innocent party she appeared to be.He also realises that he has made himself a laughing stock.He and his daughter have reconciled but she has chosen her path in the world and he is reluctantly accepting that.
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While relieved that Romon is no longer focus for the town's ire, Marak is troubled by the rift between Shayless and her father.
He feel comfortable digging graves, and speaking words of comfort for those who have left this world, but, for all his insight, he feels distinctly ill-suited to help a parent reconcile his children's life-choices.
Surely, with the tragedies that have befallen this town, there must be some position the girl could take on that would be less demeaning, and be less troubling for her father to accept...
He will spend his evening trying to obliquely feel out prospective employers or craftsmen who may be able to take on an apprentice, and would be amenable to taking on a female apprentice.
Naria for her part seems to have lost none of her enthusiasm for the subject of Thassilonian and spends most of the night trying to figure things out about the statue. something her haggard appearance the next day can attest to.
Marak
Esteriande will happily preach from the shrine of Shelyn, and her sect being what it is may well visit the Pixie's Kitten to minister to their pastoral needs.
That evening she will touch base with the rest of the party, she is interested in pooling resources and planning our next move. On the subject of the latter she is direct and meticulous as a military commander.
"We need to find out where zis Aldern Foxglove was staying, 'oo 'e saw, what 'e did in Magnimar," she details to the rest. "Did 'e 'ave a residence there, for example ... everyzing we can find out."
You have the following items taken from the manor
Adamantine Longsword +1
A pearl ring worth 300Gp
A Hat of Disguise
A war Razor +1
A Stalkers Mask(see below)
Ring of jumping
Ring of protection +1,
A wand of Knock with 18 charges remaining
A cameo worth 100 gp containing tiny portrait of Muchorak
3 Violet arnets worth 100Gp each
A full dinner service worth 1000Gp
Assorted mixed silverware worth 200Gp
A small silver key ring worth 10 gp with two keys on the ring.
The larger of these two is a tarnished iron key set with a round opal worth 100 gp
The smaller key is made of bronze and has an unusually long tang ending in a set of three notched blades. The head of this key resembles a roaring lion.
56Gp
Stalker’s Mask
Aura faint illusion; CL 5th
Slot head; Price 3,500 gp
DESCRIPTION
This mask is crafted from leathery preserved sections harvested from several different human faces, draped one over another almost like scales and leaving the eyes and mouth exposed—the overall effect is similar to that of a scaled skull. When worn, the mask desaturates the wearer’s color, making him appear insubstantial and shadowy and granting a +5 competence bonus on Hide checks. Once per day, the wearer may cause the mask’s featuresn to slither and take on the appearance of any creature within 60 feet that he observes, allowing the wearer to use a disguise self spell to take that person’s appearance.
As long as he wears this guise, the wearer gains a +2 bonus on attack rolls and weapon damage rolls made against the person he is disguised as, as the mask builds upon the wearer’s rage and jealousy of the target’s appearance.
Construction
Requirements Craft Wondrous Item, disguise self, rage; Cost
1,750 gp
OK, so we have:
Adamantine Longsword +1 (Muchorak?)
A Hat of Disguise (Romon?)
Ring of jumping (anyone want it?)
Ring of protection +1 (Whoever doesn't have one)
A wand of Knock with 18 charges remaining (Naria?)
To be kept as possibly useful:
- A small silver key ring worth 10 gp with two keys on the ring.
The larger of these two is a tarnished iron key set with a round opal worth 100 gp
- The smaller key is made of bronze and has an unusually long tang ending in a set of three notched blades. The head of this key resembles a roaring lion.
To be sold (assuming no great objections):
- A pearl ring worth 300Gp
- A cameo worth 100 gp containing tiny portrait of Muchorak
- 3 Violet arnets worth 100Gp each
- A full dinner service worth 1000Gp
- Assorted mixed silverware worth 200Gp
- Fine wine worth 800gp (unless we drink it)
- A war Razor +1 (~1000gp)
- A Stalkers Mask(see below) (1750gp)
Value: 5450gp
2556gp cash
So assuming we sell all suggested, we will have around 8,000gp total
I suggest that those that don't take an item have first dibs on what to spend the cash on. As we have the market tomorrow we should have adequate opportunity to buy stuff unless anyone can craft ...?
[ooc]Prude
OK, so we have:
Adamantine Longsword +1 (Muchorak?)
A Hat of Disguise (Romon?)
Ring of jumping (anyone want it?)
Ring of protection +1 (Whoever doesn't have one)
A wand of Knock with 18 charges remaining (Naria?)To be kept as possibly useful:
- A small silver key ring worth 10 gp with two keys on the ring.
The larger of these two is a tarnished iron key set with a round opal worth 100 gp
- The smaller key is made of bronze and has an unusually long tang ending in a set of three notched blades. The head of this key resembles a roaring lion.
To be sold (assuming no great objections):
- A pearl ring worth 300Gp
- A cameo worth 100 gp containing tiny portrait of Muchorak
- 3 Violet arnets worth 100Gp each
- A full dinner service worth 1000Gp
- Assorted mixed silverware worth 200Gp
- Fine wine worth 800gp (unless we drink it)
- A war Razor +1 (~1000gp)
- A Stalkers Mask(see below) (1750gp)
Value: 5450gp2556gp cash
So assuming we sell all suggested, we will have around 8,000gp total
I suggest that those that don't take an item have first dibs on what to spend the cash on. As we have the market tomorrow we should have adequate opportunity to buy stuff unless anyone can craft ...?
On the subject of desired magic items, Esteriande would be very partial to a belt of dexterity or a headband of alluring beauty, if it is possible to make one.
That gives us as 9,000gp for party treasure, assuming everything else stays the same. Does anyone want to put dibs on the ring of protection and/or the ring of jumping? On reflection Ali might find either item useful (jumping in animal form would be very effective).
Weekly Market
• Merchants from Magnimar come every Fireday there is one magic item dealer with a few odds and ends and potions and scrolls
Any 1st level scroll 75% / Any 2nd level scroll 50% / Any 3rd level scroll 10%
Any potion 50%
Misc Magic items
Wand of Hold Person 10 Charges 850 gp
Wand of Shocking Grasp 25 Charges 375 gp
Wand of Cure Moderate wounds 15 Charges 1300 gp
Silversheen x2 250 gp
Hand of the Mage 900 gp
Boots of Elvenkind 2500 gp
Handy Haversack 2000 gp
Brooch of Shielding 1500 gp
Phylacterly of Faithfulness 1000 gp
That gives us as 9,000gp for party treasure, assuming everything else stays the same. Does anyone want to put dibs on the ring of protection and/or the ring of jumping? On reflection Ali might find either item useful (jumping in animal form would be very effective).
Inikai could certainly use the ring of protection.
When he learns about the nature of Foxglove's mask Inikai understands the objection to keeping it. He will insist that it not be sold to anyone connected to the [expetive] Scarzetti family, though.
OK, so we have:
A wand of Knock with 18 charges remaining (Naria?)
Naria would be most happy to recieve the wand.
So we have:
Adamantine Longsword +1 (Muchorak confirmed)
A Hat of Disguise (Romon?)
Ring of jumping (anyone want it?)
Ring of protection +1 (Inikai unless anyone objects)
A wand of Knock with 18 charges remaining (Naria confirmed)
9,000gp cash for the others to spend or invest.
After the meeting in Ameliko's tavern, Inikai checks on his house. If nothing is amiss he will make a social call on his neighbors to thank them for looking after it while he was away. He will also listen in case they have any information on what has gone on these past days.
Finally, Inikai pays his respects at the grave of his father. Standing there he thinks I may never have worn the robes of Nethy's clergy but I have left my mark on this place. Instead of spending all my days within stiffling stone walls of a monastery or some isolated shire, I have made my own way. It might not please you, Father, (and what did I ever do that did please you?) but I live on my own terms. And when I meet my end it will be because I chose the path that lead to it. If I come to lay in an unmarked grave it will only be after I have seen and done more that a man can rightfully expect to in his life.
Farewell
OK, 9,300gp (I did give approximate figures). Certainly waiting until we get to Magnimar sounds a good idea! Esteriande is more likely to find a battle-trained mount there also, in the meantime she can hire a riding horse.