"Aye! I have seen your bravery first hand and you have been head first into all dangers. Thus far the man I know attacks only that which is evil or monstrous in action. That is no problem to me, nor to any of us. Perhaps one day you will discover your community."
Faird does not respond but does look thoughtful at Aux's words as he orders another drink.
Ruthviren eyes Farid a bit through narrowed eyes.
"You've lived hard and been hurt bad, I'd guess, Farid. Lots around here can say the same.
I'll take from you, sure. But, I hope, no more than you're willing to give. Considering you've been willing to blled for me, my town, and my friends, I don't know what more I could want.
And, so you know, you can expect the same from me.We all take. WE just have to remember to give, too, if we want to be called friends."
Brickasnurd Hildrinsocks
Hands over the money for the pelts....
Bhoors remembers that if he hurries the blacksmith promised to work late and have those silver arrowheads ready....
Over in one corner a discussion is going on about playing knivsies with the new folks...
”Hey they got gold!”
"Anyone need anything from the smithy. I am hoping the arrows are ready."
Farid stands and nods to both Aux and Ruth, "I will sleep on what you have both said to me, perhaps the drink is getting to me.
I shall walk with you Bhoors".
Bhoors nods and smiles for the company. "We won't be long."
@ the departing Farid and Bhoors
"See you both back at the Inn."
@Serilia
"We should be getting along as well, I don't like fighting rowdy drunks, they hurt themselves too often."
"I'll see you back at the Inn in the morning. If demons try to burn down the town in the night, or sommat, I'll be at my sister's."
Aux looks around realizes he is last and he readies himself and heads out the door for fresh air and to get back to the inn.
He waves at the owner and leaves....
Farid turns to Bhoors as they walk, "Why would the logging company not aid more in the quest you and your comrades were on. After all, if all of the townsfolk die, how will they chop any trees down?"
Ruthviren sat, stunned, his limp hand held by both of his sister's, his niece unheeded on his lap. baby...lost....
"I am so sorry, Asilane. Sorry we couldn't get back sooner...so...."
Asilane's tears do not last long, though: Motherhood in the Vale is no sure thing, requiring a toughness like the mercenary rarely needs to show. Ruthviren persausdes her not to go to work for one more day - "Just a little more rest, make d@#n sure you're well".
Just before bedding down, he takes her aside.
"Lainey, I have money. I can leave enough to make things easier, but not here; the old man will just drink it down. I'll find a way that you can get it and he can't. Maybe the temple...Anyway, I'll do my best to take care of you and Tila."
In the meantime, he will leave her a gp worth of silver - enough to help without making her a tempting target.
The day dawns with clear skies and a light breeze which promises to make the day warm but pleasant. The oppressive mood of the taint is slowly fading from the town and with a cure available the townsfolk move about their business without fear.
As each of the heroes come out of their houses or rooms at the Inn they are welcomed with flowers and other gifts of appreciation.
You are welcomed by a small group of people that the want to see the girl raised from the dead. One of them hands you a note.
Note -
Miss Gudlinck,
please see me at your earliest convenience. I would like to talk to you about your recent adventure and resurrection.
Sharvaros Vade
As you come out into the main room you are welcomed by Yangrit ”Good Morning Heroes!!!” she motions for you to sit down at a table that is already set with plates filled with food. ”On the house and what can I get you all to drink?”
Your sister is up and moving early in the morning airing the house out and washing all the linens. Just as you open your eyes something jumps on you. ”Wake Up Uncle Roo!!!” your feather light niece yells in your ear.
"I sure would like a pitcher of apple jack...to share."
Aux surveys the plates of food....
He eats the hot meats and and vegetables....places a few apples, nuts, or dry bread into his pocket....for the road.
Bhoors frowns, "Well Farid that is a dark question. But the short of it is that the consortium doesn't need any specific persons as much as they need the consortium. The Consortium has a standing monopoly on harvesting Darkwood. No one can legally get darkwood to market without Consortium backing. If the lose a dozen jacks to plague or anything else for that matter, word would go out in Origent to the south and 3 dozen would show up to apply for the job. If you are gonna chop wood, you want top dollar. Dark Wood is top dollar."
Later with Aux Bhoors smiles and nods a the idea of Apple Jack.
"Thank you," Serila says as she takes the note from the person and quickly reads it.
Is there a temple/bank of Abadar in Falcon's Hollow?
Yangrit shakes her head at Auxaiver and Bhoors. "You want a drink this early in the morning. Did you not learn from last night." She snorts "Anyhow, I don't sell that fruity apple drink here all you can get is my ale." She waddles back to the bar.
"Ale is fine for me.
Tell me my friends, back to the Dwarven ruins? I feel there is more there we did not discover".
"I think we will search for the missing children first, yet the path may lead anywhere...."
Farid shrugs, "Very well then Aux. I need to let go of my own obsession after all it has led me many places on many chases. It is time to do good. Where should we go first to find these children?"
"Morning, everyone! Roo calls, entering the Duck.
"Lets find these kids quick. Better for folks, and I'm itchin' to keep my promise to Farid, here. Oh...is that ale? Don't mind if I do..."
Aux stood up from the table after consuming a healthy meal...
Roo comments on the food, "Have some Roo, we have plenty left.
Aux checks over his gear, and makes certain everything is in order including an extra apple....
"Suggest we talk to the kids friends.... might be one of them has an idea on where to start...seriously with no idea we will have to go out of town and try to find tracks or spore to get on the trail."
"Could that burned out orphanage have anything to do with these disappearances? I am not sure how we would even know if they were connected but whoever ran the place was not a caretaker of children to be sure."
"I also plan to talk to the ferry men, if they didn't take them across then we have a place to start the wedge along the river, halfway house and lumber camp.....that's a wide area...I have seen this group roaming pretty far out at times.... No worse than Bhoors and I at that age."
This may be troublesome... I'd better ask Auxavier joins me, if I'm going to visit him.
Serila enters the Sitting Duck and joins you at your table. "Good morning, everyone. What are you discussing?"
After you've brought Serila up to speed she nods. "I'd like to help you find the children. Those poor souls..."
"I have a request," Serila then says, shifting a bit on her chair. "This morning I received a note from Sharvaros Vade. He wants to talk to me about my "recent adventure and resurrection." This frankly worries me, because one of the rumors about him is that he's obsessed with raising his late wife and so began to practice dark arts. Some of you may have heard of him. He and his son live in an old tower on the outskirts of town, overlooking the cemetery."
Serila looks at each of the men, but her eyes linger on Auxavier. "I'd hoped you could join me as I go talk to mister Vade. I'm a bit reluctant to go alone..."
"If nothing weird happens and he just wants to talk, then I expect it will be a brief visit and we can start our search for the kids soon."
"Once we get our lead we will head out straight away. I believe we can check both Brookmans well and the cemetery and tower as we start the search."
When Yangrit reminds him of the time of day he looks about puzzled,"Its morning? Oh yeah. . . breakfast tea, eggs, grits and bacon if you have any."
He sits with the others listening offering advice on the route. "I think someone we spoke to said they played near the orphanage."
He nods at Serila's request, "Sounds like its on the way."
"Yes lead on undying one!" Farid smiles though there is a hint of reverence in his voice.
"Sounds like we are ready".
Goes to the ferry to make sure the kids didn't cross the river...
The group makes there way thru town to the ferry dock and along the way people are pointing and whispering at them, some of the townsfolk smile and wave, and others come up and want to meet the heroes. Once they are at the ferry a small group of people has formed.
Auxavier asks a few of the dockhands if the missing children took the ferry across but the men tells him that they have not seen the children and the rumor going around the town is that they where dared to stay the night at the haunted burnt orphanage just north of town.
"Well it looks like the kids headed for the orphanage all right, thanks for the information!..is everyone ready? I guess we are going by the tower on the way out."
"Perhaps we will see clues at the orphanage we missed in haste in our last visit. But yes tower first".
The small stone tower is weather beaten and haggard looking with a wooden shingle roof and a simple iron reinforced wooden door with a small circular door knocker mounted in the center. As you come up to the door you can start to see the tombstones of the graveyard behind the tower about thirty feet down the cliff and a chilled breeze blows over you. A light can be seen from a small window on the second story of the tower.
Serila smiles and waves back at the people who smile and wave at the party. When the party reaches Vade's tower, Serila moves to the front of the party and knocks on the tower's door.
"Mister Vade? It's Serila Gudlinck."
Looks over the tower and graveyard....
"Are you certain about this?...we do need to get a move on."
Pleasant looking place..." Ruthviren grumbles under his breath.
From inside you hear a man yelling. ”Savram!!!! Get the door ………….. Savram!!! ....... Damn lazy boy.” The wooden door creaks loudly as a man in his early forties opens it. ”Well …. I was not expecting …… Ok, Ok.” He shakes his head visibly disturbed by the group of men with Serila. ”Hello Miss Gudlinck, I am Sharvaros Vade ” He gives the group a small bow and let's them all in. ”Pardon the mess. My boy is supposed to keep the tower clean…….. Savram come down here right now!!!” Shavaros waits a minute. ”He must not be home ….. lazy boy.” He clenches his jaw and snorts.
The dim lit entry of tower has a ragged throw rug taking up most of the floor, a medium sized table straight across from the door and two stools flanking the doorway. Behind the table a set of stairs runs up to the second level and to the basement of the tower. The walls of the entry have many hooks with dirty clothing and digging tools hanging from them. The stools each have a dirty pair of boots near them a different size by each stool. The table is pile of messy clothes and miscellaneous tools. The air within the tower is heavy and stale smelling like the doors and window have not been opened in a while.
You can see etchings on the stone floor peeking out from various spots under the rug and around the room random stones are etched with unknown symbols that are partially covered by a piece of clothing or tools as well.
You can smell a faint smell of decay coming from the stairs going down.
The writing are a magical protection spell to know more you will have to study the etchings in detail or use the read magic spell.
Perception
"Sorry sir, you seem to be sweaty and frantic do you get your water from Brook man's well? Do you feel well?"
"I apologize for arriving in such a great number," Serila says as she enters the tower with the others. "We've started an investigation on the disappearance of various children. We plan to head out directly after my visit here."
Serila takes a look around and observes that the place looks like it hasn't been cleaned for an extended period of time.
His son cleans the place...?
"May I ask you when you last saw your son, mister Vade?" Serila asks as politely as she can.
Perception
Farid enters and looks around at the room, his eyes catch the symbols but he says nothing as he is not sure what they are may be writing but he would not know.
Bhoors frowns and looks around. "Hey this reminds me we were gonna bury some of those bodies at the Big Tree. I hate this place creepy even at noon.
When the door opens he offers a disaming smile letting Serila speak her peice.
Bhoors sees the marks on the floor but dismisses them as odd but foriegn.
Sharvaros turns toward Axavier and gives him a puzzled look. "Frantic? .... Water? ..... He takes a second to understand what Auxavier is saying then shakes his head. "No, No I am fine just busy. Yes very busy." He then turns away to talk to Serila.
"No apologies needed. These are the men that bought back the cure are they not? After seeing Serila give a agreeing nod he continues. "Good, good. I would like to speak with them as well." He then stops suddenly. "Did you say children? ..... My son ... humm ..... What day is it?"
[dice=Perception]1d20
"Yes we did bring back the cure, now we are headed out to find a group of lost children..... It is Star day."
Ruthviren's nose wrinkles as he begins to smell the air in the house. He turns his head toward the stairs and asks "When's the last time you checked your larder? Smells like something is off...badly off."