|
"Have any other Pathfinders, or others for that matter, already been sent to the keep? Any tales of what we might encounter in the ancient halls? Also, what about provisions? I will need to know how much ale I will need to pack if it is not readily available closeby."
Grim chuckles to himself at his joke....until he realizes it may not be a joke and begins to look worried.
|
A few weeks of relative sobriety had done wonders for Ellis, the shaking had all but stopped. Life was a bit on the boring side in the Lodge. Standing guard every four days to pay for your room and board. He was glad when he was summoned to VC Heidmarch's office.
As the venture captain finished explaining the mission objectives, Ellis happened to glance down. A lemon sized goat turd lay on the VC's spotlessly clean rug. "EEE gads!!!" Ellis thought to himself!!! Alarmed at this turn of events. Ellis began to push the goat droppings under the VC's desk with the toe of his boot, acting very cool and nonchalant all the while.
The goat did not even look ashamed of itself.
Stealth Roll
|
Sheila Heidmarch notices that goat, but has grown used to the animal and only smiles at Ellis. You have transportation to Thornkeep. I provided a ship and a river vessel for your travels. You shouldn't expect much trouble, until you get there. I have some maps of the area, that show where the entrance of the dungeon to be. However, because of the wards previously in place, nobody that is still living has been into the dungeon.
|
The new fellow's animal is sadly outshone by the brilliance of Arduino's. Standing at his side is a magnificant young Roc, fully the height of a grown man, with ashen-grey plumage and golden-brown eyes currently closed as it coos with pleasure as Arduino idly strokes its neck. Then its eyes snap open and it regards the Venture-Captain with a steely glint before turning to caw something into Arduino's ear.
He nods thoughtfully to the bird. "Yes, good point." Turning to the captain, he asks, "Do we know anything about Athemon? What his specialty as a mage was, what deeds he accomplished?"
|
|
Your boat leaves at sunrise, sailing into the Steaming Sea towards Conquerors's Bay. Once in Korvosa, you leave the open seas and start sailing down navigable rivers through The Bloodsworn Vale. From there your journey takes a turn on foot, hiking through the mountain pass and into Skelt. From there you are able to hire a boat to Caliphas, the capital of Ustalav. The River Kingdoms now so close, you are able to hire a smaller boat to row you up the West Sellen River and into the Echo Wood, home of Thornkeep. All in all, this journey went smoothly.
During your travels, you had time to study the maps given to you by Heidmarch. They don't show much. The town of Thornkeep is small and like other River Kingdom areas, is mostly lawless. You are able to get to the Thirsty Ogre, the tavern in town. Rooms are paid for with money from the Venture Captain.
Ellis is able to study during the trip, finding some useful information in the libraries of Caliphas: Long ago, the evil Nhur Athemon—a powerful wizard and devotee of the demon lord Abraxas—f led Azlant with his household and slaves, making the distant Echo Wood his home in exile. He raised a tower atop the very hill where Thornkeep now stands. Ever fearful of discovery by his enemies in Azlant, the wizard-lord raised webs of illusion and magical wards to conceal his presence. Ultimately, however, Athemon’s efforts were to no avail—in time, his enemies succeeded in divining his location. Azlanti wizards and soldiers broke into the hidden stronghold and destroyed Athemon and his followers, leaving little trace of the outcast’s stronghold aboveground. However, the soldiers missed the workrooms and conjuring chambers under his palace.
|
|
Arduino receives his key and nods thankfully, limping slightly after a long day's travel. He heads up to his room and throws the windows open, allowing Reccy to gracefully glide in and settle onto his bed.
Anyone near the room hears the follow conversation- "Yes yes I know trees are far more comfortable but we are Pathfinders now, we need to keep up appearances. Oh really, then I suppose you will not be spending three hours picking through your feathers for smudges and OWW damn you, birdOWW! Fne, fine... now, who gets the bed? I do not care if you are a lady, I am the human here! Fine, fine... I call tails. *clatter* Damn you to mildew."
Anyone walking into the room finds the bird curled up and nesting comfortably atop the bed and Arduino trying to find the least-spiky patch of splinters on the floor, draped in bed covers.
|
|
Lorelendral hears- "Hmm? It's just Lorelendral seeing what's wrong with us. Yes something is wrong with us, you bit me! Oh do not worry I understand, you are threatened by my immense masculine sexual dominance whi- OWWW! Don't say anything you can't take back, bird!"
After a few more seconds of this, Lore hears a tinny voice replying- "All is fine, thank you, Lore. Good night."
and then- "Yes I said good night. No I was not trying to attract her as a mate, it's a common farewell! We'll talk about this in the morning."
|
|
"Finally off that blasted boat and on solid ground. I am as thirsty as an ogre, Lets see what they have to sample here...and then to planning for our mission."
Grim orders a pint of stout or whatever they offer in the place and wonders to himself how this party with a goat and a giant bird will perform on the mission.
Ah, they are all good chaps...I like our odds.
He takes another swig of his ale.
|
|
Ellis and the goat wonder around Thornkeep until they find the Tavern. He joins Grim at the bar, and orders an ale with some of his final remaining gold. “Long voyages by boat always make me want to have a few drinks. Come to think of it short voyages make me want to have a few drinks.” The bar maid brings a pint of ale over to Ellis and he raises his glass, “To a profitable venture.”
The goat says, “Naaaaaaa”
|
|
Gim and Ellis find that the Thirsty Ogre can make a great ale and an above average stout. For being so far from the rest of the world, they do know their beers!
The next day you start your way out towards Brokenhelm Hill, an innocent looking piece of brush and trees that is indicated on your map. After looking around the hill for an hour or so, you find hidden in the deep brush a stone door that has been attempted to be hidden by some type of humanoid.
|
|
Ellis and Lore realize that the door isn't actively magical, but it does have a faint magic that still floats in the air. The runes on the door are ancient and neither can make out what they mean.
Ruprecht is certain that the door isn't trapped, since it has been opened recently! Ellis can tell that the brush was placed in front of the door within the last few days. Small humanoid creatures have left some muddy tracks leaving the area.
Grim can see that the large stone door only needs a simple push in order to open...
|
|
The door creaks open with ease, and you look down into a short stairwell that opens into a larger room. Moving cautiously, you enter into the dungeon. You notice that the walls were crafted expertly from masonry and the floors are made of flagstone. Taking a few steps onto the stairs, you see several braziers lining the walls lit with magical flames.
At the bottom of the stairs is a large square room (25'x25'). As soon as you enter the room, you are assaulted by the smell of rotting meat. The room is empty save the excavated flagstone in the center of the square.
At the opposite side of the room from the stairs is an old door that has been sealed with blocks. The flagstones that were pulled up in the middle of the room reveal a staircase that leads down.