"Well met Samuel!" Yasmin grasps his hand "Sit down with us"
The people that have guarded the caravan with her have not seen such a show of friendliness from the half-elf before.
"Should I have brought an animal? Jeez, why do people insist on having an animal with them? Best company is yourself."
"I can train an animal for you fairly quickly, if you want. I am truly sorry that you think that your own company is better than that of an animal. They are very, very good partners that one can rely on to the death. And they ask little in return. Unlike most people that I've met.
Good morning Sky. Bissi, Sky is a friend and NEITHER a pet nor food. Bissi, introduce yourself to him properly."
Turning towards Finn
"If we are to spend time together, far better that they meet each other now when we can control the situation than later when we might be busy. If you can tell Sky to not worry. And PLEASE tell him to NOT play any tricks on them."
Solvi watches quite closely, much closer than he watched when Bissi met Ray, as Bissi goes over to Sky. There are a couple of times when it almost appears that Bissi is about to do something but both times a gesture from Solvi calms her. A minute or two later, she comes back to his side.
The other two cats then also go over and sniff the bird but there is no issue. It is clear that Bissi is the boss of the cats, if Sky has passed muster with Bissi then they're fine with him.
|
Looking at Shriek: I have wandered the forests nearby for some time, but I did not grow up here. I'm from...farther away.
Gilraen looks down at Ray and gestures to Sky. He will be your friend too. The wolf lets out a "huff" of understanding.
Gesturing to Yasmin, Gilraen grins. She might be your friend.
Gilraen goes back to drinking ale and eating stew, occasionally tossing some choice bits to her wolf. She is looking around the tavern for anything interesting.
|
The inn is as nice a place as it can be. The bar is friendly enough as you all eat, but you are given a wider berth than the other patrons. It's quite and everything seems peaceful.
Then the earthquake happens. The town as rocked by a single jolt that you hear more than feel. All told, the place survives rather well. outside, you hear screaming and see a wave of dust wash through the city streets.
Solvi quickly tells his menagerie to stay here, then goes outside with Bissa and heads towards the screaming, longbow in hand.
Trying to maintain himself calm Shriek looks around and shouts so everybody can hear "Get under cover! "
He then moves to the door and looks outside with the others "What do you think that was? "
The half-orc suggests to go in the direction of the sound and dust.
Yasmin races outside, all business.
"There!" the half-elf points to the source of the dust cloud. She races of towards it.
|
|
In the distence, you hear cries. As you move outside, the cries become words The tower! The wizard tower's fallen!
Out in the streets as the dust settles, the towns guards and their leader begins shouting and trying to take stock of the situation.
There is no aftershocks, and it appears the damage may just have come from the tower's fall.
Seeing that no one outside of the tower is hurt, the leader asks Ok, it seems the tower has fallen. He says in a brisk tone that isn't the least bit excited It's not in town, and I know it's dangerous. Who's willing to explore the tower?
A hush falls over town as men and women all around all find ways to not look at the man.
"Absolutely we're willing. But first, what reward are you offering? And why is it dangerous?"
"Yeah, let's talk rewards before we risk our lives"
Shriek looks a bit surprised at the group Well, this might easily be what I have been looking for. He draws his longsword and placing the pointy blade over the ground, he stands with both hands over the hilt, attentively listening to the old man there.
"I will join the group. I will just request shelter and rights to loot whatever we find there. You said this was the Wizard tower. Why do you call it like that? Who inhabited the structure?" the half-orc feels the excitement of the adventure rising through his veins.
"I am ready whenever you are" he murmurs to the group "You are also coming Gilraen, aren't you?" he smiles to the small gnome.
"Samuel! Get your sword out of the ground! That will dull the point!"
|
|
As soon as the boom of the earthquake hits, Gilraen jumps on Ray's back and follows the group out of the tavern. Upon hearing the request of the town leader, she nods vigorously.
Ooh, ooh, pick us!
On Ray's back, she just about reaches chest height on Shriek. Looking up, she grins, I like that loot idea, too! I want to know if I'm going to come back with my arms and legs in the right spots, though.
|
|
Sheriff Benhovy looks over the group of outsiders, looks around and sees no volunteers, then says "Good Enough! I don't really have the power to offer a reward, but if loot is what your after, you might be able to find some. As for what's there...it's a wizard tower that just up and collapsed! I don't have a clue what magicks are at work.
He then gets in close to your group and says I keep this town safe, and that means busting the odd smuggler and keeping tom in the drunk tank on Starday night. I pray Desna watches over you.
He then backs up again, looks at the crow and says These men and women have agreed to check the tower. Give them a wide birth!
The assembled townspeople all mummer in agreement and disperse, watching to see what you do.
It doesn't seem like anyone here knows anything beyond the wizard's tower has fallen.
"Well, lets look at the front door shall we?"
Solvi approaches the front door (stays back 10 feet)
Throws Detect magic although without Knowledge Arcana or spellcraft its not really that useful :-(
Yasmin moves her two-bladed sword in her hands and walks to the door.
"Whoah! Tell us if you are throwing spells!"
Shriek is also surprised by the spell, but recognizing the movements he holds himself calm.
The half-orc observes the structure as it lies now in the ground, and explores around it trying to find a different place to access, be it in the ground or in the upper part.
If the entrance seems to be out of danger after all his companions has studied it, Shriek tries to open it. In case it is locked, he places his strength to help open it.
|
|
The tower is a bit out of town, but you can easily find our way out there. It takes a bit of time to get out there, but more like an hour of walking instead of several days.
When you get out there, you are not alone. There are two guardsmen and a obvious noble and his entourage. As you approach, both groups look and you and begin to take stock of the situation.
Shriek greets the guards and the noble "So what is the situation here? Anything we should know before we go in? The major requested us to explore the tower and we are here to do so."
Yasmin waits for the noble's reaction.
|
|
The guards look at Samuel, and then turn to the noble. The noble in turn tries to take control of the situation Today's your lucky day. Mulle and Hodd here can't handle this without the Sheriff to hold their hands, and I want to know what happened here. You seem to be a capable bunch. If you go in there and look through the rubble- find out what happened-I'll pay the lot of you 500 gold pieces. While you're looking around in the ruins, keep an eye out for any signs of our local eccentric, Hunclay. It seems somewhat suspicious to me that he's not answering his door. The noble points at the manor house adjacent to the remaining rubble of the tower Let me know what you find.What say you? The sheriff can't offer you gold, but I can!
"Do we get to keep any stuff we find inside? Or just the 500 gold pieces?"
Samuel nods accepting the deal "Sure, and as we agreed with the Sherriff, we will keep all the loot we find"
And then, getting impatient, the half-orc walks next to the door and smashes it open with his sword.
|
|
Two things happen at once-
1-Finn, Samuel, and Solvi begin to talk to the female noble-I am the Lady Origena Devy, and I own these lands. It's in my best interest to see it protected. If something or someone is downing manors in my sphere, some one will pay! However, I will promise you this-what you find you may keep, until the time the wizard takes control of his tower again. If that does not happen, then his possession are yours.
She then turns to Finn and says, Hunclay is our local crazy wizard. He's useful in his own way. I would hope he is well, but I have my fears...
2-Samuel gets bored and goes to break the door. It a bit away from the main conversation, but the half-orc punches hard strong into the door. It doesn't budge, but does shift a bit in its hard oaken frame. As he reals from the blow he sees the grisly remains of a kobold, the flesh charred badly and limbs contorted by fire, still lie on the doorstep of the manor house.
Yasmin stands a bit to the side, keeping an eye on everything while the others do the talking.
Shriek attempts to asses for how long the kobold has been dead.
"Well... my guess is... the kobold has been burned" says the half-orc without much other idea.
Before anyone else can finish approaching, Shriek attempts to finish opening the door "I hope that corridor is not trapped" and registers the kobold and any dangers in the corridor.
"I cannot see any marks from a trap here, perhaps the kobold was attacked by one of the wizard's spell or something. It might be he activated some kind of defence trying to steal something and the tower collapsed by the power of the blast" he looks behind self-confident.
If anyone decides to go in, he follows close after observing the place is safe.
Solvi will also check the door to see if he thinks it is trapped
"You're right, there are no traps to be found here"
Solvi will see if he can follow the Kobolds tracks, see where it came from. Won't follow TOO far but he is hoping they'll lead to another entrance or something
|
|
The group stands over the kobold, and is able to determine that something did indeed fry the little bugger. However, beyond that, you're not quite sure. It was fire, but not a ton more is found.
Looking for tracks, you see they lead back to the ruins of the tower. The first floor is standing, all be it with most of the top floor pining it under rubble. There is a sloop you will have to walk up if you want to get to the second floor entry or to even look for one up there.
The manor you're currently at is a bit away, but not too far from where the tower fell.
Shriek points to the first floor entry "I think it is more secure to proceed to the first floor first and clean it before moving to the probably less stable second floor"
He walks into the first floor looking for dangers.
In case there is no way into the first floor or the group decides to first attack the second one, the half-orc attempts to climb up the slope without removing his armor.