"Let's see what we can get for them!"
The price of a wand is equal to the level of the spell × the creator’s caster level × 750 gp.
Jorin reaches into his robe and produces his money pouch. Opening it wide he tips it into his hand and does a swift count. "Ten gold and four silver", he says jiggling the coins back into the opening of the pouch before tying the strings and putting it back into his robe. "If we want to survive this place we'll need healing and probably more than we can cast from amongst our group. The very little I do know about dungeoneering is that it is first and foremost taxing on the medicinal resources of those who enter. Often it is the failing of keeping up with the wounds suffered from previous mishaps or encounters with dangerous creatures that cause someone to fall rather than one major blow. We should pool our wealth and try to purchase this wand. It may be that we cannot afford such a thing immediately before entering but with some careful planning we may survive long enough to do so.
Entering into Thornkeep you can see that the Keep itself dominating the settlement has seen better days. A curious site ye will see as you wander into town is a dwarf replacing damaged shingles on a roof with a goblin assisting him.
Passing into town ye see Haric's Saddlery and Serianna's Livery Stable. As you press down the road past them you enter the town green, an open patch of ground at the foot of the road leading up Brokenhelm Hill to the baron’s castle.
Businesses and services of significance in the town square are the Greenforest Inn, Thornkeep Bindery, Tadrin's Trading Post, Blue Bassilisk Hall (with a noticeboard outside), Torra Stoneframers (a masons), Greenfoot Provisions, Echo Wood Arms, and Igmar Dusthelm's (armourer). There are various other small buildings containing less significant merchants.
Let me know which if any ye would like to go to first?
Tik'Klik toddles along behind the largest group if they split up, or with the group, if they don't.
Not having the coin to go shopping Barek wanders over to the Noticeboard and scans it for anything that might be worth looking into. Something with a reward listed.
"Might as well stable the horses, we won't need them for a while," Darya suggests. "Then we can check out the notice board posts and make our sleeping arrangements. Or vice versa, I suppose."
"Best to know where are good places to rest our heads. Or make gold."
You can stable your horses at the Greenforest Inn or Serianna's Livery Stable.
The noticeboard has a carved wooden depiction of two basilisks rampant stained a deep blue.
The most interesting handbill details that several weeks ago, the wizards Tiawask and Jharun of the Goldenfire Order set out to explore the ruins of the Emerald Spire and research the portals underground. They have not returned. Iliara Starcloak—the leader of the order—is concerned about her missing colleagues. She’s actively seeking a reliable party of adventurers to search the Emerald Spire and its dungeon levels for any clue as to the disappearance of Jharun and Tiawask, and rescue them if they are in danger. The exact amount offered as a reward is left vague and likely to be of more substantial quantity in line with the challenge and results.
A different handbill offers a reward of 500 gp for the rescue of Garhal Silvercrown or the recovery of his signet ring as proof of his death. Garhal is the son of a minor lord in Mivon, and he came to Thornkeep with a small band of adventurers in recent months. They ventured into the Accursed Halls a couple of weeks ago and returned with stories of magnificent ancient chambers, but disappeared after going back to the dungeon to try their luck again.
Also known as the Halls Under the Hill are a dungeon beneath Brokenhelm Hill. Mysterious magic about the structure somehow seems to teleport in monsters. It's quite possible that Garhal Silvercrown was blindsided by a monster in an area he had considered previously cleared... or perhaps delved too deep and found something he couldn't handle.
The Blue Basilisks are recruiting individuals with combat experience. Currently they're looking to hire on extra hands for guarding a caravan bound for Daggermark next week. Wages are two gold per day for their troubles, plus any profits they manage to make while on their missions. This job however would take some time, far longer that you have before needing to return to Restov.
"The Greenforest for tonight sounds good to me! And we can surely find these wizards and the lost lordling."
"Mind, the one and only thing I'm going to do 'surely' is get scarce when I feel we can't cut it anymore," Darya proceeds to rain on her enthusiasm.
"Not that I don't enjoy a spot of danger and challenge, but we have no clue what we're getting into, after all, and I'm much too fond of my round, bouncy ass here," she demonstrates the latter quality with a resounding slap. "So I'd rather not stake it on arbitrary odds of success, at best."
"Tik'Klik."
Tik'Klik reads over the hand bills, committing them to memory.
Jorin stands beside the group, right hand cupping his left elbow as his left hand uses the fan to keep unwanted pests away. Listening to the chatter he adds, "Should we look and see if we can find some of that liquid Tik here needs to keep himself in working order? I presume a town like this must have at least one person that can make it?
"What are the odds of any of these missing people being alive and would it be smart to go looking for them? Maybe if we knew what kind of adventurers they were we'd have a better idea if tracking them down and dealing with the same hazards is likely to result in a missing poster for us or not.Forewarned being forearmed.
They aren't famous enough for knowledge local to get you more details than ye have. Both Jharun and Tiawask are mages of some kind or another. But using diplomacy to gather information would potentially garner a few details.
Amadeen, still smiling, keeps going.
"Well if we *don't* find them, it's no huge problem. But we're a cunning bunch and our odds of sniffing them out are good if they went a similar route to ours. And sure, let's get some spell components, keep Tik ticking over."
"You guys plan to head to the shops then? I'm stocked with the basics and probably won't be able to afford anything truly good for now, so I reckon I'll start with the inn," Darya says once the horses have been taken care of and they've checked out the board. "Meet you there."
The proprietor of the Greenforest Inn is Shandar Tulman, a balding, middle-aged man with a mustache like a bristle brush. His wife Jalia helps him run things and their young niece Drusta is running things in the stables currently. The man behind the bar is Edders, he has an engagement ring on his finger. All of them are human.
A private room at the Greenforest costs 1 gp per night, and includes breakfast and dinner. A bed and trunk in the common room costs 2 sp per night, and includes a loaf of bread or bit of porridge for breakfast.
The common room is currently quite busy as things are drawing towards the end of the day. Most of the patrons are human but there are a few half elves and halflings about the place. There is a goblin by the fireplace watching the flames crack intently.
A large half orc woman wearing hide armour with a wolf headed broach clasping her cloak sits smoking in one corner.
An athletic looking human man with short cropped blonde hair in a tabard bearing the heraldry of the blue basilisks is currently having a slice of beef alongside some vegetables for his dinner.
A half elven bard plays a mandolin while singing a surprisingly upbeat song about a duel to the death and misadventure.
A halfling woman drinks a goblet of wine as she listens to the bard's performance. She's wearing robes that are clearly a walking advertisement for 'Here Be a Wizard' with a distinctly fire motiff going on.
A dwarf with a silver beard ring is tapping his foot to the bard's performance as he quaff's a dark ale, a small amount splashing on his studded leather armor.
In front of the bard, Amadeen is clapping her hands in time to the music and singing along - loudly!
Amadeen is keeping the beat at least and doing reasonably well.
Jorin looks about the establishment, taking in the sights and sounds. Noting the ecletic mix of people he nods to himself before turning to the rest. About to open his mouth to speak he stops when Amadeen begins to sing. Waiting to see if she is going to stop he instead directs this to the remainder of the group."Well this is as good a place as any to gather some information about our possible destinations, though I have to admit life in a monastery does not lend itself to carousing a tavern to solicit news and gossip. Still I could try my hand but I think someone with a better, uh",he looks at Tik, diplomatic tone take over here. Myself and Tik will secure a table by the fire.
After one song ends, Amadeen claps uproariously and then turns to Jorin.
"Aye, good idea! I'll get cracking on that."
And so Amadeen begins carousing and schmoozing, seeking information and entertaining conversation.
From a merchant “Undead attacked my caravan on my way up the Restov Road! The ghouls nabbed one of my horses before I could even make it past Fraston Orchard, and I don’t see the priests around here doing a damn thing about it! Brother Eldrast says he’s on the case, but I’ve yet to see a lick of results.”
From one of the locals “Have you met Rozimus of Tymon? I ran into him the other night at Greenfoot Provisions and he looked awful! No doubt due to his recent expedition to the Halls Under the Hill. But I wonder what happened to his adventuring companions...”
Amadeen does ask:
"So, where can I find this Brother Eldrast? He might need a little help with the bones."
"He's a dwarven priest of Gorum. You'll find him more than likely at the Shrine of Battle."
"Hey, friend! Mind if I keep you company for a bit?" Darya makes her way over to the basilisk guy upon retrieving her meal and booze.
"You'll hear no complaint from me. I don't think I've not seen you in Thornkeep before. Passing through on the way to do something exciting?"
"Cheers!" she plops down at the table.
"Yah - just got here, in fact. Out to enjoy good food and warm beds one more time before we dive into the spire," the girl sets about chatting him up with a charming smile. "Not sure if it counts as exciting for you, being from the local, what, regiment? Guild? That said, as someone who's actually been around, got any advice for a new girl who only just plans to get around?"
The man smirks "The Blue Basilisks, mercenaries based out of here but we get up to all sorts. If you can handle yourself maybe you'll be able to join us if you want to make some decent coin. There's the Halls Under the Hill, kind of a high risk high reward, more than a few have tried their luck too far. Everyone knows the Emerald Spire but that's a bottomless pit of treasure and danger, legend has it no one's ever found the bottom."
He takes a sip of his drink "I would definitely steer clear of the Thirsty Ogre unless you fancy losing a few teeth or your life. Thornkeep has a fairly shall we say diverse mix of residents and visitors and many of the most dangerous wind up there. Plenty of interesting sorts about town so when you head out make sure no one is following you. You'd be surprised what the goblins are able to drag up at the goblin market, very odd stuff."
"Goblin market? Actually, what's the deal with all the goblins around? "
The man rolls his eyes "Ah yes the Brambleclaw tribe led by Great Chief Graalsk. There's not so many of them but their leader Graalsk is deluded, fancies himself a Blade. They clean up waste around town which is handy and if anything is salvageable from the waste they'll get it functioning again... kind of. They're cheap to hire for donkey work but they're lazy little sods for the most part, you need to keep an eye on them or they'll just go to sleep but if you can keep them focused they'll eventually get the job done."
He takes another sip of his drink "They hole up in the briars to the southern side of the hill. However they hold a market near it for what they've salvaged. As long as their numbers don't get too big and they don't get ideas they're alright to have around. Hell even if they get ideas a small number of goblin's is an evenings work at best for someone who can hold a sword straight. I've seen grandmother's who could take out a goblin with a rolling pin if they put their minds to it."
"I'll go for a walk to the Shrine of Battle."
She walks out the door and keeps going.
Jorin sees Amadeen leaving and quickly wipes his mouth, finishing his meal. "Hang on", he says through a mouthfull of food,
"I'll join you if you're heading anywhere near the markets." He follows Amadeen out the door, hurrying to keep up. "I'd also be very interested in seeing this 'Shrine of Battle'. I have a passing interest in the religions of this world. I must make more effort to study them", he says to her as they go.
Amadeen stops in place and turns to Jorin.
"Of course! Company would be good, we should get to know this place."
"Tik'Klik?"
The small golem seems confused when the party seems to split up, but finally goes into motion and follows along after Jorin and Amadeen, making the occasional tik or klik sound as they walk through the city and it sees something worthy of a tik or klik.
Darya suppresses a wince, remembering her earlier carelessness.
"What about the dungeons? Have you gotten far into the spire during your time here?" she changes topic. "Oh, and I don't believe I introduced myself - name's Darya."
Barek scratches his head. "Hello? What happened to 'Get a spire token and get back?'
"Looks like it's just you and me boy." He says, turning to pat Mong. "Mong?" He growls, finding his dog has also wandered off.
Somewhere, the universe finds this amusing.
Darya suppresses a wince, remembering her earlier carelessness.
"What about the dungeons? Have you gotten far into the spire during your time here?" she changes topic. "Oh, and I don't believe I introduced myself - name's Darya."
"I've never set foot in the place, it sounds weird, you hear a few ghost stories of strange monsters just turning up around it. Every now and again expeditions go in." He leans in a little closer. "I heard a rumor a while back that a few Hell Knight flunkies were spotted scouting the area around it, what're they called again? Arminger's that's it."
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Barek scratches his head. "Hello? What happened to 'Get a spire token and get back?'
"Looks like it's just you and me boy." He says, turning to pat Mong. "Mong?" He growls, finding his dog has also wandered off.
A man with greasy black hair and a broad grin turns his head. "Spire Token you say, it just so happens I know someone who has one. I'm sure with the right amount of coin they'd part with it!"
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Amadeen, Jorvin and Tik'klik make their way to the Shrine of Battle. The small shrine is a little bit away from the square but not far. The Shrine is reasonably small but there is a definite martial feeling to it. A young human woman is currently tending to it, she wears a chain shirt peaking out from beneath her vestments and has a greatsword close by.
She nods to you in welcome. "I am Acolyte Taronnel, welcome to the shrine of battle."
"Tik'Klik!"
The small golem executes a salute, and then ticks and klicks. "Tik Klik ick ick tick lick tick ick ick."
Amadeen steps up near the young woman, smiling broadly.
"Acolyte Taronnel, a pleasure. My companions and I have heard word that ghouls have been grabbing horses and travellers up the Restov Road, and that Brother Eldrast might know more. Would you be able to point us to him. Or speak with us a little while if you know something yourself?"
Taronnel frowns a little "He's probably preaching in the Greenforest Inn or the Thirsty Ogre trying to get a bit of interest in Gorum and the ghoul problem. But I can tell you we believe the ghouls are probably hold up in the Graveyard. Thornkeep has been here a long while and that leads to a restless graveyard. He's putting forward two hundred gold or waving a greater quantity of donations for healing and restorative of four hundred gold as a reward for anyone who can find where the ghouls are hiding in the graveyard and seal the specific area. It wont be the last time some undead creep out of there but if it solves the immediate problem that's good enough for right now."
"Do you have any idea of their numbers? And before I forget again, I am Amadeen Irian."
Taronnel nods "Truth be told Amadeen I can't give an accurate count but there is at least a half dozen spotted at once but that does not mean that is the entirety of their strength. Ghouls are a vile foe and not to be underestimated by the inexperienced. They often carry diseases."
Amadeen gets something resembling a serious look to her face, listening intently.
"They sound vile indeed! Do they have actual tactics or are they more like base animals?"
"They're intelligent, which makes them more dangerous than a lot of people would give them credit for."