"Lead the way"
Abomentolor walks along, assessing the inns, that can be seen along the waterside promenade and chooses one that seems to serve to customers willing to spend a little more to get some quality.
As you go in to the reception you are greeted by a nice lady somewhere in her fifties. She has a nice tan from the sun here at the sea and a lot of laughter lines in her face. She greets you merily.
"Welcome to Mary Poppins Inn. I'm Mary. We offer rooms for the night. Rooms with one bed for two gold, with two beds for three gold and for five silver, you can get a hot bath in your room, with soap and fresh towels. Breakfast is included wit the room. So how can I be of service?"
Looking around from one to the other she waits for your response still the inviting smile on her face.
"How much for 4 beds in a room?" Jimmy says jokingly
"Such we don't have I'm afraid, but I assume, the ladies would enjoy having a room of their own at least?" Mary responds, resorting to the ladies.
"Indeed" Tauriel replies "I'm taking a single room, and I need a receipt."
Turning to Jimmy "We get that reimbursed so no need to cut back on that."
And to Mary she adds "Also the bath please"
Gwens eyes grow wide. She had yet to think about that, but with Tauriel choosing a single room the options are laid out in front of her. She has yet to sleep a single night alone, as she shared a bedroom with her mum, and on the ship it was as a group. But as of now it would be a single room, or sharing with Jimmy. She turns beed red at the thought and immediately turns her gaze towards the floor hiding her Face behind a curtain of hair.
Playing dead she waits that the decision is made with the others choosing their options.
She doesn't like the thought of sleeping alone.
She is also not sure about sharing a room with a man. Or a gnome.
She for sure is not comfortable asking Jimmy about it.
Thinking to herself 'I want my mum'
Jimmy picks up on her discomfort, realizing what the issue could be. He quickly takes her aside "Gwen, are you ok?" He asks with his hands on her shoulders
Without looking up she mumbles "I don't know?" and after a few seconds, as she realises that this situation would't solve itself she adds "I thought I'd share a room with Tauriel"
"I understand if you don't want to be alone. This is the furthest you have ever been from home. It must be scary." Jimmy says as reassuringly as possible. "Do you want to ask Tauriell to share a room? What other plans can we make?"
'This is embarrassing.' Tauriel thinks. To get the poor girl back in her comfort zone and to get Jimmy out of this situation he can't solve she offers with a sigh "Ok, then a two bed room. I'll be the babysitter."
"I was about to suggest 3 rooms in a row if we could, maybe put Gwen in the middle?" Jimmy says with a thankful look at Tauriell
Gwenhwyfar quickly takes one step towards Tauriel bracing herself not to clinge to her and responds "No, Tauriels offer is fine." and adds a whispered "Thank you." to Tauriel.
"One room with two beds with a bath for the ladies then, and what will it be for the gentlemen?" Mary asks.
Then handing Tauriel the key for her room telling her "It's on the first floor, the second room"
Abomentolor steps in and states "I can sleep alone for sure, I'll take a single room also with a bath, and a receipt. And if you serve dinner I would like to have that too."
"I'll take a single room, bath and receipt please. Any other rooms on the first floor?" He asks of Mary
Handing out two more keys she says "Sorry, single rooms are on the second floor. As for the meal, I would suggest going next door to the 'Flying Halibut'"
With that she takes a few steps and shouts into the next room "Two baths please, for room two on the first, and room four and five on the second floor"
Returning to you she says "Baths will be ready within the hour."
"Thank you Mary. Enjoy your evening." with a smile to the host he takes the key, grabs his things and makes his way to the stairs, where he turns and waits for Gwen.
Tauriel nods at Gwen "Let's get upstairs then, you have a potion to brew and we need to get enough sleep. Tomorrow we have to walk. No more ship cruises. Godd night y'all." and with that Tauriel and Gwen move to their room.
Jimmy climbs the stairs behind them, watches them find their room, making a note of it, and then continues up to the second floor to find his own room
Ablomentor enjoys a nice plate of fish at the 'Flying Halibut', returns on time to enjoy a bath and beds himself in the king size bed (for a Gnome) for a good nights sleep without that annoing rocking of the boat.
Gwenhwyfar sets herself up in the corner of the room, at a small table and takes her time sorting through the components Abomentolor handed her.
She slowly dissolves the salts in some water, tempering it with her hands. She then mixes a few drops of oil in the mountain crystal powder, putting it in the vial with the salt solution and emulgating it with some alcohol. As it finally is quite the right temperature and everything in uniformly distributed, she adds in the ashes of burnt flax as stabilizing agent.
As all looks ready to her trained eye, she places the vial before her and starts incanting the prayer, gestures the lines for the magic to flow along and directs the divine energy into the solution.
As the solution slowly changes it's color to become a metallic looking blue the process is completed.
"Look what color it became." turning exitedly around to show Tauriel. But as she was completely concentrated on the process of creating the potion, she missed, that the bath was prepared, and Tauriel sits in the tub now.
Turning her face away again, but still holding the potion in Tauriels direction she mumbles "Sorry. Didn't realize you were bathing already."
"Oh, Gwen. Grow up already." She states a little annoyed. "I thought as a healer you've seen someone naked before. Or don't you cure wounds at parts usually not shown in public?" Bring that thing over here, for me to see. [b]"And if you could get over it, my back needs some scrubbing"
Gwenhwyfar does as she is told, handing Tauriel the potion and takinthe offered scrubbing brush. Then standing behind Tauriel, to avoid looking at her 'not back' parts. With time Gwenhwyfar relaxes a bit around Tauriels natural attitude towards that situation.
"Thats quite the accomplishment. I've seen much more experienced casters struggle to become able to do that." And with a smile at Gwen she adds "And yes, it's quite the beautiful color."
"Thank you." she replies, being flattered by the compliment and adding an explanation "You know, so far I only made cure light wounds potions, so I was quite surprised, that it didn't come out the typical crimson color."
As the scrubbing is done and the potion set aside, Gwenhwyfar readies herself quickly for bed and hides under the blanket, before Tauriel comes out of the tub.
Tauriel is a bit amused about the girl being so shy around her, because of her being naked, but gives Gwen the time to hide in her bed, before getting out of the tub.
After getting ready for bed herself she, stands beside Gwen's bed, looking at the alredy asleep girl, remininiscing about herself at that age, some hundred years ago. Kissing Gwen goodnight on the forhead, she goes to lay down on her own bed, going to sleep with a smile on her face.
The night passes and you all have wonderful dreams, caused by the really comfortable beds with pillows and blankets filled with down. After a tasty and substantial breakfast you leave that comfortable place. After a hike through the town, you are on your way to the Lurkwood. The way is ardous, as it starts up and down throug the mountains around Riddleport and as most of the traffic there is via ship, the path's quality is also lackluster.
Travelling along the Velashu River you finally reach the Lurkwood and with the copy of the map and the given description Tauriel is able to lead you through it quite good.
The wildlife is rather timid consisting of rabbits, squirrels and other cute critters. As you travel through the trees you notice you are quite a while on your feet, as the sun starts turning to orange.
Change of scene. Oz Torm in the Lurkwood forrest
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As Oz Torm moves through the Lurkwood forest the densely packed trees begin to thin until a great clearing comes into view. Beyond the forest clearing and past the white stone walkway stand the remains of what must have once been a striking structure.
Only fragments of the eastern and western walls remain, with a walkway leading up from the south. In the center of this now open edifice is a ten-foot-wide elevated stone platform decorated with various strange runes.
Tap tap tap. Oz thrummed his clothed, pitch black fingers across the mask as he sat, somewhat mist-covered, at the ruins. His hand-crafted axes jangled at his hips, and the few tasteful, yet, dysfunctional blackened beads thrummed somewhat noisily against his armor as he carefully weighed his options.
He stops a minute, dragging a finger along his mask; 'The potential for grudges long-dead are certainly high. The issue with the invitations of the dark were that they resulted of past-man's ire, greed, and what have you...' He stood and gazed upon just such a potential situation, preferring not to add to that cycle.
"Just what level... of dark, perhaps, are you... hiding. I wonder?" he says openly to himself with his heavy tongue. Bringing out the lengthiest of his axes, he stopped to consider what more he could to prepare. Nothing came, however.
"Well... let's test it, then." he says, tilting his head. With that, he walks slowly towards the platform, carefully spinning one of his axes in his hand. "It's as they s-say, i-isn't it? Reach in... and be taken? Or... b-be given something for your bravery." he claims aloud, yet quietly with another step. "Or... both. The dark does so... love to... trade."
As Oz Torm comes within 5 ft of the platform a flicker of light encompasses the platform for a moment, only to be replaced by the form of a beautiful middleaged woman draped in the finest of rune-covered robes.
The woman’s eyes look out toward the walkway, taking no note of the decay or destruction — her gaze intent on something beyond sight. Without warning, a soothing voice comes from the form as her lips begin to move.
Via some kind of telepathy you hear in your head "Servant of the blessed Runelord Xanderghul, I speak on behalf of the mighty lord of this land. As you have come to this place, you no doubt seek the great gifts that mighty Xanderghul has to offer, and they shall be yours. All the great Xanderghul asks in return is your supplication and statement of devotion to the powerful lord of these lands. I await your reply so I may relay it to the great one."
Quiet once again the woman obviously waits for your reply.
'Damn...' is all Oz could think as he looked at the situation. 'Alright... Alright... Worst case scenario, we run...' he thought to himself as he walked up slowly to the platform. He snapped his finger with a moment of insight. "Dare I ask, my... lady. What happens, if, pray tell... I say... no?" he asked as a legitimate question. He clenched one of his throwing axes in his hands, ready to throw it, provided something tangibly dangerous happened.
The voice in Oz Torm's head screams at him "You are unworthy of the gifts of the great Runelord Xanderghul" and you are shaken to your bones as a sudden fear infuses you.
For an uninvolved observer the situation would still look the same. The woman standing there and waiting.
Only with Oz Torm a reaction might be noticed.
Feeling his stomach fall into his feet, Oz somewhat stepped a back a bit. "Seems as though someone... doesn't enjoy half-answers. Admirable. Worry not, it was... a... minor question, at best. I do believe I've learned the consequences as... well..." he said as he looked at his shaking hand. "I assure you, however... I am fit to serve the master. It was a minor test to see consequences... that said... I do. I do hold allegiance to Xanderghul." he says, having absolutely no idea who that is.
Oz Torm senses no further reaction from the woman on the platform, while he stands puzzled in front of her. She keeps watching the walkway, looking at noting in particular.
The good thing about that being, that no more punishing happens.
'Hmm...' is all Oz can think as he turns to walk a bit away from the platform, debating to himself. "C-could be... daily. Could try a-again tomorrow, perhaps?" he asks himself aloud as he walks away, not really concerned about his surroundings.
Change of scene - the troupe lead by Tauriel approach the ruins
________________________________________________
As you move through the Lurkwood forest the densely packed trees begin to thin until a great clearing comes into view.
You notice someone speaking in the distance (150 ft)
Noticing someone talking in the woods, Tauriel gestures her companians, to stay put and be quiet. Slowly and trying to avoid making any noise she approaches the source of that noise.
But missing some dry branch on the ground, while watching up to not bump with her head into some branch a rather loud 'knak' can be heard. Frustrated at herself she approaches further anyway.
As she is able to take a look at the scene with the ruins from a spot where she could stay hidden from that cloaked figure on te clearing, she observes for a minute.
As the stuttering ramble of that humanoid makes no sense to her, she beckons the others to join her. But with her finger laid on her lips makes clear to stay stealthy. Or, if possible stealthier.
Gwenhwyfar tries to sneak up behind Tauriel
Abomentolor also comes along.
And due to his small size and him finding the perfect path, there is almost nothing to hear as he moves.
Whispering to Tauriel, he asks "What's up?" and with that ruins it a bit though.
Quite sure, that cloaked figure is occupied with something else and therefore distracted answers with a low voice "The good news is, we found the ruins. The bad new is, we are not the first ones. Please take a look and tell me what you think of this figure."
Jimmy, his armor clanking loudly, tries to move up to Tauriell as quietly as possibly. Tripping over the first concealed root on the way he falls and for a moment becomes a jangling, crashing pile of metal on metal. After that he decides, rather than try be quiet, and join to the others it would be best to make a different path towards to ruins so as not to ruin their chances of being stealthy. Shooting them an apologetic glance and doing his best to convey his plan to move up wide of the rest of the party he begins his clangy journey about 40 ft to the side of the rest of the party.
Knowing where the rest of the party is he keeps an eye on them so if they are attacked, or move out, he can quickly move to join them.
Tauriel, gives signs to Jimmy to come over and tries to gesture what for, but that comes over as gibberish.
Taking the gesture to be a reprimand for the noise, but suggesting he make his way to them despite the noise, he does that instead
Tauriel, greets Jimmy still whispering, despite the fact, that by now it is clear there is someone in the woods. "Hello clankypants. What do you think, we should do?". Nodding in the direction of the ruins. "I have no idea what that is, but it seems to speak common."
"Hmmm... Well he knows there is somebody out here thanks to my racket, so maybe you all should hide here and I should go find out who he is?" Jimmy is rather embarrassed by the noise he made
Gwen tries to remind Jimmy to be silent "Shhh!
Abomentolor takes a peek at the cloaked figure and the ruins
"Have you noticed there is a woman standing on the platform?" and assessing the situation e suggests "Shall we charge in and burn them all?"
It seems Abomentolor tries to hide, he is also clueless by his brute force proposal.
"Soooorry" Jimmy whispers
Tauriel replies "If you're offering to play bait, be my guest." with her hand showing the way.