Dimeru Faldindor greets Agriver warmly. "Greetings Agriver. Pharasma's grace upon you. I am please to hear she graced you with her blessings. Yes - your crystals have arrived." He hands over 4 meditation crystals bearing the mark of Iomadae. He also takes back his crystal.
"The sick have mostly recovered. Thank you for your help. Only the worst of the afflicted passed away. It was the will of Pharasma.. and we eased their passing."
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Agriver smiles and nods. He accepts the meditation crystals with gratitude from Dimeru and takes his leave. Upon exiting the Temple of Silence he walks back into the graveyard – past the freshly dug graves of the terminally ill of which the priest spoke.
”Blessings of the goddess to you all, may you find your peace in the afterlife. May there be mercy on your sins, and forgiveness for your transgressions. Let the pure light of Iomadae wash over your spirits”
As the shimmering radiance expands from the paladin it washes over a particular grave – that of the undead priest that the paladin brought here not so long ago.
”Creature – I hope you have found your path. I grow closer to finding what corrupted your soul – I will deliver the vengeance of the crusader upon them. Of that you can be sure. And I vow to bring all those that I find who have been afflicted so deeply to this place so they may rest. The spire will be undone.”
With that Agriver sets out toward the Chancery to make some purchases, and then to find some mead at the Red Shield Inn – and find his friend Malscher.
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At Tsador’s Arms, Robin has an idea. He approaches the purveyor, and asks, "I was wondering if you might be able to, or know someone, who could enchant a couple of weapons for me? I need a basic enchantment added to my falchion, here, but the tricky part will be what I need on my bow. My new dwarven friend here, tells me of a special enchantment he has learned about in his studies, called adaptive, which supposedly allows the bow to, um, adapt to the strength of the wielder, so that it is always the perfect pull. Could you do these things for me?"
Robin awaits the answer...
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Ansel nods to the man at Tsador's. "It don't take too long, by m'standards. Bout a day. I can start in the morning if that's enough for you to prepare." Once the details of Robin's bow are established Ansel thanks the party for their tour and backtracks to a few places he'd like to further investigate.
At Zoldor's Masonry Ansel speaks to the man about the local stone quality, varieties, and general volumes mined per week. He doesn't enjoy the sight of the slaves, but he knows how these Hellknights work and that some people produce a debt that needs payment. He never directly asks about the nature of these workers current situation, but he does attempt to discern whether Zoldor is a good man and if there is an apparent justification in the indentured servitude. "Would you have room to rent a studio space? I have some pressing work and feel your masonry is the most properly equipped." As Ansel leaves, if Zoldor seemed a fair man and the slaves seemed to be properly treated, he will cast Haste onto them as they rough out the initial form of a Hellknight. 'I hope some extra progress today gets them all a good meal tonight.'
Lastly he sits outside Nolm Bindery, across the street on a bench that faces the front windows. He withdraws his journal and begins some rough sketches of form. A small part of his conscience argues that the act may be weird or, heaven forbid, creepy; but the majority of the Dwarf's psyche drowns out the matter with assurance that all fine forms in this world belong to the eye of the artist. Falandra showed promise. If, and only if, after long study does she still hold the excitement of this initial intrigue. Yes, then he will enshrine her likeness within the loving heart of marble as only a true gentlemen would.
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Agriver leaves notice at the Juliver Arm's that he will be dining at the Red Shield this evening - and invites any who would like a free meal.
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Upon walking into the Red Shield the paladin will grab his typical corner table, ensure his peace knot is on the blade, and orders a mulled wine from the familiar barmaid. Smiling at her he offers a greeting "Iomadae's blessings Gwen, it is good to see you in fair health."
He then gives her a silver piece as a tip for his beverage and comments "When will Sir Malscher be in this evening? And have you heard any news in the keep since we have been away? What is the buzz?"
Agriver gives the tavern owner smile in hopes he will let her linger to chat with the tired warrior.
Ansel quickly realizes that Zoldor is a cranky old man who cares little for the welfare of his slaves. They get by well enough but he doesn't go out of his way to make their lives comfortable.
He is willing to provide a small working space for a fee - you will have to provide your own tools of course.
The tour continues past the armorer Rillin's shop towards the Helmed Lady . Around the southern end of town lie Goldfoot's Mercantile and the Juliver Leather Goods.
The party begins the journey back north up Juliver's Way to Tsador's Arms . There the half-orc informs the party.. "Only got one bookworm for enchanting. Bu he should be able to handle those two. Come back in a couple days with the bow, and it'll get done fer the right price."
Agriver enters the Red Shield Tavern to find it pretty busy today. A dozen hellknights and mercenaries appear to be having a party in half the bar.
The waitress Gwen ushers Agriver to a quiet corner on the opposite side. He can see Embra Morsk hustling about keeping her staff working hard.
Gwen responds to the question "I haven't seen Sir Malscher in a few days. If he were out on patrol, he would be back any day now. Perhaps he will stop in tonight..." She will make small talk with Agriver as she appears to be handling the quieter half of the tavern.
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It is at this time that the quieter half of the tavern gets invaded by five individuals, and a wolf. Robin holds the door open for a sturdy yet handsome Kellid woman, surrounded by three children. He notices Agriver in his corner, and nods to him, and then to Ayame, the wolf. She quickly herds the two boys and a girl to the table, as Robin quietly escorts the woman.
"Iyana, this is my adventuring companion, Sir Agriver, warrior priest of the Inheritor," he says, introducing her to the paladin. "Agriver, my.... friend... the Widow Stonde, and her children. The oldest there is Davon, who fancies himself a bit of adventurer; the girl is Belka, and the youngest there is Tristan.
"We would love to join you for dinner, if the offer still stands" he says, challenging Agriver to say anything else.
He notices Gwen, and says in a voice quite unusual for the usually brusk ranger, "A mug of mead for me, a glass of mulled wine for my lady friend, if you please. Apple juice will do for the kids, if you have it. Oh, and bowl of water and a haunch of meat for Ayame, if you could. "
In a hushed voice, he says to the kids, "You all be quiet, now. Them helknights over tthere ain't too keen on us hard working salt of the earth types in their fine establishments, so don't give 'em no reason to pay us any mind, you here?" He gives a wink to Ilyana, and a quick hand-signal to Ayame, making sure she minds the kids.
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Ansel snorts at the mention of using his own tools. Think I'd work with your rubbish like another slave? "Very well, tell m'the cost and I'll return when ready." The dwarf leaves with a terse nod.
"Humf." Ansel agrees with the timing of things.
The notice of a free meal sent Ansel directly to the tavern as his stomach interrupted his preliminary sketching. Seeing a larger group of people he hadn't met made him a little uncomfortable. 'Women and children, I hope they're not the talking types..' He remembers his days with chatty nobility. The gossiping and subterfuge.. no wonder he didn't get a position curating.. Ansel failed to learn how to survive in that world of social labyrinths.
He approaches the bar first and gets an ale before heading to the table. The glass is half empty when he makes sure to sit as far from the family as he can. Ansel nods quietly if there are any introductions.
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Smiling at the roar of chaos as Robin and his entourage arrive Agriver stands up to greet his friend with a solid handshake. He then extends greetings to his lady and their children – and nods at Gwen to add the group to his tab.
It would appear that Robin is getting a bit soft. Maybe he is the settling down type after all. I never would have considered that for a ranger, but then again a man gets lonely. Cute kids – was I ever that loud? Wow they sure have quite a bit of energy. Ah Ancel is here, that’s good. We need to learn more about our new ally. It will not be long before we are all bleeding together. It’s best to know ones metal before that time comes.
”Well met Robin! Will Yon and Vala be joining us as well? It’s nice to take a moment away and enjoy some of the comforts of life. Where did you meet your lady?”
Looking toward Ancel – ”It is good to see you sir dwarf. I trust the keep has been satisfactory? Not quite the stonework from the storybooks, but it is impressive none the less. Are you near ready to delve into the belly of the spire with us soon? “
Watching Ancel’s reactions carefully he continues. ”Tell me of wizardry… it is fascinating, and I must admit the stories my father told me about it were some of my favorites. Very glad to have your skills with us.. perhaps we won’t bleed so much.”
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"Hmpf, yes. The accommodations are fine, some hinges needed Mending but that's the cycle, mend and wear. I can't wait to see the ruins to be honest. So many questions about it's construction and auras." He takes another sip and rests back into the chair. "Not sure what to say... must studying and knowledge, some can intuitively manipulate the arcane but for most of us it takes years of studying and practice." The dwarf then wiggles his finger and an orb of ale begins to levitate from Agriver's stein. Making its way slowly up into the air and over to Ansel, the dwarf continues on, "I've always been rooted into the material mysteries, but I guess I was born into that one. There are many who practice mental or emotional magic, the alter one's perception of reality or remove a person from control over their own bodies. Underhanded s$*& there. Hmpf." Ansel just nods at the woman and children after he swears. The orb of beer finally lands in Ansel's mug and he takes another drink.
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Four sets of eyes go wide as Ansel performs his little trick on the ale, Robin's and the four kids. 'Spanky never did anything like that!' thinks the usually surly ranger. 'This dwarf has potential!'
Immediately, Ansel is surrounded by the very children he was hoping to avoid. "Do it again! Do it again!" the chant, giggling and laughing, while the youngest, Tristan, tries to climb up on the dwarf's lap. Seeing this in action, Robin quickly finishes his mead, though the then tries to signal Gwen over once more.
"Agriver, can't rightly say if they will, or they won't. Be good thing for us all to break bread together, but my brother is probably feasting on roots and berries again, as is his want. I'd have thought Aura was comin', but she's probably in her workshop, figgerin' out some somesuch or another. I can send Ayame to go find Yon... she's good at that, you know."
The she-wolf looks up at her man-cub, hackles rising as she hears her name. 'Don't you dare send me after your brother, and his so-called alpha-male. I am not your silly lapdog.' she thinks.
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After finishing her ale at Juliver's arms Vala excuses herself and heads to the Stalwart Priory for several hours of silent meditative combat training before finally retiring to sleep as the sun rises.
Vala wakes and sees Agriver's note left for her. Picking it up she reads it and rolls her eyes. "What's he up to?" She sighs "We do need to work better together. Maybe this will help... but why at the Hellknight bar? ... they make my skin crawl." She shoves the note in her pocket, grabs her bag and heads out the door.
After a quick meal and a bit of touring with the group she makes her way to Serragon Ironworks for some tinkering. Vala nods in greeting at the owner "Hey Hermarsk. Mind if I use the forge today? Got a new idea I want to try out."
Provided he allows Vala will spend some time hammering out a few ideas that have been tugging at her.
Looking up from her work Vala realizes its about dinner time, having completely forgotten lunch was a thing. She pulls the note from her pocket, takes another look at it, shrugs then heads that direction.
Walking into the hellknight bar Vala sees the group of Hellknights in the corner. She scans the room and sees her comrades ... complete with Robin and... kids? Vala turns on her heals, spinning to leave when someone from the group spots her and calls her name. She ducks her head pretending as if she was not about to leave and walks to take a seat with everyone.
"So why we here Aggy?" Vala rolls her shoulders back, thinly containing her discomfort at the nearby Hellknights.
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Yon leaves the fort walls early in the day. "To fest on roots and berries" as Robin would say. He feels the strong need to be in the woods, and listen and learn. Especially after so much time underground, and amongst "civilization."
What seems to feel like "soon" the sun begins to set, and the weight of the small note in Yon's pouch begins to grow on his mind. He returns right as
"So why we here Aggy?"
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"Heya, bro, good to see you. All done hugging trees and such?" Robin quips at Yon, a glitter in his eye and a grin on his face. Young Bella rushes over to "Uncle" Yon, hands full of butter and honey, and reaches up to him to be picked up.
Robin then turns back Agriver, "Yeah, dude, what did you have in mind? Or is this just a team building excercise, and afterwards we are going to go make a campfire, hold hands and sing kumbaya?"
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"I just wanted to spend some time with you all, buy a meal to give thanks to all of you, and of course the goddess."
Looking around he notices a couple wrinkled noses.
"Ah, the location. I was hoping to hear from Sir Malscher and learn if anything has been going on in the keep that may impact our progress - positive or negative. And he is a friend... two birds with one stone and all that."
Glancing over at Ancel - "I am glad to hear you do not dabble in the profane or diabolic. Tangible magic sounds like something we all can grow a to accept with a degree of comfort. I don't often hear of wizards using such large weapons. Is that part of your dwarven heritage? I must confess my father never let myself or my brothers stray to far on merchant trips, we were confined to the goods - and didn't get to meet many of the locals. Sheltered life of a noble house and all that."
Noticing Robin's eyes rolling he quickly comments "But since taking my mantle as a champion of Iomadae, I have made it a point to broaden my horizons."
Feeling slightly sheepish, and blaming it on his mulled wine - Agriver focuses his attention at the rim of his banged up tankard.
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After the meal, and drink, Yon goes back out to the woods and the grove by the stream.
He sits in meditation and prayer. "Thinking on air" as Robin would call it.
My mission to purge the spire of the unnatural taint is not going well. The allies I can summon are weak. How can I make sure they are stronger? He thinks in his meditation...
He ponders this for a while until he falls asleep, and slumps to the ground. When he does, Rbuod wanders up, and curls beside him. The two keep each other warm through the night.
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Robin tries hard not to laugh in Agriver's face... after all, he's putting on good airs for his lady-friend and the kids. "Thank you, Agriver. That was very kind of you." he chuckles, slapping his friend on the back. "Very good of you to broaden your horizons as well... we'll make a better man of you, yet!"
Robin spends dinner making sure that the kids are being taken care of, while trying to eat his own dinner. After this, he excuses himself, and the family he has brought, and heads back to Ilyana's place. Once there, he helps her to put the kids to bed, before excusing himself to go reunite himself with the forests he and his brother love so well. "Need to clean the senses a bit, Ilyana... been down in the spire too long... makes a man want to breathe some fresh air, stretch out where there are no walls. Perhaps if I can find some fresh mushrooms and wild mushrooms you'd be up for making some omelettes for breakfast?"
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Ansel grows flush at the attention of the children. He isn't sure how to deal with them and tries to shoo them away.
"Hmpf, yeah it's an heirloom from m'family. Grew up swinging hammer and picks but you're right about it not being normal. Got a lot of looks in the libraries carrying a hammer with me. Always told them if you're going to bind yourself to something it might as well be useful. You say you're Noble huh? I could never make tails of all the chatter in the Art houses. Feel for ya needing to get out and explore. Who's this Sir Malscher?"
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Conversation flows but at some point Vala closes her eyes lightly and takes a very deep calming breath then turns to Agriver.
"Did you know I have older brothers? 9 of them actually." She takes a drink from her ale - that she purchased.
"You remind me a bit of the eldest twins. Well, one of them at least. Ganek. After our parents died they tried really hard to keep the rest of us in check. Gurok and Ganek. They fancied themselves responsible for us, I'd guess.
Ganek even left for a while, returned and tried to pour religion down our throats. -- not saying you've done that. But." Vala sighs, shaking her head.
"Ganek and Goruk. We all worked much better once they finally realized they were not the ones in charge. All of us were. We were all in it together and we all had a role. No one needed to be responsible for us"
On the first night in the woods, a familiar looking Satyr came to you. He played his music and summoned a ferret. This Ferret was bigger and stronger than others you have summoned, and it danced to the Satyr's music.
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Agiver sits with his eyes mainly lowered to his mulled wine. Listening to both Ancel and Vala – he takes a moment to posture his response.
”Ancel the knight you ask about was one who showed our group kindness and helped us gain access to the keep. While he is a hellknight and I am a paladin, we have been respectful of our ideals and have become friends. I like to spend some time with him when we are back in town. This is the tavern I meet him at. I thought it might be good to invite you all for dinner here. Do a little public relations, introduce new faces to him. We are guests in their hold – it is etiquette I guess. Call it the high born in me, but we tend to do things in peculiar ways. And as for the art shows, I never liked them. My brothers and I would always find excuses to get outside and cause a disturbance of some sort. Good clean fun and all that.”
The paladin takes a pull off his wine and turns to Vala. ”I see your point – I don’t mean to act responsible for you or any of the others. But Iomadae has placed this mantle upon me, and she has given me the ability to mend the wounds of this group. The angelic visions shown to me in my dreams and prayers has forged my purpose. This is the role the goddess has asked me to play, and the Silver Crusade has given me much the same. “
Seeing his words are not having the effect on her he was hoping he continues. ”I do not mean to be overly righteous – that is more than any holy knight. If it offends you, I will try to be better.”
Agriver finishes his wine and looks around to the others. ”It would appear my friend isn’t going to grace us with his presence this evening. Shall we turn in? Pick our purchases in the morning and discuss plans to return to the spire?”
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"Return to the Spire," Robin responds with a great sigh. "I guess, if we must. Though I wonder if my brother and I weren't better suited for exploring he wilderness than this tainted ancient complex. Well, in the end, we could always divert the river into it and flood it, once we've figured out what it is all about."
Queue training montage He answers questions and teaches you the flair he adds to his summons to pull stronger creatures rather than any average ones to answer your previous summons.
Vala starts the morning out completing Ansel's tour of the Fort. She skips many of the barracks, stables and mercenary company buildings. She takes him to the Chancery . It is here he is introduced to Signifer Oritian Hast. He runs this make-shift wizards guild.
After a few minutes of perusing, Vala hurries him out as there is one place she really wants to take him outside of town. Leading him south, he sees a large workshop on the horizon .
This is the Serragon Ironworks. The owner is a human nobleman named Daldar Serragon. His forge stokers and cinder haulers are all slaves but appear to be treated fairly well. His metalworkers are all paid employees - including the dwarven Ironmaster Hurmarsk Firehammer. "Vala my dear! So good to see you Lass. The adventuring game treating you well?"
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In the morning - Agriver will spend the early hours at the Temple of Silence in meditation and prayer. Before leaving he will administer aid and assist the priests with any duties he can as a service for allowing him his reverie. While there he will tell Lady Chanel of the groups recent exploits in the emerald spire.
After his time at the temple he will make his way thru the poor districts of town and give aid and coin to the needy . While he makes his way to the guard post to try to meet up with his friend Sir Malscher.
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"Ansel Meadsodden. New to the expedition, further expertise has been needed with the ruins. Pleasure. Hmpf, Firehammer you say?"
Ansel looks at the Serragon Ironworks with a thoughtful eye, 'This place is much more respectable than the masonry, honest people doing what they love.. Perhaps they'd be willing to deliver and host my stone out here?.." Ansel will ask about the possibility of such an arrangement. He tries to wait for a moment that seems right, but with his single track mind he steers the conversation into that direction in a matter of minutes.
Agriver asks around regarding Sir Malscher, and is directed to the stables where his squad is preparing for a patrol.
He warmly greets Agriver with a warrior's arm shake. "Agriver, favored of Iomadae, it has been far too long. How goes the expedition into that accursed hold?"
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”Sir Malscher, it pleases me to find you in good health. Our adventures delving into the spire have been bloody, but righteous! We have brought many a curr to heel beneath the iron boot of justice, and we are here in the keep to resupply for the next floor in that cursed structure. I am hoping we will find fiends soon, my sword thirsts for retribution.“
Glancing at the other knights and giving them the customary greeting he had learned prior the paladin continues. ”Do you mind if I accompany you on patrol? I would love to hear of the doings here in the keep, and we don’t get to catch up nearly enough. That and seeing the countryside will do me some good before I need go beneath the ground again.”
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Robin walks around with Ansel and Vala, pondering whether he should buy a buckler of some type or another, to aid in his armor class. He does realize, however, that it wouldn't be of much use when using his falchion or his bow, so decides against it.
'So, this is where Vala made these wrist sheaths. Interesting. He just watches for a bit, before getting bored and heading out to check other things with Ayame.
Sir Malscher looks at Agriver a moment at this request. "It is an unusual request, but I see no issue with it. You will be required to follow my orders." He looks sternly at Agriver before nodding and pointing to a stable boy and ordering another horse be prepared.
The patrol is uneventful through the day. The knights with Sir Malscher take a liking to Agriver and invite him for dinner that evening.
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Agriver enjoys an evening with the knights and enjoys rousing stories of battle and daring deeds. When the night dies down he will give Sir. Malscher a hearty handshake and wish him well.
"May your duty be just, and your cause me true friend."
With that the paladin will spend the rest of his evening in prayer back at his inn room.
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"Master Hurmarsk! Good to see you. This here is my friend Ansel. He's joined our group. Fancies stone work, I hear, but I'd like to show him around, if that's alright?"
Vala provides all the proper introductions and proceeds to give a tour of the facilities, excited that someone in the group might actually care for making things like she does, even if it is with stone and not metal...
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Yon spends his days practicing what the Satyr taught him. He goes hunting with Rbuod when they get hungry, making use of his shape changing ability.
Once satisfied he can summon the strongest beasts, he returns to town, realizing it has been days since he last walked along those stone lines and columns that make the fort, and the laws of men.
However, he notices he slips into Tower-born even more easily than when he left. Passing the Hell Knight gate guards who even seem to smile at him, and his greeting. One guard even asks to pet Rbuod, before Yon says simply, "He's a wolf, sir." That gives the whole crowd a moment to laugh, Yon throwing his head back uproariously.
He then sets to finding the others, the only way he knows how, by going to the markets and leaving a trail for his brother, unconsciously. As he makes his purchases.
The days in the Fort go by as each individual attends to their affairs and hobbies. Midday of day six, the party prepares to head out to the Spire.
The she-wolf follows her manling, a bad feeling coming to her. 'We are going down there again, aren't we' she thinks, a thought that gets her hackles up into a bunch. She nips at Robin's heals, to hurry him along, though the ranger gives her very little mind at this.
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"Good day, my friends! Are we ready to head down into the depths of the Spire again? We're going to have to go through that damned water level, again, aren't we? Well, I guess we'll be getting wet, since we don't have the sigils to make it past, yet." Robin shoulders his pack again, and starts whistling, as he takes point on the walk to the Spire.
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Ansel double takes at the mention of water level. "How, uh, much water again? Can't we drain it? Maybe tunnel around it... I'm sure I could get something figured out wit a couple months time.. it'll be costly though.." The Dwarf trudges along at his slow pace, trying to keep up with his hammer resting on his shoulder. He's determined not to let the thought of swimming to sour his excitement of finally getting to meet the fabled Spire.
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"Well..." replies Robin, chuckling to himself, "that's a pretty deep question! From what we understand, there are portals to the elemental plane of water, so there seems to be a limitless supply of water there. Draining it really isn't an option."
Robin thinks about it a moment, and realizes that they may need more gear to make it safe. "Maybe we should pick up some additional things to help out... a few hundred feet of rope, and a few dozen pitons should to the trick. If we take our time, we can put in a safety line to help the heavily armored folk, and those that don't swim that well, make it through to the stairs, safely. We can leave the safety line out for the time being, since we'll be going through there again, and again, I am sure."
After a quiet week in Fort Inevitable, the party sets out once more for the Spire. The L'il's show him the sights of the Echo Wood, and tales of their journeys through it.
The party arrives safely at the Spire. They traverse down to the GodHome, where Agriver presents 14 pounds of scrap metal to the GodBox. They continue down to... the Drowned level.
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Once the team makes it down to the water, Robin is going to start attaching ropes to give them something to hold on to on the way down. They take their time, making sure that no one is free swimming unless they want to be. For once, caution is the name of the game. The goal is the stairway down to the next level.