Trying the iron door before him, Cromwin finds it locked, as he rattles it Othdan calls, "In here, in here!"
Opening the door to the other room reveals nothing, though from this angle Cromwin spies the tips of three fingers protruding from the rubble.
"Come on, I seem to remember the room had another entrance. Perhaps we can get in that way." Maurie heads back to the sword embosed room and approaches the north east tunnel. "This might lead that way eventually. Absolute worst case scenario I climb down again from the top floor, though if I do that I will probably be asking for at least one other vial of holy water, in case I miss the blighted thing again."
If you fail, there's always another way. Grok walks back to the slime cube's corpse and picks up the falchion it dropped, then returns. Not as good as a hammer or a crowbar, but we don't mind if it breaks and I might be able to use it as a lever. Force the lock.
Grok leaves the sword by the door and draws his holy water, walking back around the room and inspecting the chest and bookshelf.
Cromwin looks around the hallway leading up to the door. "Hm. This runs parallel to the secret passage we found, so it probably goes to the furnace room. I actually feel a lot more comfortable going through that secret passage now that I know how the half orc got Othdan in there. Give the lock a try, Zove, and we'll go look at the other path if you can't get it open." Cromwin will stand guard while she works, eyeing her work with interest.
Zove spends a frustrating couple of minutes before concluding that picking this lock is simply impossible for her without a proper set of thieves tools...
The bookshelf holds little of value—only the mostly destroyed pages of Iomedae’s holy text, Acts of Iomedae, and several other weathered scriptures. The chest, however, contains an ounce of sovereign glue, 2 doses of universal solvent, all labelled, 50 feet of silk rope, a disguise kit (with 6 uses remaining), a set of thieves’ tools, a noble’s outfit worth 75 gp, a signet ring worth 50 gp, and coins totalling 237 gp, 155 sp, and 55 cp.
With lockpicks the lock, though still difficult is now achievable and given another two minutes Zove is able to pry it open.
An old cast-iron furnace with a dirty boy with a birds nest of wiry blond hair sitting precariously atop it, and a pile of coal occupy the corners of this cramped chamber. Ash and fallen rubble clutter the area around the furnace where the chimney above has collapsed.
Grok takes the coins and begins dividing them into five piles, waiting for Zove to finish with the lock. One, one, one, one, one, two, two, two, two, two, three, three....
He is about halfway done with the gold ones when the door pops open, and he stands up straight away, holy water at the ready. He walks into the room, looking around as he does.
Do not worry, child, we can kill anything. Naurgost comes sniffing into the room, growling slightly at the boy but quieting when Grok pats him on the head, nodding at Zove's advice. Still for the moment, but if it is safe you can jump, and I'll catch you.
The boy regards Grok dubiously for a moment, suspicion clear on his features, but after a moment he clambers down, "Can you take me out of here now please? I want to go home."
"Alright Othan, let's get you out of here. We came down some stairs over at the far end of the house, we'll head up that way. Come on everyone, we're going to need to come back here again to finish off that rat and look through these rooms, but we should make sure Othan is safely home first. Follow me. " Cromwin begins to lead the boy back through the ooze room. "Othan, you said you were attacked by a half orc and knocked out. Do you remember where you were, what the half orc looked like, or anything else that was strange when you were attacked?"
Brin sees the look of the young boy.
"Hey now young one, no need to fear Grok here. He's here to help. You, and all of Trunau."
Brin gives a wink to Grok.
"Let's get him up and to Anvil...Almost like deja vu, right Zove?"
Brin helps shoulder the boy along with Grok. Brin tries to take most of the weight, considering the half-orc's recent brush with death.
Maurie laughs a bit. "Well, I am still wondering if you want me to officiate a judicial duel between yourself and that Beth woman. Uncivilized by Trunau standards or not, I still maintain that it might prove once and for all who is favored by the gods between you. While I can't be your second and be the impartial mediator at the same time, I am sure that you have but to ask any of the nice men accompanying us through these increasingly bizarre forays into this ruin."
Heading back into Trunau Othdan leads you to his house, a large, but rather run down place, and even before you arrive you are swarmed by children. As you get closer a tall leanly muscular blond woman, who looks beyond exhausted strides out accompanied by, to Grok's surprise, Ariel, holding one of her arms and making soothing gestures.
"Othdan where in the hells have you been? What is this?"
Brin stays near Anvil and keeps an eye on Othdan as thy walk. He seems preoccupied. He starts murmuring to himself.
"Jelly. Jell-. Gelatinous. What rhymes with gelatinous?..."
Brin starts fidgeting with his tunic as they continue their walk.
Brin helps the boy off the horse and follows his steps with his eyes until he knows the boy can walk without a spill. He turns to Anvil, and pets his neck.
"You've been such a good horse for this town. Mainly for the people that can't walk on their own, but that's no matter."
Grok looks back at Brin, smiling an empty smile, why did he close one eye? No hint of the question reaches Grok's features.
As they walk back Grok is mostly silent, occasionally offering some meat to Naurgost, who snaps it up, and taking the odd bite of food himself. Gelatinous? Loss, Grok says, quietly looking at Brin.
When they arrive in town and children swarm, Grok looks at them, we found someone, might be a friend of yours. Listen up kids, he's lucky he didn't die, you all should stay clear of the Plague House. It's dangerous, inhabited by giant insects, dead rats, and uh...some uh...some real scary ghosts. Grok looks up at the rain for a moment, uncomfortable in the memory of terror.
Then he looks back down, and relaxes, shoulders rolling down and brows relaxing. Ariel. Grok looks at her for a moment, realizing that his knees are still slightly bent, as if he might need to spring away from a sudden blow at any time.
He glances at Othdan, We found him in the Plague House. Wasn't quick enough to escape, got trapped by a ghost. He ought to drill with the soldiers if he wants to go exploring. Grok takes a few steps forward, quite at ease.
How is she? Grok asks, looking rapidly from Ariel to Othdan and back again.
Cromwin smiles as Brin compliments Anvil . "That he has. Anvil has always been a loyal, true companion. And a good giver of rides." Cromwin pats him on the side.
When the group reaches the house, Cromwin will step forward and quietly address Ariel and Othdan's mother, trying not to be overheard. "As Grok said, we found him at the plague house. He mentioned being attacked, then was trapped there by a spirit we had found there earlier. Do you have somewhere we could talk inside, in private? I have some questions for Othdan, and some concerns."
Ariel sighs, "She is overworked, and overwhelmed, we are both widows Grok, and I cannot afford to keep up a house anymore... I am going to move in here, help out with the children, it will do me good to feel useful. You are always going to be welcome to call, I still cannot thank you enough for saving me, but I need some time, and to be kept busy, and I think this is the perfect solution. I have spoken with Master Harman and he says he wants to turn over the place to his Grandson now that he has reached marrying age... I do not mean to leave you in the lurch, but you do not need me, and they do..."
Othdan's mother races forward and embraces her son fiercely, "You stupid, stupid, boy! How many times have I told you all to stay away from that place! Stupid... I am so sorry Othdan, I am a terrible mother, I did not even know you were gone until a few hours ago, and I just thought you were playing silly buggers."
"No its my fault Ma' work all the time, and there no way you can keep an eye on all of us, and I knew I shouldn't have gone in and... Sorry!"
After the hugging comes to an end Othdan races off and comes back with a small tin box holding it out to the group, "Here you can have this, thanks for saving me... Its my magic bead, but, er, well, I never could use it, and I suppose I don't really need it. So maybe you can figure out what it is and it can help you? Maybe?"
Bring
Cromwin
From
Maurie
Zove
"We can talk in the kitchen if you like, but hard to guarantee one of the little ones isn't listening if that is a concern? Could you watch them for a minute Ariel?"
Ariel shrugs, "I can try, my cat herding skills are getting better."
Maurie whispers to Cromwin quickly, "We should be getting Grok and you to the healers soon. Being inside that thing could not have been beneficial to either of your health conditions, and I would rather you didn't pass out in front of the boy. Keep the questions short and essential, we can ask follow ups tomorrow if need be." The halfling woman smiles visibly the whole time, clearly trying to not upset the children further.
She raises her voice to address Ariel and the children. "Perhaps Brin and I can help with entertainment. Brin, as many of you might remember, knows how to sing odes that move the spirit and the mind, and I have yet to be able to do my formal practice of one of my martial forms today. If you want to watch me you may, though do stay back so that I don't accidentally injure any of you."
"Thank you." Cromwin follows Othdan and his mother into the kitchen. "I do not know if you have heard, but Rodrik Grath was found dead this morning, apparently by his own hand. We were staying at the Ramblehouse, and were the first group to respond when Cham found the body. We discovered evidence that he had been poisoned, and Kurst asked us to investigate the death. Since that time, we have found a number of pieces of circumstantial evidence that seem to implicate a group of half orcs that were staying at the ramblehouse that night."
"We were investigating the plaguehouse because Rodrik thought there was something important going on there, and was beginning an investigation into the place just before he died. When we rescued Othdan, he mentioned he had been knocked out by a half orc. Othdan, can you tell us, as closely as you can remember , exactly what happened to you at the plaguehouse?"
Zove spots a faint word engraved into the base of the orangey red bead which reads "Hearth" and realizes she has seen similar items before - it is a Campfire Bead, which transforms into a campfire for eight hours upon the speaking of the command word, then takes sixteen hours to recover and can be used again, etc.
"I found it at a campsite full of dead bodies a few years ago, just sitting in the middle even though everything else was stolen. You can tell its magic because if you look sort of into it it moves like fire!" Othdan explains proudly.
Ariel and Othdan's Mother exchange glances, "Staying back is not really their strong suit, perhaps just the Bard, not sure we want them all copying your weapon training, someone will loose an eye."
In response to Cromwin once inside Othdan shrugs, glancing at his mother, "Well someone dared me to go in. Then all of these terrible burning ghosts started screaming, so I tried to hide under the bed... But there was a trapdoor so I crawled to that and went in and they stopped. But I was too scared to go back up, so I think I just held onto the ladder for a real long time... Then when it was night I heard someone coming and then this orc grabbed me off the ladder and clubbed me on the back of the head - but it was real dark by then."
Brin chuckles.
"You tired Maurie. You'd better stick to entertaining the people you're punching."
Brin asks Othdan to round of the children that are nearby and he takes a seat on the floor, leaning against the wall.
"Now young ones, who has ever heard the story of Korin the Heaver? None of you? Well then, a long time ago..."
Brin recounts one the stories of his giantslaying ancestor, using his hands to make gestures to provide excitement to the tales his spins.
Brin's spellbinding performance has the horde of children enthralled and they are soon sitting cross legged about him eyes wide with awe. Even the brief arguments about which child is Korin the Heaver are swiftly quieted as the story unfolds.
Yeah, probably best if you live with some people, I understand being alone isn't good, and you can help these kids.
Grok turns and listens to Cromwin, watching the exchange between him and the nervous mother. After Othdan is done he asks, you must know something since you're certain it was an orc, right? There is no malice in Grok's words, maybe you caught it's scent or heard it's voice?
Grok watches Brin tell the story, occasionally biting his lip and raising a hand in objection, but quickly learning to just keep his mouth shut.
Maurie nods understandingly. "I understand. I was only going to use unarmed strikes, but even those might be... painful if imitated improperly. Still, if any of them would like to learn I am happy to teach a few defensive moves. Might come in handy this far north of the wall." "Though only if they are serious about learning them. Showing a move or two is one thing. Practicing long enough to obtain the discipline needed to know when and where to use it is another thing entirely."
"I am a pretty good archer and Da' used to tell me that he saw an elf shooting arrows with like magic in them... Could Agritt teach me to do that? My Da' was dead impressed..."
Othdan makes a vague motion, "Well you know when it is dark, but you can see the sort of edge of things? Well he had like tusks, and he was bulky, and talking in like a harsh grunty language."
"Thank you Othdan. Its too bad you didn't get a clearer look at his face, but that does tell us a few things. There is an orc or half orc doing something in the plague house, and with the connection to Rodrik's investigation, it probably isn't good. "
"We are going to need to go back and search that place top to bottom tonight, before this person has a chance to return any hide any evidence of what they might have been doing, although Grok and I do need to see to our wounds as well. I am also concerned, however, about the fact that this person must know Othdan saw them. Kurst has already been murdered in the night, with strong evidence that it was because of what he was doing at the plague house. I am concerned for Othdan's safety, and for the safety of your family. Would...would it be ok if we stayed here with you tonight? I would feel better knowing someone was nearby in case anything happened."
Ariel shakes her head, "It was hearing about someone releasing wolves to attack you in the Street that made Etrell take roll-call in the first place, so I think you being here more likely to bring than prevent danger. If it was some out of town half orc he won't know who Othdan is, and if he does he will know he lives in the middle of town surrounded by siblings - nothing raises a clamour faster than a dozen shrieking children. Besides there is barely room for me."
Indeed, come one, best to head back soon. We know that there was a clubbing orc-relative in there last night, the night Rodrik died, I think we should head back soon. Better heal first though, not sure how much more punishment I can stand up to. Grok looks about ready to go, and stands.
"That is possible, though I doubt our young friend was intended to survive to spread his racially poignant tale. It is, however, as likely that an orc or half-orc was using that kit to pass for human while walking within the town walls. Perhaps to pass instructions to half-orc collaborators, or to unleash poisoned wolves while no one was paying attention. Until we find our culprits we won't know for certain." Maurie stands up. "While you are getting healed perhaps I should check in with the Sergeant to see if our mystery man from the Ramblehouse was ever found trying to leave town. I doubt it, but it is possible."
Zove is almost as enthralled as the children "...is that true, Brin?" eyes on the edge of the tears in the firelight.
Brin leaves the children in their trance, just before they all launch into a tirade of pretend giantslaying. He moves next to Zove after she begs her question.
"Indeed it was! Even the embellished parts." Brin winks at Maurie.
"In all honesty, my ancestor spent the better years of his life bringing down monsters. Indeed, it's almost hard to embellish the stories about him. Yo know that he was a good man too, because the northerners that fought alongside him brought the tales back to our lands and shared them. They stories only slightly differ from village to village."
Brin leans against the wall and smiles, staring out the window. The thoughts of heroism burning brightly in his expression.
"That is a good point Ariel, I suppose we've made ourselves more visible than anyone else in this investigation." Cromwin grimaces, partially in pain from his acid burns, partly because he knows she's right. "Try to make sure the story of what happened to Othdan doesn't spread around for a day or two at least, alright? I think we're closing in on the culprits, and I would hate for anything to happen."
"Alright Grok, lets get over to the Sanctuary. You look even worse than I feel, and I think we'll both benefit a great deal from Tyari's ministrations. Maurie can check with Kurst to see if anything new has come up with the guard. Brin, Zove, I think Ariel might have given me an idea... come on, let's talk on the way." Cromwin nods his respect to Othdan's mother, and heads out the door, limping slightly.
Ariel gives Grok a hug and stands on tip toe to kiss him on the forehead, "Good luck with your investigation Grok, make sure you come and visit when you get the chance."
You arrive at The Sanctuary to find Tyari delivering a service to a small congregation of twenty Trunauans, she corrects herself often, but speaks with an enthusiasm and palpable belief in her goddess that render her words inspiring and warm. Brantos whispers,
"Feel free to join the congregation, or you can come and join me for some cheese crackers and cider upstairs if you like. It will be about a half hour yet - I would heal you myself, but I am all out of the power to lay on hands for the day."
The Guards direct those seeking Kurst to the stables, where the Patrol Captain is brushing down Hope, petting the horse's nose and speaking soothing words in a tired voice.
Agrit adjusts her reading glasses to make it look like they are looking up, while she continues to pour over her spellbook, and old habit, "Mmmm? What colour was it? The most common form would be the Gelatinous Cube - they can be very useful some societies keep them in disposal pits where they consume anything that is not metal or stone. Efficient and sanitary. You can transport them relatively easily in a metal box and then feed them up in situe, so they make wonderful security measures."
"Mmmmm? And what were you trying to do with him? Mounts are not for combat, or feeding to gelatinous cubes - they won't serve willingly and well as butlers either. Sort of green means the common Gelatinous Cube - see if you can collect some of its skin, maybe I will be able to grow one. We could rig up some sort of metal boxes, feed them garbage and then tip them over the walls if there was an attack..."
Luck to you as well, I'll be sure to. Grok nods at Ariel, looking at ease, almost like he knows what he's doing, before leaving.
At Sanctuary Grok keeps a hand on Naurgost, not leaving him in the stables with the domestic animals. He either doesn't notice or ignores the strange looks which result. Thank you, I find your organization...bafflingly helpful. I will be upstairs, eating... Grok looks away for a moment, thank you.
Grok follows Brantos upstairs, feeding several slices of cheese to the wolf while he eats, but reaching into his pack for water instead of ale. Rather keep my wits about me, and all.
Brantos shrugs at Grok's words, "What else is a Church meant to be? If you were just scrapping you would need to pay or heal the old fashioned way, but seems like you are trying to do something valuable, and Rodrik was a good man, and a friend to us, privately at least. The fact is if we charged for every healing here we would never do any, these are not rich people for the most part, and they have it hard."
The paladin returns to his tankard of cider and plate of thick cut cheese and crackers,
"Any progress with the investigation? I heard you had wolves set on you just outside?" The paladin remarks glancing at Naurgost and raising an eyebrow.
Agrit looks up scowling, "You know that potions are a waste of money for anybody with the aptitude, and often for those without. Perhaps if you had applied yourself to your studies instead of brawling with every knuckle you would be able to cast the spell yourself. Don't think I haven't heard about you striking Elizabeth today either. I am sure I will have to endure an hour of haranguing when the Council meet tomorrow. You know it puts me and your Mother in a terrible position having to defend you when everyone knows we are playing favourites..."