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Sven swings out with his axe, connecting with Rhiannon's armoured mid-riff with a powerful blow. Staggering and unsteady on her feet, Rhiannon drops her sword and meekly raises her hands.
"Please I surrender, just topple the Spire for your treasure, my Family will ransom me I promise!"
She is completely sincere being so outclassed and fully believes her family will pay her ransom.
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With heavy breathing and arms still raised, Rhiannon allows you to search and then bind her, knowing there was little she could accomplish against it. The discarded crossbow and shortsword, surely made by a master smith, are her only weapons, she also carries a potion, a tanglefoot bag and bolts for the crossbow.
Rhiannon whimpers slightly, "please, let me heal my wounds, I feel as if I am going to pass out at a moment's notice."
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Just give me a second to climb back up... Patros says as he sheathes hus blade and climbs back up. He spits on his hands as he grabs the spire to get a good grip and pushes the spire with all his considerable strength.
Bah! Can't get a grip....one second. he gripes as he grabs hus morningstar in a firm two handed grip and swings at the base of the spire.
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I'm afraid M'lady you scorned our attempts at civility and now our only course is force!
Sabretache retrieves the wand from his bag. Patros that looks a nasty cut, are you in need of healing? No attempt is made to hide the wand from Rhiannon, indeed Sabretache stands directly in front of her while addressing Patros, hinting if she cooperates she also could be healed.
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Rhiannon takes Aleric's offer and drinks the potion, her wounds closing and her breathing easier, though she knows she is beaten and allows herself to be bound.
She sighs at the line of questioning, but knowing she has no leverage in the situation, the noblewoman answers truthfully.
"You must not be locals, the Tulivor Family," she spits as she says the rival families name, "are thieves and murderers, they stole our family's greatest relic and hid in the tomb, when I heard the riddle I thought if I slew his last Son the trap would break, evidently this is not the case. Though I will shed no tears over his death, now return me to my family and they will pay you handsomely for my safe return."
Whilst the others interrogate the prisoner, Patros spends somm time hacking at the Spire with his own blade, marble and metal meet and the marble breaks first, though Patros' blade is now chipped and in need of a good sharpening.
The Marble spire of the Sarvio tomb comes crashing to the ground as the Sun sets in the sky, the last rays of twilight alight the Marble bust, Aleric who has a keen nose for this sort of thing, notices the Trap on the Mausoleum's door fade away and there is a faint pop as the door's lock slides out of place.
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"Ladies, gentlemen." Aleric announces. "We are in."
He starts hauling the door open, and will proceed slowly in checking for traps. He may have already forgotten about the captive.
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Wait...let me check those knots.... Patros says as he scrambles down from the top of the mausoleum. He inspects the knots and snugs them tight.
After he is finished he turns to Marius.
Aye, a touch from the wand would be greatly appreciated. Bloody handy, those things....no pun intended....
After he dons his armour, Patros looks at Aleric.
Ready to head in?
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The baroque marble tomb of the Tullivor family clamors for attention like a gaudy flag waving for a once noble house. Its most audacious feature is a sculpted badger that looms, gargoyle-like, above the door. The iron door is decorated not only with the Tullivor name and crest, but also with an elaborate arcane rune.
Aleric slowly pushes open the door, peering into the gloom beyond, lighting a torch or casting a mere cantrip is more than enough to light the 15 by 10 room beyond. The only features here are five Sarcophagi bearing the names of the Tullivors interred within.
Above the Sarcophagi for one named Laban Tullivor, a gleaming tapestry depicts the Tullivor crest and the family motto: “Never in Shadow.” The tapestry is woven with gold and silver thread.
Rhiannon is clearly bested and will follow you or stay as bid, not wishing to bring about further cause for struggle.
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Aleric will search the sarcophagus for traps and/or a locking mechanism.
"Nay," the rogue ponders. "I betcha coppers to coinpurses that a guy like him would have his treasure buried with him. Only way to keep safe, you know?"
"Just a minute there, this coffin's got some trick to it." he exclaims, fishing out his tools. "Shant take me but a minute or two..."
Aleric starts to push open the sarcophagus.
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Aleric spends some time with the Sarcophagi, they have no obvious locks and no traps on them but the lid of the caskets are made of heavy stone which would be difficult to budge.
Rhiannon turns to Khismia, staring around the room, disbelief apparent in her eyes.
"The Sarvio family's prized possession, A platinum chalice with our crest and motto engraved. Though it is not here! Could it be this was all for nothing?"
If you are to disturb the interred Tullivor nobility, they are buried in what was once finery and their signet rings but not much else. It must be that the family left much of their wealth when they fled Galt.
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"You're a harder man than I Aleric" mumbles Sabretasche slapping Aleric on the back before lighting his pipe. After inhaling deeply he continues "But we can't let murders go free. We would need to be suitably persuaded m'lady's family would see justice would be done of the authorities are not to be involved"
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"Didn't Ulisha's journal mention a chalice? Seems like more than one party is after it now."
He turns to Rhiannon. "I'm inclined to agree with you, Marius. But I feel that a noble family would rather just sweep this under the rug, instead of being possibly embarrassed by their own kin being a murderer. Unless we could be assured that wouldn't happen, I suggest we go straight to the authorities, let this be made public."
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"I'm inclined to agree Sven. We have no time for ransoms and negotiations. Hand her over and lets get on with our missions ... Or go to the nearest tavern to recover... Whatever happens first, I think we owe Patros a drink for taking that nasty hit and scaling the spire will rest rest of us supervised!"
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"You're a harder man than I Aleric" mumbles Sabretasche slapping Aleric on the back before lighting his pipe. After inhaling deeply he continues "But we can't let murders go free. We would need to be suitably persuaded m'lady's family would see justice would be done of the authorities are not to be involved"
"I just wanted to let you know..." the rogue begins, his face a mask of sincerity. "That I didn't intend on just taking a bribe. We who deal with the underground, well, we tend to do a lot of verbal 'sparring' as it is. A lot of times, this kind of people need to handle their own justice. The system... doesn't always take care of people with money. So I was thinking if we make sure she suffers consequences, AND make a few coins, where's the harm, eh?"
Aleric makes it clear that he's not nearly as cut-throat as he talked. After all, he did try to keep the initial engagement non-lethal. He would probably have been okay with turning her over to her family for a bribe instead, but only because he doesn't trust the legal system to do the job right.
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Closing the Mausoleum doors and leaving the Cemetary, Rhiannon and her Horse Zephyr in tow, it does not take you long to find a member of the local constabulary who hear your story with grave faces, noble violence like this isn't unheard of in Graltan, as past rivalries come to a head, but Rhiannon is taken into custody, as well as the body of the youngest Tullivor. You aren't entirely sure why, but Rhiannon does not sell you out as Graverobbers or malcontents.
Settling down in a run-down Inn in the rougher area of Graltan, you sip at cheap ale and flick through Ulisha's journal for clues to the next location. After reading the next entry you spy the this useful passage:
When seeking to conceal something, one’s first instinct is to choose a spot no one would think to look. Better yet, choose a locale no one would dare to go. Such was my logic after liberating a magic lantern from an anemic necromancer in Ustalav.
Lest the wizard track me through its magic, I hid the lantern underneath some rocks in a stream near Cannibal’s Grove, whose own magic would disguise the lantern’s own. Now that time has passed, I’d gladly cut you in for a nice percentage of its value. All you need do is travel to the Forest of Veils in southern Varno. From there, any superstitious peasant should know the route to Cannibal’s Grove. How bad can it be?
And so, you settle in for the night, you next stop Varno, a joyful little place in the bleak lands of Ustalav...
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"I would advise avoiding the authorities. We are foreigners here, with the goal of robbing a noble's tomb. We have admitted as much already, as well as vandalised another mausoleum." Khismia glances over to Rhiannon then back to her companions. "The Sarvio family could undoubtedly make life difficult for us. I suggest either taking the ransom or letting her go and forgetting the entire thing."
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Sven buries his face in his hands and groans. "Of course. Ustalav. Of COURSE we have to go there. Okay-have any of you guys been there? Basically, just assume that everybody there is a vampire, a werewolf, a cultist, or some combination of the three. Jeez...of all the places our contact had to flee to...freaking Ustalav."
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"oh, no I've never BEEN there, gods forbid!" Aleric clarifies, taking a swig. "Just knew a guy who knew an alchemist that lived there and had access to some rare... Herbs."
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The next morning, awaking in various stages of a hangover from the night before, you sit over a hearty breakfast, discussing your next move and the logistics of travelling to Ustalav when you are joined by the same Elvish Captain that brought you to Graltan, happily helping himself to toasted bread he smiles.
"The Venture Captain suggested you might need some help, that Journal there will take you all over the place, it will be a long trek. I have been asked to offer my ship as transport for you all, are we ready ladies and gentlemen?"
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"You're a harder man than I Aleric" mumbles Sabretasche slapping Aleric on the back before lighting his pipe. After inhaling deeply he continues "But we can't let murders go free. We would need to be suitably persuaded m'lady's family would see justice would be done of the authorities are not to be involved"** spoiler omitted **
You'll go far lad.
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Your journey across the Inner Sea towards Ustalav is as uneventful as it is boring. Docking in Caliphas, the capital of Ustalav you are able to procure a map to the forest of veils within the county of Varno and you make haste, no idea where your next journey may take you. The countryside is often empty of other travellers for it rains heavily and even at the height of noon, a mist dominates the place, giving Ustalav a gloomy feel.
After a few days of travel you come across an Inn at the edge of the forest. This crumbling, moss-choked inn stands alone at the road’s end. Looming over its squat frame, a dense curtain of foliage marks the border of the Forest of Veils. The sign above the door reads “The Restless Bear,” and it seems to refer to a stuffed bear’s head that lolls upon a a pole near the eaves.
It is getting late now and the forest looks dark and uninviting, though there is nothing to say it would look any better by daylight.
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Haska notes that whilst the place looks run-down it it is well built and sure to protect you from the horrendous mist.
The common room of the Restless Bear feels like a cave, its sagging rafters clogged with yarn, shabby ribbons, and odd miniature knick-knacks that reinforce its claustrophobic atmosphere, apart from yourselves the only other occupant is a dour Ustalavic woman rubbing down the wooden bar with a damp cloth.
"Greetins!" she says with a gap-toothed smile, "Will ye be wanting food and board? 5cp a piece for a warm meal and a solid bed, no lice here!"
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"No lice?" Aleric asks. "Well thats a plus. Some places back in the underbridge considered lice a feature!"
He pays for his share.
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