Zed casts his divination spell and studies the ring for several moments, quickly discerning that it is a ring of animal friendship. The words are almost on his tongue, but something feels... off. He looks again. Yes, there! A hidden dweomer knotted into the tangled lock of hair. This is a cursed ring of bestial friendship!
Now that the churning currents of the orb does not echo off the walls, Taranis can faintly hear the occasional soft hoot from the southeastern passage.
It sounds... sad.
Augrym leads the way towards the sad hooting.
"There are some people that I feel I would like to see wear that ring Zed. Let us go investigate these noises. Perhaps the creature needs our help. Or, alternatively, it could be something worse..."
"Zed, are you saying this ring could have been what drove this owlbear mad? Who would make such a thing? Does this also explain its unusual size?" The questions flow from Taranis as he hands out items.
Upon hearing the hoot, Taranis holds one of the Potions of Speak with Animals in hand. He steps forward, then stops. "Marc, can you channel any more energy this day?"
There is something else. Zed spots a scrap of paper poking out of an inner pocket of the corpse's ruined jacket.
It is a map of the Greenbelt. Solasgaard is clearly marked and circled, as is the cavern where you are currently standing.
"Targeted! Zed take care of that, we're going to need some divination!"
Taranis drinks one of the Potion of Speak with Animals. He then approaches the hoot. "It's okay little one. I am a friend. Bad magic is gone."
Taranis leads the way towards the sound, up the southeastern passage. The passage branches north again, but he continues south into another large cavern.
A buzzing fills your ears here. At the southern end of the cavern, a wide ledge runs along the cavern wall at a height of about fifteen feet. Two tunnels exit the cavern to the north, one narrow and one wide. A web-choked hole in the ceiling of the cavern, some 20 feet up, leads to a natural chimney. In the eastern portion of the cavern lies the giant carcass of second huge owlbear, surrounded by at a half dozen humanoid bodies.
Two owlbear cubs lie dead next to their mother, along with the only survivor. Its fur and feathers are matted with dried blood, its body thin and gaunt, and it hoots pitifully at the large corpse dominating the room.
Taranis can understand its pleas.
"I'm sorry little one, that is the forever sleep. Someone did something bad to your family before we came. There was naught we could do. We are a loving family, and will welcome you as one of your own."
Taranis sends Toth forward
It is obvious to everyone that the cub is both wounded and starving.
"I'm sorry little one. This is part of the cycle. Everything that lives returns to the planet. We may mourn the dead, but since death always comes, we also thank Gozreh for her gift."
Taranis uses one of the precious few charges of the wand on the cub and hands her/him some food.
"What happened little one, and do you have a name?"
"We are the unwitting dupes of this and have killed this child's parents. It is up to us to raise this child as our own and honor its parents' traditions. We will need to learn the ways of owlbears but this child is our responsibility. We will need to explain it to our people."
The magical healing helps, but Taranis knows that the cub will need long-term care if it is to survive.
"Name?" the cub seems unfamiliar with the concept. "Prey came and tore at us with sharp claws and flying needles. We killed many prey. Father left, very angry. Came back, still angry. Mother sleeps."
"I shall call you Khrabryy. It is a name from the North. It means "Brave one." Did the prey look like us? Like your new family?"
The owlbear cub looks at Taranis, a hint of... hunger in its eyes, but it stays still. "Yes."
"Good leader new father friend Taranis is truly impressive with this young one. So many levels to this fine man..."
"I would like to know more about the prey, all you can tell me, their colors especially. Your home is no longer safe, but I know of a place. There I promise that you can roam free."
The cub tilts its head quizzically.
"Then I shall give you plenty of hunting, but first we must clear this area out in case that prey left behind any scent."
Taranis brings the party in to check out this room Once clear, "Come let us finish this place. I long for home and rebuilding."
Each of the corpses is similarly outfitted, each with studded leather armor, a light wooden shield, a dagger, a longsword, and a shortbow. There are six bodies in total. In their pockets and clothing, you also find gold coins.
"Take what we can, leave what we can't."
Taranis looks over the garb to see if there's anything identifying. He then pushes the lights north.
The narrow tunnel widens briefly into a natural cavern, the dimensions of which are hard to discern for the thick sheets of webbing that fill the place. You surmise this is where the erstwhile spiders made their home.
With a grim look, Taranis lights a torch and burns away the webs, "Fan out. I doubt we're the first to dance with those spiders."
Burning away the webs takes a while, but you get the job done. Unfortunately, it looks like the spiders did most of their dining in the adjoining midden, where their corpses now lie.
Then its off to the last room!
Taranis splits the group into two and tackles the next passageway from two directions. The dark, narrow tunnel is only about five feet high and slopes gently to the south. Water drips from numerous cracks in the ceiling to flow down the passage in small rivulets.
Only a few feet into the tunnel at the southern end, the floor gives way beneath Augrym, dropping him 40 feet into a sinkhole...
At the last moment Augrym grabs on to Unrak for dear life, and the big man is able to pull him to safety. The drop looks to be about 40 feet, and a nasty-looking green slime covers the walls of the sinkhole.
There is nothing else in this passageway.
"Brother!" Taranis smiles at Augrym, "Nice reflexes. Come now. Let us take a final look at this place and be done with it."
Avoiding the pit, Taranis takes one final pass through the complex, looking high and low for anything missed.
Raking through the muck in the midden turns up in various coinage, as well as a masterwork warhammer, a set of masterwork thieves' tools, and a vial of silversheen. You also dig up a wand of lightning bolt [CL 5th] in the shambling mound's den, currently with charges on it.
The only other item of interest is the web-choked chimney in the southernmost room, which leads to parts unknown.
"Zed. Take this and USE it."
Taranis looks towards the chimney, "I hate to leave a stone unturned as it were, but I don't see us climbing up and through."
HOME
The stars are bright, and the hour late -- well into the dog watch. You make camp outside the lair for the night, then ride hard for Solasgaard in the morning. You arrive around midday on [color=teal]2nd Erastus[/color].
The town -- city now, really -- is much as you left it. The fires have been dealt with, and graves dug, but a morbid pall hangs over tense streets. Kesten Garess has raised a temporary militia to support Akiros Ismort's city guards in maintaining the calm, and they both ride out to meet you at the checkpoint on the outskirts. Jhod Kavken joins you as well.
Garress is the first to speak as they rein in beside you. "Sure am glad to see you in one piece! We've been anxious for news..."
Akiros, as always, is rather direct. "We've had dozens of families head north yesterday, and again this morning. Caravanned for safety, though I doubt that's much comfort, given the size of that thing. There's panic in the air." He looks the Huntsmen over. "You're alive, so that's a relief."
"We are move than alive. The threat is neutralized, but that doesn't mean we've written the conclusion to this tale. We must bring the city together, and we must begin rebuilding forthwith. It is time to put our Barony on the maps of others!" He then gives the officers the complete story.
Before diving into the duties and affairs of state, The Baron would like to speak upon the castle walls to all who would hear.
He wears the livery of his office, and asks those of the inner circle to do the seen. He adds a flair of magic before the address.
"Fellows of the Marchlands! Hear my words. The threat, the owlbear of legend, has been ended. Indeed, I shall be sending out a team to recover the skull as a monument to our resilience. Now is the time to rebuild! When a flower is pruned, it returns more vibrant than before. The pruning promotes growth and development. It is time now for us to blossom into something ever more glorious through your hard work and grit!"
Unrak looms behind his brother’s right shoulder, lending the quiet strength of his preset, hoping to add a bit of gravitas
Unfortunately his scowl is just a bit too dark for the desired effect
The Baron's speech has most of its desired effect, at least in calming everyone's nerves, and the relief in the crowd seems palpable. Still, there are a few holdouts and shouts from below:
"Where's your proof?!"
"What if there's another?!"
"Why did it attack us?!"
"Where the Hell've you been?!"
"The skull of the beast would require a dedicated wagon, which is why I'm sending a team. If there is another, and make no mistake, there will be something - for we are hard people in a hard land - and adversity makes us MEN and WOMEN! As for where, the answer is obvious, we were leading from the front, dealing with the threat ourselves. Please, the best thing we can all do is to build ourselves up. The time will soon come for militias and training to protect us, but first let us rebuild!"
The grumbling slowly dies out as citizens return to their work, repairing roofs and stitching up wounds. Jhod pulls the baron aside after the speech.
"My lord, if I might ask another moment of your time? There are two matters that require your attention." The old priest wrings his hands a bit, as if uncomfortable raising the subjects. "The first is, well... Solasgaard is growing, and the economy along with it. Several new shops have been set up in recent months, trading in magical wares and the like. I am kept appraised of the traffic in case anything too dangerous or sinister enters the city, but my expertise is best suited to divine magic and I have not the training to get a full grasp of the arcane merchandise that moves through here. Perhaps your lordship might be willing to find an arcane specialist to serve the barony?"
"The second item is that a delegation arrived from Mivon while you were away in Varnhold. I believe we got all of the paperwork straightened before they left, but they seemed..." Jhod pauses before continuing. "They seemed a bit put off by being put into the care of no higher authority than myself and old Oleg. Might I suggest to your lordship the employ of skilled diplomat, for those occasions that your lordship is tending to other duties?"
With the immediate dangers handled, the time comes to return to your courtly duties of managing the state:
Upkeep Phase
Declare Baron's modifier (Economy, Loyalty, or Stability).
Roll Stability Check.
Consumption has been deducted from the treasury.
Decide whether to attempt a Loyalty check to reduce Unrest.
Edict Phase
Declare Spymaster's modifier (Economy, Loyalty, or Stability).
Assign new leadership or fill vacancies, if desired.
Claim up to one new hex of territory, if desired. This hex must be fully explored to be claimed.
Abandon any number of hexes of existing territory, if desired.
Pay for up to two terrain improvements to existing territory, if desired.
Pay for construction of up to one new building in your existing settlements. The construction of a single house, tenement, noble villa, or mansion does not count against this limit, but must still be paid for.
Raise new military units, or upgrade existing ones, if desired. Pay any recruitment costs.
Issue any new edicts as desired.
Augrym casts Ears of the City. 6 round duration. With this casting, he will also keep an ear out for any possible citizens to fill positions in the barony. Maybe not diplomat as we may need to hire one outside, but any positions. If this is outside the scope of the spell, that’s fine.
Augrym reports to the Baron that, while no specific candidates necessarily come to mind after his reconnaissance, Jubilost Narthropple did arrive at Solasgaard yesterday and has set up camp just outside the city. Apparently his expedition to the dwarven stronghold lately cleared of trolls was a success.
Svetlana blushes at the question. "I... I'm honored you would think of me, my lord! But do you really think that I'm qualified to be a counsellor? I know soups, stews, and mending, and I'm used to being a hostess, but not for a whole barony!"
"Indeed I think you may be. Your growth in managing the show from outpost to Barony was stronger than Gozreh's breath. It would be our honor. In true form for the Marchlands, if you find it not to your liking, stepping down would have no impact on our friendship. If it IS to your liking, then the position is yours."
"Well you would know best! Alright, I can give it a try. Thank you for your faith in me! I am sure Oleg can bring me up to speed..." Svetlana hurries off to find her husband.
Unrak's shaggy brows furrow a bit. He uses the universal head-nod to get his brother apart from the rest.
I knew Councilor was a temporary thing, so I'm totally fine with Svetlana taking that role. But...diplomat?? Sure, I'll scare off whoever we need scaring, but...diplomat???
Next Moonday, Taranis rides southwest into the swamp on the banks of the Tuskwater. At the gate, he rings the bell. "YOU AGAIN? WHAT NOW?" is the cantankerous greeting offered by the Old Beldame at the window, but she waves the Baron up to the house. As usual, the scarecrow in the yard turns to watch him pass.
The hut is stuffy as always, and a broth going in the cauldron. "Well? Whattaya want?"
"Ma'am I'd like to offer you an opportunity to cast a wider net on magic, knowledge, and opportunity. If you'd be willing, we'd ask that you be Magister of the realm. You would build guide and train. I know your privacy is important, so I ask only that you give advice once monthly, in return you'd have access to the entirety of the realm's knowledge. What say you?"