Byden scowls up,
"Hmmm, on seconds thoughts how about we get some proper climbing gear and sell all of our loot, my armors still damp and I'd not say no to a proper meal and bed. If you are all alright with that, I'll go fetch that red metal altar, we should probably bring a cart with us when we come bac, load up all that marble, maybe some of the statues.."
"First smart thing you've said all day." Ratchet says, turning to tromp out of the ruin.
Byden heads down in the elevator and returns hauling the red altar,
"This better be worth something, grab the back end would you? Let's get going then, the sooner we get moving the sooner we can get drinking."
As they slog back down to town Byden says,
"I don't think we discussed splitting the loot, but I'm for finding out how much everything will sell for and then splitting it evenly. If anyone wants to keep anything they can pay for it from their share at what we could sell it for. I want to try to get hold of some proper plate, maybe a better sword since this one is pretty dinged up."
When they lug the goods back into town Byden suggests they go for a meal at The Hungry Gar, or The Rusty Bucket, to discuss what they ought to sell and what they should keep.
Upon learning that Adotiln does not wish to continue with them, he slaps the dwarf on the back and thanks him gruffly for his help, gladly consenting to him taking the Pearl of Power.
"I'm going to take a room for the night at the Able Carter Inn and get a bath before we eat though. I was staying at Jalek's Flophouse before and I don't recommend it, I swear there was more bug in my mattress than straw."
"Hmmm, you know what I think you get a meal with your room actually. No point spending coin when you don't have to, we might as well eat at the Inn. And we ought to think about recruiting a new member with Adotiln off, I can heal a bit now, but not enough for a death trap like that up there. How do we put the word out?"
Ratchet also gets a room at the Inn, but spends most of his time drinking in the tavern and down at the general store restocking his supplies and picking up a few new tricks.
The next day Byden seeks out some of his old buddies from the garrison and gets them to put the word out that the group needs a healer, he also asks if they know anyone who might suit.
After accompanying the others to sell the loot they decided to rid themselves of he makes for The Captain's Blade where he purchases a beautifully made longsword, hardly grumbling at all about the three hundred and fifteen gold pieces he has to pay for it.
Then he heads over to the Osgood Smithy and asks,
"How much would I have to put down for you to measure me up and start making me a set of full plate? I don't care about pretty as long as it's functional."
The smith looks Byden over and scratches a scraggly beard. "Well, that might be a bit beyond my skills. I'm a fair armorer at best and I would just make a mess of full plate. What I can do is take your measurements and you can take those over to Taggin at the general store. That man has a way of finding things people are needing."
Taggin can indeed order in a suit of plate for Byden, but he want a 25% deposite down first. It'll take a week to come in from Greyhawk.
The selling of your various treasures has quickly become the talk of the town. While about his errands Ratchet is approached by a pair of men. One is a thin bearded man in dark robes and the other is a large thick shouldered fellow with a sword at his hip and an ornately tooled red leather belt around his waist.
The robed man clears his throat,
"Pardon me, but I've been told that you are a member of the party that sold some gear marked with a distintive eight-pointed star sigil. Might I inquire as to where you might have found such as they?"
Byden nods, at Taggin's words and has the man take his measurements.
"Aye, that sounds good, so 375gp, or 412gp and 5sp for a masterwork set you say. Let me get back to you..."
The paladin sets out to find Ratchet and Senna, to see if he can borrow 80gp from one of their shares.
Erethyn turned to the guardsman. "A Half-Orc Paladin of Heironeous, and his group are in need of a healer? Thank you for this information. Please inform your comrades they need not search any longer. I shall find them presently. May the blessings of Heironeous be upon you this day." With that, Erethyn went to collect his things and was soon out the door.
Ratchet nods, "Aye."
"Who be askin'?
Senna spies Byden coming glumly from one of the shops about town. It doesn't come as any surprise that equipping a fighting man takes coin. She drops whatever coins he needs in his hands with a smile. "... And don't be spending this all buying sweets and hard candy, young man."
Byden smiles ruefully, looking sheepish,
"Ha. Right you are M'am. I'll be sure to get it back to you I'm sure that wands and, um, bat poop and such, aren't cheap. This money is just for a down payment sadly, good armor ain't cheap. Ahhh, well, thank you Senna its appreciated."
Then he shakes his head slightly, cheeks perhaps a little ruddier than usual, and squares his shoulders,
"Right, anyway, I've out the word out to the lads that we're looking for a new member, preferably with a bit of healin' ability. And, um, wait I know that fellow, remember going to see him with Sir Lorton, if I remember rightly we just might have ourselves a likely lad, or elf right there..."
Moving forward Byden waves at the elf approaching as he asks,
"Its Erethyn ain't it? Don't know if you remember me, but I was Sir Lorton Birch's Squire. I know I was still being a prick last time we met, but the old boy rubbed off on me and I'm following in his footsteps - well probably a bit over in the mud, but you take my point. Anyways we're looking for a healer, don't suppose you'd be interested in a little high risk high reward adventurin' would you? Its a good cause, you can't go paladining in your skivvies, so I need coin if I'm to be anything close to useful. Course I've got me some such now, but the place we're exploring has been jam packed with stuff just begging for a smiting..."
"I am known as Khellek, a humble historian and my large friend is Auric, a mighty warrior and current champion of the great Champion's Arena is the city of Greyhawk. We've come to your fair town to document the fabulous history to be found in the numerous cairns in the area. Our little adventure was precipitated by certain documents that I uncovered that spoke of the discovery of an unspoiled cairn some 50 years ago by a member of my order. The original team that was sent to explore it were never heard of again, so you can understand my curiosity at your possession of tokens that might have belonged to them. Have you also been exploring cairns? Did you find anything that might fit the description of such missing party?"
"I'd hardly call that place "unspoiled". All kinds o' nastiness in there. I think we found two... no, three dead bodies, an' a soggy undead. They were all to far gone t' make any recognition a' who they might ha' used t' be, but one o' 'em did 'ave a ring like yours."
He fishes it out of his pouch and holds it up.
Erethyn held his finger to his mouth and had a thoughtful look about him as he scrutinized the Half-Orc figure in front of him. He listened till Byden had finished speaking and began rhythmically tapping his chin.
"I had heard that a group of hardy folk required the services of a healer. As it happens, I am available and willing for some adventure. The guards who told me spoke of a Paladin Half-Orc leading a group. I must say of all the people to run into, you were that last one I ever thought I would meet like this. Well met Byden. Indeed, Lorton has shaped you into a respectable citizen, even if you are as excitable as I recall."
Erethyn looked past Byden to Senna, a disarming smile now on his face. "It's nice to make your acquaintance. My name is Erethyn." He then turned his attention back to Byden. "Just you two? If that's the case, then I'm glad I was here when you called. Tell me, have you seen Lorton recently? It's been some years since I spoke with him last."
Byden shakes his head sadly,
"He passed away, nearly a year ago, nothing dramatic just his heart they said, he was old an we aren't all as long lived as you elves. I think he was satisfied with his life, and with what he'd done, I'd be glad if I could say the same one day - not to soon though. As for our group, we've one more a dwarf, Ratchet, who knows about traps and is some sort of alchemist, handy fellow, I'll introduce you."
The paladin moves off gesturing for the others to follow as he seeks out Ratchet.
"Don' worry though. We're professionals. Either we're clearin' the place o' danger an' comin' back wit' everythin' we c'n carry, or we're dyin' tryin'. Either way, ye git what ye want at the cost of a week or two's patience."
"Ye c'n 'ave th' ring though." Ratchet says, handing it over. "An, if yer stayin' in town we'll give you first purchase privilege of anythin' we pull out. If ye think it used t' belong t' yer order, we'll make sure ye have a chance t' buy it straight from us instead'a at merchant mark up."
Byden finds Ratchet back at the tavern working on his fifth tankard. He grins around his cigar and kicks a seat out for his friend.
"We got a couple folks askin' after our site. Those dead fellas we found were part o' their order. I told 'em that we'd give 'em first buy off anything we haul back from now on."
Byden blinks, nods and shrugs,
"Don't seem to matter to me, as long as they are willing to pay what we'd get elsewhere, might even be handy, save us some time. You trust them though, why are they so interested? That place was clearly built by evil, or at least unscrupulous, creatures, I'd not want to give anything over to those with dark plans for it... But I suppose it makes sense that they would want stuff from their order back, but next time we'll meet them together and I'll give them the once over with the old detect evil eye. Maybe we'd better stick together in town to just in case..."
The half orc shakes his head and points over his shoulder,
"Anyway, found us a new healer. This is Erethyn, my old boss trusted him and he knew how to read people, can't think of anyone more trustworthy we are likely to happen upon. Erethyn this is Ratchet the other member of our little band. I suppose if you are all ready we could head back now, its going to take too long for my armor to get here to be worth waiting, and besides I need to be able to pay for the bloody stuff when it gets here..."
"Pleased t' meetcha." Ratchet nods to the priest.
"Ready when you are." he says tossing back the rest of his mug and hanging it back on his belt.
Erethyn smiles and nodded at Ratchet. "The same. Um, yes if we're in a hurry I'm ready to leave now."
"Now then. Get anything good then Ratchet? Check out me new sword, she's better looking than any lass at The Emporium, I've ordered some proper armor to, this stuff nice and all, you know magic great, but I'd rather trust to steel than magic at a pinch," Byden says cheerfully,
"But before I reckon we ought to pick up a cart for hauling that marble and any other big stuff back. I'd do it, but, ah, well armor and swrds aren't cheap and I find myself a little light on coin..."
"Aye. Picked up a cart an' a mule, an' a detatchable rickshaw t' take int' the ruin. Now I c'n haul heavier equipment. Give me enough time an' I should be able to strip that place down t' the bare walls."
As the group make their way back to the tomb Byden fills Erethyn in on their experiences so far,
"So we've had to solve a couple, of puzzles, Ratchet's dealt bwith a load of traps. We fought wolves that were lairin' in the entry, swarms of acid oozing beetles, couple of bigger beatles, an evil egg - don't ask I don't know - this sort of beetle-like thing with like scythes for legs. Oh, and there was this flooded bit where I fought a thing made out of water and then somekind of undead - was a right bugger I can tell you! Found a few freshish corpses to, four maybe?"
He pauses and looks thoughtful,
"There's this room with all these colored lanterns hanging from chains, and you sort of point this fake sarcophagus at the one you want to activate. We seem to have covered most of them, they made elevators activate and such, but there's at least one place we haven't explored which is going to need one of us to climb up this long shaft. We found a splatted corpse at the bottom so there's probably some trap, or something, but we've got a Ring of Featherfall now so one of us ought to be able to go up there pretty safely. Either me or Ratchet I'd say, what do you think Senna, Ratchet. Maybe I ought to go up make sure there aren't any foes obvious then climb back down and let Ratchet search for traps?"
Once they reach the ancient tomb Byden makes straight for the shaft and slips on the Ring of Featherfall before stripping off his armor, slinging his shield over his back and carefully climbing up using the wall, and Ratchet's pitons and rope to make things as easy as possible, with little concern for time it takes to set up.
With some effort and a few embarrassing, but ultimately harmless slips, Byden climbs up the 40' of the chain and emerges into a small (10x10) room filled mostly with the hole. A single exit leaves the room, leading into a 10' wide corridor that (after some exploration) ends 70' from the hole. At the end of the passage is an immense stone face, its expression carved into a scream of agony.
Erethyn listened to Byden's story with great interest. He paused, asked several questions and seemed quite interested in the "evil egg" he had mentioned but did not press the issue on Bydens request. When he mentioned the possibility of having to climb, Erethyn let out a sigh.
"Well it seems as though you've had quite an adventure and in such a short time too. I've never been very strong or skilled at climbing... but if that's what must be done, then so be it."
Despite his resolve, Erethyn's expression does pale a bit once the group arrives in the tomb and he watches the Paladin ascend... and fall several times.
"No obvious threats, there's a corridor with a great big stone face at the end. Looks like someone shoved a pickaxe up his arse. You want to come up and check for traps Ratchet, from the looks of Corpsey down there, if there's anything its probably just going to throw me down, so maybe I ought to just try to set it off? Oh, hang on somethings made like gouges in the floor... Maybe the big face pushes you off the edge or something?"
Byden keeping his voice to a whisper asks the others,
"Anyone know why there's an elf woman following us? I generally don't enjoy people sneaking after my business. Couldn't be anyone you know could it Erethyn?"
"Eh? You sure? A'right then. Le's call 'er out."
Stopping and turning, Ratchet stands on the back of his cart and bellows.
Erethyn looked surprised at Byden's question. He certainly had not been expected to be followed by an Elven woman. "I can't be sure that it's not someone I know, but I usually wouldn't keep such comp..." He was cut off mid sentence as Ratchet began to bellow from the cart.
He turns to the direction of the Elf woman and offers some friendlier words to the Dwarfs rough tone. "We obviously don't mean you any harm yet, though if you are planning on following us, I can't be sure of your safety. If you come out and speak directly, we can clear up any sort of misunderstanding."
After a few heartbeats, the elf pops into view, looking disgusted with herself. Instand of approaching, she gives you all a little salute and the turns and begins to march angrily back to town.
"He, they don't call me eagle eye, but the probably should," Byden says, his expression deeply self satisfied.
Erethyn looks at the Elf woman and his eyes widen in recognition. "I think I know her, by reputation only, but I believe that is Tirra. She's part of a fairly well known adventuring party that is local to the area. I can't imagine she meant us any real harm, though I do wonder why she was stalking us."
"Aye." Ratchet nods. "I should 'ave guessed they'd send someone t' follow us. Her companions spent some time askin' me about the ruin back in town. At least she ain't a sore loser. I don't think they mean us any harm. Let's go."
Byden shrugs,
"Either that or she wants us to think she's given up. Let's keep our eyes peeled."
Ratchet looked up the hole that led up to the passage with the face in it. He'd left his cart outside at the mouth of the Cairn, and loaded up the smaller rickshaw with an impressive array of supplies and equipment. I thad taken him a while in some of the tighter spaces, but eventually he'd maneuvered it to the base of the chain where they had gathered.
Since Byden had announced it reasonably safe when they'd last been here, Ratchet hitched up his climbing gear and started making his way upward.
"I'm gonna try setting whatever this is off before you come up Ratchet, might as well use this ring right."
Suiting his words the half orc paladin bulls forward towards the mouth expecting to be rammed, and attempting to keep a wide stance so he has some chance to resist any attack.
Moving towards the face, Byden feels a pressure plate trigger beneath his feet. The eyes of the stone face burst into a hypnotic pattern, flashing beams of red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet.
Waves magic wash over you and you feel you muscles begin to stiffen. . At the same time a strong wind begins to blow from the face's mouth.
Erethyn stood below and he stared up with worry as a several flashes of multi-colored light flashed above him, a moment later he heard what he thought was wind blowing from above. If only there was something else I could do from down here.
"Byden! Are you alright?!"
"Woh.... pretty colors..." Byden manages before finding himself paralyzed by the whirling colors, then the wind strikes him and helpless to arrest his backwards progress he tumbles towards the drop and over it.
But fortunately the Ring of Feather Fall activates allowing the paladin to sink safely down to the floor below.