Allustan glances at the board. His expression instantly turns stony. "...no. No, that was a long-distance game I once played with my mentor, a foolish old mage named Tenser."
Carina bites her lip. "Oh... s-sorry, I didn't mean to upset or offend you in any way, sir."
Wow. Nice job putting your foot in it, genius.
"Wasn't he the guy with the spells that made him all buff and he'd beat people up with his bare hands instead of being wizardly?"
"No, no." Allustan waves a hand. "It has been a long time, Ms. Vieras."
"Wasn't he the guy with the spells that made him all buff and he'd beat people up with his bare hands instead of being wizardly?"
Allustan raises an eyebrow. "Correct, Mr...Al'Khatel. Tenser was a cunning individual, but he always did enjoy a good scrap."
Tanith wanders around the wizard's space, oblivious of the arcane details but interested nonetheless. "You know anything about worms? Kyuss worms maybe?"
"Hm?" Allustan seems surprised at the question, but he thinks. "Well...they come from the spawn of Kyuss. Extremely dangerous undead."
Completely unaware of the gravity of the topic, Tanith continues while poking at some delicate instruments. "I heard one was found in the mines. You know anything about that?"
Assuming Allustan seems interested, Tanith retrieves the preserved worm to show him.
Carina sneaks glances over at Edgar, hoping he isn't being too disruptive before turning back to Allustan.
"Just how dangerous is something like a Kyuss-spawn?"
Completely unaware of the gravity of the topic, Tanith continues while poking at some delicate instruments. "I heard one was found in the mines. You know anything about that?"
Assuming Allustan seems interested, Tanith retrieves the preserved worm to show him.
Allustan looks alarmed. "Most definitely not."
He snatches the worm and looks it over. "Well, I'm no necromancer, but that's definitely a kyuss worm."
Carina sneaks glances over at Edgar, hoping he isn't being too disruptive before turning back to Allustan.
Edgar is creeping into the study after Carina, unnoticed by Allustan. He sniffs the air curiously.
"Just how dangerous is something like a Kyuss-spawn?"
"Extremely." Allustan's brow furrows as he delicately hands the worm jar back to Tanith. "They might be easier to kill than a vampire, but I would rather face the vampire than risk the worms."
Carina moves over to Edgar and gives him a little scratch behind the ears before standing in front of him. Her tail twitches.
It sounds like something to investigate sometime...
Tanith frowns. He wanted nothing more than to get his share of the treasure and leave Diamond Lake behind, but if those Kyuss worms were in the mines, the whole city could be in danger. The big man stows the jar and nods. "We've got to tell somebody then."
Allustan frowns. "Tell me—how did you learn of this? Where did you find the worm, and what does Ragnolin Dourstone have to do with it?"
Carina looks up at Allustan. "Well, it's a long story..."
"See, while we were delving into the Whispering Cairn, we discovered the ghost of a local boy who got too deep in there. He asked us to put his bones to rest in his family plot, but when we got there it turned out that Kullen's crew dug up the bodies and delivered them to a visiting necromancer, Filge." She pauses for breath. "We paid him a visit to get the bodies back, and we found the worm among his possessions. He mentioned something about being a friend of Balabar Smenk..."
"There was a necromancer - a friend of Smenk's apparently. We ran him out of town already but not before he told us all about that worm. He claims he came to Diamond Lake to study that thing."
Allustan's head shoots up at the mention of Smenk.
"That fat old funnel web's involved? Hm. I suggest an inordinate amount of caution, then. Smenk and Dourstone are not friends, but Smenk's a crafty one. If you've chased Filge out, he likely already knows of you.
Allustan dodges around Edgar very carefully as he leaves the study. "You might want to make contact with him over the next few days, if you're sure he's not somehow allied with Dourstone's mystery cult. If not, give me a few days anyway, and I'll see if I can dig anything up about all this."
The rogue priest follows the group back downstairs. At the entrance, she notices the small sculpture and pockets it. It sort of reminds her of one of the people she used to come up to the Cairn with.
Astraden doesn't trust the wizard, but she doesn't mind access to his library, either. She peruses the shelves, looking for books that might illuminate the recent expedition. When she hears Carina talking about Filge, though, she looks up to Allustan. "Hey, do you know what's in these? The necromancer had them," she says, pulling out the two full syringes.
Allustan peers at the murky ingredients, casting a quick spell.
"Necroturgons, eh? That's Filge, alright. I remember him from the University of Magical Arts. Before he got expelled, that is." He points at each syringe. "False life and cure moderate wounds."
"One last thing, Allustan, sir?" Carina asks the wise mage.
"Do you perhaps have any advice for... um... taking care of a baby owlbear?" She shifts from foot to foot, her tail *swishing*. "I'm starting to have doubts about whether I can really take care of him..." She looks down at Edgar, uncertainty on her face.
Allustan's nose wrinkles as he eyes Edgar.
"...yes. I was wondering about that. I'm afraid your options are limited if you wish to ensure the creature is well-treated."
He walks over and starts looking through his shelves. "Owlbears are naturally hyper-aggressive, and the fact that they are native to this region is a constant source of consternation to the mine managers. Every year, some poor merchant gets himself slaughtered. Aha!"
He pulls out a book. The cover shows the face of a screaming bloody barn owl with shining red eyes and a large serrated beak. "Occasionally, the honorable mayor asks me for help." The word 'occasionally' is dripping with sarcasm. Mayor Lanod Neff is Allustan's extremely dishonorable brother. "This book may be of use to you. I'll trade it for the box the talisman came in."
"As for advice..." Allustan thinks. "Keep him well fed at all times. Once an owlbear reaches about one year, as this one has, he begins to grow rapidly. In a year, he will be big enough to go toe-to-toe with grizzlies. It is crucial to have him following basic commands by then. Otherwise..." He sighs. "Fester Trollump, a ranger who stays at your own inn, will be willing to buy the creature for a handsome amount. It will likely be placed in a menagerie and treated relatively well. Unless Lord Henway decides it would be best-suited for the arena."
Carina ponders the idea of selling Edgar--and just as quickly chases the thought away amid pangs of guilt. It sounds crazy, even to her, but in some way she can't help but think of the little owlbear as her pet.
It may be for the best if I sold him... but I can train Edgar.
"I think that sounds like a fair trade, Allustan." Carina hands over the box the talisman came in and takes the book on owlbears.
She looks down at Edgar with a little smile on her face. "I should introduce you to Mom, Edgar. She's staying at the Able Carter Coaching Inn."
"Ah, expelled!" Astraden half-smiles. "He certainly seemed a rascal."
"Guys, I'm going to go run a few errands. Let's meet back at the Feral Dog around noon, right?"
She heads outside ahead of the others, strolling down to the General Store. "Do you sell building supplies here? Stuff like lumber, bricks, nails?"
She also goes back to Venelle's, leaving the scarab sculpture on the table when the shopkeep doesn't seem to be around.
"I will help you train him Carina. It shouldn't be too much more difficult than it was with Spiny," Cuetzpalli speaks up. He's been mostly silent since the wind elevator in the Cairn, deep in thought. "We have to find the Ebon Triad in Diamond Lake and destroy them, guys. We can't let our home become a playground for those monsters."
She heads outside ahead of the others, strolling down to the General Store. "Do you sell building supplies here? Stuff like lumber, bricks, nails?"
1d20+7She also goes back to Venelle's, leaving the scarab sculpture on the table when the shopkeep doesn't seem to be around.
Taggin beams and gives a low bow. "Ah, certainly, miss! What do you need?"
"I will help you train him Carina. It shouldn't be too much more difficult than it was with Spiny," Cuetzpalli speaks up. He's been mostly silent since the wind elevator in the Cairn, deep in thought. "We have to find the Ebon Triad in Diamond Lake and destroy them, guys. We can't let our home become a playground for those monsters."
"So, should we celebrate? We successfully uncovered the secrets of a Cairn! That's big!"
"I want to have these demon-horns made into a weapon. It is the way of my people to use natural materials in our weapons and armor. I also think it would look pretty scary," Ceutzpalli says with a grin. "I must also report back to my master and let him know what we've uncovered. What is my share of the wealth we've gathered?"
"I'm not sure, but probably at least a barrowful of bricks, several heavy beams, a bucket of nails, shingles, and some plaster. I'm just looking for now, though."
She walks back downhill to the Feral Dog, doing calculations in her head. At the bar, she orders a griddle cake and some vague-looking stew, claiming an empty table by the fighting pit.
Overall, Taggin will charge 250 gp for Astraden's purchases. "It'll drive me to bankruptcy," he says with a chuckle, "but I never can bring myself to demand sensible sums of charming ladies like yourself. Have a lovely day, Miss...?"
She paused, then took a risk. "Limhaare."
"Thank you!" she said, rushing out the door.
Taggin's eyes widen, just for a split-second. Then he smiles and shrugs. "A pleasure to meet you, Miss Limhaare."
Tanith laughs as he watches Carina chase Edgar around for a bit.
"Well it sounds like we've got some time to kill before we act on this Worm problem. What are you and Edgar going to do to pass the time?"
Carina looks up at Cuetzpalli. "Thanks, Cuetzpalli. I'd really appreciate the help... maybe Edgar would too."
"And, well... I think I'm at least going to teach him not to attack random people before the week is out." She pets Edgar before looking back up. "If we're going after this Ebon Triad, we should probably speak with Smenk. I think he's our only lead..."
"I'd like to buy some new armor and get a new weapon made before we do any more major action. I'm sure that will take a couple of days. You can bring Edgar by the temple or I can meet you somewhere tomorrow and we can start training him. It will probably take some time."
Carina nods at Cuetzpalli.
"Sure. I'll stop by the temple of St. Cuthbert with Edgar. I just hope Edgar's a quick learner..."
Edgar looks up at Carina innocently, gnawing on a bloody fence lizard he caught.
When the group convenes at the Feral Dog, Astraden explains her calculations . Presumably, the group has a brief discussion of the loot distribution, trading items around and determining a "Sell" pile. The cleric heads back to Taggin (along with anyone interested in immediate cashout) to sell most of the non-martial loot haul.
When he gets his share of the loot, Farrukh goes to pick up some better armor and weapons.
"Really going to need this if the last few days are any indication..."
Tanith spends the first day tagging along with Astraden, moving from shop to shop, selling the various treasures the party picked up in the Cairn. "I'm glad you've got a head for numbers", the big man mentions with a laugh. "I'd make a terrible merchant."
Carina follows behind, keeping quiet and letting Astraden handle the loot.
While Carina shops, she decides to look for oils of magic weapon.
Astraden and Tanith also visit the Emporium (to sell the scroll, wand, and spellbook to the magician and the necroturgon-related devices to the alchemist), Allustan's house (to sell the lanterns), and Tidwoad's (to attempt to sell Tanith's ring again). They sell Cuetzpalli's old armor at Osgood's Smithy, where Astraden also pawns her old scale mail.
While Carina shops, she decides to look for oils of magic weapon.
The best place to get potions and oils for Carina is likely the church of St. Cuthbert, who give a 50% discount to members of the faithful.
Meanwhile, Allustan is disinterested in the lanterns Astraden offers. "I suggest you consult Osgood or Tidwoad if you want to be rid of those."
Tidwoad gives the money he'd previously offered for the ring, and Osgood pays fairly for the armors (and lanterns, if presented).
At the Emporium, Benazel the Alchemist eagerly purchases Astraden's syringes. Ariello Klint is not a merchant, however, and he doesn't want any of what Astraden offers.
"Ha!" The halfling magician turns away. "What use has [b] for wizards' toys?"[/b]
While Tanith feels a tap on his shoulder. Turning, he sees Zalamandra, a beautiful black-haired madam in her late twenties. She smirks at him. "I know you, Mister Creed. You've been seen quite a bit with the lovely Ms. Viera of late. She's an excellent friend of mine, you see."
As soon as Zalamandra smiles at him, the big Kordite becomes all swagger. "We're good friends", Tanith replies. "I think we could be friends too..." he adds with a flirtatious smirk spread across his rugged features.
"Is something wrong? I was just with her earlier today."
The steps of the temple of St. Cuthbert feel strong and well-worn beneath Carina's feet. She steps into the chapel, still rather nervous about how some of the churchgoers may view her.
Once inside, she looks around for the high priest or whoever is in charge of the temple's stores.
Astraden explains to Allustan what she heard about the lanterns. "You'll need them to get up past the wind tunnel."
She wraps up her negotiations with Benazel, tells Tanith to do what feels right at where his heart's up in (and gives him his share of the cash), and spots Cuetzpalli and Carina by the Church. She gives them their share of the cash as well, then heads down to the General Store. "Taggin, I've also got this spellbook, this scroll, and this wand. The scroll can be used to animate corpses - not particularly useful, but you never know what people will buy. The wand summons an invisible servant to perform the user's commands, and the spellbook has a multitude of necromantic spells." She goes through the book, explaining each spell.