"Only one that I can tell, but it was a few days back. Given the layout, I think I would prefer to clear the wings and check for other ways up than the stairs. Using them is begging for trouble."
The Party - 3rd Day of Readying, Moonday
Evening
1st Floor
The light that Edan created fades out in the room the party entered with the ghost. As it fades a clap of thunder in the distance sounds to the north. To the south just over the ocean lightning flashes and thunder pounds the night sky.
Edan and Naia look about the hallway. The floorboards seem to be loose in spots and there is leaves, broken twigs, and pieces of rotted rugs lying about. Old pictures covered in dust and mildew line the walls in spots but most of them are tilted, off alignment, or even fallen on the ground.
The Traveler's Rest Inn
3rd Day of Readying, Moonday - Late Evening
Behind the door comes a voice. A young female voice. Aye...sir. Pardon the bother, sir. I noticed you and your friends are up? A pause and then she continues. I can fetch you breakfast sir or I can prepare a table downstairs for you?
"Our size!? They're not alone?" Thout asks with some anxiety. "Unfff. This changes everything." Thout vigorously waves over the remainder of the group. Once they have congregated, he continues, "Our objective is to end the goblin threat, but Rabalar has found signs of a human?" he give Rabalar a glance, "being here within the week. Don't know if they work together, but seems likely. There's more to this..." He looks around the group to gauge reactions. "Naia, this house is abandoned, right?"
[dice=Sense Motive]1d20+2
[dice=Perception]1d20+6"Rabalar says the goblins went upstairs. We can clear this floor," he points down the 2 hallways "or go right after them."
Thout can see that the group's nerves have settled since the ghost in the room. D'ogryn and Rabalar seem to be on top of their game. Soros seems both miserable and frustrated...something tells Thout that Soros is still playing the entire event in his wizardly head trying to figure out what exactly happened.
Clearing the other side sounded just fine as the young cook looks to naia.
I will check the other side before we head towards the back of the house. Rabalar has a good point...let us clear it first. Sound good?
Ferona returns the smile easily, "Yes I believe breakfast downstairs is a lovely idea!"
"It's been abandones for years, if not decades? I guess, maybe not so much now..."
Naia stammers, rattled by being put on the spot.
"Yes, I don't want anything at our back when we go up to investigate...."
Thout feels better hearing Naia confirm the home's abandoned status, but the feeling of unease does not leave entirely. That there are others besides goblins here disturbs him and intensifies his determination to do his part and protect his cohorts. He simply nods his head at Rabalar's and D'ogryn's wish to clear this floor before ascending to the second.
When D'ogryn moves to check the door in the west hall, he again moves past and takes a defensive stance, shield ready and weapon drawn.
As Thout covers D'ogryn, his mind churns, "A human? Is he running the goblins? Rabalar said there was more than one group. Did they join up? What happened to the other? Are they all here? Is the human the alchemist? Or someone else?"
Ferona hides a smile as she graciously accepts the proffered seat, "You are quite the gentleman! I may have to go and attend the services with you now!" She gives an easy smile, he face at ease now.
It is gratifying to have met the boon companions. I truly hope our paths continue together for yet a while longer!
Peran nervously eats his breakfast and too swiftly the meal is finished.
"Well I suppose I should look for a place to offer my service. I will look forward to seeing you there."
Dressed in his clerical finary, Peran moves down the road, his holy book open to the parable of the lord and his servants. In a clear voice, he begins to tell the tale of how a rich lord gave money to three of his most trusted servants. As he walks he tells of how the servants dealt with the money their lord had entrusted to them. As he comes to the edge of the docks, he takes up position so the quay is behind him, and finishes the tale, where all three servants are berated for taking money from their lord without first earning it.
Ferona dabs her face with napkin fastidiously as she rises to her feet. "I am in agrement with your statement yet I do not believe my skills with swordplay will earn me any offers from the Guard," she laughs lightly, "I will propose a different idea. I believe there is a Scrivener's guild in Saltmarsh. We passed it on our way to the Traveler's Rest Inn, I believe..." she offers her arm to him, "If you would escort me there then I can see what opportunities they have, if any. It would be more lucrative than a common militiaman would earn I am sure."
Soros
Soros moves up and to the middle the entry room. He takes his time and inspects the floor with the head of his staff just ahead of him and below his shoulder line to inspect the ground ahead himself.
He spends a few moments inspecting the ground, moving dust and dirt around. After a while he stops and moves up to the edge of the stairs near the rest of the group. He looks up to the stairs keeping his eyes fixed on the balcony.
"I don't like how open the upstairs is... too many shadows and dark spaces...but it is dry and I am not being battered by that damn rain."
Edan
Edan seeing that Soros moved up to the stairs sees that D'ogryn will need light to see. He knows his friend doesn't really need it as much as the human eye. "Naia, I am going move up to D'ogryn so he has light.
He moves off as quietly he can with his quarterstaff in hand. As he goes by he puts his hand on Rabalar's shoulder and moves up behind D'ogryn so the young cook can see. As he does the hall around Naia dims with only the magical light from Soros's staff protruding into the hall.
Edan moves up by D'ogryn with his staff in the ready position putting his back against the south wall so he can see the door D'ogryn is at and the entire room to his right.
The Party - 3rd Day of Readying, Moonday
Evening
1st Floor
HN 25
RE 15
PHN 15
The storm seems to be right over the house...lightning, thunder, and the steady pounding of the rain hammering against the roof is all you really hear. The wind has picked up and occasionally you hear a gust of wind whistle by the house. It makes the shadows in this old house move and rock as your eyes scan the halls and the balcony above. Rabalar looks down the hall and he can see a small rat skurry down the south hall and turn west.
Naia looks wistfully into study and library, or whatever the book-rooms are, then nods as Edan leaves her side, the light with him. She squints, attempting to see better. She checks behind and moving forward, looks up and around to ensure no apparitions.
Just because that one was a trap doesn't mean others aren't.
Certain there are none, she stows her harpoon and readies her bow, arrow nocked and pointed up at the stairwell.
Antas, Ferona, Peran - 4th Day of Readying, Godsday (worship day)
Early Morning
Peran's oratory skills, although raw, unrefined, and untrained, seems to catch the attention of the passers-by. His charisma seems to pull in the crowds with an engaging and rousing sermon. Has he finishes his nearly thirty minute speech he sees a crowd of nearly thirty or so listeners. Many agreeing with his sermon and other talking to their friends about the sermon.
Antas and Ferona stop and watch their young friend give his rousing speech. Antas finds the young priest's convections compelling. The crowd begins to disperse as the young priest finishes and shakes the hands of several of the friendly townfolk...wharfman, fisherman, sailors, net makers and such.
As you finish your well-received sermon you notice several men of the town watch, one of which is a tall stocky man with broad shoulders and curly brown-blonde hair and long beard.
AS they begin to walk up to their friend as people lay coins at his feet and chat with him. As they do they notice the pair of watch guards paying attention to their friend as well.[/ooc]
A man clearly with Flan blood. His arms are covered in tattoos. They seem pleased with the sermon and they listened intently as they kept a sharp eye on the surrounding area. The other interesting thing Peran noticed was the dancing halfing with fine clothing who was dancing on the table at the inn was heading away from the inn down the road and stopped to listen...left as you finished but smiled and left patting the big man on his lower back to talk for just a moment before heading on his way. He seemed to pass something to the big man and left.
Naia looks wistfully into study and library, or whatever the book-rooms are, then nods as Edan leaves her side, the light with him. She squints, attempting to see better. She checks behind and moving forward, looks up and around to ensure no apparitions.
Just because that one was a trap doesn't mean others aren't.
Certain there are none, she stows her harpoon and readies her bow, arrow nocked and pointed up at the stairwell.
[dice=Perception]1d20 + 6
Naia doesn't see anything of great import or threat as she scans the room and the surrounding area. Although she feels as if there is something in this house...she looks around and realizes the group is dispersed all over the place on the ground floor.
Antas, Ferona, Peran - 4th Day of Readying, Godsday (worship day)
Early Morning
Ferona watches the sermon with, admittedly, more interest than she had first believed she held for such proselytizing. Being one who studied the arcane arts she had only a passing interest in such religious studies, and found simply paying lip service to them an easy proposition. The birth of the Plague had changed that...as it had changed many things in her life...
Once the sermon has completed her gaze roams over the crowds, her eyes picking out a couple of interesting developments. Quickly walking over to Peram, she lays a hand on his arm to get his attention.
"Easy now...your performance has gathered quite an audience, including members of the Watch if I do remember my heraldry...They seem pleased, which is quite fortunate for us."
Antas, Ferona, Peran - 4th Day of Readying, Godsday (worship day)
Early Morning
Perception:
While shaking the hands of the various people gathered, he does tell them he will be back to tell more of the worship of St. Cuthbert.
He notices the guardsmen as well as the halfling and the tattooed Flan who seemed to have been handed something by the halfling he remembered for the tavern.
As Ferona approaches and whispers to him, he whispers back.
"I did notice that but did you see the big Flan with the tattoos and that halfling that was dancing on the table at the tavern? They seemed to have passed something between them...the man has whatever it was."
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Antas will nod a few times at several points that he can easily agree with and he will stand back from his friends letting them speak and not giving himself away quite yet instead noting the guards and walking over to have a word with a respectful nod.
pardon me lads, can ya tell me where a fellow might find some work here or near by?
Antas, Ferona, Peran - 4th Day of Readying, Godsday (worship day)
Early Morning
As the crowd disperses and goes back to their normal everyday duties Antas makes his way to the two guards. One of them being the big man with the tattoed arms. The big man gives Antas a nod. In a stern but respectful greeting "Good morn to you, are you with the layman? If so there is always work these days for godly people. If not, there is not much work to be had for a sellsword." Peran and Ferona see the interaction between their friend and the two guards.
As Antas inspects the two closer it is clear the big man is a sergeant of arms with the town watch. His younger companion is probably one of his men...a teenage boy no older than eighteen winters. The guard sergeant however is well into his late twenties or early thirties. The tattoos and beard cover several scars from weapons. The scars are old but are obvious to the trained eye.
Ferona elects to keep quiet here and observe the interaction with interest, trying to judge the true intentions of the Guardsmen.
Peran walks over to the guardsmen and Antas.
"A good morning to you sergeant. I was heartened to see a number of the guard stopped to listen. I am Peran of Seaton, priest of St. Cuthbert."
Moving down the hallway, D'ogryn move slow with his steps landing softly, inspecting the floor as he goes. He hopes to find any sort of tracks through the hallway that would indicate someone has been here before him. The young man also keeps an eye out for damage to the floors from the weather. When he gets to the door, he takes his time to make sure the barrier will be safe to open.
let us keep the noise to a minimum...please. We know someone is upstairs and there us a slight chance that they may not know we are here..highly unlikely with my run out the door but still I would like to think we are still an unknown factor.
Antas, Ferona, Peran - 4th Day of Readying, Godsday (worship day)
Early Morning
The sergeant nods in approval to Antas's comments. "Aye...that be a reasonable and honorable calling. Our town is a quiet fishing town...well for the most part."
The young cleric makes his way to his friend Antas and Ferona follows at a small distance to stay out of the conversation for now.
The sergeant turns to Peran on his introduction and gives him a small grin and shakes his hand with a firm and strong grasp. The man is not only tall he is as strong as a young bull as well with calloused hands.
"Good morn to you as well. Olaf. He turns to his guard. Go and walk the rest of the docks and keep a sharp eye out. Be off. The young guard turns quickly and walks off to following the flow of the crowd and does exactly what the grizzled sergeant told him to do. "St. Cuthbert's teaching are often well received here."
"Our town councilor told me to give this to you when you were done performing your duties." He puts his other hand out and puts a few coins in your hand. "He told me to tell you to talk to him tonight at the Inn when you and your friends have a chance to sup. My guess. You will have a good meal out of it but he will talk your ears off."
Peran looks stunned at the two gold coins sergeant hands him.
"Most gracious of your councilor...umm..what did you say his name was?"
He places the 2 gold coins away under his robe and continues to talk to the guardsman.
"I was heartened to see so many open to the teachings of St. Cuthbert. The temple in Seaton is hoping to create a small shrine to St. Cuthbert here in Saltmarsh, if possible. I just arrived yesterday with my friends here and was wondering what other religions are here in town?"
Antas, Ferona, Peran - 4th Day of Readying, Godsday (worship day)
Early Morning
Olaf gives Antas and approving nod. No problem at all. As Peran finishes his comment with gracious in it he gives both of you a grin. Well, Hoskin is one of one of our five town councilors along with Lord Mayor Timertikos. He is fine one I will give you that...his Inn is often the talk of the town and would be the chatter of the entire town if not for the Full Moon. He listens to Peran as he continues and nods several times as he gives you a gruff look... I can understand why they would with this black sickness about it would be wise to have more of you about. I am not sure how the other churches would feel about it but for me the more of you the better...I am not keen on running up against this sickness without the wisdom of folk who know how to deal with it. He turns to check the dock area and the space around himself, more to make sure everything is quiet and nothing is out of sorts, then he continues.
He gives your question a moments thought. Six, six I believe. The House of Coin, the Temple Farm to Kord, the Sea Temple to Procan...and Phaulkon. The House of Hymns to Pelor as well. Oh...and there is the Chapel of the Big Gamble...to Olidammara.
With the unknown to both sides and in front of him, Rabalar hesitates to move forward, staying put and trying to provide over watch in case anything tries to come up behind the group.
Ferona moves up to rejoin the conversation once the junior guardsman has moved on, "It is gratifying to see you have not succumbed to panic concerning the Plague, Master Olaf. I am Ferona," she gives the man a practiced smile, "a scholar of small repute, yet I have been studying the Plague as to how we may combat this. In my travels I have determined panic can be a far deadlier force than the actual Plague itself. I look forward to meeting with the Councilor this evening."
D'ogryn doesn't see anything that stands out but the shadows from the torches play with his eyes as they bounce off the walls, floor, and ceiling. His eyes are not trained as Rabalar's are to pick out such changes for tracking but he has learned a great deal from watching Rabalar and his methods.
He checks to the west one more time but doesn't hear anything except the rain beating down on the old house at the moment. He listens at the door and then checks the door carefully to see if it is locked or trapped. After a very thorough inspection with both his fingers and eyes he senses no danger to himself or his friends. He slowly opens the door and peers inside. The only thing of any note in the room is a clump of tiny red mushrooms apparently growing out of the floor all around
the fireplace in a roughly semicircular formation. Otherwise, the room is covered in cobwebs, dirt, mildew, and mold.
we have bothered ya long enough Olaf, thank ye for yer kind service in our regard. Let us take in the rear of town and then before dinner a bit go and meet the councilor Antas says with a smile
Olaf nods to Antas; "I am sure you will drink and eat well tonight but don't be too surprised if there is something in it for our good counselor." He turns as he starts to walk away; [b]"If you need something from the watch you can find us at the old gaol house on the north dock road. He turns and gives you one final wave and makes his way over to a ship loading good and begins talking to the old dock worker standing near the cargo net.
Room is clear
Making his way slowly down to the final door of this wing, D'ogryn continues his search of the doors. His hand rests on the small pouch he keeps close to his chest.
Dalt...
NOTE:
The Party - 3rd Day of Readying, Moonday
Evening
1st Floor
HN 25
RE 15
PHN 15
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Antas will take his friends on a tour of the town stopping off at the scrivener's guild to help his lady friend set up other work in case the counselor falls through and then himself looking for a blacksmith who might need a hand. Otherwise Antas will pass the day with his friends and meet an hour early so they can buy dinner and wait to meet the halfling.
Thout looks into the room, checking for any entrances or exits. He scans the floor, walls, and ceilings to see if any improvised ingress points have been created by the goblins or others. Seeing none , he points out the connecting door to Edan, "I'll cover D'ogryn at the hallway door," he points back behind him, "Keep 'n eye on that connectin' door when we open t'other." Being at the end of the hall, he stays on the eastern side of D'ogryn and scans the hallway windows for signs that they've been prepped as entrances.
"Breathe. Be calm. Trust your training..."
The Party - 3rd Day of Readying, Moonday
Evening
1st Floor
HN 25
RE 15
PHN 15
Thout sees nothing out of the norm for this run down house in the room. The door doesn't appear to have been opened in a while but he doesn't have the ranger's eye for those details.
Edan, hearing Thout's request, moves west down the hall so that he can place himself in the doorway D'ogrn just checked. Keeps his eyes on the door inside the room and scans the room for any hint of goblin, ghost, or anything else. He checks the ceiling...ghost or not...the large creepy mouth gave Edan the shivers.
Edan doesn't see anything in the room to give him pause but like Thout the door bothers him...the last thing he wants is goblins pouring out that door and the one D'ogryn is about to check. Berna protect us...we need it.
As Ferona walks along with Antas treating her like a noble lady her mood changes from appreciation, to amusement, and then finally to annoyance. Having grown up forced to be an independent woman (by necessity) she feels a growing irritation by the mannerisms of her new-found friend.
It wasn't until she spied a couple walking down the street heading in the opposite direction while holding hands did a realization strike her like a thunderclap.
Is he...attracted to me? Does he find me...beautiful?
She spends the rest of the day quiet and contemplative of the possibilities this raised. Still unsure of how she felt about the whole situation.
Peran travels with his friends but spends most of his time introducing himself to the people of the town and passing on the words of St. Cuthbert.
He does notice, as the day wears on, Ferona's growing bad mood. Not sure why, he suggests they rest before their meeting tonight, and return to the Inn to "freshen up"
realizing that his lips are dry from the anticipation, D'ogryn licks his lips slightly as he goes about his inspection.
Alright Dalt what do we have here...?