That was horrifying...
Kilain stares down at the puddle and mutters hurrrrrmmmm as he toes the water with his boot
Kjell picks up his axe and dries it on his pant leg.
Hmph! Dorvren, what do you make of that gem and its stand?
Grey utters a quick incantation as he peers intently at the former resting place of the appalling ice creature.
Dorvren tells them how much he thinks it is worth as a stone.
I think that this is the stone that was referred to in the journal. I suspect that this is what caused the fortress to fall.
Drovren then realizes that he has been talking a lot and clams up.
The gem glows brightly of magical properties. Everything else appears normal.
eyeing the Gem, Kilain walks around it looking at it from different angles, making sure he did not touch it and searches his memory for any clue as to its history and nature.
This appears to be a very unusual gem, perhaps one used in rituals. You may need to seek out the answer from someone more knowledgable.
...Do any one know about magic?...
I could try to remove it...
I suggest that ya do, Dorvren. Maybe we could take it to someone who can tell us more. Ya might want to check if it is trapped first, if ya have not already.
Dorvren smiles weakly and moves to examine the gem. then he attempts to remove it or disable a trap if there is one.
[ooc]DD
[ooc]DD if needed again
There is no trap and you easily remove the gem from the gargoyles hands.
Lets get out of here.
Ill be goin last. ye all head out. Said Kilain in a gruff voice looking around like he was expecting the roof to cave in
Aye, I'll lead the way.
Kjell takes point, axe drawn.
Kylma falls in behind Kjell and says, I will be more than happy to leave this cursed place.
Grey's demeanor perks up considerably as the company universally agrees departure is immanent.
"On the bright side, I only had to cast that spell once."
"Well...
once each."
like that one time on the boarder between Cheliax & Andor..."
You manage to make it back to Ralstead, stopping only one time in the same place you camped last time, except no unteruptions during rest.
Your first stop should be to return the borrowed items from dwarven stable master.
He greets you with a smile and says Welcome back me friends! How did ye fare at that ole keep?
Turning & looking to his companions Grey smiles shyly & responds. "Oh, you know; beasts, skeletons, the unquiet dead...
Much as you would expect from a mystically long sealed fortress."
Ethamil eyes Grey and says, undead ye say! Lucky to be alive ye should be. Lost many comrades back in me adventurin' days. Speakin if which, did ye find something fer me fer lendin me extra gear?
Aye Ethamil, Kilain remarked setting down his pack and beginning to tug out the folded banner of the Dwarves he found within. This will either spark a good many questions about ye and draw comers, or mayhap you could sell to one of our kindred.
Ethamil tears up a bit and remarks This banner be in remarkable condition. It will look nice in me home. Thank ye Killain for this treasure. It will be well cared for and passed on through me family fer generations to come! If ye be needin anything, you come see Ethamil Stoneaxe and may Torag watch over you in yer travels! he eyes the banner once again, then carefully folds it and returns to his stables.
Dorvren looks over the gear that was found in the tower.
Now that your buisiness is done at the stables, what would you all like to do next?
Let us hie over to the council chambers and tell them what we found. Kilain remarks as he moves outside of the stables.
Dorvren follows quietly
Aye, let's..
Everyone can notice that Kjell does not lead the way to the Council Chambers, but rether defers to the others as he falls into place behind Kilain. Now that the killing is done, his skills are not as necessary or useful in this environment.
If so;
Wow, that's not very useful.
Noticing Kjell's comparative reticence, Grey pipes up. "Do we want to have speak for us all, or simply present them with the Book & the Gem and then answer any questions they ask?"
I...I...would rather not speak...
Do we want to present them with the Gem, we know not their intentions, and this gem is the cause of much evil. Maybe we tell them what we found and ask them about the gem and see what they be sayin?
he then looks at Dorven, saying can ye be appraisin those gems we found?
Dorvren starts. I can look at them I suppose...
I...I...think I can work out what these are worth...
Gems are as follows (2) tigereyes 10gp each, obsidian 10gp, moonstone 50gp, jasper 50gp.
Garrett Tanner, the town guard captain see the group as they return from the stables and heading into the town center. He asks you if you have found anything that the council would be interested in hearing about?
Aye Captain Tanner, we have. An do ye be knowin if anyone on the council has the ability to find out the purpose of something created with magic? Kilain looks the Guard Captain in the eye as he speaks An if not, mayhap ye be knowin who might within town?
There isn't an arcane or divine caster in Ralstead that can help you, but the council may know where such a person can be found.
"If there are none here who might perform such an assessment, I suggest you store the gem in a lead-lined box & have it transported to the nearest temple capable of doing so. With a warning that all the evidence we have gathered indicates it to be some relic of," Pausing, Grey obviously gathering resolve within himself, continues. "Of the Midnight Lord."
This matter is not for me to execute. You need to speak to the council my little friend. Garrett turns and leads you toward the council building.
When you enter the mayor and the other council members are discussing other matters. They stop when the guard captain announces your presence. Can it really be that our adventurers have returned so soon! I do hope you have some answers for us about the mysteries of Targen's Hold.. He sits down and invites you all to sit with the council and talk about what information you have for them.
The guard captain bows to the council and goes back to his duties.
" we answer your questions. It is only fair to warn you that you may not the answers you get."
"There is no vast wealth, though the structure itself is still reasonably sound & may be usable defensively in the future...
Again, this may be as beneficial to you as you might think." Grey begins, inviting the council to specify their questions for him & the others.
Aye it is as Grey says. We found no hidden treasure and little more tan a keep in ruins. One wall is in rubble and many of the stairs and floors are in rough shape and would need some attention and repair to make it serviceable. Yet the Walls are of sound Dwarven Construction and, if the corner is repaired would serve as a stable defense against most assaults, save that of a well armed military force wit seie equipment.
Then he looks at the council as Grey waiting for the questions.
We are not interested as much in Targen's Hold as much as we are interested in the secrets as to why and how it was sealed. Did you find anything that answers these questions? The mayor pauses and waits for a response.
Aye we did at that. We found Targan Bronzeaxe's Journal. From his writings it seems a stranger promising magical fortifications entered the keep and brought it down from within. From the religious items we found, the person was a follower of the Midnight Lord
Kilain produces the Journal and hands it over to the council.
The mayor takes the book and begins skimming through the many pages, but stops three quarters of the way through it. He stares at the party members and asks What exactly did you fight within those walls?
Kilain holds up a hand and counts off his fingers beding each down in trn as he goes through the list The usual Giant Spiders, Walking Skeletons, Brain Eating Zombies and some humanoid creature that dissolved to a puddle of water when he was slain...
I'm not positive but this may be tied into the unusual cold weather. The journal speaks of a large gemstone, was that still there?
"It was. Though we were able to note a dweomer, we were able to interpret it further."
"As I stated to Captain Garrett, we advise transporting the gem to a temple where it may be properly tested & contained or disposed of if it bear a malefic enchantment as Craftsman Gravendak & I suspect."
There is a high status wizard who resides in Oppara. His name is Oconus the Wise. Together with the divine knowledge of the Irori clerics, information about this mysterious gem can be revealed. Take the gem to them and return here with your answers. Your payment for searching the tower for us is in this pouch. a council member, a half elven female tosses the pouch across the table to Kilains ready hand. We very much appreciate your help and bid you a safe journey to Oppara she says. A caravan is headed that way in the morning. Speak with Jossin Crater and you can make a few coin and get there a bit quicker. He's usually spending some of his coin at the Thirsty Wyvern. May your travels be safe and productive.
Outstanding! Happy to head over to the Thirsty Wyvern for some ales and to secure our passage in the morning. Tonight shall be reserved for drink and women!
gathering up the bag of coins, Kilain hefted it once before nodding saying to Kjell or at least drink. The women of the south don't have enough hair on their face for my liking.
"They're a bit...
Big,
for me." Grey adds to Kilain's critique.
The man you seek is named Jarrek! The mayor calls out as you begin to walk out the door.
By the time you all set out from the meeting with the council, the sun has begun to set and the air gets much cooler. You travel together a group to the Thirsty Wyvern to
seek out the caravan merchant. The tavern is quite large for a town this size you notice and it's a busy night.