|
"Good day, sir." Sheela gives him a wink. "If I weren't on duty, I would be seeking more than lodging tonight." She giggles. "My name is Sheela, of the Kolphan family and I love what I've seen of this town."
"Say, do you know about any rare tales or legends around here? I've heard about the mystery of Kolvi, but everyone has their own version of the tale. I'd love to hear yours!"
|
Information overload. Like, how big do they think this grippli's head is?!
Tiffany plops down on a seat. "Strawberry margarita, please! Oh, and while we're at it, maybe you can join us and we can learn a thing or two about the legend of Kolvi. We've already heard a lot, but we'd.. love.. to .. learn more.. yes.. totally.." Tiffany stifles a sigh.
"Hey dare inn-mang! I'mma Luurg. Nice n warm in here, gunna hafta take off deez tick furs." His eyes linger on the tooth, a good conversation starter for sure... [dice=K Nature to ID]1d20+10
He reaches a hand out to shake Ifan's hand. "I tink we're gunna stay da night right?" He looks to his fellows to be sure.
Luurg looks hard at the tooth-medallion and tries to identify what kind of beast it came from, but it almost doesn't seem to come from any kind of normal animal he's familiar with. Ifan notices where Luurg's eyes went first, however, and he puffs out his chest proudly to show off the trophy. "Aha! See ya noticed the tooth! That's a linnorm tooth, it is. Knocked outta the head of the one what killed my brother." He pauses for a moment in grim pride, then carries on. "Yeah, my brother went out on a linnorm-hunt a few years back. Fancied himself the makings of a king! Haha! He always was a fool, but a good man, and strong! Just...not strong enough." He signs and shakes his head, "But what do I have to complain about? I've got new customers with tales of their own heroism and valor to tell, eh?"
"Good day, sir." Sheela gives him a wink. "If I weren't on duty, I would be seeking more than lodging tonight." She giggles. "My name is Sheela, of the Kolphan family and I love what I've seen of this town. Say, do you know about any rare tales or legends around here? I've heard about the mystery of Kolvi, but everyone has their own version of the tale. I'd love to hear yours!"
Tiffany plops down on a seat. "Strawberry margarita, please! Oh, and while we're at it, maybe you can join us and we can learn a thing or two about the legend of Kolvi. We've already heard a lot, but we'd.. love.. to .. learn more.. yes.. totally.."
Spackle joins in, "Aye, tis a fine day when I kin come to celebrate Cayden in a proper way. Like my friends 'ave intimated, ifin you'll have us, we'd be glab ta be takin' a few rooms. Also, we be hearin' yer the man ta talk to ifin a body is lookin' ta learn a wee bit 'bout the history o' things 'round here."
And Omar adds his own invitation for a tale, "Aye, Cayden is a fun one with the right spirit. History, lore, spirits and ale...bring them on, I say! Rooms can wait for a bit, the night is young!"
Ifan grins broadly at Sheela's tantalizing comment, "Ah, it's too bad you're on duty then! When you get done with whatever your work is, though, come on back and you'll be a welcome sight for the men of this town, some of the women too I'll warrant.
"Uh...Miss...Frog? I'm afraid I've never heard of a mar-gar-ee-ta before. We serve ale and mead here mostly. Some southern wines too when we can get it.
"Ah ha! And two men of Cayden come to my hall! Well this is a good day indeed! Come and have a seat near the bar, gents!"
Ifan escorts you all over to a table near a long wooden counter on one end of the hall, behind which two massive wooden barrels with spouts driven into them sit, presumably full of the aforementioned beverages. "Now, you lot say you're hear to learn rare stories and legends. And about that blasted Witch, eh? Well, I'll tell you a thing or two about her! You might have heard that the Witch's spirt still haunts the town and has caused our businesses nearly to run aground - curse her - but I tell you, she's not just some bogeyman. Some say she can grant boons to desperate petitioners or answer questions by those who know how to call her. Now let's see, what was the ritual? Ah yes! They say the ritual involves lighting a candle, using it to burn three of the petitioner’s hairs, covering a piece of ice carved like a dragon’s tooth - kinda like my linnorm tooth, but bigger - with salt, then holding it above the flame while reciting Kola’s name five times. Then again, I'd probably steer clear of ever trying it myself. The few who ever tried it went mad within a week and disappeared into the woods."
|
|
Luurg gives the man a bit of a blank stare "So what'sa linnorm? Them's Kings up here? Bossmen in dis frozen place? Sound big n tough!" Luurg flexes his chubby arm, a bulging bicep starting to show through its insulation.
He heads over to the bar with the others and ponders the options. "Mead be gud. Dat's made from honey? Honey made wid bees and helps make fruit! If no fruit up here where you get dem bees at?" He looks rather concerned about the topic, only smiling slightly at Sheela's usual antics.
Ifan shrugs at Sheela and Omar's question, "I've no idea why anyone'd be such a damnable fool as to summon up that witch again. It's not like we're free of her around here as it is."
He turns to Luurg next, an incredulous expression on his face. "You don't know what a Linnorm is?! Well, it's a...sort of dragon thing. Tradition around here is that anyone that kills a linnorm gets to be a king!" He sits and ponders the question of the bees for a while before answering Luurg's piercing question, "You know, I'm not sure where we've gotten our honey for the mead. I believe it stays warm enough for bees during our summers here, but during these colder months, I'm sure they've died off or are hiding someplace."
Finally, he turns to Spackle, "If you're looking for some stronger drink, we've got some dwarven whisky that a few of the locals have worked up. That'll but a beard on you for sure if you're not too careful with it."
"Absolutely, good friend Luurg, have another drink before getting back to your business. And don't worry about paying now. I'll add it to the tab for your rooms." Ifan smiles and waves as you leave the great room of the inn, glad to have met such brave adventurers.
With the Linnorm's Tale Inn behind you, you make your way to Gorum's Anvil. This temple to Gorum is the only functioning house of worship in Frostbreach and serves as its de facto hospital and city hall. As you enter the temple, you are immediately surrounded by the sound of guttural chanting and the sound of metal striking metal. Soon after you enter, a dwarven woman approaches you and greets you. "Good day to you, friends! You look to be a capable set of warriors! Gorum is pleased that you have entered his halls. My name is Valosi, and I watch over things here. How can I help you?"
|
|
"This is Luurg. He's strong, very endurant, and once he takes a hold he NEVER lets go!" Sheela gives Valosi a suggestive wink.
Carrying the intended message to her loud and clear.
"We came here seeking to know about Kolvi. But afterwards, maybe you two should talk for a bit longer. Much longer."
Sheela tries to make the offer as tempting as possible. At least a first date.
At some point she remembers the actual mission.
"Ach! No, lass! I'd sooner meet this one on the battlefield than in the bedsheets, though I'm sure for one such as you there's not always a long way between the two. Ha!"
She turns to Tiffany first as the grippli asks about Kolvi, "Aye, I know a thing or two about Kolvi--or the Jarlsblood Witch as the locals call her. It's a sad tale, and it's done a fair bit to hurt the town from what I've heard, what with the Trolltooths and the Coalbraids at a each other's throats all the time. And all because old Varmood Coalbraid insisted she used magic to kill the jarl, King Alvard.
"You might've heard that Kolvi got her new epithet because she killed the jarl of the town at that time. Well, the jarl wasn't alone, but the only one of his boon companions who returned was old Varmood, whose skin was torn in places by the lashing ice shards he swore Kolvi threw at him with her magic. Kolvi might have faced exile were it not for his testimony, which condemned her to a brutal execution. Today, the Trolltooths often claim that Varmood slandered their ancestor, whereas the Coalbraids insist they averted a greater disaster by ensuring the witch inflicted no more evil."
Walking with you around the temple, Valosi continues her tale, "Now, Varmood insisted that
he’d seen Kolvi use ice magic to kill their expedition, yet the strangest thing is that no one of that time had ever seen her cast a single spell. Even when accused of treachery and witchcraft, she never used magic to escape. Isn't that odd?"
The dwarf stops walking with you and bids you farewell as she has to return to her duties. Before she leaves you, though, she gives you a warning, "I don't tell you all this so you can go stirring up trouble here in Frostbreach, you know. We've got enough to worry about protecting our borders with Irrisen. I've done my best to stay out of the feud between the Trolltooths and the Coalbraids, and I recommend you do the same."
|
Very good. Excellent even. Although, even with your warning about the Coalbraids, I am now even more curious on their story. What can you say about the Coalbraid Longhouse? I am interested in paying a friendly visit.
Omar smiles, thinking of the detail his ballad will hold after this. A family feud even!!!!
|
|
Sheela hides her disappointment behind a giggle. "Well, you're missing out, but battle flows through your veins."
Sheela's heard a lot about magic assassins; people always get the details wrong. But when Valosi mentions the absence of Kolvi's magic, Sheela perks up again. "Oh, now it's getting interesting."
She keeps on an intrigued face when Valosi warns her about interference. "It's amazing how many people will slip secrets when you push them properly. Oh, they won't notice a thing!"
Sheela exits the temple mostly satisfied. "Sorry Luurg, we'll help you next time. Maybe someone a little less... dedicated?"
Valosi pauses as she begins to walk away. She shakes her head and sighs, "Alright then, I can see you're keen on poking your noses into it. Well I'll tell you this much - if you go see the Coalbraids, don't got bringing up Kolvi or the Trolltooths so casually like you did when you came in here. That'll shut them right up, or worse, get them riled at you lot. Just, be careful how you go on asking about the town, alright?"
|
|
Luurg listens intently, snacking on a few frosty pears and tossing the cores into the fire on the way out. "Tanks fer all dat stuff. Have fun!" Luurg heads out, not concerned that Sheela's attempt failed.
"Coal house sounds gud. Luurg'll let you guys do the talkin' mostly oky?" He adjusts his fur coat as they head back out into the cold.
As you walk back across town to go find the Coalbraid Longhouse, Tiffany and Luurg notice something strange. An angry crowd seems to be gathering just inside the town's gates. They turn to look at the assembling figures, but when they actually look, they realize that it's just the outlines of ghostly people.
Haunt: 10
As Luurg and the Princess look on in shock and terror, dozens of ghostly Ulfen onlookers crowd around those in the area, shouting accusations at you.
“You killed our king,” shouts a rough-voiced man whose face has deteriorated to bones.
“You’ve betrayed Frostbreach,” screams a woman with unnatural hate.
“Always knew you had ice magic in you,” cries a derisive voice from nearby.
All around you, the ghostly figures stand, chanting, “Witch! Witch! Witch!” All the while a ghostly, heavily armored Ulfen man approaches with a hunting knife in hand...
|
|
Tiffany looks at the ghosts with disgust. "Like, what the f*&& are you talking about? I'm just a girl in a strange place with strange people in this freezing gold trying to get BY! What do you have to make it so PERSONAL!" The grippli sighs elaborately, folds her arms together and tries to think of what this creature might be.
Both Spackle and Luurg are overcome with the apparitions' constant barrage of insults and accusations. Luurg turns his leafy spear on himself.
Without anyone to combat the malign forces powering it, the haunt and its resident spirits continue their verbal assault against you. As if the state of confusion wasn't enough, you now see a ghostly figure clad in heavy armor pushing his way through the crowd. The creature seems to split into five distinct beings, each of them striding directly toward each of you and raising his large, curved knife high above you. It brings the knife down toward you!
Whether through sheer will or by fighting against the spirits with blessed healing energy, Omar, Tiffany, and Spackle manage to keep the Ulfen warrior at bay. But a shrill sound like a whistle or a scream bursts around all of you as the ghostly figure sinks its blade into Luurg and Sheela's hearts. The whole crowd suddenly stops shouting and all turn to point at the two cursed Pathfinders. In unison, the crowd of ghosts intones their curse upon the half-orc and the aasimar,
"Twas magic laid our late lord low.
With Witch's deed he died.
Now forever fight Her foul ways
From friend and foe alike."
After pronouncing their curse, the crowd of ghosts falls silent and disappears in a cloud of vapor. For nearly a minute after the ghosts depart, Sheela, Luurg, and Spackle fight against the confusion wracking their minds, but eventually recover their senses.
As the trio return to their normal selves, Valosi suddenly runs toward you. "I heard the screams from the temple," she says as she draws nearer to you. "Oh no, it's the Witch's curse, isn't it? Oh, I'm so sorry, my friends. Please allow me to help you." Clasping the hilt of her sword, Valosi sends out a wave of healing energy that washes over you and heals those who wounded themselves in their confusion.
|
|
"Wh-what was that?" She looks up at Valosi. "What's the witch's curse? And how do I get rid of it? How much do I have to pay?" Sheela looks at her hands, a mix of snow and her own blood.
She stands up, embarrassed for herself. Not only for falling into madness, but also trying to throw money at the problem. "Let's go to the Trollbraid's home already. Unseen Servant, groom me." She casts Unseen Servant, and an invisible force takes her brush and starts combing her hair.
Valosi looks around sadly at each of you, "Ah...well, I have tried to help those who have suffered the curse before. That's how I knew not to use healing spells on you. They don't seem to work. Or...they do at first, but then the wounds seem to reappear. Unfortunately, I wasn't prepared for this today, so I can't help you yet. If you come back to the temple tomorrow, though, I will pray for Gorum to give me the strength to defeat this evil!" Her expression grows determined, and she strikes her chest with her fist. "Uh...but I can't do it for free, I'm afraid. You understand. Have to keep up the temple and all."
She goes on to explain what the curse is how she could help you remove it.