Kimberly looks to her companions with some slight internal conflict but eventually... "I guess you are right, always take the money"She says, feeling like she was just scolded without even understanding why.
she walks along with everyone trying to internalize both Anna's advice and Andjela's advice. shortly her spirits pick up as she smiles
I can decide how to use it she reflects on this thought now.
Kimberly stares at Anna trying to internalize her advice. feeling like she was just scolded and not knowing why Ok Anna, Always Take the Money
Kimberly continues along looking a bit down but her spirits soon pick up
I decide how to use reflecting on Andjela's words.
Money is a good thing, yes. My bow broke a few weeks back, replacing it will cost upwards of 600gp. Good quality gear doesn't come cheap. Always take the money, as Anna says. Then decide the best use for it.
Andjela continues to walk along with the others.
While shopping Tolvan will buy the following scrolls from the Unfurling Scroll (100 gold) along with enough ink and parchment to scribe four 1st level spells into his spell book (36 gold) and four 1st level spells onto scrolls (50 gold). He would also like to purchase a single potion of Cure light wounds (50 gold) if one can be found. (Total of 236 gold)
Hold Portal
Obscuring Mist
Detect Undead
Color Spray
Anna hopes to find some masterwork studded leather (175 gp) and will see if Skinny Rold can help her procure some thieves' tools (30 gp) or masterwork (100 gp). She'll also buy a selection of daggers (5 for 10 gp), and a light mace (5 gp).
Total: 220 gp (or 290 gp if mw tools)
Danica would like to purchase, if possible, 2 cure light wounds potions 2x50gp) and 2 Mage Armor potions (2x50gp). Total of 200 gp.
You can pool my share, my gear tends to be... expensive.
The money is doled out in small but hefty bags as you approach the sheriffs office, Councilman Hearthmount sending you off with a blessing and his thanks.
The Unfurling Scroll accommodates Tolvans requests for scrolls without a problem, as well as all the potions requested thus far (3 total so far). Alas there are no potions of mage armor to be found, but as Tolvan points out, there is a scroll of Mage Armor available.
Skinny Rold hears Anna's request for a 'particular set of tools' and leads her into a back room where he hands over an extremely nice set of thieves tools (masterwork). The local Armorer has his hands full, but is overjoyed at the business, handing over a polished set of leather armor (masterwork), 5 standard but sharp daggers, and a light mace.
Danica hands over the 2 mage armor scrolls to Tolvan.
"JUst in case if it gets too rough."
Kimberly is nealy in awe, having never seen so much gold coin all at once.
Anna revels in the well-made armor, testing its fit with a few acrobatic tumbles and leaps. After finishing her shopping and returning to the Lorrimor estate, she raids the professor's closet for a small tin of dark shoe polish, which she applies to the polished studs of the armor.
She tucks the daggers around her person and hangs the mace off her belt with a leather cord. Her new tools are secured in a number of protected pockets.
Regarding the weapons pulled from the Pharasmin stash: If no one objects, she'll keep with two flasks of holy water, one cure potion, the sun rods, and at least one of the haunt siphons.
Well, I'm ready as I'll ever be. No, I take that back. I'd be a whole lot readier if we had a bloody Shining Crusade or something coming along.
Back at the house Tolvan breaks out the items the group had recovered from the crypt, partly to remind everyone what the group has, and partly to reallocate some items that were assigned to Kimgald. First he lays out the arrows they found (12 silver arrows, 10 +1 arrows, 5 ghost touch arrows, and 2 undead bane arrows). I will carry these but will gladly share them with Andjela if she was able to acquire a bow. He then reminds Anna and Kimberly that each carry 2 sunrods. Every party member also was issued a Cure Light Wounds potion and a flask of Holy Water. Anna received two Holy Water flasks. Danica, Kimgald was to carry these. We now entrust them to you. He hands Dancia a flask of Holy Water and a potion of Cure Light Wounds, both clearly marked in Tolvan's elven hand. Anna and Andjela each carry a precious potion of Lesser Restoration. Anna, Tolvan, Kimberly one of the strange vials called Haunt Siphons (Please make sure you know how these work). And finally Tolvan carries 4 party scrolls - Detect Undead, Protection from Evil, and two scrolls of Hide from Undead which he can not cast. He looks to Kimberly. Young one, you have chosen to accompany us on this dangerous quest. It is fair that we trust you as a full member of our group. Use these as you see best to help and protect us. He hands the two scrolls to Kimberly.
Later Tolvan is caught watching Anna trying out her new armor and turns away slightly blushing. That new armor, will, um, well it seems to fit you. he stammers.
Danica accepts her new gifts from Tolvan. She offers a bow as a show of appreciation. "Let us make haste. Your friend requires immediate help from his afflictions."
Later Tolvan is caught watching Anna trying out her new armor and turns away slightly blushing. That new armor, will, um, well it seems to fit you. he stammers.
Anna smiles coquettishly, You think so?
Harrowstone stands dark and ominous on a barren hill south of the city of Ravengro, the stark, sagging roof of its central structure visible through a large gap in the surrounding wall. You follow a partially overgrown track which leads from the southern edge of town, winding around the base of the hill and then back up along its southern slope to the prison itself. Harrowstone’s grounds are contained within the crumbling stone wall, on the way up the path you can you can the eastern portion of which has fallen away into a huge sinkhole that formed when the extensive eastern wing of the prison dungeon collapsed after the dreadful fire of 4661—this collapse took with it the prison graveyard, which now lies in ruins at the bottom of the murky pond that filled the sinkhole. Standing before a sagging wood and metal gate set between a pair of stone guard towers once barred entrance into Harrowstone, but the gates now hang negligently open, creaking softly in what wind touches the ruined bars. The stone wall that surrounds most of the prison grounds is covered with creeping ivy, and the stone blocks beneath that growth are heavily eroded.
The air seems heavily and slightly noxious here, as if an animal was left to rot somewhere nearby. Through the gate you can see the face of Harrowstone, it's time-worn and fire-scorched front staring back at you.
Danica looks up at the guard towers. "I know I may be a little too careful but I'd like to check out the towers before we proceed." The female monk detaches her temple sword and slowly beings to make her way in past the gates.
If the whisperers are still here, where would they stay? Inside the prison, or elsewhere? Anna wonders aloud. Her crossbow is out, loaded, and tapping nervously against her thigh.
Seeing as checking out the towers and the outbuilding is a priority, once entering the grounds, Anna moves along the wall west toward the first tower, but always keeping an eye on the prison's battlements.
Before entering the compound Tolvan will cast Mage Armor on himself.
Danica moves to the right tower and begins to inspect the structure.
Kimberly signs the mark of Pharasma over her heart takes a deep breath then enters, staying close to Anna sensing that she is the most fearful of the ghosts.
Andjela doesn't seem to care, she's apparently confident in the group. Light source?
Uh, its daylight. Tolvan says but complies with a dancing light spell that produces 4 globes of lights that dance around the party.
Checking out the gatehouses, Anna uses the extra light provided by Tolvan to look for signs of the Whispering Way.
She'll also look for tracks around the open gate.
When Danica first steps through past the threshold into the compound toward the gate, you see her body stiffen suddenly.
Tolvan's hand goes instinctively to the haunt syphon. Danica, are you ok?
As quickly as Danica tenses, whatever came over her is overcome with the force of her will. The gatehouse is empty and devoid of all life. Just dirt cobwebs and the evidence of small animals making investigations of their own. Anna's study of the ground reveal weeks old tracks leading out of the gate, but none moving in.
As you approach the towers on the western wall, the southmost appears quite deserted, similar to the gatehouse. As you approach the next tower you spot about a dozen or so filthy rats watching from nooks and crannies in the stones of the structure; their fur is matted and filthy, their eyes dark and hungry. As you approach within 10' the number of visible rats double in number, all of them with beady eyes focused on the approaching group, saliva dripping from many tiny mouths.
Anna grabs Kimberly's shoulder and pulls her away from the tower entrance, eyes wide with alarm.
Let's just back away. Piper only used stirges, right? No need to go in there. she whispers, keeping her eyes on the rats and ready to bolt if they start to pursue.
Tolvan's hand goes instinctively to the haunt syphon. Danica, are you ok?
Danica's hands clench around the hilt of her sword and her eyes closes for a moment. There is an internal struggle ensuing which she easily defeats. She raises her hand at the sound of Tolvan voice. She opens her eyes, raises her hand and nods at the elf indicating that she is fine. Seconds pass by and she is well enough to continue.
Upon seeing the rats, Danica stops and slowly reverses gears. She whispers to the group,"Back away slowly. Head back to the gate."
The rats continue to watch but do not pursue, as you get farther away more and more disappear into the interior of the tower.
We can leave this tower until we have nothing else to search. The rats will guard it for us. Tolvan is pleased he was not forced to call upon his arcane energies to try to fight a swarm.
I have to admit I have no alchemist fire or acid with me. Does anyone else?
Anna shakes her head, face flush with excitement. I guess if you ever decide you need a familiar, you can take your pick, huh, Tolvan?
After a pause, she looks at the smaller outbuilding shadowed by the prison. The tracks I found at the gate make it look like the whisperers have left already. I wonder if they stayed there, or inside the prison.
This small brick manor house is overgrown with thick sheets of gray-green ivy. The roof sags ominously, and the front door hangs askew.
Tolvan holds up a hand. Wait. This building is no longer safe to enter. It is unstable.
Sorry, no good with rats or vermin in general. Need something a bit more substantial. Seen a wizard shoot flames from their fingertips, that worked well.
Kimberly backs away with Anna, not liking rats having not liked them as long as she can remember. Kimberly clings to Anna at the sight of the rats.
As Dancia stops at the entrance Kimberly makes the symbol of Pharasma over her heart and from a small pocket in her dress kimberly produces a small dagger weilding it defensively.
Anna will put her keen eyes to use to determine if the manor house was rigged with traps to produce the deadfalls and collapses, or if it is just the building succumbing to the ravages of time.
After that, she turns toward the prison itself. I think I saw steps leading up to that balcony on the western side. Do we want to go up there, or try the front door? Or, go around back and see what's there?
Despite her solid effort to glean more information of the state of the building, she is unable to learn anything more than what Tolvan has spotted.
I see no reason at the moment to risk rats or falling ceilings. Onward to the prison proper. can we make a trip around its periphery first, to document all the ways in AND out and to make sure we have not missed anything obvious?
One does not leave enemies at their back, Tolvan. The town is not far... do these things you mention work well against the vermin? We can go back.