Riven accepts the glowing potion, his eyes alight with wonder. He looks up at Garrosh, smiles and throws his arms around the half-orc's body before running off to show his young friends.
Around you, Rehann and his men are getting the caravan ready for travel. Refreshed and with a plan in mind, you set off. The day is cool to start, but warms up to be a warm day for the season. Your walk along the road is definitely faster than setting off through the trackless winderness toward Zelkor's Ferry.
The day passes uneventfully, and you find a place to camp near the road. There are several old campsites along the road, so finding a place that is acceptable is fairly easy. After camp is established and you gather around the fire, Belle removes the bracers and bottle to examine again. The aura of the bracers continue to confound her, and she is unable to determine the magicks laid upon them. However, as she examines the bottle again, everyone's attention is drawn to her as she inhales sharply.
"Oh... my... gosh... I've heard of things like this but never imagined I'd ever run into one. I'd swear that there is an efreeti in this bottle. There all kinds of legends concerning these things, but I have no idea whether any of them are true."
"Unfortunately it poses a bit of a dilemma. I am morally opposed to trapping any being in a bottle, but I'm also morally opposed to letting evil run loose. Without more info I don't know what to expect or do. I dare not open it. I suspect it is worth a lot of money but I would never choose to profit from a good entities bondage."
Seir talks to Tony, going over strategies against undead and how to kill them permenantly.
"I'm afraid I don't have an entire bucket of holy water, altough I have some. Although, if you're going back to a place like Rappan Athuk, you'll need more than some holy water. I could come with you, if you'd like."
That would be appreciated if you can help. Does anyone know anything about efreeti? I'm afraid all I know is scripture and hitting things.
Garrosh had never heard about such a creature or story - "So Belle, these... Efreeti are evil creatures you say? And here we might have one trapped in a bottle? Do you know why it would be trapped so?" - the half-orc inquires.
Belle says that, besides the obvious reason of the creature being evil, they are also powerful, and like other outsiders, can be used as weapons or tools, if the summoner can control the entity.
"Sometimes they give wishes. I think. I always get Janni, Jinn, Efreet, Suli, and all those weird elemental races confused. We can do some research when we get to Endholme."
If we get to Endholme.
Lets see if Belle has any idea what a genie bottle is worth. Just for the fun of it.
Belle estimates the genie in the bottle is worth 145,000gp, provided they could find a buyer.
*gack*
Belle is NOT sharing this information. They will just think she is crazy as a loon. She will verify before she spouts such nonsense.
The next morning, the delvers of Rappan Athuk head north. The next four days pass uneventfully, with only an occasional sighting of an animal. Your travels take you through hills and swamp, and finally into the Penprie Forest.
The evening of the first day, Belle identifies the bracers as Bracers of armor +1
Late Moonday afternoon, the fourth day of your travels, just as you emerge from the forest, the monotony of the journey is broken by a column of dust rising to the north, presumably from something approaching. After a few minutes, you can make out shapes in the dust; a group of armed men on horseback. From the distance you can see they are all garbed in black and green, but you cannot see the charge on their tabards.
Anyone may roll this DC 10 Knowledge check.
If you are trained in Kn Local or Kn Nobility, and your roll exceeds 15, you may read this spoiler.
Upon discovering what the bracers are she hands them over to Brodin with instructions to wear them in case he is caught without a Mage Armor up.
"That looks like a patrol from Endholme. I've seen the same colors many times during my stay. I'll know for sure if they get close enough so that I can see their coat of arms."
Tony is just on the cuspe of relaxing. Having seen way to much recently has driven him just to the edge.
Upon seeing the charging men, he gulps a moment.
He stiffens with knowing that he they're guards, but he remembers he's been doing legit work lately.
"What do you think they're charging on about?"
"We'll find out soon enough. Hide yourself Tony, just in case."
Tony flips up his hood and looks around for a place to hide. He could easily duck into the underbrush of the woods and the rest of the group could wait here, or he could just try and be unobtrusive as they continue on.
Eventually, though, the seven mounted and armed men approach. Belle confirms the coat of arms on their tabards is authentic, and reckognizes the captain by the iron chain around his neck; a badge of the office of sheriff. The mounted soldiers slow to a walk as they approach, looking you over. Several take note of Garrosh's burden.
The one with the sheriff's chain hails, "Hail, travellers. From whence did your journey begin? And may I ask the circumstances of your journey?"
What a relief.
"Good day sheriff. It's been a while. Actually our journey began in Endholme and we are just returning. We paid a visit to Rappan Athuk. I have some drawings I made if you are interested in taking a look. Ummm, you may have noticed, but we sure could use a real bath - with soap and hot water. And our late companion here needs a decent burial. We were hesitant to do so too near that cursed place. I suppose you smelled us from miles away."
"Well met" - the half-orc offers also - "I am Garrosh"
As the lady says. I'm Reynaud.
Several of the men make signs of protection when you mention Rappan Athuk. "Adventurers, eh? Well do us all a favor and don't rile up too much evil there. I've only heard rumors, but my understanding is there are things better left un-poked there." He pauses for a moment and then continues. "You have another couple days before Endholm, but the roads are failry well patrolled. Ther eis a matter you may be able to assist us with. You have't perhaps seen a young girl, maybe 6 summers, reddish hair, cut short? Her parents reported her missing a couple days ago."
"Adventurers, eh? Well do us all a favor and don't rile up too much evil there. I've only heard rumors, but my understanding is there are things better left un-poked there."
"Rile up? Why would you think we might stir up trouble? Haven't there been other adventurers that have returned? Are you saying that bad things happened after they returned?"
"You have't perhaps seen a young girl, maybe 6 summers, reddish hair, cut short? Her parents reported her missing a couple days ago."
"Oh, dear. We have not seen any such person. Where did she go missing? Any idea why she might have left, or been taken?"
Garrosh shakes his head pensively once he hears about 'riling' up Rappan Athuk, then waits for the answer to Belle's questions.
Tony just stays off to the side being nondescript.
He listens, but only in a way that would not draw to much attention.
The sheriff shakes his head. " 'tis a sad story. The girl's parents, farmers about a day north of here, woke to find her bed empty, the door to the cottage wide open, with no sign of struggle. If interest was that the girl was not able to reach the latch for the door herself. Her parents have no idea how she got out or why. But between gypsies, wild dogs, wolves and worse, we fear the worst."
Belle looks at the others meaningfully. Though previously in a rush to get to town, her face is an open plea to the others to take a break in the trip and help the family.
Strange... Seir turns to his companions. "Is anyone skilled at tracking?
"Well, give ti a try and let's see if we can help."
"Of course" - the half orc pipes in with a short but decisive sentence - "We will do whatever necessary to assist in finding the young one"
Yes, of course we can help.
You look around your immediate environs and find evidence of lots of tracks over the past day; horses, shod and bare feet of all sizes, and cart tracks. Without knowing if the girl even came this way, you may be looking for a needle in the wrong haystack.
Perhaps, if you started your search where you knew she had been; the farmhouse. You speak with the sheriff a while longer, assuring him that you will stop at the house on your way, speak with the parents and see what you can do. He tells you that the cottage is a day north, and to ask around for Djall and Sharlon.
They continue on their way south and you north. After a couple more hours, you find a suitable spot to camp for the night. Sitting around the fire, you begin to talk about things. Eventually your dialog moves to the girl.
We get directions and head towards the farmhouse, which is pretty much on the way anyway isn't it? I think the tracking will have to start there.
Munching on a piece of beef jerky, the half-orc looks at his companions for a second - "How are you all feeling? Belle? Reynaud?" - then at the newcomer - "Seir, tell us some more about yourself - you have hardly spoken a word since we met" - he chuckles.
Tony breathes a quick sigh of relief as the guards depart.
"So I guess we're looking..", he says tired of the woods.
He helps as best he can as they search.
Belle will answer Garrosh...
"Tired and drained, but also filled with wonder. We actually made it out of Rappan Athuk! Are we heroes now?"
"I think we are still a long way from being a hero" - Garrosh chuckles - "Don't really think we did anything... Heroic?" - and shrugs - "Are we looking to be heroes anyway?"
"I'm sure not. Though it WAS fun seeing the kids pretending to be us. It's just that since we did go in and come back, there are those that might call us heroes no matter how we feel about it. Could make life complicated. I'm not sure I liked the way the sheriff looked at us. Like we were trouble. Sure didn't feel like a hero around him."
"Sounds serious." Belle frowns.
"I always knew Dwarves were fanatical about wealth and all, but I didn't know that without it you lose so much status your line ends. Puts a new light on things."