And I am going to secretly add a shot of vodka to a random tankard every third serving, thus invalidating the whole thing.
Because I'm a bastard like that.
Mwahahahahahaha!
The group makes it way out of town and back down by way of the coastal road to Foxglove Manor. Like before the house seems perpetually cloaked in clouds and wind but there is still a sort of lightness to the air from the last time.
Armed with the instructions from Zantus the manor awaits a purification...
I am good with it.
The group heads down to the basement, treading carefully and attempting to avoid the various negative energies that sit idly throughout the house. Being forewarned seems to help as the group experiences no other visions or strange emotions yet the feeling of ominous threat remains as you wind back through the basement and into the caverns below.
The passage of time has not served the area well as undead and living flesh continues to rot. Sadly the gentle sighing of wind that carries air through the cave carries the noxious smells throughout. The group does its best to cover mouths and otherwise stave off the stench as best they can.
As the only party member connected with divine energies Sayniek intones the words from the scroll as Cam sprinkles the festering man shaped fungus that was found in Aldern's hideaway wth the holy water and materials provided by the church. The effect is obvious as the man shaped fungus almost seems to shift and inaudibly scream, a green and brown shadow acting out a cruel pantomime of death. Soon the show is over as the mold turns grey and then to ash, an effect not unlike a slowly moving fire with no heat that consumes the mold along the walls and out into the caverns and surely up into the house above.
More importantly the act seems to carry a "lightness" to it as energetically the group feels somehow less watched or menaced. The gruesome remains of violence are still everywhere to be seen but the group can seem to sense just in their bones that the house itself is no longer a threat.
When she finishes, Sayniek looks at the house.
While this is a place where great evil and horrors took place, I feel than vengeance for what occurred has been done with the destruction of the lich like sentience that perpetrated throughout the home. If you all feel the need to burn this place to the ground, I shall not stop you. However, I do not see the need to do so, and, thus, shall not aid in the burning.
"I don't think it's necessary. There is a history - a tale to tell - of what went wrong, what led the elder Foxglove to choose his path. I would like to return and study that."
"But there are other tales waiting, so if the group chooses to destroy the manse, so be it."
"I would say that it is only fair to allow the one who advocated the burning of said structure the most passionate to be the one to make the final decision."
With the group sensing that the true threat has passed the decision to burn Foxglove Manor to the ground is tabled for a later date. Even the weather seems to give a subtle nod to the cleansing as the clouds seem to dissipate and the wind dies down to another average day on a seaside bluff.
Moving on to the next objective the group heads back to the coastal road and then along the way to Magnimar. Day settles to evening, and the group camps before making its way to the gates of the city by mid morning.
?
Sayniek would look for a chapel to Ragathiel since there are not that many, but a city like Magnimar is likely to have one.
Camillo will ask around to see if he can locate the townhouse.
"Hmmm, I recommend we find a place to stay first and foremost, a base as such. Afterwards, we can spend the rest of the day pursuing individual goals."
All things are possible in Magnimar as the party remembers. A shrine to Ragathiel is easily found as are accomodations of any desired level.
Camillo is able to ply his easy smile and likable personality to get directions to one of the nicer sections of they city on the north side and the bard is able to recall that based on where the directions take him, there should be a couple of shortcuts that will get the group to the townhouse faster but, more importantly, unnoticed by most passersby.
Armed with directions the group settles into for the day the bustling city around them creating a promising distraction from the business relating to Foxglove....
Kithian grins at the others and points back down the street. " I saw a bar back that away! What say we see how tuff these city folk are?"
Folding his arms over his chest and drumming the fingers on his left hand against his biceps, Vidar considers for a moment.
"Yes, a few tankards to wash away the road dust might be good idea. Perhaps a bath as well.
Tomorrow we can investigate the town house."
The night passes with is usual tempo, Kithian and Vidar drink, insult each other, drink, almost fight, drink, actually fight, drink, make passing almost positive statements about each other, drink, and so on.
Sayniek does her best to polish, sharpen and so on preparing herself for the next day.
Cam for his part meets with mixed success. Magnimar is huge and vendors abound trafficking in mithral and magic and he gets the lead on a handful of shops that can meet his needs. (Basically anything you want can be bought so let me know what you buy, lol). As for the opicof "strange doings" stories range in tone and scope but nothing leads back to Foxglove or his neighborhood. The few people who even deign to talk to the usually affable bard about seem completely uninterested in offering anything other than stock talking point about how either the area is getting over run by riff-raff or the rich in the neighborhood need to be brought down a peg or two.
Otherwise the night passes without event andthe group rises, eats their wheaties, and meet to move on.
As Vidar feels the headache of the previous nights excesses begin to recede, he digs into the heavy breakfast with gusto, serving to sponge up the remaining alcohol in his body, and reducing the headache further.
"Right, I seem to recall that we all agreed to look into the townhouse today, correct?
Does anyone need to do anything before we do, or can we proceed directly after breaking our fast?"
In the morning, Camillo awakens from a pleasant dream of picnics and beaches, meadows and clouds, and is momentarily disoriented to find himself in a strange room. With a sigh, he realizes where he is and why and begins to prepare himself for the day.
By the time he has come down to the common room, the familiar smile and twinkle in his eye have returned.
Kithian stumbles to the table and flops down onto a seat, placing his head on the table. "Ale, and half a pigs butt. Oh and eggs, tell em throw some eggs. Tell em to throw some eggs in there too."
Sayniek, who was at the table talking with the proprietor in her perfectly buffed armor, with her helmet on the chair next to her, smiles as each of her socially challenged companions appear, each in their own uniquely disconcerting manner.
Morning all, I am sure the bright sunny day will do wonders for you all in a while.
After taking another perfectly cut bite of her flapjack, she looks up again.
So, it is the townhouse today. Should be interesting. I wonder what the foppish noble kept in there. Ragathiel is not to keen on breaking and entering, but considering what we know of the boy, I doubt my Lord would consider this research to be unjust.
Vidar merely waves a fork in an airy circle, dismissing the breaking and entering part.
"Possession is nine tenths of the law, so the deed should certainly prove sufficient warrant for us entering and "researching" as you say.
I do not believe even the finicky Abadarians would find reason to complain in this case."
"We are business for the town of Sandpoint...if that business involves kicking in a few doors, we have done much worse. Where is my ale?"
Saying looks sourly back at Kithian:
It is barely breakfast time and we have a long day ahead of us. I rather doubt that starting on the bottle this early in the morning is wise. If you want to drink with me again this evening, then we can continue our prior competition.
You can almost see a twinkle of mirth in the eyes of the usually serious holy warrior.
The group continues the conversation as it makes it was to the Grand Arch District, not far from Starsilver Plaza. Even early in the morning the area bustles but Cam's timely research the day before leads the group on some paths less well traveled.
As the group approaches they notice that the three story tall house has had its ground floor windows boarded over and a cursory glance into the small courtyard that serves as a back yard area also shows the back door is boarded over. A pair of guards walk the street but don't seem to notice the group or if they do, don't seem to care that they are looking at things.
The most obvious entrance, of course, is the front door. The day continues around the group as it contemplates its next steps...
"Well, it strikes me that if we wanted to do this as painless as possible, we could march over to yon guards, declare our intention to search the manor and provide the relevant documents (possibly with a small bribe for expedience) and have done.
The downside to said plan is that these guards MAY be conscientious enough to require us to go through proper channels, thus costing us a day, at the very least."
Sayniek shrugs:
The papers are official. The guards . . . She glances over at them. Do not appear to be so.
"Better to distract them from the fine job they are doing. Or enter through a route they don't expect."
"Sayniek, what are your thoughts?"
"Hmmm, we could distract the guards and take down the door. Unfortunately, they would see the door being down on the return part of their patrol"
While the others are discussing things, Sayniek will attempt to use her Detect Evil ability to determine whether the guards are evil aligned, although she does not expect to detect much from normal humans as their evil natures are usually transient.
"Well, perhaps we should simply act like we belong. Enough confidence and swagger can usually sell any lie, so I imagine it would sell the truth even better.
Let us proceed, if the guards question us, we show the key and simply say we are here to take inventory, which would hold up even under a lie detection spell."
Sayniek shrugs once more:
We have the key and we have the approval of the officials in Sandpoint. Might not carry much weight here, but it is official and lawful. Lets just open the door and walk in. If anyone questions us, we tell them that we were given the key and asked to investigate the home due to family issues near Sandpoint.
She pauses and thinks for a moment.
Perhaps if we are questioned, it would be best for me to not be present in the conversation. I understand what must be done, but do not think that I would be the best to do it.
"Well, if we need a mild bluff or just friendly conversation to win someone over, master Duin is here to take care of that.
And if strong-arming or veiled threats are needed, master Darlock or myself can see to that."
"If they are simply walking a patrol of the block, let's give them time to turn the corner. Perhaps no questions will be necessary."
True to form the patrol soon disappears never the wiser to your actions. A few moments later Cam is able to approach the door, key in hand and open the front door.
The townhouse opens to a foyer of sorts featuring double doors straight ahead that lead into the house, and a pair of smaller doors to the left of the entrance that seem to go into adjoining rooms. A narrow staircase is also featured that clearly leads to the next floor.
Despite the boarded windows the interior is well kept and decently lit, a number of the sconces in the foyer are light as though someone is or has been here...
Camillo turns to the rest of the party, obviously ready to say something, but pauses, listening.
Finger to his lips, he points at the ceiling and makes a walking motion with his fingers. Motioning everyone inside, he pulls the door closed gently.
Cringing at the noise made by the door, he listens intently to see if the footfalls overhead change.
Catching on to Camillo's clue, Vidar pauses for a moment.
Hmm, seems like someone did not use the front door eh?
Perception:
The tin can knight, despite her bulky armor, easily hears the footsteps as well and immediately ceases moving in the hope that her armor will not give away the party's presence. Silently she slips the sword from over her shoulder in case it should be needed.
Silently she mouthes back to Cam:
Look carefully. I will wait here.
Not her preferred technique, but knowing the nature of those she has faced to this point, it is of necessity in a home that should be vacated, and is clearly not.
The group shuffles in quietly and Cam eases the door closed. Sayniek pulls her sword but the shuffling upstairs, though varying in intensity seems neither hurried nor particularly focused.
Kithian nods his head at the hard and slowly pulls his falcgion from its sheath.