To Forthingr, ”Also, can you make the hilts out of this dragon skin we found?”
Following Stonewall to Forthingr, Ood brings his 4 bars of Elysium Bronze, and Iron and say's, "I'm looking for some shuriken and have some metal."
Alset does the same providing mithral and adamantine. He asks for a mithral leaf armor and an adamantine masterwork sword, dagger, and morningstar. "Whatever of the metal bars remains can be kept for payment."
Nakato thanks you for the hospitality upon reaching the Bloated Unicorn. She is welcomed by a few patrons that recognize her. "Once your inn is finished, I'd love to set up shop. I think I'm to scarred from that wreck to ever venture out onto the open sea again, let alone into the jungle."
At the sheriff's office, Adaela takes a look at the manifest. "This will make telling their next of kin what happened to them much easier. Thank you, Mariners." She pauses. "Did I offer you any reward, other than the satisfaction of doing your duty as deputies of Pridon's Hearth? I feel like you've been gone a month, but it's only been a day..."
Forthingr is slackjawed at the bars of ore. "Silversheen? Cold iron? Adamantium?!?! This is the motherlode! Dragonskin is no problem, it just takes a bit more care and time than regular cow leather. As for your crafting armor, Stony, I never really liked crafting the stuff. Takes too long, what with all the individual chain links, plates, and all that. Then the customer complains that it's too tight here, too loose there. Bah! A good sword is where my strength lies, or really even an axe is better; one slab of metal, bam bam bam! That'll be 30 gold. Ha ha!"
At Ood's Elysium bronze, Forthingr is surprised. "I didn't know this stuff existed! I'd love to sharpen a few stars for you."
"Thank you, kind paladin of Iomedae," Forthingr says to Alset. "With these bars I can craft my dream weapon: an axehead the size of a door, made of pure adamantium. You'd better warm the infirmary to prepare more cots when I'm done, because only the strongest warrior can lift the blade without his back going out! Ha ha!"
You pay 66% of the base price.
Odie also requests his new gear as well.
"While we wait for our new gear, do you guys think we should go check out those Ghol-Ghan ruins to the north-west or was there something else we need to check out first?"
"We have to be back at the halfling village, Cahshil, on Rova 22 and see what this "Abkhazia" is all about. I think that is one month from today. We should have time to head to the GG ruins and explore the terrain between here at there. We do have an offer for payment for exploration that we might as well take advantage of. These new weapons and armor are going to cost us some gold."
"Ha ha!" Forthingr says, laughing at Alset's thoughts that he can somehow read. "There's not secret to my secret. It's elves. But not pointed eared and graceful things like myself. They're workshop elves! Short, bearded, wear curly shoes. They've been coming into my shop every night and helping me complete my orders while I sleep. Why, I bet with their help I could finish everything you've got on order before you get back from... wherever it is you're going."
Mud nods, points to the collection of dross to the side. "Just give me your leftover pieces of spare metal for slingstones, I would be grateful."
Stonewall secrets himself in the smithy use the scant available space to work on his sheild. During a brief stop in his work, he says to the rest of the Mariners, ”I regret that I will not be able to adventure with you for the next few days, this sheild will take the bulk of my time to complete. It should only take me 7 days and then I will be finished. I definitely think we should go to those ruins afterward. Thanks for reminding us about the “Abkhazia” situation, I keep forgetting, by something seems fishy with it.”
That evening, Stonewall goes to Mirya and inquires about some Boots of Striding and Springing.
"Before we head out to the GG ruins, I'd like to refresh our memories on what we know and don't know about the ruins. I need to discuss some things with the sherrif, anyway. Also, I'd like to work on the temple and our buildings a bit. Perhaps while Stony is crafting his shield and we're waiting for our weapons to be completed, we can move things further along with our spiritual compound. We even have our own cook!"
Mirya does in fact have some boots available to purchase.
Odie is ready to roll out whenever everyone else gets their stuff done.
During the downtime he'll lounge around the beach drinking, take part in the fight club(if they'll let a Large in, haha), and eating all the sausage he can find.
While waiting, Alset works (meaning makes suggestions for the most part) with the construction crew on the buildings in their compound and the restoration of the temple. He walks the streets of Pridon's Hearth and recruits for Iomedae. He also spends time with Adaela attempting to convince her to return to her paladin life. He occasionally takes Mud around with him when the halfling is so inclined.
Stonewall purchases the boots from Mirya and also buys another Wand of Cure Light Wounds to give to Alset.
Stonewall works in the smithy on his tower shield forging his shield over long hours and days. He works the metal over and over to completely remove any impurities, even saying rare prayers to Torag to bless his work and guide his hands. He gradually shapes the metal into the shape he wants over a few days, helping it to build its strength by his subtle manipulations that many ignorant observers would not even notice. Over the next couple days, he starts to add in details, including crenelations, corbels and merlons at the top and the hints of individual blocks of stone used in wall of a tower. As he finishes, he adds the fine details to the shield making it appear that someone had actually made a small miniature tower wall out of shiny stone blocks.
During his down time, Stonewall tries to gather more information Hamsa Gadd's activities around town.
Many of those he talks to don't even understand his bumbling questions, and those that do are so put off that they extract themselves from the conversations as quickly as possible.
He turns his attentions away from gathering information, thoroughly dejected by the effort and focuses on his forge/home in the cave getting regular updates and providing input on the ongoing construction.
In the evenings, he seeks out Ood to speak with him about his travels from Dungun Hold to here and settles in at the Bloated Unicorn for dinner and entertainment.
Ood again makes contact with his students making efforts to educate in a practical way.
After lessons Ood also makes conversation asking how things have been in town and listens for anything that might be concerning.
Ood works Along side Alset lending a hand with the craftsmen if any mundane works needs to be done and enjoys the evenings in the Unicorn.
One evening he finds himself on the beach and seeing Odie, Ood joins him watching the fights. If asked he would welcome a friendly spar though not seek it.
A week later you find yourselves rising in a newly-roofed inn. Nakato is cooking up a breakfast over a fire in a large pot, the timbers and structural supports of your new buildings almost completly covered with walls, but not entirely. The sunlight glints of Stonewall's new shield as he emerges from underground. Odie's shins are bruised and battered, but the rest of him seems in good shape. Ood wakes with red ink on his face, not realizing he fell asleep grading papers late into the night. And Alset has already risen, praying before a freshly carved altar to Iomedae.
Mud pops out of his hammock in the far corner of the half-finished inn.
"Today is day. Let's find out where ghouls have gone."
Odie sings as they make their way:
"If there's something strange in you village inn
Who you gonna call? (Muddy Mariners)
If there's something weird
And it don't look good
Who you gonna call? (Muddy Mariners)
I ain't afraid of no ghouls
I ain't afraid of no ghouls"
Stonewall says, "I need to introduce you all to Kalady, my beauty." Stonewall shows them his shield indicating the different features on it including his weapons mounted on the handle side, his axes and hammers. In the lower right hand corner is an engraved image of the top of a tortoise with the letters KS etched into the middle and the word STONEWALL underneath.
After showing off his new shield, he says, "Lets grab some grub and do some exploration on our way to the Ruins. Might as well learn the lay of the land a little better while we are out." Stonewall hoists his pack onto his back, places his flail and new axe on his hips and finally grabs his new lighter shield and heads out. Stonewall makes sure to procure enough food for 7 days.
Stonewall doesn't say much about Odie's song but he starts walking in time with it and mouthing the words "Muddy Mariners" at the appropriate times.
Alset joins in the walking and singing. His gear ready to go from the night before. "Let's head the same direction and path as we did for the trip to the quarry. We can check on things there and make sure that the kobold infestation hasn't recurred. We can return along a more northern route and explore more on the way home. Home? Did I just say 'home'? I must be growing fond of this place."
"I think you did a masterful job with Kalady, Stony. Very impressive."
"A fine work you have completed Stonwall!" Ood walks along the path, not singing along, but in a good mood. Seems like a long route but perhaps it will put us where we need to be.
Mud roots around Stonewall's shield, looking for a convenient pocket or saddle-strap to sit on. "I think you may have forgotten something..." he says.
The exploration of D4 goes quite smoothly. Having been acclimated to the climate and jungle dangers, you find mapping and surveying the land simple and sometimes fun. Climbing up to high points, charting waterways and dried streambeds, and trying to map the coastline along the river and small islands takes most of the two full days.
After your second day camping near the quarry you remember the mayor's promise to pay you 25 gold for each hex explored. Hopefully he's still willing to pay, even if one of your members is attempting to drum up a grassroots support system for a run at his mayorial office.
The gnome quarrymaster is happy, much fatter, and generously offers berries to eat when you stop by. He thanks you for returning his boats and shows you the inside of his quarry, where various workers are mining away and charting new veins. He offers to let you stay the night during your exploration of the area, in case the rains get heavy at night.
The third day you rise, ready to head to the Ghol-Ghan ruins. The sky is stormy, as it always is these days, but the drizzle is light and the lightning comes infrequently and from away.
Stonewall takes some time to forage and hunt while exploring around the ruins.
Ood takes a look around the ruins watching carefully for hazards.
While looking, "Well folks, we made it. Let's take a look and see what we can find. He was looking for archeology items right? Was there something else we were doing here?"
"Hamsa mentioned it as a sight of possible Lizardfolk activity, but her information may be suspect... we should proceed with caution.
As they approach the ruins, Stonewall checks for any recent tracks.
The northern coastline is made up of a tall cliff, the upper jungle sparse but still full of game and edible plants. Stonewall is able to find things to eat with no problem. As they explore around the hex, Ood sees the remnants of a stone wall near the cliff, large blocks of limestone bigger than used by most humanoids. The dwarves notice that the cliff itself seems unnaturally solid, as if some magical force has been keeping the cliff from eroding over the millenia. Around the cliff there are no recent tracks of lizardfolk or any intelligent creatures, aside from the typical jungle plants and animals you've come to assume are always part of the background in the wilderness.
Odie explores the area, searching and keeping an eye out for enemies.
Not to be outdone, Alset examines the geography of the area, taking special notice of the ruins and the cliffs.
Great blocks of stone, long crumbled and overgrown, wall in what is now merely a clearing. Vague hints of color still stain the walls here and there, high above you, still visible despite thousands of years of weathering. You see paintings that depict one-eyed people sailing and reading the stars, a lighthouse guiding their path on a cliff.
More recent and cruder paintings below, at eye level, depict lizardfolk hunting sharks and roasting large, white slabs of flesh. You find fishing nets and spears and two wooden racks used to dry the season's catch of fish. These show signs of recent use, perhaps six weeks old.
As Alset stares at the paintings...
Stonewall creeps into the middle of the ruins, wary and yet still unobservant.
Alset contemplates the paintings and slowly realizes that he knows where the Mireborn Lizardfolk base is located.
"Muddy Mariners, these paintings tell us that the lizardfolk are a little over 40 miles east of Pridon's Hearth. We must go there to eliminate the cause of the storms, or at least to find out another piece of the puzzle."
Stonewall says, ”That’s wonderful, we can put and end to this blasted storm! Should we check out the Tar Pit before we head over there?”
Stonewalls walks into the middle of ruins, oblivious to the pile of plantmatter in the clearing. As he speaks to Alset, one of the vines rises up and whooshes over Stonewall's head, barely scraping over his new shield, bits of leaves and bark raining down on the dwarf.
The plants rise to take the massive shape of vines and dripping slime on two trunk-like legs, the stench of rot and freshly turned earth filling your nostrils.
Round 1, AC 19, HP 67/67
Mud raises his flag and points to the creature. "That's a shambling mound!"
round 1
Anyone know anything about shambling mounds?
Ood moves forward and readies to hit the creature.
Round 1 | HP 40/40 | Arrows 40/40
Alset yells for the others to attack as he releases an arrow at the animated pile of shrubbery.
Round 1, AC 19, HP 60/67
The Shambling Mound slams twice into Stonewall, his vines clanging off of Stonewall's defense.
Round 2
Party is up.
Round 1
HP 34/34
Stonewall closes the gap with the creature and swings at it with his new axe.
Stonewall pounds the flat of his new axe against his new shield and yells, ”Is that the best you got!?!?”
round 2
Ood moves behind the shamble mound and strikes with a fist
Ood makes contact, but didn't put enough force behind the blow to cause any harm.
Round 2
HP: 48/48
Odie runs up bellowing and pulls out his greatsword to slash at the monster.
Round 2 | HP 40/40 | Arrows 39/40
Alset releases another arrow into the bulk of the shambling mound.
He thinks to himself, "I love watching Odie go all ragey like this."
Alset once again does minimal damage, but damage nonetheless.
Mud sits up in his saddle on Stonewall. He loads a single stone the size of a pebble into the sling pouch. Whirling the sling, he starts his rotations slow, gaining speed faster and faster, his wrist tightening the circle he spins. Soon the stone and sling are whirring, whistling, the leather a blur around Mud's tiny hand.
Then a sharp snap, Mud's arm extended, leather strings pointing toward the hurtling pebble, a flash barely visible, more felt as a rush of wind than seen...
*tap*
The shambling mound turns, the tiny pebble embedded between his glowing green eyes. It stares at Mud, motionless, for far too long, before slowly falling forward, great timbers creaking, wood snapping, and crashes to the ground, dead.
"Timber!"
"Nice shot Mud!"
Odie searches the body and surrounding area for loot.
Odie sees a stairwell leading down under some rubble by the north wall of the area. The rest of the ruins are overgrown and weathered stone.