With a quiet whimper Whisper makes her way over to Finn and Ardanto, her face pale and her eyes wide as she checks on them both. "I'm so sorry I snapped at you both earlier.." she blurts out quietly, regaining a little of her confidence at seeing them both in such a state, her attachment to the group becoming glaringly obvious to her in the face of such grievous wounds.
"Don't hurt her. She is now herself again." With those words, the Captain steps forward and speaks to the woman who is at last again in her own body. "The Dreaming Dark normally does not let its vessels get away alive. They are without remorse. We are Kalashtar. We know, what you have suffered. We can offer you the seclusion of my order. They know, how to help you to cope with the torment you have suffered from the Quori."
Ardanto's head rolls to one side, "are we safe now?" a bit of blood seeps from the corner of his mouth as he coughs lightly, "maybe I'll just close my eyes for a little while." He slides back down to a prone position and lies there breathing heavily in a large pool of his own blood.
"That depends on her" answers Forzakad and nods to the also slumping woman, he addressed earlier. "But I hope she will come to her senses soon enough. We all need to get out of here, before the rest of the guild will corner us all and mow us down. We are in no condition to continue to fight against fresh opponents."
The woman sobs harder at the captains words "The things, I've done, the people I have had killed..." She falls into a sobbing mess
"Come with us then, milady. We all, Lavinia Vanderboren and my order will give you a chance to redeem yourself."
As Ardanto slumps beside Finn, Whisper panics. "Ardanto! No! Please!" She utters, giving him a gentle shake "Don't, just stay awake until we're sure you're healed.. please.." She pleads desperately, sure that he'll bleed out if she lets him fall unconscious.
"Didn't someone have a Healing Potion?" Guard asks into the room. Not waiting for the answer the warforged turns slowly and inspects the dragon-thing. He moves slower now, considerate... the bent and damaged plating is hindering him pretty much.
Daurros curses, and sheathes his rapier. "Another enemy escapes justice from us! I will not get involved with dealing with this one, as mentally-controlled or not, she and her pet nearly killed three of us. At the moment, I have little mercy in me."
Daurros first walks over to Ardanto, and helps him with drinking the cure potion he was trying to down. He makes sure his friend is stable, and that it no longer appears he is in danger of dieing.
He then removes his scroll of repair light damage and casts it on Guard "That should help you, my friend. Especially as it looks like you may have to carry Finn out of here."
Turning to everyone, he says "I agree with the captain; I don't think we can do much more fighting down here. We need to leave this place and get the guard back down here. Since I appear to be the only one still unhurt, I will stay in front."
"Thanks Daurros. I really need to get more of those potions, it seems." Guard says smiling at him.
After having finished examinating the drake he gently lifts Finn up and follows the others.
Almost forgot, Daurros will cast detect magic on the entire room's contents, as well as Rowyn's possessions. He'll also do a thorough search of the room for valuables (Take 20).
Holding the broken woman close he couldn't help but scowl at Daurros hatefulness, but he said nothing of it and did his best to hide it. Helping her to her feet once more, he allowed Rowyn to lean upon him before turning to the rest of the group" After we tell Lavania and the Gaurd about all of this, I invite you to visit the temple so we can care for these wounds."
Darruos
The room itself has a few items that might be worth a haul. The succubus, displacer beast and unicorn statuettes would fetch a fine price. The books look like cheap printings nothing wroth much same goes with the stuffed animals. The two coffers look to be worth something and are filled with jewelry also worth a bit. Thw cupboard contains nice clothing that would also be wroth something,
Of corse the owner to most of this is sobbing on Thovens shoulders
After examining the room, Daurros tells the rest what he discovered (let everyone read the spoiler). As far as who owns them now remains to be discussed; we should pack up the items of value (and remove the magic items from Rowyn). Daurros will also do a quick Sense Motive on Rowyn, trusting her not at all and trying to see if the sobbing is an act ...
Daurros proceeds to the bedchamber and also does a search (take 20). "To save time," he calls back, "why doesn't someone quiz our 'new friend' on where her organization's ... 'funds' are and what may be guarding it? I know we're in no condition for more fights, but taking their money breaks their back. If we leave it, whoever's left can get it and start fresh quite easily. We still haven't found Vanthus, after all."
Daurros
You detect no hostility, but as she talked it's hallow, like someone in shock
Rowyn agrees to go with the group and in a few minitus is clam if somewhat withdrawn. She slowly tells the group where the hidden room in along with the traps. Guard, whisper, ardanto and Daurros move to this room disarm the traps and come back with 2 chests
In the mean time the rest of the party try to keep Rowyn calm. Her bed chamber seems to have little of interest save for some perfume and a few letters between the mattress . The letters seem to be from Vanthus vanderborn, but there are to many to go though without some free time.
Soon the party is making there way down the tunnels and up the latter to the taxidermy hall once more. Rowyn fallows under watch but seems in shock.
The chests
Chest 1 is jewelry mostly and alot of it, It may take a few days to go over all of it but there is several thousand gold worth here
Chest 2 is a fantastic collection of gold and gems nearly all in silk bags with the vanderborn chest on them (the missing gold perhaps?) a fast guess puts the total between 5 and 12 thousand gold
"I suggest we first head to Vanderboren Manor; we need to get the guard here as soon as possible to give as little time for the remnants to escape as possible. And we need a central place where everyone can recuperate; with the enemies we've made, I do not think we should split up. Once we arrive at the manor, we can ask Lavinia for a place for Finn and whoever else needs to rest. And return her family's wealth.
"I will go to the guard immediately thereafter, ideally with Lavinia as her word may lend weight to our claims. Anyone else who feels up to it should also come. Also, despite the ordeal she's been through, Rowyn needs to come as well.
"Thoven, do you think your order would send a few healers to Vanderboren Manor to help?"
"Admittedly Daurros, I do not hold much sway within the church but I can do my best to persuade the temple leaders to lend some help to a just cause such as this." He says lowly-as if humbled by his realization.
*groan* A thin stream of blood trickles from Finn's mouth.
Guard keeps quiet for the most part, agreeing with the procedure Daurros asked for.
As Finn groans he watches down on the half-elf, trying to carry him as gentle as possible, as to not hurt him further.
Over the next few days, a blur of action happens you barely have time to think. With the proof of the lotus dragons activity and Rowyn’s knowledge along with both the church of the silver flame and the Kalashatar enclave, things start to move fast. In two days times the city moves on the last of the Lotus dragon operations as well as attacking action on the Reidra enclave, curtailing their activities in the city. With in three days the Kalasatar and the silver flame clergy have uncovered and dispatched several spying rings relying on possessed people.. Within four days the Reidra ambassador has been expelled from the city and the guard are undergoing a purgeing and reformation, the Kalasatar and the Silver flame have brought high praise from the Dawn council and both organizations have been thanked by the city. New members pour into the church of the silver flame as Kalasatar in the city find it more open, many people seem to have taken an interest in them and demand for Kalasatar items and craftsmen ship seems to be the new fade among the nobles of the city.
Five days after the events that lend to the downfall of the Reidren ambassador the party .are invited to a banquet in Castle Teraknian there Lord Worrin Lidu and the council think the party for the great service they have done the city. It is then they are presented with the spire of Sasserine, a maedal awarded only to those whop perform a great service to the city. The are proclaimed publicly as heroes of the city.
Closer to home the party have read the letter found from vanthus
Excerpts from Vanthus’s Letters to Rowyn Kellani
(Dated 2 days before the fi re that slew the elder Vanderborens)
“...My parents have grown soft. I’m not worried in the slightest
that they suspect anything, my delicate flower. The funds you’ve
trusted me with have been more than enough to pay off the
local guards, the harbor watch, and the ship’s crew to say
nothing about the new cargo. Hell… they even offered to help
load the barrels! Of course, I didn’t tell them what was inside—
I’m sure they’d sing a different song if they knew just how much
alchemist’s fire we loaded into the hold of my father’s new
plaything. I’ll be following the ship’s progress for a few days to
make sure the fire does the trick, so you’ll not be seeing me for
at least half a week. Keep your bed warm for me!”
(Dated 3 days after the fire)
“…It’s unbelievable! Sure, she’s the eldest sibling, but she knows
nothing of life! She spent the last half of her childhood in
Thenalar learning how to fold napkins and play the violin,
for Hell’s sake! It just goes to show you how insane my parents
really were… leaving everything in her care like that! Whatever.
She’ll need the house to live off of, I suppose. Lavinia’s not a
bad lass, really… I kind of miss our time together, to tell the
truth. Think she’d be interested in joining the Lotus? I doubt
it. And anyway, a second Vanderboren tragedy might get too
many people curious. No, for now, whatever’s in the vault will
have to do…”
(Dated two days ago)
“…I really wish you could have been there, my little dragon, to
see their faces before I closed the door! Lavinia’s never going
to get anywhere hiring fools like them. I wonder if they’ve
found Penkus yet? I hope they didn’t die too quickly.”
“In any case, on to the purpose of this letter. Brissa’s in the
other room, getting ready for a night out on the town, so I’ll
have to be quick. Remember that thing she hinted about to
me? About the pirates who were supposedly using Kraken’s Cove
as a base for their smuggling operation? Turns out she wasn’t
spinning tales—I’ve heard that they’ll be arriving within the
week with a particularly rich cargo. I’ll bring her with me on
the pretext of joining up with them, get their guard down, and
when they’re not expecting it my men’ll light the ships on fire!
It’ll be a simple task to pluck the treasure from the water once
all those fools are dead. Should be more than enough to make
up for what we lost when Lavinia inherited rather than me.”
“I tell you… burning people to death on their own boats?
It’s the best way to make money yet. Wish I’d thought of it
years ago!”
And Lavinia seems upset and heart broken that her brother was behind her parents death. She seems to steel her resolve and asked the party to find her brother and bring him to justice for his crimes. She is pleased with the party however and awards them for finding what they have. Each member is awarded 1000 gold as well as her thanks and wishes for them to stay in her employ. .
Rowyn Kellani recovers of the next five days and also wishes to speak with the party, while she keeps her passions she had while possessed she wishes to tell the party they have her eternal thanks and awards them each 1000 gold as well as informing them if they need anything they have but to ask.
Guard will take his time off to learn from Snem. He tries different things, Soulmelds that have sometimes strange effects on him (like leting him fly, or walk on water and thelike) but eventually settles with Snem shaped and bound to his crown chakra (something he didn't know he had), a light blue shining warhammer that seems a bit too big for the warforged and a cloak of wispy blue flames. A rather impressive and unseen feature for a Warforged covered in black adamant plating.
After getting his armor repaired he also takes off to the markets, selling his halberd and heavy flail and buying a heavy steel shield of featureless make, some potions and other small gear, as well as material to forge his own heavy steel shield, if the time allows for it to ever get finished.
He also tries to spend some time with Whisper, helping her out wherever he can, be it to carry some of the food to the ones that need it, or helping her selecting equipment for herself, that she might need.
In the end he asks Lord Thoven to help him find some books of arcane knowledge, regarding Snem and its whereabouts.
More often than not he has to lay down his forgehammer to read in the books found.
Guard will take his time off to learn from Snem. He tries different things, Soulmelds that have sometimes strange effects on him (like leting him fly, or walk on water and thelike) but eventually settles with Snem shaped and bound to his crown chakra (something he didn't know he had), a light blue shining warhammer that seems a bit too big for the warforged and a cloak of wispy blue flames. A rather impressive and unseen feature for a Warforged covered in black adamant plating.
After getting his armor repaired he also takes off to the markets, selling his halberd and heavy flail and buying a heavy steel shield of featureless make, some potions and other small gear, as well as material to forge his own heavy steel shield, if the time allows for it to ever get finished.
He also tries to spend some time with Whisper, helping her out wherever he can, be it to carry some of the food to the ones that need it, or helping her selecting equipment for herself, that she might need.
In the end he asks Lord Thoven to help him find some books of arcane knowledge, regarding Snem and its whereabouts.
More often than not he has to lay down his forgehammer to read in the books found.
:-)
:-)
Ardanto recovers from his near death experience(s) quickly his body healing well and his mind seemingly unaffected by a rapier through the back by a pretty girl, after all she was possessed.
Ardanto basks in the lime light loving the attention and praise, wearing his medal on his chest at all times.
He will split his time between flirting with Lavinia, Rowyn and enjoying his celebrity status, while in the dock area he will make enquires of where "Kraken Cove" is, as this seems to be our next destination.
Where can a man of substantial means spend gold, are magic weapons openly available or have I got to buy someone's family heirloom. If I can find a magic Longsword for sale anywhere I'll try and buy it or if I can get some wizard/cleric to copy the enchantment on the the chain shirt and apply it to a heavier suit that is also an option.
Failing access to magic, any mithral armour about?
As with other downtimes Whisper disappears off without a word, happy to simply become invisible again. Slipping back into the shadows despite now having more than enough money to live somewhere better she starts making plans for how to use her money to better the lives of her neighbours and the homeless of the city.
Seeker:
whisper
Lavinia is delighted to have whisper teach her sword play and takes to it with determination
also over the next few days your skin iches and burns and slowly a tattoo like mark appers
Ardanto
Give me a know-geography check or a gather info one, OR speak with Slorn highwall the city's expert on geography this will cost you 50 gp however
Seeker:
Pale with worry Whisper wanders to Guard's shop, entering with a shy smile at the warforged. "Guard" She pipes up quietly "Do you have time to talk?"
"Sure." The warforged replies shortly, laying the book he just had in hands to the side, looking Whisper openly in the eyes.
"What would you like to talk about?"
After looking her up and down he adds: "Is something wrong?"
Guard:
Whisper
He thinks shortly, then speaks again, quieter: "I have seen such marks before, I think... but I don't know where they come from.
I would guess that Lord Thoven or Daurros know more about such things. Maybe even Captain Forzakhad...
If you like, I walk with you to one of them?" he suggests.
Guard:
Whisper
Guard:
Finn spends his days practicing at the Arena and discussing religion with Thoven (when he has a free moment), and he spends his nights tossing and turning in bed, thinking about the past.
With all of this training, my spear feels almost like a part of me now. Master Osric always said that "weapons are crutches", but now I see that they are a tool like any other. It is not the tool itself that is good or evil, but the use to which you put it. Sorry, Master Osric; I may even start training with other weapons, if they prove useful.
Perhaps I can harness the power of my accursed ancestors -- control it -- and use it as a weapon to fight Vanderboren and other traitors like him. Or Rowyn...I don't know why she isn't hanging in a gibbet for what she has done, but if the city has decided to be lenient to her, I respect their decision.
Whisper:
"Oh, your welcome here everytime, I don't need to sleep, so whenever there is something on your mind that bothers you, I'm probably here to hear you out.
And don't you worry about my work. I've neglected that myself often enough in the last days. You see Snem here brought me to be interested in the arcane. I'm reading more often than working steel in the nights now." he points to the blue ball and the book he read when Whisper entered his shop, respectively.
On the way to Lord Thoven the warforged asks Whisper of other things, like what she was going to do with the money that Lavina and Rowyn gave the group. He also tells her that he is going to buy a ring of protection, something to keep himself safe and with that the others as well.
Guard:
Walking along beside Guard she gives a little smile as he discusses what he plans to do with the money. "I think I'm going to help people with my money.. but I'm just not sure how best to help.. finding housing for people for the short term.. or giving out more food.. or just sharing the money. I mean I don't really need the money I have a home and can feed myself" She explains her plans with a vague dismissive wave of her hand.
Whisper:
"So you have a home and can feed yourself. Good. How about you get something to help yourself stay alive?
Think about it. Those Lotus dragons wore us down pretty hard. It would not have taken much and we all could be dead by now. And the whole city would be in the hand of them.
Yeah, spending 2000gp on a ring is a huge summ, but if it keeps me alive and able to fight those crimes some times longer I think it is worth it. And even after spending that much money there is some left to help your friends in need.
I don't want to talk you out of your idea to help your friends. But maybe you should care for yourself more. What if something happens to you? Who will help your friends then?"
Guard:
"Besides" She quickly continues "I'd have no idea what to buy! ...healing potions for the others maybe.."
Whisper:
But maybe you could get a better armor? That leather on yours looks a bit old and worn. And a Chain shirt would protect you nicely without hindering you too much. And that's not even nearly as expensive as a ring of protection.
Healing potions are a good idea... but let us look for something for you. Invisibility is a bit expensive for now... even a cloak of Elvenkind is expensive, but probably affordable. And it would help you much.
Hmm... what else comes to mind..."
Guard:
Whisper:
And yet here I stand. Truth be told these things didn't cost me a copper. But I think they are just as flashy as one of those famous cloaks of elvenkind.
Come, I know an artificier. He should have the ring ready for me by now. You can order your Cloak from him, I'm sure. And if you do, I'm going to help you help those 'friends' of yours. I'll help you carry food, I'll ask my own friend if they have work for some of them, I even might hire one or two as helpers in my shop.
And after that we get you a chain shirt.
Deal?"
Guard:
"But if I can afford to get a cloak and the armour, I will.. and thank you for your advice and your offer of help.. should we go to the artificer first or to see Lord Thoven?" she asks, subconsciously resting her hand nervously over her abdomen.