Stilgar looks to Magnus, recognizing the device in his hand.
"He's off to fetch our prisoner at the constable's office. I doubt that it is a true name, but he instructed me to address any messages for him to 'Scour.' His only distinguishing feature was the color of his eyes... gray, like flint."
Jinjer is speechless at the large pile of silver and really doesn't hear much of what Magnus and Stilgar are saying. But then the name 'Scour' is mentioned and she turns and says, "What did you say?"
Tarrana packs furiously to the point where she's stripping the room of furnishings.
Tarrana packs furiously to the point where she's stripping the room of furnishings.
Is that before or after you answer the young girl's question?
Magnus withdraws the sphere and thinks for a moment. He then leaves out the door. "You folks can wait here. I'm just going to look into... a hunch. Watch my silver, would you? "
Tarrana: You watch Magnus and Jinjer as they go off to see after Stilgar, and then turn back to the entrance of the tavern. Standing under the eaves, leaning against the weathered wood, is a young girl. She's seen perhaps ten summers pass. She watches you with large, dark eyes. You are about to move past her back into the warmth of the common room when you realize that she sees you. Not just a hooded, bundled form, but you. She bites her lower lip a moment, then speaks.
"You're not going to eat me, are you?"
Self consciously Tarrana bundles herself back up.
"No child though their are plenty who would try and eat me in their own way."
Smiling down at the girl she says. "Besides would a nice gnome like that talk to an actual child eating monster? I don't think so."
With that Tarrana sees about going back to her room.
"Yes, he's definitely under the influence of magic," the priest is saying. "I want this prisoner remanded into my custody. It is best if the Inquisition determines just who placed this spell upon him and why. Cooperate, and we shall remove this affliction from you," he says, this last bit directed at the prisoner.
Landon is quick to release the dwarf, placing him in manacles and handing him over to the two soldiers. He seems relieved to do so. The three exit with their prisoner and head for the road leading over the river to the Jarl's stronghold. No one notices your presence.
Magnus returns in a few minutes to the chapel. "I suppose that answers my question... " he says to himself before going back to his pile of riches.
"More than likely a codename. The mask would be meaningless otherwise," Stilgar says, as he tosses one last coin. Retrieving a pouch, he would scoop one of the six piles into it, before holding it out to Jinjer.
"Your payment, for suffering me for the past few days. It has certainly been most... interesting," he says, grinning ruefully.
Following Tarrana as she blows through the common room. "Something has set your candels to flickering, m'lady. Careful lest they gutter and drip. From whence flows the errant breeze?"
"More than likely a codename. The mask would be meaningless otherwise," Stilgar says, as he tosses one last coin. Retrieving a pouch, he would scoop one of the six piles into it, before holding it out to Jinjer.
"Your payment, for suffering me for the past few days. It has certainly been most... interesting," he says, grinning ruefully.
Jinjer gives the bag of coins a shake and returns the grin. "Been quite fun actually. You going south with us...right?"
"Men in masks tend to be followed by crowds with stones Giaus. Your winds and gusts may excite and move the wildfire but any sort of rain be it of stones or water is enough to kill the boldest of conflagrations. I've no mind to share that fate."
Self consciously Tarrana bundles herself back up."No child though their are plenty who would try and eat me in their own way."
Smiling down at the girl she says. "Besides would a nice gnome like that talk to an actual child eating monster? I don't think so."
With that Tarrana sees about going back to her room.
As you say that, the girl gives a smile. Before you can move she suddenly pushes off from the wall and grabs you in a hug, her arms encircling your waist as she puts her head against your stomach.
"I knew it!" she proclaims, and then "Oh! You're warm. You remind me of Miss Lilly. She was nice too...even if she was a little scary." As if prompted by this thought, she seems to think better of the hug and releases you, taking a step back and looking up at you again with her large, dark eyes.
"South, eh?" Stilgar says thoughtfully. He thinks back to the city ruled by humans, still fascinated by the very idea of it. However, his expression soon turns grim as he shakes his head.
"Truth be told, I would love to... but I am afraid my duties bind me to this town. I suspect the others would be glad to join you, though."
Magnus looks up from the silver that he has been piling into his pockets. "Come now, Stilgar, your duty is to the people of this town. What better way to help them than to finally deliver them some closure and stability. This is an answer that these men and women need to know. "
Stilgar ponders Magnus' words as he bags the rest of the silver for the rest of their companions. "Your words definitely ring true, Magnus. This whole ordeal has weighed heavily on my mind, even more so now that someone wants me dead. I fear that the shadow of the past has yet to be lifted." Taking his own share of silver, Stilgar paces back and forth for a moment, running his fingers through his beard.
"At any rate, it would be best if you all abstained from leaving just yet. The journey itself will be treacherous enough; braving the winter's wrath in addition to that may not be in your best interests. And if circumstances change come the thaw, I could perhaps join you after all."
"It seems as though there is another string left untied nearer to home. What of the secret room where we fought the tribe of savage cannibals? It is less than a day's ride from here. Who knows what answers could lie inside? " Magnus will save mentioning this point for when the full group is assembled and the silver has been dealt out evenly.
Tarrana gives a weak smile as she peels the child away from herself not exactly used to intimate contact of any kind.
"Go home." She says quietly. Then goes one.
The girl continues to stand there, making no motion to move as you leave, but does not pursue you or speak any further on the matter as you head back inside.
"A considerably less treacherous journey, I suppose," Stilgar would say, relenting, "If the others have no objections, then we can leave posthaste."
In the hidden space inside the puzzle box is found a strange ring. It appears to be crafted of bronze, with a large raised top in the form of a stylized star, and a folded piece of paper. Written upon the paper: Present the spark to the Forgefather. You will find him quenching blades in the cave. If it is pleasing to his eye, he will allow you passage.
With gear, both new and old, stowed safely away and a cold but clear day promised with the nearing of dawn, your group sets out to the northwest, back to the caves where you defeated the nocturne.
The village is quiet and no one is about to see your departure. The trek to the foothills is also devoid of any encounters, though Jinjer spots the occasional set of tracks in the snow: a mountain lion, a handful of deer, a small pack of wolves. The deep drifts make your climb arduous; you've lost nearly all the daylight by the time you make your ascent into the hills themselves. It will be fully dark by the time you reach the cave.
Magnus moves without light up the hill, confident that Baal will guide his hands to the sure grips.
Climb
Climb:
Climb check >
Jinjer rather nimbly scampers up the snow-covered slope, with Stilgar trudging determinedly after her. Magnus makes an attempt, but stalls out, sliding back down the snow to the base of the slope.
Once at the top, Jinjer and Stilgar have no trouble spotting a cleft in the face of the hill, about eight feet high, a good seven feet wide at the base, but narrowing to no more than a foot at its top.
Magnus points at Jinjer and Stilgar and casts a simple spell. He whispers "A little help if you please? Some rope perhaps? " The quiet words carry straight to the ears of his companions.
Nodding at Magnus' words, Stilgar digs through his pack, retrieving the rope he bought earlier. Uncoiling a length from it, he would toss it down to the others below, getting a good grip on the other end, unless there happens to be something he could conveniently tie it to.
With the rope, Magnus and the rest of the group are able to ascend to the narrow ledge outside the cave. A sudden wind sends swirls of snow about the party as they stare into the deeper darkness of the cave.
"If Kravathku kept her word, then we should have nothing to fear. Provided something else hasn't taken residence, of course."
After packing the rope, Stilgar draws his warhammer, taking the lead with his darkvision.
"Winters make caves attractive to beasts trying to stay warm." Tarrana says matter of factly.
"I am sure you can turn up the heat if need be, Tarrana. " Magnus says cheekily, uncovering his everburning torch after a short distance into the cave.
"If Kravathku kept her word, then we should have nothing to fear. Provided something else hasn't taken residence, of course."
After packing the rope, Stilgar draws his warhammer, taking the lead with his darkvision.
Jinjer follows Stilgar into the cave, bow ready.
Making your way through the narrow entrance tunnel, you recall that it twists into the hillside for some distance before widening into the cavern the nocturne used as a common area. As you enter, you immediately notice a lingering odor of death in the air that grows stronger as you proceed.
Rounding the final bend, your light spills across the cavern. Lying before you are the remains of your former foes, left to rot where they fell. However, a closer look reveals parts removed and scattered, and more damage to the remains than can be accounted for by the passage of time in a cold cave, even with its resident vermin. Something has fed upon them.
"Well, master tracker, are we about to be accosted by beasts, or have they eaten their fill and left? " Magnus cedes the floor to Jinjer to look for tracks or signs of recent activity. He continues boldly to the corridor with the statue.
Knowledge(Nature)
Jinjer takes a close look at the tracks, keeping alert for any sign of something in the cave.
"No surprises here." Tarrana says. "Though I'm surprised they remain. Perhaps this cave holds other surprises?"
Magnus moves through the cavern towards the offshoot containing the statue.
Perception