Shards of the Titanswar

Game Master EldonG

i thought I explored the whole thing but so many posts in different directions it's hard to say for sure... It was certainly my intention to do so...

Appraise: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (16) + 10 = 26

Sakuro glanced over the furs, then shrugged. "Heavy, but they'll sell for a little bit, at least." she told the others. "About a gold piece per pound, I think, maybe more if someone could treat them properly and turn them into something more valuable." Worked goods, as a whole, tended to be far more valuable than raw stuff.

In the box is a fine silver and glass (crystal) drinking set with four small glasses, four shot glasses, three bottles, and two small silver cups with lids.

"Blessed Lad! Look at him! Didn't even take a minute!" roars Baldek with his coarse voice as the thief opens the box and reveals something of value.

Maybe that can get me some armour. IF I find a place that SELLS some...

He shrugs at the fur: "Nice..."

Looking at Auric and Nia: "Is this the end? We head back and take the other tunnel then?"

It seems that finding actual loot has erased Baldek's memory of past conversations of ogre-slaughtering...

Nia couldn't see if you indeed explored it all. Being normal human and all :P Plus, she is trying to do something productive. Since the GM isn't saying I found anything Im guessing I haven't.

Nia'Nickta returned to Alyra and took her hand. "How are you holding up? She asked her softly.

"It seems that way" Auric replies to Baldek as he neatly rolls up the furs and lashes them to his backpack. "Anything we're not going to take with us we should consider breaking or burning- the harder we make it to settle in here the less likely it is anything will do so..."

"Did you forget we did bring my horse up this way? Jun and Alyra rode it. He can carry some things." She piped up.

"An excellent suggestion, Nia, though I was referring to items of no value... like that stool over there," Auric responds pointing to the over-sized stool in the cave.

In all fairness, it's a nice bit of firewood. ;)

"Well, lets check the rest of this place out first. Said Antonio, glancing around again using his torch.
Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (10) + 5 = 15
He will proceed forward.

Baldek nods at Antonio and looks around as well.

Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10

"When we're done, there's still the other tunnel, no?"

"Yes, there is. And you will have to decide to either fight or try to make a deal with the creature to pass through his territory. They usually barter in waate and refuse." Nia felt this was their choice not her own.

After all, they wouldn't listen to her own thoughts. Auric's yes, but not hers. They seemed to prefer his action oriented style. Also, he was one of them.

As Baldek and Antonio search the cavern one last time, Auric smashes the chair and any other furniture, utensils, or any other items that would make it easier for something to resettle here that he can find.

Reiko keeps watch, his eyes searching for any new threats.

Aya goes with Antonio.

"It appears we have searched as thoroughly as possible in here," Auric says as Antonio, Baldek, and Aya conclude their search, "Antonio, would you like to scout ahead or shall Baldek and I take the lead in case we encounter something violent?"

This broad tunnel goes in about 30 feet and then opens up. Off to the left is a ledge almost five feet high with an assortment of body parts from humans and beasts. There are a few whole bodies off to the right - only one human, but one beast the size of a musk - ox. It actually appears to be an ox of some sort.

There are two exits from here, again 'Y'ing out beyond.

Antonio turned up his nose at the pile of body parts. Pressing ahead, he turned left at the 'Y'.
Stealth: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (14) + 9 = 23
Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (12) + 7 = 19

Nia'Nikta would glance at the pile and moves over to the grisly scene. These people deserved rest.

"Mental note. Come get body parts and give them proper rest." She murmured to herself.

1d20 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10

"Well, at least the ogres probably weren't raising an army of undead humans to attack with. Always look on the bright side, right?" Sakuro's smile was a little brittle, though, as if she had to force it to stay on her face at the sight of what was before them.

"Yeah. We found the pantry. Let's keep going..."

This way opens up into a cave with piles of ratty furs and straw all over the floor. Here and there is minor refuse - bones predominate.

"Getting better and better. Ogre's refuse can be fascinating when seen in the proper environment..." says Baldek, sarcasm oozing through his coarse voice as he makes it clear he's had more than enough of this venture.

The player is fine with going on though. Just the character is not :)

"I'm not entirely familiar with your culture's funerary rituals, but between this straw and the random bits of wood we've seen, we could probably burn those body parts, if that will qualify as giving them rest, Nia?"

Also qualifies as bbq... thinks Baldek, dwarves never so found of anything but burial.

"I am not familiar with the burial rights these people would have wanted but I would think any that possibly may think their loved ones were part of this would want a grave to go to. I also think that they would want an honorary pyre over a makeshift one over the broken bits and pieces that are found here." She was surprised at such a suggestion.

"If I were to burn them it would be with honor and with more than us attending their funeral."

Nia looks around and would sigh. "Either way I would take them far from here and take them to consecrated ground. If strange blood magics are around than it is best they be taken to peaceful ground just to be safe."

Looking around she would, in boredom, stop to use detect magic over the ratty furs and such even as she started to search the room they moved into from the "pantry"

No magic is detected, though a bit of a search does unearth a variety of ogre 'toys' and whatnot.

I leave those odd items to your imaginations. ;)

Happy Thanksgiving everyone. :)

Nia waited patiently for someone's reply as she started to search the place.

"Very well, before we leave we can use some of these furs to wrap up the remains and transport them back with us... I don't see any other ways forward, if we're reasonably sure that the filth eating creature isn't a threat to the town, then we appear to be done here..."

"Next up, we need to find a really good priest..." Sakuro agreed. The spellbook - which she certainly hadn't forgotten about - really needed to get under professional care of some kind.

Baldek searched with the others. He grabs one of the ogres' "toys", not clear on what the thing is, until he finally figures it out and drops it quickly, his whole body shivering away.

Does the tunnel keep going, or are we at the end?

There were two ways out of the larder - in the interest of potential momentum - the other way has three more distinct piles of furs, and buried in each is found a small sack of coins:

Gold: 6d10 ⇒ (5, 8, 9, 9, 9, 10) = 50

And

Silver: 3d100 ⇒ (66, 30, 68) = 164

Total.

(In addition to the usual refuse.)

More gold! I hope Reiko doesn't force us to spend it again!! thinks Baldek as he counts mentally how rich he now is.

"Ok, we dig deeper? Antonio? Would you do us the honor?" he says with a short bow.

Nia brings out the coins and would show them to the others but holds them for now. They could split everything later.

Her eyes scan over as she walks back to Alyra and takes her hand. "Is there anything you need?"

Is there any way we have not been yet?

You've seen everything you had evidence of...unless you missed something. ;)

What are the group's intentions concerning the dire wolves?

Sakuro wants to keep one, but has basically no training in handling animals and probably wouldn't be a great pet owner anyway. XD If nobody else can help with that, she'd like to let them go.

You guys have three options here - keep and train them, take and sell.them, or leave them alone. They're undeniably valuable - but if you want one, expect it to take most of a year to mostly physically mature...throwing one into combat might prove disastrous. With patience, they could maybe be taught to guard horses. Other than that, they're just pet pets. You'll be facing stuff far beyond their abilities by the time they mature.

Baldek would prefer to let them loose.

Aya suggests selling them to the local farmers. If they don't sell, release them.

"We came up here to ensure the town's safety..." Auric reasons aloud, "if we brought the pups down perhaps the townsfolk could train them to aid in defending against any future attacks?"

That is what I had in mind. The farmers could use the pups as both pets and guard dogs.

Antonio would prefer not to mess with the pups.

"I would prefer we leave them be. The farmers won't be able to tame the mother and so will kill her. I would prefer that I heal her as we leave and go on. I want one for myself but it is unwise. They still aren't wheened so need their mother's milk."

Nia looks at everyone and would check to make sure no place was unsearched before she started the task of separating the body parts.

Baldek beams his most charming smile at Nia and utters a croaky: "Thanks." as he makes his way towards the entrance of the tunnels.

"Is that it for today then? Ogres gone; peace restored! What of the Festival? That's why I came here!"

"If we leave the wolves be, will they attack the townsfolk and their livestock when they grow hungry?" Auric asks with sincere concern... "and what of that carrion eating beast? When it finishes that heap will it stumble into town seeking something to devour?"

Baldek tries not to roll his eyes, and calmly, but croakily says: "Valid points. But those hold true of many tunnels and threat all around the town. To what extent should the area standing hours away should be cleared of any potential dangers? It seems to me those wolf and that... THING! could also head the other way and endanger some orcs, no? Prejudging can be perilous, if you ask me." and as he says those last words, his hand goes unintentionally to his scarred throat.

Sakuro puffed out her cheeks a bit at the idea of not helping the dogs. She... may have been easily distracted by cute things. "Most animals know better than to attack human settlements." she said. "Especially when they're capable of getting food somewhere that's safer for them."

"Indeed and infact that Otyogh could be used to help the town. Make a deal with it and let it live in the dump and it will eat the things that no one else would touch. It keeps the town cleaner without killing it. Wolves don't just attack humans. And she is a mother, her young are her concern. She will hunt close by without a pack and if Tania is willing she can keep an eye on her. If we treat everything like a threat it will always be a threat because you make it so by judging it so. I am the one taking the risk by healing her and letting her awaken. Not you."

She looks at Baldek and nods. "If anything her and her pups will keep the ogre's from coming back here because they won't have anyone to control her. You are concerned with them, but don't think that letting those ogre's, who have ate human flesh, go just because they are young. Are you not being a bit hypocritical then of an animal and a creature that wants nothing but to have its favorite food?"