”The problems with the trees is,” Dominic says as he leads Poseus and brother Phineas off toward the side of the construction area.
He stops what he was about to say and listens to Phineas, then answers quickly, “We haven’t had a reason to seek the Lyphs assistance for a long time, but the tree problem, yes, you’re right, maybe we should bring what we have learned to them and compare it to what they know. Ah, the Spell Stones, yes, that could be a solution, but making them has always been beyond our craftsman’s skill. It takes a special preparation, and I think some minor spell, an arcane spell, is required during the dropping of the glass into the right oils, but I don’t know what I’m talking about, forget what I said. I really don’t know how the glass is made, or how it is enchanted to work the way they do.”
He moves close to a tree. The tree’s branches are devoid of leaves, the bark is faded grey, instead of a healthy brown. He stands by the tree and directs your attention to it, “Now what was I saying, yes the problem with the trees is that we can’t be certain we understand it. It is a combination of some blight that Cicily is trying to understand, and an infestation of a small beetle that is damaging the bark, see” Dominic peels away a small section of bark from a tree and Poseus can see a few small black beetles crawling around. “We may have found a way to defeat the beetles, but even that may be only a temporary measure. The bugs can be killed by an application of a liquid applied to the tree roots regularly over several days. It is made from a combination of herbs and a certain mixture of bee pollen and oils distilled from a plant that grows along the river bottom, but the beetles are reproducing, in trees we haven’t had a chance to treat, faster than we can control their populations.”
O this is really tingling my real life buds. I would immediately ask if the beetle has any natural predators and release them into this area to halt/slow the spread of the blight to other trees. Alas Poseus doesn't have that kind of information or ideas, perhaps if he studies this area more to gain his future knowledge Nature class bonus for his ranger skills.
"Hmm if these beetles are the cause of the blight problems? I wonder why other parts aren't affaected yet? Deer and fish move about all the time, but I'd guess beetles don't wander as much."
Poseus looks around waiting on Wiscara to show up. Then comes up with another idea.
"Dominic? You mentioned using a water plant that grows on the bottom? What does that plant look like? Perhaps I could find some of those for you after Wiscara, Phineas and me are done with our assignment."
His eyes seem to reflect the eagerness and eagerness to be helpful and proving himself that he feels at this moment.
M Human Cleric 1/Ranger 2 | HP 11/22 | Channels 3/7 used | AC = 16 | F+5|R+6|W+5 | Per +9 |Init +3
Phineas is intrigued by the beetles and the long workday is more than he bargained for. "Poseus, we are just waiting for 'Cara to arrive, perhaps you can recover some of this plant now, while we wait? I will ask the Wanderer to assist you if possible."
Would cast Guidance if he swims to help his chances to recover any.
Day 4
”Yes that would be helpful,” Dominic says as he walks back to the area where a few of the young Maetaur men are clearing a thicket of bushes. “The plant we need is found in transitional areas of the river, where the water is shallow, but dropping off toward deeper channels. It grows around the base of the Yellow Water Lily, when it can be found at all, so look for the leaves of the Yellow Water Lily on the surface, and search the river bed there. The plant is called ‘Goat-foot Grass’. It is a short reedy, grass like plant that spreads to about this size,” he indicates holding his hands about a foot apart. ”The reeds are blade like, about ten inches tall and clumped together tightly, and at the base of the reeds is a flower like bulb, shaped like a goat’s foot. In the center of this flower is a bulb, not bigger than your thumb. You should try to be careful and not uproot the plant itself, but gather the bulbs from the flowers, leaving two or three per plant to ensure continued growth. We can extract the oil from the bulbs and dilute it into a mixture that when mixed with bee pollen and applied near the base of a tree can help fight the disease affecting it. We can use all that you can gather, but be careful. In some shallow waters, it often grows near a carnivorous plant, called the Blue-Tipped Pitcher Plant. Often they are too small to be of any concern, but they have been found to grow large enough to trap your hand or, well not in your case Poseus, but in yours Phineas, your foot. It is not difficult to free yourself if you should get trapped by one of these plants, but the nectar that coats the inside of the pitcher stalk is poisonous, and can cause a blistering rash that is difficult to heal. If you can gather some of the Goat’s-foot bulbs, deliver them to Cicily, she may be able to offer a small reward for your efforts.”
Male Human Expert 3...HP 18/27 | AC 16 | TCH 13 | FLT 13 | F/R/W 2/4/3
Did I somehow miss a few "game" days, either way I will add a couple more days of crafting to my progress then, lol
After sweating and the occasional drop of blood from racking his knuckles, Marcus will close shop for the day, satisfied with the work done the past couple days. He heads back to the house, washes up, eats his dinner, then passes out cold.
He wakes again, goes through his normal routine, and heads off to the shop to continue on Poseus' armor, hoping to make some good leeway into the endeavor.
Male Human Expert 3...HP 18/27 | AC 16 | TCH 13 | FLT 13 | F/R/W 2/4/3
Oh, the day 4 text confused me is all, well my craft checks stand for the next couple days at least lol. I will be off to see Margie once we all get on the same page across the various groups.
Day 5 (Dieredon and Calex)
This day begins with a steady light rain. It will make the journey slow and difficult.
Dieredon will need to succeed on a Survival Skill Check, DC 17, to avoid becoming lost. He must make this check three times. At any failure, he has a chance to discover that he is lost after walking for one hour, with another Survival check, DC 15. If he does not find that he is lost after one hour, the two of you spend the remainder of the day going the wrong way.
The rain last, off and on, for the entire day, but you avoid any regions of bog or wetlands that slowed you down the day before. Assuming you do not become lost you cover 12 miles this day, for a total of 20 miles of travel. You know that Castletown is 20 miles “as the crow flies” from Woodbridge, so you should be seeing it before sunset (which will be hard to determine since it will be cloudy all day).
I am going to put up a description of the “outskirts” of Castletown, after I am sure you two have not gotten lost.
I have not heard from Wiscara, so we are going to have to send Poseus and Phineus off on their own
Day 4 (Poseus, Phineus, Marcus)
Marcus’ plan to work on the items he hopes to finish for his friends is somewhat hindered, when at the end of the day two Maetaur men come into Woodbridge with a cart load of axes, shovels, and saws that they need to have repaired and/or sharpened. They will pay Marcus’ father 5 gold pieces for the work (it will take both of you, Marcus and his father all of day 5 to meet their schedule, you don’t want to let them down).
Poseus, staying within sight of Phineas, cannot find any of the signs of the plants he is looking for, and before it is noon, the two of you set out down river looking for a place where there is a “tumble down” placement of rocks in the river. It isn’t so much a true water fall as it is a place where there is a change in elevation of the river bed by about four or five feet.
I will post the findings of Poseus and Phineus once they are agreed that they need to leave without Wiscara.
Early in the day he loses the trail, and he plunges along, sometimes it appears in circles for an hour, trying to recover their way.
Sorry, Calex, but this weather is hindering our progress.
Survival:1d20 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 = 12
After trying to recover the trail for an hour, Dieredon heads out in the direction that he believes lies Castletown. After traveling in the on and off deluge for the remainder of the day, they fail to come upon the city. It is obvious that they have traveled in the worong direction.
My apologies, Calex, but we appear to have wasted a day of travel. We should have arrived at Castletown by now, or at least be in sight of the city. Let us set-up camp for the night, and clearler skies on the morrow will guide us to our destination, by Calistria's blessing.
Dieredon busies himself preparing a campsite for the evening respite, complete with shelter from the rain and a small fire.
Male Human Expert 3...HP 18/27 | AC 16 | TCH 13 | FLT 13 | F/R/W 2/4/3
Currently at 69/250, since i now have my days straight lol. Day 5 is Maetur job and days 6/7 are gonna make me current on armor 121/250
Marcus, after working hard for a couple days and making some progress on the suit of armor, hears a knock on the door and a couple of Maetur with a cart full of goods. After a quick discussion about their tools needing sharpened and/or repaired. The task was quite daunting at first thought, but the two clients were willing to pay 5 gold pieces for the task. His father would disown him if he refused that offer, so Marcus happily agreed. Besides, this would cover a good portion of the cost for the fine leather bought from Wuda.
After shaking hands and solidifying the deal, Marcus went to find his father,
Father, I have brought in a good deal of work. A couple Maetur men would like us to sharpen and/or fix a cart full of their various spades, shovels and other tools. They are willing to pay a healthy coin for this job since your product speaks for itself. The only thing is, it is far too much for me to do alone and I need your help. Your still a better smith then I, and I know that the two of us can get it done by tomorrow. What do you say, in the mood to get dirty?, he will say with a smile.
M Human Cleric 1/Ranger 2 | HP 11/22 | Channels 3/7 used | AC = 16 | F+5|R+6|W+5 | Per +9 |Init +3
Phineas will help keep a sharp eye out as Poseus swims in the pond. The tumble-down rocks looks like it could be a place for a beast to lair. While Poseus swims, Phin asks for Guidance on his Gymnaga friend hoping that the divine hands will assist his search for the right plants and his avoidance of the trapping plants.
Calex helps Dieredon with his magic, using cantrips to clean and dry their gear after the rainy day they've spent hiking.
I'll use Prestidigitation to clean & dry our gear, season the meal and what ever else I can use it for to make our camp a little more comfortable.
"I am a little disappointed that we lost a day, but its better than wandering into the bog accidentally, especially in this weather. We'll just have to wait it out and hope for better in the morning. But I guess we can't do anything about the rain. Oh...wait..we CAN..but I won't be able to cast that kind of magic for a long while into the future, so it's still not something we can depend on...and I'm being me usual scatter-brained self aren't I? My apologies. I do tend to get distracted by details. A personal failing, but one that serves me well in my researches at times. But on our immediate mission- do you think your contacts in the town (official or otherwise) can offer us any assistance? With the time we've lost, if we can cut down the amount of running around and bureaucratic posturing we'll no doubt encounter, that would be of immense help, I'm thinking."
the first thing Poseus looks at is to see if any Yellow Water Lilies are here. Checking to see if this place would be good to find any Goat-Foot Grass.
Perception:1d20 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6
If he does spot any of those lilies:
Poseus dives into the water and swims around looking for the plants using the description Dominic has given him.
Searching ever further up river, along the bed of the river, Poseus finds no sign of yellow lilies or goat’s-foot grass. Coming to the surface, every few minutes, he smiles at Phineas and the two new friends exchange a few words, before the young gymnaga warrior dives down once again.
The day wears on, and it would seem that the two are not going to meet up with the young Wiscara at all, and they have spent so much time helping the Maetaur and searching the river downstream for plant’s that today is about to get away from them.
Phineas is going to tell Poseus that they don’t have enough time left today to head down river as far as they should have. He has a few moments to think about what they are going to tell Auria and the others. A few moments turn into a few more, and then more, and Phineas begins to worry about how long Poseus can actually stay down.
Suddenly Poseus comes bursting up out of the water. He gives a powerful thrust from his tail and launches himself up onto the river bank with abandon, not even thinking about trying to land gracefully. In his hand is a large, heavy brown leather sack. The sack is tied closed but something is sticking out of the sack. At the bottom of the sack are several large rocks fastened to the corners of the sack with strong rope.
As soon as Poseus is on the ground his hand releases the sack and he rolls away from it. He sputters and coughs, and points at the sack. His hand is shaking and his eyes are closed, and all he can manage to say is, ”Why?”
Poseus has found, on the bottom of the river here, the remains of a Halfling. The body was tied into a sack, with the head out of the sack, and the sack was weighted. In time the head detached from the neck and must have floated down river to be caught in the rocks at the tumble down falls. Phineas and Poseus can open the sack and examine the remains, or take some other action.
Day 5 Dieredon and Calex (night)
The clouds finally part and a gorgeous sunset begins to spread rays of magenta and gold across the sky. It will be dark soon, but maybe, just maybe. The woods here are thick and close. There are severall tall trees nearby.
Climbing a tall tree as the sky grow more colorful, Dieredon keeps his lips tight and mutters to himself, but as soon as he is as high as he can climb, he laughs and points to the west. Even in the setting twilight he can see Castletown in the distance.
You are not as far off as you could be, and you can see the Castle and outlying farms of Castletown just four miles to the west. You could probably break camp now, and make it there in one to two hours. It will be dark, but there should be plenty of lanterns and other lights to guide you in.
Male Moon Elf Fighter (Arcane Archer of Kyonin) 3; HP: 28/28; AC:14; Initiative: +3; Passive Perception: 12; Second Wind 0/1 (SR or LR); Action Surge 0/1 (SR or L); Arcane Arrow 1/2 (SR or L)
Dieredon climbs down from the tree.
Calex, we are close. Let us break camp and head toawards the torches of Castletown. We will no doubt make it there for a brief respite, and we can start our day anew in the city.
M Human Cleric 1/Ranger 2 | HP 11/22 | Channels 3/7 used | AC = 16 | F+5|R+6|W+5 | Per +9 |Init +3
Revolted a little by the act, Phineas will try to look into the sack to determine the cause of death or approximate age? He will also look for any identifying items or marks.
"Poseus, I cannot tell much about these remains. We should get these to Dominic and Cicily as soon as we can." He tries to comfort his upset friends as best he can.
I am assuming these are the closest "elders". If town is closer, let us know.
Poseus looks into the sack, as soon as he catches his breath.
Perception:1d20 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7
"Well we did expect to find a body, Phineas, though why did it have to be the way as he died? I'm not sure but he could have been drowned. Who could be so cruel to someone?"
Calex starts to help repack their gear, anxious to have a real roof over head.
"We're that close? Dier, you led us almost precisely on target! I had no idea you were such a skilled guide! Is that an elven ability, or just your own innate talent? Meh- never mind, it doesn't matter as long as it gets us to our destination. Lets head off!"
Male Human Expert 3...HP 18/27 | AC 16 | TCH 13 | FLT 13 | F/R/W 2/4/3
I have heard of 'let the bodies hit the floor' but seriously lol
Day 5...
Marcus will get up early, eat a hearty breakfast at Lulu's, leave her an extra copper like he always does, and head over to the shop to start working on the order for the Gymnaga clients. It would take all day for him and his father to complete the job, even then they are pushing it.
Marcus works for 4 hours straight, then takes a quick break for lunch. He sits by the nearby lake, soaking up the sun and resting is weary feet in the river to regather his energy. After lunch it is back to work, finishing up the reworking and fixing of the various tools. Marcus is flabbergasted at the sheer amount of items to be worked on. He mutters to himself if it will get done in time.
His father overhears his frustration and looks his son in the eye and says sternly, I never raised you to doubt yourself boy. Why are you starting now? Is it because of the other night...with...you know, asked his father.
Maybe. All of this is so sudden. I was unable to protect Roan and the others I now call friends... Marcus' voice trails off.
Look boy, you did the best you could, I am never gonna fault you for admirable choices you make. Your choice to stay here, is the correct one in your eyes, who am I to question that. You work to arm your new friends with solid weaponry and other equipment to battle and protect the village. Now QUIT your doubt and get back to work, before I take a hammer to your head. We still have a ways to go before the Gymnaga return for their goods, Marcus' father says with a quick smile, before he starts to re-hammer a spade to be straight again.
Thank you father, Marcus whispers, as he get back to work to finish the job before him.
I am going to try an make three seperate posts for each aspect of this game, Dieredon and Calex are up first, then I will get to Marcus, and finally, Phineas and Poseus
Day 5, sunset
Dieredon and Calex
You break camp quickly, while there are still streaks of pinkish-orange light in the sky and head west. After a short while, with the sky growing darker, you finally emerge from the woods and find yourselves on a rise of short grass that is a gentle slope downward to the west. All around you there are sheep (these sheep are familiar to Calex and Dieredon, as they are imported from Aladoa, they are a fat short breed, with thick white wool and black faces). Off to your right you hear the bark of a sheep dog, and a woman’s voice calling, “Hep, hep, aiyee, ayiee,” a traditional sheep herder’s call.
Just down the hill, to the west you can see a road (the road turns north ahead of you and disappears behind the hill rise you are standing on, but you both remember that this road leaves Castletown, travels through some small settlements and then follows the Lorisaine river for a few miles, and that means the river is to your right, probably half to three quarters of a mile to the north).
You don’t have time, you figure, to stop and chat with the woman rounding up her sheep this evening, and hustle downhill to the road.
You follow the road for a mile and a half, it bends gently to the southwest, and then you come to the first small settlement outside of the town of Castletown proper. The land is fairly level here, and in the growing twilight you can see the many buildings of Castletown itself, just two miles further to the west. The Sun is setting over Lake Handemere, and the Castle is silhouetted in the setting sun where it sits on a hill of rock above the town to the west, on the other side of the Worran River.
(The Worran River empties into Lake Handemere at Castletown, and the Lorisaine connects to the Worran about one quarter of a mile to the north of Castletown, I will try to put up a map soon)
At this little hamlet, you find seven small houses along the road, and a large two-story Tavern. The houses are all set back a good distance from the road and each has a small walking path leading to the front door from the road, but the Tavern, recognizable by the large wooden sign hanging over the door, the soft glow of warm light shining from several large open windows and sounds of music coming through the air, is set right on the side of the road.
The sign above the open door has no words, but it is painted with a picture of the “Rising Sun”.
(you know it is a rising sun because it is above a sea, and Aladoans traditionally represent the sun rising over the sea, which is to the east of Aladoa. Here in this land, it might be considered a setting sun, as the sun rises over the land to the east and sets over the sea to the west, got it?)
The music you hear is traditional guitar and clarinet music from Aladoa, and not the fiddles and bagpipes of the locals, and this reassures you that this is an Aladoan style establishment.
(An Aladoan tavern will have a higher ceiling and an open balcony leading to guest rooms on the second floor, unlike a local tavern which will generally be smaller, have a low ceiling and does not double as an “inn”).
It is actually Maetaur workmen, you know the ones clearing the road, who brought the tools to Woodbridge, not Gymnaga, but that’s okay. Also, we probably shouldn’t have moved Marcus ahead to day 5, just yet, as something important that he and his father will need to be involved in will happen on the evening of Day four, after the Maetaur leave.
Male Moon Elf Fighter (Arcane Archer of Kyonin) 3; HP: 28/28; AC:14; Initiative: +3; Passive Perception: 12; Second Wind 0/1 (SR or LR); Action Surge 0/1 (SR or L); Arcane Arrow 1/2 (SR or L)
Well then, Calex, I suggest we head inside the Rising Sun here for a good meal, a few drinks, and a good nights repose before heading into Castletown in the morning. I am sure that we can ask around a bit in here tonight so that we can be a little more regimented in our approach to handling the tasks at hand tomorrow. Sound good?
You hurry back to the Maetaur settlement and enter the circle of buildings calling out for Cicily.
It is well past noon
Cicily comes out of her house, a long narrow building with a high pointed and thatched roof.
”Boys, boys, calm down,” she calls as she trots toward you.
You set the bag on the ground in front of her and tell her what you’ve found.
She is hesitant at first, to approach the bag.
”I can’t believe someone would do such a horrible thing,” she says as she wipes away a tear forming in her eye. She reaches behind her head and ties her long brown hair into a knot, and then kneels, bending to rest on her front knees, and carefully says a prayer, in a language you do not understand, over the bag. Then she carefully opens the top of the bag and peers inside.
”This is horrible, simply horrible,” she mutters. “This person died a few weeks ago, maybe more, but the bag has kept the body from decaying as rapidly as the skull did, the environment of the river would have scattered the bones in only a week or two, so whoever did this is not knowledgeable about rivers, or was in too great of a hurry to be done with this deed. You say the body was found just down river less than a mile, near the falls, that’s just before the beaver ponds. I’ll tell you what you must do,” she says as she closes the bag carefully, ”Take this to Wuda, there are still remnants of cloth and flesh here, maybe she can tell more about this poor soul. Other than that there is little we can do now, but wait,” as she is tying the rope around the top of the bag, her hands being careful of the leather, she stops, strokes her finger across the leather a few times and then bends closely to examine the bag. ”This is very strange, very strange,” she whispers, ”This is like no leather I am familiar with, the grain is smooth, but it has a ridged pattern. The color of the hide has faded in the water, but I can still see that it once had colors I’ve never seen before. When you visit Wuda, leave the remains with her and go fetch Mister Dale and his son, Marcus, and the woman Toolwoad, they are all experienced with leather goods, perhaps they can discover something about this bag that will help us to learn what has happened and why. “
M Human Cleric 1/Ranger 2 | HP 11/22 | Channels 3/7 used | AC = 16 | F+5|R+6|W+5 | Per +9 |Init +3
Phineas nods his understanding. He had not considered Wuda as a reliable source of information but has been learning this week there is more to the elders in town than he ever suspected.
"I will take the remains to the peddlar woman Wuda and ask her discreetly about the clothing scraps. Marcus is a friend of mine, so we can ask him about the leather work bag also. If he doesn't know we can bring in his father or Miss Toolwoad."
"It's the same halfling isn't it. Can you tell how he met his end? Did he drown in this bag?"
Cicily stands and says another prayer, then looks at Phineas, "I think the halfling was dead, or very near to it when he or she was thrown into the river in this bag. The hands and feet are still bound, but it doesn't look as if any effort was made to break free of the bonds. I believe that Wuda has more experience with Halflings than any of us. She trades with the people of Castletown and spends most of her time there."
M Human Cleric 1/Ranger 2 | HP 11/22 | Channels 3/7 used | AC = 16 | F+5|R+6|W+5 | Per +9 |Init +3
"Aye Poseus, she will be peddling her wares in town for another day or so, if I don't miss my guess, then take her cart back to Castletown. Let's hurry along."
To Cicily almost as an afterthought:"We were waiting for Wiscara. If she returns will you send her after us? We also told Dominic we'd find some of those goat-things to help kill the beetles, but didn't see them. We will keep looking!."
Calex nods enthusiastically at Dieredon's suggestion, then looks sheepishly at the elf,saying "Absolutely yes! er...I guess I'm just not as tough as you or 'Cara. I'm not in my element in the wilds like you two are. Sorry."
The door to the Inn stands open and the sounds of laughter, conversations and music fill the air as you enter.
It is bright, there are several lanterns hanging high from pegs set in the walls, and there is a central fire pit, with a metal hood suspended from the ceiling hanging over it drawing the smoke from a small but warm fire in the center of the room, up through a metal stack that disappears through a hole way up high above. The ceiling here is at least eighteen feet high.
On your right the room expands into a large common area, scattered with round tables surrounded by short backed chairs. There is a small stage against the far right wall. Ahead of you there is a small bar. Three men and two women (all Elves) stand at the bar and from the expressions on their faces and drinks in their hands they are having a good time. On the left there are booths separated from each other by a thin wooden wall placed under a balcony that allows access to rooms on the second floor. The stairs to this balcony will be at the far end of the booths, out of your sight for now.
Every table and every booth in the place is occupied. There are at least forty people here, and they are a balanced mixture of Halflings, Elves and Humans. Three Women (one is a red haired elf, a real attractive woman, the other two are blond haired humans), and Two Men (both human), wear aprons and are constantly on the move from table to table serving drinks, collecting plates and cups, and taking orders.
On the small stage are three Elves, two men and one woman. These elves appear to be mature, silver haired, all of them, and with faces that are aged but have a genuine look of serenity and peace. They are standing. One of the men is playing a clarinet and the other is playing an upright stringed instrument, plucking the heavy strings with his fingers and not using a bow. The Elfin woman is playing a large guitar that hangs comfortably in front of her on a bright yellow strap that passes over her shoulder. The song they are playing is lively, up tempo, and complicated. The notes dance and shift through chord progressions and changes in tempo, while the man playing the bass and the woman playing guitar are singing, but their voices are soft and can barely be heard over the instruments and at the same time the vocal accompaniment elevates the music in beautiful ways.
”Till the waves return my lover to the shores where we first met, I’ll sing her dearest whispers to the hills of Ternalyn, and the softly echoed songs of the shepherds on the green will remind me of the summer days when she was here with me…”
It is a familiar tune, a common ballad, and it is played and sung with care and reverence as if it is meant to remind the folks here that their home, no matter how far away it is, is always in their hearts.
The red haired Elfin woman approaches you, as soon as she has sat down a platter of tall mugs at a booth near you, and greets you.
”Good and pleasant evening gentlemen, my name is Hillary, and this is my father's place. I don’t believe I’ve seen you in here before,” her voice is crisp and clear, and her eyes sparkle when she smiles. She turns her head, looking toward the fire in the center of the common area, and then says, You look like you’ve had a working day*. There is a table by the fire that’s just being cleared, come on now follow me, sit down and tell me what you’ll have.”
*a common expression meaning she believes you are farmers
Male Moon Elf Fighter (Arcane Archer of Kyonin) 3; HP: 28/28; AC:14; Initiative: +3; Passive Perception: 12; Second Wind 0/1 (SR or LR); Action Surge 0/1 (SR or L); Arcane Arrow 1/2 (SR or L)
Dieredon smiles and nods at Hillary, as he motions for Calex to follow him and her to the table.
Not a working day, Hillary, but a long couple days of travel. We would thoroughly enjoy some Elven wine, a solid meal, and a room for the night, if you have any available?
GM Terquem:
Do I know where to find Regicce Pas’Doreen in Castletown? I know that i need to have a conversation with the fellow separatist, but do I know where to find him, specifically?
Calex's mood visibly picks up at the idea of not having to sleep outdoors, and he smiles at his hostess.
"Thank you, and yes an order of the same sounds wonderful. As my friend mentioned we've only just arrived. What's the latest news that we have missed?"
Dilomacy roll for learning any local, commonly known, news:
Diplomacy:1d20 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3
For some reason, your body feels as if it has turned to stone. When you rushed back to the Maetaur village, to present the discovery of the hafling body, it was as if time stood still. Poseus felt as if he was sliding across the ground effortlessly, and Phineas ran without ever feeling his breath catch in his throat.
There was a sense of urgency then, of fear, and danger.
You had a quiet hope, and unspoken wish, that Cicily would know exactly what to do, that she would say just the right things to make you feel like the world could, when things were clear, make sense. But Cicily seemed as disturbed by what you found as you were.
You started out in a hurry, but in just a few steps you slowed. You moved toward Riverside with heavy hearts, and worried minds. What if Wuda had questions? Did you have any answers? Should you go to Patricia first? And what about Poseus’ people? They lived right on the river just south a short distance upstream, were they in danger? With every step the weight of this dilemma grew and grew. What had you gotten into?
Through the trees, ahead of you, you could see the most northern farms and cottages of Lakeside. Smoke rising from an occasional chimney reminds you that for everyone else in Woodbridge life is going on this day as it always does. The sense that something dreadful has happened and now it is up to you to find out why, weighs down hard upon your head, when suddenly you hear a voice from behind you calling your names.
It is a young Maetaur, a male, you know his face, but you are not sure of his name. He is handsome, as almost all of his kind are, and he carries himself with purpose.
Calex and Dieredon, Day 5, evening, at a crossroad outside of Castletown
Dieredon:
Regicce Pas’Doreen lives in an estate north of the Castle at Castletown, on the other side of the Worran River. There is a bridge, north of the town itself, by the way the town has most of the business and residences on the south side of the Lorisaine where it joins the Worran, and then there are some large farms and estates on the northwest side of the area, west of the Worran river. There are also farms east of the main town, and you are in an Inn out in that direction. Pas’Doreen’s estate is a large, two-story home, with barn, and several sheds. He is grows apples and plums on his estate, employs about ten workers, and also keeps bees. Most people know him and respect him as a even tempered, honest man.
Hillary laughs out loud when Calex asks her about any news he might have missed and says,
”How would I know what you’ve missed? I don’t know how long you’ve been away.” She then gives Dieredon a smile and says, “All the rooms are available tonight, we have no other travelers. Pick any one of them, they are clean and have bedding already laid out on the beds. The doors lock from the inside, for your comfort. I’ll bring you a plate from the kitchen. We have chicken, duck and pork, breads, cheese and fresh carrots and turnips with raspberry dressing, and a bottle of Castletowns finest wine. It is a white wine, crisp and with a slight bitter bite on the end you should like it.” She winks when she describes the wine.
”Don’t worry about the bill, I’ll keep everything written down and you can settle your debt in the morning, or if you are staying for more than one night, we’ll just settle it when you are ready to depart. Are you staying here for a while, or do you have business in Castletown? Do you have a place to stay while you are there? If you find there is no room in the Inns, there might not be. I’ve heard that another seventy or so have just arrived on a large ship from the homeland a few days ago. If you can’t find accomidations then feel free to come back and stay with us. We’d love to have you as our guests.”
Poseus turns around as he hears his name being called, the voice didn't sound familiar, though the face of the one that spoke did, however slightly it may be.
I remember his face, I think I saw him at the festival. I do not remember his name though, don't think we were ever introduced.
"Hello there," Poseus shouts out and waves a hand over his head, "Were you looking for us?"
If it is just a social call, we could better keep moving, though a bit of small talk might lift our spirits as well. I don't want to keep thinking about people killing and drowning each other.
M Human Cleric 1/Ranger 2 | HP 11/22 | Channels 3/7 used | AC = 16 | F+5|R+6|W+5 | Per +9 |Init +3
At first Phineas's stress and anxiety manifests as anger. "What could that be now? I don't have time for trivial conversations." He slows anyway putting off the moments when the discovery becomes public.
As he sees the Metaur approach, he recognizes him as well from the festival, but does not recall meeting him in person.
"Hullo friend, and well met. But we are on important business and must be off in a hurry. Pardon our rudeness, but unless it is pressing we must forge ahead.". Hoping that response was suitable, Phineas turns to start walking to the B&B to find Wuda.
"C'mon Poseus, Cicily said to show Wuda first, even though maybe Patricia would be my first choice. Let's get going."
"Right on your tail Phineas" He smiles, thinking he couldn't joke so soon again.
He looks at the Maetaur that called out their names and shrugged, "What he says is true, we don't have much time to stand and talk. Moving and talking we could do."
Male Moon Elf Fighter (Arcane Archer of Kyonin) 3; HP: 28/28; AC:14; Initiative: +3; Passive Perception: 12; Second Wind 0/1 (SR or LR); Action Surge 0/1 (SR or L); Arcane Arrow 1/2 (SR or L)
Dieredon smiles broadly at Hillary.
Thank you very much, Mi'Lady. We may indeed wish to stay right here for our brief visit, even though we have business in town. I welcome the reprieve of a fine evening at your establishment. Feel free to start a tab, and we can settle up early tomorrow, or later, if we stay on. I look forward to tasting that wine.
Dieredon half bows and sits himself down casually at the table with Calex. he waits for Hillary to depart.
Well then, let us make plans for tomorrow. I think that we should establish an agenda to accomplish everything in one day. I do need to call on a friend to the north of town for a brief moment at sometime during the day. I also need to report at the castle. Please help me work out a plan of action, friend.
Although the Maetaur carries himself with a purpose he also seems a bit lost for words. Not that that stops him...
I am terribly sorry, but Cicily said that someone from the Maetaur settlement should join you. Apparently things are happening that you know off, off course she did not tell me anything, so I am left to find things out on my own.
Oh, I totally forgot my manners, I am Alomar. Could you maybe tell me what is happening? And I am perfectly happy to do the walk and talk at the same time.
M Human Cleric 1/Ranger 2 | HP 11/22 | Channels 3/7 used | AC = 16 | F+5|R+6|W+5 | Per +9 |Init +3
Phineas thinks:"If Cicily sent him, it must be okay.. He reaches out his hand to introduce. "Name's Phineas, priest in training. That's Poseus a friend. We are taking these remains to the old peddlar woman to see if she recognizes them. We found them in the river near the fallen stones. We found the skull the other day. It appears to be a halfling, but we don't know much more. Things seem pretty grim actually. But glad to have you with us."
Alomar's appearance: he is wearing a Rafgham in an argyle pattern of green and brown colors on his equine parts with a green shirt on his torso. He wears a wide brown leather belt with two brown leather pouches attached to that. He also carries a matching leather bag slung over his shoulder. You can not see any weaponry.
Alomar stops in midstride
Remains you say? Whoa!
From a halfling? I have not heard anything about a halfling gone missing in the region, have you? Weird!
And what skull? Or is that the halflings skull? Wasn't the skull with the rest of the remains?
Alomar looks flustered, as if he doesn't understand what's going on.
Assuming you are carrying the remains in a sack or something like that
I am carrying the sack with the remains, the sack we found it in.
"We haven't heard of a missing halfling as well, that's what the most frustrating about it. The body was found in the river and the head got knocked off some time ago."
Poseus sighs deeply.
"Our simple and regular way of living might be threatened. At first by whatever killed this halfling, second through intervention by Castletown if they think Woodbridge might become dangerous."
Poseus quickly glides after Phineas. The three spears on his back swaying from side to side as he goes. The old padded armour itches a bit and Poseus scratches sometimes by moving one of the spears in a scrathcing motion.
M Human Cleric 1/Ranger 2 | HP 11/22 | Channels 3/7 used | AC = 16 | F+5|R+6|W+5 | Per +9 |Init +3
Phineas is happy the Metaur is joining them for the walk. "We are headed to find the peddlar woman Wuda. She is likely at the B&B, if we don't find here there, we will consult one of the village elders."
They continue giving the backstory to Alomar all the way to the pub house, including the encounter with the milk bucket, the monster in the swamp, and the idea of the Spellstone.
GM: can you give some clarification on the sack that Poseus mentioned? If the remains have decayed so much that the head came loose from the body I do not think that the sack will have survived. If on the other hand the sack is good enough to carry the remains in that means that the remains were dropped not so long ago.
Phineas, It seems I have some reading to do;-).
Alomar listens carefully to the story Phineas is weaving.
First off, there is something peculiar about the sack, and someone is supposed to bring that to the attention of the Dale family, who have a shop, Riverside, near the center of the village. Second, it appears the body was tied into the sack with the head on the outside (the sack may have been tied around the neck, and something hastened the detachment of the head from the body (was damage done to the victims neck before being tossed into the river?). The skull was found just a short distance downriver from where the sack was found, and the skull had already been stripped of flesh. There was some mention of there being some plants in the river that might have contributed to the fast decomposition of the skull. The exact state of decay of the body in the sack has not been established, but Cicily seemed to think that the body had been in the sack, subjected to the presence of the river water, but protected from fish or other things, for a matter of a few weeks at the most.
As you pass by the homes and farms of Lakeside, headed toward the bridge to the island in the oxbow lake of Woodbridge, you exchange pleasantries and helpful information. Alomar asks you to pause, just at the bridge, before the light of the day has completely faded, and summoning supernatural guidance he examines the remains in the sack as Poseus holds it open.
Alomar:
Two of the bones of the neck, just above the shoulders show small marks that resemble cuts, and the bone is slightly fragmented around the cuts. Perhaps it was a blow from a large blade or axe. Perhaps the blow was meant to kill the victim, but for some reason the job of completely severing the head was left unfinished when the body was thrown into the river.
