Herl is on his way to see Gethrame, a human woman who he loved in his youth. She was cursed with blindness by Shandril for spying on a private ritual in the shrine.
Gather information DC 18:
Gethrame never noticed Herl much, she was in love with Eralion. Eralion made her a Staff of Arcane Sight when Shandril cursed her with blindness and she went to live with him in the keep for a time. At some point she must have started feeling unsafe or unhappy in the keep though, for Herl discovered her living in a cave while he was out hunting. He has been quietly keeping an eye on her ever since, bringing her gifts and hiding her cave and posting his animal friends to keep watch over her so she doesn't get eaten by monsters.
A slight smile curls the corner of Damien's mouth, "Well that's damned uncanny. The one you're sweet on lives out in Eralion's wood, no? Though the way I've heard it, she lives in a cave. No quaint cottage for the two of you then?"
He frowns, "How long since you last paid the little lady a visit?"
Herl's eyes are downcast. It seems Damien's question cut to the heart of something he was feeling guilty about.
"I admit, it has been too long. I had to go on a hunt... to slay an owl-bear, and make the wood safer. Plus I have been keeping an eye on the old Keep. Something strange is afoot there. But today I will go see my love, or at least leave these flowers for her. My forest friends have been keeping her safe. How did you come to hear of Gethrame's cave, I wonder?"
Deep Gnome Rog3/Wiz1 | Init +5| Hits 14/26 | AC22, tch18, fft15 | SR 15 | F +4, R +9, W +5 | darkvision 120ft, low-light vision, Perception +15/+16
The deep gnome stares down at the ground as the mage trader reels off a list of minor magical items. This helps to hide his inner glee at the moment, although as the one he wants most of all do not appear to be available it is tinged with disappointment.
Jerrid replies after they discuss the various merits, durations, power and use of each one. He also calculates what he can afford.
"I will buy 2 Rainbow Fan's, 1 vial of Thyr's holy protection, a scroll of Mithran's Hidden Egress Unveiled, 2 copies of Saturnar's Winged Feet and a minor healing scroll too. That should be two hundred gold. By the way I am Jerrid Kinslarn and if they work well I shall be back for more."
That's 2 scrolls of color spray (50gp), 1 potion of prot vs evil (50gp), 1 scroll of detect secret doors (25gp), 2 scrolls of expeditious retreat (50gp) and 1 scroll of cure light wounds (25gp).
Then Jerrid collects some other minor bits and pieces.
Male Half-Elf Arcane Duelist 4 | HP 8 / 34 | AC 17; T 13; FF 15 | CMD 20 | F +3; R +7; W +6 | Init +2 | Per +8
Damien lets out a breath, "Heard a few rumors here and there. Afraid I might have some bad news for you. Afraid your crush might have run afoul of a witch's coven...took her special walking stick if you catch my meaning? We're heading out that way ourselves, hoped you could give us some information. Or even come with if you're already headed that way?"
Noted Jerrid. I'll be updating everyone's purchases on the sheet as soon as I hear from the last holdouts. Do it all in one sweep.
Herl's face goes pale. "A witches coven. Don't tell me... Ratlings? sigh. Those vermin from the Stirgewood have been looking for my Gethrame for a long time. What business do you have with my Gethrame? If she has no sight I must get to her at once. I can show you the way if you promise you mean her no harm."
Male Half-Elf Arcane Duelist 4 | HP 8 / 34 | AC 17; T 13; FF 15 | CMD 20 | F +3; R +7; W +6 | Init +2 | Per +8
Damien shrugs, "I can pretty confidently say none of our number harbors the little old lady any ill will. Our interest is twofold. First, we ran also ran across the flea ridden coven ourselves, only they got the short end of the stick in that meeting. I for one would love to finish what we started."
"Secondly, we heard about your little lady's staff. Since we've vested interest in dealing with...whatever's going on in Eralion's tower, we couldn't help but think "seeing the unseen" would help us navigate whatever magic is still floating around in there."
He stands up straighter, looking Herl in the eye, "Make you a deal, Herl. We help you recover your aging love's staff in exchange for a loan? Sound fair to you?"
Herl nods. "Aye. It sounds fair enough, as long as I can trust you. But it seems as if what you really need is Gethrame's mirror. That was the thing that got her into trouble with Shandril. The staff only lets her see, as you and I see. It was the mirror that allowed her to peer into remote places. Thus the curse of blindness she was inflicted with. Let's just say Shandril likes her privacy...
There's only one problem... I don't know if Gethrame has her mirror with her in the cave. She may not have brought it with her when she left Eralion's keep. She was living there with him for a time you know, after Shandril cursed her. If she does have it, she won't be able to gaze into it without her staff because, well, she's blind. But maybe she will let one of you gaze into it. If you have eyes to see, that is.
I am keen to learn what is happening in that old keep myself. I saw an unclean symbol flown on a flag from the chapel there. Bandits in the keep are one thing, but an evil cult is something else altogether. I can't rest easy with such activity so near to my village, not to mention my Gethrame in her cave."
Herl seems as though he only has a rough idea of how these magic items work. What he really cares about is Gethrame and her happiness.
In the brightening dawn, Kevezyat is found acquainting herself with her new sword, moving through a series of of patterns, back and forth across the Inn's courtyard.
Finally satisfied, she joins the others at breakfast.
She nods at Damien's assessment, "It is likely that they know we're coming and are prepared. Visiting the witch may be the key to surviving ."
As Kevezyat rehearses with the blade, she feels a powerful vision of a Valkerie come over her.
Kevezyat intuitively knows the below spoilered information about the blade.
Valkyria:
Aura strong abjuration (good); CL 20th Slot none; Weight 15 lbs.
DESCRIPTION
This +1 greatsword appears to be little more than a ceremonial sword or possibly a druidic weapon of some type. Its handle of horn makes it appear unsuitable for true combat, and it is encased in a rustic, unadorned reinforced leather scabbard. However, once the blade is drawn, it is clear that this sword is of exquisite workmanship. The length of the blade is traced with finely etched runes of an unknown design. There is an ethereal quality to the sword that those looking at it cannot comprehend. Once gripped, the horn handle fits the wielder’s hand better than any weapon ever held, and the blade glows with a warm, low light in the presence of any priestess of Freya or in any area holy to Freya. The horn handle was crafted from a stag sacred to the goddess and sacrificed to her.
This sword was, in fact, crafted on another plane and used at one time by one of Freya’s Valkyries. When fully reactivated, the sword is in fact +3 great sword with additional enchantments, but the means of reactivating it have been lost to time.
Male Half-Elf Arcane Duelist 4 | HP 8 / 34 | AC 17; T 13; FF 15 | CMD 20 | F +3; R +7; W +6 | Init +2 | Per +8
Damien shrugs, "You can trust us so far as we've no reason to lie. Kevezyat's a paladin proper if that helps? Though I doubt you hold much warmth for Freya's chosen given Shandril's actions. Cursed forever just for taking a peak? Must have caught her clad in naught but her faith..."
"So you say the staff's fairly mundane, for a magical artifact at least. So tell me, why would the rat witches want it in the first place? Sounds like if they were to steal anything it'd be this damn mirror, no?"
Edit : There you are Janna, I was starting to wonder where our fearless leader had gotten off to :P
Herl smiles. "Yes, I suppose a staff that gives sight to the blind is nothing too earth shattering. But it was made by Eralion, so that really means something to some folks. Seems some years back there was a big rush to collect them all. I'm not really sure why. Well, if it's the keep you're interested in and you mean Gethrame no harm, I'd be happy to take you to meet her first. But I'm going today. No time to run off all the way to the stirgewood to find that coven of ratlings, even if they do have her staff. I need to see that she's safe, right away, what with evil cultists raising some demonic flag at the keep nearby her cave. If I know her, she probably got to wailing at the top of her lungs when she found her staff was missing. We better hope she hasn't been heard yet, by anything my animal friends couldn't handle."
Male Half-Elf Arcane Duelist 4 | HP 8 / 34 | AC 17; T 13; FF 15 | CMD 20 | F +3; R +7; W +6 | Init +2 | Per +8
Damien nods, "Aye, the rats can wait. Sounds like the staff isn't all we hoped. The keep's our main concern for now. We're ready to head out when you are."
Herl is quiet on the march to Gethrame's cave. It is about twelve miles all told, but the going gets tougher and tougher. The route starts out the same way Lannet led you when you first left Fairhill for the Stirgewood, but after the ford where you battled Vorgya and her agents, Herl veers north on Eralion's old trail, which is unkept and dense with underbrush. Herl looks at you meaningfully as you pass the day old corpses littering the field. His expression suggests he is impressed.
Before reaching the keep, Herl turns off onto a game trail, and from there into a thicket so dense you can hardly believe he has any idea where he is taking you.
The huntsman's agitation seems to grow as the day winds on, and he frequently forges ahead and waits somewhere for you to catch up after he holds congress with the forest creatures. Finally he apologizes and says he cannot abide by the slow pace of your company, and presses on ahead, leaving a trail of sunflower seeds for you to follow.
Finally you step into a clearing, and hear the wails of an elderly woman coming from an otherwise nearly undetectable cave mouth.
Deep Gnome Rog3/Wiz1 | Init +5| Hits 14/26 | AC22, tch18, fft15 | SR 15 | F +4, R +9, W +5 | darkvision 120ft, low-light vision, Perception +15/+16
The deep gnome listens to the news about Shandril, frowning, [b]"if the priestess did this ten years ago, maybe she will lift it now. Blindness can be removed? And maybe there was a pack of deep gnomes casting blindness back then hence the staff."
Jerrid says his goodbyes to his friend, Astor, before travelling on to Gethrame.
Herl didn't have much to say at Leoven's question... Only that Gethrame was the jealous sort, and very possessive of Eralion. Eralion said something nice about Shandril one day, and Gethrame was jealous. She cooked up an idea in her head that Shandril was using magic to make Eralion fall for her. She spied on Shandril trying to catch her doing a love spell.
Sense Motive DC 14:
Herl seems like he doesn't have anything to hide, he just doesn't want to talk more about the past. He doesn't want to make these people he cares about all seem like lunatics.
Herl seems embarrassed that all his stories make his friends seem like crazy people. He keeps saying things like "Shandril is wonderful, she is just a little over-zealous sometimes." and "Gethrame can't help being jealous, she is just a very passionate person."
As the party fans out in the clearing, and Damien advances to peer into the cave, Herl steps out from the woods. It seems he was waiting for the party to catch up before going inside. You are starting to get the feeling he just comes here to make sure Gethrame is safe, but it doesn't seem like he actually tells her he has come. He is holding his flower bouquet in his hand and looking nervous about approaching the cave.
current battle map | Female Sylph Sorcerer 4 | HP 10 / 18 | Init +2; Senses darkvision 60 ft.; Perception +1 | AC 12, Tch 12, FF10 | Ft +1, R +3, W +4
Janna seems confident that she can probably convince Shandril to lift the curse. When this is over, I will talk to Shandril, I am sure I can find a way to convince her to restore Gethrame's eyesight.
----------
sense what?:1d20 ⇒ 17
Janna follows Damien's tactical advice, whispering to him before she fans out, I don't know why, but I have a bad feeling about this. I hope I am wrong
At some point, Kevezyat stopped to pick up 20 arrows and 10 thistle arrows. Also, good job Damien keeping things progressing :)
Kevezyat joins the others as they leave town with Herl, keeping mainly quiet as Damien successfully befriends the ranger.
Sense Motive:1d20 + 4 ⇒ (18) + 4 = 22
Kevezyat arrives at Herl's side and murmurs "You need not explain, those we love are often imperfect; that is why we love them."
As the scream rings out from the cave, Kevezyat nods at Damien's suggestion, ranging far to the left side, approaching the cave mouth ,crouched, but weapons sheathed for now.
She stops and looks back at Herl, motioning him to advance.
Male Half-Elf Arcane Duelist 4 | HP 8 / 34 | AC 17; T 13; FF 15 | CMD 20 | F +3; R +7; W +6 | Init +2 | Per +8
Gotta keep pushing onward, that's the key to pbp :D
Damien seems to relax somewhat as the mirror hurtles out of the cave. Picking the mirror up from the bush, Damien walks back to Herl, his voice low, a slightly amused look on his face, "Little more of a distant admirer then? Well that's your business..."
He looks at the mirror in his hand, "This the mirror you were talking about? Any idea how to work it?"
Male Half-Elf Arcane Duelist 4 | HP 8 / 34 | AC 17; T 13; FF 15 | CMD 20 | F +3; R +7; W +6 | Init +2 | Per +8
"Well, your sweetheart seems to be no real worse for wear after her run in with the rats. I imagine you'll be staying nearby to make sure it stays that way? Or are you up to showing us to the keep?"
When there's a spare moment, he puts his head together with Janna over the mirror, "So what do you think?"
Deep Gnome Rog3/Wiz1 | Init +5| Hits 14/26 | AC22, tch18, fft15 | SR 15 | F +4, R +9, W +5 | darkvision 120ft, low-light vision, Perception +15/+16
The deep gnome takes a hand in trying to decipher the divination mirror with its eyes and mouths carved in places. He hands it on for Janna to have a go too.
spellcraft:1d20 + 5 ⇒ (15) + 5 = 20
"Not sure about this, I'm a scout not a spy, but this feels very useful."
current battle map | Female Sylph Sorcerer 4 | HP 10 / 18 | Init +2; Senses darkvision 60 ft.; Perception +1 | AC 12, Tch 12, FF10 | Ft +1, R +3, W +4
Janna barely got the chance to look at the mirror when Leo, gave the run down, all Janna could do was, what he said
let me see if I got this straight, we had to get a staff from a witch that lived in a cave near the keep, but the witch really might not be a witch and the staff is not with the"witch that was supposed to have it, instead it was taken by witches or ratlings that are witches, and there is no blind witch with a staff. and who wants this staff again? can that person be trusted? where did this info come from again?
Deep Gnome Rog3/Wiz1 | Init +5| Hits 14/26 | AC22, tch18, fft15 | SR 15 | F +4, R +9, W +5 | darkvision 120ft, low-light vision, Perception +15/+16
The info came from an halforc apothecary in that bastion of good called Crimmor. Not sure two potions was a good deal now. On the upside that mirror will be useful, Shandril may be willing to remove the blindness for her bowl and the ratkin etc probably deserve to die. Its a fairy tale ending.
Jerrid watches Leo to see how well it works and better understand how to use the scrying mirror.
Herl considers. "Something unholy has taken up residence in the keep, that is certain.. I saw a hulking robed humanoid with great bat wings in the mist on one of the curtain walls. The next time I scouted the keep, that unholy flag was flown. I had best stay here and keep an eye on the cave. I don't want to trouble Gethrame with any of this until I can tell her good news about her staff."
Herl gestures back the way you came. "That overgrown road we left a couple miles back when we switched to the game trail... that was Eralion's drive. Double back to that drive and continue the way we were going... it will take you right to the keep. Be warned. There have been bandits occupying the keep for some time. They have never troubled Fairhill, or even the main Tradeway. They only plague merchants who take a shortcut on the old road to visit Crimmor for wagon wheel repairs. I have never seen fit to challenge the presence of these bandits. Folk in Fairhill do not even know they are there, and seasoned merchants regard them as little more than a tax for using the back road. I suspect those who use that road are looking to avoid the marshals from Reme who police the main tradeway, which makes me wonder what they have to hide. Therefore, when it comes to these bandits I prefer to let sleeping dogs lie. Just be aware that they are there. I don't know what dealings they may have had with the new denizens of the keep who raised that unholy flag."
The way back to Eralion's drive by the game trail is easy enough to follow as it is still littered with sunflower seeds. Soon the party is on it's way to the Keep.
It is late afternoon when the squat fort when the overgrown drive widens and the fort comes into sight, unholy banner of Orcus flying from the chapel of Thyr.
