"Wouldn't it be better if Ghadmyr just led them to the bullette. I mean, it's pretty big."
"Don't want them closer is why."
The group manage to move the bulette an inch or two. The crocodiles keep their distance for now.
The crocodiles make their way to the bulette, and make their peculiar hiss/roar at the adventurers. They go for the softer underbelly and behind its crest.
Ynyr puffs as he helps haul the boar's body away from the crocodiles.
"Well now, perhaps we can be taking the head, can we not? As that would be very proof-ful I am thinking. And I can explore the laboratory and see if I can concoct something to make sure it keeps, maybe. Because it might not be very pleasant to be traveling with such a thing."
Hoping he can put his alchemical skills to use, Ynyr looks around the laboratory.
Ynyr is delighted.
"I do think I can preserve enough of the body now so that we can carry it back, do you know."
He potters happily about the laboratory making the necessary preparations.
Ynyr busies himself with finding the reagents, and also comes across a volume that would appear to be a journal or diary.
He takes a quick look at the book, gleaning what he can from it.
While Ynyr fossicks around, Healaugh goes in search of Yarra.
Healaugh finds the girl who seems much more willing to accompany you now that she has seen and heard your prowess in battle.
Ynyr will ask Macmorr and Ddraig to cut off the head and cast Gentle Repose on it prior to heading back to Ri Conn.
"No problem."
Macmorr flexes his muscles and draws his axe.
The grim business is over relatively quickly, and the voluble tinkerer intones some words of rest over the head.
Healaugh takes the simplest route and asks Yarra if there's anything interesting she thinks the group should know about.
"Seemingly been bad doings here. Now, is owt else we need to be checking, now our Ynyr's got head preserved?"
Yara says, "Oh, you got his diary, always writing something or other in there. Never let me look."
"Reet."
Healaugh nudges Ynyr, "Loan us book, Ynyr lad."
He reads it.
The book makes for rather horrid reading for a kind soul like the halfling. It details a number of evil experiments undertaken by Shivnar; it seems he was intent on developing a creature that could be used as weapon of war, as the last page states:
"... With the proper incantations and suitable adjustments made to the physical characteristics of the creature, I have found it necessary to seal it in the strongroom while the process of growth continues in its venom glands. This will be a breakthrough of godlike proportions! Though Lugh himself tried, he'd fail to harm me with this beast unleashed."
"Don't like sound of that."
Healaugh shows the book to the others.
"Happen thing he's talking about were bulette, and happen t'weren't. Best take a look, like."
"Yup."
"If this sorcerer has left anything else to defile these woods, we ought to root them out. We should have a look around."
Healaugh asks Yara if the place they just fought the bulette was the strongroom.
"Dost know if place we fought gurt scaly brute were strongroom, lass? Can't rightly tell if yon Shinvar had owt else hidden, see and don't want to be leaving any nasty surprises behind us, like."
Then he considers where the group have explored and suggests investigating the other side of building 36 (i.e. the bit with the semi-circle attached).
"You guys sure do talk weird." she says, patting Healaugh on the head, without really listening, "What's he talking about?"
She adds to the halfling, "Shivnar, honey, Shivnar." and pats his cheek
"Shivnar, then. Have it own way. Not sure what tha saw in him. Tha seems like a nice lass to me. Be better off out of here." Healaugh coughs a bit. "Be pleased to escort tha, like."
"Where else did Shivnar spend a lot of time?"
Yara makes a filthy joke about where he spent quite a bit of time, but he did work in the lab and the strongroom.
She informs you that there is a stable block to the north of the main building.
Ynyr blushes and joins the dots.
"Well now, I am of the opinion that the room with the mysterious alarm was the strongroom and the monster your master was creating is now provining the reptilians with lunch and we have discovered the lab as well so, I would say that our work here is almost complete."
"What did he keep in the stable?"
"Er... horses... What did you expect? Dunno if they're still there though. You sure it's safe to go out now?"
"Happen they're still there and reet useful that would an all. Aye lass, reckon it's safe enough."
Healaugh heads for the stables to hunt for any remaining horses.
The halfling makes his way north to the stables. Once there he can see that the outer door of the stable block has been kicked down. There is also a shed to the east of the stable block.
Hopeful rummaging ensues.
Ghadmyr aids in the search.
The bard and the druid open the doors to the shed, and find a beautiful gold chariot. Too fancy for war, but fine for travelling in style.