"You'll be happy to learn that we've begun to restore the farm fields, among other things, such as our mill, our markets and other civic improvements. We've also allocated some money in rebuilding Gold Canyon Bridge and in draining the swamps by restoring the pumphouse, but we have yet to investigate the structure to see what's broken. Perhaps once that's done, we can further enhance the farms and focus some of our efforts in restoring the vineyards... we'll need to generate some income first, however, so that may take a while... in the end, though, the result should be that Stachys will join the other baronies as a net exporter of goods for the County, and the use of the rebuilt canals should greatly help in this regard. Say, aren't Voinaris and Stachys essentially connected by the Stachys Spur of the Canal? Perhaps our two baronies can do direct trade between each other, in a partnership of sorts? I'm not a legal expert, but if I use an input or ingredient into the making of something, then perhaps only an accounting of the profit of said thing I made the only fiscally relevant item in regards to County tax collection. This practice of using local resources first before importing out-of-County goods seems both efficient and extremely beneficial in growing our local production capacity."
The Baroness is visibly surprised by what Toby describes but she manages to maintain an air of confidence and just listens. She offers a small smile as Valeria details things and then finally notes "Well it appears you have been very busy in the week since the Jubilee and aside from the aid you've provided in Moost it appears you are well on your way to returning Stachys to its former glory so I appluad you for your work. As for trade, of course, as I noted before I am even happy to help in your efforts to rebuild once you get the vineyards restored so we can begin trading your grapes and I can start making more delicious wine." She raises her glass of wine with a smile as she finishes.
Valeria raises her glass in response. "Splendid! we shall not impose on you further then, and will make our way back home promptly to get the vineyards in order! I believe we will be staying in Lotheedar tonight as Toby has business to conduct with the armorsmith there."
Sveng follows along politely and gives appropriate social cues to show his attentiveness, but adds little to the conversation.
"We are obliged for your hospitality and companionship...until we meet again"
You finish up your lunch with the Baroness continuing in idle chit-chat until you all return to your coach and continue on your way. The trip is a bit better this time around, just in the fact that you had a good meal and some wine to distract you from the long travel on the road. Eventually you reach Lotheeder again.
Resist Energy
Scroll of Conjure Carriage
Wand of Stone Shield
Remove Fear
Apprentice’s cheating gloves
Bull's Strength
Cure Light Wounds
+1 Tepoztopilli
Ring of feather falling
Barkskin +3
+1 Cruel Planson
Scroll of Comprehend Languages
Cure Moderate Wounds
Searching through the various other available items in town the group finds the following for sale:
Potion of Resist Energy
Scroll of Conjure Carriage
Wand of Stone Shield
Potion of Remove Fear
Apprentice’s cheating gloves
Potion of Bull's Strength
Potion of Cure Light Wounds
+1 Tepoztopilli
Ring of feather falling
Potion of Barkskin +3
+1 Cruel Planson
Scroll of Comprehend Languages
Potion of Cure Moderate Wounds
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
After Toby gets his armor and a couple potions and everyone else has a chance to stretch their legs, you climb back into the carriage for the last leg of the trip back home. You reach the estate late in the evening after your many stops along the way and turn in, knowing you have a busy day ahead. The next morning on your way to the pump house, you are happy to see that the people are already starting to make use of your market and work as begun on basic civic improvements around town.
Heading out of town toward the pump house you climb a hill and take note that marshland and shallow, stagnant ponds surround the pump house for miles in every direction, ringed with festering carcasses of livestock that wandered off only to become stuck and drown. It will take a majority of the day just to traverse the rough terrain by foot as mounts are unsuitable for the terrain here.
Valeria investigates if they can borrow a swamp barge or boat from someone. Swimming in a swamp is not how she envisioned the day.
Locals have a few flat-bottomed, 10-foot-by-15-foot barges they use to travel or fish and Valeria finds a particularly friendly old man who is willing to loan her one, especially after hearing they plan to go to the pump house and deal with whatever monsters lurk there.
With the loaned boat it takes nearly a quarter of the time it would have otherwise to traverse the marshland toward the pump house. A sturdy stone building straddles the berm separating an algae-cloaked marsh from the stagnant canal waters. A long sluice looks as though it might have once accommodated a mill, while a stone walkway wraps around the southern portion of the building. Moss almost completely obscures the slate roof and any doors appear to have long rotted away.
You pull the barge up to a strip of wetland that sits above the 4ft deep waters on the southern side of the building.
Piri surveys the area from a engineering standpoint to see if he can determine and pinpoint the mechanical/engineering cause of the problem.
Sveng was definitely out of his element here. An engineering problem is the middle of a natural hazard that is causing cattle problems. A trifecta out of his skill set. "Piri, I believe you should lead us on this expedition, tell us how we can best make repairs."
As you dock the barge and step out onto the mucky wetlands, Piri gives the building a cursory look from afar. It's hard to tell exactly what the issue is, but Piri can see that the built up canal that runs east to west from the pump house appears mostly dry. It's obvious the place hasn't been used for a long, long time and whatever is wrong with the mechanisms inside, it is obvious that until those are repaired and the canal's filled again the surrounding land will remain flooded and covered in marsh.
As Piri looks on from the outside, everyone except Eregos sees something swimming quickly toward the boat getting ready to burst out and surprise you all. It looks like a three-legged freak that is mostly mouth. Three tentacles, two tipped with barbs and one with eyes, extend from its sides.
"Ready to strike when the creature breaches!" announces Valeria in a militaristic manner, while reloading her crossbow.
Via message: "...an otyugh... a.k.a. garbage monster... yuck...they tend to grab hold of their victims with their tentacles and try to eat them while crushing the life out of them...their bites carry disease...it may look stupid but this thing can understand Taldane believe it or not!..."
Sveng has never heard of such a creature, but Val advised while it may be stupid it was smart enough to understand their tongue.
"Aemfois kshab." Sveng utters, his eyes going black as he makes a careful gesturing motion. "Another creature to put on our wall, prepare for slaughter!" He cries menacingly.
Eregos drew out his falcata and positioned himself where Valeria pointed, preparing to attack when the...otyugh?...did.
|
Toby sighs sadly and talks to his horse, who isn't there. "Hayseed, you always miss the fun fights. But, you have never been much of a boat person."
Toby concentrates on the sword and gives some of its enchantment to his armor, and then he steps toward the back of the boat, drawing his sword, and leaning over swings his weapon into the beast!
"When are you going to relent and re-train yourself as a horseless cavalier? I mean, you can still own a horse, but one that doesn't require the high maintenance of hayseed... ha ha ha!"
Piri let's fly an arrow with his frost bow
While Valeria begins her inspiring song she relates what she knows about the creature to the others and begins to load her crossbow. Sveng casts a spell at the thing, but it seems to shrug off the effects.
Eregos pulls his blade ready to fight if the creature gets within range, Toby however, doesn't wait and goes straight to attack slicing into the beast and drawings its ire. Piri looses an arrow, doing just as much damage with a well placed shot.
Pretty injured it slides to the south a bit as it opens its mouth wide and vomits forth a horrid shower of rotting meat and bones that washes over all but Sveng.
"...DISGUSTING!...humppph......keep on fighting stalwart men...hummmphhhhhhh!...."
Valeria manages to keep inspiring the group while losing her lunch completely.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Eregos unfortunately, was in no condition to continue fighting on, depsite Valeria's inspiration, as he joined her in throwing up over the side of the boat.
"By the gods...HOOUEEHH...the smell...BLARCH..."
Piri is sighting down his arrow, when the disgusting vomit spews forth. He takes another 5' step back from the beast.
Having only felt mild affects, using his knowledge and logic to combat the nausea, He lets his arrow fly.
Piri manages to avoid the worst of the vomit but puts an arrow in the creatures brain as it splashes down into the water dead, slowly sinking into the murk.
With the thing dead everyone gets off the disgusting smelling, vomit covered boat to let it air out. Eventually, Eregos and Valeria get most of the gunk off of them and start feeling better.
The pump house waits, quietly ahead.
Valeria approaches the stairs quietly and carefully listens for intruders. She inspects the stairs for any traps...
Piri quietly performs his usual operations as he approaches the pump house.
Sveng also moves forward with a wary eye.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Piri moves up to the pump house stairs and with his keen eyes spots the glint of something shiny in a small nook underneath. Getting a closer look it appears to be a hoard of some kind which includes 17 pp, 33 gp, an engraved silver compact (worth 250 gp), a platinum-and-diamond necklace (worth 850 gp), a masterwork trident, a +1 arrow-catching buckler, a ring of jumping, two oils of obscure object, and a wand of protection from evil (5 charges).