Everyone notices that Grace is even quieter than usual, and is more vicious in her attacks when she does her "practice" ritual. When asked questions, she is even more terse than usual in her answers.
Everyone notices that Grace is even quieter than usual, and is more vicious in her attacks when she does her "practice" ritual. When asked questions, she is even more terse than usual in her answers.
Wolfram resumes his responsibilities in Saltmarsh: providing comfort to widows and the sick, counsel to those seeking direction, administering services at Temple, and settling his debt to the local tavern proprietors with his modest cut of the loot. He gives each a small advance and reinvests the remainder to repair a leaking section of the Temple roof.
In one week's time he reconvenes with the group of adventurers to return to the previously haunted mansion.
"Hello, Father Wolfram. How have you been," Allysen asks as she and Katherine arrive.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
During the week between selling the loot and going back to the mansion to meet the smugglers, Grace would like to find out who to talk to to find out how much it would cost to buy the mansion from whoever owns it. And find some workmen to give us estimates on how much it would cost to renovate it.
Lord Belros takes up the offer of the farthest away lodge.
"I shall return in some days. I require some time to ponder."
He treks through the woods, a desire growing to centre himself.
Even though his family line has drifted from the pure adherance to the forest as other elves, Belros still feels the need to bask in forest air and shade from time to time. This is most certainly one of those times, after a harrowing trek underground then deadly combat in the mansion.
He returns, refreshed and invigorated. He sees Grace attacking the air fiercely.
"Grace, your commitment to training is commendable but you put great anger into those strikes. Is something amiss? Do you wish a sparring partner?"
****************************
"I would pay the coin from our coffers, aye."
BrOp - if I may make a suggestion, insert a new line in the spreadsheet at the very top, that sums up all the values beneath it (like "sum(b2:b100)") so we can see the running total and figure what our cut is.
"I'm okay with paying for it, though we might want to see if the baron has anything we could take care of for him at some point."
Your travel back to the "haunted" house goes off without a hitch and amazingly no one has touched the smuggler's items you left there. The horse and wagon present more of a problem, however, as the house's garden is so overgrown that the wagon simply can't be brought close to it. You may have to leave it outside the front gates and hand carry everything to it, a distance of about 50 feet. The other option would be to return to the village and hire some farmers with tools or buy/rent the tools and do it yourself.
Grace stops, and looks at Belros, frowning. Then she says "Lord Belros, I would always appreciate a sparring partner, but it is this damned mansion that everyone wants to buy that is bothering me. It brings up...bad memories."
Belros carefully draws his own sword and shield.
"It could be a useful retreat and not reliant on the town. It would be a pleasant change to own property again, on my part. Any memory you wish to discuss?"
Grace hesitates, then looks around to make sure no one else is near. The she says "My parents were well-off enough that we lived in a house that they owned. One night a fire broke out, and altho I got out, both my parents died that night. I found out later that the fire was started by a business rival of my father's, and while I have extracted revenge on him," her grim look leaving no doubt as to what the nature of that revenge was, "I vowed from that day on that I would never own a house, or stay in any one place very long."
| 2 people marked this as a favorite. |
Isagoras targets some of the local flora with destructive magical energies, causing some of the small bushes and trees to go up in octarine flames, but only minimally helping to clear the undergrowth that has been at work here for decades.
"Better luck next time, Isagoras," Allysen says before starting to move stuff to the wagon.
"Aye. It was worth a chance.", Belros adds as he assists.
Katherine begins loading the smaller and lighter loot.
Grace helps with moving the goods from the mansion to the cart.
You move into the basement, descending down the hidden spiral staircase from the foyer.
Allysen holds up a finger for silence as she hears something echoing in the tunnels.
Some time ago
Grace hesitates, then looks around to make sure no one else is near. The she says "My parents were well-off enough that we lived in a house that they owned. One night a fire broke out, and altho I got out, both my parents died that night. I found out later that the fire was started by a business rival of my father's, and while I have extracted revenge on him," her grim look leaving no doubt as to what the nature of that revenge was, "I vowed from that day on that I would never own a house, or stay in any one place very long."
Belros nods, a grimmer contenance upon his face.
"That is understandable. My own family holdings were devastated. There is nothing to return to. I found Pelor and He showed me a path that relies much less on material attachements. That said, a base of operations has great merit."
***************************
Belros immediately stops, carefully placing down what he was carrying, then slowly drawing his sword and shield.
Listening closer, it sounds like someone trying to drag something heavy that along the floor of the cave below.
"Someone is dragging a heavy object along the cave floor below. Smugglers perhaps."
"Then let's go say hi," Allysen quips before slinking off into the shadows.
13 total, succeded with a raise
As soon as she hears the sounds, Katherine drops whatever she is carrying and attempts to meld into the shadows (unsucessfully).
Grace immediately follows Allysen :
She's not as ninja-stealthy as Allysen, but does manage to not make any significant noise.
The smaller group that moves ahead to the bottom of the stairs find that only one torch remains lit in the sconces of what used to be the smuggler barracks. Hiding in the shadows they observe a familiar-looking figure trying his best to drag a very heavy box along the floor toward the room's southern exit; it is the thief Ned whom you rescued earlier. He seems unaware of your presence.
Staying in the shadows and disguising her voice, Grace says "Ned, what did we tell you we'd do to you if we ever saw you in here again?" and waits for his response (verbal and non-verbal).
Ned is in the middle of pulling the chest and has his back to his observers when he hears MwG's voice. He suddenly goes rigid and slowly begins lifting his arms in a gesture of surrender. Still with his back to you he mutters: "You said you'd split the take of this place with me?"
Allysen shakes her head and groans. She really hoped the others weren't about to make good on their promise from last time.
"Ned, why?"
With a group securing down below, Belros remains on the surface, wary of ambush.
Miles away, in the Temple, Wolfram is roused from prayer by a strange sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach, as if an important opportunity to learn something just got missed. Perhaps there is still a chance. He shakes his head to clear the agitation, then gets on with his day.
|
"I vote for letting the poor fellow go. But with the warning that if we *ever* see him again, for *any* reason, we will kill him."
"That is not correct," Isagoras tones dour-fully as he steps forward.
"If none of you have the stomach, I will carry it out," he says.
There's no need to put a fine point on it. They know what is...necessary.
Hearing Isagoras' words, Ned turns around and throws himself on the ground, wailing and crying.
"Please have mercy, Masters, pleeaaaase! I've got a wife and two children, I do, please don't kill me or my wife will be furious. Waaahh!!!"
Katherine, despite not knowing the man or being aware of past events, senses what is about to happen. She starts to protest but bites her lip so hard that she draws blood. Protestations will fall upon deaf ears, she suspects. Instead, she grabs Allysen's hand and ushers her from the room.
Belros, having caught wind of the conversation, advances down the stairs, in time to hear Ned's protests. He recalls his prior sense of the man, hiding his allegiances.
Allysen follows Katherine and once the are alone, she curls up on the floor and pulls Katherine into a tight hug.
"Th-they're gonna kill 'im. They're gonna kill 'im and there's not a thing I can do," she whimpers as tears fall into the ha'folk's hair.