|
Light Condition: Dim Light
Active Buffs: None
Active Penalties: None
Red Goblin(-7,Dead)
Orange Goblin(-13,Dead)
Birseko Naam(-0,Fine)
Dawn Verda(-0,Fine)
Lujuria(-0,Fine)
Green Goblin Rider(-0,Fine)
Blue Goblin(-8,Dead)
Yellow Goblin(-12,Dead)
Gorrig(-0,Fine)
Lucky Lee(-3,Fine)
The Goblin Rider, now free of the spell, draws its dogslicer and attacks Dawn! The weapon swing flies wide, however.
Everyone, but Luckly Lee, misses the goblin. His hammer smashes its skull inwards and burns the brains.
|
|
The Pathfinders collide their weapons and magic against the goblin, and it falls limp off the dog it rides!
The Goblin dog, having no chance against these powerful monsters, flees from the site!
The Axebeak manages to break free from the Tanglefoot bag that held it in place, and also flees into the woods.
Lying on the ground where the goblin rider fell likes a wooden rod with intricate design, and carved into its hilt is words written in a strange language.
Only those who can command the lesser power of this rod can be trusted with True power.
|
|
Birseko is able to read the rod.
The team takes its time to travel back out of the forest. With only 1 day lost, you manage to meet back up with the Caravan and start making steady progress back to The Short Sorcerer Tavern and the venture captain.
***************************************************
Or rather, return to find he has gone off somewhere. Brackett left a letter for you all as to what to do next.
Pathfinders,
According to the Irricas’ will, the locket containing a portion of the true name was willed to a distant cousin, a woman named Delara Adnen. She is a retired Druman Blackjacket mercenary who lives in the town of Valten. Travel there and meet with her to either obtain or look at the locket. Please refrain from more questionable means of doing so—the last thing the Pathfinders need is to annoy one so well-connected.
Per the family lineage described in the will, there is one Irrica whose fate is unaccounted for; I shall be looking into this.
Venture-Captain Brackett
|
|
The trip to Valten is without incident. A small town but bustling with activity. Within short order the party manages to find Delara's estate, past the houses and shops clustered at the town's center. A large mansion sits on a hill overlooking the river, with a wrought-iron fence encircling the beautifully maintained grounds of the estate.
The butler at the entrance greets you as you come up, his droll voice sounding almost bored with your approach.
"Mmmmyes, welcome to the estate of Delara Adnen. What is it I can do for you on this fine chipper day?" His words seem to carry longer than what would be expected.
|
|
Lujuria steps closer to the butler, a smile playing across her face. "What can you do for us? That's a loaded question. I can think of a great many things. Unfortunately, our time is short and we only have time for one or two of them." She sounds almost disappointed at the end, but then adds, "We would very much like to speak with Lady Adnen, if you please. You may tell her that we are Pathfinders on a very important mission."
|
|
He still keeps a droll expression.
"Mmmmyes I see. I shall inform the lady for you. Please wait here and enjoy the view of the garden from outside until I return."
He goes away for a few minutes, and then returns.
"Lady Delara will see you now."
He escorts you all inside the manor. Inside an elegantly decorated parlor resides a muscular middle-aged woman with scars showing battles long past. She regards you thoughtfully.
"Good day. I am Delara Adnen. My butler informs me you all wish to see me, though he neglected to give your names. Have a seat, and we can discuss your business.”
She rings a small silver bell, and a trolley-cart with cake and coffee strolls into the room pushed by a servant wearing black clothes and a white apron. He hands the lady some cake and coffee, then offers it to each of you.
"Business is best conducted on a full stomach, don’t you think?” Delara takes a fork and tears off a piece of the cake, placing it into her mouth.
|
Birseko looks around the manor rather hopefully, as if something about it might perhaps jog his memory. "I beg your pardon, but have we met before? I'm afraid something has happened to my memory and I'm not quite sure what my name is - though if you know me perhaps you can tell me! - but if not, well, I've been going by Birseko until I can remember what my actual name is... So, um, pleased to meet you. Or meet you again. As the case may be...."
|
|
"Sir Lee of Taldor at your service ma'am."
Lucky partakes of the coffee and cake. "Impressive set-up ma'am. I wonder if I might one day be able to retire to something like this. But, yes, business. We're interested in a locket in your possession. You would have inherited it, perhaps unexpectedly? It is of historical interest. Would you consider parting with it?"
|
|
The servant returns with a bowl of fresh fruits that have been chopped to fork bite sizes and serves it to you.
"I am afraid we haven't met before, though I do hope for the best for finding your memories."
"The locket? Why yes, I have inherited one from distant family some time ago. Though I am curious as to why this has historical significance. Perhaps you could share with me?"
|
|
Lujuria strides into the parlor taking in all the lovely decor and furnishings. "This is more to my liking," she says with a smile.
She greets Delara Adnen amicably, gladly taking a seat and the offered goods. "You do have a lovely home here, Lady Delara," she comments lightly. "The significance, actually, has much to do with actions that your distant family has done, especially around the time of the Goblinblood Wars, and making sure that certain knowledge is not left in the hands of those who may use it to do great harm to our world. We feel that this locket may play a key in this."
|
|
She considers that answer for a moment.
"Well, I suppose it is believable. I can let you take a look, certainly. I will expect it back afterwards though."
Upon closer inspection, you see no inscriptions that could possibly be the true name. Looking it over closely though, you do see a secret mechanism on the locket.
|
|
You flick around on the mechanism to try to open it, when a shill scream bursts back out at you and it slams shut. The reflected image of a ghostly young woman appears on the locket.
"Please, do not disturb my locket... It is precious to me, and I would like to keep the memories within to myself.... Who are you, strangers?... Have you come to bring me peace at last?”
Delara seems just as surprised as all of you are, having dropped her slice of cake.
|
|
"The locket contains the remnants of my pain and agony... The portrait of my deceased fiance... The wounds are far too fresh to open the locket... If you wish to free me... Find the engagement ring he gave me... Touch it to the locket... Grant me peace..." The ghost seems to fade away, but you can still feel her presence in the locket.
Delara remains stunned for a moment. "This is... Unexpected. I suppose I should ask you all a favor." She rings another bell and the butler comes in. "Please, fetch the invoice." "At once, madam." The butler then swiftly disappears through the doors behind them.
"The ring was part of an inheritance I received from a recently deceased relative. I just sold it along with several other items to a merchant caravan passing through Valten. The favor I must ask of you is to return to the merchant, with this invoice, and get the ring back. You can catch them if you hurry, they left through the north gate on the main road. Inform them they can deduct the ring's value from my account."
The butler returns with the invoice, and she signs on it quick, then hands it over to you all. "I wouldn't want my ancestors to suffer another moment, but bear a warning. I was told the inheritance has caused misfortune to the last two family members who it passed to. Seeing that the locket is haunted, I suspect that these rumors of a cursed inheritance may be true."
|
|
You are all outside and follow the road to the north. Travelling down the road you do eventually see what must be the merchants. Four wagons are clustered next to the road, pulled off to the side so as not to impede traffic. Next to the wagons, several people mill about chatting, while a few armed guards keep an eye on passing travelers.
One of the younger drivers drove the cart into a rock and caused a wheel to break off, and they are at work repairing it. One of the guards comes up to you.
"Hail! Are you looking to purchase some wares or perhaps trade?"
|
|
Lujuria saunters up to the guard, a seductive smile on her face. "As much as I'm sure we could find something you would find of value, we are here on 'official' business for Lady Delara Adnen." She produces the invoice and adds, "It seems that one of the items she sold you was done by mistake. She merely would like to reclaim the item and have you make the necessary adjustments to her account. Would you be willing to do this for us, please?"