Qu'en succumbs to the paralysis in a fit of defeatedness.
Toti chucks her burning hot dagger deep into the cube, nearly reaching Roondar. The gelatin around it bubbles and sizzles with audio pops driving Leroy to shove his torch deep into the creature and burn a gaping slash. The outside of the creature catches fire and the film holding its shape incinerated and the entire thing collapses in a pile.of caustic goo that rushes along the corridor dumping Roondar unceremoniously on the ground.
8 rounds later when Roondar sits up and starts looking around for some non-dissolved clothes.
Heal thy self...not using magic tattoo...
he asks "Anyone else hurt?"
16/16 hit points.
4-0s/3-1st
3 potions of clw / 1 scroll clw
A search of the items swallowed but not digested by the cube includes the following: a scroll of hold portal in a steel scroll case (worth 50 gp), a masterwork chain shirt, a falchion, a star rose quartz amulet worth 75 gp, and coins totaling 20 gp, 95 sp, and 144 cp.
Once Qu'en is able to move he will let Roondat know he is fairly injured (5/16) if he is willing to spare a heal.
He will then look around the room and see if we have missed anything
You rediscover the secret door and find a short corridor that connects to the room where you found the captured boy. Nothing else of interest.
Leroy wonders aloud if the party should go back to town and track down this Gorewillow fellow.
Roondar says "I agree, lets warn the town, and try to find this guy"
For Qu'en...
16/16 hit points.
4-0s/2-1st
2 potions of clw / 1 scroll clw
[Ooc]Specifically where do you want to go or who do you want to warn?[ooc]
We will head back to town and inform Kurst of all the details we have learned about them names of suspected horcs and the pending attack that could come at any time
The party, depleted of resources, finally emerges from the darkness below the Plague House and treks back, exhausted, to the Longhouse to report their findings on the investigation and the evidence of a pending attack on Trunau using infiltrators of some sort.
You find the pale Patrol Leader, Kurst, writing something at his desk at the Longhouse while other guards and scribes scurry around, conferring with each other and passing documents in both directions.
The haggard man who obviously hasn't gotten a worthwhile rest, bath or likely even a meal since this whole thing went down a couple days ago lifts his head wearily and blinks at you as you run down your findings.
He processes everything for a couple seconds before he asks some questions, "So no indication this Daktani was complicit in the murder of my brother or any good leads on where this Gorewillow character might be. That's a shame. I'll put some militia out this evening on canvas to look for a half-orc of that description or name. After you rest up, perhaps they'll have something for you."
He begins to turn away and then starts, recalling something and looks back at you, wincing slightly, "Can I ask one more favor of you, though? Would you come to my brother's funeral at sunset? It will be at the Flame of the Fallen. I'd like you to discuss what you found with my father. I think it might go a long way to healing the rift that the two of them created."
About an hour until sunset?
"Of course Winter and I will go." He will then find some new clothes, and maybe get a bath. Then they'll head to the Funeral.
"Yes I will be there. I will see you then"
Qu'en will go back to his room and clean up
Leroy goes back to his room to clean up as well. He stops and grabs a roadie to drink in the shower.
The party gets prepared and heads down to the Flames of the Fallen at the proper time. Trunauans are all too familiar with the orc practice of gathering the bones of slain foes and creating grisly monuments out of the remains. To honor the fallen dead and deny their enemies the opportunity to turn them into skeletal mockeries, Trunauans go to great lengths to retrieve the body of any citizen slain in battle. Those recovered are burned in a great pyre along the cliff at the town’s crest, their light and smoke traveling up into the endless freedom of the sky. During times of siege, the beacon is kept burning day and night to hearten the defenders and challenge to the orcs—though some cynics say that it’s kept lit to keep townsfolk from noticing and despairing every time a new corpse is added.
Some people are already gathered when you arrive to include your friend, Constantin, just returned this evening from a caravan escort to Lastwall. In addition to Kurst and his father Jagrin, Brinya and Omast are present, as well as Katrezra. High Priestess Tyari Varvatos officiates the ceremony with some ceremonial words that unfortunately she seems to have practiced often and committed to memory easily. She first consecrates the Flame of the Fallen with sacred herbs and then turns to the assembled family and asks for the fallen patrol leader's hope knife. Kurst pulls out an obviously recently forged replacement and begins to give it to the priestess.
She takes the knife and heats it in the alchemically treated flames, which cause the blade to turn black. Once it cools, the Priestess, with great solemnity gives the blade to Brinya.
The family then takes the linen shroud-covered body of Rodrik and places him in the flames as well. The massive fire doesn't take long to consume the treated cloth and body and it roars up with a surge of heat and fire.
With a quick final group prayer to Iomedae, the priestess leaves and the family gathers about to share stories and console each other in their grief.
Jagrin, the elder Grath heads over to you and releases a long breath, thanking you for your investigation and finishing with “At least we know Rodrik didn’t disgrace himself with an unnecessary suicide.” He scowls slightly as he catches sight of Brinya and moves quickly on.
Kurst comes to you after the funeral after having just disengaged from a touching and comforting hug with Brinya.
"If we're waiting on these half-orcs to signal for this attack, we can keep militia guards stationed a the beacons and around the city walls. We are practiced at this, Trunau has little to fear. If the saboteurs signal the attack from outside the town’s walls without being detected, the militia should have time to sound the alarm and close the gates."
He looks you all over, especially Roondar, "I am exceptionally grateful for all that you've done uncovering what appears to be a fairly complex and nefarious plot against the city, but you look like death warmed over. Get some rest tonight, friends, and we'll see if we can root out these saboteurs together tomorrow."
Leroy gives Kurst a someone drunken hug.
Kurst seems slightly taken aback and then simply accepts it and embraces Leroy in return.
<- Boo/hiss
Roondar whispers to the group, "lets get the knife we found back to the family. They should have it."
Qu'en nods to Roondar, "Yes I agree, Leroy should do it, it knows them the best"
I'll nod greeting to my friends (I'm guessing I know everyone, or if not I'll nod at those that I do) and gather by them during the event. Afterwords when it is tactful I'll try to ask what's been happening since I've been gone and why everyone looks so haggard.
"Thanks for the kind words, Kurst. I'll be resting up in my room with a bottle of wine if you want to come tell me your troubles."
The blade sparks with blue flame for a moment before it scorches and turns black.
Brinya finds you later and thanks you profoundly for recovering the original symbol of their devotion. She whispers under breath, "Did you get the bastard that did it?"
Kurstin nods his thanks to Totiyonce and then catches the innuendo and turns away, flustered and uncomfortable.
Qu'en is good with a rest and starting to look in the morning for more clues
The party eventually moves away from the funeral, catching up their friend, Constantin, as they head back to the RambleHouse to get some rest.
The party gets to bed early and Roondar, as an older man, finds himself in the middle of the night, rested but restless. Looking out across the balcony where the sun will rise in a few hours, the peaceful quiet is shattered by the brazen calls of signal horns. Shouts and screams from the town’s lower quarter join the clamor, followed by a crash as an airborne boulder smashes into one of the guard towers. And then the dreaded drums of war begin to heat. Trunau is under attack!
Totiyonce wakes up, rolls out of bed, and gets dressed, irritated by the rude awakening. Once she's geared up, she goes into the hallway and chases down the doors belonging to the rest of the gang.
*bang* *bang* *bang*
"Wake up! We need to go find Kurst!"
Qu'en drags himself out of bed groggily, and gathers up what he needs and moves out into the hallway with everyone else
Spell 1:
Spell 2:
Assuming he gets a full night sleep and gets all spells back:
0 level: Create Water x2, Light, Detect Magic
1 level: Cure Light Wounds x2, Entangle
Roondar gets his armor on, and get his gear together. He spends a moment listening to the sounds and trying to detect the direction of the commotion.
...and has no idea, so he walks out to the hall and joins the others.
As you are getting things together, a runner comes and grabs you noting that Kurst is calling for your immediate assistance at the Longhouse.
The runner carries a lit torch and leads you quickly up past the still burning funeral pyre at the Flames of the Fallen and to the Long house itself.
Kurst is in the midst of chaos in the Longhouse central area as people are still waking and getting armed and armored. You find the Patrol Leader frowning over some papers on his table, which is in quite a disarray,
"Friends, there you are. It looks as if your prophesied attack happened far sooner and without any warning from these infiltrators in town. We need to get the town moving in the right direction and I had hoped for you to join the ranks of the militia, but the teams stationed at the Beacons have not lit them. Can you find out what is preventing it from happening ... or rather, can you just light them yourselves? The beacons are necessary to let those in the area understand what is happening and to get the scouts to return and the militia to organize. They are critical to the resolve of our people. Take Grimbeard here with you. He's itching for a fight."
He first indicates the short haired dwarf bristling with steel next to you before he pulls out a map and points to it, "The Flame of the Fallen is lit, so we just need the Commons Beacon (J), the Inner Gates Beacon (K) and the Hopespring Beacon (M). Send anyone else you find here as refugees or if they are able bodied, direct them to the nearest pocket of defense."
Totiyonce looks over at Grimbeard, "I've always liked a man with a little girth to him."
To the rest of the party, "Shall we head to the Commons?"
"Yes, lets make sure that Rohan knows of our plight, let us light the beacons!"
Jugger's black hair is cropped short, yet it is still a curly mess. His beard is long and braided, but only in the roughest fashion, more resembling a matted tangle. His splint mail armor is better kept, oiled and clean, but clearly designed for function over form.
He carries a heavy pack and small arsenal of weapons, most notably a dwarven warhammer that stands a foot taller than he does. The hammer's steel head is fashioned into the image of a roaring dragon's head -- the only sign of decoration on the dwarf.
He smiles toothily at Toti, but the smile is more frightening than friendly, for the right half of his face is a scarred mess. His right eye is a milky-white orb floating in the fleshy ruin, while his left eye, while clear, burns with angry passion that does not match his smile.
Jugger pulls on a helmet that looks more like a rough slab of gray metal. He drops the faceplate with a clank, leaving only his bearded jaw in view.
"Come lass. Kneecapper is itchin' to break some bones." It is not clear if he is speaking to Toti or not.
...did you just...I mean, wow...
Roondar says "Ok, Commons are the closest, lets head that way."
The party checks their gear, lights torches and heads north.
You arrive at Commons Beacon a few minutes later. A chaotic sight lays before you. In front of the unlit 10-foot-wide pyramid of wood and kindling you see Brinya Kelver backed up and surrounded by a mob of people shouting racial slurs and hollering out, "All true Truanauns know who is behind this unprovoked and unknown raid!"
You notice one particularly loud man driving the mob. He appears enraged and gives voice to new name and insults. The rest of the crowd echoes his sentiments. He wears the robes of clergy.
You recognize the man as a priest from the Counting House, the Temple of Abadar, named Baseil Sabask.
Leroy will carry one of the torches, but suggests one other person should carry one in case his is needed for bashing.
If sense motive succeeds:
Roondar casts Light on his Shield (20mins)
doesn't sense squat
He asks Winter to let out a loud growl, hoping to get the crowds' attention.
He then starts yelling at the crowd himself, calling them cowards for bullying a widow. He'll then point the crowd towards the incoming attack and the unlit signal tower! He asks the crowd to either get the signal lit or move to their assigned defensive area, and get out of his way!
Sense Motive -
Knowledge Local -
Qu'en barely senses the crowd and as such just stumbles into them like a clumsy fool and as if realizing what he has done looks around with a loud, embarrassed laugh
He looks around and see's who he recognizes and starts to talk to them
Knowledge Local -
"Oh jeez Greg, so sorry I wasn't paying attention, you know with the town being under attack and all and needing to light the beacons." Qu'en looks around and sees someone else he knows "Don't act like I don't see you Adam, you know you need to be back at the barracks making sure everything is ready for what's coming"
Looking around again he says "Come to think of it, don't ALL of you have something else you are supposed to be doing to help the town during a situation like this?"
Diplomacy -
Jugger grunts. "If'n it were unknown, then ya'll don't know either, do ya? Smells like bullshit to me." He spits into the dirt and moves towards the signal pyre with intention.
Toti shrugs.
"Quick, while she's distracting that mob, let's light the beacon."
Sorry for the delay...
<- Roondar
<- Winter
The wolf and druid are completely drowned out by the jeering mob and they push by Roondar without so much as batting an eye.
But when Qu'en catches a couple folks' eyes, he starts to make progress.
"Wutz 'ee sayin? Izzat Qwen? I know him. Move, i wanna hear him."
The crowd still angrily pressing in on Brinya, but a few folks hold back and slow the stem as they look to the rogue.
"Whaddya know about the raid, then? Iffun it aint the greenskin lovers than who?"