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Eallom staggers backward as if slapped at the mention of murder. He regains some composure while G'nak speaks. What? Speck-tate! Them's prize turnip winnins in there's! I knows it!
He walks away. I won' be forgettin' this… His friends soon get up to leave as well.
Unfortunately, G'nak is pestered by similar claims throughout his time at the inn — including but not limited to a valuable heirloom of vague description, magic seeds, long-lost pets, prize rams, fluffy ewes, and six barrels of fine brandy. He finds himself unable to enjoy his meal in peace; Etran’s Folly suddenly seems to have an inordinate population of Harrys and Helens…
You head out to Hallod's home (known as "Dead Willow" to the locals) just as the sun finishes setting.
Located on the north side of town, the structure is easy to find: a huge, dead willow stands in front of a house that appears to be in serious disrepair. The house might have had a second story at one time, but that long ago collapsed into ruin, taking parts of the first floor with it. The windows are all boarded over, and the front door hangs open about a foot, kept from swinging wider by a frayed rope. It's dark inside, but those with darkvision can barely make out empty floorboards beyond the barely-open door.
Marula keeps eyes and ears out for cruel Hallod or other dangers.
Able to see somewhat inside, G’nak scouts ahead toward the open front door.
As you approach, Marula notices a strange shape just inside the door: an old heavy crossbow lies hidden in the shadows; it’s loaded with a wooden spear, and connected to the rope holding the door.
Cai successfully disarms the trap! Guyzer sneaks about.
Slowly opening the door, you see that beyond the entryway the building is filled with debris — parts of the collapsed ceiling, tree branches, and the like. There’s a crawl-way going deeper into the debris pile, but you’ll have to move through in single file.
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Marula shrugs, not given overly much to suspicion.
"Perhaps. The gray wolf
Snaps at any passerby
Who threatens its lair.
"The hunter lays traps.
The net does not care who comes.
It snares hare or bear.
"But we are not bears.
And is he a man or wolf?
Let’s call out and see."
Cai fen loops around the house and inspects the two back windows, which are also tightly boarded up with heavy wood.
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Kyrie wishes she could hug the ghostly Talmore at the end. She thinks of the irony of ghosts needing affection touch most of all and being unable to have it. ”I am sorry this happened to you. I hope you find your way to a good rest in the afterlife. You remembered your heart, even when others did not. That is Her first command and the basis of all the others. I am certain she will forgive your justified anger.” She salutes as he dissipates.
Kyrie is disappointed in Krent more than anything. He had fallen hard and clearly would not cease feeling guilt for a long time, if ever. She tells him of what happened in the simplest terms and without harsh judgment. She leaves him with a last bit of advice. ”I think you still have a chance to remember your heart. I think even if you cannot find it in Her, the Inheritor, you mind the guidance you need in another patron.”
Kyrie keeps her shield up and at the ready.
She nods in agreement as she gathers Marula’s point. ”I believe Marula has said it better than I could.”
Marula calls out for Hallod. A breeze rattles the dead willow branches like old bones; nothing else.
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Cai Fen suggests that some of the party go in the front while he and one other person try the back.
When General Lao Dzu confronted the army led by Han Guifong, the latter was in an entrenched and fortified position…
He attempts to explain the concept of a hammer and anvil-style pincer attack.
…and that’s why you always back your cavalry charge with ballista fire. Or wait, maybe that was that other battle.
He proposes that either Guyzer or G’nak come with and encourages the others move when they hear the sound of boards breaking.
Cai Fen’s first attempt to dash himself against the window leads to unexpected results. Instead of meeting the resistance of tough wood, the board flies open on well-oiled hinges. Too late, he realizes that he has flung himself through a secret door he failed to spot. He crashes loudly on his head as the door bounces against the wall and then shut again with two resounding bangs.
He stands up, and when the stars clear he sees that he’s in a small chamber that appears to have once been a closet. There is an old, rusty-hinged hatch built into the floor.
To his right is a pile of debris, with a small tunnel entering it.
Kyrie trods inside, keeping her shield up and her eyes alert and wary for any threats.
Curious, G'nak enters the secret door behind Cai, and looks for any signs of Hallod.
"I had no idea humans lived in such filth."
You all move into the back room. Cai opens the trap door — the rusty hinges squeal loudly as it falls open — whoever is down there certainly knows you're coming at this point.
A ladder descends into darkness. You will have to go single file.
You move down the ladder in single file. Kyrie goes first, and finds a short hallway that ends with an old wooden door. She hears the sound of chains moving on the other side, so she flings it open!
Revealed is a room lit by a single, flickering torch. Through the gloom she see piles of small crates and more than a few barrels stacked up haphazardly to the right. Opposite is a stout wooden door with iron bands. To the left is an iron gate set into the middle of the wall — it's rising (this must be the sound she heard). There are four ferocious dogs waiting impatiently on the other side. The stench of smoke and damp dog hangs heavy in the air.
Just as the gate finishes ascending, Kyrie realizes there is a pool of oil at her feet; someone has prepared this room for your arrival.
Time to make even more noise: round 1
Marula
Cai
Kyrie
Woof 1-2
Woof 3-4
Guyzer
G'nak
Marula's roots find purchase in the stonework as they move into the room.
Startled by the sight of the dogs, they lash out with electricity.
Cai moves with such grace, that his confidence is restored! He gains a panache. He barely manages not to trip himself before swinging clumsily at the dog.
The dogs each move out of the way, but the crowded pen prevents them from avoiding the arc altogether.
Time to make even more noise: round 1
Marula
Cai
Kyrie
Woof 1-2
Woof 3-4
Guyzer
G'nak
As much as Kyrie wants to charge after Cai, she is all-too-painfully aware of how much her armor constrains her and just how little training she has in balancing on slippery surfaces. She takes a cautious step onto the grease, entering Everstand Stance and raising her shield.
The first dog runs around Cai, so it can flank with the pack.
It then attacks, but cannot hit!
Dog 2, now with a flank, bites at Cai twice but cannot connect.
Dog 3 moves through the grease and bites Cai successfully. Bolstered by the two allies harrying Cai, the dof does extra damage!
Dog 4 guarded steps in and attacks Cai as well.
Time to make even more noise: round 1-2
Marula
Cai
Kyrie
Woof 1-2
Woof 3-4
Guyzer
G'nak
Sparks fly again from the sapling, but there is no protest to be seen.
With that, Marula raises their shield.
These dogs wouldn’t dare.
Water not my thirsty roots!
Go fetch other sticks!
Kyrie takes another careful step into a flank with Cai. ”I would like you to take care, Cai.” She then smacks at the dog again, stopping her movement so her shield is held up and at the ready.
G'nak climbs down the ladder, moves into the room, and slips on the floor!
"Who greased this floor!"
He lobs a bomb at dog #1
+1 splash, + 1 persistent fire
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As the room fills with chaos and baying of hounds, Cai Fen takes a quiet moment to contemplate which nature spirit he angered so thoroughly to make wildlife hate him so much.
To Kyrie: Have no worries, I will definitely be taking care of it!
He twirls his war mace above his head with wild abandon and attempts to land a Whirlwind Strike on the beast in front of him.
He then attempts to backflip over the beast behind him, landing next to Marula.
His war mace follows him in an arc, twirls once more, and snaps toward the dog in his patented Plummeting Eagle Strike!
You knock out the dogs. There's an unopened door in this room and rubbish on one side of the room, along with barrels and crates. The door leading further in is locked.
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Cai Fen helps G'nak up. The crossbow, the tunnel, and now this. I am thinking we are expected.
He examines his wounds. A few bites and gashes, but who knows where these dogs have been. Definitely best to clean them out.
Never bad to get some more practice with this... he mutters as he pulls his medical kit from his pack.
Let me know if you would like me to take a look at the door. He says as he applies some bandages. But Smokeworker G'nak looks like he can handle a lock or ten.
Cai heals up. The door, as he presciently noted, is locked.
Cai somehow opens the door, revealing a short hallway with a metal wheel on the wall.
Ahead is a larger chamber that seems to be divided into three areas: a larder, a lavatory, and a living space.
The larder is a simple storeroom filled with scraps of old meat, a third of a wheel of cheese, a sack of turnips, and a barrel of weak ale. There is also a crate of empty wine bottles in one corner.
The lavatory sits just off the main living space, and it is little more than an open pit.
The living area is a mess, with a cot in one corner and a crude firepit in the other. A simple chimney leads up from this room before connecting to another in the house above.
G'nak with darkvision looks down the tunnel further in.
Kyrie will stop to check out the larder, at least partly out of curiosity that there might be something to eat in town aside from turnips.
G’nak peers down the hallway; it’s made of rough stone and turns to the left after 25 feet. He can see no further; it seems empty.
Kyrie finds scraps of near-rotten old meat, a third of a wheel of moldy cheese, a sack of fresh turnips, and a barrel of weak ale. There is also a crate of empty wine bottles in one corner — once, they were of a good Chelish vintage.
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When general Sun Shu was being harried by the forces of the Lotus Confederacy, he hid his forces in the swamp and maneuver behind them, allowing him to march to their forward outpost and take it virtually unopposed. Likely Hallod intends to employ a similar strategy.
Cai Fen dramatically flings open the curtain to the latrine and shouts GOT YOU!
Cai imagines there’s a curtain in front of the latrine, but in truth whoever lives here is alone and has no need for propriety. He finds nothing but a hole that seems to be full of refuse and worse.
G’nak checks out the fire pit to see if there are any hastily burned clues or if it’s even been used recently.
G'nak finds old turnip rinds in the fireplace. There's a loose brick in the back of the hearth, and inside he finds a hollowed-out chamber that contains a lockbox that’s locked.
Marula examines the wine bottles.
What grapevine made you?
Was their finest fruit divine?
Or cursed like this place?
"I am tired of turnips." Kyrie sighs and continues onwards to the front of the group.