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Ooooh, yeaaah. Much better. Brünwulf exhales a sigh of relief.
He stretches and pops a couple vertebrae in his neck to release tension.
He glances sincerely at each of his friends.
I can't tell you enough how much I appreciate all the trouble you all went through with healin' me up. You truly are a great group of comrades.
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I dunno about keeping Diggen's ghost all locked up in that wayfinder any longer. He never betrayed us and I really think he should be allowed to carry on to the afterlife. Really. What's he gonna do as a ghost?
Brünwulf looks around at everyone staring at him.
Well, looks like the votes have it. Alright, then. We'll take the wayfinder back with us.
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Well, looks like the votes have it. Alright, then. We'll take the wayfinder back with us.
Elfino releases the breath he was holding and relaxes. He knew that Brünwulf felt strongest that they should fulfill their end of the bargain with Diggen and would resist taking the ghost back to the Lodge for proper disposition. He'd seen honorable men like him fall into similar traps in the past. Releasing Diggen might end up being a harmless affair, but the odds were that once unfettered, the ancient ghost could just as easily go on to cause further trouble in the world, especially now that House Thrune were the diabolical rulers of Cheliax.
Ezaki hops on the throne and holds his halberd like a scepter.
"Make me a sandwich!" he orders.
Elfino grimaces as Ezaki leaps up onto the throne. He half expected it to burst into flames, reversing all the hard work he'd done healing the boy earlier.
Despite Ezaki's order, Elfino doesn't feel the urge to whip out the peanut butter. Perhaps the devil felt differently though. Elfino smiles to himself as he imagines the fiend running around trying to find some bread and condiments to make Ezaki a sandwich.
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Ezaki hops on the throne and holds his halberd like a scepter.
"Make me a sandwich!" he orders.
With a wry quirk to her lips, Itka retorts: "I've heard of a spell that can do that, but I think we killed all the people here who would've been willing to eat you. Anyway, I say we retire to the library, rest up a bit, and plan to head back to report all this tomorrow. What do you say, boys?" And hopefully I'll get a decent night's sleep tonight. Fingers crossed!
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"... Anyway, I say we retire to the library, rest up a bit, and plan to head back to report all this tomorrow. What do you say, boys?" And hopefully I'll get a decent night's sleep tonight. Fingers crossed!
Elfino could certainly use a good night's sleep after the long day they just had, but Itka's mentioning of the library reminds him of something.
"In his original request to us, Venture-Captain Brackett asks that if we discover that the old lodge still stands, that we do our best to return with all the documents and possessions we find therein. I'm guessing that he didn't expect us to find a whole library of such documents though. I'm not sure what to do about it. Anyone have any ideas?"
After a few seconds thought, he continues. "Can we leave it to the trapped devil to guard the tower while we report back to the Venture-Captain? He'll then presumably send a squadron of Grand Archive types with several carts to collect it all, or maybe the Society will decide to reactivate the tower as an official lodge and leave it all here."
"But, I'm not sure how the whole devil-protecting-the-tower thing works. Perhaps Ezaki here can command the devil to defend the tower from non-Society members while we're gone?" Elfino then eyes the throne warily. "Perhaps we should all step back a distance before he tries it though."
Ezaki finds the throne to be uncomfortably hot but not physically damaging. The sweltering heat in the room is likely to do much more damage to your bodies over time than the throne. However, should he try, he can find no way to interact or command the devil bound within the throne.
Retreating to the far more comfortable albeit very dusty library, you are able to rest and dine upon your portable rations without interruption.
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Elsha concurs with Elfino. Indeed, I don't think he expected us to move a library. This w-w-would be an interesting place to keep a lodge, too! May we should pass back through Sauerton and actually enjoy one of their wineries on the way out? Elsha pleads with the group, ready for some comfort after the mission.
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Elfino ponders a little longer. "The library has managed to survive unmolested lo these many centuries, and will most likely remain that way for a little while longer, even without its defenders. It is probably enough to just return with the documents we found in the two satchels. We would then report the location of the old lodge, its library, and the devil in the throne to the Venture-Captain and he can decide what needs to be done."
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"Or a few of us could remain to guard the place, while the rest return to report the success of the mission." Zelphari looks around at the peaceful library, and the opportunity for him to meditate and placate the raging forces within. "I would not mind staying behind."
"And if this is farewell, then I would like to shake each of your hands. We went through quite a harrowing experience, and each of you have my respect. I trust we would see much of each other in the days to come."
Epilogue
Those of you who wish to remain, camp in the now abandoned and previously haunted--although still infernally infused--tower. Perhaps you study the books in the library. Perhaps you aid your society by getting a head start on the cleaning. The rest of you make your way back to Saurton and then onto the long journey back to the Grand Lodge.
You are commended for a job well done and instructed to complete your reports. Meeting with Zarta Dralneen, you report the events and hand over the wayfinder.
"A Thrune ghost? Who may have known one of the Society's founders?" she asks rhetorically. "Very interesting indeed."
She opens a drawer in her office and pulls out another wayfinder. She hands it to Zelphari and says, "Lest I be accused of stealing from a member of the Society, take this old wayfinder. I've collected a few over the years."
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Huzzah! Wine Country!
Brünwulf cheers.
I'm good with staying here to start cleaning and organizing these books.
He glances around at the dingy stone walls and floor.
Hey, Who knows? If any of us become a Venture Captain, this keep could be the Lodge we're assigned to. I sure would like to be the one someday.
I'd also like to spend more time in Sauerton. Those townsfolk are very hospitable. I'd also like to chat more with Old Man Strickmund. Interesting fella.
It was a pleasure joining all of you on this expedition and fightin' alongside you. Here's to many more grand adventures down the road.
He says with a wink and a grin as he shakes hands with everyone.
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Hmp. These boys aren't too bad. Itka returns to Absalom to make her report, then wends her way back through Saurton to the tower. There she spends some glorious days with her nose in various books. After a while, though, she grows restless. There's a whole world of artifacts and libraries out there, after all. After a bit of mother hen like doting, she bids the boys adieu and makes her way back to Absalom again, ready for her next assignment.