"Yes, I do believe it WAS called Deathbower. Wherever the road should have led us, we found our way blocked by the nasty garden and all the obstinate folks that inhabit it."
"So she moved her domain onto the Dead Roads to block your passage. She is determined and puts herself at risk to stop you. This is unusual. Mictena has always followed the rules. She is well respected for that."
"Something about all this sure has her all tied up into a knot. I think there is something personal at stake here."
"If that's the case, we're lucky Aydie was as reasonable as she was with us. If Mictena wants us dead for reasons beyond just keeping the balance, it stands to reason every follower of hers would want the same. We probably don't need to expect more courtesy from Mictena from now on..."
"I do not know this Aydie." Kishokish looks at the three stamps everyone has. "Hmmm......You might point out that every other psychopomp you met was determined to help you return. Swaying Mictena once her mind is made up will be no easy task but preferable to fighting her."
"Do you think we CAN sway her? I'd prefer that myself, but it seems rather difficult, considering we can't exactly walk up to her and hash things out."
"Ditto. She seems pretty entrenched, and her minions seem to reflect that attitude. I wish we knew more and could address her issues."
Stepping through the doors of the building, a dust covered man in scale mail calls out, Lifting his shield, and keeping his scimitar at the ready, Stephan cautiously makes his way through the foyer. "I hope Thimble and Toot told me true...."
Tally pauses as, for a moment, he thinks he heard something.
"Did you hear that? Seems I have a visitor. Please excuse me while I investigate." Kishokish makes his way to the foyer. "Greetings. What brings you to Nine-Eaves?
Eyes following the horned host Stephan grabs the amulet on his neck excitedly whispering a blessing, "Blessed be the light, I think I made my way forward!" Holding his hand to his chest for a moment and bowing towards the questioner, the half elf speaks, "Salutations. I believe this is where I am to get stamps to pass through this land? Little creatures, that seemed to be somewhat helpful told me this was the way. I believe their names were Thimble and Toot." While speaking, the paladin's eyes keep on darting to the creature in front of him and his surroundings before snapping back to attention. "Ah, I apologize! I forgot to introduce myself. Stephan Hollins, from Rosler's Coffer, follower of Sarenrae. Might I ask of yours, if not to be too rude?"
"Kishokish, master Hollins. Roslar's Coffer is evident by that glow in your chest. I happen to have some others in your same predicament in my drawing room. Please, join us." He looks over at Damien. "Your pale friend is invited as well."
Kishokish leads the two wanderers to the drawing room. "It appears these two are from Roslar's Coffer and seek to return there as they have similar glowing items in their chests. I will leave the introductions to you." He motions to the brandy. "Help yourself if you so desire."
Motioning towards Damien, Stephan follows Kishokish, "Let us not be rude, and enjoy the hospitality of our host Damien. With the others being from Roslar's, we might know them!"
Following the psychopomp and entering the room, he raises a gauntleted had, "I would enjoy the drink from a good host, but it would be rude if I didn't name myself for the others! Stephan Hollins, trained knight of Vigil, and follower of Sarenrae."
Setting his pack down with a loud thump before grabbing a glass and pouring himself some brandy, "I'm glad we caught up. You all must be slow and cautious if Damien and I could catch up. Did you wake up in the tomb as we did? I didn't like it. Hit my head three times before I figured I was in a box of sorts!" Chuckling at himself and taking a seat, he sips the brandy. "May I ask as to how you fare?"
Tally shakes his head and looks frustrated.
"My name is Tally. I am a spirit guide formerly from Roslar's and having returned there only recently."
His head is half-shaved with tattoos on the half that is shaven. Dark haired and wearing an elaborate breastplate of an odd silvery material (mithril). At his belt he has a Morningstar and a dagger, though no signs of a decent missile weapon.
"We have been called to return to the land of the living, but every step along the way has been dogged by resistance. The guardians that ran the establishments that carried the stamps have inevitably been plagued with some take over or another, including Kishokish here. Though many trials we, or our predecessors, have corrected these injustices only to be met with new ones. We are not sure but there seems to be one particular psycho-pomp that is determined to make sure we head in the other direction, if you know what I mean, and is behind at least some of our troubles."
the frustration overwhelms him and for a moment he is quiet as he struggles to maintain his composure.
Damien smiles somewhat ruefully as Stephan calls out to the house "Figures the Sarenite would call out before taking a moment to assess the situation first. It seems to have turned out all right as this presence seems welcoming, at least".
Damien enters the room taking a moment to look around the room before pouring himself a brandy. Holding the snifter in one hand he raises the glass to his nose. taking in the aroma. Yes, well met. I am Damien, Damien Blackrose, also of Roslar's Coffer."
He listens ads the others detail their journey to here before he drains his glass and says "Yes, stands to reason there would be some resistance. The servants of Pharasma are tasked with escorting the souls of the departed on towards the Boneyard not towards the land of the living. I, at least, am thankful that you encountered the difficulties and set them right therefore making mine and Stephan's journey easier."
Walhart greets the newcomers. "Balthasar Walhart. I've been traveling the country speaking of Erastil. Until recently, anyway."
He's an old man, but in decent shape, betraying a life of travel and living with nature. His grey hair is long, as is his beard.
When Tally struggles to continue, Walhart picks up where he left off.
"We'd retreated back here from our last trial. We barely escaped with our lives.... Some of us didn't escape at all, actually. It's been a messy endeavour to say the least."
Walhart offers Tally a drink. "I understand your frustrations, but for now, we're safe. Tonight we rest and recover, and another day we can head back in again."
Walhart turns towards the others. "I imagine you'll be joining us?"
After taking a sip of brandy, with the edge of his tapping the nose guard on his helm, Stephan sighs before undoing the chin strap. Taking off the steel helmet, shoulder length raven black hair falls from the protective headgear. Ears slightly pointed, along with his facial features show off his elvish heritage, though his green eyes show the spark of the humanity that also flows in his veins.
”Erastil is a good god. Good for the community. Thank you for spreading his word. As for the troubles that brought you back, perhaps a more, dip.... dip.... Talking to, might work? If no, perhaps divine retribution would be a secondary? Though, I don’t think, that would be the most favorable. I will join, as I am trained in both, and I need to get home to see father.”
With a hurumph Tally exclaims, "It's like talking to a brick wall. I fear we will have to fight our way through. Perhaps one of you would like to give it a try? At least hey were civil if stubborn. Then again, I suppose I am too."
With a heavy sigh, Tally swipes his glass from the table and fills it quickly, but then sips at it gingerly, settling into his normal composed demeanor.
Perhaps if you could explain your situation we can help you come up with a plan. After all we seek the same goal, to escape the Boneyard, so your troubles are our troubles as well"
Donovan replies to Stephan. "Where does your father live?"
"Ummm."
After waiting for Stephen to answer Don's question, Tally takes a long breath and starts explaining.
"There is this odd garden called DeathBower. Charming name, right? We were supposed to follow the road to leave but when we did so we found the garden smack dab in the middle of it."
Tally gives you a look like, 'what the heck?'
"Our host here assures us that the road is usually kept clear as one would expect of a road. Particularly one from which you are not supposed to deviate from under dire peril. Our good host also mentioned that the garden belongs to our adversary Micetena, a psychopomp who is well respected for her adherence to the rules of the realm and who also has violently objected to our leaving."
Tally gives you all a 'Why ' face, obviously not understanding the psycocomp's obsession with them.
"It was at that point that we decided to pull back. With Only Father Walhart and I in fighting shape, and with diplomacy failing dismally it did not seem survivable to push on."
"The graven guardian gives you wounds that do not heal. Just run past it before it animates. Magic only works sometimes. I will know in the morning if natural healing is resisted as well."
"We were set upon by gardeners, some kind of created being sent to greet the afterworld in the stead of their creators, I think. They attacked us after they explained that Micetena allowed them to stay there instead of heading on to hell or wherever their creators doomed them to go. Then the statue Don mentioned. Then a rather territorial tree and its magical bird friends. Finally Aydie, another psychocomp, I believe, who slew Valdis while we were engaged with the tree."
"Please excuse me. I need rest and do not feel so good right now." Donovan heads to the guest quarters.
Before Don leaves towards the other room to rest, Stephan gives him a quizzical look, "Father lives in Roslar's Coffer. I was supposed to see him and go to mother's grave, as it has been done every year since the orcs attacked. I'm sure he's worried as I'm later than I should be, I think."
Sitting back with a slightly awed look, he speaks up once more towards Tally, "Why would someone place a garden on a road? That would ruin the plants, I would think. This Micetena and Aydie don't sound all that good though. Another thing, why would a tree attack those wandering in a garden? Did someone upset a druid?"
"The tree's... animal friends... saw us as threats, so they had it attack us pre-emptively. Of course, they paid the price for it."
Walhart sighs. "In any case, I'm sure you can understand that Mictena's been very insistent about our demise. Honestly, even with Valdis' death, Aydie's been the most reasonable adversary we've met so far; she's the one who gave us a choice to turn back. That said, if we're going back, I don't doubt she'll be there as well."
"Perhaps, perhaps not. It seems like she was reluctant to kill you outright so there's a glimmer of hope. If, after you've rested and recuperated, we can confront her in force we can persuade her from any rash reaction on her part. Hope for the best but prepare for the worst."
"There is hope we can talk some sense to this Aydie, especially if we are to get home. I'm sure father has seen some things in the past, but this is going to be quite the story." he says before draining the rest of the brandy. Standing up, and placing a fist on his chest before bowing, he looks at the others. "If you don't mind, I should find a spot to rest. The trek here was quite long."
"There is a guest room upstairs with two bunk beds. You are welcome to any place you desire so long as you avoid my master bedroom."
Kishokish smiles as he takes another sip and another puff.
"So... Does this mean we band together and try to get through Deathbower together? With 5 of us it might be possible once Don has recovered."
"I think that would be best. I would rather have more company to travel with. Besides, having more people would make the travels less lonely, to be sure!" Stephan grins at the last remark before picking up his helm, readying himself to head into one of the guest chambers.
"Yes, I agree with Stephan, there is safety in numbers. Now, if you'll excuse me the journey here has been tiring and I need to rest, as I'm sure we all should, and we can discuss more in the morning." So saying Damien stretches his aching shoulders and makes his way upstairs for some much needed rest.
You awaken the next morning to see that Donovan is nowhere to be found. All of his equipment has been left behind.
Combat Gear healer's kit; Other Gear mwk armor spikes full plate, scale mail, arazni's crest, adamantine warhammer, light flail, quarterstaff, silver fang, throwing axe (3), backpack, bedroll, belt pouch, belt pouch, brush, shaving (0.1 lb), cup, shaving (0.2 lb), flint and steel, mess kit[UE], mirror, pot, shaving powder (one shave) (0.01 lb) (50), soap, straight razor (0.2 lb), torch (10), trail rations (5), waterskin, whetstone, wooden holy symbol of Hand with willow staff, 14 gp, 5 sp
Tally wanders through the building calling "Don? Don?"
silver longsword
Waking from his snore filled slumber, Stephan makes his way to Tally while still speaking in a sleep filled voice, "You're gonna wake everyone up. Perhaps we went to relieve himself. I mean, who goes fully armed?"
Wearing a frown and breathing deeply, Tally shows his skepticism.
"I'm guessing he went on. Folks tend to do that. Death is not all that bad if you are like Don, and he deserves a reward."
"I, on the other hand, am not at all ready to pass through that particular gate. Let's get breakfast and then head towards the garden."
"Aye. There's people I still need to talk to and folks to protect, so I'm not too keen on dying yet."
Slowing his pace, with his mouth going taught, his gaze lingers on Tally.
"What do you mean by that? Deserving a reward? Didn't he have something to live for? Family? Friends? That's why I keep on moving forward. I have things.... People to protect!"
Taking a deep breath and calming himself, Stephan lowers his voice as not to wake the others.
"That was my reason I left! To learn how to protect my family, and town I grew up in!"
Relaxing his posture, he follows Tally to the common room.
"Something to eat would be nice.
Damien wakes in the morning to the news of Don's departure and although he had just met him for the first, and last, time last night he still feels a pang of loss "For some the call to the afterlife is too strong to resist for long." He examines the gear left behind "At least this proves that the decision was his to make and that he was not taken by Mictena in the night."
"What do you mean by that? Deserving a reward? Didn't he have something to live for? Family? Friends? That's why I keep on moving forward. I have things.... People to protect!"
"Frankly, that is what I thought he would say. So I am a bit surprised he took the other direction. But, hey, don't you do it, at least in some part, because of the reward at the end? I always thought you paladin types were like that. Not that you are a paladin, though you talk like one."
"At least this proves that the decision was his to make and that he was not taken by Mictena in the night."
Tally suddenly halts as he considers this.
"You know, I don't know why that couldn't be what happened. I mean, just because his stuff is still here means nothin'. Like Stephen said, you don't sleep with all your gear on, at least not when you feel safe. So, I guess, she COULD have stolen in here and made off with Don. I wouldn't put it past her, though it would have been some flunky and not her I'll bet."
Apparently Tally is half-convinced that is what happened.
"Frankly, that is what I thought he would say. So I am a bit surprised he took the other direction. But, hey, don't you do it, at least in some part, because of the reward at the end? I always thought you paladin types were like that. Not that you are a paladin, though you talk like one."
"While I do think that there is a reward at the end, I am here now, so I'll do what I must to be able to accept the end, when it comes. You are right about me being a warrior of Sarenrae though. I'll offer a prayer for Don, but I think perhaps, I could use the items he left behind. They do look useful at least."
When entering the common room, Stephan looks for a pitcher and fills it with create water before filling any glasses.
Tally will take:
backpack
bedroll
belt pouch
brush
shaving kit
flint and steel
mess kit
mirror
pot
soap
torch (10)
trail rations (5)
waterskin
14 gp
5 sp
Donovan's possessions also include Kishokish's 17-sided personal stamp. He gave it to the party and said he could requisition another one when they saved him from Vithiz.
Tally hands the stamp to Father Walhart and says, "You better look after this."
Walhart takes it with a curt nod and weighs in. "I think it was his own decision, for a simple reason. If Mictena was behind it... I doubt we'd still be here ourselves."
Following the others he takes some breakfast, giving a brief prayer to Erastil before eating. In the odd, busy days, he's barely had a moment to reflect on it.
Walhart doesn't need any gear from the backpack, but brings up the holy symbols needed to pass past the guardian. "Perhaps we ought to craft a few."
Tally raises his eyebrows in consideration.
"You know, you're right. It only makes sense that it was a personal decision." he says with a sigh of relief.
"Can we craft some more of these? That would be an excellent idea, though I have no idea what makes a holy symbol holy and not just a chunk of wood. Do you think that all it takes is just carving it into the right shape?"
Kishokish makes his way to the kitchen. As he passes the two woken guests he says "I require no sustenance but do enjoy the brandy, the pipe and in the mornings coffee. I am headed to the kitchen to prepare a pot. No worries, I requisitioned cleaning crews. The messes you made have all been cleaned up."
"No matter on the holy symbol. It was pretty slow in activating and left us alone as soon as we crossed it's territory. I think if we all dashed past it we would be fine."