Will vs. fear, +4 more vs mind affecting
Surprising even himself, Kast does not cover in terror. Maybe it was the Magic Circle against Evil, maybe it was the ancient powerful Azlant magic of the Sihedron Medallion, but no, it was the ring. Marigold’s ring. It was Marigold’s ring…and the worry that he could never look Marigold in the eye if he flinched now.
But it’s not like he can look her in the eye without blushing now, but that’s beside the point.
”Yeah!” Kast says, all he can muster to agree with Seamus.
Diplomacy to aid
Val almost cowers before Iesha’s wrath, but her will to speak carries her through.
”Iesha, I understand how you feel. I may be the only person who understands so completely. My own husband had his own hands around my neck and framed me for the cruelest murder he could have committed when I escaped him. I plan to kill him for it. I am not your enemy, and neither are my friends. As Seamus said, turn your anger towards those who wronged you, not the enemies of your enemy. Because what do they say about the enemy of my enemy?”
vs DC 20 or cower in fear
Izomandakus manages to keep it together as well.
As you recover from your shock, Iesha falls squishily to her knees, clearly fading fast - though smiling as if an injustice has been resolved.
She deflates as she looks upon you, slowly descending to the floor until she’s an immobile dead body once more… all remnants of life force dissipated by the death of her killer in the basement below.
The only thing of value in the room is the wedding ring Aldern didn’t have the guts to remove. A nice ruby number worth 150gp. Do you take it?
Val picks up the ring and turns it over in her fingers. Iesha deserves better than to be forgotten in this house, a place that will shortly be consigned to burning. She could find her family and give it to them. At least they would have something to bury. Failing that, perhaps she will simply hold onto it, a reminder of the sorority that she shares with this woman she will never meet.
She sits down and cracks open the false heel of her boot, setting it next to her Versade family ring before closing it up again. There will be time to decide.
Kast says nothing as Valmeg reaches for the ring, more relieved to not be in a fight with an undead horror than not. He looks around, wondering if they are finally done with this soon-to-be pyre-house.
”I dunno, ‘Mus. I dunno and he’s double gone and dead so not like we can ask him,” Kast tries to answer Seamus’ queries. ”I think we should burn her in this house. Let the smoke take her to Pharasma’s embrace. I think that’s best.”
He will join Seamus in scouting the rest of the attic.
”She deserves better than to burn here, in the house of the husband that murdered her. She was someone before she was a Foxglove.” She chokes down her gag reflex and sees if Iesha can be carried without her falling apart. ”I cannot say for sure that it is what she would have wanted, but I know that if I had suffered her fate, I would not want to burn with him.” She resigns herself with a sigh, knowing that as much as she loathes the idea of all the dirt and the horrible stench of death, it is what she has to do. ”I will bury her.” She has never handled a shovel in her life, much less dug a grave, but she has learned to grow accustomed to many firsts.
Knowledge Local would be more accurate for information about Iesha, but I see Valena has that trained as well.
That said, Varisians cluster in the cities overwinter for trade and refuge, so you may have some luck tracking them down then. It’s mid Lamashan now, so that’s really not too far off!
- - -
The party advances on the next chamber.
Shelves of books line the walls of this room, interspersed with curious objects such as skulls fitted with stubs of candles, tribal fetishes, and decorative scroll cases. An empty birdcage lies near the southern wall beside a small desk and a fine leather chair. Statues and sculptures grin from all corners of the room.
Searching through the room for loot, reveals much.
Zoic Fetish (link) worth 7,500gp
A rare painting, ‘Throwdown in Swynetwon’ by Andolasu, a famous artist from Magnimar worth 600gp
Miscellaneous rare coins, and minor gemstones worth 1,300gp
A variety of small enough to remove art objects worth 2,100gp
A small library of Shoanti tribal culture and history (+2 Shoanti History) worth 250gp to the right collector
The next room is an observatory. A desk and a chair sit in the middle of this drafty room. Chimneys rise to the west, while to the east, two intricate stained-glass windows are set into the wall.
The northern window depicts a dark-haired woman with pale skin, large green eyes, and a black-and-red gown; with both hands she wields a jagged iron staff. The southern window’s lower half has been broken and patched with canvas - the outside rain dripping through; what remains of its upper half depicts a handsome man dressed in regal finery and a crown of ivory and jade.
Small scorch marks mar the wood near the broken window. A battered and ruined telescope lies on its side near the desk and a large trap door in the roof has been tied shut by several lengths of rope.
The trap door in the roof could once be raised and lowered, exposing a slice of the sky for observation, but the pulley system has long since fallen apart. The trap door can now be opened only with a very difficult Strength check. The broken telescope on the floor was once a magnificent piece of equipment but is now beyond repair.
- - -
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Val remembers Iesha’s maiden name and family and immediately tucks the information away for later. They will be going to Magnimar soon, so might as well look around there.
As for the spoils, she looks right past the fetish, the library, the coins, and most of the art objects.
”Oh! An original Andolasu. With a silent ‘u’ at the end. If you pronounce the ‘u,’ people will think you are talking about the politician. No relation.” She had made the mistake of pronouncing the ‘u’ once and thought a Councilman had taken up painting. ”Finally, some good taste is this atrocious house! Sapphira would be ecstatic. What was it? Something about the linework or the composition? Maybe the colors? Anyways, I know she is a fan. I have always been one of those ‘I do not know art but I know what I like’ dilettantes. Yes, I know that is terribly boorish of me, but knowing art means studying, and you do know how much I detest studying.” She nods to herself as she leaves through the dusty file in her memory for “Andolasu.” ”I think he is the one that preferred painting the common folk. Having fought a bit by now, I can say I am impressed he managed to make a brawl look so elegantly picturesque without erasing the mundane details.” She thinks that sounded smart, at least, and sounding smart is at least as important as being smart, is it not?
She notes the large painting of the woman but draws no recognition.
”Is that another Runelady?”
Kast has no use for the ring, and will offer to help Valmeg with the digging when the time comes.
Know (History)
Kast looks at stained glass and shakes his head. ”Nope. Nope. Nope. We’re burning this place down…” Kast explains about the glass, agreeing with Seamus.
”I can’t imagine leaving this place standing. It’s just going to become more evil and draw more undead while it stands. It needs to go. You get the stuff out that you want to drag back to town, Seamus, but this place will burn, I think.”
Kast ponders all of Seamus’ questions, only having answers for very few.
”I think I can handle the body, that isn’t the issue. And I don’t right care if something else comes to live in the caves here. I don’t have any issues with that, but do have issues with a bunch of lich-related necro-detrius. Entire nations have nearly fallen because of one lich, we don’t need more.’”
Kast will help gather everything the party wants to keep, bury, or take back to Sandpoint.
As Seamus speaks, a peal of thunder rocks the house as the storm outside intensifies. Perhaps trying to set fire to a house in a heavy rain isn’t a good proposition. As you already plan to visit Magnimar, you can stop by on your way and set fire to the house when it’s not raining (and when you can apply large quantities of oil).
When you leave the manor to check on your horses and Kizzy, you see that Kizzy is no longer guarding the horses. In fact, her horse is gone as well, suggesting that she has had enough and has left. Her Pottersmoot ring is stuck to Seamus’ saddle horn with a bit of wax. The only evidence of her willing departure.
It’s around 3pm. You had planned to check the eastern farms, across the Soggy River, before returning to Sandpoint. You may still do so without too much travel at night, if one of you loans his horse to Kast to ease his leg. Valena’s substantive warhorse could easily carry two.
Do you check the eastern farms? Or do you head straight back to Sandpoint?
Val sighs as she notes Kizzy’s departure. She can hardly blame her. With a crazed killer obsessing over her, getting the hell out of town was probably the sanest call. Still, the remaining ring saddens her, as she understands what it must mean.
”No point in burning it in this rain. I assume that Kast will want to check the eastern farms before heading back. I am fine either way. I am mostly just tired and ready for a good drink or twenty, but I am fine with whatever the rest of you like. With only two horses, even if mine can take two, I doubt we can make it back to Sandpoint before needing to rest anyways. Maybe one of the eastern farms can give us a quiet place to shelter from the rain, too.”
”Yes, I would like to visit the local farms on the way back, to ensure the ghouls have not spread there, and at least, to offer warning,” Kast says, happy to go alone if need be. It’s his job to protect and warn the citizens of Sandpoint, and so that is what he will do. He tries to ignore the rain, but it makes walking difficult, especially his walking, his limping staggered gait. It’s miserable.
”Yeah, that’s what I was thinking too. I could come down with you to here as you all go on to Magnimar,” Kast agrees with Seamus. ”That will give us time to let the Sheriff know what I intend. And what you intend in Magnimar.”
”It’s going to be a long. I should get going.”
The horses have been returned to the stable.
I presume you wait for the party, but let me know if you go alone to the sheriff’s office.
- - -
Kast and Valena are on Valena’s horse to speed things up a little while Izomandakus and Pachemu take the other horse.
You head east away from the accursed manor, and the weather immediately improves. By the time you cross the Soggy River to check in on the farther flung farms, the sun is even out. For the most part the eastern farms are untouched by the horrors of their brethren, though everyone does speak of ‘rumblings’ that scarecrows or the like were taking livestock.
”As close as they are to those fey Whisperwoods, it’s not surprising they’re loosin’ the occasional chicken. Why when the old Henderson place, well it’s Hambley’s place now isn’t it, well, when it went up for sale weren’t no one wanted it. Can’t trust them fey. They’s wily they is.”
One well-to-do farm did have a worker go missing down by the river, but everyone figured he just drowned in the occasionally sudden swells you get now and then. You do get a few first hand accounts of livestock going missing also, but not so much as would raise suspicion. After all, livestock goes missing. It happens. Usually it’s thieves or local fauna. Sometimes it’s goblins.
In any event, the folks here are largely oblivious to just how bad it was, and are largely untouched by the neighboring events.
You turn back north as the sun begins to set, and make your way back to Sandpoint. There’s a note from the sheriff waiting at the Rusty Dragon, along with Seamus. The sheriff wants to see you when you get in. Though it’s late, knowing something about sheriff Hemlock, you’d guess he’s still in his office. Do you head straight over? Or do you get some supper and drinks first, and see him in the morning?
As much as Val would love to immediately dive into a bottle of wine, she should probably do her duty and visit the sheriff first. She may feel even more like drinking after that conversation. ”Let us all get this visit over with. I am certain our watchman would want to go now anyways.”
Kast slumps as he and Valmeg get closer to Sandpoint, but tries to recover as they clomp closer. He doesn't spend too much time in the saddle with Valmeg, fearing for the horse and preferring to walk anyway.
"Well, it's good that it was so uneventful, wasn't it?" Kast tries to see the bright side and not focus on his own weariness. "I think we pretty much did what we were supposed to do."
* * *
Upon entering town, Kast does head straight over to report to the Sheriff. He feels this can't wait.
As he sees Seamus come over he can't feel a small amount of disappointment that the man doesn't have his arms laden with dinner scones and meat pies as his stomach rumbles.
I guess dinner can wait.
"Let's offer our report," he agrees as they enter the Sheriff's office.
He will explain everything that went down, including offering the names of those he knew or suspected of having become ghouls, along with a strong recommendation for an immediate conflagration at the Foxglove Estate, followed by a full consecration.
"...it was all I could do not to light a fire as we left. It's horrific in there. The necromantic intent is evident and remarkable," Kast completes his initial report.
The sheriff is indeed in, and you’re ushered to his office when you arrive. He looks sour. ”Before you give me your report, I understand you have some property belonging to Dr. Habe of the Sanatorium. You’ll need to return that. He’s agreed to stay on until we can find a replacement in Magnimar, so long as we return his property.”
”Sandpoint is then going to buy the Sanatorium, and we’ll run it. Can’t have that doctor in charge of things…” He grumbles under his breath, ”Damn necromancers.”
He turns back to you after relieving you of Dr. Habe’s things (presumably) which he puts in a box. ”Now, give me a verbal report, for now, of what you’ve found in your investigations. Did you find the killer? I understand you brought a body back with you. Is that him?”
The sheriff looks troubled, ”So Lord Foxglove became one of these things? A ghoul? That’s most troubling indeed. But you took him down, and you’re sure he won’t rise again… I’ve heard some undead do that. You’d best escort Father Zantus down there tomorrow, if he’s free, and see what can be done. I’ll talk to him tonight so he has the right spells prepared, or whatever he needs.”
He thinks a moment, ”Lord Foxglove said something about outside investors when he first came to town. So I don’t think we can burn the place down. Not until we sort out who these investors may be - assuming that wasn’t just another lie.” he pauses, ”Unless you think the house is an imminent threat?”
Kast nods slowly.
”Imminent? Yes? No? It’s hard to say. All I know is that Aldart Foxglove was completely normal a few weeks ago when we went boaring with him, and to see the wreckage and the death in those outlier farms…well, that seems pretty imminent to me,” Kast answers with some thought. ”I know I can’t fully explain all the horrors in that house, but the necromantic *intent* may be all that was needed to turn Aldart into a ghoul. The house…was horrific. It’s certainly a loci for negative energies with dreams of lichdom. And from what I’ve read of the Whispering Tyrant, we don’t need any more liches.”
Kast pauses.
”Yes, yes, I can escort Father Zantus down tomorrow and let him confirm. We don’t want others to be living in the house as it is. No one should be allowed inside. It’s…no safe.”
The “outside investors” must be this Brotherhood. Better to avoid speaking that name aloud to too many people until they have a better idea as to the shape of the group and its reach and influence.
”I think a few of us may need to checked on by the Father, just to be safe. We can head down with the Father first thing in the morning.”
Sheriff Hemlock listens to Kast’s observations and nods along with Seamus. ”I see. Well we certainly don’t want more of this. We’ll develop a reputation as a necromantic community, what with necromancers and undead walking the streets.” he swears.
”Fine. Get some oil from Ven ”and see to it nothing remains. We just claimed the property for the sake of public safety.”
He tosses a pouch of gold to Kast, ”For your work on this, you have the thanks of the city. What a mess. Let me know when the estate has been burned.”
It’s now very late indeed, after 10:30pm. Feel free to post through to tomorrow, and note the following.
I need saves from a few of you.
Valena, Fort DC 20 or and
Seamus, Fort DC 20 or and
Seamus (separately), Fort DC 13 or and
Pachemu, Fort DC 13 or and
Clearly, Valena, Seamus, and Pachemu are feeling a bit ill in the morning. One successful save does not remove the disease (takes two for each).
Val feels like absolute s~$* in the morning. She has not felt this wretched since the morning sickness from when she was pregnant with the twins. She digs into her portion of the gold pouch. ”I am going to pay the Father to get rid of this.”
Kast nods, accepting the money for the party funds. "I'm going to bed. It's been a long day. Too long. And I'm hungry. Maybe I can eat while I sleep," Kast says, offering his goodbyes and goodnights.
He's happy to stop by Father Z's to let him know what will be needed on the morrow.
And in the morning, he will gather up the Father and the oils and be ready to go.
In the morning, while she is still lingering in bed, Val finally breaks through on a a bit of psychic magic that she had been trying at for ages. A way for her to directly communicate with Sapphira, even from miles and miles away. Elegant, direct, and impossible to trace (as far as she knows). She can only do it once a day and it takes away power she could spend elsewhere, but she gave no weight to such concerns. She spent most of her life talking to Sapphira every day, and it was a crime that when she finally stopped being dense she had to be trapped away from her.
”Sassy, I learned a new trick. Twenty-five words to you every day. Like some kind of odd poetry. I love you. Feels nice to say.”
Morning stirs like a thick soup, starting with a cold fog - moisture left over from yesterdays occasional rain. It’s Lamashan the 17th, a Fireday.
- - -
Father Zantus looks at you with concern as you approach. He finishes his conversation with a parishioner, and joins you in an alcove for privacy. ”Sheriff Hemlock stopped by late last night and told me about Misgivings Manor. I’ll be ready to head out in a half hour or so if you can wait a moment - though I’m not sure what I’ll be able to do. This isn’t really my area of expertise…” He trails off a moment before adding, firmly, ”But I’ll do what I can to help.”
When he sees how sick some of you are, he frowns, ”I have but one casting of Remove Disease this day, but I do have a scroll as well. I’ll have to charge you for the scroll however.”
I assume he’ll cast on the most seriously ill today, so he’ll cast on Valena and Seamus.
vs DC 20
vs DC 20
vs DC 13
Seamus and Valena are cured of the extremely nasty Vorel's Phage. Seamus and Pachemu still have Ghoul Fever (though Seamus has saved once already). The good priest will also cast Lesser Restoration on one of you. Go ahead and pick among yourselves, and roll the d4 stat healing.
You, presumably, collect some rented horses (for the most part), pick up a supply of oil from the general store (don’t sweat the cost), and meet the priest back at the cathedral. He has a fine horse himself, for when he rides out to minister to the farmlands surrounding the town.
Together you ride in the early light, the sun slowly burning off the fog. It’s a cold morning, a hint of the winter to come, but a pleasant ride. You make good time down to the Foxglove Manor, looming as it does on the cliffs edge. You see Father Zantus shiver as he looks upon the building, though perhaps it’s just the cold…
Lesser Restoration on Pachemu:
* * *
Kast will dismount when they get close to the manor, walking his horse until it can be tied off. He’d rather be ready with shield and Quill in hand than be on horseback.
*limp*
*drag*
*limp*
”It’s right up here, Father. Let me look ahead in case any ghouls have already returned,” Kast offers, moving forward to check the well (with Lighted stone), and then the first floor of the Manor.
”We just need you to confirm that this place is as bad as I think it is and we’ll set it ablaze. Only way to purify it.”
Val laughs at her dear Sassy’s cut off message. Just hearing her voice, even mentally, puts her in a better mood, thinking back on dozens of fragments of memory. When someone has post-traumatic stress disorder, certain stimuli can cause them to relive the traumatic memory all over again. A long, slow love has a way of causing something similar, even a touch or a whisper can evoke years of feelings in an instant. She never liked being along with her thoughts much, but Sapphira makes it easier.
Before they head off to the temple, Val gives herself and Seamus a little fixer each.
Val shakes her head and smiles at Seamus’s politeness. ”Thank you, darling.” She matches him with her own exaggerated polite curtsy.
The party, feeling a bit better for all the magics thrown around to aid them, is ready to take on the house once again.
Kast enters the building once again, and once again the manticore in the lobby lashes out at him with a breath of fire - the haunts have rejuvenated! We’re not going to deal with them directly, just rest assured the house fights you every step into the basement.
There you find two more ghouls, having wandered back from hunting flesh no doubt. You put them down quickly, thankful they’re not the pair you sent to Father Zantus yesterday for healing (which is where his other lesser restorations went).
In the basement the mold has grown, if anything. It seems to reach out to you as you approach, quite unnerving the good Father who’s really not mentally equipped for all this. He takes out an aspergillum however and begins throwing holy water on the mold along with a series of prayers - intoned by Father Zantus as much for his own benefit as for the molds.
The mold reacts badly.
Abstalar Zantus pours some five vials of the stuff on the wall by the time he’s done. Writhing and smoking, the mold does what it can to resist, which isn’t much really. You all feel the urge to eat the stuff at varying times during the consecration, but you manage to resist, or are held by your allies until the feeling passes.
In the end, the smoking stops and you see a clear wall through the haze. Father Zantus is frowning however, as he goes to the wall and examines it closely. ”That’s only a temporary fix I’m afraid. This will require a Dispel Evil spell to banish completely, and that’s beyond my capabilities.”
He stands and washes his hands, creating water to do so. ”I think your plan to burn the place is a good one. But we’ll need a more powerful priest to finish the job after that. Maybe you can find someone in Magnimar?” he suggests hopefully.
”Yes, I think we can try. Surely, you know the other priests in Magnimar, would you not? Do you not communicate with other churches in your sect, Father?” Kast asks kindly, sincerely interested in the religious workings. Kast is not an overtly religious man, focusing more on his inward perfection than overt worship and prayers.
Kast begins to prepare the house for bonfirefication, setting oils in good locations and opening windows to encourage air flow.
When the oils and kindlings are set, he’ll look at Seamus, then Vmaleg. ”Who wants the honors of lighting the blaze? Too bad Kizzy isn’t here, she was the real flame.” Kast adds his memories of Kizzy into the house, having them burn as well.
I hope she’s doing perfectly.
”Yes, I think we can try. Surely, you know the other priests in Magnimar, would you not? Do you not communicate with other churches in your sect, Father?” Kast asks kindly, sincerely interested in the religious workings. Kast is not an overtly religious man, focusing more on his inward perfection than overt worship and prayers.
”Hrm? Oh. No, not really. I’m supposed to write a report every year for the church in Magnimar on doings and happenings, but I never seem to find the time. Too much to do, especially these last few years what with getting the cathedral built.”
He looks a little guilty about it, but at the same time he doesn’t seem to care much. He’s a small-town priest, more concerned with the people in his town than some far-flung city priest, telling him what to do. He figures out of sight, out of mind, so he doesn’t make many waves.
Will that make any difference once we burn the place down?" Remembering the tunnel from the well where one could theoretically bypass the destroyed home and get to the tunnels below, he continues. "Or do we need to destroy the moss before we burn it down?"
"No. I don't think it'll make any difference. Best to burn it now... while you can. There's a malevolence here, abated by the cleansing, but here none the less." He shudders as he looks at the house, backing away a bit from the soon to be burning structure.
Kast sets it alight, and moves outside to watch to be sure there are no errant fires spreading (using Create Water as needed, but hopes the rains from last night will prevent anything too big. He waits for the fire to subside, then subside more, then subside even more.
***Few hours later***
"Alright. We know what we need to do. Let's get back to Sandpoint so we can leave for Magnimar on the morrow," Kast suggests, already moving back to his horse. "Unless there is something I missed?"
Kast looks at the others. He hopes their quietness, save Seamus, is a result of the ill feeling about the Manor more than anything else.
Pouring ample amounts of oil in key areas of the structure, and ensuring good airflow by breaking a few windows, the party puts Foxglove Manor, the Misgivings, to the torch.
…or at least they try to.
When Kast attempts to light the torch, he finds it difficult to do so. Almost as if the torch itself were wet. When you do finally get it lit after some perseverance, you feel overwhelmed by fear and the house seems to darken though the sun remains out.
Kast please make a DC 20 Will save vs fear or drop the torch harmlessly and run away. Succeed, and you may try again, with another Will save against further mental intimidation.
Will
Kast drops the torch harmlessly and runs away.
”Well, that was scary,” Kast says with significant embarrassment. He looks around for the cause of the sudden fear.
The house looms over the party. Though the torch sputters, it does not go out.
Kast, you may try again, same DC but against charm monster in which case you'll befriend the house... Others may try also if they wish, facing the same fate (the charm monster).
Pachemu suffers from the fever and only holds thanks to Kast's perfect prayers.
----
Later at the manor, Izomandakus observes as the Father anoints the mold and preforms the ritual, fetching anything left of value before exiting the house.
When the party faces the manor burning, he brings his hands on the backpack "Let's do this with some style" he brings a large fireworks rocket "I still have this from the fires in Swallowtail Festival we could not launch"
But when facing the scary house, he reels back with Kast "Mmm... perhaps we should not... this place is very expensive, such a waste to burn it down..."
"Wiiiiiiii!" Pachemu nods in agreement, stepping back, and leaving Seamus as the only valiant to face the house.
Val takes a torch herself and more-or-less flicks it onto the house. She turns to the others and shrugs, smiling like satisfied cat. ”I do not see why you all—aside from Seamus—thought that was so hard. You all really should work on those mental defenses, darlings.” She winks at Seamus. ”Good job, I can tell you have made progress.”
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As Seamus and Valena overcome the will of the house itself, they lightly toss their torches into the structure.
As it begins, ever so slowly, to burn (good thing you brought so much oil!), the ground bubbles up with diseased rats and other carrion. Before long, they form ranks, and march against the party - the last vestiges of the house defense!
As I hate swarm rules, we’ll hand waive the annoyance. Father Zantus however, blows all his channel energies on the carrion swarms, screeching in fear at times as they beleaguer him. Poor man. This is really not his thing. Your combined power manages to put down the last rat swarm the house can muster.
As the house begins seriously to burn, you’re forced to step back a bit. There’s a battle taking place, timbers and windows fighting off the flames as they lick their way into the wood, and melt the lead window supports. As timbers finally catch fire, they often explode, sending flaming shards of wood in all directions. So you stand well back.
As morning turns to afternoon, the house, finally, collapses in on itself - rather more forcefully than you’d have expected as slow as it was going. The flames writhe off the manor, taking various evil shapes - or so you imagine. Keeping far away you’re untouched by the violence.
As you finish your vigil, sometime in mid-afternoon, Foxglove Manor is no longer identifiable as a structure. Oh, a few partial chimney’s still claw at the sky, and the house will smolder for days, but it is no longer a structure, and more of the evil seems to drain from it. Still, as Father Zantus warned, the evil runs deep, and will require more to overcome.
Kast tries to explain about the fear, but then lets Izo do it for him when he is also unsuccessfully pyromatic.
"Well, me and the pig failed...but I'm glad it's done," Kast agrees, still on the lookout for more attack. He was somewhat surprised the house had so much left, but maybe he shouldn't have, considering the might of the Whispering Tyrant.
"Well, looks like we can get to Magnimar. We're gunna need a bigger quote...or the right scroll. I can't believe this has been under construction for so long...and no one knew. It's weird how these little pockets of evil develop if untended."
"Alright. We know what we need to do. Let's get back to Sandpoint so we can leave for Magnimar on the morrow," Kast suggests, already moving back to his horse. "Unless there is something I missed?"
"I guess, hum, well, the spirits in the house seemed to hold stronger to Kast and myself, I guess the experience has caused more trauma on us..." Izomandakus tries to explain about the possible source of the sudden fear.
The readhead observes the house burning, standing in the courtyard, holding his staff in one hand and soothing Pachemu with the other "Unbelievable, the house itself is trying to fight the flames" he retrieves his cookies pot and chews one before passing the pot for the others contemplating the dreadful bonfire.
Tapping Father Zantus back he adds after the rats are defeated "Well done Father. Perhaps you should consider talking the job of ratcatcher back in Sandpoint. A slightly different enthralling job, perhaps more profitable in our lovely village"
"Yeah, let's escort back Father Zantus" Izomandakus takes another cookie and bites it with delight "Perhaps we are lucky and one of the fishing ships is leaving in the morrow to sell at Magnimar's port"
Kast focuses on returning to town, sure that he prefers to march on this own two feet to Magnimar, but will take a boat if that’s how it’s being done. He’s quiet tho, worried for the effect that the house on him. Scaring him away. That was less than perfect.
C’mon, Kast, be perfect.
The party returns to Sandpoint in good time for supper for a change. Father Zantus thanks them for, well, everything, and heads tiredly back to his church and sanctuary.
You spend your evening as you wish, and rise early the next day to head to Magnimar. You can, if you wish, hire a boat to take you the short distance to the city, though no one is offering you free passage. It’ll be about the same as for renting horses that long, so it’s a hand wave - just a choice.
It’s a chilly morning, Lamashan 18, a Starday, and the leaves are all a pleasant variety of fall colors. That rich smell of fallen leaves greets you as you meet in the Dragon to plan your trip to Magnimar, to exchange goods and, presumably, to investigate further.