'Payday' raises an eyebrow, "So there was a beast? Hmm, do you have any proof of the deed?"
Grey wolf, just as what was reported. It spoke to us, we killed it. It all fits. Waedin waves the head of the wolf in Payday's direction.
Once the party sees the town on the way back, Ustemir crafts an arm sling for his rock gauntlet and wraps it in cloth to hide the condition. When Waedin presents the head, he gingerly pats the wrapped hand. "Yep. Was a tough bastard, that one. But could look nice on a wall."
Teedum raises an eyebrow as the warg's head is presented, "It talked, huh? Thing looks pretty nasty I'll say; it'd look good mounted on my wall instead of this ol' thing."
He stands and lowers the battle-axe off a ra k on the wall and hands it over. "Belonged to my grandfather, he took it off a hobgoblin during the Strife when I was just a boy. It's no use to me other than intimidating the lowlifes. But now, with this beast on my wall, everyone will k ow who's boss around here." He laughs.
"Seems like y'all are a hand lot to keep around. Here take this," he furthermore hands over a bronze medallion with the symbol of a woodaxe on one side and a large 'K' on the other. "Usually Kreed hands these out, but it's a pass to the High Market. You can get some proper fit there. Just show it to Ayda and she'll let you in."
Waedin nods.
Fair business. Let us know if there's anything else we can help with. Waedin says.
Sebastian is seen trudging along behind the group as they do errands...
The tired, dirty, smelly, rumbled, concussed, bruised, battered, beaten, inside most likely whining halfling only nods, points (pathetically) and grunts....
As you step outside of Teedum's office, Balrus and Edgrin part ways, Balrus back to his home and Edgrin states he'll meet you back at The Compass Rose. That leaves you with the captive Verkrik, who seems silent and contemplative at this point.
Net stop is Laurel's Roots and Remedies, which requires you to take the path around the town walls to avoid paying the gate tax to get to Honey Alley on the south side of town.
Upon reaching Laurel's shop, you find the herbalist closing up for the night. She's pleasantly surprised to see you, and lets you in. Ascaede presents Laurel with the procured Ironbloom mushrooms, along with a tedious and overdrawn explanation as to the locations of their discovery.
In exchange for the curative ingredient, Laurel offers each party member any alchemical product of their choosing.
On the way to the herbalist, Ustemir keeps a keen eye on the people in the streets. Specifically, watching for anyone who looks at us suspiciously. In reference to the thugs who died when attacking the two siblings a few days ago.
Looking around the shop, Ustemir picks up a vial and reads the name. "What does this one do? Will I grow extra legs or something?", he looks at Laurel.
I'll take a Blood Booster, thank you. Can't be too safe out there.
Each party member takes their pick of item as reward and steps.ojt of the alchemists shop.
As they step.out into the night air, Ascaede announces that she now has what she came to town for and will be returning to her cloister in the morning. She bids you all.goodnight and makes her way to The Compass Rose.
You have one more person to report back to, Lady Baranova at the temple. However it's already nightfall, and the temple is located within the Council Building, within the town walls.
Do you try Lady Baranova now, or call it a night and see her in the morning?
Sebastian seems ready to collapse. The dirty, smelly, travel stained halfling is found asleep on the side of the Council building in the morning....
Having already reached the south side of town, the exhausted party decides to call it a night and see Lady Dagmara in the morning. They retreat to the adventurer's guild at the Compass Rose Inn for a warm meal, cold drink, and to check out some rooms. Danyl Konan, the inn keep, takes down the posters for the Darkmoon Beast and Elusive Antidote quests, and points out a new poster for the missing butcher, Colbrin Jabbs. Esgrin and Barlus had both informed you there was a third prisoner with them held by the kobolds.
But, that's tomorrow's problem. First order of business, get some rest.
Ustemir walks up to Danyl, still keeping his right hand in the sling and tucked under his clothes. "Hi there. So, uh, a question for you, if I could. I have a rather unconventional pet. Very friendly under normal circumstances, but pretty sizable."
He scratches his head. "Just thought you should know. It's a bear cub. Well trained, mind you. So if there are any issues with that on your end..." he leaves the sentence hanging in the air and waits for a response.
Danyl smiles and gives Ustemir a goodhearted chuckle, "Of course! All animal companions and familiars are welcome!", but then his face settles into concern, "but, what's his story?" He points to Verkrik, the kobold you have bound and leashed.
Oh.. yeah forgot about him. Waedin rubs her forehead. We're going to see if the temple wants to take him tomorrow, maybe put him to work so he learns the error of his ways.
”Hmm… Well, be sure to keep an eye on him. Kobolds are usually trouble around these parts. He’s your responsibility till then.”
Dangle offers you all a spot on the floor by the hearth. After spending three nights in The Crucible of Kamus, it’s a lovely reprieve, and you wake up refreshed and rejuvenated.
You wake to a clear cool day, although the weather continues to warm in the early spring. On the agenda is reporting to Lady Baranova at the Temple of Gerana, located in the Civic Building, at the heart of Old Hearth. Getting there requires paying the gate toll (5cp for the four of you plus Verkrik).
The town center is bustling, even in the early morning, as it is the weekend, and the woodsmen and lumberjacks have received their pay. But, the civic building remains quiet in contrast as you enter, your footsteps echoing sharply throughout the masonry halls. As you enter the Temple of Gerana, you are surprised to find Lady Baranova already in conference with Barlus and Sheriff Deldrin Baleson, who you are already familiar with, as well as two unfamiliar figures, an imposingly muscular human male, with short cropped blonde hair, a chiseled jawline, and striking sky blue eyes, and a diminutive aging gnome, with balding grey head and spectacles, he stands with a cane for support.
The four figures turn as you enter, and Lady Baranova beckons you with a welcoming wave, "Ah, there they are. Just in time too. Come in, come in. Barlus has informed us of the events of his rescue. Thank you all for your bravery.”
Sebastian seems refreshed refocused and ready for the day!
That was so warm and comfortable with all the strange people bumping and maneuvering about my personal space on the ale stained splinter gifting floor while a roaring fire (probably not health code appropriate) flares and fires sparks and smoke enough to choke a horse, which many I snuggled with smelled like.
The Bard solemnly eats, makes his Daily Preparations and readies to do town errands this morning.....
Waedin nods and makes the standard Garena motion of greeting before pushing Verkirk forward. We ended up with a prisoner. Maybe he can be useful in the temple until he's rehabilitated. then she sighs. There's a... lot happening out there Lady Baranova. There's more levels to the abandoned temple that Barlus must have told you about. We cleared out most of two levels but it is still tainted.
"Yeah, we will have to head back there and sweep the place. There's prisoners being eaten, weird overgrown and aggressive slug-like creatures dropping from the ceilings, ghosts, sentient jello..." Ustemir sighs. "It's a handful."
"Ehem..." the large man clears his throat, which has Dagmara and Deldrin stiffen, and the gnome shrinks.
Dagmara regains her composure with a polite smile, "Excuse me, please let me introduce you to the other members of our Council. This is Rikard Kreed, Gavel of the Lumber Consortium, and this is Magistrate Vamros Harg."
Vamros, the gnome tips his glasses at his introduction, but Kreed steps in front of the others and continues, "Teedum told me about you taking care of that wolf. A minor inconvenience, but it was affecting production. But, if word gets out that kobolds are out there kidnapping and sacrificing folks, our bottom line will take a hit. I can't have my men afraid to do their jobs."
Dagmara intervenes once again, "It's good that you will be returning back to the site. And perhaps it is best for the residents not to alarmed..."
Deldrin speaks up, "We can't post more guards, increase patrols, try our best to keep the peace." He gives a side eye glance to Kreed.
"There is the issue of the missing butcher... Please do your best to return him safely," pleads Dagmara.
"If only our resident wizard wasn't also missing. Perhaps Drazmorg could shed some light on this mystery," adds Vamros.
"Is there anything else you can tell us about these kobolds? The temple? Is there any other way we can help?" asks Dagmara.
The prisoners we freed and this kobold over here probably know more than we do, we just stumbled on the place, we can tell it was a holy place for Dwarves but fell into worship of the evil god of toil, but the original divinity lingers still. It would take a lot of cleansing but it can be brought back to the forces of good. Underground there's something that's creating undead and we ran into quite a few fights before we headed back. If you want, with assistance, we could go back and try and clear it out deeper. I'm looking for Drazmorg as well, does anyone know what happened to him?
Sebastian just glares at each council member with a bit of incrediousness. The Bard seems ready to turn about to resume their quests....
The town council seems stumped regarding Drazmorg's whereabouts. Your previous investigation into the matter pointed you towards The Crucible as well. Dagmara herself is perturbed by the mention of undead, but Kreed is heard muttering, "As long as they remain underground..."
"We can't send word to Bandaruhl, that's the closest dwarven settlement. Perhaps they will be interested in the claim of an ancient temple," offers Dagmara, finally. "Now, if you all come.with me, I have your reward for returning Balrus safely home, as promised."
The Council dismisses and Dagmara leads you to her private office where she gifts you a low-grade silver longsword from the temple's coffers. Balrus himself hands over a +1 shortbow for succesfully returning himself and Edgar to Hearth, "Use it on those kobolds and bring Colbrin home."
Once the other two councilmembers are not present, Ustemir walks up to Dagmara. "There's also this..." he presents his calcified forearm. "You wouldn't happen to have experience with this kind of thing, would you? Or at least pointing me in a direction. An educated guess is all I ask for."
Dagmara takes in all you have gleaned about the cursed gauntlet. "Hmm," she ponders, "To remove this will require a heightened casting of Cleanse Affliction, of a power I am incapable of. Let me see if I have such a casting as a scroll..." she strides off to dig around in a back closet.
She returns empty handed, "I'm afraid I will have to request one sent up from the temple in Darkwater Crossing. It may take a few days, and it will cost 70 gold."
Sebastian looks at Ustemir.
Ustemir the Bold Fisted!
The dromaar gives Sebastien a confused look. "Please don't call me Ustemir the Fisted again. It just sounds wrong."
He thinks. "It has a ring to it, but a heinous one. However... You're a artsy type, yeah? Want to draw an angry face on the rock fist? Like a tattoo thing? Like the last thing people will see before they're knocked out is your painting."
Then he turns back to Dagmara. "Alright. No opposable thumbs for the time being. Maybe when we get back next time? Though we might need to sell some of the stuff we found to pay for the thing in advance."
"We can send word to Bandaruhl, that's the closest dwarven settlement. Perhaps they will be interested in the claim of an ancient temple," offers Dagmara...
After meeting with Lady Dagmara and the rest of the Civic Council, it's time to hit the market. After spending several hours meeting with vendors and haggling over prices in the High Market you end up with 190.75gp.
Stepnik finds a smith who is capable of transferring potency runes onto his crossbow, but the process will take a full day.
Sebastian attends the market for haggling over the Obsidian Tablet and other curiosities that they found.
Waedin aids Seb with some combination of glaring and appeals to generosity for the people who have helped the community.
Sebastien spends some extra time hobnobbing the vendors and clientele of the High Market, a d is pointed to a certain elven collector of objects of historical import. He's willing to pay more for the obsidian tablet, but perhaps not as much as Sebastien would have liked.
Despite Ustemir's efforts to keep a low profile, your offloading of rare material weapons and art objects in the High Market does not go without notice.
Kilarin Salk, the lickspittle halfling enforcer, catches up with you, "Hey! I thought I told y'all you can't be up in here selling things without going through me first!"
Sebastian looks to the bellowing halfling and then looks at Ustemir's new handy edition. The Bard laughs.
Stepnik half listening as usual to the conversation, can't take his mind off the magical bandolier he saw at the shop when he was having his crossbow upgraded.
I must save enough coin to purchase that before someone else does. I will have trouble sleeping while thinking about it.
He finally drops back into the conversation at the halfling demanding something from the group.
"What! What do you want"?
We got license from Teedum, to do so. Look, let's just talk to Ayda and figure it out.
Kilarin gives Sebastien and Stepnik a sneer, and bawlks at Waedin, "Or..." she offers with an open palm, "you can just pay me and we can leave Ayda out of it. Word is, you folks have been peddling some fancy weaponry about,and Ayda,well she's an old mercenary type, fancies a nice axe or sword, and would likely confiscate something for her own collection. So, sure we can go to Ayda, or you can settle with me." She flashes a smile.
Ustemir looks at Kilarin and sighs in frustration. "Alright, alright." Using his healthy hand, he reaches into his pocket. Out of sight of the halfling, he counts some coins in his palm and offers his closed hand as if expecting the halfling to present her palm below.
Once she does, Ustemir drops one - single - copper - piece. "Here's your cut."
He tries to keep a serious face, but his trembling lip gives away a smile pushing into view.
Waedin groans as she holds a hand up to her forehead and shakes her head.
Sebastian laughs quite graciously!
Kilarin frowns as she looks down at the mere pittance of a bribe in her palm. But, as Sebastien laughs out loud, she returns a good natured smile and looks back up at Ustemir, "Ok. Fair enough. You folks are free to go." She pockets the single copper coin and dismisses you with a wave of her hand.
As you turn to leave, perhaps a bit thrown off by her sudden change of demeanor, you may or may not notice the nervous look on a nearby merchant's face, or the three members of the Redrock Guild moving through the crowd and closing in on your location.
Perception
Perception
Perception
Perception
Deception
Stealth
Although Stepnik's mind seems to be elsewhere, in the moment he becomes acutely present. Sebastien and Ustemir too notice the gang members closing in, clubs in hand. Waedin seems fooled by Kilarin's dismissal, but a nudge from Stepnik clues her in to the approaching danger.
"Look Out! Incoming"
◆ Attack: Throw Glue Bomb (Quick bomber, quick Alchemy) At Ruffian 1
Throw
Throw HP
◆ Stride
◆ Draw Shield
Glue Bomb: The target takes a –10-foot penalty, and the Escape DC is 17.