”You think that was Nert, Ham?"
Maybe Nert, maybe… Is it possible that the current Tafaj family members haven’t missed Nerty at all?” Hamarr speculates before the inhalation of Mystery Meat Slider #4. ”Did you ever nick something wearable from a classmate for fun and they don’t notice it missing right away; then walk around wearing it in plain sight as they search all over looking for it – only to finally notice it on you? That hat and scarf, Aelin, really bring out your eyes,” he suggests.
”I’m sure a reclusive family who doesn’t do much for centuries has nothing to hide,” he adds deliberately unconvincingly after consuming Slider #8.
The small apartment abode of Hamarr.
~~~~~~~~~
Hamarr is slightly surprised to find someone waiting at his vacant apartment door. ”Oh, er – for me?” He cautiously takes the letter and reads it. ”Oh, splendid. Yes, I would be honored to partake of tea with Master Wenumweec.” He enters his apartment and adds “lemon tea cakes” to his shopping list, along with "get new armor fixed".
Zzzzzz
~~~~~~~~~~
Refreshed after a good night sleep, he heads over to meet with his siblings for breakfast.
"...Master Wenumweec..."
Hamarr looks up at his siblings past his head-high pancakes.
”So, do we all know Master Wenumweec? Say Halvar – did your floaty stone come in a pouch with a zipper? And, I know what you mean Aelin. He definitely sized me up.”Hits: 11/11[/dice]
AC: 17(f12/t15)
Weapon: Gladius
”So, do we all know Master Wenumweec? Say Halvar – did your floaty stone come in a pouch with a zipper? And, I know what you mean Aelin. He definitely sized me up.”
"No, just a plain pouch."
"Yes, he made himself known to me. Felt like he was appraising while he praised me. Certainly curious about the invitation."
"In fact, when I think back to the conversation with him, he mentioned that 'Fidan’s children have done well.' I'm beginning to suspect that the formation of our group was not completely accidental."
Halvar returns to Hamarr. "So, any chance Master Wenumweec had you poking around the Educator's guild where you found the secret entrance?"
Olf agrees to the summons, whenever his family can get on the same page to agree on a time.
"Yeah, it's a good floating rock. Everyone loves rocks, nothing beats that," Olf replies to Halvar. He listens to Hamarr's response to Halvar's good question.
"No, just a plain pouch."
"Oh... good!" Hamarr beams.
"So, any chance Master Wenumweec had you poking around the Educator's guild where you found the secret entrance?"
"No," Hamarr shakes his head. "I just happened to notice that on my own. I don't think he knows anything about that. At least, he'd never mentioned anything like it to me. But, he probably knows we are now registered as the Wanderkin. Maybe he has a job for us." He pours more syrup over his pancakes and starts digging into them.
You each (so far!) in turn answer in the affirmative. The various servants bow lightly, ”Yes mister/mistress. I shall inform Lord Wenumweec of your answer.”
Indeed, you sleep fitfully, and awaken refreshed and ready for a new day! Hamarr succeeds at his Fort save, and wakes rather more pleasantly than he expected, and everyone heals a hit point though some of you remain lightly injured. It is March 5, 1000, and a Wednesday. Your visit with Lord Wenumweec is tomorrow afternoon.
Aelin casts his mind back and tries to think of what fashions were like then. He’s not sure but he doesn’t recall any scarf wrapped skullcaps in images of that era. I mean sure, most of what he’d have experience with would have been the nobility in their paintings, so maybe it was a common thing, but he doesn’t think so. Even if it was, Nertilian Tafaj was certainly a noble. A little research might prove the point if you care to spend the time.
Does anyone keep the headgear? After cleansing of course. Aside from a lot of hair and scalp, there's part of an ear stuck in the wrappings.
Also, you have the whole day ahead of you. How do you plant to spend it? After a hearty breakfast of course. There were discussions about going to visit Mr. Peco and picking up your licenses - assuming the process is complete. Then perhaps back underground?
Kallie is a bit boggled at the invite but hurries to tell the servant she's honored to attend. Then, with the servant seen back to their master, she goes for her foremost priority: a bath...
-----
She swings past her nearest sibling's home and walks with them to the others. "Let's get the paperwork sorted first, shall we? I imagine we'll have to go back underground, but I'd like to enjoy the sunshine for as long as we can first. And maybe we'll make enough profit from our digging that I can get a new gown before this tea. I wonder why he wants to meet us?"
"Good morning, Kallie. I just finished my morning prayers. Much to be thankful for after yesterday."
Halvar grabs his bow, his sword, his pack, and ultimately feels a bit overdressed for coffee and paperwork, but it is his normal look.
"Coffee, paperwork, and then back underground sounds good to me."
Halvar will hold onto the headgear but no prestidigitation for warpriest so will need some assistance there or he'll clean it by hand.
"Let's get the paperwork sorted first, shall we? I imagine we'll have to go back underground, but I'd like to enjoy the sunshine for as long as we can first. I wonder why he wants to meet us?"
”You know the only reason to get out of bed is the sunshine, right?’ Olf agrees with staying outdoors, in the sun, as long as possible, and is ready to visit Peco after his morning absolutions.
”We’re probably going to want to pick up a crowbar for that sticky door down below. I can spend some of what we collected yesterday to get that,” Olf suggests, thinking to buy a crowbar. If the party passes through the crowbar district on their walks, he will pick one up.
”Goodness, would any of you happen to have a touch more healing? I managed to not catch something from that filthy undead, but I’m still feeling rather poorly.”
Gertrude will assist in cleaning up the headgear with her cantrip.
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"I've been planning on owning a crowbar of my very own. I'll buy it from you once I have the means. Do we need to pick up a healing wand also?"
"OH, while you are at it --" Hamarr says to Gertrude, throwing his broken new armor into the washing cantrip, "do you mind?"
"I've been planning on owning a crowbar of my very own. I'll buy it from you once I have the means. Do we need to pick up a healing wand also?"
"Yeah, sure," Olf says about the crowbar, not really having a use for it on the open road, but isn't sure the party can afford a wand yet. "Do we have enough for a wand? That would surprise me. But I'm no accountant, or trader. Do we?"
Olf will look to purchase a pass-me-down crowbar.
After a very leisurely breakfast, as a group then you return to Volset Peco basement office. Briken, his servant, greets you warmly and offers some late morning coffee. He even offers to go out and scrounge some excellent scones ”From just around the corner!” if you feel a little peckish for second breakfast.
It’s not long though before Mr. Peco invites you into his inner office, chairs comfortably arranged. ”My new found friends!” he shakes each hand as he guides you to your seats. ”Welcome on this glorious morning. I do believe the rain has passed us and a few sunny and warm days bless us - do they not?”
"Goodness, would any of you happen to have a touch more healing? I managed to not catch something from that filthy undead, but I’m still feeling rather poorly.”
"Gertrude, a moment." Aelin looks his sister over. "You certainly could use some nursing. I'm not entirely certain it will work, but I am honored by the Knights Hospitaller, and sport a medal that might give us the service of a single burst of healing this day. They may thump me for ignorance, and inform the both of us that the medal only applies to me, personally, but the sentiment of it feels like I am able to petition for their help, even if it's not for me. Care to join me later, and test their generosity? This later will need to be before we take any further risks underground, of course."
...
Aelin takes a spot in the back of Peco's Perch, but speaks loudly enough to reach the front.
"Any news, good man? We'd like to learn if we're embossed in all the right places."
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Gertrude rolls her eyes at Hamarr’s request, but she cleans his armor and clothes without a word, as she always does. Being one of many siblings and knowing Prestidigitation has its downsides, which she has long ago accepted.
Gertrude restrains a chuckle at Aelin’s earnestness. ”I certainly am in no position to refuse an option for healing. I do warn you though: if they try proselytizing, I shall not hold my tongue.”
Aelin smirks. "Then we shall test their patience as well."
"I can heal once a day," Kallie says with a little frown. "If Aelin's contacts would heal you before we go down again, that might save mine for an emergency or a fight."
Halvar internally debates the benefits of healing Gertrude now or later but ultimately decides on the present.
"With Uller's strength I will see to your wounds, sister. It's my faith and his generosity that allows this. Your beliefs may remain your own."
--
Halvar awaits Peco's answer to Aelin's question.
Olf greets Mr. Peco aloofly, more worried by the healing and injuries before planning to return underground. He gloomily waits for answers to the question posed to Mr. Peco and what other hoops need to be jumped through.
”Thanks, Gertrude!” Once it is properly disinfected he dons the broken armor.
He is much impressed by his older brother’s kindnesses to his older sister, unlike himself.
"I'm sorry, I'll try to do better."
Olf will look to purchase a pass-me-down crowbar.
”Oh, nevermind. I’ll just buy the thing with my money.” He tries out the balance of every single option briefly before swiftly choosing one. ”Do you think we should also pick up some oil?” he asks, looking for an easy convenient source down a well known alley.
"Just put it on my tab!" he calls out to the vigilant Maître du 'Les frères Cuivre'.
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Gertrude is healed over breakfast, before you arrive at Volset’s office.
”Do you think we should also pick up some oil?” he asks, looking for an easy convenient source down a well known alley.
Hamarr may have nearly fumbled the bottle as he tried to casually pick it up from the table, but the head waiter of the Copper Brothers (link) tavern was looking the other way and doesn’t notice the theft. By the time it’s noticed, Hamarr is gone…
- - -
Volset again leans against the front of his desk as he chats with you - full of energy.
"Any news, good man? We'd like to learn if we're embossed in all the right places."
”Yes, by all means, let’s get down to business. I went to the government offices within hours of our meeting, a sheaf of papers in hand!” He grabs a random stack of documents from the desk behind him. He shakes it in the air for emphasis before putting it back in the same pile almost without a glance. ”And we were victorious! A signature here, a rubber stamp there, and embossed impressions all round - and you are official! The WanderKin…” he emphasizes the ‘K’, ”are a legal entity and you are officially adventurers. Congratulations!”
He takes out half-sheets of paper, with a bit of flowing calligraphy, though obviously taken from a zinc etching - so it's a government form all right - but there are a few hand written words done in flowing script. Your names, and the name of the group. He reads each one aloud with a flourish, handing your licenses to each of you. ”Now you don’t need to keep this on you or anything like that. But you do need to present it to authorities within a day of making a claim on your rights. Most parties, if they’re any good, will be known to the constabulary by reputation anyway, so it’s really just a badge of how important you are. At some point, you don’t really need it, you know?”
He also takes out a larger sheet, done with a beautiful calligraphy, and itself a small work of art. In the center, boldly, it reads ’Wanderkin’ and above and below are a few words of praise, phrases like ‘on this day shall be created’, and ‘be it known that’, etc., etc. ”I had this done by a cousin.” Volset says grinning, ”Suitable for framing. You should hang this in your hall, when you get one. It’s the announcement of your group! I’d have also put the announcement in the weekly, if we were doing the marketing for you. Something to consider.” He adds with a mischievous grin.
”But enough sales! This is a red-letter day, and it shall be recorded thusly in my diary."
"Now. What can I do for you before you depart to do adventurous things.” He smiles, fully ready to accede to nearly any request.
Halvar realizes he suddenly has many questions now that it's official.
"When we find something of interest, how do we go about making a claim? What can we make a claim on? Do we have to do it immediately? Only after we try to sell some goods? Only when the authorities become involved?"
Aelin nods as Halvar rolls out several good questions. The half-elf peppers the meal with one of his own, as his brother finishes the first salvo of situationals.
"Let's say one of us is more adventurous than his, or her, brethren. Does this license allow us to work independently of each other, our own ring of the circus, as long as we're under the same tent?"
Aelin subconsciously looked briefly at Hamarr while posing the question, and bringing his sisters into the hypothetical.
Olf is surprised at how surprised *and pleased* he is by the formal documentation that has been done. He wasn't expecting anything so...nice and calligraphied.
"Wow! I wasn't expecting it to be so nice, I mean, uh, it's very nice, very formal, very...uh...*real*," Olf says, waiting for his mind to catch up with his awe.
As he feels gobsmacked, he doesn't know what to say or ask for next. He thinks Halvar's question is as good as anything he's heard and waits for an answer.
Really dicebot? Two 1's in a row?
- - -
"When we find something of interest, how do we go about making a claim? What can we make a claim on? Do we have to do it immediately? Only after we try to sell some goods? Only when the authorities become involved?"
”Oh it’s pretty flexible. Pretty much you’re just like regular citizens, but when you do encounter the law, you have some extra protection and responsibilities. So your ‘claim’ only really happens when you bring it to the authorities, if you do. You’re not required to either. But if there’s something sticky, the law recognizes that you’re, well, formally involved. But reputation counts for a lot in those cases.”
"Let's say one of us is more adventurous than his, or her, brethren. Does this license allow us to work independently of each other, our own ring of the circus, as long as we're under the same tent?"
”Well, as you say, you’re all under the same tent. So what one of you does, you all more or less agree to. At least as far as the law is concerned. But it’s easy protection. If one of you does something that the others disagree with, you can always formally remove them from the adventuring group to avoid sanctions of one sort or another - usually a fine. Then the fine would settle on the removed member. Worst case, you dissolve the adventuring party and force the constables to address each of you individually which is sometimes what they're after anyway as there's less protection then.”
”I have heard of that happening, but it’s been a while. Usually adventurers just pay the fine for whatever happened, and move on. Easy.”
"Wow! I wasn't expecting it to be so nice, I mean, uh, it's very nice, very formal, very...uh...*real*," Olf says, waiting for his mind to catch up with his awe.
"Why thank you!" Volset grins proudly. "I'll pass your pleasure along to the artist. You should have something to show for your efforts after all!"
"Thank you for all your assistance. We'll be sure to contact you once we can fulfill our obligations to you. If no one else has any questions, I believe there's somewhere else we should be headed."
Halvar heads for the door after shaking hands with Peco.
Olf shakes his head in continuing disbelief at the ornate nature of the documents. He smiles. He doesn't get it, as nothing this nice usually happens to him.
Eventually, he knows he'll be back to digging or bashing down doors, but for now, he's happy.
Having remained silent while business is negotiated, Hamarr speaks up once out of earshot of the Tiefling. He looks over his shoulder once in awhile.
"Is it just me, or is it weird that they created that ornate document for us? It feels like a 'free prize'—the kind you find at the bottom of a box of inferior oats. It's as if they have to entice you to buy the product because the prize is the only worthwhile thing about it.
Maybe I’m overthinking it. This scroll is nice, but we haven’t done anything noteworthy yet. What is that thing made of, anyway?"
He takes a closer look at the work.
"Maybe we should have asked to meet the artist. I guess we'll have to find a hall now in which to hang this. No pressure."
Hits: 11/11[/dice]
AC: 17(f12/t15)
Weapon: Gladius
Halvar heads for the door, and the party, presumably, follows. Volset Peco escorts you out, smiling and waiving. ”Have a good day, and enjoy the sunshine. So warm and nice today.”
Once outside, you meander down the street, discussing what just happened, and your next options.
Whoever did it took their time to do it right, but they didn’t really push. No dramatic flourishes - except where called for of course. Still, it’s good work.
- - -
"It's so fancy," Kalendra murmurs of the document. Though she admires the artistry, it's all a mere formality as far as she's concerned.
"What now, 'WanderKin'? Go back below? Try to open that chest we found? And the most important question of all-- whose house will get to host the hanging?"
"What now, 'WanderKin'? Go back below? Try to open that chest we found?"
Olf doesn't really have a house to hang anything...yet, but maybe someday.
"Aren't we going back down? We have that other door to open as well. Let's get to it. We're not making any money today unless we get to work," Olf says, beginning to realize that this was now his job.
"Let's finish clearing out the dungeon and then see if we can salvage anything for our efforts."
And then what? Halvar wonders. Will we need to seek out some other adventure to pay Peco back? It seems we must.
The party returns to their delve, though feel free to continue chatting, descending deep into the earth, to return to the lower floor. You have two choices before you, the electric door, or the stuck door? I believe you have some oil now to help manage the stuck door.
When you’ve decided, please remember to put yourself on the map - otherwise you’re trusting me to place you. :)
After removing his armor to safely traverse the acid, Halvar sets up on the locked door with bow in hand.
"This door is first on our way, and I don't have any ideas about opening the other door yet other than letting Aelin add it to his list of experiences. Maybe there's a solution along with more undead behind this door."
"Yeah, seems like the stuck door is the easier door, so let's do that first. If the oil doesn't work, then the crowbar should," Olf says, leading the way down. He will have Sunstroke out and have his hand on his fun new cloak.
When he gets to the stuck door, he will examine the area, and once it's safe, make room for the door opener to function.
Perception
Aelin chuckles. "Another day, another line item. I like it. I'm all for spectating while our strongers better the next door." The half-elf looks over at his inquisitive sister.
"You're probably the most leveled-headed of us all. That's bound to command a certain level of respect, where your wall hangings are less likely to be challenged by visitors." Aelin tilts his head. "How many visitors do you have a week, sister?"
Hamarr gathers some acid from East Acid Lake as the group makes their way to the locked door.
He carefully pours the acid over the lock to remove the worst of the rust, then oils it with ‘L’Huile des Frères Cuivre’.
The faint scent of early season olive oil and sage lazily drifts through the air.
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Gertrude provides an extra pair of hands and her own expertise to assist
Olf stands ready to charge in or backwards or wherever should a threat reveal itself. He was still getting used to the idea of this family being in danger, and there was a lot worse threats than losing one’s toe to a hill giant.
The party settles in just beyond the ‘stuck’ door and Hamarr steps up to the door. He oils the various bits of the stuck locking mechanism and goes to work with his picks. On his first try, with Gertrude’s support, you all hear the loud click of a lock being pulled back! The door itself is a bit stuck, but nothing you can’t handle with a little brute force.
You open the door and you see a warmly lighted room! Lit not by continual light sconces, but rather from pure sunlight, reflected in from far above, through a series of mirrored shafts culminating in sunlight streaming in from the south as if through a window. Fascinating.
You are wondering what this chamber might have been used for other than sunbathing, when a creature flies up into the air from the shaft. This vaguely humanoid creature is about the size of a cat but looks more like a toothy, winged devil. Again though, in the style of Hel, half the creature looks rotted, while the other half looks pretty. Well, pretty to a toothy, winged devil!
"You're not my master! Where is my master?! You killed my master!” It doesn't wait for a reply, or in its clearly unbalanced state, couldn't wait. It descends and attacks, practically frothing at the mouth. The more observant of you spy a diamond pendant, gleaming in the sun, around the creature's neck.
A homunculus is a miniature servant created by a spellcaster from his own blood. They are normally weak combatants though this one looks a little tougher than most. Normally, they make effective spies, messengers, and scouts. A homunculus’s creator determines its precise features; some are more refined looking, but most creators don’t bother to improve the creature’s appearance beyond the minimum necessary for functioning.
This caster did improve the creature's appearance slightly. But in a mimicry of Hel once again, half the creature looks rotted while half looks pretty.
One question for each five you beat the DC as usual. However, you’ll get one question less then you’re entitled to as there’s special information to be imparted. So if you rolled a 16, you’d only get the special information. If you rolled 21, you’d gain a question, etc.
- - -
Round 1, Init 20
Olf moves into the chamber, readying a blow should the creature attack, he has one hand on his cloak.
to hit;
damage;
AC 16, touch 12, flat-footed 14 (+4 armor, +2 dex, sometimes +2 shield)
hp 10/10
Spells:
Combat:
to hit;
damage;
to hit;
damage;
Olfactions:
Good feet 3 per day
Anti-Law 3 per day
Round 1, Init 22
AC = 18/12/16
HP = 10/10
Weapon Equipped = Cutlassë
Condition(s) = None
"Unreal. Can't say I've ever seen anything like that." Barely entering the chamber, it's hard to say if the half-elf is referring to the natural light, or the unnatural creature...
Seeing his older brother take a readied stance, Aelin does the same.
Hamarr darts into the room past his brethren avoiding the middle of the floor and strikes the ugly thing.
”No worries, your misery ends here.”
for
and
Hits: 11/11[/dice]
AC: 17(f12/t15)
Weapon: Gladius
Olf watches Hams rush right by him, ignoring good, practical warcraft and cohesive teamwork. He sighs.
Aelin steps up and readies as does Olf, both tempting the creature - whatever it is - to come to them. Hamarr speeds past them, and tries to swat it out of the air - taking advantage of precision damage. He hits, though the creature manages to stay in the air (auto succeeds fly check).
It turns its nasty, if short, teeth on Hamarr.
and DC 13 Fort save or fall asleep 1 minute
Alas, it cannot connect, though it flutters around Hamarr's head angrily.
Round 2, Init 15
Olf moves up to help Hamarr.
to hit;
damage;
AC 16, touch 12, flat-footed 14 (+4 armor, +2 dex, sometimes +2 shield)
hp 10/10
Spells:
Combat:
to hit;
damage;
to hit;
damage;
Olfactions:
Good feet 3 per day
Anti-Law 3 per day
Round 1
Halvar knows a bit of joy as the coin toss comes up bow for him this time. He moves up and shoots over Gertrude's head if she's still standing there.
Gertrude is too surprised by the screechy little creature to remember what it is so she just fires off an arcane bolt before moving into the room.
HP: 9/9
AC: 16/12/14
Saves: F2/R2/W4
Arcane Bolts Used 3/7
Spells Active: mage armor
0: (Detect Magic, Light, Spark, Prestidigitation)
1: 1/4 used (Burning Hands (DC 16)x0, Mage Armorx1)
"Aelin... .strike true!" Kalendra whispers as she pats her brother's shoulder.
Round 2, Init 22
AC = 8/12/16
HP = 10/10
Weapon Equipped = Cutlassë
Condition(s) = Guidance
Aelin nods to his sister, the warm feeling in her hand traveling into his sword arm. He spends more time appreciating what magic can do than he does concentrating on actually hitting the imp. "Quite wonderful enhancement, Sister. I can feel the heft of the blade made lighter."