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Beren rises the next morning. He heads down to the yard behind the inn and goes through some combat manuevers with his axe and does some exercises to get the knots out of his muscles. He then goes back in and washes up in a bowl of clean water. He makes his way back to the common room feeling ready for whatever the day might bring.
"Yeah, we could try to track her down." Beren doesn't mention that if she left with a group, and all the groups left at around the same time, finding her tracks among everyone elses would be nearly impossible. We are headed for the forest anyway, It will give us a objective rather than just stumbling around the woods"
Beren Level 3: Ranger
Class Abilities: Favored terrain (forest), Endurance Feat: Deadly Aim Skills: Acrobatics +1, Climb +1, Handle Animal +1, Knowledge (Nature) +1, Perception +1, Stealth +1, Survival +1 I will update my profile later this week, I am bombed at work.
Upon returning to the inn, Beren orders a an ale from Beltzer and sits a discrete distance from Soltin and Jazz, listening to their conversation but not horning in. He takes some time to examine the loot brought by Misha and Flint. then retires to his room to ponder his mixed feelings at leaving teh goblins alive, he falls to sleep, fingers wrapped around the braid at his neck.
To the goblin we first freed, You wait here until we return tomorrow, then you can lead us to the mountain door. I don't need to say how disappointed I will be if you are not here. Beren leaves the tower, with Variel in tow, and once the group has joined him outside he heads back to town. On the way back to town, Beren asks Trogg about the book that materialized in his pocket. What is your take on this book, do you think it is safe to use and could it help us find a way to defeat this enchanter who dominated the goblins and Varial?
Beren does not know what to do about the goblins, if they had been from his homeland he would have killed them without a thought, but the thought of them mindlessly being held against their will is repugnant to him. If he is to let these goblins go however, they will go back to attacking travelers, and he cannot abide that. "We need to free the rest of these goblins, no one should be enslaved, especially by compulsion magic. Unless someone objects."If no one objects, he removes the objects from all of their chests. Once this is done and they come around to something resembling normal he issues this warning. "Know this, should I hear of any goblin attacks on the people of this town, I will make it my mission in life to hunt and kill all of you." To the rest of the group, "We should head back to town and gear up to explore the northern forest, and try to find the mountain door."
"We are going to need you to lead us to this door in the mountain. This might be the cave that none of the townspeople can seem to remember." Beren keeps to the back of the group, not getting to close to the goblin.
"Well now I have seen it all." Beren gasps as the device is removed from the chest of the goblin. He keeps his guard up in case the goblin decides that it needs to take out his pain on the company.
Beren is taken aback by the discovery of the blocks in the chests of the goblins. He almost feels some pity for the creature. He backs off to let the magical types take a look at this new development. This place is getting stranger all the time.
Hearing Variel talk about the goblins raiding caravans sparks that part of Beren's memory that he has been running from since he left home. He becomes visibly agitated and has to move away from the goblins to keep from throttling one of them. He listens intently to Trogg, trying to bring himself back down under control. "So we have goblins in the woods north of the mountain as well as these mistfiend things. Is there any indication they are working together. I suppose there is one way to find out. Beren then walks back over to the goblins, looking for one that looks more 'intelligent' than the others and using the flat of his axe, knocks him cold. "After a few minutes, someone bring this one back around and we can question him."
to Rikaku, Well, it is only a goblin. Just make sure you don't activate the rune yourself. To Variel, What do you know about these goblins, do recognize anything about them? Are they from a tribe around here? We may be able to ransom them back to their tribe. And if so, then we will know where they are holed up, you know, just in case.
These items your friend was crafting for you, were they to be used for investigating the disappearances? We are here to do just that, and anything that would aid in the investigation would be benefitial. Determining that Varis is not hostile, Beren unties Varis and helps him to his feet.Do you have any idea where the other end of the teleportation ring in this is? Beren asks, motioning to the runes in the middle of the room.
Beren, seeing that things are in hand on the third floor, heads back down to Varis. He checks the bindings to make sure they are secure and then dumps some water on his head in an attempt to wake him. Once Varis is awake Beren sits on an adjacent box and introduces himself, You are Varis I am told, sorry for the bindings but one cannot be too careful. My name is Beren, I am the one who knocked you cold with the flat of my axe. A mist came out of your mouth when you went unconcious, so I am going to assume you are yourself again. I need you to tell me about what you remember of the last day.
Having searched the room, Beren lets the magic users puzzle out what to do with the orb and chair. Once they have exhausted their detections he chimes in, We should go downstairs and try to wake Varis, he may have some answers as to what was really going on. We also have to figure out what to do with the goblins.
Beren takes a few steps back, away from the chair and the orb. He makes room for the others that might have some knowledge of arcane things to examine them. He does however, check to see if there is any other way out of the room or stairs going up to any other levels.
Beren is shocked to see the beast still standing, and doubly so as the creatures blade strikes home. He feels blood start to trickle down his torso from the cut. He launches another attack, trying to end the battle now attack
Taste my axe doggy! Beren howls as he moves into the room and attacks the wolf headed creature. entering t he room and moving to his right so as to give a clear line to the creature to those following him. attack
At the top of the stairs, Beren throws open the door and takes a five foot step back, to allow Sventon room to use his blade. He will follow Sventon into the room ready to put his axe to good use.
stealth
Coming back down to the second level Beren relays what he has found, There is a door at the top of the stairs. Some weird mists are coming out from under the door, and it sounds as if some sort of hound is waiting on the other side. Who is up for putting the hound down and checking out what is making this mist? he turns and heads back to the stairs, pausing to see who follows.
Once Beren is convinced they have thoroughly searched this floor, Beren stealthily begins to accend the stairs to the next level, readying his axe for whatever awaits.
It sounds like there is still someone about, up on the next level. They are not making much noise, so I would wager they are aware we are down here. Beren says, motioning towards the stairs leading up. If someone would like to try that new wand out, I took a bit of a pummeling from those elementals downstairs.
Beren joins Rikaku in searching the boxes. Once he finished with that he moves to the staircase leading up to the next level and splits his attention between keeping an eye on the stairs for trouble from above and staying engaged in the others investigation of the transportation rune and the rest of the room.
Beren, standing over the limp form of Varis, says aloud, "I can't believe that worked." He removes the rope from his pack and Ties up Varis, leaving him propped up against the wall in as comfortable a position as possible. As he is moving to see what is in the crates he asks the rest of the group, Did anyone else see the mists come out of his mouth as he went down? Is that the effect of any spell that you know of?
Thinking he has heard quite enough, Beren decides to try to knockout Varis in the hope that it will break the enchantment. attack with flat of greataxe at -4 for non-lethal attack
Speaking to Varis, "While I would not want to see these goblins roaming free, I would rather put them to my axe then see them enslaved. And what you call menial labor, better men call honest work." He moves to within 5 ft of Varis. "I too am curious about who this friend of yours is, and what goods are these you are transporting?"
perception Noting the strange, almost duplicated tones in his voice, and noting the marionette like actions of the goblins, Beren replies,"There is nothing humble about enslaving the minds of others. Set these people free." As he speaks, Beren shifts the greataxe in his hands, ready to use the flat of the blade to subdue Varis and hopefully break the hold on his mind of whoever is controlling him.
That was all Beren needed to hear, he steps into the room and barks, Varis! What are you doing here? Stop this and talk to us or suffer our wrath. He moves to the left of the door, keeping the wall to his back and all the goblins where he can see them.
Seeing the goblins, Berens first impulse is to storm the room. The odd rythmmic movements of the goblins stops him short however. He waits, axe at the ready, his muscles tensed and ready to spring at the first sign of them being detected.
Beren looks about the first floor, noting that many boxes have been recently moved, and then he hears the rythmic footfalls from the floor above. He readies his axe and starts to head up the stairs behind Jazz.
Beren grunts as the blow from the other elemental catches him from behind. I knew this was going to hurt. He brings a baackswing down on the elemental he had attacked first, hoping to finish it so he can concentrate on a new foe.
Beren moves to the mound in the west end of the tower and brings the full weight of his Greataxe down on the thing. attack
Back to the dirt from whenst you came beast!
Beren is about to answer Sventon when Jazz takes off for the entrance. Augh, I get the feeling this is going to hurt. Beren falls in behind Jazz, peering at the top of the tower until he enters through the door. Once inside, He stops and lokks around and listens for anyhting coming down the stairs. Perception
Rising early in the morning, Beren goes through his equipment, packing and repacking until he is satisfied. He sits in the taproom, sharpening his axe with a whetstone and looking over his arrows, waiting for the rest of his merry band to join him.
Well that explains Varis leaving his home so suddenly. When you lost contact with him, would this have been due to some injury to Varis, or did you feel as though you were expelled. Either way, If we go rushing up there now, we will arrive exhausted and be unable to properly defend ourselves. We should rest and head for the tower at first light. If they meant to kill Varis, they will have done it by now. If he is still alive, they will keep him that way until we can get there.
"So, let's think this through. We have a cave perched over a city that no one seems to think exists. We have already several missing townspeople. We have one, Varis, who got up in the middle of writing a note warning someone about danger, and walked right out of town and met up with a group of armored people and walked off towards an abandoned tower. We have a girl in some sort of trance being held in a warehouse, where we found a map with the homes of the wealthy and little folk circled. We have another adventuring group who either did or did not cast something from a scroll in our room, and who seemed almost over eager to get to know us even though we are potential competition." Scratching at his beard, Beren chuckles, What ever happened to enter the cave, kill the monster, take their stuff?" "Well since the girl is here in our room, we should probably start with her."
Beren takes in everything as Trogg and Rikaku relay what they have been up to. Let me take a look at the map, I might be able to tell if Varis' house is one of the circled ones. I think it would be best not to involve the barkeep in something that might be dangerous knowledge." Knowledge geography take 20 + 5 + 2 circumstance from studying goblins map = 27
Seeing the dwarf and kobold pulling a woman into the taproom on a sled, Beren can't help himself. "You know, there are easier ways of finding companionship." He then moves to the door and quickly closes it. Turning to his friends he asks, What have you two been up to?"
Noticed I accidentally used the wrong profile above. Mikal should be Beren
Not wanting to alarm the barkeep and start rumors flying that might hamper their investigation, Beren decides not to mention the disappearance of Varis. We will have to go see him in the morning. Now, while I am waiting for my friends, I could use an ale and one of them stories you mentioned earlier."
Beren joins the conversation between Beltzer and Jazz, "Do you think Varis might have been the kind to double cross someone or get caught in something out of his depth? That would explain him being jumpy lately." As Beren talks to the barkeep his eyes drift over to Sventon and Ingrid dancing and he cracks a smile.
"I think we will be able to take up the trail in the morning, this many armored people cannot hope to pass without leaving a trace. Plus, it appears they have gone off to the tower their in the distance. We can start looking there in the morning when we are at full strength and with all our companions." With that, Beren heads back to the inn. and waits in the taproom until everyone has returned so he can tell them what they found and they can prepare for moving out in the morning.
Looking around the house, beren finds a vial to put the waer in from the glass and puts it in his pack. He then walks back out the front door and crouches, examining the ground to find a trail to follow. Survival (track) Take 20 + 7 = 27 Taking great care to not miss anything, Beren finds a track to follow. "This way everyone." He follows the tracks to the edge of town. Once there he tells the others, "Varis's tracks meet up with other people as there are more tracks from more creatures. They then head off towards the tower to the west. There is at least 4 people, the weight of the markings suggest they are either armed or carrying a lot. We should gather the others and investigate."
Beren rejoins Variel and Jazz, carrying the glass of water. "There is something foul about this water, would either of you be able to detect for poison on it." "I can see why the Duke is desperate to put an end to these disappearances. It looks like the Varis character up and vanished during the middle of the day. You would think someone would have seen something."
Beren searches the rest of the house and then returns to Variel and Jazz to see what they have found with the books and papers. Perception take 20 + 6 = 26
Beren approaches the door, Great axe in hand, and bends to check the ground for any signs of recent passage or if there are scuffs or signs of struggle. perception He calls into the house, "Hello, is there anyone home."He looks through the door for anything amiss without entering the house. perception
Beren feels the fresh air on his face as he leaves the tavern. Stopping he breathes in deep and looks around. Seeing that things are starting to die down, he feels a little less on edge. As he stands there trying to decide what to do next, Variel come sout of the tavern. "Variel, do you think you could show me around? I always like to get the lay of the land when we first come to a new town." He will then fall in with Variel to make a circuit of the town, looking for anyhting out of sorts.
Beren watches Clarence do his trick as he heads for the door. He thanks Diaz for the drinks and makes his way to the door.
Beren has seen this scenerio play out before, his elvish friends always seem to do well with the fairer sex. He is glad they seem to enjoy it, as it usually keeps the wide-eyed local girls from pursuing him. He starts to nervously finger the braid of hair he has tied around his neck and tunes out of the conversation, lost in his memories of home. When Trogg mentions something about seeing to our rooms, Beren snaps back to the present and sits up in his chair. "I will accompany you Trogg. I need to stretch my legs, anyway, and get a better look around this town. We could all meet up again later and share what we've learned." This last comment he delivers while cocking his eye at Jazz and Sventon. "I should like to come by your place later, Variel. I have to see what domestic life has done to you."
Beren visibly relaxes as the little goblin leaves, he sits back in his chair and listens as the conversation unfolds. Drinking deep from his second mug of ale, he looks toward the bar to see what Diaz is up to. "Ladies, do you know if there is going to be some fanfair or ceremony where the Duke will make his quest public. I would like to go talk to this Tremain, but do not want to miss anything important."
Very nice work on the map. I can't wait to get out in it.
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