Kells eye lighten a bit, and he looks more like his normal self. "The search for a mine to invest in goes... nominally. The mining for good hearts and good people is ushering forth a mother lode."
Darie's frown remained on her face as the discussion continued. She looked at the druid trying to make up her mind. "Well, anyway... have you met my family lately? The Billown's, three farmhouses out of town. About fifty people, all told."
"Fifty ya say, an yer sure yer not bein' a dwarf? Well met lass, and well met to the rest o' ya as well." Grond chuckles at his own joke, a big smile on his scarred face.
Thats good to hear, what is it you lads...and lasses, been up to, you seemed kind of grim when we happened upon you?
"No, no," Kells chuckles "We've been doing a little exploration out this way and that's going quite well. I guess mucking out the well left me moody, is all. We have a few days before we head back, I think. I think we can use another couple pairs of hand if you want to go with us next time. Tobin, if you need to attend any family matters, you know we will wait for you to get back."
"I'll go see what I can scrounge up," Kessel mumbles as he turns back to the woods. Kessel didn't exactly feel like talking at the moment. Finding something to eat was a welcome diversion and his as his memories come flooding back to him Kessel finds that the task comes easy to him.
Elian quietly follows Kessel from a distance.
Kessel grumbles to himself for a moment then sighs:
"You know I'm not going to make a break for it," he finally says, "so why don't you help me hunt?"
"So how is it that you've come to work for my sister?" Kessel eventually asks towards the end of the hunting trip. Kessel didn't resent other men coming into his sister's life, and if she were to marry she'd likely be too busy to interfere in his affairs, but Kessel also knew that the last thing his sister needed was to surround herself with lackeys. She needed people capable of independent thought.
"While we train, we work closely with the druids, sometimes study with them. We train to become the steel against steel, since for them it is forbidden. While they embrace all of the natural world, we learn the nature of the predator to better protect."
He begins bleeding the buck the two men managed to bring down.
"When we are ready, most of us are assigned to a younger druid to be their warder, while the most talented is awarded the honor of choosing their charge. As the recipient of this honor I chose your sister."
Elian pauses for a moment deciding how much to say.
"She...impresses me. There is great strength in her ad much wisdom as well, yet a deep fire as well. She actually declared no need of protection, challenging the tradition of the council. I challenged her allowing her to select three tests of skill after which she would have to accept me as her warder. The first two are a story for another time, but the third is to 'protect her wayward brother while he finds his true path'."
"Judging by the past few days, you seem to have set foot in the right direction at least. So there you have it. I am your guardian for a time, until I officially become hers. Interestingly enough in resisting she could not have done more to deserve my protection."
Tobin comes tumbling out of the ramshackle building's doorway, skidding to a halt and grinning at the sight of his friends all gathered around the well.
"No, no," Kells chuckles "We've been doing a little exploration out this way and that's going quite well. I guess mucking out the well left me moody, is all. We have a few days before we head back, I think. I think we can use another couple pairs of hand if you want to go with us next time. Tobin, if you need to attend any family matters, you know we will wait for you to get back."
"No, no, Kells," Tobin says, "it's just my old ma worrying herself for no reason, as usual. There's no reason to traipse all the way back to town on that account." He pauses, looking thoughtful. "I don't suppose there's any way you can send a message back to her, Grond, saying that we're both okay? It would be great if you could stay with us for a bit!"
"Yer ma's got plenty o' length on her apron strings to be tiein' a few more worry knots. Now that I be knowin' yer okay I be thinkin' that will be doin' her some good. She's got to be figurin' out that yer growin' up somehow. Now tell me whats been goin' on since I last saw ya."
"She is destined to go far I think," Kessel says, silently gauging the elf, "We come from powerful blood, but you should know I have no intentions of being her lackey. I love her and would do almost anything for her but I'm not going to return to the lodge just to do her bidding. When I returned from collage, after the unpleasantness, I almost allowed myself to fall back under her spell . . . perhaps she was concerned for me, I have been slightly depressed lately, perhaps she thought she was giving me a purpose again, but she should know that I'm out here because I couldn't let myself fall back into our childish hierarchy. I've changed, she might not see it because I was feeling vulnerable at the lodge, but I am very much my own man now . . ."
Kessel glances at the elf, his dark hazel eyes seeming to bore into the rangers soul, and then suddenly Kessel turns away:
"I'm not sure why I'm telling you this," he says, "Morra hasn't sent you to spy. I guess I just want you to know the situation a little better. Join our group if you like, your bow might come in handy, but please don't act as my personal guardian. It makes me feel weak and makes others think I'm something I'm not. Let's please just act as companions."
Kells sighs "Well, while I'm mucked up nearly beyond recognition, I should go ahead and continue to be useful. What other things can we do to this little bungalo? Darie? Tobin? You have any heavy lifting you need me to do? Thane and I can wrestle around some of the bigger rubble if we need to shore up any walls or clear anything out entierly. Grond and Grishnak look like stapping lads who aren't adverse to helping either."
Kells sighs "Well, while I'm mucked up nearly beyond recognition, I should go ahead and continue to be useful. What other things can we do to this little bungalo? Darie? Tobin? You have any heavy lifting you need me to do? Thane and I can wrestle around some of the bigger rubble if we need to shore up any walls or clear anything out entierly. Grond and Grishnak look like stapping lads who aren't adverse to helping either."
"Aye lad, I'll not be complain' if ya need a bit o'help get this place put back right. Let's be gettin' inside and see what needs doin'." Grond strolls around the building once and then turns his attentions to the inside looking for ways to help make the building weather proof and safe.
"Well I gave her my word. But I suppose a companion you stand by is better able to defnd you than a bodyguard you continuously attempt to evade. I am sure she only wished you the best, in her own way. From what I understand, in some ways, you are all she has. Don't punish her for being afraid to lose you."
Elian extends his hand. "Agreed Kesell Cobey, companions it is."
Elian and Kessel can easily find food between them, mostly berries and herbs in the way of plantlife and then the odd huntable animal, rabbit being the easiest to capture and carry back to the mine office.
Meanwhile the work on the office goeas steadily, the place becoming increasingly livable. Grond discerns that there is no odd stonework but a great deal of the rock in collapsed areas of the office is perfectly reusable for rebuilding.
THE MAP
The Yard:
The entire yard is considered difficult terrain except for the small path leading up to the building. Clearing the yard requires 20 total hours of work and makes the yard normal terrain. Behind the building, a stone well rises up out of the weeds. Although the bucket is gone, the water is clean, if a bit brackish. In the back, the remains of a wooden outhouse lie in an unrecognizable heap. Rebuilding the small structure requires DC 10 Craft (carpentry) skill checks until the value of the completed structure reaches 20 gp. There is no cost for this construction as all the raw materials are present.
The Porch:
Part of the front porch has collapsed, but it still allows entry to the building. The two exterior doors are damaged but are still sound and easily repaired with an hour’s worth of work and a successful DC 15 Craft (carpentry) skill check. The locks on the doors are rusted beyond repair and must be replaced (see page 128 of the Player’s
Handbook for prices). The walls and doors have the following statistics:
Wooden Doors: 1-1/2 in. thick; hardness 5; hp 15; Break DC 18.
Stone Walls: 1 ft. thick; hardness 8; hp 90; Break DC 35; Climb DC 20 (15 with vines).
The Exterior:
Clearing the debris from around the building and the second floor requires a total of 40 hours of work. Most of this debris is still suitable for repairing the building and offsets much of the cost.
Repairing the outer structure of the building requires DC 15 Craft (stoneworking) skill checks until the value of the completed structure reaches 200 gp. This repairs all the walls on the first floor, including those in the living room and the porch. The second floor requires much more work and is completed when the value of the structure reaches 500 gp. This construction requires only 1 gp of raw material for every 10 gp of construction completed if the present materials are used (as opposed to half the cost).
The windows cannot be repaired and must be either boarded over or replaced. Replacing a window costs 2 gp and 1 hour of work for each window.
The Interior:
The first floor of the manor consists of five chambers. The largest of these is the living room, part of which has completely collapsed.
Directly to the right of the living room space is what was once an office. The bookshelves and desk have thoroughly rotted and what few tomes and mine maps remain are ruined and illegible.
Adjoining the living room is a sizable dining room. Any furniture that remains in the room is completely soiled and worthless.
The kitchen contains an actual fire pit, but the chimney is blocked and must be cleared before it can be used.
The pantry, attached to the kitchen, has a number of empty and broken shelves along with two empty barrels. A staircase in the living room is choked with debris and leads to the remains of the second floor. Another in the kitchen leads to a crude cellar.
The second floor of the manor is in complete ruins. Although there is no roof in its current state, the floor above prevents most of the rainwater from leaking into the first floor.
The cellar is partially collapsed, but stable at the current time. Along one wall, a crumbling wine rack still stands, although others have already plundered it, leaving a pile of empty and broken bottles at its base.
The interior can be cleared of debris with 20 hours of work. The first floor can then be renovated with an additional 40 hours of work and 50 gp in supplies (paint, replacement floor boards, and plaster).
Renovating the interior of the second floor requires successful DC 15 craft (carpentry) skill checks until the value of the construction reaches 200 gp. Since the damage here is so extreme, you must pay half the construction value for raw materials.
Stocking the manor with the appropriate furniture and necessary supplies requires 200 gp. This cost includes beds, chairs, rugs, tables, and kitchen supplies. This makes the place basically functional and comfortable enough for complete bed rest
Increasing this expenditure to 1,000 gp along with repairing the rest of the structure as noted earlier, gives the owners a +2 circumstance bonus on Diplomacy and Intimidate checks made inside against those impressed by wealth (typically the poor and merchant classes).
Kells will grab Tobin and set to work cleaning out the kitchen chimney. Once it's cleared out, we can break up some of the rotten/broken furniture and shelves and dispose of it as firewood. Once we get that taken care of, Kells will assist Grond and Thane moving rock wherever they direct.
Darie wordlessly began to clear up the outsides of the debris, overgrowth and filth. She was very careful to not soil herself or damage her clothes too much.
She talked little once again, only when something was absolutely required to complete the task, such as moving a boulder she could not lift on her own.
|
Grishnak pitches in helping clear the house of debris. When he catches a rodent, he snaps it's neck and ties it's tail to his belt. At the end of the day he goes out to the yard and makes a small barbecue. He doesn't offer any of the delicious rat to his new friends, knowing that they would likely be too squeamish to enjoy any of it.
Grond wanders in an out of the building exploring the layout and sharing his knowldege on which stones can be reused and which ones need to be removed. He sets to work moving rock and debrie away from the structure while creating a neatly stacked pile of salvageable materials closer by. "Seems to me it's goin' to be takin' a good bit o' time and gold to rebuild this place. Tobin, we out to be roundin' up all the farmsteaders and get 'em out here to raise this place up. I'd be bettin' we could be done with her in a days time if we be doin' that."
"Not a good idea" Darie replied towards the dwarfs idea. She closed the distance with a few swift steps, and vaguely pointed into the Cairn's direction. "Lots of people already know what we're doing. Too many, probably. Adding another dozen or two will just lead in dozens of people competing with us for what we plan to find."
"So yer ou lookin' for somethin special. I think ya best be tellin' the rest o' us who just joined ya what it is we be lookin' for, why we be lookin' for it, and who else be lookin' for it."
Kells stops shifting rock around for a moment and gives a sigh as he rubs a shoulder. "Well, we're not looking for anything in particular. There ia a...trio? I guess? They are out of Waterdeep and one of them is a guy named Auric who's a Champion of Waterdeep and his leader named Khellik, or something close to that. Anyway, Auric was talking about going and looking for artifacts and information from Stirgenest Cairn, and that spurred us to the thought that it might be both a lark and a learning experience to look at the one Tobin and Kessel knew about. It has some old gensai artifacts."
"Now I be understandin'. Mind if I be lookin' at what ye already found?"
Kessel returns to camp:
"The mighty hunters have returned," Kessel says laying out the bounty that Elian and he scrounged up, "Sadly I know nothing about cooking and will need someone else to attempt that art. I think my upbringing was purposefully void of culinary skills so that I'd never survive as a bachelor. What the naive fools failed to realize is that food in the city can be found both cooked or uncooked, with only a slight difference in the price."
Darie looked at the food Kessel had provided, and her stomach growled audibly, which send her into a heavy blush. "I can try it, but I am not a really gifted cook. Still, it should be good to eat."
Kells nods with a smile as his eyes gleam with the thought of a really good meal "Oh, yes! And Tobin and I cleaned out the chimney in the kitchen. We've been breaking down and piling all the broken furniture over there, so we've makings of a nice fire."
"Now yer talkin'. Let's be gettin a fire goin'." Grond starts to pile some tinder and smaller bits of wood into the fireplace so that a fire can be lit and food cooked.
Kessel sits down and plays his lute while the others prepare supper. His music is calm and relaxing.
Once the hunters return and the food is set on to cook, Kells goes out to get some clean water from the well to wash some of the filth off of himself. Comes back in a much more pristine state.
Grond enjoys the lute music while he fills his belly with a hot meal. As the group is gathered around he brings up thier current explorations agin. "So ye been findin'some old Gensai artifacts already? What bein' our plan for searchin' for more o' em in the Cairn and what dangers be lurkin' in there waitin' for us?"
"We had a partial cave-in in one section," Kessel says as he continues to play, "one of the ancient lifts collapsed in upon itself leaving only a a jagged shaft, but thankfully one that we can easily climb down. We started exploring that today but Darie grew light headed and we never finished. I think we might finish our exploring there tomorrow.
I should tell you, by way of a warning, that the darn place was infested with bugs and there may be more dangers that we're unaware of."
"That sounds interesting to say the least."
"Big bugs an' relic huntin' sounds like it 'ill be a good time."
"Well, the mortal danger was a bit of a letdown." Darie let slip, blushing slightly. She was growing a bit too easy into the situation. There was not much she could go on here, but already she was beginning to trust them. Inwardly she chided herself, but it wouldn't help, she knew.
"Darie, lass, ya gots notin' to fear out o' us." The druid says sensing her hesitations around the newcommers.
"Alright," Kessel says looking to the food, "let's eat, I suspect we'll have a big day tomorrow and we'll want to face it on a full belly."
Kessel set's down his lute so share in the makeshift feast.
Darie pursed her lips, and her look became almost hostile for a moment. This had probably been the exact wrong thing to say to her. Still, she remained by the meal, and dug in. After all, she had no supplies left herself, and who knew when she was going to eat next.
Kessel eats his share and smiles (regardless of the actual quality of the food) and says, "That was very good, I think we can hold of on going back to civilization for a few days if we can eat like that every night, but one does miss wine and cheese and some of the other amenities. I wonder if this property is for sale? Perhaps we might also make a claim on the cairn, it would keep us safe from claim jumpers like Smink, and would ensure whatever we pulled up would be our own property. We'd need to do that subtly though."
Darie grimassed. "I don't think going to the city is a good idea, Kessel. I heard that as soon as you put something like that down in writing, some Whaterdhavian advocate jumps up, and steals it from you with some gibbergab about taxes, primacy of noble blood and what not."
She put some more herbs into her meal, and chewed thoughtfully. "If you can hold on to it, it's yours. That's what the cityfolks always do, so why shouldn't we?"
Kells scrunches his nose in contemplation. "I understand your concern, Darie... especially since Daggerford has so many disreputable institutions surrounding the mining industry, but I would prefer to stay within the legal framework. Does anyone know anything about squatter's rights around here?"
Kells scrunches his nose in contemplation. "I understand your concern, Darie... especially since Daggerford has so many disreputable institutions surrounding the mining industry, but I would prefer to stay within the legal framework. Does anyone know anything about squatter's rights around here?"
"Squatter's rights generally apply to people that have been living there for quite some time, a year maybe? Two, five ten? No idea, but I'm thinking three days isn't nearly long enough. I'm going to guess that the town doesn't want old abandoned mines or buildings going to rot, they're not taxable, we might be able to pick this place up for next to nothing. Maybe nothing? Maybe we might be able to get away with paying some of the back taxes or for the price of fixing the place up."
Darie pondered the viewpoint for a moment, then added "I see what you are tring to do. But I don't think we're doing anything illegal here, as long as its an abandoned ruin, we'll just be squatting. If we take on the deed, we'll be responsible. I don't know if we even want to stick along after we are done with the cairn."