"Turn back? No. Let's move forward and find an open field. Take away the chance for more cover than the tall grass. You can try to make nice with the thing there, while Akiros and I both can maintain a better line of sight."
Freya nods. "Fair enough...although a lone wolf hunting isn't terribly likely to be reasoned with."
Josef taps his bow. "Not often this sees much use. Looks like it might here, though. Think I should have the animal slaying arrows ready?"
Lisl is quite busy; the arrival of the materials for construction of the temple seems to come as a surprise. Already she has spent an entire day just doing the paperwork - receipts for shipment, contracts for workers, letters back to the archbishop with effusive thanks for the material and spiritual assistance.
When Isabel comes to see her, Lisl is looking over architectural plans and nodding as a mason explains the design. Occasionally he will turn and point at the castle, then make a broad gesture with his hand to describe how the temple will change the skyline. Lisl nods along, following his finger as he points out elements of the design or reflecting his enthusiasm about the project. She pulls away with a brief "excuse me, please" when Isabel arrives.
"Honestly, I have no idea how to read those plans," she says. "But keeping the masons happy will get the work done better." She puts a hand on Isabel's arm and says, "Now, what's this about not feeling well? Stomach ailment? Dizziness? Palpitations? Fatigue? Of course I will do whatever I can to help."
Josef & Freya
Once it sees you have noticed it the Wolf pauses and seems to study you for a moment, then it slinks away from your path.
What are you doing now?
Darian, Isabel & Lisl
Jory & Ludi arrive back and report on a successful negotiation with the Sootscales. You can now begin seriously planning their joining the kingdom.
Josef shrugs. "Wonder what it thinks we've got for it." He turns back to his two companions. "Onward, then? Maybe keep an eye out to see if our friend shows back up?"
After only a handful of paces, "Hey. Either of you know any good stories?"
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"Honestly, I have no idea how to read those plans," she says. "But keeping the masons happy will get the work done better." She puts a hand on Isabel's arm and says, "Now, what's this about not feeling well? Stomach ailment? Dizziness? Palpitations? Fatigue? Of course I will do whatever I can to help."
Isabel by now looking slightly green tries to smile. "I'm feeling really sick. It's been a couple of days now and I thought it was nothing but its not gone away. And I've missed the last two moons." She looks up, a ghost of a smile on her face. "Do you have any magic to check if this is what I think it is?"
"Goodness. I wish you'd come to me as soon as you started feeling sick," says Lisl, quickly bustling Isabel into privacy. "I can prepare spells that will ease your nausea. While there's no spell to 'detect in the way,' I can and should make sure that the symptoms are not caused by actual illness. Please, have a seat."
First Lisl checks Isabel's forehead for fever, then checks the strength of her pulse. "You're not fevered or chilled, nor is your pulse weak or thready. That's good," she says soothingly. "Now, as to your other 'symptoms'... chances are that this is what you think it is, as you said, since you and Darian have a relationship of that sort. What other changes have you noticed, besides nausea? Any bloating? Cramps? Outbreaks of acne? Changes in size?"
"Now that you've asked, I can magically suppress the discomfort in the morning. Also, Bokken might be able to brew up some wismuth salix, which can ease nausea, though it's pricey."
Taking on a soberly aspect, she continues, "If this is what you think... what are your thoughts about how this might alter your lifestyle, if at all?"
Lisl fidgets with her ponytail and her skirt, picks up her healer's kit, opens it, then puts it back down, and finally stills her hands and listens for Isabel's reply.
"I don't usually get sick." Isabel responds. "And I haven't been doing anything differently for the last few weeks so I'm fairly sure its not an actual illness."
She's quiet at Lisl hurries around, talking remedies and symptoms. "None of those symptoms - although I'm not sure I'll get many of them." She smiles slightly. "You've probably noticed I'm not entirely human - My father was an aasimar so I've never really suffered from skin problems or anything like that. I haven't been eating much recently, because of the nausea but I think I'm starting to get bigger - I certainly feel bloated a lot."
Lisl's last question catches Isabel off guard and she pauses before she responds. "I hadn't thought of that. Darian and I never really discussed children - our romance has been such a whirlwind, and while we were in Silverhall we were so busy trying to prove to my relatives that we were useful and proper the question just never came up. He's so attached to his family though I hope he'll want children - I'm sure he'll be wonderful father... It might make adventuring difficult for a while though." She smiles again, "You and Freya will have to keep the boys in line by yourselves. But I must be a month or two along, so the baby will be born before Silverhold is really up and running I imagine. Being pregnant shouldn't stop me from governing, so I'll keep the home fires burning while the rest of you go out and have all the fun."
She pauses again before carrying on. "Many noble women in Kintargo would have wetnurses. Farm the baby out as soon as they could and not look at their children again until they were grown up enough to behave and not be trouble. I don't want to do that. This is mine and Darian's child - I'm not going to pass her away like she's nothing."
"To allay certain concerns regarding our current activities," says Lisl, "healing magic that works upon you will also affect your to-be-born child, so for the time being even if you are injured, we can address it without worry. Later, as things become more difficult, you will probably want to stay home for safety's sake," says Lisl soothingly. The priestess rubs her holy symbol between thumb and forefinger and says, "You're fortunate to avoid some of the usual conditions. Your hair might become a bit brittle or oilier than normal - many women trim their hair at this time if that happens, so it's easier to wash. As you grow you may suffer from back pain; get a lot of bed rest. In another two to three months your breasts will start to develop more, though your milk won't come in until after the baby arrives."
"So, how would you like to prepare for that arrival? We will need a proper crib, and swaddling, and perhaps a few toys," says Lisl. She remains calm with a slight demeanor of positivity, cool as always, but animated. "You may not wish to hand your child over to a wet-nurse or nanny, but you should look into having some help, especially for the first few months."
"That's a relief at least." Isabel responds, "I guess I want to avoid being hit in the stomach though... I hadn't thought about toys and so on, it must still be months - I think we have time. Besides," She looks rather nervous. "Before I think about all that I need to tell Darian that he's going to be a father. Would you come with me Lisl? I could use a little extra courage right now."
Isabel and Lisl leave Lisl's medical room and go looking for Darian, eventually finding him surveying some of the projected city works. Isabel approaches her husband and looks him in the eye. "Darian, you're going to be a father..."
Darian looks from his horse at Isabel and Lisl with a smile as they approach, dismounting once they are closer. When Isabel opens with some of the largest news he had ever received, he looks at her dumbstruck for a moment. He looks silently at Lisl for confirmation, then back to his wife.
After an awkward moment of silence, his dumbfounded look changes to one of pure joy as he snatches Isabel up under her arms and lifts her into the sky, spinning and laughing with excitement! ”This is amazing!” he calls out.
”How far along? When did you find out?” he asks with a beaming smile as he sets Isabel down and brushes her hair out of her face and behind her ear.
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"A month or two." Isabel replies, beaming as Darian's joy removes her own worries. "I've missed my last two moons, and I've started feeling ill the past few mornings. I went to Lisl and she's confirmed that I have some of the early signs." She grins and embraces her husband again. "I was worried you'd be upset... I'm sorry."
”Worried? Worried!?!? What for heaven’s sake for!?! This is amazing news! Come! We need to tell the others! I wish Josef, Freya and Akiros were back so we could tell them!”
Josef & Freya.
The Mud Bowl:
A strange, 20-foot-wide pool of bubbling mud sits in a narrow defile between several hills here. The mud is heated by geothermal activity, and although it’s not hot enough to cause damage, the foul-smelling vapor it gives off forces anyone within 60 feet to strengthen their guts or feel sick.
As you get closer Freya finds her breakfast making a sudden return when the smell grows too strong for her.
Large mounds of fungus and strange mushrooms thrive on the mud bowl’s banks, and in the noxious air, several of the fungi grow to heights of 10 feet or more.
What are you doing now?
Darian spreads the word alongside Isabel to everyone, and break the good news to Jory and Ludi upon their return. More good news follows with their report, but then they update them on the Sootscale findings.
”Hmmm. This could be that worg we’ve gotten reports on. Howl-of-the-North. We should tend to that beast as soon as possible. And the tomb of undead worries me as well. Jory, Lisl, Isabel, perhaps the four of us should ride out and deal with these threats while the others are out tending to south. Ride to the tomb and then work our way back to Silverhold. What do you think?”
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"That makes sense - better not leave problems like this for too long. The building work doesn't need us all here at the moment so we might as well be useful." Isabel agrees with her husband, determined that she's not suddenly going to become a wimp and not pull her weight. "Are there any supplies we should look into? If we've got an undead tomb perhaps holy water? I can't think of much that would help with a giant wolf though..."
"No stories worth re-telling." Freya responds. "Even if there were any, I doubt I'd be much good telling them anyway."
In between bouts of vomiting, Freya expresses her desire to be far away from this area.
”Josef and Freya and Akiros would have been helpful. I hope they aren’t having too much trouble out there on their trek. But a newly unearthed tomb containing undead is a bit much of a danger to be left alone. Lisl, are you able to prepare some holy water for us, or will we have to do without?”
Despite her somewhat distant demeanor, even Lisl is apparently pleased at Darian and Isabel's good news. "Don't hesitate to ask if you need help with anything," she says to Darian. "Picking out baby clothes, setting up a nursery... just let me know."
~~~~~~~~~~
"I can make holy water," says Lisl - now using her magic to remove sickness on Isabel's behalf as the days pass - "but it is costly; silver is mixed into the water to purify it and fill it with blessed energy."
Darian chuckles, ”Oh, I am quite certain Isabel will quite thoroughly have that monumental task in hand. But she will likely be happy to have another woman’s opinion on those matters!”
__________
Darian nods, ”But worth it, I’d imagine. I’ll provide you the funds. If you could make some tomorrow, we will ride out afterwards, make camp, then attempt to clear this tomb the following dawn.”
Freya & Josef. What are you doing at the mudhole?
Darian, Isabel, Lisl & Jory. Tell me when you are heading out?
Honestly, I'm not sure. It seems grossly unappealing, I don't see anything of interest, and she's really unhappy to be this close to it, so I think we should just keep moving.
Let somebody else set up the mud baths later.
Darian mounts up and takes up position beside his wife. He looks back to Kesten, ”Keep an eye on things while we are gone, Lord Garess. We should be back in a couple of days. Three at the most.”
He then spurs his horse forward and looks to his riding companions. ”Feels almost like we are headed out after the Stag Lord again, doesn’t it?” he says with a smile.
Honestly, I'm not sure. It seems grossly unappealing, I don't see anything of interest, and she's really unhappy to be this close to it, so I think we should just keep moving.
Let somebody else set up the mud baths later.
"Agreed." Freya says, taking a few steps before vomiting again. All while even her faithful friend, Fenrir, keeps a safe distance from the druid.
Team Anti-social. Freya & Josef
While you move onto Hex25 you also can see the infamous ruins of the tower out on the island in Hex18. There are countless stories throughout the Stolen lands on the various eerie things that have been seen out on Candlemere lake.
As you make your way through the land you are able to hear loud noises from up ahead. Someone is loudly cursing in Giant?
What are you doing now?
Team Schmoozer. Darian, Isabel, Lisl & Jory.
If it hadn't been marked for you by the Sootscales the haunted barrow would have been almost impossible to find.
The tomb is not easily distinguished from the other grassy knolls dotting the landscape, which means that the barrow has gone undiscovered for many centuries.
Only the knowledge of it's location leads you to the the crack in the side of a hill that leads into the barrow mound’s interior.
What are you doing now?
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Isabel dismounts and takes the time to stroke Smoothfoot (Darian had laughed when she named the horse, but it was better than any of his suggestions.) before securing him loosely to a nearby bush.
"We'd best go carefully," she suggests. "I understand old barrows like this contained lots of traps to keep people out."
So saying she heads, slowly, into the barrow - keeping her eyes open.
Darian gently grabs Isabel's arm as she starts to lead the way into the barrow. "Honey," he says, "Perhaps Lisl and I should take the lead. Hmmm?" He glances down at her belly to emphasize his reasoning before drawing his sword and readying his shield.
He mutters some magic and four orbs of white light appear, and then float down ahead of him into the barrow, which he cautiously follows inside.
”If you’ll recall, “ he says over his shoulder with a smirk on his face, ”I was like this before you gave the news to me too!”
Team Anti-social
Staring off in the distance, Freya offhandedly comments, "Candlemere Tower...I've heard stories about it, but had no idea we were this close to it. Something our little cadre of explorers will undoubtedly have to look into in the not too distant future."
She clarifies her comment with, "Not that we are in any position to investigate it at the moment. I suspect we'll need a boat or two to get to the tower."
Lisl proceeds cautiously behind the putative trap-spotters.
"Curious. I wonder how old this is? Could it be from some of the nomadic Numerian tribes? Almost certainly haunted."
Team Schmoozer.
F1. Entryway
The walls of this octagonal chamber are decorated with crude mosaics of simple village life: hunting, fishing, and farming.
A thick carpet of guano covers the floor—it’s crawling with insects, and the sharp tang of ammonia hangs in the air.
A cobweb-filled tunnel to the east leads deeper underground.
As you draw closer the source of the ammonia becomes apparent, two swarms of bats skitter off the ceiling and screech angrily as they attack.
What are you doing now?
Darian follows Isabel's advice, hoping it works and that the bats will just fly out of the ruin at their intrusion. He crouches over her, lifting his shield above them to try and fend off the bulk of the swarms number.
"Maybe we should have bought some liquid fire," he mutters to his companions over the screeching. "If they refuse to leave, we should fall back outside and then maybe smoke them out."
Lisl crouches and prepares to blast the bats if they become hostile.
The bats stream out with chitters of anger, gifting you liberally with splotches of guano as they fly overhead.
What are you doing now?
Darian stands, a piece of guano comically stuck in his hair that he doesn't realize. He hangs his shield sconce on his shield before activating one of his Sunrods and placing it in the holder.
He then moves forward, using his sword to clear the cobwebs as he watches for danger.
Lisl raises her shield and cautiously advances along behind Darian and Isabel.
Darian advances slowly, willing his orbs of light ahead further than the area illuminated by his sunrod.
”I hate dealing with undead. It’s so unnatural.”
Freya - Josef Follows your lead and the three of you turn north again.
Team Schmoozer
F2. Central Chamber
Four tunnels exit this circular chamber in the cardinal directions.
Four large monstrous faces, carved from stone, leer and grimace from each of the walls between the tunnel entrances.
A skeleton sprawls facedown in the middle of the room.
The stone faces are representations of the four winds, incarnated as malevolent elemental spirits.
What are you doing now?
Darian moves cautiously into the room, keeping a wary eye on the skeleton in the floor. He slowly advances to it, tapping at its skull with his sword, if it doesn’t move prior, to see if it is dead or undead.
If nothing happens, he then wills his Dancing Lights to move into the Northern passage to illuminate that area while they remain in the central chamber.
As Darian steps into the center of the room the four faces seem to inhale and then breathe out black tendrils of mist that sap the strength of any creature they touch.
The black mist covers Darian for a moment.
Darian you are now Exhausted
Of more concern is the sounds you hear of movement coming towards you from both North and south.
What are you doing now?
”Ungh!” Darian says as he feels himself grow weary, slumping to a knee!
When he hears sounds coming from both the north and south, he calls out to the others, ”S-stay there! Lisl! Help me form a shield wall...”
He then uses his sword to help him stand as he moves back to the hall and braces himself for the horde of skeletons he sees.