IC I

[zebediah]

Drudsa the dabbler

"This has been quite an adventure and I am honored to have the companionship of you through it all. I am itching to get some horses and race back to those caves but at this moment I believe the best we can do is to get some well deserved rest."

OOC: is the wizard's guild building closed? If not Drudsa will try to make a quick visit.

[Bouv]

Tratiln will also visit the guild if it is still open. If not, he'll head to the inn they have rooms at and try to enjoy a hot meal and a strong drink.

[thirdkingdom]

Inquiries are made and it is determined that arcane spellcasting within city limits is, in most cases, illegal. The Guild, therefore, is headquartered some miles north of Threshold in the tower of one Myraal the Wise, the local Guildmaster. Those asking are assured that Myraal is usually up at this hour, but rarely sober at this time of night, and, in any case, his tower is a good two hours walk.

The adventurers retire to their inn for supper and rest.

Shit. I just noticed I uploaded the wrong hexmap. I will remedy that as soon as I can, and provide you with a location for Myraal's tower.

[frobozz]

Lanny the Elf

Upon delivering the bodies safely to Threshold, the exhausted Lanny can think only of getting a good night’s rest. Before retiring to his room, he pauses to address his companions:

“Friends – Although Aleena could not be rescued, you did save one life today. I would not be alive now if it were not for all of you. I would be honored to continue on in your company, if you will have me...”

Lastly, Lanny turns to his friend Bregalad, speaking quietly to him in the elvish tongue. “I am glad you were able to fulfill your promise to the shaman. It tells me something very important about your character … that you will go to great lengths and personal peril to keep your word. It is a very noble quality indeed.”

“I too believe in the inherent equality of the humanoid races… It is not so much the condition of one’s birth, but rather one’s words and deeds, that make a creature good or evil in my eyes. Someday I shall share more of my philosophy with you… when we are not so actively engaged in a mission. Good night, brother...”

[Dogma]

Tired from the days activities, Ox shuffled off to his room after Lanny's speech. Such high words and speeches always made his head ache. The big man wasn't quite sure he understood all of what the elf was talking about but Ox did know one thing. He was for leaving others alone, as long as they didn't try to hurt him or his friends. And if they did, well then they were in for a good chopping.

[riftstone]

Thordin the dwarf

"Make no mistake, your birth can make or break you. Either yer born a Dwarf, or yer not."

[Bouv]

Thordin the dwarf

"Make no mistake, your birth can make or break you. Either yer born a Dwarf, or yer not."

Tratiln slaps the dwarf on his back while letting out a roarous laugh, "Which is why we all consider ourselves lucky on a daily basis we weren't born dwarves." Tratiln then offers up his mug in a toast with Thordin

[Luis]

Saul is tired but Bregalad's words have a special ring to him. He decides to find a tavern and down a few mugs of something to blissfully send him to his dreams.

[riftstone]

Thordin the dwarf will stand on the table, hoisting his tankard in the air. "Elves, skinny mages, high and mighty clerics; normally you are considered undesirable where I'm from, but this lot is alright by me!"

[thirdkingdom]

Thaumont 3, AC 1000

The companions sleep a bit later than usual, but awake feeling rested. Making their way to the temple they are quickly ushered into Varis' office. He awaits them, seated behind his desk, his face somber and drawn. "I thank you for your efforts, ad does the Patriarch. I have here a note of payment for one thousand gold pieces. The Moneychanger's Guild will gladly honor it. Now, tell me everything." He leans forward, fingers steepled before him.

I will figure XP for the monsters plus reward once I get off work. If anyone wants to add to the night's conversation please do so.

[Bouv]

Tratiln laughs it up with Thordin at the bar, "And for a dwarf, you're not too bad my short companion!" After a while, he finally returns to his room and heads to sleep.

In the mornign, in the meeting, Tratiln will make sure to discuss all he has discovered about Bargle and Ewlyn, even showing the notes he has discovered and tell them the party suspects Bargle was responsible for the death of Aleena, based on her wounds. He will also share what he found for runes on the goblin shaman to see if they can shed any light that may assist in Bargle problem or goblin problem.

[Finglas]

Bregalad the elf

Bregalad's mood brightens with ale and the fellowship of the party. "A toast, to new friends, simple pleasures, and daring dwarves!"

[Finglas]

In the mornign, in the meeting, Tratiln will make sure to discuss all he has discovered about Bargle and Ewlyn, even showing the notes he has discovered and tell them the party suspects Bargle was responsible for the death of Aleena, based on her wounds. He will also share what he found for runes on the goblin shaman to see if they can shed any light that may assist in Bargle problem or goblin problem.

Bregalad the elf

Bregalad will accompany Tratiln in the meeting with Father Varis, leaving the accounting to his fellow elf and any others of the party. If questioned, he will answer truthfully and completely, to the best of his recollection.

[zebediah]

Drudsa the dabbler will support the reporting of the facts to Father Varis and will ask if there is any way in which the group might be of assistance to the church or to the local authorities.

[thirdkingdom]

Father Varis grows even more solemn when told the group suspects Bargle, a name apparently know to him. He looks positively alarmed when the name Elwyn is mentioned. The runes carved into the goblin's skin he dismisses, "That is a technique I have heard of, before. Some of the fouler Immortals require such a sacrifice of their acolytes in order to gain access to divine magics." Varis is most intrigued by the mention of the electrum found, both in the possession of the goblins and the chest for Elwyn. "Can you bring me a coin, once you return to retrieving it? There is a matter I must look into."

He shakes his head at the end of the tale. "Well, this is a mess, no doubt. I had hoped we had seen the last of Bargle some five years ago, when we heard that he and Baron von Hendricks had had a falling out. It was too much too hope, I suppose, for his execution at that lunatic's hands. But to hear he is alive and well, and up to his old schemes and plots, and around Threshold at that! And Elwyn." He looks troubled, "The renegade cleric, expelled from our order for dabbling in edged weapons, arcane spells and worshipping the darkest of Immortals! This bodes ill, I can tell."

[zebediah]

Drudsa the dabbler

"Yes Father, we will bring you a sample once we return. Is there anything you can tell us about this Elwyn and what we can expect from him or his lackeys? The goblins were expecting some of his men, so there is a possibility that we run into his men. The more prepared we can be for such meeting, the better."

[thirdkingdom]

Drudsa the dabbler

"Yes Father, we will bring you a sample once we return. Is there anything you can tell us about this Elwyn and what we can expect from him or his lackeys? The goblins were expecting some of his men, so there is a possibility that we run into his men. The more prepared we can be for such meeting, the better."

Father Varis

"Honestly, I know not what to expect from Elwyn. One minute a pariah cast out of the church, and the next I hear rumors of large payments from Bargle. Hmmm. The Patriarch received a report last week about a rumored stronghold being built far to the south of here, along the Highreach River, by some cleric. I wonder if the two are connected."

[frobozz]

Lanny the Elf quietly keeps to the back of the group as the others recount the facts of their mission to the caves. After Fr. Varis addresses them again, Lanny finally chimes in.

"It is our intention to return to the caves this morning, after retrieving some supplies and perhaps a wagon to carry back the electrum coins. Our belief is that emissaries of Elwyn will be arriving at the caves sometime within the week. It would be wise for either us or a contingent of town guard or armed clerics to camp out at the caves and wait for the emissaries to arrive and try to capture them. Whatever the case, our party is ready to return to the caves this morning to finish clearing them out so that they will be secure for whoever remains there waiting for the emissaries."

Lanny is also in favor or Drudsa's suggestion to have the suspected magic items (especially the dagger and vial of green liquid from Bargle's chest) be properly identified or at least examined by a knowledgeable person in Threshold. If there is no time for that now, Lanny will at least point them out (as well as the skeleton bracelets) to Fr. Varis, asking if he knows anything about their power to control undead, given the theory that Bargle may be planning to build an army of undead. Lanny also agrees that all spell learning / spell exchanging should wait until their current mission is fully complete and they are all safe and sound back in Threshold. I'll update the Treasure List some time this weekend.

[Bouv]

Tratiln, upon Lanny's suggestion, takes out one of the bracelets and shows it to Fr. Varis. "I suspect it was intact before we took down the skeletons. I do fear either Bargle has figured out a way to control vast amounts of undead or Elwyn is supplying him with them. Also, would you have anyone that would be able to help us identify some objects we found, saving us a trip to the MageGuild?"

[zebediah]

Drudsa the dabbler presents the wand, dagger and potion to the cleric as suggested by Lanny.