[Completed] - Lars/Finger of Doom - 19 March, 1 VC

[Zorroroaster]

"Agreed. Let's use the hook to get onto the tower and hoist Naila up. It'll keep us safe from those goblins. I even have an idea about the ingots, but that can wait until tomorrow. "

Orrin gets to work, tying the hook to his rope and swinging it up and over the tower parapet.

"Lug, if you go up first I can tie Naila to the rope and you can pull her up. Oh, and when you get up there, touch nothing. Who knows what other surprises this arsehole wizard has hidden about the place."

[Keehnelf]

March 28, 1 VC - 8:20pm

The pair make it up on to the roof of the tower with Naila's body. The area is open and sufficient for the group to camp out of sight, though the height of the tower and low parapet make it likely that any campfire built there would be visible for miles in every direction at night.

[Zorroroaster]

Orrin will examine the way into the tower. If possible, it might be best to try to sleep indoors and make Naila more comfortable.

Is there a hatch leading down, and if so, is it locked?

[Keehnelf]

There is a hatch in the floor, and it is unlocked.

[Zorroroaster]

Orrin will use Lars' crowbar at arms length to pop open the hatch. He's standing as far back as he can, ducked down out of the way.

"I hope this isn't also trapped."

[Zhym]

Lug stands as far back as he can and eyes the hatch warily.

[Keehnelf]

It does not appear to be trapped. It pops open easily. You'll need a light source to go further--it's pitch black beyond.

[Zorroroaster]

Does lug have any torches left? If so, Orrin can use his flint and steel. He will light a torch and peer into the space beyond.

"Let's be clear, Lug. We're not here to loot, regardless of what happened to Lars. Let's just find a safe place for Naila, get some rest and be on our way in the morning."

[Zhym]

Lug hands a torch to Orrin.

One torch deducted.

[Zorroroaster]

Orrin takes the torch and lights it with his flint and steel. He lies down next to the hatch and peers in, holding the torch low over the opening to illuminate the space below.

If it looks clear, he will pop up, hand the torch to Lug and move down into the tower. Lug can then lift Naila down to him.

[Keehnelf]

All clear. Within is a single room, sparely furnished like an indoor campsite but secure and probably warm when a fire is going. It has a faintly smoky odor like fires have been made here before. A big metal hatch in the floor presumably leads to a basement level.

[Zorroroaster]

Orrin jumps down into the room and takes a moment to check for any additional traps inside.

If it looks ok, he will call out the all clear to Lug and help get Naila settled and get a fire built.

[Zhym]

Lug helps with Nalia then goes back to the roof to keep watch while Orrin builds the fire.

[Keehnelf]

March 29, 1 VC - 7:00am

The night passes uneventfully, and almost would seem cheery with shelter and a warm fire, coupled with dry bedding, if it were not for the memory of what had transpired with Lars just outside the door on leading from their sleeping chamber, and signs of the still-worsening condition of Naila lying alongside the fire (she loses one more HP as the result of the day's travels).

Deduct one day's rations apiece, but there are some food stores here which the group could take from to replenish their stocks if needed.

[Zorroroaster]

Orrin stands after checking Naila's condition. He goes over to Lug and asks him to sit. Once seated, he looks him in the eye.

"Listen big guy, we have a situation on our hands. Naila's not handling the travel so well, and I'm not sure how much further it is back to Vaul. She might not make it if we keep packing her around like this.

I have an idea. Why not just hole up here where it's warm, dry and protected until she gets better enough to walk back to Vaul? There's enough food between us all, we are about as safe as we can be out here. We can even haul that bag of ingots up here for now, and when she's better we can all get home in one piece with all the loot.

What do you say?"

[Zhym]

"I don't know," Lug answers. "It would be better to have Nalia healthy, but how long would we have to stay here to do that? Would anything attack us? Those goblin heads came from somewhere. If any other goblins come by, they're going to be really mad."

"Also, I don't want to be here when this Wendall comes back. Let's get out of here and hope town is close."

Lug will take some rations. "Excuse me," he tells Orrin as he drops his pants. He takes as large a dump as he can muster, scoops it up with anything handy in the room, and leaves it with the rations he and Orrin don't take. "A little present for the Wendall monster," he explains.

[Keehnelf]

Haha, monstrous vandal!

[Zorroroaster]

Orrin shakes his head sadly.

"It's difficult when we disagree strongly, but I also feel we are in this together. If you think we can make it back to Vaul by tomorrow night, I'll agree to go. I just don't know if Naila will still be with us when we get there."

He looks to the pile of scat left by Lug.

"Besides, it's kind of hard to stay now that you've made it a toilet. I don't like this Wendall guy any more than you do and what happened to Lars is unforgivable but we ARE trespassing and have no rights here. What will you do when you meet this guy, put your sword in his eye?"

Orrin starts to prepare to leave, making Naila as comfortable as possible.

Has Naila used any of her rations while unconscious? (Ie have we been able to feed her?) if not, Orrin will borrow rations from her rather than take from what's stored here. If she doesn't have extra, Orrin will take 3 days worth from the stores, but leave coin in payment. He is Lawful, after all.

[Zhym]

"What will you do when you meet this guy, put your sword in his eye?"

"Sounds like a great idea to me," replies Lug.

IMO, our characters know nothing about this "Wendall"—even whether a Wendall is human, lizard man, goblin, or Other—except that he/it has no compunctions about using excessive force to protect his/its property. We travel around the land and take what we want, sometimes killing to get it, without leaving payment. Why would our characters be deferential now, given what just happened and knowing what they know (and not knowing what they don't know)?

As far as whether to return to town or stay: To bring Nalia to enough health to travel on her own, we'd have to stay, what, seven days? Or at least three? I forget how recuperation on rest works. Anyway, it would be a while. Not only would we miss the Harrowing, but each day would bring a chance of goblin attack. If goblins do return, they'd probably return in force. There are only two of us able to counter that attack. As we proved, it's not that hard to gain entry to the tower (though it would be interesting to have goblins show us whether the lock's trap was a one-shot or not). Lug doesn't know how far town is, of course—and he wouldn't be the one to make this sort of analysis anyway—but I still think he'd prefer moving on to staying put.

[Keehnelf]

Naila hasn't been using any rations while unconscious. Just absorbing the water you've poured on to her lips and into her mouth routinely throughout the days.

It looks like the general consensus, such as it is, is to leave the tower. What direction will you head?