The investigation continues.....

[Inferno]

Sir Ugghra, half-orc aristocrat:

The well-mannered monstrosity sniffs, "I Believe She Just Did! No Doubt Another Atrocious Prank. Her Reprehensible Behaviour Is Beneath Contempt! Like Most of Her Race, I Must Confess.
"Come. Let Me Help You Clean The Chalk From The Temple Doors, and Then We Should Away to the Tower, Good Brother."

The fastidious freak daintily mops up the excess water he poured on Orando's head, pays the tab, and then escorts Tomas to the Temple of Pelor.
"Confidentially My Good Man, I Am Utterly Aghast and Indignant At The Base Nature of This Menagerie I Have Been Forced To Work With! Quite Beneath My Station, I Don't Mind Telling You! Wherever Did You Find Them?!"

[Scott308]

Father Dowling

The priest will gather his belongings from his room and then return to the usual gathering spot at the inn to wait for everyone to be ready for the walk back to the tower.

[Grognardsw]

Orando lights his wormwood pipe, shellacked with oils of ungsten spleen, and inhales deeply. While waiting for the others to emerge to go to the tower, he takes out his hand journal of cut Elven parchment, latch-locked, for recording observations, philosophies and revelations. Using his quill of the peacock and ink of the salt marsh octo-crab, Orando writes his thoughts and secrets of the recent events:

[ChubbyPixie]

The priest listens to Ozwaldus and then walks right up to his face. You're drunk! It's not yet midday and your already drinking? You will fit right in with this group, won't you?

Ozwaldus begins to protest, then looks down at the cup in his hand. "Well, yes, ok... but only a little." He thinks about adding that he wasn't in on the deception but decides it's not worth the bother. He follows after the group to be ready to leave when they head for the tower.

[Cauchy]

Epi

The ranger waits for the party to reform without Brother Tomas. "So did anyone actually cast a useful spell to reveal anything about the amulet?"

"So I take it the scheme was to try and 'borrow' the amulet to take it to the tower? Anyone care to fess up to who was in on this 'plan?""

[Scott308]

Father Dowling

When the priest returns, he responds to the ranger's inquiry. I did not detect evil from the amulet, but I did detect magic. I honestly thought Orando had taken ill somehow when he collapsed. It was later that I noticed I still sensed magic radiating from a point floating near the ceiling. I realized at that point there was some sort of subterfuge occurring, but had no prior knowledge of any plan. I did, however, take advantage of the situation to take part in attempting to deceive Brother Tomas who, while maybe not being as forthcoming as we would like, has not lied to us as far as we know.

[ChubbyPixie]

"I also was not 'in on it,'" says Ozwaldus, still slightly embarrassed by the whole affair... but only slightly. It was fading even now as his perpetual buzz took back over. "I, too, am curious - did we learn anything further than that Brother Tomas seems to be telling the truth? I suppose that's pretty valuable information in and of itself." Ozwaldus amuses himself as they walk by continuously changing the color of his gloves from purple, to yellow, to red, but only when no one is looking.

[Grognardsw]

"What shocks the virtuous philosopher delights the chameleon poet," says Orando, puffing out a circle-plume of pipe smoke. "Your thoughts lie close to the thing, Epi. It seems the tower beckons, again."

[Cauchy]

Epi

"Umm...so how did the amulet vanish and rise up into the air?"

[OGRE MAGE]

Shall we continue this pleasant conversation on the way to the tower?

Just say the word. (in character please)

[Grognardsw]

"Parlor tricks," answers Orando, walking with the others to the tower. "I did read his mind in the tavern and he had doubts that his amulet really was from Pelor."

[OGRE MAGE]

The new version of the party heads north again on their now somewhat familiar journey back to the tower ruins. This time, minus two but plus one member. It is another beautiful day, cool enough in the shade of the trees along the trail so you're not too uncomfortable in your heavy armor. You see no sign of any tracks that you haven't already seen and the hike goes by uneventfully.

The conversation continues along the trail. Then, as you round the last bend, the tower ruins appear before you, everything still as it was.

[ChubbyPixie]

"Your friends don't seem to have come out here on their own," says Ozwaldus. "I do hope they're ok." Having never met the other members of the party, Ozwaldus has a hard time getting too upset about their disappearance.

[Cauchy]

Epi

"Well scouting out the place worked so well last time...shall we just walk up and see what happens?"

[Scott308]

Father Dowling

Let's make sure there isn't any threat in the area first. Remember, last time out we ran into ogres.

[Inferno]

Sir Ugghra, half-orc aristocrat:

The debonair mongrel was curiously quiet about the ogre. He will join the others in scouting the ruined tower's area before entering it.

Then, if all is clear, he'll indicate the stone altar to the prankster elf and say, "Time For Another One Of Your Delightful Parlor Tricks."

[OGRE MAGE]

There are no signs of anyone being around since the group was here yesterday. The corpses of the dead ogres are still present (one still half eaten) and they are now beginning to spoil.

The clearing is calm and quiet, as are the towers ruins.

[Grognardsw]

Orando, spellsword

Epi

"Well scouting out the place worked so well last time...shall we just walk up and see what happens?"

"Yes, that sounds like a plan," comments Orando. He circles around and in and eventually to the stone. "I was here for 12 hours yesterday and aside from a zombie type creature, which avoided the center here, there was nary a disturbance. Why it came and then avoided the stone must mean something."

In response to Ugghra, Orando concentrates and waves his hands over the stone. "Hmm, no psychic emanations I can feel."

[Cauchy]

Epi

To Orando, "So where was this creature you observed. Perhaps it left some prints." Once pointed in the direction, the ranger will see what she can find in the area.

[Inferno]

Sir Ugghra, half-orc aristocrat:

The dashing demihuman studiously avoids looking at the ravaged ogre corpse.
"Would You Be So Kind As To Reduce The Altar, Please, Orando?" he requests as he unsheathes his family's sacred sword and readies to lead the advance below.