Expedition: Fingers/Treasure of Yoldessi Plains- 30 Aug 2021

[Alethan]

At the very least it is protected by something powerful if the specters have not been able to enter it...

[Rusty Tincanne]

FWIW, I anticipate Winnie dying here. She has MM and Web memorized a few times each. And mirror image. She's got a potion of diminution as well.

If we rested, she could get detect magic and comprehend languages instead. I'm for going on, or resting.

Winnie nudges Markd. As Lord of this place, you might demand these ghosts offer us something valuable to show your dominion here, so the Duke will know what we say is true. That you are Lord over an evil, ghostly force.

[DavetheLost]

Current spells for Hengist:
1st Level: Cure Light Wounds x1, Protection From Evil x2
2nd Level: Find Trap, Hold Person, Silence 15' Radius

I have two empty 1st level spell slots, I cast Cure Light Wounds twice today.

If we rest so I can pray I will be happy to take whatever would be most useful

[Alethan]

Probably healing and finding traps, most likely...

[Zhym]

Fingers rubs his nose with the back of his sleeve, then gives a treat to Sprinkles. "Okay, so, maybe we should see what's in the wizard's tower. Tomorrow. Let's rest up and go in prepared. Markd, now that you're boss of these dead people, they'll let us stay here overnight, right? Probably even protect us while we sleep?"

[Marullus]

After Markd asks, they confirm that you can camp here, or use bunks on the upper floor.

[Zhym]

Fingers gets excited about the chance to sleep in something resembling a real bed. "Awyeah! Beats the hell out of sleeping on the ground!"

"Winnie, lay off of Markd about his ghost squad, will ya? Just cause they're dead doesn't mean they're evil, necessarily. Just restless. An' usually they ain't resting for a reason. Like that nice dead girl we helped out before. She wasn't evil. She just needed to get justice. Sure, lots of undead are evil, but these guys here? Maybe they just need a second chance, y'know?"

"Anyway, you and them got a lot in common, seeing as how you both been dead. Right?"

[Rusty Tincanne]

Winnie looks at Fingers and nods. Fair enough. They just freak me out, because they are still dead, and because they almost killed me a few minutes ago. But you are right. If given a chance, perhaps they will prove themselves. She decides nods to mention that Aeora wasn't undead, as it does not change the end result of the conversation. Instead, she turns to Markd and apologizes directly. As I said, they make me uneasy. But I trust you and your judgment. She agrees to staying in the barracks to prepare for the next day.

She presses Markd for information, Do these soldiers have any idea what to expect in the tower? Spells? Traps? Undead? And, out of curiosity, what is the deal with the crazy elf? Is it the same one Aeora mentioned? How long after Nystorath was killed did he come here? What sort of curse - anything to do with the Wizards Tower? Is Nystorath gone, or does his spirit remain somewhere? Did they know about Aeora?

[quote="Marullus"]It is difficult for the girl to be more specific about time, as she is trapped in a dark hole deep underground with no sun, stars, or seasons. "Centuries, yes... when they last lived here. I do not know where anyone goes, beyond up the stair. Nystoraeth too great pride in his torment of me, demanding gifts be given to all he brought to me... also, too, his servants came that I could provide meals and nourishment," she smiles, happy, it seems, just to have them to talk to, now that they aren't running away. "I liked that. Great feasts for those of the castle; his servants always seemed grateful. I like making fruit tartlets and savory breads... they smell so good in the air." She seems confused when you ask for forewarning of her gifts. "I make things... I mean, I enjoy making things, sometimes, when it isn't... enslaved. Nystoraeth often needed rare components for his work. It seems the lands here are desolate, from what they say. For his guests, he wished mostly baubles and trinkets - I enjoy blowing glass, if they weren't specific about it - or practical goods that the castle couldn't find." She thinks back on her memories of what she knows from the past. "He was quite smug about the dwarves, I remember. They wished to siege him, starve him out, but as long as he kept me a slave, they could not. He... he would hurt me if I didn't want to make them things anymore. I... well, I had no choice." Her voice cracks and falters, she takes a few minutes to begin speaking again. "There was an elf," she adds her voice husky with emotion, "he came after, much after. But HE wouldn't release me. HE wouldn't help me. I got angry and he came no more."

Any information before seeing out would be nice. Winnie doesn't want to run into a liche, or get cursed like that elf. Also, my tablet autocorrects "liche" to "cliche." Foreshadowing?

[onlyme]

Markd will ask about what they have learned regarding the wizard tower. He then asks the group how they want to set up a subtle sleep watch, in case there is something the ghosts havent divulged.

[Marullus]

The party is shown about on this floor. The doors on the left and right each lead to a barracks room. Each barracks has 20 bunks (40 beds), indicating the size of previous military forces here. The rooms also are equipped with an equal number of foot lockers as well as round tables with chairs for soldiers to use in their down time. Only a handful of bunks in each room and claimed by the remaining spectral soldiers. The double doors at the rear of the chamber where you currently stand (between the double staircases) lead to the kitchen and mess hall. A pair of massive oak tables ensures seating for more than 20 at a time. Massive fireplaces lie dormant at either end of the cold, stone room, still equipped to provide meals even though the spectres need no such sustinance.

The double staircases lead to the upper floor. A walkway with railings circles the entire area where you stand below, allowing plenty of room and cover for archers should combat have been engaged here. The entire back wall of the keep (at the top of the stairs) is a strategy / war room with maps, tomes, and planning materials for oversight of the Yoldessi Plains. It is less than you'd expect (and less grand), indicating that the noble families must have used their estates for formal engagements and formal purposes. On the right side of the upper floor is a single large chamber that belongs to the ghostly Commander. On the left side are two moderately sized rooms, one for his lieutenant and the other which is currently unoccupied and offered to Markd.

(Hengist still has x1 CLW. Indicate any cast-spells before bedtime. Indicate where you sleep. Indicate any final actions.)

You set a loose watch and rise unmolested in the morning, memorizing your new spells and preparing for the day ahead.

(Subtract 1 ration each. State morning prep and day's plans.)

Date: 7:00am, 06 September 2021
Light: Winnie's continual light
Effects: None
Injuries: Winnie (moderately injured), Markd (minorly injured), Bandy (minorly injured)

[Zhym]

Fingers has breakfast, feeds Sprinkles, and waits for everyone to be ready to leave for the wizard's tower.

1.5 rations deducted.

[Alethan]

While waiting for the others, Bandy peeks into the trunks of some of the beds that are not occupied by the specters...

[Marullus]

The trunks have simple locks on them that would need to be dealt with first.

[Alethan]

Bandy nudges Fingers and suggests, "Hey, who knows what's in these trunks! Maybe worth checking out..."

OOC: Might heal Winnie before resting and memorizing new spells... and if the staff can heal each person once per day for free, then should hit Markd and Bandy to remove minor damage.

[Zhym]

"Leave the trunks alone, would ya?" whispers Fingers. "We don't wanna piss these dead guys off by taking their friends' stuff right in front of them, do we?"

Not until they've all died fighting things for us, he thinks but is smart enough not to say out loud—even in a whisper.

[Alethan]

Bandy shrugs and leaves the trunks alone.

"Man, I thought he was a thief..." he can be heard muttering to himself as he walks away.

[Rusty Tincanne]

Unwilling to trust the first loyalty, Winnie sleeps with the others. She is sure to thank them for their hospitality. She knows it would take months to learn their language, but asks Markd to teach her a few pleasantries, such as thank you, please, your welcome, and may I. If offered, she accepts healing from Heingst.

In the morning, she studies her spells, feeds herself and Mrs Dash, then packs up for the next leg of the adventure.


No answers about what to expect, the curse on the elf (and how he got it), or Aeora?

[Marullus]

No answers about what to expect, the curse on the elf (and how he got it), or Aeora?

Those questions weren't asked.

Markd will ask about what they have learned regarding the wizard tower.

This I do owe you.

The wizard tower is reached either from the second floor (stout doors in the main hallway on either side of the war planning room) and across the walkway atop The curtain wall, or from a door at the tower's base within the King's family estate (which was later claimed by Nystoreath.).

The wizard tower is surrounded by wards which keep it safe from the undead. They say the cursed elf also seeks entrance but has been able to breach the door. They say none live within but that the wizard's trusted the swords and furnishings to fight without hands to wield them.

[onlyme]

Markd eats his breakfast, wishing he would have moved a couple of rations from the horse pouch to his own bag.

He relays the information about the wizard's tower.

He asks the group if they are ready, and what and how to proceed.

[DavetheLost]

Before sleeping Hengist will cast Cure Light Wounds on Winnie. Cure Light Wounds [1d6+1] = 2+1 = 3

He will pray for new spells.