When Wilwaren speaks about the enemies. Sorry, I would have helped more if I had know he was the bigger threat. I just chose one of the two targets still coming after you. If you don't mind my asking. Who is this Zedamande?
Your help was splendid, and you chose your targets well. Zedamande was not a threat to the girl were trying to save, at the time. He is someone I have been charged with bringing to justice. This was my first opportunity to do so.
She glares at the prisoners: Now I have lost him, and need someone, who wants to live, to set me on his trail again.
Wilwarin turns away, and approaches Thena:
I owe you thanks for my healing, and an apology for its delay. I was distracted with my own concerns, and forgot my manners.
When asked what the potions are, Jiv and Mek both look at each other. Mek sneers and says nothing but Jiv offers, "Thems healing potions the boss brought from the Landin'." And when Mave speaks to him, he eagerly identifies all the dead and points out the members of Zed's crew, Ilsa (Miss Plate), Scaithe (Grey-robed man) and the boss Skerrit (Man from Lupre). He identifies the ones who fled, Zed, Esdra and the priest Swifthollow. He mentions that Esdra was a bit odd and standoffish and wouldn't talk to anyone except Zed and his crew. This gets the other prisoners to talking too and the darkhaired prisoner says his name is Grange and the two prisoners from Brindleseep identify themselves as Tobby (the doughy crossbowman) and Clayte (the leather-clad warrior).
Vari retrieves the cooked boar from the campfire and makes use of the part that didn't fall on the ground, slicing up tasty morsels for each person. She asks the commander if she should also give some to the prisoners.
As they eat, Kade mentions to Thena that he used to work as a blacksmith and could likely repair the damaged plate armors, if he had access to a forge. He also asks if anyone minds if he takes the man from Lupre's damaged plate.
Nis ask if anyone speaks the girl's language and neither the prisoners or her newfound friends seem to know what it is. Jiv mentions that Scaithe was the only one who spoke her tongue. When the elf asks about the Aurens, no one seems to know what Esdra referred to. After dinner, the archers go through the dead men's stock and replenish their arrows.
Ruskin has been a busy man compiling a complete list of items found during their adventures. (I'm going to assume Detect Magic was used on all items. Correct me if anything is missing or you've claimed something that isn't noted.)
Found on the Finla and her companions:
2 silver, 15 coppers
Silver Necklace adorned with beautiful gems (nonmagical)
Curved Silver Dagger with hilt of ivory shaped into a wolf's head (magical)
2 bottles of bright blue liquid (magical)
Bottle of greenish tinted liquid (nonmagical)
Long Slim bone with Black Runes carved on its surface (magical)
The Finla's runed etched sword which seemed to absorb blood into its runes (magical)
Black Pearl, Small Ruby (nonmagical)
Two objects the size of Thena's fist. They feel warm as if made of flesh and undulate slightly at the touch. (magical)
Supplied by Tallow in Lupre and distributed amongst the party:
3 Potions of Healing, 3 poison potions
In the Ashcatcher's tombs:
The Rat King battle:
Rat King's Dagger (serrated high quality) (taken by Torvik) (magical)
Rat King small silver unadorned ring (taken by Torvik) (nonmagical)
Rat King's fetish (taken by Thena) (magical)
Potions: 6 crimson vials, 4 purple vials, 2 yellow vials (all poison)
50 newly minted Aslandian gold coins
The battle with the brute and Talamachus:
Talamachus (gnome mage):
Silver ring with a shield etched on its surface (magical)
Green stoppered bottle (half full)the size of ale glass filled with green liquid belted into a leather harness (magical)
Book bound in faded leather spellbook (?) written in gnomish (?) (magical)
Brute:
golden banded ring with Ancient High Elven script referring to *Apprentice Spells*. (magical)
Abandoned Hideout in the Tombs:
Silver Dagger (taken by Torvik) (nonmagical)
Gold Ingot
The brute chest contents taken:
100 gold coins, 125 silver coins
Clerical scrolls:
1) Bless, Cure Light Wounds
2) Invisibility to Undead, Detect Charm
3) Know Alignment, Slow Poison, Hold Person
Three Candles (magical)
Skull Medallion (magical)
Golden Ring (magical)
Fire Medallion (magical)
Black Satchel (magical)
Black Headband with markings (magical)
Demonic Statue (nonmagical)
2 scroll cases (nonmagical)
2 stoppered potions (one with purple liquid) (both magical)
Crystal medallion (magical)
Emerald Silver Ring (magical)
3 green gems 1 large purple gem (nonmagical)
Talamachus' unopened chest (locked and magically trapped, contents unknown)
The Campsite:
35 gold, 52 silver, 82 coppers
Emerald Ring (nonmagical)
Small bag of gems (moonstone, lapis lazuli, two small garnets) (nonmagical)
Damaged Platemail armor (claimed by Thena)
Bone Wand of Magic Missiles (claimed by Wilwarin)
Grey-robe man's spellbook (claimed by Wilwarin)
Grey-robe man's Intricately carved dark wood staff (nonmagical)
Greatsword (nonmagical)
Food & Water (probably a month's supply)
5 bottles of fine wine
8 empty wine bottles
Man From Lupre's badly damaged plate (Kade requested this)
6 short swords, 3 short bows, 8 daggers, serrated dagger, battleaxe, 2 longswords, 2 hand axes, 5 sets of leather armor (damaged), 1 set of fur armor (damaged), 1 set of chainmail (damaged)
5 riding horses
Last edited by Revenant on Wed Aug 21, 2024 10:14 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Gives a slight bow to Wilwarin: Not a problem, I’m thankful the melee went our direction without more injuries.
To Kade: I will take you up on the offer Kade, perhaps you can teach me a bit as well. Indeed, please take the other plate armor. We’ll see if we can rent a forge in the next town.
To Nis, with a smile: I trust you do probably know what those draughts are. I do not know the tongue the girl speaks in… perhaps Tempus can guide me there as we come to a new day. We will see.
To the group: I’d lie to also take the priest scroll from the tomb, the satchel, and the ring with a shield, if there are no objections.
If there are no other immediate claims, we can do our best to get the remainder identified in either Gulls Landing or Haldin, thoughts?
What are everyone’s thoughts regarding staying here to bury the enemies dead? I'm not subscribing to that line of thinking....
OCC:
Will look if there are any 1st/2nd level priest spells for language comprehension. Study overnight.
The scroll:
1) Bless, Cure Light Wounds
2) Invisibility to Undead, Detect Charm
3) Know Alignment, Slow Poison, Hold Person
Nis thanks Vari graciously for serving up the roast boar. Aww, you're such a sweetheart! Thank you! Truly a blessing. she says with a smile as she eats a portion. MewOh you little scamp. Ducky of course we have some for you. she hangs a bit on a nearby brush or a dried stick so it dangles temptingly and he isn't eating off of the dirt. Contented sounds of consumption ensue from both parties.
While the camp is being inventoried and divided, Nis will be searching the surrounding area for useful herbs and (small oak sprigs, spruce or evergreen boughs, any herbs and berries she can identify. And any other herbal or edible components. She will show De'Athrya any and all she is willing to look at and will teach her the Sylvan names for all of them (if she shows any interest at all). Duck watches these activities, non-plussed at all of the goings on, and cautious but considering of anyone to approach him. Those who do so gently will find an acceptance of petting or treats provided they do not behave aggressive or suspiciously.
Nis shows no opinion whatsoever on the disposal of bodies. She is accustomed to the Elven tradition of "returning to nature" or "burial by exposure" and has little concern for the final resting place of what are clearly abductors and murderers.
===
can Nis use her alchemy to positively ID the potions/ liquids?
Torvik nods his head "Yeah, we best feed em, they're our prisoners after all an ya know how we Rangers o' tha horn got our codes." THe commander gives up on the debate on the prisoners and just has whomever is willing to dig bury the dead foes, and the dwarf pitches in himself as well. If nobody does then he will start digging with whatever he can find that works as closely to a shovel as he can locate.
“All men did have darkness. Some wore it in the form of horns. Some bore it invisibly as rot in their souls.”
― Paul S. Kemp, Shadowbred "If good people won’t do the hard things, evil people will always win, because evil people will do anything."
― Paul S. Kemp, Twilight Falling
Thanks Vari for the slice of boar. Food always tasted better after battle, perhaps it helped to soothe the adrenaline still surging in her body. After she eats, she will assist with the burials. Best to have it done quickly so we might reach the town in short order.
Giving a thumbs up for the meat to Vari, she will join in the burial process, with reservation. She'll attempt to fashion something like shovels from the tent poles to speed the process along.
After food is eaten, offering a refreshing respite to both you and the prisoners, you get to the business of burying the dead. Thankfully, there are many offers to help and with your makeshift shovels you do a decent job at the task, burying them deep enough that animals likely won't be able to get at them. You then go to work loading up all the supplies you intend to take with you. Some of the newly acquired horses are made into pack animals at least until you get to a place to sell the excess.
Though some of the mounts are overladen between yourselves and the 5 prisoners, you make your way to Haldin in roughly a couple hours. It is late afternoon when you ride into the village:
Haldin.png (1.92 MiB) Viewed 395 times
The residents of the village not used to visitors, stop and stare as you ride into the town's center, such as it is. Your eyes make note of several signs, a smithy, general store, and an inn. Three figures stand near the town well. An older man dressed chain armor. He's bent at the back and the armor just hangs on him. It appears like a good wind might blow him away. Standing next to him is a older woman dressed in green robes with a pleasant smile on her face. A medallion hangs on a long silver chain from her neck depicting sheaf of wheat. Beside her is a tall young blonde woman dressed in heavy plate armor with the symbol of a woman's eyes surrounded by silver stars etched onto her breastplate. The eyes above that breastplate go wide as the young spies you.
Miklos Savvorin.jpg (90.02 KiB) Viewed 395 times
Theossia.jpg (63.62 KiB) Viewed 395 times
Abaessa Dalavere.jpg (187.23 KiB) Viewed 395 times
During the trip, Nis will keep her bow ready and stay close to De'Athrya.
Nis walks into town, Ducky already scouring the area visually for birds or rodentious creatures to chase. She smiles beautifically at those collected around the well, and waves as she considers the symbology they wear.
She leaves it to her newfound companions to determine the lodgings, next steps regarding the prisoners, etc.
She will inquire if anywhere in town provides hide/fur armor; deciding if she is to protect this girl she may first needs protect herself better.
===
Did De'Athrya have any other belongings aside from her clothes?
Does Nis recognize either of the symbols the women at the well wear?
Torvik knows it is best to just deal with the prisoners first, but not being of this place he lets someone else do the talking and formalities with the local guards and their commander. Heading towards the guard outpost and jail first thing figuring everyone else would want to do the same.
“All men did have darkness. Some wore it in the form of horns. Some bore it invisibly as rot in their souls.”
― Paul S. Kemp, Shadowbred "If good people won’t do the hard things, evil people will always win, because evil people will do anything."
― Paul S. Kemp, Twilight Falling
The old man's eyes go wide first at the mention of a member of House Valshire being here and they go nearly wider threatening to pop out as Mave introduces herself. "My ladies," he tries to bow and can only go so far before he grunts in pain and makes no attempt to go lower, "I am Miklos Savvorin, captain of the guard, of which I am the only one," he grins slightly and then adds, "proud servant of your father Lord Gallowhawk, my lady."
The older woman next to him completes the old man's bow and says in a voice as pleasant and soft as a breeze over a peaceful stream, "Milady I am Theossia, I tend the spiritual needs of Haldin under the grace of Chauntea, she who shapes all." The third person who seemed quite taken aback by your appearance, smiles warmly, "I am Sister Abaessa Dalavere, a novice in the service of Selûne, the moonmaiden. And you," she pauses and starts to move towards the girl you rescued but stops not wishing to cause alarm, "You are the one I was sent to find."
But all those words mean nothing to the girl since she doesn't seem to understand them. She has nothing but the clothes on her back, lacking even shoes to cover her bare feet. She is concerned only with the horse she rides whispering strange words in his ears, in the language none of you understand.
Nis will slip the shoes from her feet and pass them to De'Athyra. Here you are, De'ath. she says, kissing the girl on the forehead. The Elf doesn't avoid conversation with the locals, but she understands she is the newcomer and less familiar with these lands so she waits her turn.
If/when she has an opportunity, she will relate what she can about the girl. To the Chauntean priestess she will curtsey and squeeze her hand in greeting and say, Sith agus sith dhuit, cuir earbsa ann am màthair na talmhainn. Peace and prosperity to you, trusted of the earth mother.
To the younger lady she says Gach urram don Bhean Uasal Airgid. Bidh sruthan eadar ar bana-mhaighstirean a’ ruith domhainn. All honor to the silver lady. and giving the girl a brief peck on the cheek whispers so only she may hear,
Currents between our mistresses run deep.
To the elderly man she will curtsy deeply and kiss his forehead. The strength of those above us is rooted in the courage of the dedicated.
Torvik now hearing who is who bows and introduces himself "Torvik Shadowhood, Ranger o' tha horn. And I've got some recruits in me care, Vari, Kade an Ruskin." he points to each one of them as he says their names. "Well met! Yeah we got a few prisoners we'd like ta offload but if yer not equipped ta handle em we might have ta rethink that an come up wit a new plan."
“All men did have darkness. Some wore it in the form of horns. Some bore it invisibly as rot in their souls.”
― Paul S. Kemp, Shadowbred "If good people won’t do the hard things, evil people will always win, because evil people will do anything."
― Paul S. Kemp, Twilight Falling
Mave nods to each of the strangers, a warm smile upon her full lips. "Captain Savvorin, the Lady Valshire and Commander Torvik speak the truth of it. We have captured several brigands and need the use of your jail. We also need to see about selling and buying supplies and a acquiring a place to stay for the night, if there are sufficient accomodations." She dismounts and personally greets each of the three, very curious about what the young woman meant about the girl being the one she was to find.
