(Corvin/Mordred Adventure 2): Hole in the Thornwall

[archolewa]

"Of course." Kasper nods. "I had forgotten about the gems you and Astrid found. The monastery has a monk who specializes in appraisal. It is not unusual for merchants to make donations in gems, they're easier to carry than coins. So we need to be able to verify their worth for budgeting purposes. Come on."

Once everyone has finished their meal, Kasper leads them to a cell in another one of the outlying buildings. He knocks on the door. It opens a moment later to reveal a mousy middle-aged woman. She looks up at Kasper, smiles, and gives him a hug. "Kasper! Good to see you. You're looking good, really good. Am I right in guessing that the Seer has found you worthy of granting prayers?"

Kasper smiles and nods. "Yes. I've been keeping busy. We plan on staying a few days. I'll tell you about it then."

The woman claps her hand. "Wonderful! Going on adventures is dirty and uncomfortable, but listening to someone else's? Well, that's delightful. And who are your friends?"

Kasper introduces them. "Everyone, this is Violet. Violet we have some gems we found during our adventures that need appraisal."

Violet's eyes sparkle. "Ooh, yes! Give 'em here! I'll take care of it free of charge, because Kasper was such a scamp when he was younger. Always made my day."

"I was a good kid," says Kasper, a touch stiffly.

"Eventually." Violet smirks as she takes the gems. Her eyes widen. "Ooh. Gimme a minute. Come, come."

She disappears back into her cell. Like all the monk cells, it's plain and small. A simple cot. A small chest with her few clothing. She also has a small desk with appraisal tools. She lights a candle, and studies the gems in the candlelight, watching how they sparkle. She peers at them carefully. She weighs them on a scale, and taps at them ever-so-gently with a few tools.

"My, my. Where did you find these? They're very nice. Especially the sapphire." Violet grins with delight. "So pretty. The opal's worth I'd say somewhere around 10 gold give or take. The pearl's nice, at 5. But the sapphire. Oooh. This beauty could probably getcha as much as 50. Five, zero. Planning on an early retirement? Well, if you're still feeling restless, don't forget the Church always needs funds!"

She hands the gems back to the group.

----------------
That's 50+10+5 = 65 gp = 650 silver.

650/7 (henchmen get half a share. To keep numbers whole, I'm giving henchman a full share, and Corvin/Jalko two shares each) = 92 silver each, with 6 silver left over.

So, Corvin and Jalko each get 184 silver, or 18 gold and 4 silver, while the henchmen each get 92 silver, or 9 gold and 2 silver.

Add 1 XP each for the 6 silver left over, so Corvin and Jalko each get 185 experience, while the henchmen each get 93/2 = 46.5 round up to 47 XP each.

[shaidar]

Corvin

Corvin returns the 25sp he borrowed from Sebastian /Kasper for his training.

He turns to Kasper "I know the church doesn't need to be paid for looking after Jandley and her people, but I'd like to donate something to cover the costs and maybe some money held back for when they are ready to leave and find somewhere permanent to call home. I'm just not quite sure how much is enough."

[shaidar]

Just realised I owe 25gp, not sp? Is that right?

[Edeldhur]

Jalko

Eats and observes the others in silence.

Only 35 more XP to level up

And now I have leveled hahaha - Halfling Swordmaster!! One more Weapon Feat + and some nice saves update, let’s go!

[archolewa]

Corvin

Corvin returns the 25sp he borrowed from Sebastian /Kasper for his training.

He turns to Kasper "I know the church doesn't need to be paid for looking after Jandley and her people, but I'd like to donate something to cover the costs and maybe some money held back for when they are ready to leave and find somewhere permanent to call home. I'm just not quite sure how much is enough."

Kasper cocks his head thoughtfully. "Hard to say, and depends on where we can find for them to settle. The Monastery will likely also want to hang onto them until we can see if we can reverse their goblinoid features. If we can get them looking like proper halflings again, that would make resettlement a lot easier. Everyone's expecting a bumper crop in the Autumn. Hmm. Probably 10 gold, even 20 if you can spare it, would go a long way for now. You can always bring more to the Church in Thorncity. The Order will make sure it gets here."

Just realised I owe 25gp, not sp? Is that right?

It cost 25 gold pieces for your Training. So if you fully relied on your allies for the money, then it would be 25gp, yes.

And now I have leveled hahaha - Halfling Swordmaster!! One more Weapon Feat + and some nice saves update, let’s go!

Yup. You've all got three characters with Weapon Feats available now. You'll need to work out who you want to prioritize and which weapons to train. Kasper I think will pretty obviously be his Cestus, which improve his damage. Sebastian could either do his blackjack or his shield. Training his blackjack doubles his (pitiful!) damage, and (more importantly) imposes a -1 penalty on enemies to avoid being knocked out. Training his shield bumps his AC with it by 1, and gives him a chance to make a saving throw vs death to avoid damage if an enemy successfully hits is AC.

Weapon training is 25 gold each, so you'd need 75 gold to get everyone trained.

[shaidar]

Corvin

Corvin thinks for a minute "Well, how about I pay you back 10gp of the 25gp I owe you, and give the church 10gp for now, and I'll find another 10 for the church in the future somehow. If you need more than the 10gp repayed then I have another 10 gold in my emergency fund back at the castle bank."

[archolewa]

"Ten now is fine," says Kasper. He smiles. "There are perks to being taken care of by the Church. I am not quite as dependent on money as others."

[shaidar]

Corvin

Corvin passes over two piles of 10gp.

"We'll need to report Mordred's passing to the tower. I guess we should be report our trip outside to someone, word will spread anyway, and they should know that Mamba seems to be looking for recruits. But who to? Has anyone thought about where we should bury Mordred?"

[archolewa]

"Probably should send bring him to Thorncity, and then send him to his family in the West," says Sebastian.

"I can see if I can arrange a meeting with High Priest Derek, or one of his people if he isn't available," says Kasper. "He'll definitely want to know what we learned."

Astrids's expression tightens.

"We will keep your recent condition to ourselves Astrid," says Kasper. "Though I suspect Derek already suspects. He's a sharp and clever."

"That doesn't make me feel any better," says Astrid.

Kasper sighs. "Well, it doesn't matter anyway. Your condition is healed."

"Hopefully the Inquisitors agree with you."

[shaidar]

Corvin

Corvin nods "We'll do our best to keep those details out of things, but he suspected something last time we spoke, and that gaze..." he clears his throat "I wouldn't mind staying here a couple of nights to make sure Jandley and the others are settling in OK, if that's alright with everyone?"

[archolewa]

June 11

The group spends a few days at the Monastery, resting and making sure Jandley and the rest of her people are settling in alright. The adults are naturally wary, but by the time Corvin and the others are getting ready to leave, the children are racing around the monastery giggling and playing, and romping around outside in a way they probably didn't get to do much of when they were Outside the Wall.

It takes the team about two days to reach Thorncity, but they find they have little need for provisions, or even coin. The village where they spend the night includes several people they rescued. The team is greeted as heroes, and given food and rest.

They reach Thorncity the following evening, on June 11th, after a pleasant day of travel. When they reach the gates of Thorncity, the guardsmen ask their names (as is customary for anyone entering the city heavily armed and armored). As soon as their names are given, they are pulled to the side, while a runner sprints into the city.

A few moments later, a middle-aged knight approaches. Corvin recognizes him as Wesleyan, the stone-faced member of the Thorny Rose (Princess Flora's Cavalier bodyguards). He was the one who had questioned them (very thoroughly) about their activities with the Battleaxe gang.

He is accompanied by several men in dark grey clothing, the symbol of the Weeping Eye around their necks. He nods towards them. "An honor to see you again Corvin. These men will see to it that your fallen is given the honor he deserves. The rest of you must come with me. Princess Flora is waiting."

[shaidar]

Corvin

Corvin nods at the knight "Greetings sir Wesleyan. Mordred died a hero, we plan to have his body returned to his family. We had better not keep the princess waiting, I'm sure she's extremely busy."

As they move off he gives Astrid what he hopes is a reassuring look.

[Edeldhur]

Jalko

The halfling follows along - all of this is a little more attention than he is used to, so he tries to remain unnoticed.

[archolewa]

Astrid pats Modred's shoulder one last time, and follows the others. She gives Corvin a small, anxious smile when he tries to reassure her. She absently rubs her palm where the Mark once was.

Wesleyan leads the group into the Castle, though only after the Castle guards have relieved them of their weapons. They are led to the same sitting room where last they spoke with Princess Flora and High Priest Derek.

Sebastian takes up position near the window, where he can watch the sun set over the harbor. Kasper lights a few candles to give the dim space some light, and sits down on one of the couches. Astrid paces back and forth along one wall, dry washing her hands.

Wesleyan takes up position next to the door, standing at parade rest.

Unlike last time, the group only has to wait a few minutes before Princess Flora enters, tall and regal, her polished breastplate glinting in both the candlelight and red sunlight shining in through the window. Kasper stands, Sebastian straightens, and Astrid stops, though she can't help but fidget a little bit, especially when Princess Flora's severe gaze sweeps across her.

High Priest Derek follows right behind, accompanied as always by an acolyte. He steps up next to Kasper and pats him on the shoulder.

A servant pulls a high-backed chair from the corner and sets it behind Princess Flora. She sits, signaling for everyone else to do so. Kasper sits next to High Priest Derek. Sebastian makes his way a small stool near the window and settles down. Astrid sits down on the couch across from Kasper, and as far from the Princess as possible.

Princess Flora's eyes sweep the room a second time. Her expression is calm, and still, giving no sign of approval or disapproval. "First, my condolences for you loss. Wizard Mordred had the potential to be a great asset to the Refuge, and his loss is a blow to our Cause."

Princess Flora waits a moment for any responses, acknowledges them with a nod, and then continues. "I received a messenger from Mr. Jalko's village several days ago, informing me that you have led a band of sixteen goblinoid halflings into the Refuge. Explain."

[shaidar]

Corvin

Corvin stays standing "Thank you for your condolences, princess" he nods his head in a brief bow "I will do my best to explain, and if afterwards there is any punishment then I accept full responsibility for the group. Sebastian told us that there were people going missing near the wall. We discovered a small hole in the Thornwall and followed tracks through it to an underground complex. There we discovered a group of halflings that had been trapped behind the wall since it went up, and the missing people. Desperate to survive, they had fallen under the malign influence of one of Viper's handmaidens, Mamba, although they did not know that is who it was. Well, one of their group, Gribbl, was her priestess, so she might have known, but all the others knew of was a protective stump spirit. We spoke to one of them, Jandley, and persuaded her to help us free the hostages, and come back to the refuge so their children could grow up safely as their group was slowly dwindling. She helped us sneak in, we slew Gribbl, and once she was dead we persuaded the rest to come with us. The kidnap victims, one of which is here, this is Jalko..." he gestures to the halfling "...they were in some kind of magical sleep, which Mordred managed to awaken them from. We then all travelled back to the thornwall. It was on this part of the journey that Mordred died defending the group from some giant insects. Kasper had arranged some church help to wait inside the Thornwall to get the kidnap victims home. We then escorted the outside halflings to a place of safety where they might have a chance to adjust to life in the Refuge. " his eyes briefly flick to high-priest Derek, then back to the princess and then down to the floor at this feet "I know this is unusual your highness. I wouldn't do anything to put the Refuge in danger. Kasper used his Seer magic to check that the halflings have no ill intent towards us. They just want to raise their children in peace."

[archolewa]

Princess Flora listens, her face impassive. "There is something you are leaving out."

She looks at Astrid, who freezes like a rabbit caught by a fox. "You are the young lady Corvin and his companions saved from that Kinslayer nest beneath the tower yes? Let me see your dominant hand, if you please."

Though the request is worded politely, her tone makes it very clear it is an order. Astrid throws an anxious look at Corvin, but stands and approaches the Princess. The Princess somehow managers to tower over the girl, despite Astrid standing and her sitting. Astrid nervously holds out her hand. Astrid's hand twitches, as if she wants to pull it away when Princess Flora takes it. The Princess studies it carefully.

"The callused hand of a farmer, bearing a few new calluses and a blister. You rarely held a sword before, but now you do so often. But your palm seems surprisingly smooth. Smoother than I would expect. Tell me child, has your hand always been so?"

Astrid stands utterly still, her face pale as a ghost. Her eyes flick to Corvin, and she stammers out a barely audible "No."

"Indeed. Am I right in assuming that when you first emerged from that Tower, your hand bore the Mark of the dead Enemy?" asks Princess Flora, her voice firm, but with a gentle edge to it.

Astrid is visibly shaking.

"Why are you so frightened, dear?"

"You're Princess Flora."

"And have you heard such terrible things about me?"

"W-well, no. My mother said you're a great hero."

Princess Flora smiles faintly. "Did she now? I am honored by her respect. So, I ask again why are you frightened? Have you done anything against the Refuge?"

"No..."

"Indeed, it seems to me that if anything you have fought courageously against its enemies, from the moment you got dragged into that wretched Tower. So I ask again, why are you frightened?"

"The Mark..."

"Is gone now, is it not?"

"The Inquisition..."

"Will receive no aid from me. Especially not if it comes for such a courageous subject of mine. Go, sit back down."

Astrid returns to her seat, and stumbles into it, looking dazed.

Princess Flora turns her gaze back to Corvin. "Astrid had a Mark upon her hand. Now she does not. Kasper was told about the Mark, and I'm sure he told you. Surely you understand I would have a keen interest in knowing how to remove it. Explain how you removed it from Astrid's hand, and why you did not inform me immediately."

[shaidar]

Corvin

Corvin looks sheepish "Sorry your highness. It was Mordred. Against all our advice he did a deal with Mamba to transfer the mark from Astrid to him. It was the mark he used to waken the kidnap victims. I didn't want to darken his memory, and I didn't think the information was of direct use."

[Edeldhur]

Jalko

"Seems to me he did a mighty fine thing when he accepted that mark - for us and for her" - Jalko grumbled and shifted uncomfortably, looking sideways at Astrid.

[archolewa]

"What is or is not of direct use is impossible for you to know," says Princess Flora. "Twice now, you have withheld information from me. Once to protect the living, once to protect the dead. Admirable, but I will not tolerate a third time. Tell me how she transferred the Mark, what impact it may have had on Mordred, how he used it to awaken the sleepers, as well as anything else you may have learned about it."

[shaidar]

Corvin

Corvin gulps

"She used some kind of spell, I guess. Kasper might know more, he thinks it might of been a more advanced mark than Astrid had..." he will go on to explain what happened with Mamba, how Mordred used the mark on the kidnap victims and also Mordred's odd behaviour the night they met Terri. He won't leave anything out that directly relates to the mark.