Chp. 5: WTF?!

[AleBelly]

"Vorkath, if Tayne associates with those of ill repute, perhaps he's in the Caves nearby. Perhaps you'd like to join our next foray" suggests Wulfhart.

Wulfhart pushes to return to the caves. "We'll make no progress without the Castellan here. Bayard's situation is unfortunate, but I don't think much can be done until we can speak to the head of this place."

[MrHemlocks]

The mass service was comforting and to see some of the adventures attending it was very uplifting. Albertus, was sadden to hear about Brother Bayards disappearance and does not believe the fellow cleric left on his own accord. The blood and note attest to that!

When the party has gathered and ready to venture forth toward the caves, Albertus tells all that are present. "I feel that our fellow cleric, if not already killed, is in harms way and is being held captive in the Keep or the caves. He has been taken and is being used to scare the rest of us from continuing or purpose. That is to clear out the evil from the caves and to see if there is a link between the Keep and the Cave of Chaos. What say each of you...to the caves or search for clues to the clerics vanishing here within the keep?"

[OGRE MAGE]

Fingal the Thief

Id have to agree with Bert. Bayard didn't just leave us without a word. I think there is something amiss here at the keep. In my opinion we need to devise us a plan to expose this Mentzer and get him off our trail once and for all. I'm also wondering if the Castilian not being here is coincidental or not. Has anyone heard when he is supposed to return? Fingal thinks about who they could get that information from without alerting Mentzer.

One things fer dang sure, after seeing what he was willing to do to the people that worked for him....... that's one guy we need to be concerned with.

[doughx99]

Niles

We will need some concrete evidence to expose Mentzer. I Don't think he would allow us to just start poking around the Keep,maybe our best bet is the caves and hope our friend is still alive

[jakegreenxxxx44]

im with what everyone wants to do, we can't leave without finding what happened to Brother Bayard in my opinion.

[Zhym]

"If I may say so, I don't think this place is safe for us as long as You-Know-Who is in charge," Boddin says. "Er, you do know who, right? I don't want to say Metzner's name in case he's listen—oh, bother. I said his name, didn't I? Anyway, I would venture that the keep is be more dangerous than the caves now. I would humbly suggest that we should pack provisions and gear to stay on the road or in the caves until we have proof that You-Know-Who is up to, um, whatever mischief he's up to."

Boddin finishes packing for the trip to the caves. "One more thing, good sirs. If I might be so bold as to ask, and please don't think me rude: would anyone else be interested in contributing to the Albertus Revival Fund? I was pleased to contribute to his return," Boddin says with a small bow to Albertus, "even with the unexpected—and, I have to point out, unnegotiated—terms of that return. Had I not found the church of St. Cuthbert so welcoming and worthwhile, I might have inquired into the enforceability of the good Father Jerome's conditions. Surely St. Cuthbert would prefer true converts to conscripts, wouldn't you think? But no matter. My point, friends, is that although my coin bag has been lightened in the service of a good cause, I would not mind increasing its load if others wanted to donate to cover some of the costs of the good cleric's return. I'm sure Wulfhart and Fingal feel likewise! Regarding their own purses, not mine, of course."

[Grognardsw]

Easia the cleric, Fingal the thief and Foracor the elf investigate Brother Bayard’s room. Groyn keeps watch outside the door. They find blood spots scattered about, some random hairs, indentations in the wall that seem like it could have been hit by a blunt weapon, and overturned furniture. The door lock was not forced.

Foracor’s dog Bene sniffs about the room to establish a scent on Bayard. He follows the scent out the back door of the tavern then loses it. Inn patrons and tavern-goers are questioned. No one recalls anything of note.

Meanwhile in the tavern room below, Desertfox talks of a dream of ill omen for Bayard. Wulfhart the fighter talks with Vorkath the paladin, who is sometimes called the Sword of the True God. “I’m tempted to join you Wulfhart,” says Vorkath. “But I do not want to risk losing the trail on Tayne. I suspect he is about the Keep. I have paid some footpads and urchins to do some spying and exploring about. I should hear from them later today.”

Albertus the cleric calls for a vote on whether to stay in the Keep to find Bayard and expose Metzner, or to explore the Caves of Chaos. The party is split. As they discuss the pros and cons of the two choices, the barkeep calls out for them.

“You have a package!” he yells from the bar. On the counter-top is a 2’x2’ rough-hewn wooden crate. It opens from the top and is not locked.

[jakegreenxxxx44]

wonders to herself what can fit inside a 2'x2' box. curious as everyone else I would think.

[AleBelly]

Wulfhart is afraid he knows what's in there, and doesn't want to open it. Instead, he shouts to the barkeep "Who's it from? Who delivered it?" If the messenger just left, Wulfhart will attempt to chase him/her down.

[OGRE MAGE]

Fingal

I don't remember Bayards head being that dern big so........it can't be that........right?

[Zhym]

Boddin, ever hopeful, suggests, "Another thank-you from the Princess? Maybe a pony keg?"

[SlyFox]

DesertFox, always eager for adventure and believing the caves might be Brother Bayard's prison, opts for going there to check the entire place out before checking around the keep.

[MrHemlocks]

Feeling a bit uneasy about the package, Albertus heads over to it. Taking the package to a shadowy corner table and placing it down upon it he looks at the others near him. "Share I open it."Not waiting for a reply, and fearing for the worst, he begins to opens the package. Making sure not to stand over it, just in case something harmful comes out, Albertus holds his breath as the contents are revealed.

[Grognardsw]

By the gods, it's Bayard!

[OGRE MAGE]

Fingal looks in the box........then pukes on the floor......then steps away from the box.

[MrHemlocks]

"My God!"Albertus says after looking within the box."This is just wrong in so many ways"Plopping himself onto a chair, Albertus lights up his pipe to ease his nerves. Looking at the rest of the group he whispers to them. "That Metzne fellow needs to be stopped and now. Just too bad we have not an assassin to do the job for us."

[Zhym]

Boddin looks away from the grisly head. "Brother Bayard was a good man," he says. "I owe him my life."

The hobbit forces himself to look at the head. He must remember why some things are more important than a comfortable chair and a pint of good beer. "This evil person must be stopped," he says with uncharacteristic forcefulness. "He doesn't want us investigating the caves? Then that is where we must go."

[AleBelly]

Wulfhart will continue to question the barkeep. If he has no hope of seizing the messenger, he will return to the table silently. The reaction of his fellow party members tells him all he needs to know. He avoids looking in the box.

"To the Caves it is, then. We must avenge our cleric friend. "

He removes his sword from his belt (keeping it sheathed), places it point-down onto the dusty, sticky floor of the tavern, and kneels before it. "I rechristen thee Blade of Bayard!"

[Grognardsw]

Wulfhart is afraid he knows what's in there, and doesn't want to open it. Instead, he shouts to the barkeep "Who's it from? Who delivered it?" If the messenger just left, Wulfhart will attempt to chase him/her down.

The barkeep shakes his head. "I don't know. The boy in the kitchen brought it in!"

Wulfhart questions the boy. "A man dressed in black knocked at the back kitchen door. He was clean shaven. Intense eyes. Handed it to me, gave me 5 gold to bring it to the bar. That's all I know!"

Wulfhart runs outside, peers about, sees no one matching the description. He jogs up and down the street. Still nothing.

[doughx99]

Niles to the caves it is

I will pitch in what ever amount is required for brother bayard's rising.