[IC] The Last Theorem

[Plerumque]

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Back home, there wasn’t much call for adventurers, so when a trader named Silas Gribb rolled into town one misty morning and announced that he was looking for caravan guards- promising travel, excitement, and a rather tidy sum of gold at the end of it all- it would have taken a fool not to jump at the opportunity. Unfortunately, the journey was rather less remarkable than he suggested, and after passing briefly through a number of villages whose names were forgotten within an hour of leaving, Silas’ caravan ended up in Belhaim. Despite the welcoming air of the Taldan town, that stop was no more profitable, as the merchant was stopped at the edge of the town and summarily arrested on an outstanding warrant for smuggling.

Silas, still smiling, laughing, and talking about how it was all a misunderstanding, was led away by Belhaim’s sheriff and a few of his deputies, to be escorted along with his caravan to a trial in Cassomir to the south. Since his employees’ pay had been confiscated along with the rest of his goods, Talia Orem offered the former guards free room for a few days, on behalf of the town. Her inn, the Wise Piper, is known not only for the homely comforts of its rooms but also its tavern, remarkably well-supplied for a small town in northern Taldor. As a welcome to Belhaim, Talia declared the first round of drinks to be on the house.

“It’s a shame, it is,” she says, a keen-eyed woman with a scarf wrapped around her head, leaning over the bar. “Duping innocents like that, making them into accessories. Gribb came through town last year, I remember. Didn’t know he was cheating the imperial tax then, of course, or I wouldn’t have let him at the fire-brandy.” She sighs mournfully, then brightens. “But you all seem like nice folks, so it's my pleasure. What’ll it be?”


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[darklink_shadow]

The whole ordeal had affected everyone differently.

We're doomed! Stuck out in the middle of nowhere, with no pay to show for the weeks of work we put in. We'll never make it back home now! Forge lamented, defeated and dejected. He entirely ignored the offer of a drink, and put his head down on the bar with a short, but heavy sigh.

Nonsense! Cheer up big brother! It's all just an adventure! We've finally hit our first obstacle, and we will over come it to become heroes! Not sure... how overcoming being poor makes us heroes, but we'll manage! Little Sis grinned ear to ear, beaming at the woman, and looking at all the bottles on the wall. I think I will have apple juice! She announced, pleased with her choice.

Meanwhile, the tiny gnome was muttering under his breath. Skraeling fjuunting zazzle kunk! Give me your stiffest meanest drink! The little man slumped in his chair, and looked ferociously upset, but too tiny to be of any real threat to anyone.

Krusk gave no attention to any of other overly dramatic types and greeted the barmaiden with a welcoming grin. A free round is very kind of you, Ms. Orem. I'll just take any old thing, and that'll just be fine by me. Maybe a nice mead, if you have one, but don't trouble yourself, just grab whatever is nearest.

Knives on the other hand was calm, relaxed. Just water for me. I only drink water, and I only eat fruit and meat. Thank you. Say, since we are brave adventurer types, surely you can think of some work that needs done. My temple says no job is too small to be beneath a humble student, and no task too large that even a novice cannot aid in it.

Krusk nods his approval. Yeah, plus we could really use the coin. I think we spent the last of it getting here... and loaning it to our boss.

Thrice damned thief that he was! Bastard. He'll pay for this!

[Plerumque]

Talia listens to the newcomers' woes as she fetches bottles from the shelves and pours the drinks. "An apple juice, a Chelaxian pepper whiskey, a Bellis mead, and a spring water. Ice?" She hands out the glasses and rests her elbow on the counter. "Some work to be done? Well, I imagine you can find work if you need some. I know Isadorer Malak's put out a substantial reward if anyone can find her missing daughter, Bophre. The child's been missing for three months now, and she just last week increased the reward to two hundred. All the searching we've done hasn't turned up anything, though. Poor Isadorer. If you're looking for coin, though, the better way would likely be to see if there's anyone in town who'd be willing to hire some part-time help." The innkeeper glances around the nearly empty common room. "Doesn't look like there's much going on here, so if you'd like I could take you around town, once you're done with the drinks."

[darklink_shadow]

Little Sis took her apple juice with a small thanks before sipping it, and returning to the impossible task of cheering up her brother. Gods below! What is this?! The little gnome shrieks as he drinks his cup. Six, looked aghast at the cup in his hand.

Chelex Pepper Whiskey? How much for another?

Krusk drank mead, and tapped the little gnome's shoulder. We're broke. We can't afford it, if it's two coppers.

Ggggyooo! That godsdamned Silas Gribb! I'll have his head before I'm through!

No you won't. Calm down.

Don't you tell me to calm down you... you... ahhh, haha, nevermind. Suddenly Six remember how frightful the big half-orc was, as he stood and loomed over the smaller fellow. Oh, are you calm? Good. Now, Ms. Orem, don't trouble yourself on our--

No! It won't be no trouble Krusk! There's nobody else here, and how can we pay her back, if we don't get no jobs to get coin? Iffen she helps us find work, we can rent out those rooms for real. Thanks a bundle, Talia! Let's go guys!

I'm not done with my mead. Just wait patiently.

Uuuuuugh. We'll never find a job. But it's better than just sitting here. Let me finish that for you Krusk, and let's go. Suddenly bereft of his drink, Krusk growled and stood, as Forge downed the liquid courage. Ms. Talia, let's go... The sooner we get this over with, the sooner we can get out of you hair, and you can do... well, just whatever you'd rather be doing now.

Yay! Brother is in a better mood!

No he's... Krusk started irritably, but the childlike glee and wonder of the younger girl's face won over, and he sighed. He was just pretending to be upset earlier, he's just happy as a lamb now. Let's go little girl. Thank you for dealing with us, Ms. Orem. You truly are a saint, to have the patience. Gromm knows I don't...

[Plerumque]

"It'a my pleasure," Talia assures Krusk, topping up the Six's whiskey as she speaks. "I love new faces. I've lived a few places in my life, and Belhaim's the best by far, but sometimes one misses the Opparan summer where every day brings a new wonder. And I have to say that this troupe of caravan guards qualifies." She waits until the drinks are finished, then collects the glasses and brushes the counter clear. "Here, let's go," Talia says, untying her apron and stepping out from behind the bar. "Belhaim awaits."

"Akil's meats," she begins a few minutes later, gesturing to the building across the street from the tavern. "He's the butcher. I get all my meats from him, and they're good, too- you should try my stew sometime. One of the advantages in living in the country." She leads the way down a lane she names Canteclure Road, pointing out the buildings. "Baccus Smithy, owned by "Big Bull" Baccus. You need weapons or armor, this'll be your first stop. Marcus Chance has one as well, across town, but he's an ex-soldier and has a bit of a short temper. Here we have the Dodgion livery, and Belhaim Candleworks- quite fascinating, if you've never seen a chandler at work. Mason's Guildhall, here, and down that was is Delbin's Devices. He's our local tinker, a bit of an odd figure, but-" Talia is cut off in the middle of her speech as the ground shakes, a tremor shuddering through the earth and up into their bodies. The innkeeper turns and her mouth opens wide, as her eyes follow a vast plume of dust moving ponderously into the sky from the northeast. "The Witch Tower," she breathes.

[darklink_shadow]

Six brightens considerably when the woman refills his drink. In fact, he ceases to look angry at all until he downed the drink completely. He remains silent during the tour, looking quite pleased with the fire in his belly. A few times he nods his approval at the shops, but doesn't break his silence.

Knives on the other hand, has plenty to say, and plenty to ask. Does Akil hunt his own meat? Would he pay well if we brought him some game? Do you think he could trade the hide of the animal for getting the meat cut up into steaks if we brought him the whole beast? Are there many deer around here? What fruits grow locally.

When they reached the blacksmith's shop, it was Forge, actually, who had a question. Does Master Baccus need an apprentice? I've always loved smith work. I was nearing completion on my apprenticeship when someone...

Oh hush! No one wants to be an apprentice blacksmith when they could be an adventurer!

I wou--

No, no, silly brother, life is all about adventure! Let's go check out the tinkerer's sh-- woah!

In a moment, Forge had moved the five feet that separated him from his sister, and caught her as she nearly fell. Ah, clumsy. Be careful.

Little Sis just sniggered That was sort of exciting! Let's go up and see if we can find any lava! Or see whatelse is going on up there! Life is an adventure, and there is no better place to set the mood for an adventure than a volcano! Maybe we can save a princess from the dastardly locals!

Little Sis.... the locals here are very nice. I doubt they sacrifice princesses to--

Not the locals of this town! The locals who live up on the volcano!

Nobody lives--

Ah, what do you know?! Let's go! It'll be fun! And then, if there is nothing exciting, you can go look into the blacksmith place, Krusk and Knives can go hunt for some meat, and off to the tinker's shop will go Six and --

No way! You're the daft girl who talked me into joining this damned caravan guard business! I'm staying away from you, you little skrael... ah, ahem. I mean, I suppose I'll go. Six suddenly remembered how overprotective Forge was of his little sister, and the man seemed just about ready to attack the poor little gnome. I did want to go visit the tinkerer anyways, the tiny alchemist thought.

Hrrrm. Well, if there is any evil doings up in the Witch Tower, I'd like to put a stop to it. But it's probably just nature being nature. So, if we come back and I get to hunt a little, I'll be fine with that. Even if I have to take Knives along. The orc said with a chuckle.

Knives crossed her arms, and pouted, retorting Hey! I'm good company!

Most everyone laughed at that, just not angry old Six, or morose Forge who said Fine. Let's get going after the tour finishes then.

Oh come on, wh-- Little Sis began, but Forge cut her off.

Sis! It would be unbearably rude for her to offer to tour us, and us to ditch her part way through because you got distracted by something adventurous. After the tour. The older sibling insisted. Not before. Please, Talia, what is that next building there? Oh, and what were you saying about the tinkerer?

[Plerumque]

Talia answers the questions patiently as she conducts the tour- "Akil doesn't hunt, but his boy sometimes does. I'm sure he would pay if you brought him some game, though. He's an artist with venison, can never have too much. Willoway Orchard is where much of our fruit comes from, with their apple trees. We have a quite nice local cider, if you'd like to try it. I used to stock the famous Qadiran cider, and I'd say ours is better- though, of course, I'm hardly neutral. I do believe Baccus has an apprentice," she adds, hearing Forge's question. "Nothing saying he wouldn't take on another, though. Another pair of hands is always useful around the forge."

The tremor subsides, but Talia still looks shaken. "The tinker- er- Delbin, yes, he has a shipment of goods in every few months, by way of Absalom. He's, ah, quite the collector of curiosities. Rich enough to pay for room in the cargo holds. He says he used to be a merchant in Druma, before he became disillusioned with the ethos of the Kalistocrats, decided to move here for some peace and quiet..." She continues her monologue, but a troubled expression remains on her face, and her eyes keep darting back to the dust cloud, now dissipating.

A few minutes later, the pounding of feet sound on the dirt road, and a young man sprints into view around the bend in the road. His eyes catch on Talia and he slows, stopping to catch his breath with his hands on his knees. "The Witch Tower has fallen," he gasps. "It collapsed all of a sudden, and we don't know why. Varyl and Letha are investigating, but they're not used to being in charge. I'm on my way to tell everyone in town, but you'd better come, Miss Orem." The boy doesn't wait to be questioned, but breaks into a run towards the Wise Piper

Talia curses softly under her breath and starts off down the road. "I'm sorry, it looks like the tour will have to wait for some time," she apologizes. "You're welcome to wait back at the inn or come with me. I doubt it's anything more than rot, with that old building, but if you're looking for a bit of excitement, you've certainly found it. I do hope this isn't an inauspicious beginning to your stay in Belhaim."

[darklink_shadow]

We're not auspicious of you! You seem really nice!

No, Little Sis, that's suspicious of her. We're not suspicious of her, but a tower falling is auspicious. It's a bad omen.

Oh, you and your bad omens. I told you, there are no such things as bad omens, only good omens!

Crows? Black Cats? Circling Vultures?

Just animal friends. Same as Jeff. Where is Jeff?

Out grazing. He'd be at my side if I whistled though, don't worry.

Oh fun! Well, let's go to the tower! Maybe we can defeat the witch!

I don't think there is a witch. And let's stay away, it could be dangerous. Let's just get normal jobs. I could make armor and weapons again. Krusk could hunt. Six could peddle his wares. Knives co--

Oh shush! We're going! Come on! It's this way!

And with that the youngest member of their party took off towards the volcano, with Forge reaching out to try to stop her, and then giving chase.

Hehe! This will be fun! Let's go, Krusk! Six!

Ugh, you skraelings, and your adventures. Whatever. I'm coming. Stupid little girl.

[Plerumque]

"The Witch Tower isn't the home of an actual witch," Talia explains as they start off to the east at a brisk pace. "It's never been, actually. It used to be known as Castle Tula, after the founder of Belhaim, but that was over two centuries ago. Its last occupant was the Baron Sarvo, but he joined a rebellion against the Grand Prince, and his home- and his family- were destroyed in retaliation. Castle Tula wasn't a nice place, under Baron Sarvo, and even less once it was razed. The locals have referred to it as the Witch Tower ever since. But now-" She shakes her head as the group crosses a stone bridge over a rushing brook. She quickens the pace as the path leads past a hill crowned by a manor house and takes a fork in the road. The path dips down, and as the scene spreads out before the group Talia lets out a gasp and utters a quick oath to the Eternal Rose.

Smashed debris is spread out from the base of the tower, wood splinters and chunks of stone buried in the earth. Part of the tower is intact, though most of the walls have been torn away, and the section of the second floor that is visible contains only shattered furniture covered in a layer of dust. Around it, the rubble is piled up in heaps, forming a kind of natural ramp up. It appears that none of the townsfolk grouped aimlessly next to the wreckage have attempted to scale it, though. Two stand apart, dressed in constables' uniforms, but they seem to have no more purpose: the woman wanders around kicking at the cracked stone, and the man stands with his hands on his hips, chewing on a stalk of grass. "Well, Letha," he drawls. "What a day for Gorgeous to be gone, eh?"

[darklink_shadow]

Hello, Mr. Lawman! Little Sis greeted the constable. We're a professional adventuring team, and we'd be happy to lend a hand!

We're not a professional adventuring team, Little Sis. Forge says with a mocking chuckle.

The little girl spun around, and gave her older brother a look like he was stupid. You said a professional was someone who got paid to do things.

Forge seemed a little taken aback Well, we never actually got paid...

We got paid by the town guard for that bandit bounty. Even if we loaned the money to that guy, who took off with it.

Krusk grunted, and then laughed. She's got you there. Plus, we are pretty tough. And we could definitely use a new job. What's the situation, captain?

[Plerumque]

The constable nods. "You'd like to help? Well, I'd hardly want t' stop you if you're so eager. I'm not sure there's much we should do at the moment- we sent a runner to the baroness, and we may not want to start investigatin' without her say-so. P'raps you should knock on Hunclay's door? His manor's just up the hill, so he would've felt the shake even worse than those of us who were in town, and he might know what's goin' on, what with his wizarding and all. 'Ere, Letha, stay here and make sure these folk don't get up to anythin'. I'll come with these ladies and gents, make sure Hunclay doesn't get nervous if he sees strangers." He nods to the woman, who snaps off a wobbly salute. "Right this way, uh... I don't believe I caught your names? Varyl Hodd." He extends his hand.

[darklink_shadow]

Forge moved to the front of the pack to accept the man's hand. I'm sorry, sometimes we forget out manners, it seems. I am James Schwartzbach, but most people have taken to calling me Forge on account I was the blacksmith's apprentice, and I was getting pretty good at it. This here is my sister, Sarah. The young girl curtsied as Forge paused.

She's a sweet heart, really, but she gets her nose into everything, and asks too many questions, just like a little sister should. So, well, everyone started calling her Little Sis. Forge smiled at his sister, and gave her a nod. It's really nice to meet you, Mr. Hodd.

Right. And I'm Krusk Farseer, son of Krukk, son of Krutk, son of Krunk, son of Krugk, of the Kru'oon Tribe. A mouthful, I know, but that is my legal name. Most people just shorten it to Krusk. My friend Jeff is a bull, but he is out grazing right now, I imagine. I'm actually going to call him over. Things are seeming a bit strange, and I'd rather be ready. With that, the half orc walked a short distance away and whistled loudly, once and then twice, before calling out the bull's name.

In the meantime Knives stepped forward with a grin. And I'm Knives. I don't know why people call me that, but they've been calling me Knives since I can remember. I'm a monk from the Four Winds Temple, and I'm on my Journey of Enlightenment. It's very nice to be out, and meet such interesting people such as yourself, and see such interesting places, such as your nice little town. And the short angry one is Sizz... Sixsel... Six, is what we call him anyways. Nobody can really say his name. He's a real clever alchemist, but not much of a people person. Not sure why he follows us around really.

Oh, well that's because--

Hush, enough jibberjabber, let's just go knock on this mayor's door and see what the magical genius has to say about this nonsense. It's probably just a fluke of nature and we are wasting time that could be better spent doing whatever.

Oh, Six. Hush. The gnome bristled at the girl's words, but didn't say anything further.

By this point, Jeff, the Warbull, had arrived on the scene. Mr. Hodd, this is the last member of our merry band, Jeff. He's delighted to meet you, I'm sure.

[Plerumque]

"A pleasure." The constable sweeps his hat off his head, the grand gesture an odd contrast with his homely aesthetics, and dips his head. "And to your, ah, friend Jeff, as well. Master Hunclay's manor is just up there." He stops at the beginning of the path. "I might just stay here, on second thoughts. Hunclay's a bit, er... standoffish. You need me to vouch for you, of course, just whistle and I'll come a-hustle." He smiles brightly, replacing his hat on his head and nervously straightening his badge. "But, given that you have a bull and all, seems like you might be just a tad more qualified to deal with this whole situation than I am. So I'll just be right here if you need me." He nods vigorously.

The manor is visually imposing, an elegant construction of dark wood and stone, gabled roofs stretching towards the sky as if to catch the last light of the afternoon. A long porch wraps around one side of the house, wooden pillars holding up the overhang. Steps lead up to a large door with an ornate silver knocker. However, ascending to the porch reveals that all is not well- a grisly form sprawls on the doorstep. Their flesh is charred badly and their limbs contorted by fire, but beneath the burns it is possible to see green scales smeared with ash. A lizard's tail is twisted around the supports for one of the railings, and a moment's closer inspection reveals a reptilian snout of a head. The creature is easily recognized, from fairy-tales as a child, stories told between uproarious bouts of drinking, garishly illustrated almanacs of beasts, and perhaps for one or two of the group from having met one before- a kobold.

[darklink_shadow]

Oh! Poor little guy! But he's probably evil. Kobolds are usually bad guys. Little Sis said, kneeling beside the kobold. But he's dead, there nothing we can do now. But... I am going to go ahead and make a connection with you all.

Hmm. Bad guys, huh? Forge flexed a mental muscle, and his armor and hefty two handed weapon conjured themselves into reality. This time his weapon took the form of maul, only the end of the hammer was an anvil, rather than what would have normally been just a lump of heavy steel or stone.

Great, just great... looks like you'll get an adventure after all. The little gnome complained, and then riffled through his bag to pull out his mutagen.

Krusk took out his spiked chain, seeing the others ready for combat. Jeff snorted derisively, as if he could tell that the mood had shifted. Knives just smiled.

Let's go see this wizard, the mighty kobold slayer. Knives took off, and ran up to the door, banging on it twice before opening it. Hunclay! Are you alright? Do you need rescuing? I don't care! I'm going to save the day! And with that, the whole party run into the room, ready for anything.


Sorry, I got laid off, and I lost motivation for this game for a little bit, but I'm better. I got lots of interviews set up, and I'm all good now.

[Plerumque]

The door doesn't budge, despite Knives throwing her weight against it. In a moment, the constable has run up, huffing and puffing. "Don't!" he shrieks, then clears his throat and speaks in a deeper voice. "That might be a bad idea. Hunclay is... well, he's a bit of a misanthrope, and he doesn't like people in his house at the best of times. There've been rumors he sets traps, and this would seem to suggest they're true. If you break in, well, you might be joining that kobold. Or you might consider it lucky in comparison." He spreads his hands. "Look, why don't you just come back with me to the tower? We've learned what we came for- Hunclay isn't home, or if he is, he's not responding. The Baroness has just arrived, and she might want to talk to you."

No problem, of course. I'm glad to hear you've got things straightened out, to some extent.

[darklink_shadow]

Hmmph. I'm not scared of traps.

The job changed, though. Respect the job.

Knives grumbled and followed the half-orc. Yeah, yeah. Respect the job.

Not to be disheartened by a change so small, Little Sis piped up, and took charge of the situation. Alright! The Baroness! She sounds like she's either really nice, or secretly evil! Krusk check if she is evil!

I'm still not a paladin. Krusk wondered if it was the 17th or 70th time Little Sis had made that mistake, but it didn't really matter. With a sigh, he gestured for Jeff to follow him closely.

Oh... yeah. Well, let's go!

Forge and Six exchanged a look and then both sighed as they followed after Little Sis, and Constable Hodd. Well, I doubt she is evil anyways. Let's hurry up and save some people. I want to be a hero.

[Plerumque]

The constable smiles in relief, although he protests, "She's not evil!" when the topic is brought up. He leads the group back down the path, where a well-dressed woman with white-blond hair surveys the ruins, a bespectacled young man by her side. A pair of horses are tied to a nearby tree, pawing at the ground.

She turns as Varyl hustles down the hill. "Ah, Master Hodd. And these must be the newcomers these folks mentioned. A pleasure, sirs and madams. My name is Lady Origena Devy, and this is my son Arnholde. Apparently, a few people who've been looking through the wreckage have found kobold carcasses. We do have a local tribe living in a flooded quarry to the east, but they've never caused any trouble. I'd normally put this in the law's hands, but Mulle and Hodd here can't handle this without the Sheriff to hold their hands. So if you're looking for employment, as I've heard, today may be your lucky day. I'm prepared to offer five hundred to go in there and look through the tower, to find out what happened and why there are kobolds in my town. Payment on return."

There's a particular strain in the baroness' tone, indicating emotion beyond mere confusion or worrying.

[darklink_shadow]

The two siblings notice something is amiss, but when Forge notices the look Little Sis gives him, he realizes she knows as well, and let's her take the lead in the conversation. Don't worry, ma'am, we are professionals. I sense that something else is troubling you. You can trust us, we are good people. We will do everything in our power to defeat any evil, and ensure no more harm comes this way.

Forge nodded his agreement. We won't fail you.

Krusk quickly caught on to the Schwartzbach's meaning; the woman was not telling everything she knew, it seemed. Or maybe she was afraid? Do you got a map, or can you draw on in the dust, of about where this quarry is? East is very vague. Tower first, I get it, but there might be some clues down in this flooded home of the little buggers.

Tsk! Poor Hodd. Knives muttered, giving the man a sympathetic look, albeit one rife with more pity than anything else. Eager as ever, Knives waited only out of respect of Krusk, and his questions. Anyone could tell she was raring to go.

Six on the other hand looked as if he was being asked to do some great tedious and mundane task, but he kept his potions handy.

[Plerumque]

"Of course." The baroness takes a quick breath, and rubs at her eyes. "It's just that - well - my fool husband lost his life poking around in that damned tower, and I'd come to think of it as his memorial, in a way. He'd have liked that. That's why I told Hunclay he couldn't knock it down, even if it was blocking his view of the sky. I can't say I'm too surprised it fell, but it brings up old memories." She turns to Krusk. "The quarry is a quarter mile from town, at the end of Old Quarry Road- that is, just further this way. Not many of us have had any reason to go past Hunclay's manor or the Witch Tower for quite some time, so it's rather overgrown, but the path can still be followed. I can get you a map of town while you're checking the tower, if you'd like, but it shouldn't be hard to get there."

[darklink_shadow]

No map, thank you ma'am. Come lads and ladies. Krusk, gestured for them to follow him, and he set off to climb up the rumble to the second floor of the tower.

Ever eager, Little Sis quickly moved to follow Krusk with nothing more than a smile and a wave good bye. More respectful, Forge shook the woman's hand and thanked her briefly before running after his sister. Knives and the gnome didn't bother with pleasantries, for very different reasons, and instead hurried to follow Krusk.

Krusk indicated to Knives to be on the look out for traps, and once they reached the second floor, Knives took point, searching for traps as she went, with Krusk, Forge and Jeff just behind her. Just a little further back was the gnome and the youngest of them.

[Plerumque]

The upper floor appears to have been some kind of sitting room, although it now contains only smashed furniture and a sprinkling of rubble. A trap door is set in the floor against the northwest wall, but a stout timber has fallen across it. Knives sees no sign of the presence of traps. Below, the baroness begins urging the crowd to clear out, and with some reluctance they begin to disperse.

[darklink_shadow]

Noting the trapdoor, Krusk gestures for Knives to help him lift the lumber, while Forge moved to the opposite side and recruited a reluctant Six to aid him. Together they tried to clear the rubble.

In the meanwhile, Little Sis took a look around for anything of interest.


Krusk and Forge will take 10 trying to lift it, while Knives and Six will aid other, with the end result of 16 for both Krusk and Forge. If that isn't enough, they will take 20.

Meanwhile, Little Sis will make a perception check to look around, and will take 20 to search the place if the others need to take 20 to lift.

Her first roll will be [roll0]

[Plerumque]

The four together easily heave the beam off the trapdoor, setting it down in the dust. Meanwhile, Little Sis doesn't find much of interest- wood and cloth strewn across the floor, one piece of broken furniture that appears to be a fallen bookcase, with torn pages lying in the debris. Below, the baroness begins to urge people to clear out, and the crowd reluctantly disperses.

[darklink_shadow]

Feeling fairly sure any traps would already have been sprung, Knives nevertheless checks the trapdoor for traps before opening it and looking down inside. The rest of the party takes another look around the room for other paths to take, such as hidden doors and such. Or other doors they just hadn't noticed yet.

[Plerumque]

The parts of the room containing any other exits seem to have broken off, joining the wreckage below. The trap door leads to a large ground-floor room whoch has mostly collapsed under the weight of the rubble. A companion to the door Knives opened is set in the floor directly underneath it. The smashed pieces of what may have once been a long dining table lie around the corpses of two small green-scaled corpses like those on Hunclay's doorstep.

[darklink_shadow]

Knives dropped down into the lower room to take a look around further, and the rest of the group followed. If nothing seemed to be in the room, they would have Knives look at the next trap door, and if there was no traps, she'd open it and take a look carefully. If she didn't see anything, she would slip down in there to check it out before gesturing for the rest to follow.

[Plerumque]

A quick examination yields no strangeness other than the kobold bodies, and Knives takes the second trapdoor, leading to an underground chamber with walls that have buckled precariously in several places. Masonry and dirt scattered across the floor, the structural damage plainly caused by the collapse above. The dry-rotted frames of five simple beds lie against the north and south walls. To the southwest, the room broadens into a larger chamber, which ends in an iron door. A rusted, grinning iron statue stands in an alcove in the north wall between the two wings of the room itself.

[darklink_shadow]

Knives looks back up the trapdoor and nods, telling the others that it is safe to come down.

Forge, noticing the statue, moves to inspect it closer, with his younger sibling nearby to inquire about what he is doing, and look at the strangely unsettling smile.

Knives gives the statue a once over, but quickly moves to inspect the door. Krusk has some difficulty coaxing Jeff down into the underground, so instead he exerts some effort getting the bull back up the last trap door, and tells the bull to wait outside for them. With that squared away, Krusk stands between the statue and the door, with the gnome beside him. For his part, Six had stopped complaining, and just held onto his mutagen in silence.

[Plerumque]

Upon examining the statue further, Forge realizes that what appeared as rust on its surface were actually long-dried bloodstains - rather than a life-size statue, it seems to be a iron maiden sculpted with the leering visage of some kind of gargoyle, its door still closed.

Krusk is the first to hear the sound- a rustling coming from the western wing of the barracks. As he turns, he sees two creatures rounding the corner towards the group- long, segmented worms with too many legs and mandibles twitching in hunger, only slightly smaller than Little Sis.

Roll initiative, using the highest modifier among your party, and you can resolve the actions of your party in whatever order you choose. If you're surprised, the NPCs will get their surprise round and then it'll be your turn. If you surprise the NPCs, you'll get the surprise round and then roll initiative. I think this is probably the best way to do combat without giving either the player or the GM a significant advantage in most fights, but if you have a better suggestion I'd be happy to hear it.

[roll0]

[darklink_shadow]

Krusk grunted and pointed at the beasts, hoping to rally the small force to action before the creatures were upon them.

Would you believe my best initiative is +1? [roll0]

[Plerumque]

The centipedes writhe forward, legs propelling them forward on waves of motion. They head for the nearest targets, of Krusk and Six, snapping their protruding mandibles closed.

And here I was worried about you abusing the system with abnormally high Init modifiers.

Bite vs. Krusk: [roll0]
Damage: [roll1]

Bite vs. Six: [roll2]
Damage: [roll3]

I'll need Fort saves if either of them are bitten.

[darklink_shadow]

Krusk growled as the critter got a hold of his arm. The pain was minimal, but Krusk felt the venom entering his system. With a quick mental prayer for strength, he roared in fury and swung his enemy, step back and to the side for better flanking with anyone who came forward.

Six, on the other hand took half a step back out of reflex, and narrowly escaped the venomous jaws of a creature. You INSECTS!

The gnome roared, tossing his mutagen aside for a moment to grab his greataxe and swing it at the creature, seething with hatred.

Realizing combat was upon them, Forge and Knives leapt to help Six and Krusk, respectively.


Krusk:
Fort Save:
[roll0]

Standard Action - Attack:
[roll1] to hit
[roll2] Damage
Crit on 20:
Confirmation:
[roll3] to double damage.

Free - 5ft Step around the back of the critter.

Six:
Free Action - Drop Mutagen
Free Action - Rage
Move Action - Grab weapon
Standard Action - Attack:
[roll4] (+1 if the creatures are medium or larger)
[roll5] (+1 if the creatures are medium or larger)
Confirmation:
[roll6] to double damage.
Free Action - 5ft Step for Flanking

Forge:
Move Action - Flank with Six
Stand Action Attack
[roll7] to hit
[roll8] Damage
Crit on 20:
Confirmation:
[roll9] to double damage.

Knives:
Move Action - Flank with Krusk
Stand Action - Attack
[roll10] to hit
[roll11] damage
[roll12] sneak attack damage

Little Sis:
Standard Action - Cast Sicken Body on the creature fighting her brother and Six.
Move Action - Move exactly 15ft away from the nearest critter.

[Plerumque]

Krusk shakes off the venom and caves in the carapace of one of the bugs with a mighty blow, splattering its guts on the stone floor. Together, Forge and Six make quick work of the other one, chopping it into pieces barely larger than you would find in poorly-milled wheat.

This is what the room you're currently in looks like. You came down in the middle, the centipedes came from the left.

http://www.cartographersguild.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=66771&d=1408493690

[darklink_shadow]

Six dropped his rage, dropped down onto the floor. Panting for a moment, he refused help up from Forge for a moment, and then got himself up, and picked up his mutagen before carefully stowing it in his bags.

Forge moved back to inspecting the statue, while Knives and Krusk inspected the corpses of the creatures to see what they were.

Happy to have no injuries in her collective, Little Sis regained her psionic focus, and examined the statue with her brother.

Nicely drawn, and very good for helping me visualize. I had entirely the wrong idea!
Knowledge rolls time.
Forge:
Knowledge (Engineering) [roll0] to see any details about the statue
Knowledge (Engineering) [roll1] to see if he can tell the cause of the collapse yet, or give a clue on where he needs to go to try and find it.
Knowledge (Engineering) [roll2] to see if the place is stable now

Knives:
Knowledge (Dungeoneering) [roll3] to ID the critters, although it's probably Nature.

Six:
Knowledge (Nature) [roll4] to ID the critters

Little Sis:
Knowledge (Religion) [roll5] on the statue... just in case.

[Plerumque]

Forge can tell that the iron maiden would have been closed around an occupant- if they're still in there, long-dead by now. As far as he can tell, the tower is stable, though he's not sure what would have caused the collapse. Six knows that the creatures are giant centipedes, likely warped by ambient magic or grown to massive size by consuming nearby vermin.

[darklink_shadow]

Come on, those creatures must have come through some tunnels. Let's go find those tunnels. Krusk says, and the party moves with him to where the centipedes had come from and looked for tunnels. If they found tunnels they started the trek down into them, if they looked large enough to walk down.

[Plerumque]

There don't seem to be any tunnels that the centipedes could have fit though- presumably, they wriggled through smaller cracks in the wall and grew too large to get back out. The floor is scattered with more rubble, including several rusted weapons and ruined fragments of armor.

[darklink_shadow]

Confused, Krusk searches the room carefully, calling Knives over to help. Once that's done, if they find nothing, they will search the eastern chamber, and Forge will join them along the way, forgoing his observations of the iron maiden.

At this time, Little Sis will follow them, but won't be actively searching. The gnome will just sort of stand around, even though he's caught his breath at this point.

[Plerumque]

Among the broken weapons and armor in the western wing of the barracks, Krusk finds a pair of daggers stored in an iron case that are made of a lightweight silvery material that Forge, as a former blacksmith, recognizes as mithral. Carved into the flat of each blade are a strange series of notches.

The door to the south is unlocked, leading into a corridor that continues in two directions, both lined by numerous jail cells. Each of the cells' solid iron doors hangs ajar, and includes a peephole at eye level, covered with a piece of sliding metal, and a smaller slot for iron and food. A few steps in either direction and the passage turns south, branching out in two directions after passing a few more cells.

http://www.cartographersguild.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=66772&d=1408493983

[darklink_shadow]

Forge frowned at the cells. If this was a prisoner at one time, that would explain the iron maiden. However, such places were not the sort of venue he wanted his little sister to explore. And yet, he knew that if he forbade it, she would do it anyways, and so he kept quiet. Instead he tucked away the daggers he had taken from Krusk into a bag and continued to frown.

For her part, Little Sis seemed mildly upset at the scene. Which way Krusk? This place is creepy.

Krusk gestured down the hallway to his left. When in doubt, go left. Ancient Orc Proverb. Plus, we need to explore this whole place to see what's going on here, so we'll go both ways eventually. Forge, peek into each cell before we pass it, lest something be hiding from us, and the rest of you be ready. There might be kobolds down here. I think they broke the tower.

Forge nodded at Krusk, and set off to look into the cell's peepholes before passing them. Krusk did the same on the opposite side, while Knives, Six and Little Sis kept themselves ready for action.

[Plerumque]

The left corridor takes a turn and continues north to another door, unlocked but with the rust in its hinges making it difficult to move. On the ceiling of this passageway, however, there is an odd semicircular stone ridge, which emerges from the eastern wall of the passage and follows it until the turn northward, where it disappears back into the stone. Taking the southern path from the split, the corridor has a dead end, with another cell containing only a mildewed cot and some rags.

Opposite the cell at the dead end, there is a door set into the wall. It might have been disguised quite well some time ago, but decay in the wood and cracks in the stone have left it exposed.

[darklink_shadow]

Little Sis excitedly notices a hidden door and grabs her brother's arm to point it out to him.

Krusk nods, but suggests they search the not hidden rooms first, much to the girl's dismay, however Forge chimes in that the big heavy door would be too hard to move without alerting people who might be hiding in this place. Seeing the wisdom in that, Krusk nods.

Equally as excited, Knives leaps to check the hidden door for traps, and then tries to open it.

[Plerumque]

The hidden corridor is lined with more cells, but as the group approaches one cell, a pale face appears at the door's window, and filthy hands grip the bars. The desperate face calls out, "Oh, gods, kind faces! Aroden bless you, noble souls! I ain't seen the jailers in ages, I think they forgot about us! We ain't eaten in days and the water's all but gone- my cousins're both sick. I swear we'd give back the boar if we could, but we ate it, starvin' as we was. We didn't even know it was the baron's lands, didn't know we was poachin'! I beg you, we're all gonna die in here! Kindness, noble souls, we've suffered awful! Good Baron Sarvo wills it!"

[darklink_shadow]

Forge stepped between the person behind bars and his sister and gave the man a harsh looked for a moment, before lowering his stance. Poachers? You shouldn't be left to starve. How many of you are there?

Little Sis squirmed around her brother to get a look at the people, before frowning. Kruuuusk! Make them water! I know you can!

With an exasperated sigh, Krusk moved to look into the cell, and conjured water into whatever receptacle they had stored their water in previously. If they were in separate cells, he did it once for each other them. Poachers, huh? Boar poachers? Look me in the eye, and tell me your tale. His stern gaze, and a brief incantation made it clear he was not interested in lies, as he assessed what they had to day.

While Krusk was busy with that, Forge got out some food to give to them, what little they had left would have to be enough, and they could go and get more after they were paid.

Unfortunately, we cannot set you free just yet. But we can tell the authorities you are down here. Hm. Maybe we can bring you up with us even. I would hate for you to be killed by negligence over a mistake like eating food you didn't know was somebody else's. Knives said, genuinely sympathizing with them, but wary of breaking laws. She had sworn oaths that she meant to keep.

Bah! Forget them! Krusk gave them water, Forge is giving them what little food we have, leave them for now! We have to find out what happened hear, and then we must go collect our payment! Saving poachers, or whoever these people are, was not part of our job.

If you are ever in jail, I'm remember your feelings on the subject. Forge said bitterly.

Baaaah! BAH! I say! If I am ever behind bars, you know I don't deserve it. I never break the law.

They said they didn't know.

Lying, I'm sure.

I'll judge that. Now be silent. I will hear their tale myself.

Oh... poor guys. Let me clean them, at least. They are so dirty. Little Sis said, forcing her way past Forge to begin casting her spells.

Krusk, Guidance and then Sense Motive [roll0]

Little Sis will spam Prestidigitation to clean them, and their cells.

[Plerumque]

The prisoner thanks the group profusely and indiscriminately, ignoring their questions and babbling on and on about their kindnes and the will of the good baron. "Come in, let us share what little we have with you. Good Baron Sarvo wills it," he says, gesturing to the door hanging ajar, and moving out of sight behind the wall.

[darklink_shadow]

Krusk shakes his head. We've little time for visiting. But I would like to hear your story.

Forge heard a hint of an edge in Krusk's voice, and readied himself for whatever would happen next. Forge knew Krusk well enough now to know when he suspected a trap. Regardless, Krusk and Forge entered cautiously, soon to be followed by Little Sis and Knives, with Six trailing in the rear. Who is this Baron? Husband of that baroness?

[Plerumque]

No response comes from within the room. When the door is opened, Krusk and Forge find an empty cell, with the food and water sitting innocently in the middle of the floor. There is, however, a door set into the back wall, whose disguise has sloughed off with time much as the door into the southern cellblocks had.

Baron Sarvo was the last Canteclure to rule Belhaim, who rebelled against the Crown and had his keep razed in return. He died well over two hundred years ago.

[darklink_shadow]

Knives looked at the gnome, and then paused to think on this Baron. Oh, well I have bad news. We're about to intrude on a grave site.

Krusk narrowed his eyes at the girl, and then growled when he got her meaning. What sort of friends are we about to make?

Both the girls in the group exchanged a look, and then both looked at the ground for a moment while they tried to recall details about the undead.


Knives:
Knowledge Religion [roll0] to ID the undead they heard, using details known about them.

Little Sis:
Knowledge Religion [roll1] to do the same.

[Plerumque]

Knives is aware that the vestige at the door was likely no kind of undead, but a haunt, a spiritual imprint born of powerful emotions, capable of inducing a specific effect on those that rouse it but vanishing (though not always permanently) if certain conditions are met.

[darklink_shadow]

Knives mused for a moment and then shrugged. It might be fine. I don't think he is dangerous, but he could be if he wanted to, just like anyone could be.

Krusk nodded. Let's sit, and talk with him a while.

Krusk sat in front of the provisions, and gestured for the party to follow suit. With only slight hesitation, Forge sat down, but the rest of the party had no qualms and sat.

[Plerumque]

Though the party waits for a few moments, the haunt appears to be well and truly gone- if it reoccurs, it will likely not be for some time. Interestingly, there don't appear to be any bones or other remains in the cell.

[darklink_shadow]

After pausing for a great deal of time, Krusk stood up. He's apparently departed. Should we collect the items here?

No way, what if it gets mad that we stole from it?

It offered the items to us, and insisted that the good baron willed it. He might be offended if we don't take anything. Perhaps we should take some smaller amount. Maybe just under half. But we should also leave some food behind?

Krusk stood up and looked through the pile of food. We'll take as much as we leave. But let's check out that door.

Krusk indicated the hidden doorway, and Knives got to work checking it for traps, and then trying to get it open.

Six, for his part looked a little frightened, but refused to admit it. Little Sis looked both frightened and excited, but with Krusk taking charge of the situation, she was happy to just follow.

[Plerumque]

The door leads into a narrow hallway, which widens into a larger room containing a strange metallic contraption of gears and chains. A large lever extends out at a forty-five degree angle from the front of it, and hovering above the machine is a small, roiling cloud of energy that periodically sends out sparks of electricity into the air or along the chains, though it doesn't appear to respond to the entrance of the group.

http://www.cartographersguild.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=66777&d=1408494196

[darklink_shadow]

The hell is that? Krusk asks, looking to Forge for an answer.

Uh... Let me take a look and see if I can figure anything out. The man says, as he approaches the device. He doesn't touch anything, or get too close.


Krusk will slip Forge a Guidance spell

Forge will think about engineering stuff.
[roll0]

[Plerumque]

Forge can guess that the chain that disappears into the wall runs through the ceiling ridge they noticed earlier, to some other part of the complex. Its purpose specifically he can't guess from the appearance of the machine, but it is likely made to allow someone to apply leverage to somewhere else- pushing, pulling, raising or lowering something.

The creature hovering above the machine is a lightning elemental, a usually-aggressive kind of elemental that is particularly dangerous to those wearing metal armor or wielding metal weapons.

[darklink_shadow]

It's a mechanism that... moves something somewhere else. It may be powered by that... electric thing. What is it? Little Sis?

I donno. Knives? Six?

Knives shrugged, and Six scowled. Something dangerous looking. Why don't we keep looking, and if we get stuck, we have someone yank that chain and see if we hear anything move.

Krusk grunted his approval. Sounds like a good plan.

With that, Krusk headed further down the path to investigate the rest of the area, not stopping until he hits a dead end, or finds something of interest, but being careful to search each cell before moving onto the next, and expecting kobolds to jump out of every cell.

[Plerumque]

Leaving the chamber with the mechanical device and heading back out through the haunted cell, the rest of the path seems to only contain more empty cells, eventually rejoining with the main corridor through a second secret door.

[darklink_shadow]

This way then. Krusk says with a gesture and heads down the unknown hall, to the unopened door, which is checked for traps by Knives, before carefully opened by her, peeking in if she can.

If the door is locked, she will try to pick it, quickly at first, but more carefully if her first attempt is a failure.

Take 10, and then 20 is picking fails.

[Plerumque]

Knives shoves into the room, the door groaning open under her weight. There can be little doubt about what purpose the chamber beyond once served. The dank room stores an iron rack, a fanciful brazen bull, an iron maiden, a cauldron, iron chairs with sharp edges and cruel protuberances, and a wooden table upon which various implements of torture are arrayed. A bronze plaque affixed to the western wall depicts a crowing rooster above crossed spears. Underneath the spear, a short phrase is inscribed: "Confession Cleanses the Soul - Pain Clarifies the Mind." As Knives enters the room athe front of the group, a voice slips into her mind, all honey and violets without any sharp edges at all. You look weary. Rest in one of the chairs provided here, says the voice, and it's indistinguishable from her own thoughts.

DC 15 Will save, or Knives obeys.

[darklink_shadow]

I'm not... Knives started before the weight of the world fell upon her. Wearily, she moved to sit down on one of the chairs, just for a minute, to catch her breath.

Krusk scowled at her, and held his arm in the way for the others to follow. Knives, let's leave this room unexplored. Knives. Hey. This isn't the sort of room for a girl to... Knives?

With an annoyed growl, he followed her in, with the intent of hauling her out.

[Plerumque]

Out of what had been thin air moments before, a raven appears perched on the head of the brass bull. It gives a dignified shake of its glossy tail feathers and speaks in a shrill voice, "Greetings, fine citizens of our glorious empire! So good to have visitors, though I fear I have no refreshments to offer. I assume you are here for the treasure. Well, I'd be happy to assist, provided that you give me what I require! It has been so long since I was able to ply my trade, in the years since my master's regrettable death." He gestures with a wing to a skeleton clothed in rags, seated in a chair in one corner. "For my assistance, I require only that each of you shed your life's blood in this room- merely take a seat in one of my lovely chairs."

[darklink_shadow]

Krusk bristled with clear and deadly anger. And you made this deal with the young woman here, or did you play some mind tricks on her to get her to do it without her consent? How am I to trust someone who would do that? I know of no treasure here.

Six crossed his arms, and looked at the raven with greedy but mistrusting eyes. Forge, on the other hand stepped forward. You'll not have a drop of blood from the innocent youth who travel with us. I will not let you bring these young women to harm. If you want to ply your trade, you will need a better bargain.


We will all sense motive. I feel this is a gm roll, so I, the player, don't realize Krusk got a 4, and Six got a 20, and learn more to believing Six. I wouldn't do that intentionally, but still, it will be impossible to unknow what I know.

However, my mods are 0 for Six, 2 for Forge, 8 for Little Sis, 10 for Krusk, and 5 for Knives, but she might not be able to pay attention. Also, Krusk will still try to grab Knives and prevent her from sittinf, if he can.

[Plerumque]

The raven looks mournful, insofar as such an expression is possible, and ruffles its feathers. "Why, old Canteclure's treasury, of course. I assumed that was what you were here for. If not, well, I imagine I can still help you. I've been here for centuries, though alas not able to leave this room. If you're hesitant to allow your charges to sit, well, I make no distinction between the blood spilled here. If you are willing to sacrifice yours for theirs, we can still reach a gentleman's agreement." As far as the group can tell, he seems genuine.

[darklink_shadow]

Forge narrowed his eyes, and glared at the bird for a long moment. How much blood do you want? Don't be greedy, and we'll see about making a deal.

[Plerumque]

The raven spreads his wings, gesturing to the barbed chairs arrayed around the room. "Why, if each of you takes a seat in one of these chairs, and those of you noble souls willing to sacrifice yourself for the good of the others sit again in their place, then I will help you. It seems one of your number has attempted to get a head start, though the gentleman here has treated her most impolitely." He flicks a wing-feather at Krusk, holding on to Knives.

[darklink_shadow]

Forge gave Krusk a look, to which Krusk responded by shaking his head. Do you hold that woman under some manner of spell? Release her at once, or we will not talk about any deals.

Little Sis moved a bit to the side and bit her lip before chiming in. Some sign of good faith. We know nothing of this treasure. It would be foolish for us to buy your knowledge without knowing what is it you can offer, and what it is we can hope to gain. And you didn't answer his question. How much blood will you draw? We might need our energy if we are going to save the people who may be in danger. But the treasure may help us to save them as well. What is the treasure? How can you help? We are savvy businessmen. We will not jump into a deal without the details.

Six moved to the front, and crossed his arms. The little skraeling is right. You could be tricking us. Or the treasure could be junk. Normally we would ask the woman about this treasure, but she seems to be ensnared by some form of compulsion.

Keen on thwarting the Raven for now, the gnome moved to help Krusk hold Knives back. We can't really make deals with anyone until we've rescued our friend.

Krusk grunted his agreement, while Forge nodded. The whole party was in agreement. They would walk away from the deal if the Raven refused to be more forthcoming and release their friend. If Krusk had his way, they'd find a way to destroy the Raven as well.

[Plerumque]

The raven sighs exaggeratedly and draws in its wings. "Fine." Abruptly, Knives stops struggling against Krusk. "Now then. As for the amount of blood, I'm sure you can guess from the nature of the chairs. What, would you have me give you a number in pints, or quarts? I may be good at my job, but even I have never bothered to measure it that closely. As for the treasure, well, I'm not sure what I could promise you that would make it worthwhile, but what reason have I to want you to pursue it? If you wish to continue, for any reason, my advice will be invaluable."

From looking at the chairs, it seems that they would probably deal around a d8 damage.

[darklink_shadow]

Krusk releases Knives, and gives her a moment. You alright?

Knives touches her left temple, but then nods. Yeah. I'm alright. Thanks, Krusk.

Forge gave Knives a long look over before deciding she was fine. He moved to sit down on one of chairs. Alright, do your thing. If it's not too bad, Krusk and Six will join me.

[Plerumque]

"Very well. And which two of you shall be sitting for twice as long to pay in blood the passage of these young women?" the raven croaks, beady eyes fixed on Forge as the barbs and coils of wire stab into his flesh, blood mixing with the rust on the chairs. "Ah, savor the delightful pain- those chairs took years of work to refine. Beautiful." His feathers shiver in ecstasy.

Damage: [roll0]

[darklink_shadow]

Forge winced, and groaned. Geez... That was a little nasty.

Little Sis moved next to him and frowned. Let me see. She commanded, and ignored his protest. Touching his wounds, she removed them completely. She winced slightly, and blurted out. Sorry. Are you ok? Do you feel better?

Forge stood up and shook himself off. I do, actually, thanks.

He looked at the Raven, and shook his head. Alright, I can try that again, but just once more for me.

I'll take a hit. Krusk said. And so will you, Six.

The gnome scowled and nodded. Of course, I am no coward!

I guess I will take Knive's hit as well.

Excuse me? No. Nobody is sacrificing themselves for me. No way. I'll take my own hit.

Forge and Krusk both started to disagree, but she sat down too quickly for their protests to have any effect.

Defeated, the three men took their painful hits, before each complaining.


Little Sis will use as many "Transfer Wounds" as she has to to take all of her brother's first round of damage.

Also, once this is over, she will heal them all once with Channel Energy. She can also have any extra healing be transferred to another person, via collection.

Oops, forgot to roll. I'll roll it after everyone takes their hit though.

[Plerumque]

The raven cackles in glee. "Thank you, gentlemen and ladies. It's so nice to have one's talents appreciated again, after so long. If you remove the crest from the wall, you'll find a way to open the door onwards. And since you've been such considerate guests, I'll let you in on a little secret. Due to the business of my former master, I happen to know that 'Good Baron Sarvo wills it' is a pass-phrase for a chamber deeper within this dungeon. I do hope you'll make it that far. Be a shame, otherwise." He croaks again with laughter.

Damage:

Forge: [roll0]
Krusk: [roll1]
Six: [roll2]
Knives: [roll3]

[darklink_shadow]

Forge staggers a bit as he stands up. Whew. I sure could use some more healing.

The rest of the party agreed to that, and so they gathered around Little Sis, who exploded with holy energy.

After the healing, Forge moved to knock aside the crest and find the way forward.


As I said, I can distribute healing as I see fit via the link, so I will just heal [roll0] damage to my party. We have taken 23 total damage, so I will heal up to that value depending on my roll. I will also heal 3 more through Natural Healing, the psionic power, by expending my psionic focus if need be. I will then also regain it.

EDIT: Perfect!

[Plerumque]

Behind the plaque, there's a small switch hidden in a niche. When flipped, it sends a rumbling through the walls and a section of the wall next to the iron maiden splits open, revealing a cobwebbed passageway that heads north and turns out of sight. The raven, occupied in grooming his feathers, caws a goodbye.

Although the plaque isn't made out of precious material, it might be worth a pretty penny to anyone with a historical interest in the Canteclures.

The worth is approximated at around 100 gp.

[darklink_shadow]

Forge takes the lead at first, but Knives pushes past him to check the hallway for traps as they go. Taking second, Forge was immediately followed by Krusk while Six took up the rear.

[Plerumque]

The floor drops away as the corridor turns east, though a seven-inch-wide ledge continues along the south wall. The walls are very smooth, offering few handholds. The remainder of the passageway is filled with a five-foot-deep trough filled with foul-smelling, thick green sludge.

I'll need a DC 10 Acrobatics check from everyone walking along the narrow ledge.

http://www.cartographersguild.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=66779&d=1408494258

[darklink_shadow]

Knives looks at the ledge and smirks. Easy peasy. Just take it slow. Little Sis, you're a bit clumsy, so Krusk, why don't you help her?

Krusk nodded and started to take off his armor. After dismissing his own, Forge moved to help the burly half-orc as Knives and Six started off. The other three were soon to follow.


I'm not threatened or rushed so I can take 10, which means everyone but Little Sis auto passes. But with Guidance, from Krusk cast once per round, she too can auto pass. Forge will, however, have to dismiss his armor, and Krusk will have to remove and stow his.

If that doesn't fly...

Knives will go across, and use aid other to help Forge Across, while Krusk gives him Guidance.

[roll0] To get across
[roll1] aid other

[roll2] To get across (+2 if the above is 10 or more)

And then Knives will come back to help Six

[roll3] To get back

[roll4] To get across
[roll5] aid other

[roll6] To get across (+2 if the above is 10 or more)

Little Sis

[roll7] To get back

[roll8] To get across
[roll9] aid other

[roll10] To get across (+2 if the above is 10 or more)

And finally Krusk

[roll11] To get back

[roll12] To get across
[roll13] aid other

[roll14] To get across (+2 if the above is 10 or more)

Except while she is coming across, Little Sis will ready Presitigitation to clean the gunk off of Knives, and except while he is getting helped across, Krusk will ready Create Water to get the stuff off of Knives.

[Plerumque]

The group manages to balance on the ledge well enough that no one falls into the slime. On the other side of the pit, the hallway takes a turn east and continues for a few minutes, ending in a locked door. It is pierced by a small, barred window that reveals a plain, ten-foot-square room with a windowless iron door on the opposite wall beyond.

[darklink_shadow]

Knives quickly pulls out her theives tools and checks for traps before trying to unlock the door.

Take 10 for 17? Or [roll0]. Or take 20, if I have to. But in that order. 17, my roll, and take 20 for 27.

Forge will resummon his armor and Little Sis will help Krusk don his armor.

[Plerumque]

The rusted lock clicks open after Knives fiddles with it for a few moments. As soon as the first person enters, a booming voice fills the chamber, seeming to emanate from no particular spot: "Please close the door before proceeding with the pass phrase."

[darklink_shadow]

Knives hesitated, but Little Sis entered, urging the others to follow. Once they were inside, she closed the door and spoke. Good Baron Sarvo wills it.

Biting her lip, she waited, hoping the phrase was correct.

[Plerumque]

A moment passes, then the eastern door unlocks and swings open. The chamber beyond has a single iron lever protruding from the wall next to the door the group just entered through, and a ten-foot wide hallway to the east. Blocking the entrance to the hallway is a four-armed, human-sized construct with a body made of bronze and whirring gears, balancing on three legs that rise into a central body. It whirs to life as the first step is taken into the room, stating in an emotionless, tinny voice, "Please present the crest for passage."

[darklink_shadow]

Forge swears, and moves in front of the party, Damn it. Knives, can you run back and try to get the crest we left in the room before? With the raven? Try to hurry, I don't know how long the thing here will wait for the crest.

With a nod, she took off. Little Sis, go with her in case she falls. Don't go across the pit.

Krusk nodded his approval as the young girl took off without comment. Hopefully Knives would be back in time.


I didn't take the crest from the raven room, so knives will run back there. if you need a check for there and back,

[roll0] there
[roll1] back

[Plerumque]

The raven cackles as Knives leaps back through the passage. "I thought you might be back-" he begins, but she doesn't give him time to finish. In her haste, though, she slips and falls moving back across the ledge, landing in the sludge, which burns her legs- perhaps a potent acid, weakened and congealed with time. Slogging back through it, she emerges with welts on her skin, spitting out the phrase in the closed chamber and returning just as the construct begins to stir. "Acceptable," the guardian intones, after accepting the plaque and examining it closely for a moment, and it clanks to the side of the passage.

Knives takes 5 points of acid damage- one for falling in, two more per additional round of exposure. It's difficult terrain.

[darklink_shadow]

Knives winced her way back, but it didn't take long for Little Sis to get her patched up.

Once past the guardian, the party moved forward, with the revitalized Knives taking the lead again.


Vitalist (Mender) actualy has unlimited out of combat healing via Natural Healing being a 0th level ability for the. At higher levels it becomes really poor, because it takes 2 rounds to heal 3 damage (two standard actions, and two full round actions, actually.) Let me know if this is an issue. At lower levels, at least, I have decent heals with it, but at higher levels I will lose it for he most part, but by then my daily heal amounts will be crazy good with both my gestalt classes being healers.

Anyways, Knives looks for traps as they waltz down the hallway.

[Plerumque]

The passage continues for a few dozen more steps, taking a turn to the north and ending in a a heavy iron door, with a lock that appears to still be in good condition, as opposed to the rusty bolts on most of the doors. Nevertheless, after working on it steadily for a few minutes, Knives can get it open. The room beyond has an area along the south wall that is enclosed in a cage of thick iron bars extending from floor to ceiling. Within the enclosure sit seven black iron chests. To the north, the stone wall has collapsed, revealing a rough-hewn tunnel. Upon entering the room, Little Sis notices that the shadows in the tunnel mouth appear to have shifted slightly, and something appears to have moved out of sight behind a mound of stone.

No, no issues with it. I'm still getting a sense of your power level, but relying on a party having already being injured, at least in a non-time-sensitive situation, in order to create challenging encounters has always seemed like bad encounter design to me.

[darklink_shadow]

Hey, don't be scared. Little Sis said. Forge reacted by hefting his weapon, but Little Sis put her hand on his blade and pushed it down.

We aren't hear to hurt you, or anyone. We are just trying to find out what happened. Please, come out.

Little Sis hesitates, and then realizes that if it is kobolds she is speaking to, draconic might be the better language, and so she repeats herself in draconic, and if that doesn't work, orcish. If there is no response, she will ask her companions to make hails and promises of peace in languages they know.

Six, however, is clearly very interested in the chests, as is Knives. The rogue moves to check the chests for traps, and once done, she gives Six an ok to try to open them, while she tries to pick any locks. She will stop if conversation picks up between the party and the shadows, however, and doesn't start until Little Sis finishes her hellos in all three tongues she cam speak.

[Plerumque]

The chamber is still for a few minutes, and then a creature leaps out from behind the rocks- pallid and emaciated, with bones showing through paper-like flesh and spindly fingers curled into claws. Draped over its skeletal frame is a tattered tunic with just enough fabric remaining to display the rooster-and-spears emblem of the Canteclures. The creature crosses the room in only a few long, loping strides and bares needle fangs in hunger.

Roll initiative.

Undead: [roll0]

[darklink_shadow]

Little Sis screamed as the creature ran at her, and froze as it bit into her flesh.

The rest of the party surged towards the enemy, ready to crush the offender.


Knives
[roll0] to trip
[roll1] to hit if trip works
[roll2] damage if trip works

Forge
[roll3] to hit (+2 more if trip hit)
[roll4] damage

Six
[roll5] to hit (+2 more if trip hit)
[roll6] damage

Krusk
[roll7] to hit (+2 more if trip hit)
[roll8] damage

[Plerumque]

The creature turns, ducking the series of blows, and hisses as it grapples with Knives for a moment, trying unsuccessfully to unbalance her. Abandoning that endeavor, it shows its teeth again, revealing them to be stained rust-red, and strikes out at the martial artist with fang and claw.

Attack (Bite): [roll0]
Damage: [roll1] plus Fort save vs. disease

Attack (Claw): [roll2]
Damage: [roll3]

Attack (Claw): [roll4]
Damage: [roll5]

If any of the attacks hit, I'll need a Fort save against DC 13 or be paralyzed for [roll6] rounds.

[darklink_shadow]

Seeing the creature rip into Knives, they steel themselves for a more dangerous foe than they had originally bargained for.

All at once, they swung their weapons at the monster.


Little Sis: Last round of Paralysis
Knives: Flaming Punch
[roll0] to hit
[roll1] Punch damage
[roll2] Sneak Attack Dice (Yay pathfinder!)
[roll3] Fire Damage from Elemental Fist
(Takes 1 hp damage from strenuous activity and passes out)

Krusk: Chain Smack
[roll4] to hit
[roll5] hurting

Forge: Bladed Weapon
[roll6]
[roll7]

Six: Angry Attack
RAGE
[roll8]
[roll9]

[Plerumque]

Knives' fiery blow knocks the undead staggering a few steps, and a great blow from Krusk sends the creature slamming into the stone cobbles, brittle bones shattering under the impact. Crippled and unable to move, it howls once mournfully before the infernal lights in its eyes flicker out.

[darklink_shadow]

Krusk grunted and moved back a step while Six hacked the creature's head off.

Little Sis broke free from her paralysis and knelt beside Knives before slowly nursing them both back to health.

Forge moved to stand guard near the dark area, lest more enemies come.

Once fully healed, Knives and Little Sis discussed what the monster could have been, before Knives turned her attention to the chests once more.


[roll0] Knowledge Religion (Knives)
[roll1] (Little Sis)

And Knives disable device is +7.

[Plerumque]

Knives determines that the creature was a ghoul, a cannibalistic undead likely risen from the corpse of a guard that was trapped and died of starvation. Inspecting its body, it seems to have a fresh wound other than those the party gave it, a hole in its side that was covered by its garments.

Examining the ground, she finds two slots in the floor, one just east of the treasury cage and one just west, which with further inspection appear to have a series of ridges carved in the clefts.

[darklink_shadow]

Knives looks to see if she can slip between the bars of the cage. Whether or not she can, she looks to see if the floor just inside the cage has a pressure sensor, and then if the chests appear to have any triggers on them that sets off the trap.

[Plerumque]

Knives cannot fit through the bars of the cage. Neither the floors nor the chests appear to have any kind of pressure sensor or trap activation method, at least that she can see.

[darklink_shadow]

Relatively sure that opening a chest will somehow trigger some sort of trap Knives studies the arrangement of the chests inside the cage. She also looks around the room for a long pole. Impatient, Six will help her look around, whereas Forge inspects what Knives believes to be a trap. Krusk takes over Forge's forever guard duty, and watches the broken entrance. Little Sis, on the other hand does nothing.

[roll0] Knowledge Engineering to inspect the holes in the ground.

[Plerumque]

There does not appear to be a pole located anywhere in the room. Examining the slots, Forge guesses that they are not a trap or a way to harm intruders, but rather a kind of lock, albeit one with a strangely shaped key- long and broad, but thin.

[darklink_shadow]

Forge mused for a moment, and shook his head. This is a lock, not a trap. The key is... long and broad, but thin. Like... a sword? Does anyone remember seeing a sword? Or something else long and thin? Do we still have the crest?

Knives knelt beside the strange lock. Do we? I don't remember getting it back. If this is a lock... I will try to tinker with it. But first.. what about those knives we found? The shiny ones?

I have them here... let me try that.

Forge tries the knives, and then searches the room for a sword. If he can't find one, Knives will try to pick the lock, taking 10, and then 20.

[Plerumque]

When the knives are inserted at the same time, their notches catch the protrusions in the slots perfectly. Turned at the same time, the bars surrounding the chests lower into the ground. The chests themselves are locked, but after a few failed tries Knives is able to get each of them open. The chests are overflowing with copper and silver, though the last chest holds mostly gold and a few coins of glistening platinum, together with a teak case containing around thirty cut gemstones.

[darklink_shadow]

Six's eyes light up greedily, but he looks away and chuckles. We're going to get paid twice for our work, once here, and once by that baroness! Haha!

Knives frowns at the coins, and closes the chests. I bet if we each carried one, we could get them all out of here. I wonder if we can each fit one into our backpacks... but the chests might be a little too big to carry. Our job here isn't done yet though. Maybe we should lock the cage again and come back here?

I'd rather just carry it. Let's see if we can get the stuff to fit.

[Plerumque]

Given the fact that most of the treasury is in the lower-worth copper and silver, there's too much to carry in one trip, but Forge guesses that they could manage it if they left all the clipped copper coins behind.

[darklink_shadow]

Alright. Leave the copper. We can come back for it if we really want to. Here, let me lock the cage again.

Once the coins and gems were packed up, Forge locked up the cage before heading into the hole in the wall that lead into the unknown.

I'll take point again. If it gets too dark, can someone cast light on my finger tips?

With that, the party continued their explorations.

[Plerumque]

The passageway continues for a few paces and ends in a pair of low barricades made of timbers and rocks, partially blocking the passageway that opens into a larger cave beyond.

[darklink_shadow]

This is where I expect to meet the kobolds. Krusk said with a grunt.

Knives stopped, but kept a keen eye looking out. Go ahead Little Sis, see if you can call out to them.

With a nod Little Sis raised her voice and shouted in Draconic. Kobolds! Are you in there? Are you alright? There was an accident at the tower, and we are investigating what occurred. We are going to come in and explore these tunnels unless one of you comes out so we can talk. We don't want to fight or anything, we just want to see what you know. We found one of your kin dead, and a couple of big wormy things... well, anyways, I'd like to talk to you. If we do come in, please don't attack us!

[roll0]

[Plerumque]

There is no response from deeper within the tunnel.

[darklink_shadow]

Little Sis sighs, and the party advances slowly with Knives checking for traps as they head deeper in. Every so often, Little Sis calls out in draconic.

[darklink_shadow]

Knives noticed the trap and frowned. It's definately trapped. Let's stop and think. I can try to disarm the trap but it certainly seems like we are going further than we need to go. Past this point, we aren't even in the ruined tower.

Krusk nodded. I'd like to go visit the kobolds. See what they know. But seeing as we are here, I'd see an argument in proceding.

Six grumbled. The damn thing is rigged? Crap. Well, I don't agree with Krusk here. Whatever is in the cave is probably responsible. That or th e place collapsed for a mundane reason, like dry rot or an earthquake.

When we get back up there, Forge started, rubbing his stubby chin hair, I'll take a look for dry rot, and inspect the ruins to see if I can determine what may have caused the collapse. There should be some hints.

So it is settled. We'll go down here just to be sure. And then we will go back, check on the building and the visit the flooded quarry.

The debate over, Knives set to seeing if she thought she could disarm the trap safely. If she thought so, she took her time and carefully disabled it
If not, she wouldn't try. Six had a backup plan: throw a bomb at the barricades and see if that triggered the trap well enough to put an end to it.

[Plerumque]

Knives feels a click, but can't tell if she's disarmed the trap or not.

[darklink_shadow]

Knives frowns, but then shrugs. I, uh, I think it's disarmed? Maybe?

You think? Maybe? How can you not be sure.

Well, something went click. But I am not entirely sure how this trap works. I think it's safe though. Let's go. I'll go first.

With that, Knives mounted the barricade. If nothing happened after a few seconds, she would jump down and wait a while long. If nothing still happened, Forge and then Krusk and then Little Sis and then Six would cross the barricade.

[Plerumque]

Knives hears a creaking sound and sees that a sharp edge of jagged stone is falling from the ceiling, swinging towards her on a ratty rope. She ducks out of the way just in time, and it lands with a thunderous crash. The rope snaps, and a few of the smaller stalactites break off and shatter on the stone floor. A cursory inspection reveals that the trap is no longer functional.

Attack: [roll0]
Damage: [roll1]

[darklink_shadow]

Knives nimbly dodges out of the way, backflipping away from danger. Uh... well, the trap has been sprung! So, maybe it is safe? I'm sure it's fine now. Just go where I went, and there should be no more traps. Probably. Just in case, Krusk, if something falls, push me forward?

Krusk laughs and shakes his head. Sure, I see your death falling towards you, I'll push you across.

Krusk will ready and action to push Knives forward and out of the way (Bull rush) if she trips a trap. Knives will try to cross again.

[Plerumque]

Nothing stirs in the barricade as Knives clambers over it, or as the rest of the party follows. Beyond is a large cave that appears to have been recently scratched from the hard-packed earth. With a ceiling only five feet high, everyone but Six and Little Sis has to stoop to enter it. Several tons of debris fills the western portion of the cave. What appears to be the body of an old man lies half buried under the rubble near the north end of the cave. Further on, a dozen feet or so beyond the massive pile of stone, the tunnel continues.

[darklink_shadow]

Little Sis gestures at the dead man. We better see if he is alive or not. You never know. And if he is truly dead, we should dig him out and make a cairn.

Krusk groaned, and was about to object but he shook his head. That's the right thing to do. Alright. Let's get to it.

First Krusk inspected the body, and checked if it was living, dead or undead. While he did that, Forge checked the integrity of the collapse to tell if he thought digging the man out would be safe.

If Krusk determined the man was not undead, and Forge decided digging him out was safe, everyone but Little Sis would dig while the youngest party member kept a look out.

If Krusk determined the man was undead, he would whack at it until it was dead. If Forge determined it was unsafe to dig, they would simply cover him with rocks.

[Plerumque]

The old man seems to be very clearly dead. He is white-haired and balding, clad in tattered finery torn by the rocks. Once the pile of rubble is approached, two more bodies are visible: both kobolds, half-buried in the rubble as well, and each clutching a spade. Forge determines that everything seems to be stable for the moment, but guesses that this is where the tower's collapse was engineered.

[darklink_shadow]

Forge stood from inspecting the collapse. Let's head back. I can say with very little doubt that this is where those kobolds caused the collapse.

Unless ambushed, or otherwise waylayed, the group made their way out of the dungeon, and back to the surface to find the baroness or the innkeeper from before to ask about the baroness.

[Plerumque]

The group finds the baroness and the innkeeper at the same time; Lady Origena is sitting on one of the barstools, drinking a glass of wine and talking quietly to Talia. She turns and visibly brightens at the entry of the irregulars, setting down her glass and standing up. "I see you've returned unscathed," she says, surveying their unmarred (thanks to the efforts of Little Sis) bodies. "What news, then? Or was your path blocked?"

[darklink_shadow]

Little Sis covered her mouth and giggled while Knives blushed.

Unscathed? Perhaps to the untrained eye. We did come out alive, and we managed to heal our wounds. There were plenty of hazards. However Forge discovered the source of the collapse. Some kobolds had dug out from under the tower, and it fell when its foundation was lost.

It may not have been intentional though. Some of the kobolds were caught in the collapse. Then again, they may have just been unlucky. I can't be sure. But I can be sure that they caused it.

Once we are paid, we will be looking to buy some goods. Like magic goods. Also, we can pay our tab now, Talia. We'll have no debts to you while we can pay them. And I refuse to allow you to be so charitable when we are about to come into enough coin to pay for our drinks and food.

[Plerumque]

The baroness frowns. "I had suspected it was them- it seemed an unlikely coincidence- but the confirmation is unfortunate. We may need you to go investigate the lair itself, if you are not opposed to more work. In the meantime, please tell me what else you found in the tower. I don't suppose you saw any sign of my husband, or what he was looking for? I've oft wondered whether it was worth his life."

After he proposes payment, Talia frowns and draws Six aside as the baroness speaks. "I appreciate the offer," she says, "but I see only the more reason why you should be toasted a heroes' feast. Regardless of your current means, I've not charged newcomers for their drinks in the twenty years I've owned the Wise Piper, and I'm not going to start because you happened to come into some money being gallant. If you feel the need to repay me, you can do me the honor of taking rooms here for as long as you plan to stay."

[darklink_shadow]

Krusk looked at Forge who shrugged, and then nodded. Was your husband old? We did see one man down there, though he was dead. We buried him in a cairn. If you would like, we can try to get him here... but it may be dangerous. He is under the collapse, and across a pit of acid. I bet with a bit of work, however, we could build a plank to get him across. Assuming we can dig him free. This may be a task for another day, however. The kobolds are a more active threat, and the man we found is at rest now.



Six ignored the conversation with the baroness to speak with Talia. Fine, fine. If it is your custom. But we'll pay for our drinks from now on. We aren't leeches, after all. Now, once my party is done speaking with your baroness, I suspect we will likely be off to whatever stores you have here, before we depart for more... being gallant as you put it. I assure you we aren't gallant however. We've got two adventure crazy women, a family man, a bored orc, and a wanderer. If any of is it gallant, I suppose Forge might be, but the rest of them are dense. But, ah, I owe the little one my life, so I suppose there is nothing that can be done.

[Plerumque]

The baroness frowns, and rubs her chin. "No, we brought his corpse back out, and that was a while ago. But if you found a human there... there shouldn't have been anyone but the long-dead. What did he look like? This may be important."

The innkeeper chuckles at Six's deprecation. "Well, thank you in any case, and you will always be welcome here."

[darklink_shadow]

Forge rubbed the back of his neck and made a long drawn out sound to indicate he was thinking. He had white hair and was balding. Uh... Krusk?

Hm. I don't know. I didn't pat much attention. I was more worried about being ambushed, so I wasn't paying attention. Knives will know better.

At the mention of her name she snapped out of her day dreaming. Huh? The guy? Uh, yeah I got a good look at him. He was only dead a few days at most, but possibly even only a few hours. I didn't check. But he wasn't decomposing too much, I don't think. He didn't really have any distinguishing features. He had nice clothes, but they were all tattered and destroyed.

He did? I don't remember that.

Yes. A teal and forest jerkin with ivory buttons. And some nice brown pants. The buttons may have actually been worth something, so I didn't point them out. Robbing the dead is bad luck. Unless you killed the thing you are looting.

Huh. I didn't know that either. Sound like anyone you know, Baroness?



Six smiled at the barkeeper and nodded. I'll keep that in mind. Are they still jabbering? Well, let's have a drink. What's the going rate for that pepper whiskey?

[Plerumque]

The baroness sits abruptly back down and closes her eyes for a moment, taking another sip of wine before replying. "That's Hunclay, the bastard. I remember those ivory buttons, and... well. That explains why he didn't answer the door, at least. Was he in cahoots with them, then? But why's there one toasted on his front porch, if that's the case?... Did you search him?"

Talia turns at the baroness' distress, though not before serving the gnome another tumbler of the ember-colored drink and noting five gold on the tab. "Don't worry, Gena, it'll be fine. They can't be that devious, as many of them turned up dead in the rubble."

[darklink_shadow]

Knives looked outraged at the baroness. We certainly did not riffle through the pockets of the dead!

Krusk put a hand on Knives' shoulder and pulled her back a bit. Calm down. It wasn't an accusation. She was hoping for evidence that he was or was not in cahoots. Which I doubt we would have found anyways. I'm sorry Baroness. You could send someone to look. I could draw you a map of how to get there, including traps to avoid. We however have a reward to spend before attending to your next task. So, I can stay here to draw your map, while the siblings go spend our hard earned coin, and Six and Knives go visit that tinkerer they wanted to meet. I bet Six will want to spend some of the coin there, so give him his share, and the rest of ours to Forge.

Six grunted his approval before downing the drink and wincing at the bite. Gshh! That's good. Yes. I will likely spend some, if he has anything of interest.

[Plerumque]

"Of course, I didn't mean to offend," the baroness says, putting up a placating hand. "But we may need his house key, if we're to determine what exactly happened here, and if he was in league with the kobolds then he doesn't deserve our respect. If you could make a map, I would be most appreciative- I can send someone down to check while you are in town." She clears her throat, and assumes a more officious tone. "Thank you for all your hard work. I have your reward here, a hundred each." She hands Six and Knives each a pouch, with the remaining three to Forge. "If anyone gives you trouble, tell them to come see me."

By the way, you've also all leveled up. The pace is going to be relatively quick for the first arc, which should end at around 8th level.

[darklink_shadow]

Knives bowed. I'm sorry for my outburst, but even if he is an evil man, my training forbids it. I will not loot a man I did not slay in self defense. Knives blushed again and took her share with another bow before quickly leaving the room.

Six hopped down and moved to follow her, stopping just long enough to fish a platinum piece from his reward pouch and tossing it to Talia. For that one, and the one I'll be having tonight.

Forge took the rest of the money and bowed awkwardly before nodding to his sister and waving good bye. Thank you Baroness. We will return before heading to visit the kobolds. Krusk, do you want anything specific?

Krusk shook his head at the question and pulled out a piece of parchment and a stick of coal. After giving Forge his pack after that, he turned his attention to the map he was going to make. His art skills were lacking, but he could draw to scale from memory well enough, at least. He marked the route he expected them to take with a dotted line, and marked rooms with a number each that had a note at the bottom corresponding to the number with any details they needed. Such the password, how to get past, and such. He warned them of the construct guardian and advised them to inform them that they are part of the half-orc's party, back to explore. He suggested they not push the issue if the golem refused them access. All in all, he revealed everything he knew about the dungeon except how to open the cage of loot.



Six and Knives made their way to the tinker's shop. Ever eager, Knives run up to the door and knocked firmly.



Forge and Little Sis went to a nearby alley to count their coins, including all they had looted from the dungeon.

[Plerumque]

Delbin’s Devices seems less of a store than a museum, crammed with a dozen different kinds of trinkets and curios, gleaming with gold and brass and fine Taldan steel. A birdcage filled with twittering birds woven out of silver wire, a jack-in-the-box with strange runes painted on the side, a ship in a bottle with tiny mechanical figures pulling on the oars, and and a clockwork balor looming among silver flames that rise and fall like waves are among the sights at the front of the shop. Hovering over the collection is a besuited and bespectacled dwarf, squeezing out a drop of oil onto the hinges of a crablike apparatus. He straightens as the door swings open, squints at the newcomer, takes off his glasses and polishes them, and replaces them halfway down his nose. "Goodness!" he exclaims. "I haven't seen you before! Are you just here to look, or are you a potential buyer?"

By Forge's count, checked against Little Sis', the haul from the dungeon consisted of 4,000 silver pieces, 115 gold pieces and 14 platinum pieces, with the teak case containing thirty gems that Forge appraises at being worth between 500 and 1,000 gp.

[darklink_shadow]

Knives moved forward, but Six put a hand on her knee and pushed her back a bit. We're just looking, unless we see something I want.



Meanwhile, across town, Forge sighed. Even with all of our reward money, and all of this, we'd be lucky to come away with that bag we wanted and have anything left over.

Little Sis groaned, ending the noise with a whine. We need one of those magic bags though! To hold stuff!

Maybe we can ask for an advance. I'm sure being in the baroness' good graces would not hurt our ability to haggle.

We can try. We'll need to get some of the gold from the other guys though.

We can haggle over prices first. Once we have a price nailed down, we can see if we can afford it. If Six wants to spend his share on some gizmos, that's up to him.

How should I do HP? Roll for it? Take half? Take half +0.5?

[Plerumque]

"Well, sir, what do you have an interest in?" the dwarf asks, wiping his hands and stowing the rag in a back pocket. "I'm afraid most of my work has little practical purpose, undertaken more for the purpose of my edification than a source of income, but if you're looking for something specific I may be able to find something to serve the purpose, or I'm always open to commissions. It might take a few days, but I should have the materials on hand to produce most objects of less than intricate complexity."

You can choose whether to roll or take half +.5, I'm fine either way.

[darklink_shadow]

Six shrugged. We are adventurers, headed out to save the town. In a short while we will be going to investigate why the Kobolds have attacked your town. What do you have that would aid us in our mission? I could not presume to ask you to build me something from scratch. I want something you built, and to find a use for it. That's what it means to be a gnome, you know.

Knives frowned at Six, and wandered off to look at all the gadgets, not even trying to understand what they do, just looking at the way they move or look.



Forge and Little Sis settled on haggling for now, and buying afterwards. With the decision made, they began their search for a magical store.

[Plerumque]

Delbin frowns. "Well, as I said, most of my wares are purely aesthetic. I may have a few items that could be of use to you, but if you're looking for in-combat utility you would be best served by visiting one of our smiths or our herbalist. That said, from what you say it sounds like you would take pride in finding use for whatever I can muster, so give me a moment and I'll come up with a few things for you to look at." He takes a few steps into the maze of shelves, tracing a finger over the ironwork. "So, you're adventurers, eh? Been doing lots of, ah, adventuring lately?" he asks conversationally over his shoulder.

Knives moves away from the discussion, passing a sculpted waterfall with copper and silver coins flowing instead of water, a cross-section of a mountain with elaborately formed miners clinging to the side in the process of chipping away at elusive sparkles, and, oddly, what appears to be an entirely normal set of pots and pans before stumbling upon a storeroom at the back of the shop filled with junk and scrap metal.



After asking around for a few minutes, Forge and Little Sis are directed to Xemne's Tonics, the domain of Belhaim's resident apothecary and only arcane spellcaster with Hunclay's demise. Should they require assistance of a different nature, however, the town's two temples- the House of Abadar and the Shrine of Seven Roses- may have some blessed items in exchange for donations to the cause, or so one passerby notes.

[darklink_shadow]

Knives touched the waterfall of coins gently and then smiled. Mr. Delbin, you are a very good artist, I think. I've never seen such an array of beauty. Knives turned away from the store room and found her way back to the dwarf. Were I a sight wealthier, and not so full of wanderlust, I would buy a house just next door, and take all of this art and stare at it all day. I wonder if you could make a copper tree, as you have made a copper waterfall. Just a small one... with shiny green leaves. I would like that.

Six grunted. A tree? Bah, don't we see enough trees out in the forest? Delbin, pay her no heed. She a young girl of a young race, and her head is so full of fancy. Hm. A copper tree with shiny green leaves? Emeralds would be too costly, but jade might look nice. Or some malachite. Bah! What a foolish... hm. It would look rather nice, say next to that mountain there. Maybe a whole scenery to cover a table made from precious... bah! Do you know how expensive and worthless that would... but very pretty. Hm.



Little Sis grins at the idea of going to a Shrine of the Seven Roses and heads there eagerly. Hullo! She calls out as they arrive. Do you have any magic bags?

[Plerumque]

Delbin returns with an armful of oddly shaped devices and lays them in a heap on an empty shelf before rubbing his chin. "Yes, that would work nicely. We could plant the sculpture in earth, perhaps decorated with moss agate or something similarly patterned, and you could model the changing of seasons by including some gold in the leaves, or carnelian if you wanted the material to be consistent." He removes a small notebook from a smock pocket and scribbles a few notes before replacing it. "I estimate I could do it for around two hundred, possibly more depending on the surrounding scenery. In the meantime, let me show you what I have."

He brandishes an odd construction of what appears to be a watch-face hooked up to a small silver case, with three prongs embedded in the base of a tapering stick. "This is one of my more complex items, built to be able to remotely activate wands. The timer, once set, counts down to a certain number, and then aligns the components in the battery to trick the wand into firing. I built it to light my laboratory, but unfortunately I wasn't able to get it to reset automatically, so it's not of much use in that respect. It also has to be built to the requirements of the spell in question, but if you can get me the wand you want I should be able to make the modification within a day." He sets down the object and holds up another, a large brooch sculpted in the shape of a rose. "This has a secret compartment, accessed through depressing a catch on the back. It's not large, but enough to carry a folded-up note or anything of similar size." He sets it down and picks up the next item, a case he clicks open to reveal a set of ten ordinary crossbow bolts, albeit somewhat longer broader than usual. "These store weighted nets in their shaft, which expand outwards in flight. Useful for even those without training, and effective against flying enemies." He takes up the third item, a device with two funnels at the top affixed to a glass flask at the bottom. "This is intended to ensure the safe mixture of alchemical weapons without combustion. Not my own creation- I'm not much of an alchemist, myself- but I bought one once to study the way it was built." The last item is a small bag, which he shakes out, spilling small windup creatures onto the tabletop. "These will keep going in a straight line for up to half a mile once wound. The ones that fly can make it about a quarter of that distance. I'm afraid they may lack utility, but could serve to deliver messages or provide a distraction, and I can sell them for very cheap- these are the things I make just to have something to do with my hands."

He dusts off his hands, and stands back. "That's about all that I have that might be of use to you. If you're interested, we can discuss pricing. Otherwise, you're welcome to return whenever you like, and if you ever decide to have a piece of art like the one you mentioned built, it would be my honor."



The Shrine of Seven Roses is a small marble building etched with sensual friezes and adorned with hanging baskets spilling over with flowers of heady scent. Inside the shaded doorway, there is a handsome dark-haired man kneeling in front of a row of statues, who stands as he hears the newcomers and listens to the question. "I don't believe so," he says, voice smooth and soft. "We do not deal in objects of such a... materialistic nature. Those services we provide to the community are of a more spiritual character. May I dare to ask from whence this request comes?"

[darklink_shadow]

Six picked up most of the objects and inspected them.A challenge, but I can see some potential uses. The windup ones will work indefinitely if wound? Or do they burn out? Can you teach how to realign the wand to my mechanically inclined friend? Are the pins water tight? Air tight? How does the pair of funnels work? I am an expert alchemist. I will be able to understand.

Knives, on the other hand lost interest in anything they were talking about, and instead returned to admire the works of art she had seen earlier. How much would it be just for one tree? Maybe the size of my hand, tall? Nothing too crazy.



Little Sis cocked her head at the man then smiled. Of course you dare ask. You see, we are on a mission to save the world. Well, right now we are just going to save this town, but eventually we will save the world. But that requires a lot of travelling, and going to a lot of dangerous places. But it would still be nice to carry stuff we need, like pots and pans, and all sorts of stuff. But not everyone in our group is as strong as my brother, and it isn't fair for him to carry everything. So if we got a magic bag, I could hold everything in there. I don't mean to be materialistic but... we need stuff if we are gonna save the world. And what if we need to carry something super heavy? We need a magic bag. But that's alright. Can you tell me about the Seven Roses? And can you set free souls who are trapped in the material souls, and not aware they have died?

[Plerumque]

Delbin smiles slightly. "Of course, sir. I did not mean to discredit your intelligence. The windup toys will likely break after a few uses- as I have said, they were meant to occupy my hands, so I did not use the best quality of gears or springs. However, there should be enough of them that that shouldn't be a significant concern. I'm not sure if I could teach the process- it requires an amount of intuition as well as a firm grasp on arcane principles. It should be possible, but might require a few days to a week of study. As for the hybridization funnel, I understand that it works by ensuring that the substances aren't exposed to air while mixing, which most alchemical weapons require to combust. It requires rather exacting measurements, though, so it's not meant for in-combat use. The result would be a solution that would have the effects of both upon breaking of the flask." He turns to Knives. "Oh, that wouldn't be hard. Depending on what your friend here decides on, I might even be able to throw it in for free."



The man shakes his head sorrowfully. "I fear that is beyond my powers. I deal with the uplifting of the spirit, the passion of the mind and body. The apathy of the dead is anathema to my strength. Should you require a moment of hope, or an instant of true sight, I could help you. Bags and banishment are beyond my purview."

[darklink_shadow]

Six sighed at the dwarf, Knives, his lack of alcohol and he week it would take for Forge to learn what he needed to know for the remote wand device to work.

Pah. Might as well take the lot. How much? I'm sure we can find a use for everything, and Gods above, I'll never hear the end of it if that woman doesn't get her blasted tree. Don't pull anything funny... most of this is... well, very well made and interesting. But of no use to anyone but a creative adventurers.



Oh. Well, thanks! I'd love to hear about your religion. I'd really like to learn more about all sorts of thing. Looking for a bag can wait.

Forge reached into his bag and pulled out a block of wood and a carving knife and set to work crafting something. He wasn't sure what yet. Maybe a rose.

[Plerumque]

Delbin takes the pad back out and makes a few notes. "Hmm... well, for my prototype, the brooch, the crossbow bolts, the hybridization funnel, assorted clockwork devices, and a copper tree... perhaps a thousand even? If you would prefer to trade services, however, I am amenable- I can always come by more gold."



"Ah. Of course," the man smiles. "Forgive me for not providing a place to sit- we do not often receive visitors, here. My name is Nilo, and I am the head priest here. Well, I say 'priest'- the Seven Roses is less of a religion than a philosophy- we see the patterns of seven recurring again and again in nature, and believe that by attributing each aspect to one of seven schools of thought, or roses, we can see the underlying truth of all things. We can listen to music and see its colors, or watch a display of magic and recognize in it the lines of a poem. Alas, few achieve that state readily, and I haven't reached it through years of study. But those who have claim that every aspect of the world has achieved beauty beyond measure."

[darklink_shadow]

Six narrows his eyes. I'll listen to what tasks you may want us to undertake, but at that price I'm afraid I'd rather buy liquor. I also have some... knowledge you might be interested in. I know of a machine, not far from here, that even our engineer knew nothing about. I could take you to it.

Knives frowned and made a sound of disapproval. That machine? It looked too complex. And maybe even dangerous.

Pah, I don't care if it is too complex, I'm sure our tinkerer would enjoy studying it. As for the danger... Well, maybe we get hired as bodyguards after. I'm sure Forge would love if I found us more work.

Knives made a face, but then nodded. I don't think it would be too dangerous for us. And I do really want that tree.

Well, I'll have to see what task he has first. And maybe what he's got stored back there he didn't feel like showing us until now.



Little Sis frowned. I don't understand. I only have two eyes, and I have ten fingers and all sorts of other numbers show up in nature. I can't think of any time I have ever seen seven of anything. Nothing I know of has seven of anything... I wish I could learn more, but it sounds like it would take years, and I only have the next hour or so to try to find us a magic bag. I thought I would hear some, and I have. Perhaps tonight, or the next night, I can return and hear some more.

Forge finished his work and looked up. Thank you for your time, Nilo. I appreciate you having patience with my sister. Here, for you. It's nothing fancy, just something I did while I was waiting.

Forge handed the man an object made from wood: a rose with seven petals.

Let's see how decent the carving is. [roll0]

[Plerumque]

"Well, though I'll admit to being curious, that wasn't quite what I had in mind." Delbin sighs. "You see, I'm friends with a woman here who runs one of the farms, name of Isadorer Malak. Her crops haven't been doing too well this year, though she refuses to accept what she sees as charity, and on top of that, her daughter went missing three months ago. Most people think it's helpless, but she doesn't. She's put out an offer for a reward she can't afford to pay, and I'm worried she'll do something desperate if Bophre isn't found soon. If you can bring her back safe, the lot is free, as long as you refuse the reward and don't tell Isadorer I helped out. Fair enough?"



"Seven colors, seven musical notes, seven days of the week. Seven seas, seven heavens. May your path be guided sevenfold." Nilo accepts the rose, and smiles.

[darklink_shadow]

Hehe. You want us to pretend to be chivalrous and refuse pay, only to be paid behind the scenes? This is my type of job. But a description like "Find my friend's daughter" isn't useful in the least bit. All I know is that I am looking for a female. I do not even know the race, or the location she disappeared from. We'll go looking for her, sure, but I need more info.

You want us to lie?

Six gave Knives a harsh look. No, he wants us to help the poor woman, and refuse her reward. It's not lying. How is that lying?

Mm, are we going to tell Forge the whole truth?

No. But nothing I say will be untrue.



Isn't-- Little Sis began, but a hand on her shoulder told her that Forge knew what she was going to say, and he didn't want her to bring it up. And you as well, my friend. Come, Little Sis, let us head to that alchemist and see if he can help us. And then we can pay our respects to the other temple and then return to the inn.

Little Sis huffed, and followed her brother to the alchemist. Once they were out of ear shot she pointed out that color and sea boundaries, music notes, and the concept of weeks were all man made concepts.

Once they arrived, Little Sis was as chipper as before and greeted the alchemist joyfully.

[Plerumque]

"Isadorer has a portrait of her if you need one; their home is just down the road. She's a young woman of around sixteen years of age, dark-haired and blue-eyed. She disappeared while bringing a few bottles of milk to the baroness, but never arrived. What else are you in need of?"



Xemne's cottage is a ways off of the main path, a weathered stone building dripping with ivy. The path is lined with colorful ceramic tiles and squat statues of leering gremlins, and Xemne herself is a handsome half-orc woman who invites the siblings in at the first knock. The interior of the house is dim and cool, with herbs hanging from the rafters to dry, and Xemne insists on serving Forge and Little Sis both cups of bitter tea before brooking any conversation. She listens to the question, then nods slowly. "I do, as a matter of fact- made one years ago to take on longer trips into the forest. I do need it, but perhaps I could let you use it while I make you a new one?"

[darklink_shadow]

I suppose that'll be enough. Kidnapped between her house and the baroness' house. Dark hair, blue eyes. Sixteen. Got it. Let's go Knives.

Aye. Knives agreed as they started back to the inn. Thanks Delbin!



Little Sis perked up ever more, if that was possible. Yeah! That'd be perfect! We don't have all our money with us, but I think we have enough. Do you need any help? We are going on an adventure for the baroness to find out why the kobolds knocked down the tower, but maybe if you need anything we can get on the way, or maybe when we get back?

Forge rolled his eyes, but didn't say anything.

[Plerumque]

Xemne shakes her head, brushng coarse locks over her shoulder. "I have everything I need, here, and I doubt you are skilled enough in botany to collect reagents for me. Thank you, nevertheless, and I wish you luck in your ventures. Before you go, though, I should ask: This bag is not the largest in space, but it is convenient and lightweight, easy to carry. When I make yours, would you prefer it to be in the same shape or would you rather have one with more space?"

[darklink_shadow]

Little Sis looked to her brother and smiled
Forge replied by shrugging. Bigger is better. I'm sure however heavy the bigger bag is, I can carry it. I used to wear some very heavy armor. But now I wear this armor. Forge flexed a mental muscle and summoned his armor.

And this is weightless. So, I'm fairly sure I can handle it. But, we were making this bag for you Little Sis. I don't want it to be too heavy for you. If I have to carry your burdens, though, it would be my honor. As your older brother, I will always be there for you.

Little Sis nodded. How much heavier is it than yours? I won't carry much besides the bag, but I am not as strong as my brother, or most other adventurers. But I am not helpless.

[Plerumque]

"Well, the issue is less weight than convenience. The cost is typically around two thousand for a haversack and twenty-five hundred for a larger bag. The larger bag can hold an extra hundred pounds of weight or so while only feeling ten pounds heavier, but is much more difficult to retrieve objects from. The choice, of course, is up to you, but it sounds like you prefer more space. I will visit the tannery today. Will there be anything else?" Xemne asks. "Your tea is getting cold."

[darklink_shadow]

Little Sis made a face. I like cold tea. Hot tea burn my tongue.

Forge chuckled and sipped at the tea, and made a face of his own. What sort of tea is this? Its... good.

Forge took another long drink, and then looked displeased that he had drank it all. It is not too hot anymore. But, let me think now. 100 extra pounds is considerable. But ease of use is important. And to settle it, we cannot afford the larger pack. We can barely afford the smaller one. I think... should we need a second pack eventually, we can get a second one. The smaller one will be fine. The Handy one. When you put the finishing touches on it, I would like to observe as well. I am interested in this process. I have read about it, but I haven't seen it first hand as of yet.

Little Sis drank some of the tea, and the bitterness was plain on her face. She drank it without complaint, though.

[Plerumque]

"Of course," Xemne replies. "I will be procuring the leather and sewing the pieces together today, most likely, but you can watch the process of the enchanting if you wish." She stands up. "Thank you for visiting, and it is my pleasure to do business."

Back at the Wise Piper, the rest of the group is waiting for the siblings, along with the Baroness Devy. "I sent a few men along the path that your guide here marked," she says. "It was indeed Hunclay. I'm not sure why he was there, but he had his house key on his person, so if you wish you can investigate after dealing with the kobolds. If you just follow the path past the point where it becomes overgrown, you'll eventually come upon the old quarry. Take the left fork, the other leads to the fen. Will you be leaving within the hour? Should we make a heroes' toast to see you off?"

[darklink_shadow]

No toast to see us off, but I'm sure none of us would mind a dinner meeting when we return. Krusk said. Forge nodded hi approval of the words, while Six and Knives looked displeased with the notion, but accepted it without complaint anyways. As always, Little Sis was chipper and eager to go.

Might as well take the key and checkout the house first, now that I think of it. We might find some clues as to what the man was doing. A journel of some sort? Maybe he was trying to stop the kobolds, and was defeated. Maybe they have a secret weapon he will hint about. Or maybe we will find proof he was in cahoots with them. Either way, it might be smarter to check that out before we go spells blazing into the kobold trap. What do you think, Six? You're the smartest one of us, eh?

Six grinned wildly at the compliment. Of course! I was just about to suggest that, actually. Plus, he might have a few tricks we can get our hands on to help. A wizard living so near kobolds must have something prepared for them. Plus, all we know is that kobolds have been found dead in a few suspect places. Someone else entirely could be responsible. The kobolds could even be on our side, and trying to stop the bad guys. Or be slaves.

Krusk narrowed his eyes at Six, and rubbed the stubble on his chin. Grunting, the half-orc finally seemed to agree, and looked at the baroness for approval.

[Plerumque]

"I recommend against it," the baroness warns, absentmindedly tracing patterns in the moisture on the bar. "Hunclay was a dangerous man, and in any case his manor will remain as it is. I cannot guess what mischief the kobolds might be up to before night falls. Besides, it may be that a visit to their lair will provide you with necessary tools for entering his home. He was a paranoid man, but if he was colluding with them then you may be able to find passcodes or information on his wards. It seems unlikely that Hunclay would leave incriminating information where it's easily accessible, however. Of course, I cannot control your actions, but on behalf of the town I can say that I would feel more comfortable with the kobolds dealt with sooner rather than later."

[darklink_shadow]

Krusk grunted and nodded again, as if expecting that response. As you wish, Baroness. Forge said with a shallow bow. We will set off at once.

Whatever else had to be said is said, and the party departs for the kobolds' lair.

[Plerumque]

The tall grass and sparse trees of the overgrown path eventually give way to a hill above a glassy lake. A fifty-foot-wide strip of shore stretches between the water's edge and the forty-foot-high quarry wall. It's strewn with stony debris - the result of centuries of rockslides. Several larger boulders stand against the ramps sloping up, and a few sharp shadows reveal dips or cave entrances n the wall. Watching for a few moments, movement reveals itself in the dusty shapes of a few kobolds standing at various points on the ramps.

[darklink_shadow]

Little Sis started to move forward, but Forge grabbed her arm and pulled her down. No talking this time. Not at first. We'll get close. And the you can talk. When we won't spend half a minute running over and getting rocks thrown at us. Knives, you go first. Scout a path we can take to keep hidden. We'll crawl if we have to.

With that, and a nod of agreement from Krusk, Knives started forward, looking for a path through the crags and cliffs to get to the kobolds with stealth. Slow and careful, indicating a route that would be safe for her less careful and trained companions could follow.

Stealth and aid other. Looking for cover and any places to get bonuses on my checks. Especially full cover.

[Plerumque]

Knives has just secured her hiding-spot behind a large piece of debris and the other group is moving cautiously out into the open when the cry goes up. Kobolds swivel, aiming crossbows that seem oversized for their body. A reedy call comes from one of the guards, first in the tongue of Draconic, then in the common language: "Who is there?"

[darklink_shadow]

Stealth failing, Little Sis stands up slowly. Hello, I am just a traveller. I found a few kobolds that were dead, and the town was worried about you. Their tower collapsed, and a few kobolds were found dead nearby. I was just hoping to... well find out what is going on. If you were attacked, or... if you were attacking.

Her words come out in the raspy tongue of dragons, hoping to avoid any confusion by speaking in their tongue.

[Plerumque]

The kobold glances at the other guards, then speaks again. "We are fine. We have no intention of attacking. Please leave."

[darklink_shadow]

Little Sis shook her head. I can't. I have to find out why there are dead kobolds in town. I promised the Baroness I would investigate. Saying hello to the guards ins't enough. Can I talk to your leader? If I need to wait for an audience, I can. But I must find out what is going on.

[Plerumque]

"No. No audiences," the kobold barks. "Go away. Need no more of your kind."

[darklink_shadow]

No more? Did some others of my kind come here recently? Were they bad? Do you know who? What if someone else came to talk? Not one of my kind? Could they talk to you? It sounds like something bad happened. If something bad happened, I want to know what, and why, and how I can help fix it.

[Plerumque]

"We need no help from humans," the kobold says roughly. "Can fix on our own. You want to help, tell them in town not to attack here. Can provide no more than that. Not our place."

[darklink_shadow]

One moment. Krusk! Little Sis beckoned the half-orc over.

Krusk grunted his assent, and stalked slowly over to the kobolds. If we do not return and tell the town what we learned here, they will assume you attacked their town, and killed us when we came to investigate. You have three options: you let us pass, and escort us to someone with more authority; you refuse us entry, and we return to tell them you wouldn't cooperate, and are hiding something, causing them to go to war; you kill us now, and the town knows you attacked them and goes to war. I personally hate war. I'd be much happier if we could come inside and see what has happened. But you decide your fate, and the fates of your brothers and sisters.

We have proof that your kin were at the wizard's house. We have proof that kobolds were under the tower when it fell. It looks very much like you attacked the town. We came to hear your side of the story.

The girl here, she thinks you were framed. She thinks you're the good guys. I don't care who the good guys are. I am getting paid to help the town, and that is what I will do. Now, let us inside, bring someone outside or let a misunderstanding breed confusion and anger. I will not fight you, but I will not let the town be at risk either.

Right now you are at a turning point, a fork in the tunnels. Go left, and we coexist peacefully and we right whatever wrongs have happenee. Go right and the town and the kobolds are both destroyed.

Little Sis nodded sagely. Just let Krusk inside. He is no human. He is an orc.

Krusk will detect evil, then chaos, then good, then law. And then back to evil.

[Plerumque]

The kobolds draw close together and confer for a few minutes in a rapid, chattering tongue, a few standing outside and keeping wary eyes on the group. Finally the kobold who seems to be elected to speak for the group speaks again, her Draconic coming almost too fast for Little Sis to keep up with. "If you truly believe we are innocent, we do not think you will return to your home and tell them to bring a war down on our heads. You threaten us with the destruction of our home and our tribe merely because we wish to maintain our privacy, mourn our dead uninterrupted by the incursion of clumsy do-gooders. If you have been sent as the emissaries of the apes, then you do have the ability to prevent a war. If you truly wish to prevent death, our cooperation should be unnecessary. To say you abhor strife and threaten us with it on the other hand, you must be either lying or deluding yourself. We do not deal with hypocrites."

The kobolds are mostly Lawful Evil. The spokeskobold is Neutral Evil.

[darklink_shadow]

Krusk clicked his tongue dismissively. She thinks you're innocent. The rest of us think you're murderers. Do not confuse my willingness to try things her way for belief that she is correct. As for the apparent hypocrisy, there must be a language barrier. I hate war, but I loathe letting murderers get off free. Killing you will prevent more violence than letting you live would. Assuming you are murders, which is exactly what I assume.

I will take the path that will end with the least death. That path down that way, one way or the other. Or you could have someone come and explain what happened. Right now we have dead people, and a missing girl. As far as I am concerned, you killed people, kidnapped the girl, and knocked down a tower. And you're guilty until proven innocent. This little girl here insists we should talk to you before we get our revenge, so we're talking. If it weren't for her, we'd already be inside and you'd already be feeding the soil. The evidence is clear enough for me to start taking heads. Your desire for privacy is just more proof of your sins. Why hide, of you've nothing to hide?

[roll0] Intimidate.

[Plerumque]

The kobold backs up a few steps, but bares her teeth. "We are not taking you inside. Slaughter us where we stand if you wish. We will not fight back. What can it do but prove our view of you apes? We would offer you information, but you would say we lie and murder us anyway, if it struck your fancy. For someone whose grievance is the death of so-called innocents, you seem awfully eager to get blood on your hands."

[darklink_shadow]

Krusk bristled, and bares his teeth as well. But Little Sis spoke first. Enough of that! You said we could try my way. This is fighting! No fighting!

Krusk growled and spat on the ground. They instigated it. But this one isn't lying. Or they don't think they are. The answers to our questions are still inside, however. And if we don't at least get a testimony, the village won't believe it. They will think they have to defend themselves. So decide what you want, little girl.

Little Sis frowned at Krusk, and looked back at her brother. Forge responded by walking up. What is the issue here? Did the kobolds attack the town or not?

Probably not. But there's no proof. They won't let us in.

Why not?

They don't like humans.

That makes sense. I don't like humans either. But I dont like kobolds either. Or half-orcs. I like smithing. But we need to find out what happened. Hey, kobolds, can you just let one of us in? The rest of us will wait. Or, I don't know, is someone who can tell us why the tower fell down? Or whatever. And do you know why that wizard is dead? Or where some farm girl might have gotten off to? We really are busy. I'd like to get back to the town and build something before the night's end.

[Plerumque]

The spokeskobold hesitates, tongue flickering across her carnivore teeth. "Meet us... later. Tonight. Not here, but not in town. By ruins of old tower. There, answers. Not now, before time to consult with elders. Until then, do not make war. Do not give reports or refuse them. Be wary of who would be your friend." She turns and snaps an order to the other kobolds in a pidgin Draconic, and they begin to fan out and resume their places.

[darklink_shadow]

Ah... yeah? We'll meet you there. And we will be dodgy about our answers. Thanks, friend. I guess we'll head out, and look for that girl. Thanks again. Let's go you two. Forge indicated his companions and left with a small wave towards the kobolds.

Without much else to think to do, Forge announced they'd visit the missing girl's house. Upon arriving, he let's Little Sis take the lead again, and knock in the door. Or if they are outside already, she leads the motley bunch over to say hello.

[Plerumque]

A dark-haired woman with shadows under her eyes answers the door at the Malak farm. "Yes?" she asks, no patience for preamble.

[darklink_shadow]

Little Sis stood on her tips toes as she began to speak. Hellooooo~! We are a bunch of ... oh, uh... ok.

Seeing the woman's mood, Forge pushed past his sister, and put a silencing hand on her shoulder. I see you are in no mood for my sister's annoying overabundance of joy. This is not a happy time for you. We are heroes in training, and we would like to try to rescue your daughter, as practice for rescuing princesses and the like. So we want to know where she disappeared, and anything helpful you can tell us.

[Plerumque]

Isadorer rubs her eyes. "This again? The last time I saw Bophre was when I sent her out with the milk for the Duchess. Apparently she stopped a few times in town, but after she left to go to the manor, no one else saw her, and the Duchess said she was out at the time. I have a picture here." She brings out a locket from around her neck and flips it open, revealing a small portrait. "The reward is fifty in gold if you can find out where she is, and two hundred if you can bring her back safely."

[darklink_shadow]

When was this? Have many people looked for her already? I'm sorry, we just arrived in town, and were looking for the sort of odd jobs heroes in training do. I didn't mean to bother you, ma'am. We'll be right on our way. May the Gods favor you. Forge stepped away, and gestured for Krusk to follow him a ways away from the house.

Think you can track the girl?

Probably not no. But I can try. Let's go into town to get clues. And then find from where she left town and head where she should have been heading, and see if anywhere along that route we can find signs of a scuffle.

Forge nodded, and if there was nothing else, they headed back to town, back to the inn, to question the barkeeper.

[Plerumque]

At the Wise Piper, Talia is still talking with the Duchess when the group of adventurers arrive. The Duchess turns as the door swings open, a smile crossing her face. "Have you rid our town of the degenerate menace, then?" she asks. "Avenged our dead?"

[darklink_shadow]

No. Too many at the front door to rush in the middle of the day. We'll pay them a visit tonight. Krusk says offhandedly. Following another lead until then. We'd like to wet our lips, and talk to Talia. If you don't mind, madam countess.

[Plerumque]

The baroness raises an eyebrow and gestures to Talia, who's polishing a few already-sparkling glasses. "Of course," she says, putting down the cloth. "Same as last time? I've still got a little of the pepper whiskey left." She's already pouring drinks as she asks the question. "Now, then, what brings you back here so soon? Looking for the key to the wizard's sanctum, or the latest gossip on Nilo's romantic exploits, or can you just not get enough of our apple juice?"

[darklink_shadow]

I'd lo--

Not today. Perhaps tonight. We are looking for a missing girl. Hoping to get a lead.

The key wouldn't be a bad thing either... getting into that wizard's house might have plenty of interesting objects. And perhaps a clue as to why we found the wizard dead.

Who's Nilo?

Six frowned at Krusk heavily, nodded with approval at Forge and shook his head at Little Sis. A shot for the road would be nice, despite what the big old brute here says.

I like apple juice.

The party looked at Knives in unison, and then all but the shortest among them chuckled. The gnome didn't find any humor in the observation.

[Plerumque]

Talia's smile falters. "A missing girl?" She sets down the glass with a clunk and rubs at her eyes. "You're looking for Bophre, aren't you. Damn it. Damn it!" She slams a fist down on the bar, and someone at the other end gives her a reproachful look that she ignores. "I should have known you'd get caught up in that, trying to be the big heroes you are. Look, why don't you lay off that for now. I'll give you the key - you can go do that, and when you come back I'll serve you whatever you want and we can have a nice long chat."

[darklink_shadow]

Krusk goes wide eyed and then frowns deeply, looking at Forge. Typically emotionless, Forge's face turns into absolute steel, with the faintest impression of anger. Forge in turn looks to his sister, who has covered her mouth with her hand, and looks frightened. Sensing the mood of the party, Krusk gives Talia an unforgivingly hard look. Before this had my curiosity, and now it has my attention. Make no mistake, we will talk about this later. Prove not to be helpful, and we will rip the country aside apart. This has become an ordeal. We will find this girl.

Forge gave a single dip of his head to agree, while Knives get grinned wildly. Hoho! I haven't seen anyone manage to work up this bunch this much since that issue with the missing spoon. Six.

Six's look of annoyance withered into a pale ghastly look of one who has utterly given up. He gave the barkeep a woefully distraught look and spoke as if he were dying Good Gods, woman... you could have just said... One look from Krusk silenced the gnome, however, who swallowed hard.

Little Sis seemed suddenly determined, and eager to go. How exciting.

[Plerumque]

Talia ***** her head and gives Forge a quizzical glance. "That'll be awful tricky, as there's no girl to find. It's— well, it's complicated. Go." She unhooks a set of keys from a peg at the back of the board and tosses them, jingling, to Knives. "Watch out for traps," she adds, nearly as an afterthought. "Saying Hunclay is—was—private is an understatement."

[darklink_shadow]

I would say Trap-Smasher was my middle name, but it's just not quite as cool as my real middle name. Bye! Almost giddy, Knives took of, eager to find and tear apart traps.

Forge returned the strange look, but he decided to wait to find out what she meant and rushed to follow the girl who was already out the door, his party in tow.



Knives will spend a full two minutes inspecting the front door to search it for traps, and if she doesn't find any, she'll open it and proceed slowly, searching everywhere she can see twice, at least. The party stays a good 20ft behind her, crowding in areas she designates as safe.

[Plerumque]

Knives finds no evidence that the trap that fried the kobold is still active, and when the key is fitted to the lock the door opens smoothly. Beyond, the entry hall's floor is adorned with expensive rugs of clashing colors and patterns. Overstuffed sofas line the walls beneath dozens of gold-framed paintings of portraits and landscapes, though in a few the proportions seem to be a bit off somehow. The northern part of the room contains a large, gilded birdcage with a few exotic birds squawking and screeching. Wooden doors open in the east and west walls, and an ornate iron stairway winds to the floor above and below.

[darklink_shadow]

Knives pauses and then does what all good adventurers do, and goes left first. Taking her time, she carefully searches everywhere for traps as she creeps forward. Once she thinks it's safe, she will try to open the left door and look inside.