Adventure World: Caravan session 5

Adventure World: Caravan session logs Previous Session 5 Next

Summary

Following on the combat from the previous session - Qog ties up the captured kobold while the others proceed further into the house. They find some ritual casters of some sort and dispatch them, and then are able to negotiate a surrender with some of the kobold clan leadership - M'deena and Tonlok - to take the rest of their people (living and dead) and go, leaving behind their loot and especially the terror drake hide.

While this is happening, Aan hears some roaring outside, which he and Whisper eventually realize are coming from beneath the courtyard. the kobolds explain that they captured some kind of magic bear they've been keeping down there, and give them the keys to deal with it once they are gone.

they find it in the cellar, but it turns out not to be a bear at all, but an orc druid named Kanduk Vresk who was captured from a caravan he was supposed to be helping guard. They invite him to return with them.

Aan and Frond find the cellar creepy, associated with some strange power, and convince the Tsukaav and Kirar to help cleanse the area in a ritual. That done, they head out back towards Kongasharja.

That night during the first watch, Frond and Kirar notice some weird shadows, and rouse some of the others to take a look. Tsukaav recognizes that they are in some way associated with the shadowfell - an intrusion of the plane of death and darkness into the land of the living. Aan is able to see that they are at least humanoid. They are all flying in the direction of the town of Valkalma. The night parade lasts about half an hour, and the group is able to make it back to Kongasharja the next day and report about their successes and observations, as well as their new companion (whom Brauni has taken an especial interest in).

Later, they discover that the rug they recovered is actually a magical portable tent, which they will take when they go to investigate what is happening with Valkalma.

Whisper takes Aan out to investigate the abandoned tower on the island, which is mostly empty except for a small celestial name Lumiel who is guarding the imprisoned ghost of Hilja Laukkanen. Whisper offers to help find someone (or someones) who can cleanse the spirit. Lumiel reveals that he was assigned this duty by his boss, Anaherael - a name that resonates deeply with Aan.

Session

Session date: 2023-09-03

In Game date: following on from the previous session

Aan Hears Noises From Below and The Group Ask the Kobolds About It

Narrator: ( Aan , Whisper will posit that the sound is coming from below the courtyard. )

Aan will kneel down to listen

Aan: (Also anyone else is welcome to step into this if they want)

Narrator: (Yeah, other folks might notice Aan kneeling down to listen at the ground in the courtyard.)

Brauni: will come over

Brauni: Uh, what's goin' on

Brauni: Something wrong with the dirt?

Aan: ....angry sound?

Narrator: (You can roll Perception, Hazel)

Brauni: (I got a 16)

Narrator: (There's a faint sound of roaring, coming from beneath the courtyard.)

Brauni: ... the fuck is that

Narrator: (Either of y'all can roll Nature if you like)

Brauni: HEY FROND CMERE

Frond: will come over to see what's going on

Aan: (lol 6)

Frond: What's happening?

Brauni: (lol 6)

Brauni: there's some weird noise coming from down below

Frond: What's down in the cellar?

Brauni: These little fucks better not be trying to pull somethin

Frond: will ask the kobolds who are at the stairs

Narrator: "Entrance is around the side of the house. Go check it out for yourself, why don't you?"

Frond: uh huh... we're not falling for that.

Narrator: snarls the shield bearer.

Frond: if you're trying to pull one over on us, the deal where you get to leave with your skins intact ends real fast

M'deena: hears a snippet of the conversation and approaches the top of the stairs.

M'deena: (loud whisper to the shield carrier) Tonloc, you're going to get us all killed.

M'deena: (to y'all) What's the problem?

Frond: We can hear some kind of noise in the cellar - like roaring. We were just asking some questions about what you got down there, and whether it's going to cause problems for us.

M'deena: ...It's contained. Some kind of weird magic bear that was with the last caravan. We couldn't hurt it, but one of our casters managed to put it to sleep. We chained it up downstairs.

Frond: weird magic bear...

Frond: glances at the rest of the group

Aan: looks at Qog

Frond: it doesn't sound asleep?

Narrator: (Matt's not here, but I imagine Qog would be excited at this prospect.)

Brauni: A bear??

Brauni: Like... black and brown and covered in hair?

M'deena: Didn't say it stayed asleep.

Brauni: Bear?

Frond: hmm

M'deena: Mostly brown, but...yeah, I guess.

Frond: ok. well, it doesn't sound like you're taking it with you, so we'll figure out what to do with it.

Tsukaav: What are you feeding it?

Brauni: Qog says bears are nomnivores.

M'deena: Scraps and whatnot. I think it's also eating any rats that come too near.

M'deena: steps away again after another whispered admonishment to her compatriot.

Narrator: It takes maybe a half hour or so for the kobolds to gather their things and be ready to head downstairs. They're relatively heavily packed, carrying essentially everything they own with them.

Frond: (about how many are left?

Narrator: (11 will come down from upstairs. Once they're downstairs, another four that were hiding in other rooms make their way out to join them.)

M'deena: The skin, as promised, and we'll move on once we gather our fallen, as promised.

Frond: nods

Frond: Fair's fair.

M'deena: nods.

M'deena: I can't say it's been a pleasure dealing with you, but better than the militia. Watch yourselves. They like outsiders only so long as they're useful and do what they're told.

Frond: Yeah, we know how that goes... we don't stay in one place too long usually.

Frond: If we run into each other again, we'll leave you be and you leave us be, how about?

M'deena: nods, though Tonloc is still scowling profusely.

Narrator: True to her word, M'deena directs her people in gathering their dead and they head away into the wilds.

Brauni: Alright, bear time

Frond: (also I'm curious - did they take the dead drakes too, or leave those?)

Narrator: (They did, yeah)

Frond: (ok)

Aan: (and presumably we let them take the prisoners when they go)

Frond: (yeah)

Brauni Is So Good At Flirting (And Also They Find A Werebear)

Narrator: Spreading out, you can find the entrance to the cellar easily enough, outside of the house on the south side (left on the map, not that mapping is necessary for this, I don't think).

Aan: will see if he can scavenge around for things a bear might eat? Which is probably anything food like?

Narrator: (You want to do that before going downstairs? You probably have rations that a bear would be amenable to.)

Frond: Let's be a bit careful... Don't know if we can really trust what they said

Aan: (yeah maybe while people are looking for the entrance. This I have is fine as long its not all I have >.>)

Narrator: The cellar doors aren't locked or anything. Who is leading the way?

Frond: (I can go first)

Brauni: (I can follow with Qog)

Narrator: There is a pretty standard cellar, with the remnants of shelving and the like, and an open passage further into the earth. You can more clearly hear the desperate or furious roars of the creature coming from down said passage. Following it, you find a sizeable chamber with what's clearly a stone altar in the middle, large metal rings set into it. It was clearly not built by the kobolds, but by the original inhabitants, though the kobolds have made use of it by chaining a large brown bear to it. The bear roars as it hears you approach, then quiets and looks at you quizzically as you enter.

Narrator: Each of its limbs is attached by chain to one of the rings.

Narrator: It stretches the chains as far as it can to get as close to you as possible.

Aan: follows his siblings out of curiosity but will give Qog some food for the bear :x

Brauni: It looks like a regular bear to me...

Aan: :x

Brauni: Hey bear!

Aan: steps further back

Narrator: (Tsukaav, it doesn't look particularly hostile. If anything, it looks excited and or curious.)

Tsukaav: Why would they have brought it down here at all?

Frond: Maybe they thought they could use it?

Brauni: How did they fit it through the door??

Tsukaav: It's cruel.

Narrator: (It's big, but not bigger than the doors/hallway)

Frond: Well we're not going to leave it here like this

Brauni: Maybe we should just let it go?

Brauni: like... I could maybe get it to sleep and then we unhook it and leave

Brauni: or take it outside and leave, I dunno.

Frond: We could try that

Brauni: (what does Qog think)

Narrator: (He probably looks concerned, and, if people will allow, he'll take ten minutes to do his ritual to let him cast Speak with Animals.)

Bear: sits and whuffs, raising its arms and shaking its chains.

Frond: (seems fine to me to take that time)

Aan: (yeah that's fine, maybe nudge him to give the bear food)

Narrator: (We can actually say Qog did the ritual as y'all were looking for the cellar entrance.)

Aan: (Yeah that works)

Brauni: (is it a boy bear or a girl bear)

Narrator: Qog will ask the bear if it's injured, then look confused, and inform you all that his spell doesn't seem to have worked.

Narrator: (It's a boy bear.)

Frond: Hmm... They said it was a weird bear. Maybe it's... Not an animal?

Aan: (nat 20 on arcana yeah... any ideas?)

Brauni: Is it a guy in a suit??

Bear: perks up at that, and, very clearly, nods towards Frond.

Aan: ...Elafir?

Bear: chews at its manacles for a moment, then looks pointedly at you all.

Brauni: He wants us to take off the chains

Frond: Let's let it go... I think that's what it wants

Brauni: ?

Brauni: You're not gonna eat us, right big guy?

Narrator: (Aan, it might be a druid or a lycanthrope perhaps?)

Frond: Put the kids and stuff upstairs... Just in case

Aan: (cool yeah)

Bear: shakes his head to Brauni.

Brauni: (I assume the kobolds didn't leave keys)

Narrator: (Who constitutes a kid in this instance?)

Narrator: (Hazel, high or low?)

Brauni: (high)

Brauni: (my little brothers)

Brauni: (except Qog)

Frond: (Aan and the other one who's like 14)

Aan: isn't going anywhere and will make cranky sounds at anyone who suggests he should

Frond: Just back to the stairs so you can get out, then...

Narrator: (We'll say yes, y'all could have asked for the keys and M'deena would have handed them over.)

Brauni: Alrighty then

Karash: Aww, seriously?

Karash: grumbles but does what y'all say.

Brauni: will go free the bear :D

Frond: You can stay here but if anything goes wrong, you run up there

Bear: waits patiently as you do.

Narrator: Brauni goes to release the bear, who moves his paws to make it easier to unlock the manacles.

Brauni: There you go, magic bear.

Narrator: As the last one comes undone, he sighs, and his features start to shift. Where the bear was is now a very large, very hairy, very naked orcish man of about twenty or so.

Orc: Gods and spirits, thank you all.

Brauni: (how big is he)

Aan: steps back now, even though he was kind of expecting this, because the guys is still a stranger :x

Brauni: Uh... uh

Frond: You okay?

Narrator: (He's on the ground, but you get the impression pretty big.)

Brauni: HIiiiiiiiiiiiii. 👀

Orc: As I can be, I think. Sorry for my...state. Any chance I could borrow a cloak or something to cover up with?

Frond: (does he seem injured or just tired/hungry?)

Narrator: (He seems fine, but, yeah, a bit tired and hungry.)

Brauni: you can have Qog's

Brauni: RIGHT QOG??

Narrator: (Qog probably gives you a look for volunteering his stuff, but will hand over his cloak.)

Frond: Let's get you some food and fresh air.

Brauni: So uh what's your name?

Brauni: I'm Brauni.

Brauni: You from around here?

Brauni: Been a bear long?

Brauni: You like music?

Orc: Much obliged. Kanduk Vresk. Um, no, just passing through, and for a little while now, and, uh, sure.

Brauni: Cool cool cool

Frond: You were with a caravan?

Frond: Or on your own?

Brauni: Yeah where's your wife?

Brauni: . o O (I'm so subtle)

Kanduk: On my own. My karn (community/caravan) is down in Vilyawen. I had done some work up north, and was headed to meet them, but I took a job in Kongasharja with a wagon group headed to Valkama because I heard one of my fathers is went out that way.

Kanduk: Oh, uh, I'm not married.

Kanduk: looks a little self-conscious about that.

Brauni: Ohhh I see...

Brauni: Well well well

Frond: Well. You're welcome to come to ours and eat and rest up, for however long you need.

Brauni: Could be a while I reckon

Kanduk: That's very kind of you, thanks.

Brauni: A real long while

Kanduk: Who do I owe my life to here?

Aan: (how old is this guy?)

Narrator: (Like I said, about 20. So around Tsukaav's age, little older)

Aan: (cool)

Brauni: Well, Aan's the one who heard you yelling first.

Brauni: points to him.

Brauni: That's my little brother.

Frond: Frond Oglaf, my husband Kirar, my brother Tsukaav...

Aan: :x

Frond: starts introducing people

Aan: smiles nervously

Kanduk: takes in the introductions, and will be sure to offer a handshake to Aan specifically.

Brauni: He's shy.

Narrator: (Standing up, he's probably a few inches over seven feet, maybe seven foot three or so)

Aan: hides behind his burlier siblings

Kanduk: falters a moment, but offers a friendly smile and lets it go.

Kanduk: How did y'all end up out here?

Frond: Well, we took a job trying to recover a shipment for the smith in town, and clear out the kobolds

Kanduk: Ah, little bastards. Jumped the wagons I was with, hit me with a damn sleep spell of all things.

Frond: Got that taken care of so I imagine we'll head back soon, it's about a day's walk.

Kanduk: nods.

Kanduk: I'd be happy to tag along if y'all don't mind. I need to figure out what I'm gonna do from here.

Frond: Of course, you're welcome

Brauni: Yeah, stay as long as you want 👀

Frond: What's this place for, I wonder? Do all rich folks have this in their cellar?

Narrator: (Anyone who wants to can roll Religion)

Frond: looks around at the chains and stuff

Brauni: (17 with my bard bonus)

Aan: (Yeah I was gonna poke around in here, but I had to go let in a dog)

Narrator: Brauni and Tsukaav, you don't necessarily recognize all the iconography, and a lot of it is worn by time, but

Brauni: It's a sex dungeon

Narrator: Frond and Aan, you have a visceral aversion to this place.

Brauni: I mean, probably.

Frond: It's creepy

Kanduk: I don't know, but it feels wrong. I'll be happy to see the last of it, I can tell you that.

Frond: Let's go upstairs to make sure there's nothing else weird here

Tsukaav: This is not a place of honor

Aan: mm.

Narrator: You can all head upstairs and out of the creepy basement altar room.

Aan: looks arund uncomfortably and then will scamper upstairs now that he is no longer distracted with mysterious stranger bears

Looting and Cleansing The Cellar

Narrator: It's still mid-morning, so still have plenty of time to start making your way back to Kongasharja.

Frond: (nothing else unusual in the upper part of the house?)

Narrator: (Anyone who likes can roll me Perception)

Aan: (20)

Brauni: (13)

Tsukaav: (Again someone roll for me)

Frond: 15

Aan: (also 15 for Tsukaav)

Narrator: You manage to find some larger goods the kobolds couldn't take with them, trade goods like furs, sacks of grain, some crates of ore, totalling about 100 gold.

Narrator: Nothing else particularly unusual in the place, though that rug in the library is still suspicially well-kept.

Frond: (cool, let's lug that back)

Frond: (also the rug, meemaw could use a nice rug probably)

Narrator: (heh)

Aan: (Does it have any weird magic significance?)

Narrator: All right, you can gather all that stuff up and start making your way back.

Narrator: (How are you wanting to investigate that, Heather?)

Aan: (really just look at it, if its creepy in the same vein as the downstairs room or has sketchy magic symbols that i recognize. If it just looks like a rug that's meant to have ritual ambience then whatever)

Aan: (I only rolled 9s on Arcana and religion tho so I think probably it doesn't seem weird to me!)

Aan: will also tug at Frond before we go and point at the creepy cellar.

Aan: Break?

Frond: Mmm...

Frond: Break what?

Aan: seems uncertain about that specifically

Aan: Creepy :x

Frond: It is creepy. Maybe we can... Bless it or something before we go?

Frond: looks to kirar and Tsukaav for real religious advice 😉

Kirar: looks at Tsukaav and then back to his wife.

Kirar: We could do a ritual to try to cleanse it.

Frond: Okay.

Aan: Aa.

Kirar: (to Frond) Care to join us?

Tsukaav: All right.

Kirar: I mean, anyone's welcome, but I figure best to get Luthic's blessing.

Frond: Of course I will.

Kirar: will dutifully head back downstairs. He sets about etching out the currently carved symbols, making a cut on his hand to cover them over with orcish runes in his own blood.

Aan: will at leaast go watch :x

Frond: will follow his lead

Kirar: Merciful Nulgreth, banish all evil from this place in your mercy. Mother Luthic, bless this endeavor and hallow this hollowed space, this defilement of the earth your refuge for your people.

Kirar: leaves space for Tsukaav to add his own touch and call upon his own patron as he desires.

Narrator: (Tsukaav, Frond, and anyone else who wants to participate, roll me Religion or either a Wisdom or Charisma save.)

Brauni: (I'm good justwatching lol)

Tsukaav: (Narrator roll me a religion)

Aan: can contribute.. weird Aan thing, idk. (19 cha save)

Aan: (I can roll for you Steve)

Frond: (19 cha for me as well)

Tsukaav: (I call on Rull to bless this place and remember the acts of strength and virtue done here ahead of the vile and weak wickednesses)

Narrator: There is a sound beyond hearing, something like a tide rolling away, and though there is no visible change, the room feels less oppressive. Tsukaav, you are filled with a sense of the might of your god. Frond, you feel the warmth of a shared campfire and the Allmother's love. Aan, you feel a light feeling, the first step of freedom after imprisonment.you know this is not dedicated to any of the gods.

Kirar: smiles and mouths a silent prayer.

Aan: (Aan things are entirely based on vibes. He won't say anything but maybe he'll draw on things or move them around thinking about his Parton)

Narrator: (Frond and Aan, you both get Inspiration. Tsukaav, you would as well, but you already have it. 😉 )

Frond: (cool)

Aan: lets out a little huff of relief

Frond: Let's be on our way... we have a good distance to walk back.

Narrator: You can all leave the place behind, your steps just a touch lighter for having banished whatever darkness infected the place.

Shadows In The Sky

Narrator: You make it a good ways back towards Kongasharja before camping for the night at the top of one of the many rolling hills. The town shouldn't be but a few hours walk east, and you have a good spot with a nice view of the surrounding countryside.

Kanduk: is clearly happy to be amongst other orcs and walks along in companionable conversation in his cloak-kilt.

Narrator: (The evergreen question: who's taking what watch?)

Frond: (I'll take first)

Aan: can watch whenever

Brauni: (2)

Tsukaav: (As needed, once I've had my rest)

Kanduk: is happy to take whichever, which we'll say is second. 😉

Kirar: will take first with Frond.

Aan: can do 3rd?

Narrator: (Julie, can I get you to roll me Perception?)

Frond: (17)

Narrator: Just a bit after sunset, you notice a strange hush fall over the area as insects and night birds fall silent. Against the blanket of stars, you see blank swaths of empty darkness, and the shadows from the fire move in ways unrelated to the flames' flickering.

Kirar: What is that?

Frond: I'm not sure...

Frond: Something flying overhead?

Frond: it's silent, though

Kirar: Some things, maybe. Look, there's multiple spots.

Frond: nods

Kirar: Some Change weirdness?

Frond: maybe...

Frond: (can I tell what direction the shapes are headed in?)

Frond: (or are they not really travelling in that way)

Narrator: (Sure. They're not in any particular pattern, but they do seem vaguely oriented towards the west.)

Frond: (what's west from here?)

Narrator: (You also get a faint sensation along your divine sense, like somewhere between undeath and celestial, though not as...polluted as undeath.)

Frond: it's sort of like they're undead, but not... it's weird.

Narrator: (Roll me...Int or Wisdom? Survival? I'm open to anything that might reflect knowledge of the area.)

Kirar: frowns.

Frond: (16 on survival)

Kirar: Spirits, maybe? Yurtrus watch and Nulgreth guide them.

Narrator: (You know that west of here is the town of Valkama that Kanduk mentioned, at least.)

Frond: hmm

Frond: (does this continue long enough that I can get Tsukaav or someone else up to look at it, or is it pretty fleeting?)

Narrator: (It'll last off and on for like a half hour, so if you want to get Tsukaav up you can.)

Narrator: (Or whoever else, for that matter.)

Frond: (yeah, I will do that)

Frond: (and maybe Aan? I don't want to wake everyone but I do want some more 'spiritual' ish people to have a look at it)

Tsukaav: What is it, sister?

Frond: Something strange in the sky... I don't know what it is, but it feels like ... sort of undead but not evil?

Frond: I don't think it is harmful, but I don't know what to make of it. Can you look?

Aan: can be woken up to look at the weord sky

Tsukaav: (Can I make anything of this?)

Aan: also has Devil's Sight, so can see in magical and non magic darkness for 120 feet if that is relevant

Kirar: will have done some magic and his hands are wreathed is a ghostly blue, wispy radiance.

Narrator: (Tsukaav, you've encountered Shadowfell influence before, in your training in Issenvik. This is some intrusion of the plane of death and darkness into the material.)

Narrator: The radiance flickers in a non-existent wind around Kirar's hands, trailing west.

Tsukaav: This bears the sign of Shadowfell influence.

Frond: huh...

Narrator: Aan, you can see more clearly, and can make out vague humanoid shapes in the air, largely at the edge of your sight.

Tsukaav: The realm of Death grows thin against the wall of our own realm.

Kirar: That's unusual for this region...

Aan: Aaa...

Frond: is that bad?

Aan: watches them

Frond: should we warn someone about it?

Tsukaav: Surely.

Aan: (what are they doing? just all flying towards the same place?)

Kirar: nods.

Frond: there's a town that way, uh, Valkalma... the one Kanduk mentioned

Narrator: (Yeah, Heather. It's hard to track them individually, as they flit in and out of your perception, but the movement is definitely to the west.)

Aan: (Could I like... sketch the shape of one on something? even just in the dirt?)

Narrator: (Roll me a Dex check)

Tsukaav: I fear that if it is headed for some place or town, any warning we would give would be far too late.

Aan: (nat 20 for 22 :D)

Aan: will make the others look at his sketch

Narrator: Aan will have drawn a rendition of a humanoid figure, gliding along in the air.

Kirar: nods at what Tsukaav said.

Kirar: We can let the brukuror know abou this when we get back tomorrow, and they can inform the lord?

Frond: I guess that's the best course of action.

Tsukaav: Agreed

Frond: will also tell Brauni and Kanduk about it when waking them up for their watch, in case it happens again, or there's any further strange happenings

Aan: will keep watching them util someone tells him to go back to bed or they stop

Narrator: The phenomena stop about a half hour after it started and, though Brauni and Kanduk are ready to keep an eye out for it, it doesn't pick up again that night.

Aan: will go back to bed, definitely not butthurtvthat no one looked at his cool drawing 😅

Frond: (I assumed we all looked at it!)

Frond: (you said you were going to make us look, I figured I did so - I just don't know what it is!)

Narrator: (Yeah, it just looks like a person's silhoutette, essentially, though even in the dirt he does manage to convey a sense of intangibility)

Back At the Caravan

Narrator: Despite the strangeness, you're all able to get good rest and head back to Kongasharja, making it to town by late morning. The town remains busy as ever, and the camp is awash in the usual daily routine. A stew bubbles on a campfire under the watchful eye of a few younger siblings and cousins, and you can hear the rhythmic clang of Big Krusk at his anvil. Frond: (I'll go and fill in the brukuror on what happened, including the weird shapes in the sky on the trip back)

Frond: Aan could see them better, I think, or at least, he drew a picture of them in the dirt.

Verex: is the only one of thebrukuror* currently at camp, and she listens intently to your tale.*

Frond: oh, and we brought you a rug!

Verex: Well, the boy is touched by some other power, so that stands to reason, I suppose.

Verex: Did you now?

Verex: smiles.

Frond: it was in good shape despite the house being pretty wrecked otherwise

Frond: seemed like a shame to leave it

Frond: if you don't want it, we can probably sell it to someone in town or something

Verex: nods.

Frond: also, I think Brauni's got it bad for this fellow we found, Kanduk.

Frond: so maybe we can find a reason for him to stick around for a little while and see if he feels the same?

Verex: smiles and nods.

Verex: You're going to be good at this.

Verex: How did your dathak (kin) do? Everyone work together all right?

Frond: Pretty well!

Frond: No big problems, anyway. There's always things that could have been smoother, but it wasn't too bad.

Verex: Everyone came home, and extra. That's all we can really ask for.

Frond: nods

Frond: Do you know his folks? It wasn't a name that I could remember dealing with.

Verex: considers.

Frond: he said they were in Vilyawen, but he thought one of his fathers was in Valkalma - it seemed like he was looking for him, but I didn't want to pry too much into his family business right away.

Verex: I seem to recall a Vresk or two in my day. There was one when we fought in the far south, years ago...Mhach! That was her name. Mhach Vresk, rode a dire bear, if I recall. Might be related.

Verex: He happen to say what his father was doing in Valkama?

Frond: not to me... he sat watch with Brauni last night so he might have opened up to her, more, I'm not sure.

Verex: If he's still there, and there's...whatever this is that's going on that direction, might be worth looking into.

Frond: nods

Verex: smirks at the concept of Kanduk "opening up" to Brauni, but doesn't say anything.

Frond: once we settle business here - get those goods back to the smith - we can go take a look, if you think it would be wise?

Verex: nods.

Verex: Well, you kids get a little rest, but there's always work to be done. I'm going to find your mother and head back to the keep. Might be we can get paid for being neighborly, hmm?

Frond: Yes'm.

Verex: gets up and pats Frond on the arm.

Verex: You did good, all of you.

Frond: thank you

Verex: nods decisively and will head off to find Volda.

Magical Rug!

Yevelda: can be seen the day after the party's return directing some of the younger kids to help her with the rug that was recovered from the kobold lair, having the rug spread out on the ground near the wagons.

Verex: accompanies them, looking curious.

Frond: is nearby and will watch with mild interest

Yevelda: directs the kids and is narrating what she's doing, apparently a ritual of some kind.

Verex: will spot Frond and wave her over to sit with her.

Aan: can hover nearby, watching his mom

Frond: comes over to where Verex is

Frond: what are they doing?

Verex: Yevelda says the rug you brought me is magic, though I still have my doubts.

Frond: huh.

Frond: so they're trying to figure out what it does?

Verex: That's the plan. And it's a good lesson for the kids.

Yevelda: positions the kids around the edge of the rug, with herself sitting in its center. She begins to chant the incantation for Identify.

Verex: Your mother and I spoke to Lord Laukkanen yesterday. He's willing to pay to have someone head out to Valkama to see what's going on. Apparently they'd noticed the phenomena and had concerns, but Sheriff Taimi is busy getting the taxed grain in, so thus far they've only sent a messenger, with no reply forthcoming.

Frond: nods

Frond: I can get a group together to go see what's happening.

Verex: nods.

Verex: Eager to be back on the road?

Frond: well... you know, once I have a child, it will be a bit harder to go off on such adventures - I should get them in while I have the chance

Frond: says with a slightly strained smile

Verex: I'm sure it won't be long, hmm.

Verex: Though we've all managed plenty of adventures, children or no.

Verex: reaches over to pat Frond's knee reassuringly.

Yevelda: opens her eyes.

Yevelda: Oh, neat!

Yevelda: stands up.

Yevelda: Á orta!

Narrator: Suddenly, you can see neither Yevelda nor the rug, as there is a bright pink half-sphere rising from the ground where they were.

Frond: gets up, surprised

Yevelda: Pretty great, huh?

Yevelda: Á lanta!

Narrator: The dome disappears and Yevelda is standing where she was in the center of the rug.

Frond: is it for ... defense?

Yevelda: It's like its own instant tent!

Frond: asks, puzzled

Frond: ah, that's interesting! I wonder why they kept it in a house then. Wouldn't it be of more use outside?

Yevelda: Maybe they didn't know what they had?

Verex: smiles from where she's sitting.

Yevelda: Let's try something. Á orta!

Narrator: The semi-sphere pops back into existence, this time a deep purple.

Yevelda: Try to enter.

Aan: watches, curious

Frond: will step up and give it a cautious poke with her hand

Narrator: The kids try and fail, and begin pushing, kicking, and otherwise attempting to force their way inside.

Yevelda: Á lanta!

Narrator: Several of the children fall onto the rug, laughing alongside Yevelda.

Yevelda: Fascinating!

Yevelda: This definitely bears some testing. Very lucky find.

Yevelda: is grinning from ear to ear.

Aan: is just watching like 🥺

Frond: well, I'm glad we brought it back. I just liked the pattern.

Aan: (how big is it?)

Aan: (the dome - like how many poeple could it fit?)

Narrator: (It's about 15' diameter. Ostensibly, the effect says caster plus nine creatures, which, having looked up tents, 15' diameter is roughly a ten person tent, so it checks out.)

Narrator: (Essentially, the rug can create Leomund's Tiny Hut)

Aan: (cool)

Frond: that'll be useful I'm sure!

Verex: Might be worth taking out with you when you go to Valkama.

Yevelda: Oh, right, the shadow weirdness. Should be interesting.

Frond: easier than carrying tents for everyone, at least.

Yevelda: nods.

Yevelda: When are you planning to leave?

Yevelda: Aan, are you going with them?

Aan: aa?

Yevelda: will wander over his way to fix his hair or whatnot.

Frond: well, maybe tomorrow? if people are ready to go.

Frond: I don't know who all is going yet, so it might take a day or so to get things together.

Aan: submits to motherly fussing

Aan: looks at Frond though

Frond: do you want to go, Aan?

Aan: nods after a moment

Aan: Aa.

Frond: okay

Frond: you can sleep in the weird magic tent if you want 🙂

Aan: aa! :D

Verex: I think Chlyde is feeling better, so hopefully whatever she and Brauni came down with has run its course.

Frond: hopefully so

Frond: and I know Tsukaav will go if I tell him to.

Verex: nods.

Verex: We don't know if time is of the essence, but best not to put things off.

Frond: nods

Frond: I'll try to get things together so we can leave tomorrow, then.

Verex: Good girl. Make sure Brauni and Chlyde help you, hmm?

Frond: I will.

Frond: will head off to make necessary arrangements

Narrator: ----------

Kirar: is probably tending to regular chores, maintenance on the wagon and whatnot.

Frond: need a hand?

Frond: asks as she walks up

Kirar: Huh? Oh fuck!

Kirar: drops the tool he was using as he looks up.

Kirar: Heh, no more than usual.

Frond: smiles

Frond: Sorry, I didn't mean to startle you.

Kirar: Not startling, just a bit of distraction. Which is always welcome from you.

Kirar: What was all that with your aunt and the rug?

Frond: oh - the rug is actually some kind of magic tent, I guess

Kirar: Wow, really? That's lucky. Like bonus pay. Bonus loot, I guess. Bonus booty? Not sure the nomenclature.

Frond: smiles

Frond: I think it'll come in handy. Easier than carrying tents for everyone, anyway, when we go off on short trips.

Frond: speaking of which...

Frond: we have a new job to go and look into this place, Valkalma, to see what's going on. I was planning on leaving tomorrow.

Frond: Did you want to go with me? You can say no if you don't want to, I'll understand.

Kirar: hesitates.

Kirar: Yeah, I'll go.

Frond: comes closer and takes his hand.

Frond: I know you don't really love that sort of thing. It truly is up to you.

Kirar: I know. It's not my favorite, but with the Shadowfell stuff...it seems like something I can help with. And if I can, I should.

Frond: well... I'm never going to say no to getting to spend more time with you.

Frond: gives him a kiss.

Kirar: happily kisses back.

Kirar: Same basic group? Send us young folk out to do the dirty work?

Frond: I expect so. I'm asking around to make sure.

Frond: ... you know, you don't have to prove yourself to me. I already believe in you 🙂 and your help on the last trip was useful, even if you didn't feel like it. Even just blessing people before a battle is a big help.

Kirar: It's not you I worry about proving myself to. I want to fit in with your family, and I know I have...different experiences than they do.

Frond: nods

Frond: That's what makes you special.

Frond: You have different insights into things, you know about things I don't necessarily know about, you're clever...

Kirar: smiles.

Kirar: Not that I don't appreciate the praise, but, I promise, my ego is fine.

Frond: Too bad, I'm gonna praise you anyway 🙂

Kirar: Oh no, whatever will I do? I'm helpless before your onslaught of reassurance.

Kirar: will lean over to give Frond another kiss.

Frond: giggles

Kirar: I guess I should start getting things together if we're going to leave tomorrow, huh?

Frond: Yes, I guess so...

Frond: says a bit reluctantly as she draws back

Kirar: I mean, it is a whole day away, though, so it can wait some...

Frond: smiles at that

Frond: but you can't? 😉

Kirar: just raises an eyebrow and smirks at that, his eyes flicking to the wagon.

Frond: will pick him up and flip him over her shoulder to carry him into the wagon.

Kirar: laughs and is happy to be carried along.

Whisper and Aan Explore The Abandoned Tower

Narrator: (So, is this the evening after y'all get back from the kobold thing?)

Whisper: (yep... step 1 find a small boat)

Narrator: (That in and of itself shouldn't be too difficult. Because a fair number of Kongasharja's inhabitants have darkvision, a fair amount of commerce continues after dark, including some effectively third shift fisherfolk. So, there's activity on the upper and lower docks, and it'd probably be relatively simple to find someone willing to basically rent you a boat for probably a few coppers, a silver at worst.)

Whisper: (part 1 done... then grab Aan and some gear and head to the island)

Narrator: (And how are we saying Aan got roped into this?)

Narrator: (Also, did you happen to tell the person renting you the boat what it was for?)

Whisper: (told them it was just to go around the local waters)

Whisper: Anything I should be know to look out for?

Aan: woudl be easy enough to get interested if just asked I think?

Narrator: "Don't get too close to the falls, the current can catch you unawares if you're not used to it. There's some wild currants and gooseberries on the island, but be sure to give the old tower a wide berth if you land there. It's haunted, you know."

Whisper: Haunted? really>?

Narrator: "Oh, surely. It was a watchtower once upon a time, but they started using it as a prison for enemy nobles, oh, in a couple generations ago. One of them haunts it still, they say."

Whisper: Hmm, good to know.

Whisper: (will round up someone interested in the boat trip, and find Aan)

Narrator: They'll nod, and just offer a quick, friendly , "Have the boat back by morning or its my hide."

Whisper: nods

Narrator: You can got get Aan and be ready to launch pretty quickly.

Narrator: (Does Whisper have any experience with boats?)

Whisper: gives Aan a quick tutorial on the small boat and how to row, and steer if needed

Aan: /me is definitely boat curious and will listen carefully and hopefuly understand

Whisper: (yeah, he's used smaller boats, not bigger sailing or fishing vessels)

Narrator: (cool)

Narrator: (Just for the heck of it, let's get Dex or Strength checks (your choice) from y'all)

Whisper: (19)

Aan: (20 on Dex)

Narrator: Whisper, this is old hat to you, and Aan, you take to it remarkably well. You can reach the island with ease. The tower rises several stories over the river, looking precarious but still still standing. It would command a decisive view over the northern approach to the city by water or land, but the overgrown bushes covering the island suggest it hasn't seen any use in quite some time.

Whisper: will look around for any tracks or trails that would confirm that observation

Narrator: (Roll Perception)

Aan: will also look aroujd but stick close to Whisper

Whisper: (5, nat 1 seems abandoned to me)

Aan: doesn't really knwo what we are lookign for so is mostly keeping an eye out for Trinkets ;)

Aan: (lol also a nat one amazing. for 2)

Narrator: Yeah, it seems pretty abandoned, and y'all are having a tough time making it through the undergrowth.

Whisper: hmm... this may prove more frustrating than interesting.

Whisper: will try and make way to the tower, see if there is a way in, or up

Aan: will follow, somewhat less enthused for the 'wandering around in bushes' adventure

Narrator: There is a ruined structure right at the waterline that looks like it was a boathouse of some sort. The stone tower is attached to a lower structure, both ringed in heavy foliage, and overgrown with vines, but you spot several windows you think you could get to easily enough.

Whisper: think you could manage a climb? I can go up and drop a rope, or you could try without.

Aan: looks up

Aan: ....rope...

Whisper: nods

Whisper: will see if he can find a way up to one of the windows

Narrator: (Roll Athletics)

Whisper: (20)\

Aan: (both or jut him?)

Narrator: You find it easy climbing between the vines and the worn stone, making your way up to the window. You can find a place to secure a rope simply enough, throwing it down for Aan.

Narrator: (Aan, now roll Athletics with advantage)

Aan: (11)

Narrator: You have a rougher time, but Whisper is able to help you up and inside.

Aan: quietly flexes his bad hand after he makes it to the top

Whisper: good job. This should prove a little more interesting

Narrator: The inside is a large hall that looks like it was once divided by wood partitions which have long since rotted into low walking hazards across the area. There's a large set of double doors into the tower to the north, still shut and relatively intact.

Aan: looks around, more curious again

Whisper: takes some time to check out this area before heading to the double doors

Narrator: (Aan, you have a strange sense of...familiarity or recognition, maybe?)

Narrator: (Roll me Perception again)

Whisper: (11)

Aan: (12 but I forgot I have inspiration - what does that do?)

Narrator: (You can use it to give yourself advantage on a roll)

Aan: (sure let's do that :x)

Aan: (20 then ;)

Narrator: (You can find some odds and ends, some old iron candlesticks that have held up pretty well, and old sword that can probably be brought back into service with some work, etc.)

Whisper: nice finds. I can carry some of that for you.

Aan: doesn't know exactly what he is looking for but something to explain wht this is so familiar...

Aan: nods

Narrator: Nothing you've found really rings any bell, and you've definitely not actually been here before.

Whisper: Lets try the doors

Whisper: (Aan had darkvision, don't they?)

Aan: (I have Super Darkvision :V)

Aan: (The darkest of visions :V)

Aan: will go up with you to check them out

Narrator: The doors prove to be barred from the other side, and are remarkably sturdy for what must be their considerable age. Still, there's some damage, and it might be possible to hack/blast your way through.

Whisper: (no other obvious way around?)

Narrator: (Not from this side, no.)

Aan: gives Whisper a puzzled look

Narrator: (From the outside, there were plenty of vines, so you might could make a climb, but the tower is, say, a good fifty feet tall, give or take.)

Whisper: (any way to slip a blade or something between the door boards and lift the bar off?)

Whisper: is considering...

Aan: not empty?

Narrator: (That might be doable. Call it Sleight of Hand)

Whisper: (I'll try... was hoping for some sort of lock picking technique, but slight of hand works)

Whisper: (only 9... not enough room I guess)

Narrator: (What blade are you using?)

Whisper: (dagger, or short sword if I need longer)

Aan: will offer the damaged sword

Whisper: (or the old sword)

Narrator: (I will say you can manage it with any of those, but if it's one of your blades, it's going to need repair afterwards, or, if it's the old sword, it'll basically just become scrap.)

Whisper: (just one of the daggers then... I'll note it will need some work)

Aan: isn't sure what he can to do help so will just try and listen in cae here is somethig on the other side

Narrator: You manage to finagle one of your daggers through a hole in the doors, and, with you and Aan both pushing, you feel the bar rise out of its brackets and hear it thud loudly to the floor on the other side. Putting your shoulders to the doors, you manage to push it open together, revealing a ground level circular room with sets of stairs leading along the outside edge up and down. It looks like this was pretty cleared out at some point, now mostly home to dust, spider webs, and a very concerned racoon that you spot the tail off as it retreats out through a small hole in the stonework wall of the tower.

Whisper: The owner should forgive our temporary explorations.

Whisper: points at the fleeing racoon

Whisper: (stairs look sturdy enough?)

Narrator: (They're stone, built into the wall, so, yeah, they look fine.)

Whisper: will slowly start working his way up the stairs, making sure they remain safe for Aan

Aan: follows

Narrator: The stairs are worn by years of use, and then further years of disuse. You get the impression that there's likely some water flow down them when it rains, but they're dry and sturdy enough right this moment. The next landing on the stairs reveals another round room like the ground floor, with remnants of furniture here and there throughout the room - an old bed, a wardrobe, a desk. The door to the room is open and in less good shape than the double doors downstairs, but it clearly has a very old lock.

Aan: (does that feeling of familiarity persist?)

Aan: will poke around in here too, but is wary of the floor

Whisper: will explore this room for curiosity

Narrator: (It does, but less so up the stairs.)

Narrator: (Roll me Perception)

Whisper: (only 9)

Aan: (12)

Narrator: You find some interesting odds and ends, more stuff to interest Aan rather than anything truly valuable, though you do find a wax seal stamp with an unfamiliar crest on it.

Whisper: notes the design but leaves it for Aan to take if they want

Aan: pokets his nonsense andwill follow Whisper up the stairs to the next level?

Narrator: (For reference, it looks like it's probably a bat or similar? It'll need to be cleaned to be sure.)

Whisper: will head up higher

Narrator: The next two floors prove similar, with similar results. A few odds and ends, perhaps an old coin or two. The stairs continue up to the roof, where you can see stars through a hatch rotted to bits over the years.

Narrator: From below, you can both hear what clearly sounds like a woman's scream.

Whisper: (from in the tower?)

Narrator: (That's what it sounds like, yeah)

Aan: looks at Whisper

Narrator: (Quite a bit below.)

Whisper: vocal racoon

Whisper: will draw thier shortsword and start working thier way down quietly

Aan: will follow, also trying to be quiet

Narrator: (Roll me Stealth)

Whisper: (nat 1, so 8)

Aan: (20)

Aan: learns from Whisper here not to step ;p

Narrator: Whisper, your foot accidentally clips a small piece of debris, sending it rattling down the stairs, echoing in the darkness, though you don't hear another sound. You don't see anything in any of the higher floor rooms you've already been in, and you find yourself once again on the ground floor of the tower, the steps upward behind you, the steps downward across the empty room.

Whisper: (no sign of the source of the voice yet?)

Narrator: (Roll me Perception)

Whisper: (23)

Aan: (10 I perceive nothing :V)

Aan: can't see around whisper idk

Narrator: Whisper, you can see a very faint glow emanating up the stairs leading downwards. Aan, you're paying attention to everything all at once, so you manage to miss that detail.

Whisper: <w> down...

Aan: nods

Whisper: points to the faint glow

Aan: :o

Whisper: moves carefully across the room to the stairs down... keeping his spirit senses fully aware

Aan: follows, also carefully

Narrator: The glow is faint from up here, but, moving to the stairs, you can see it's stronger below. It doesn't flicker, but it does slowly cycle through several colors, white to blue to purple...

Whisper: will try and get a look at the source of the light by moving slowly down the stairs

Narrator: (Roll Stealth again)

Aan: is still following

Whisper: (10)

Aan: (8 )

Voice: Is someone there?

Narrator: (I don't think this will register at the moment, but Whisper hears that in Elven and Aan hears it in Infernal)

Aan: :x

Whisper: puts their sword away and will step down

Whisper: It is just us.

Whisper: says quietly

Aan: hangs back behind Whisper

Whisper: Just explorers.

Narrator: Heading down the stairs, you will find the light emanating from within a helmet set into the wall above a thick wooden door banded in iron.

Voice: Oh, hi there. It's nice to meet you, but you're really not supposed to be here.

Whisper: we heard a scream... is someone in trouble?

Narrator: (The voice emanates from the light itself.)

Whisper: (any idea what the light is? Some kind of spirit?)

Aan: peers at it around Whisper

Narrator: (You can roll Arcana or Religion if you like.)

Whisper: (3 arcana, no clue)

Aan: (15 on Arcana)

Light: Oh, sorry, no more so than normal. My charge gets frustrated sometimes.

Narrator: (Aan, I'll say you can recognize the light is some kind of celestial, and strangely comforting to you, but you don't know specifically what it is.)

Light: So occasionally she'll make some noise, but she's not dangerous as long as she's on her side of the door and you're on this one.

Aan: aa?

Aan: looks from the light to the door

Whisper: your charge? you are guarding something. Keeping it prisoner?

Light: Yep! Behind this door lies the spirit of Hilja Laukkanen, bane of her house, the iron warden, thrice-damned.

Light: Oh, sorry, I'm so impolite. I'm Lumiel, by the way. Who're you?

Whisper: I'm called Whisper, Lumiel. Thrice-damned is quite a lot of damning.

Lumiel: She was particularly unpleasant in life, and undeath hasn't helped, I can assure you. I really should be warning you away, but we don't get a lot of visitors these days...

Lumiel: Can I ask...what year is it?

Whisper: gives the year, as they know it

Lumiel: light dims slightly for a moment.

Lumiel: Oh. Huh. Well, that's interesting.

Aan: aa?

Lumiel: You said you're explorers?

Whisper: We are visiting this town, and exploring this tower, which has been abandoned for some time.

Whisper: The town is not abandoned.

Lumiel: Oh, well, that's good to know.

Whisper: Have you and Lady Laukkenan been here for a while?

Lumiel: I was given charge of her in 328 by your reckoning, after her family and people rose up against her. I'm supposed to wait until a champion appears who can send her spirit on to its justice. I kind of thought it wouldn't be, wow, 237 years and counting, but I'm happy to serve.

Aan: will make a little ball of radiant light

Aan: aa?

Aan: (with prestitigitatio, or thaumaturgy, or actualy sacred flame, idk, I'm sure he can manage ;)

Lumiel: Oh, nice! Are you a...divine champion by any chance?

Lumiel: light grows a little brighter, and shifts to a pleasant sunlight yellow.

Whisper: Is that all it take to be a divine champion?

Lumiel: Well, no, but his power is familiar.

Aan: hesitates and shakes his head

Lumiel: So I thought I'd ask.

Aan: looks at Whispr though

Lumiel: You never know.

Aan: ...Frond?

Lumiel: Sadly, none of the plants manage to grow down here, though there's a family of racoons that comes down to eat bugs from time to time.

Whisper: we have a friend who is a paladin. Does that count?

Lumiel: Oh! It certainly could! Do you think they'd be able to abjure two-centuries old evil spirit?

Narrator: (abjure a)

Aan: wants to be confident in his cousin buuuuut...

Whisper: I can ask for you. This place is probably better off not having that spirit here.

Lumiel: You can say that again.

Lumiel: If you think it's possible, I think it would be a good thing, but I also don't want you or your friend to get hurt.

Lumiel: Hilja is very dangerous.

Whisper: I appreciate the warning. I will look to gather champions to move this spirit on. It may take a few days, but its been years...

Aan: listens in case details are forthcoming, and will sort of perch on the end of the stairs

Lumiel: Oh, well, sure. I mean, I'm not going anywhere.

Whisper: If you can tell me what she is capable of, I can ensure the champions are well prepared.

Lumiel: She was an accomplished warlock and sorceress when she was alive. Slew a number of knights of Summer, including Colmacil Sornion in single spell to spell combat.

Lumiel: Admittedly, I'm less familiar with her capabilities as, you know, a dead woman, as she's on the other side of the door and I'm...here.

Whisper: I understand, but this is helpful

Lumiel: twinkles his lights pleasantly.

Whisper: With luck, I will find those who can help move this spirit on. Stay vigilent.

Aan: will creep a little clser to where Lumiel is in the helmet to try and see what it is

Lumiel: Will do! Be careful!

Lumiel: appears to be a ball of light about the size of a human head within the helmet set into the stonework.

Aan: ...Why Lumiel?

Aan: will ask, in infernal, stepping back a bit

Lumiel: Why is that my name?

Aan: why you stay?

Lumiel: Oh! Because it's what I was asked to do. It's my duty.

Aan: ...who ask?

Lumiel: Anaherael, my boss.

Narrator: (That name sounds strangely familiar to you.)

Aan: An..

Aan: makes a complicated face and his tail twitches and he scooches back towards Whisper

Aan: A na her a el

Lumiel: Are you alright?

Aan: tries the syllabel like he was taught when learning to say new things

Aan: doesn't answer that

Narrator: The name feels right to you in a way you definitely can't articulate.

Lumiel: I'm sorry, I didn't mean to upset you. Do you know them?

Aan: tries saying it again

Narrator: It comes easily to you, and saying it feels like when you put together your altars.

Aan: says it again to himself like he is concerned he might forget it but also doesn' know how you can forget something that is written on your soul

Aan: Anaherael

Lumiel: Yeah, that's right!

Lumiel: twinkles again in a friendly manner.

Aan: ....Aan help Lumiel.

Aan: says very seriously, his red eyes flashing

Lumiel: Thank you, Aan. I would be in your debt.

Aan: shakes his head

Aan: Aan...debt.

Lumiel: Sorry, I just mean...I would appreciate it. It would be very nice of you.

Aan: nods

Aan: glances to where Whisper is waiting

Narrator: (Presumably y'all can head out from there)

Aan: (yeah - thanks, that was awesome :)

Solos

Brauni Talks to Kanduk

Narrator: (Do you want to have this be when they were on watch together on the way back? Or sometime when you're back to the caravan?)

Brauni: (on watch is fine)

Brauni: (can do later next time if we do scenes before we go on the adventure)

Narrator: (cool)

Kanduk: seems pretty well at ease for a man just recently imprisoned.

Brauni: So uh how long did you say you were a bear?

Kanduk: Like when I was chained up, or in general?

Brauni: Uh both I guess

Kanduk: Chained up, it was a little hard to tell, but I think...maybe a week or so? In general, I caught it around four years ago, when I was on my .

Brauni: Caught it? 'Bear' is contagious?

Kanduk: It can be, if it's the right type of bear. I have ursanthropy.

Brauni: huh...

Brauni: Is that uh, a pain in the ass? It seems like kind of a pain in the ass

Kirar: It was for a while, I'm not going to lie. I didn't use to be able to control it.

Kirar: I still don't always have a handle on it, and that can be...inconvenient.

Brauni: Is that why you didn't just stop being a bear and leave the basement?

Kanduk: Oh, no, that I think had something to do with the chains. I tried to change back, but couldn't. It was kind of spooky, and the chamber itself didn't help. Thank the gods you all came along.

Narrator: (wrong brackets back there, but you get it 😛 )

Brauni: The vibes were way off in there.

Brauni: I think it was a weird sex dungeon

Brauni: I mean, which isn't necessarily bad

Brauni: 👀

Kanduk: You think? I know nobles get up to some weird stuff.

Brauni: Yeah.

Brauni: So what do you do besides 'bear'?

Kanduk: laughs at that.

Kanduk: Well, I try to bear sparingly. Mostly I do guard or soldier work. I'm kind of just getting back into it, actually. The job I had before this one that got me captured by kobolds, of all people, was the first one I'd had since I was infected. Like I said, it took a while for me to get a real handle on it.

Kanduk: Luckily, there were people to help.

Brauni: Yeah?

Brauni: Friends? Like, close friends?

Brauni: . o O (like sexy friends??)

Kanduk: Some. More like...mentors, I guess. Back east, in Vanilorran lands. There's an enclave of folks with the changing curse. I spent a couple years there learning to control it.

Kanduk: A lot of them are shifters, so they kind of grew up with it. Some sought it out.

Brauni: Ohhh... Not many orcs then?

Kanduk: Just one other while I was there. Older lady, a cleric of Luthic. She had the same as me, said it was a gift from Luthic and Gruumsh.

Kanduk: shrugs.

Kanduk: Didn't feel like it at first, but...it has its perks, I guess.

Brauni: I mean, I like bears. I'm a huge bear fan.

Kanduk: Oh?

Brauni: What's not to like? They're big, strong...

Kanduk: nods.

Brauni: 😏

Kanduk: Oh, hey, why did you ask me about music right after y'all rescued me?

Brauni: Oh yeah! I'm in a band, with my cousin and my brother.

Brauni: Chlyde's got some lurgy, so she's not with us but you'll meet her soon

Brauni: And Aan's the other one in the band, the little guy with the horns.

Kanduk: Oh, right, quiet, kind of standoffish.

Kanduk: Cool. What instrument do you play?

Brauni: He's just a lil shy.

Brauni: The lute mostly.

Kanduk: That's neat. You learn from family? I can sing, badly, but never picked up any actual skill like that.

Brauni: Started self taught, then when I did my I learned a bunch.

Brauni: Got my first lute when we trashed some bandits.

Brauni: says proudly

Brauni: They stole it from who knows who.

Brauni: I still have it! It's a bit beat up but, y'know, sentimental value

Brauni: I got a fancier one for performances. With skulls and flames and stuff on it.

Brauni: See?

Brauni: will show it off :v

Kanduk: will go over to take a look.

Kanduk: Wow, that's really cool. Like a...a battle lute.

Brauni: Yeah!!

Brauni: You gotta stick around with us a while. See the band play. Plus it'll do ya good to be around orcs.

Brauni: My mother's gonna like you, I can tell.

Kanduk: Yeah, I just may. I do want to see if I can find my dad, but we'll see how things go. Wandering off without a clan obviously didn't work out well for me.

Kanduk: blushes a little at that comment.

Brauni: Oh your dad, what clan is he with?

Kanduk: Normally with my mom's caravan. Well, my mom and one aunt's. But they left word in Kongasharja that he'd gone to Valkama to look into some old burial site. He's kind of a treasure hunter, looks for ancient stuff, that sort of thing. There's supposed to be a dragon lord from right at the fall or Arkhosia buried out that way.

Brauni: Ma's got ears to the ground, maybe she's heard something.

Brauni: That sounds sick as fuck though.

Brauni: Dragon Lord. Nice.

Kanduk: Apparently no one knows exactly where it is, so supposedly it hasn't been looted in all this time. Good find if he manages it, but with that weird shadow stuff your cousins mentioned...

Kanduk: I'm worried about him.

Brauni: Well... maybe we should go check that out! 👀

Brauni: Treasure... dragon lord... that all sounds cool to me

Brauni: I mean, I'd go with you

Kanduk: smiles.

Kanduk: Well, like I said, we'll see how things go after we get back to town.

Brauni: Yeah, yeah... of course 👀

Kanduk: will happily ask more questions about your music and such as you pass the time on watch.

Brauni: may scoot subtly closer as the watch goes on, lol

Tsukaav Visits The Temple

Narrator: Tsukaav , your run takes you up the switchback to the upper city, retracing the caravan's path from the north gate. Once again you spot the two big temples along the route, noting the cog of Erathis on the larger of the two, and the crossed bolts of Kord alongside Pelor and Moradin's symbols on the smaller one.

Tsukaav: (so the smaller one is where, 16?)

Narrator: (Should be 10. Y'all came in the north gate. 10 is the smaller temple, 13 is the bigger one.)

Tsukaav: (got it)

Tsukaav: (I'll go to the temple that has the symbol of Kord. Does Kord have much to do with Pelor and Moradin - can I figure out why those three would have the temple together?)

Narrator: (Different places have different traditions, and all three are popular among Nerath's dwarven communities.)

Tsukaav: (all right, I'll approach respectfully, and of course i have my holy symbol out as I always would during morning prayers)

Narrator: The temple looks a bit run down, but the steps are swept and there's incense lit, so someone is clearly doing their best to take care of it.

Tsukaav: (I'll call out in Common so as not to startle anyone)

Tsukaav: Hello?

Tsukaav: (I'll pull on the door, realized i never said that or checked if it is open)

Narrator: The door is unlocked, and you can step inside and see a bald dwarven woman standing up from the floor near a second row pew.

Tsukaav: Good morning. I am a servant of Kord come to pay my respects.

Uir: Well no, all are welcome, though we don't get a lot of Kord...ites? Kordians? through here unless there's a war on. Uir Undelmar, good to meet you.

Uir: will offer a hearty handshake.

Tsukaav: Uir, well met. I am Tsukaav of the Oglaf clan. I and my kin arrived yesterday.

Tsukaav: I took my holy orders far to the north, in Issenvik, at the great temple there.

Tsukaav: If there is anything to be done here at the temple to make it ready for those of my faith, I am here to serve.

Uir: Well, if you're offering, the Kord altar could probably use some work.

Uir: points to a simple wooden altar with a crossed bolts symbol and little else.

Uir: Truth be told, this whole place was a bit abandoned after the Guimaraes raided the town a few years ago, but I took it upon myself to rebuild.

Tsukaav: (have I heard of / do I know what she's referring to by the Guimaraes?)

Tsukaav: looks at the sad little altar, and thinks of his long-dead compatriot from the giant's tomb.

Tsukaav: I will see what I can do.

Narrator: (You can roll History)

Tsukaav: (11)

Narrator: You know that Guimaraes is the region east of here, also gnomish-ruled but with a sizeable shifter population.

Tsukaav: I am no great craftsman, but I will see what can be done to improve this simple altar.

Tsukaav: May I ask, Uir, who do you serve?

Uir: Pelor is my particular patron, though I honor all the gods. And I'm no great craftsman myself.

Uir: gestures to where she was trying to fix the leg of the pew.

Uir: Thought and effort are as much prayer as words.

Tsukaav: In the striving, we serve.

Tsukaav: will do what he can to tidy things up, straighten up things, and take care of anything that any of the gods need that would require a tall person to reach.

Uir: smiles.

Narrator: (hee)

Tsukaav: I should return to my caravan, down in the lower city. But I shall return here if needed. And if there is more I can do to serve, find me there.

Uir: Many thanks for your help, young man. Pelor light your path, and Kord lend strength to your arm.

Tsukaav: will return to the caravan, invigorated.

Narrator: (You know what, go ahead and take an inspiration for that (which you can spend for advantage on a roll of your choice) )

Tsukaav: (woot)