Return to the Temple of Elemental Evil (IC): Thread 2

[Shhalahr Windrider]

Moathouse: Planting 9, Early Afternoon

“What? So we can catch your body if that thing explodes?” As if to emphasize this point, Haunor takes a step backwards.

[Another_Poet]

"Explodes? Ha!"

((cue explosion; otherwise, Tell keeps working.))

[Shhalahr Windrider]

Moathouse: Planting 9, Early Afternoon

There is no explosion. Or any obvious curse. Tell manages to smash the statue thoroughly without incident. However, it remains to be seen whether there may be less immediate after effects.

[Another_Poet]

If this hasn't attracted any cultists, Tell will take pieces of it and throw them down the other exits from this room, loudly.

[Shhalahr Windrider]

Moathouse: Planting 9, Early Afternoon

Even after waiting a reasonable amount of time, the noise doesn’t seem to attract any attention.

[Skjaldbakka]

"Perhaps we should continue exploring this area?"

[Another_Poet]

"Let's do it," agrees Tell.

((From the map it looks like we entered from the South; to speed things up let's just continue North (rather than NE) instead of having a long discussion about it. ))

[Shhalahr Windrider]

Moathouse: Planting 9, Afternoon

The group spends the next hour or so exploring the tunnels, finding nothing else other than dead ends and tight spaces.

“Looks like we’ve found about all we can,” Haunor says as he re-enters the crypt.

[Lycar]

Grigor, human cleric

"Okay fine, seems like we did indeed get all of them. So instead of chasing phantoms, maybe we should go and learn something about the stuff we found here. Whatever this is about, it sure is important for our unknown 'friends' here. Besides, learning new things is fun. And if you weren't supposed to learn them, even more so." the cleric finishes with a wink and a grin, confident that the rest will agree to move on now.

[Shhalahr Windrider]

Moathouse: Planting 9, Afternoon

“Yeah,” Haunor says, nodding, “But I think first we need to have a little something to eat. Then, Ricar, Mair, and Bellamin will stay here with Kevril while Echard, Rein and I go back ‘n’ consult with Elmo. You guys can do whatever you want as long as it don’t cause trouble for us or them.”

[Another_Poet]

"I think I might go see Elmo myself," says Tell. "I wanna know if he got my message."

((Tell is happy to have lunch while Grigor does the investigating he wanted to do; otherwise I am ready to fast forward to Hommlet.))

[Skjaldbakka]

Megiddo waits patiently for his party to gather before venturing forth.

(ok to fast forward)

[Shhalahr Windrider]

Hommlet, Early Night

Soon enough, six men are on the road back to Hommlet. It’s an uncharacteristically chilly and overcast day for the time of year. The militia members mostly keep to themselves, though Eckhard makes a few attempts at small talk.

The group arrives back in Hommlet just after sunset.

“All right, Rein, Eckhard. You’re off duty,” Haunor tells his men. “I’ll see if I can find Elmo and make a report. See if he got the message.”

With that, Rein and Eckhard take off for their homes while Haunor starts down the road to the Welcome Wench.

[Another_Poet]

Tell follows Haunor as if he was invited.

[Lycar]

Grigor, human cleric

Usually Grigor would be happy to engage Eckhard in some light conversation but he doesn't feel like it somehow.

Instead he asks "Say, you don't happen to have a library or some kind of sage in your town by any chance?"

[Shhalahr Windrider]

Planting 9, Sometime on the Road

“You mean like Todariche?” Eckhard asks. “He knows quite a lot about… well, a lot of things.”

[Lycar]

Grigor, human cleric

Grigor beams at that relevation "Isn't that just great. Sure he will be able to help us. So where would I find this Todariche? I sure do have it on my mind to ask him about the things we found in that cave. Who knows, maybe there is some old, almost forgotten prophecy about it even."

After a short pause he adds "Or maybe he even knows how to de-stone someone..."

[Shhalahr Windrider]

Hommlet: Planting 9, Early Night

Haunor doesn’t seem to really notice Tell following him.

[Skjaldbakka]

"I will go with you to visit this sage."

[Shhalahr Windrider]

(( Oh, wow. I only just noticed Lycar ninjaed my last post.

For some reason it took me over 10 minutes to post that sentence, I guess. ))

Hommlet: Planting 9, Early Night

Upon reaching Hommlet, Eckhard tells Grigor and Megiddo, “Well, as late as it is, I don’t think Todariche will be seeing anyone on business. And Kevril’s situation is something that Elmo will probably work out with Burne. So it’s probably best you see Todariche in the morning. They can tell you where to find him at the inn.”

[Skjaldbakka]

Megiddo will start walking towards the inn, looking forward to resting in the comfort of an inn.

[Shhalahr Windrider]

Inn of the Welcome Wench: Planting 9, Early Night

Haunor stays on the road to the Welcome Wench all the way to the inn’s door, which he promptly enters. Inside the inn, the bar is being tended by a large-framed woman with curly red hair—someone clearly different from the barkeep during the group’s previous visits.

“Hey, Vesta!” Haunor says loudly as he approaches the bar, “Is Elmo around?” He seems to be deliberately speaking loud enough so that anyone in the bar could hear this query.

“Sorry, Haunor. He hasn’t been in tonight.”

As Haunor reaches the bar, he continues speaking, but in a more normal tone and volume.

[Another_Poet]

Tell sidles up beside him to hear what he is saying.

If he has changed the topic Tell will ask where Elmo can most likely be found.

[Lycar]

Grigor, human cleric

Grigor decides that calling it a day is a good idea and joins Megiddo in the quest to find a room for the night.

"It is late already, let's see if we can't get a friendly innkeeper to serve us a nice meal and a tankard of good ale or beer. I'm not too picky. If you are thirsty, even humble water tastes like heaven..."

[Shhalahr Windrider]

Inn of the Welcome Wench: Planting 9, Early Night

As Tell approaches the bar, he sees Vesta fetching a beer for Haunor and hears her saying, “Nah, I don’t know. He’s been pretty anxious since yesterday.” She turns around and notices Tell. “Evening! What can I get for ya, sir?”’

[Shhalahr Windrider]

(( Okay, going off of Tell’s stated intention to ask about Elmo, then… ))

Inn of the Welcome Wench: Planting 9, Early Night

Vest chuckles. “Ah, ain’t he gettin’ popular!”

“Eh, he was with me on militia business, Ves,” Haunor interjects.

“Well, in any case, I can’t tell either of ya,” Vesta replies, shaking her head, “All I know is he ain’t come in for his usual nightcap yet. An’ neither has Burne nor Rufus.”

[Skjaldbakka]

Megiddo will take a leisurely stroll around town before settling down for his evening meditation.

[Lycar]

Grigor, human cleric

Since Grigor is still a bit too awake to go to bed right now, he joins the patrons in the common room and praises Olidamarra by playing a few tunes for the enjoyment of everybody.

[Shhalahr Windrider]

Inn of the Welcome Wench: Planting 9, Early Night

After a pause to let Tell add anything more, Haunor asks Vesta, “So, where’s Maridosen?”

Vesta frowns at this and replies, “I had to get rid of her. Caught her snooping in customer’s private things.”

Meanwhile, Grigor takes to the small stage and begins warming up.

Hommlet Streets
Although there are a other people either out for a stroll or about on some sort of business, Megiddo finds the streets emptying fairly quickly in the dark and abnormally chilly air.

[Another_Poet]

Tell

Tell nods to the militiaman beside him. "Cap'n Elmo owes me a drink," he says. He'll accept whatever is offered.

Tell's activities in town are as follows:

1) Drink no more than 2 drinks

2) Find whereabouts of Elmo if possible

3) Report what was discovered to Elmo

4) Head out of town to the druid's sanctuary

5) Tell the druid about the cultists and demand assistance, using whatever mixture of brashness, clever double meaning, and formal courtesy is expected when one druid pressures another for help.