Old Ways IC II

[Roland St. Jude]

Neela seems pleased to join the group. She will gladly examine the party's spoils. Among the jewelry and items possessed by the leaders, she notes that the gem and jewelry is all non-magical. The potion allows one to command stone giants, for a time. The wand is a paralyzation wand. The sword is enchanted and of a type known as "trollbane."

If the party carried back any of the hobgoblins arms or armor, they will find its handmade and generally poor quality to prevent it from having any resale value.

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OOC:
The sword is +2, +3 vs. regenerating creatures.
The wand has 5 charges remaining.

[Matthew]

Nathros enjoys a restive time at the Nut. He does not recall the details surrounding the spider shrine, and he tells Mycah as much. "There is an adventure around every corner, we just have to find a corner to walk around."

[Frivolous]

Brandon Bor


Bran greets Neela with a friendly smile and his best manner. "Hi. Welcome."

He arranges for the heads to be brought to Lord Bost's for identification, if possible, and he sends a message to Lord Bost and to Merlinda stating that the party has slain a band of hobgoblin mercenaries led by 2 powerful magic-user.

He adds that one of the hobgoblins was able to cast a big ball of searing flame, and he asks if Lord Bost, Merlinda, or Lord Bost's aides might identify the hobgoblins by appearance or reputation, and if a reward of any sort has been posted for killing them.

[Nevaera]

ASH

Ash will respectfully inform the other two auditions that they have not been chosen, but she'll consider them in the future should an opportunity arise for them to aid the party for pay.

When she returns, she'll ask Mycah if he'd like to come with her to sell the two axes (from before) and to sell the jewelry, if no one in the group wishes to claim any of it as part of their reward.

Hopefully they can find a jeweler who will pay a reasonable price for these things.

A blacksmith will likely be where they take the hand axe and battle axe to sell.

[Koren n'Rhys]

Mycah enjoys the comfort of his bed, wondering if he's gone a bit soft already. Soon enough though, he rises and gets cleaned up for the day, finally meeting up with the rest of his companions and being introduced to Neela.
"Welcome to our little group, Neela. Things tend to get exciting pretty quickly, so I hope you feel up to it! it sounds like you have a lot to offer, so I look forward to having you around." In truth, he's happy to hear how quickly she was able to test and identify the hobgoblin spoils - handy indeed!
"That sword sounds powerful! I can't imagine what it's worth," he comments when told of the thing's power. "Who should use it? Brandon or Ash?"

When Ash asks him to join her on the trip to sell the jewelry, he quickly accepts. "Of course! I'd rather spend the afternoon wandering around town with you than sitting here. Sounds like fun!"

--------------------------
At a quiet moment in the conversation, Mycah tugs Brandon's sleeve.
"When you see your mother, please tell her I haven't forgotten that she asked me to come see her, it's just that we got involved with the hobgoblins. Tell her, I can come tomorrow morning, if that's OK with her."

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Actually, I did almost forget about that dangling plot thread. Just thought of it...

[Nevaera]

ASH

"Well, I don't know about how fun it might be, but we'll be getting work done." She offers a short smile and a small dip of her head as she rises to exit with Mycah while hiding the slight blush on her cheeks.

If you keep saying things like that, I'm going to start wondering things about you... She takes a steadying breath.

As they step out into the sunlight, she'll continue, "Did you enjoy your spy-scouting with the boys?
"It's too bad we found ourselves in the company of giants rather than the centaur peoples. That would have been quite something."

---

After selling the items in question, Ash mentions, "We should check in with the captain of the guards soon and offer our assistance. I'm sure they'd appreciate it and I wouldn't mind following orders for a change. It's far easier to follow than to lead, let me tell you."

[Roland St. Jude]

A message to Lord Bost will take some time and Merlinda proves once again to be away from her tower. Neither Bost's staff nor the guard have heard about any hobgoblin raids or movements and know of no reward for their slaying. If mention or sight of the remains occurs, the general sentiment of "keep those things out of town" seems to prevail, though no one comes right out and says it. Any who hear the full tale of the battle are quite impressed, though.

---
Neela has traded her travel and interview clothes for something a bit finer when she meets the party. More practical than the kinds of finery Tal used to wear on adventures, though.

An errant curl of hair frames one side of her face. Her caramel complexion, slightly angular features, and bright green eyes give her an exotic look for Karameikos. She greets each member of the party that greets her, and otherwise waits around to be told whether the party has any group activities planned. As they begin to break up, she inquires of Ash whether she is needed at this time.

---
Mycah heads off to accompany Ash without responding to Nathros' comment about the spider shrine.

Ash and Mycah find the axes to be relatively unremarkable, but the blacksmith is willing to pay 5 gp for the pair.

The local jeweler, Pottage, an elderly man whose shop is nearly as old as Threshold itself, offers 400 gp for the topaz and 2000 gp for the bracelet. He takes a long time examining the pair of rings, giving Ash and Mycah plenty of time to examine the wide variety of jewelry for sale in the shop. "These are a matched pair, wedding rings. Thytian styling, middle of the last century. Beautiful pieces, perfect stones." He sighs. "If you're in need of cash, I can offer you five-thousand, but I will be honest with you young Rangers, they are worth far more than that.

[Nevaera]

ASH

Ash apologizes to Neela for not considering any further work for her at this time. She explains that the group is experiencing a bit of a lull for work at this time while things are being set for the caravan. Her group intends to offer services as guards for the duration to protect against the implied threat they've been defending against this past month. Once it's over, though, they may have some dangerous travel and investigative work to be done. For now, she offers a hundred gold of her own money as an investment in Neela's abilities.
"Just don't go getting yourself into trouble before we get a chance to have a proper adventure." She winks with a playful smile.
"I actually assumed you had a traveling business of your own to keep you occupied while the festivities were in place - so I hadn't counted on such ready dedication, I must confess. Though, I'm pleased to see it."

---

Ash is a bit surprised at the value of the rings. She offers, "We're not so short supplied that we'd put you out of all your trade money for these. For now we'll hold onto them. Perhaps they'll allow us the opportunity to trade for an enchanted item.
"I appreciate your honesty - a quality I've seen a lot of among the good folk of Threshold.
"We'd of course still be glad to sell you the bracelet and the topaz. I hope you receive good value for them when you've readied them for resale.
"If you're interested in a small arrangement and if you happened to encounter a potential buyer for these rings, I think we could offer you five percent the total just for sending the buyer our way. I could write up a contract if you'd prefer, but I would honor the agreement in any case."

She turns to Mycah, "That seems fair, don't you think?"

---

Later, she intends to keep them somewhere she considers safe. She'll tell Mycah of the whereabouts for now too, in case anything should happen to her.
If Bost's Manor is extremely secure, she'll keep them locked up there.
She also contemplates burying them and hiring someone to start a folk legend of the rings that will bless young lover's marriage if they can use the treasure map and find the rings to wed with.
She then ponders the tragedy that must have taken place so that her group might gain ownership of the rings. Maybe I should have gutted those cursed hobgoblins - kept a few alive for torture... She shakes her head, disappointed in the course her thoughts have taken. I hope they're next owners find better luck than the last.

[Frivolous]

"Who should use it? Brandon or Ash?"

--------------------------

At a quiet moment in the conversation, Mycah tugs Brandon's sleeve.
"When you see your mother, please tell her I haven't forgotten that she asked me to come see her, it's just that we got involved with the hobgoblins. Tell her, I can come tomorrow morning, if that's OK with her."

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Actually, I did almost forget about that dangling plot thread. Just thought of it...

Brandon Bor

Bran says, "I don't mind if Ash wants the sword."

"I didn't know Ma wanted to see you. I'll tell her."

The local jeweler, Pottage, an elderly man whose shop is nearly as old as Threshold itself, offers 400 gp for the topaz and 2000 gp for the bracelet. He takes a long time examining the pair of rings, giving Ash and Mycah plenty of time to examine the wide variety of jewelry for sale in the shop. "These are a matched pair, wedding rings. Thytian styling, middle of the last century. Beautiful pieces, perfect stones." He sighs. "If you're in need of cash, I can offer you five-thousand, but I will be honest with you young Rangers, they are worth far more than that.

Bran accompanies Mycah and Ash on the treasure-selling trip.

"We should sell the rings only in a big city. There must be really rich nobility out there who would want to purchase antique wedding rings."

"You know... We should try to investigate the provenance of the rings."

"Rings like that are made by special craftsmen. There must be records of who previously owned them. Maybe their owners were even famous."

Then Bran's face falls as he realizes that, for both rings to be found in the hands of evil hobgoblins, the couple must have been killed together.

He tries to regain his enthusiasm.

"If the style dates back only to the middle of the last century, it should be possible to find out their previous owners."

He addresses the shopkeeper. "Sir, would you be able to help us find who might have made or owned these rings? Or refer us to someone?"

Bran examines the rings to see if there are any insignia or runes on the rings that might hint at their origins.

[Nevaera]

ASH

Brandon Bor

Bran says, "I don't mind if Ash wants the sword.""

"Are you sure? I thought you'd want it.
"Well, I have been practicing with the long sword quite a bit.
"I appreciate the generosity. I'll use it well."

---

Ash agrees that they should hold onto it until the big city, but if a buyer who can afford the rings comes by sooner then why wait?

To the Jeweler, "How much would you say these might be worth, anyways?"

[Matthew]

Nathros spends the day checking his equipment, and once finished his thoughts turn to counting the treasure.

[Roland St. Jude]

Neela refuses any attempted payment. "I'll earn my share soon enough. For now, if you should need my aid, let me know. I will check back with you after my trade with the Caravan is completed."

---
Mr. Pottage agrees to forward any potential purchasers Ash's way for a percentage.

He smiles warmly at Brandon's inquiry. "That is a charming thought, yes. To restore these rings to their previous owners' heirs. I'm afraid they bear no obvious name, crest, or device, though. Their value limits the field some, but the possible owners here in town are too few and outside there are too many.

He considers Ash's question of value carefully. "Their value is much more than the materials. They are art, and with art, eh," he waves a hand errantly to express uncertainty, "a jeweler in, say, the capital, should give you fifteen for the pair straightaway, but you could probably get more like thirty if you wait on the proper buyer - someone who appreciates the history and art of the things. Or a romantic noble couple, perhaps." He hands the rings back to Ash with a sly smile and shuffles away for a moment to fetch the coin to pay for the gem and bracelet.

[Nevaera]

ASH

Ash seems to quite like Neela, pleased with her interest in earning her pay. She politely bids her adieu and offers that she looks forward to working with Neela.

---

After the jeweler hands her the rings and makes his remark, Ash presses her lips together, smiles a little awkwardly, and - without being conscious of it - glances at Mycah to see if he heard that.

[Koren n'Rhys]

Mycah seems in fine spirits indeed, as he wanders the city with Ash at his side. He doesn't say anything, of course, but is a bit disappointed when Brandon decides to tag along. At her comment about the centaurs, it's as if she's opened the floodgates. Bran and Nathros hadn't seemed impressed by the glorious creatures, but to him they had been awe-inspiring. He chatters on about them - their size and strength, noble bearing, and more. For whatever reason, he accepts without question that the forest is theirs as they claim.
"Oh Ash, I wish you would have been there to see them with me. I know you'd understand." Poor manners or not, he unfortunately asks not one question about her encounter with the giants and the risk she and Alanna faced.

At the jeweler's, he lets Ash handle the negotiations, fully trusting her judgement and skill at these things. When she does ask his opinion on the commission for the rings he nods absently, as he takes in case after case of more wealth than he can remember even imagining, let along seeing on display. Finally, he returns to her side as she wraps up her business, standing close by her side and between her and Brandon. As she holds the pair of rings in her palm, he reaches out hesitantly and takes one, turning it in his fingers.
"Thirty THOUSAND gold? How can that even be? Who could afford them, even if they were nobles?" He is simply shocked beyond belief at hearing this. Poor county boy. "They are beautiful and will look nice on some girls finger, but I know I wouldn't dare wear one out." He takes a breath and carefully gives it back. "Better keep those safe. Maybe you should try one on, Ash."

[Nevaera]

ASH

Ash smiles softly to herself as Mycah goes on about the centaurs like a boy on Christmas morning.

"Oh Ash, I wish you would have been there to see them with me. I know you'd understand."

Ash laughs a little, "Maybe we should talk to Lord Bost and see if we can escort him for a diplomatic meeting or something..." She winks.

---

"Better keep those safe. Maybe you should try one on, Ash."

Ash's eyes bug out a little, then she shakes her head slightly. "I- I don't think it'd fit over my gauntlet," she says while smiling at her joke - her face a little pinker.

---

During the walk back to The Nut, Ash offers, "I wish Lord Bost would write back. I hope there hasn't been any trouble at the keep."

[Roland St. Jude]

The old man returns with the promised price, including 400 Grand Royals, the rarely seen platinum coin of the realm, and 400 Royals, the standard Karamekian gold coin.

Ash knows of nowhere in town safer than Lord Bost's Keep. Perhaps the temple, Baron Halaran's home Tarnskeep, or Merlinda's tower, but she didn't exactly have easy access to those.

She heads back toward the Nut with Mycah and Brandon by her side. They pass through the market place, which already twice as busy as normal. Clearly, some out-of-town traders weren't content to wait for caravan to arrive.

---
Nathros cleans the battlewear off his equipment and prepares for the next journey. From his brief look at the jewelry they looted, he figured Ash would be returning with a tidy sum. It was probably mere human handiwork, but still.

[Frivolous]

She heads back toward the Nut with Mycah and Brandon by her side. They pass through the market place, which already twice as busy as normal. Clearly, some out-of-town traders weren't content to wait for caravan to arrive.

Brandon Bor


Bran stops to browse at the marketplace and see if any of the merchants are buying or selling things useful to adventurers, such as armor, weapons, or magic items.

He also looks to see if any of the visitors from out of town are scholars or magic wielders, who might be able to answer any of the mysteries the party has not yet solved.

Bran looks for signs of Fang involvement, if he can recognize any Fang amulets or insignia on display.

[MeanMrsMustard]

Alanna decides to do some research in the temple's scroll collection. She recruits another cleric, one who spends more time studying, to help her find relevant scrolls and decipher the tougher words. She can offer the other cleric money, instruction on spells, or anything else the cleric asks, within reason.
The vague questions she asks at first reveal how little she actually knows about what she's trying to look up.

[Nevaera]

ASH

On the way back while Brandon browses, Ash will have the Grand Royals changed in for Royals (Gold) so that her group can have an easier time calculating and making purchases with their money. They can buy gems or Grand Royals or what have you as they please.

Ash suggests they keep an eye out for some nice full plated armor for Brandon, Alanna, and maybe Nathros. Then the hirelings may be donned with their plate mail.

---

When Ash is together with Nathros and perhaps most of her group, she'll explain about the rings. About how much they're worth if sold right and that she's holding onto them in case the group needs a fresh start after a crippling battle. She doesn't offer this insight to Neela as she's not entitled to the wealth that the rings offer, nor does she want the information to go beyond the jeweler and her friends anytime soon.
She further explains that anyone of our main group who came back from the hobgoblin camp together could easily persuade to have the rings retrieved should anything happen to her - Lord Bost knows their faces and could trust them.
She doesn't announce this information carelessly loud enough for others than her allies to hear.

---

Ash finds herself carrying the sudden craving for practicing her lancing on horseback. It's been some time since she's done that and wonders if she's perhaps gotten strong enough to keep it steady earlier than the last second before the hit.

[Roland St. Jude]

Brandon spies a number of new, presumably out of town, merchants occupying tents in the market square. Many offer supplies likely to be of use to adventurers: weapons, armors, gear, and foodstuffs. There area also some booths of trade goods, like cloth, jewelry, and bulk grains. Nothing looks terribly exotic and nothing like Summers' menagerie, though.

---
Alanna, as a full priestess, has access to the scrolls of the temple. They include historical tales about the Traladaran's three great Heroes, Halav, Petra, and Zirchev, as well as traditional Thytian Immortals Asteris, Vanya, and Tarastia. Far from being a history in the scholarly sense, these scrolls offer brief vignettes of the Immortals' lives or the lives of those touched by the Immortals. Some offer more obvious lessons than others. A second type of scrolls involves some local history as scribed by scrolls through the years. Finally, a fair amount of miscellany exists.

Her recent successes, sudden wealth, and intriguing companions makes her fellow clerics eager to assist her. They fetch what she wants and help her with words, and they are happy to speculate or debate with her, but without direction, they are of limited help. One rather boldly inquires after a time, "what exactly are we looking for?"

---
The moneychanger is willing to exchange Ash's Grand Royals for Royals, but for a 3% fee. "The platinum will spend okay, you know, though some make take you for a visiting noble or a Ducal employee."

[MeanMrsMustard]

For a while, Alanna contents herself with the broader mythologies. She's embarrassed by the inquiry, though, when she realizes she doesn't know what she's doing.
"I… I'm not sure. I'll talk with my leader and ask her what we need to know. Tomorrow I'll come back with an idea of what I need."
She promises a double reward for those who devoted twice the time to helping.

[Koren n'Rhys]

The excitement surrounding the impending arrival of the caravan affects Mycah as well and he eagerly scans the new tents and vendors for anything that looks exotic or new. He sees little of interest yet, but knows that there will be much more in store and his money is all but burning a hole in his pocket. For now though, he holds off, waiting to see what else materializes as more foreign merchants arrive and set up shop. He's especially interested in some sort of armor that will give him more protection than the plain leather he currently uses, but won't limit his mobility and hinder his activities.

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Mycah is pretty well set on weapons and such, but I'd like to get him better armored. Thieves being limited to leather, perhaps something custom? Elven-style chain or similar? What options might I have, Roland?

[Nevaera]

ASH

Ash changes her mind about exhanging the money in for gold. Instead (after her visit to the moneychanger), when she took the rings to Bost's for safe keeping, she'd swap out three hundred Grand Royals for fifteen hundred of her Royals.

She'll meet with Mycah and Brandon as they shop around before heading back to The Nut.

There she'll give Brandon 100 Grand Royals (platinum) and 100 Royals (gold). For everyone else, she's given the previously stated six hundred Royals (gold). She'd prefer to make this exchange in an inn room to avoid prying eyes.

[MeanMrsMustard]

Alanna enthuses to the group at their meeting about the vast collection of knowledge at the temple.
"They have scrolls on absolutely everything! I wasn't sure what to research today, so I didn't get much done, but if anyone has questions, I'm going back to the temple tomorrow. Just make sure I know what to look up before I leave tonight."
She looks expectantly at Ash and Neela, assuming those two would be the most curious, as well as being the best to deal with information.

[Roland St. Jude]

The gold can be distributed privately and the rings stored away safely. Bost's Keep seems busier than usual, with many guests from around the region taking advantage of their friendship with Lord Bost to gain free lodging for the upcoming caravan.

---
Mycah spies a couple tents offering leather armors, mostly similar to the local versions. Perhaps the caravan will have more exotic lightweight armors he might be able to wear effectively.

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Other types of hides exist and things light elven chain also exist. And, of course, magically enhanced leather or elven chain armors.

[Matthew]

Nathros investigates the possibility of getting full plate armour; he expects it will take some time and skill to manufacture for his frame.

[Nevaera]

ASH

Ash smiles a little at Alanna's enthusiasm, but her expression soon turns to focused and concerned, "I don't imagine you'll find out much about the immortal spiders, but be my guest to research them further.
"If the festivities go off without a hitch and no one wishes to seek our aid in any matter, then we may as well see if there's anything that needs to be done about the spider tomb.
"We'll need horses and a larger group for that though. We'll also need more than one powerful magic user and faith caster to deal with what we might find, I'd imagine.
"It is my hope that no one disturbs the tomb and there will be nothing we need to deal with."

[Frivolous]

Brandon spies a number of new, presumably out of town, merchants occupying tents in the market square. Many offer supplies likely to be of use to adventurers: weapons, armors, gear, and foodstuffs. There area also some booths of trade goods, like cloth, jewelry, and bulk grains. Nothing looks terribly exotic and nothing like Summers' menagerie, though.

Brandon Bor


After browsing through the wares on display and thinking deeply, Bran decides that, for now, he is not interested in buying any material objects.

He does express an interest in information and news from abroad, particularly about evils and crime.

"I'm Brandon Bor, a local hero. I'm willing to pay for reliable news from reputable sources, particularly about evil."

"For example, do you know anything about the Fangs? The necromancer Ederick? This guy named Bargle?"

He stresses the words 'reliable' and 'reputable' while stroking the hilt of his sword and showing a lot of teeth when he smiles, to hint that he has no time for foolishness or attempts to trick him into paying for false gossip.

Actions

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Level 4 Fighter
Hit Points: 16/16
AC: -1

Ability check: (1d20)[1] to convince people to deal fairly with him or not at all.

Ability check: (1d20)[1] to detect if anyone is trying to trick him.

[Roland St. Jude]

Nathros finds the local armorer quite willing to craft a suit of armor for him. "Got a little work patching up things fer some of the recent arrivals, but not a lot of new work. I ken probably finish it up for you in a week; you'll have to come back into have it fitted, but I can get yer measurements now."

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Suit Armor is AC 0, Enc 750 cn, 325 gp, and carries some benefits and restrictions as noted in the RC (noisy, difficult to mount/dismount/get up from prone, but also blocks some area effects).

---

Brandon garners a variety of news and information, and he senses that few of his sources embellish and none seem to be telling tall tales.

One of the travelers from the south reports that the Fangs were a problem in Rifflian back in the fall, but a large numbers of elves came out of the woodwork to put them down. Another needs to be told about the Fangs, but upon description of the amulets and snake motif, she mentions that snake cultists have been harassing travelers along the Duke's Road north of Specularum. Troops have been traveling the road in greater numbers to deter them and the Order of the Griffon has dispatched a mission to hunt down the cult.

Several travelers have heard of Bargle. "Barge the Infamous? The Mage-friend of Baron von Hendriks of the Black Eagle Barony? Von Hendricks is the cousin of the Duke and he controls a barony at the far western edge of Karameikos and Bargle is his partner in oppression. But while the Baron mostly terrorizes his own people and close neighbors, it is rumored that Bargle travels Karameikos sowing chaos and evil. Even in Specularum, he is a subject of fearful rumors. All the Duke's outposts watch for him."

Of Ederick, they know nothing. Other evils vary from tales of bandits on most of the major trails, river pirates downriver, and giants and birds the size of houses harrying travelers of the few well-trod mountain passes to the north. Also, a trader from Kelvin who has purchased some goods from the Gnomish Caravan and rode ahead to sell them in Threshold reports that the Caravan saw a great dragon near the Duke's Road Keep on the Darokin Border. "They passed a valley that seemed to be alive with trolls and evil giants, too."

[Nevaera]

ASH

Ash buys a lance and arranges for a target to be set up in the fields for her to charge at. She intends to practice shooting her bow and throwing her spear from horseback as well. After an hour of practice and some browsing at the shops, she'll head back to The Nut for supper.
If she bumps into Brandon, Nathros, or Mycah, she'll invite them to train in mounted combat with her if they're interested. If Brandon speaks to her about the information he's been gathering, she will show interest and he'll see she's impressed.