Forge of Fury IC

[RolandDeschain]

Tarak

The hobgoblin smiles a Feagon, "A few pints sound mighty good right about now."

As the dwarf checks over the offered items, Tarak addresses him casually, "Have you ever heard of something called....Durgeddin's Forge?"

[Kish]

"Hrm."

Spoiler

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The blacksmith offers 50% of the purchase price of new weapons and armor for each of them, as usual for equipment.

"Durgeddin's Forge? Yeah, Durgeddin was a smith who lived maybe five hundred years back. Supposed to have been pretty talented. But after orcs killed his family, he lost it. Set up a base and tried to kill every orc he could--noncombatants, children even, all of them. After he'd been doing this for a few months a tribe, or whatever they call them, of orcs found out where his base was and slaughtered him and his followers, and that was the end of it." He shrugs. "There are the usual rumors about treasure beyond imagining there. Me, I can't think why the orcs would have left anything worth looting."

[RolandDeschain]

Tarak

"Thank you master dwarf, that's an interesting...tale of Durgeddin. I think there's an important lesson in there as well."

Looking at his companions for a moment, "Unless either of my friends would like to make a purchase, I believe our business is conclude. Fare the well, you've been honest and fair with us every time we've visited, and for that we're thankful."

Outside the blacksmith's shop, the hobgoblin pauses momentarily as if he's just had an idea, " I wonder...."

Reaching into his backpack he pulls out the unidentified flasks and sets them out next to the one the group actually knows. "This is two doses of 'antidote' for the twigblight poison we got from Durnn's possessions. I wonder if any of the others are the same thing." He unstoppers the flask of antidote, sniffs it, then compares it to the others. Motioning Suga over to use his acute sense of smell as well as Feagon to help, Tarak tries to identify the alchemical items by simple comparison.

Spoiler: Suga might be better....

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....at this type of identification.
Aside from the potions, we also have some simply alchemical items. Compare the following to the Antidote(Durnn's Treasure)

1) Flask of 'musky' liquid from the Kobold Sorcerer
2) Flask from Belak The Outcast
3) Suga's flask from the Bugbear "Gardener"

Once the group has completed their experiment with the flask, he pulls out the wand they recovered from 'The Outcast'. "You two up for a little experimentation?" Moving around behind the building he points the wand into an unoccupied area of the village, "I'll give it a try first Feagon, but if the druid used this, it probably contains....divine energy. You may have to give it a shot." He then waves the wand around with a flourish and speaks some simple arcane phrases in draconic.

Spoiler: Roll in the OC

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I just edited this little experiment into my post, so I'll have to roll to "Activate Blindly" in the OC....Spellcraft I think.

[Kish]

Nothing happens.

[razorback]

Feagon smiles as he continues to walk. "I think you are to long without some drink, my friend.
Let us cure you of what ails you, then." he says as he slaps Tarak on the back.
"Then we can decide what to do next. Perhaps we can go treasure hunting together? To be honest, the treasure part has less of an appeal the delving into some long forgotten area, rooting out a bit of history like some hero out of a story, does have its appeal. Perhaps, someday, someone will write stories of us, eh?
A motley trio we would make, huh?" he says with a laugh as he guides his friends towards the inn.

[Cavir]

Suga has had his experimentation with magic earlier that day and decides against pushing his luck on things he doesn't know. While Tarak goes to experiment with the wand Suga takes the flasks a distance away and starts comparing their scents to see which ones match.

Spoiler: OOC

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Using Hunters Scent on the potions as mentioned above.

[Kish]

Spoiler: Suga

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The unidentified flask from Belak smells the same as the antitoxin you took from Durnn's throne room; other than that, all the bottles smell different, and none like something you'd drink for the taste.

[Cavir]

Once Tarak is done with his experimentation, Suga hangs on to one of the antitoxins and gives the rest back to the hobgoblin to keep track of, pointing out his findings. "Time to deliver the ring?"

Spoiler: OOC

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You can keep trying to UMD a wand until you succeed or roll a 1. If it's divine don't forget the UMD roll for a Wisdom score, so pairs of rolls I guess.

[RolandDeschain]

Tarak

Passing the wand off to Feagon for a try. The hobgoblin accepts the flasks back, "So it looks as if we have two batches of antidote for those twig-thingy's poison. Perhaps we can find some sort of alchemist in Knurl to identify the others. What do you think we should do with these antidotes? We've encountered a couple of those things up here on the surface. The locals might have more need of them than we do."


"Feagon see if you can activate that wand. It's almost certainly not something I can use, but you might have better luck. Then we can go drop off this ring."

Spoiler: OC

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Assuming the flask is the same size as the other? That would be four doses of 'twiggy poison' antidote.

[razorback]

The elf looks a bit skeptical as he takes the wand. "To be honest, I've only ever used one,
and that was one from my order... well, we all need to take risks, right?" he says as he turns the wand away from his companions, away from anyone or any thing, as he wasn't quite sure what to expect.

Spoiler

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Use Magic Device
(1d20-1)[18]

[Kish]

Nothing happens.

[RolandDeschain]

Tarak

"Well, I suppose it was worth a try. Feagon, why don't you hold onto that wand until we figure out what it does."

Spoiler: Of course....

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...it wasn't worth a try, but my character had/has no idea that the DCs were mathematically impossible

"Let us off to Matron Hucrele."

[Cavir]

"Ok. You still have the ring right?" Suga heads to Matron Hucrele's with the others. "The map show how to get to Durgeddin's Forge? Where is it?"

[razorback]

After uncovering his eyes with his arm, he peers at the wand, first with a look of apprehension that evolves into disappointment, he nods to Tarak as he stows the wand in his pack.
"Well, first things first. Let us update the Matron and then we can go from there. Forge can wait, as it has for sometime from the blacksmith said." as he picks up his pace with the others.

[Kish]

You arrive back at the Hucrele mansion and are ushered inside. "I see my sister isn't with you. Hello," Matron Hucrele greets you, sounding resigned.

Spoiler

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Clarification: The man and associated notes are quite recent, probably less than a year old.

[RolandDeschain]

Tarak

Tarak lowers his gaze and nods solemnly at her words, "Alas, I fear we were not in time, if indeed there ever was time, to save your sister from The Outcast's clutches."

Reaching into his breast pocket the hobgoblin pulls out the Hucrele signet ring, holding it out in his palm as he approaches. "It is likely of no comfort, but we were able to remove Sharwyn's remains from that foul place. We were unable to lift her out of the sunken entry way, so she lies interned there beneath the sun. Feagon spoke the Prayer of Remembrance, asking for Ehlonna to look over the souls both Sharwyn and Sir Bradford."

Stepping back next to the others after turning over the ring, "You've my deepest condolences Matron Hucrele. I must confess that I'm a bit conflicted. I feel that we've done this village a fair service in removing the imminent threat of that vile druid and his dark and twisted experimentation . However, I can't feel other than we've failed you and your family. Would that we could, we'd have brought back your kin to you safe and sound."

Falling silent, Tarak will stand aside and allow the others to speak their peace before collecting their pay and retreating from the Hucrele mansion.

[razorback]

"It is as my friend has said, we did all we could. Fate had decided a different course, as the gods decree. While your loss is felt by all that knew them, there is some comfort in knowing the threat is gone." Feagon says as he bows his head.

[Kish]

She sighs and shakes her head. "I clung to hope, but I confess after your last visit, I didn't expect to see Sharwyn again." She takes the ring and asks, "Who was this outcast?"

[RolandDeschain]

Tarak

"T'was a druid, a human druid. He had taken over the bottom floor of the Citadel, corrupted a goblin clan to his will, and was conducting...experiments. Was cultivating glowing fungus every where, and tendin' to this dark, twisted, undead tree. Thing was pure evil, I say! It was probably the source of them unnatural fruits, or those wicked little poison twig creatures....or both!"

Visibly shaken, the hobgoblin steadies himself for a second, "I saw....I saw, one of his 'experiments' with a dire rate. Poor creature was some sort of plant-animal hybrid...was unnatural and in horrible pain."

Looking the woman in the eye, "We killed him, we did. Cut him down, burned the body, and that wicked tree of his. It's a shame we couldn't get to your kin in time, and for that I'm very, very sorry ma'am."

[Cavir]

Suga nods, confirming Tarak's and Feagon's words. "The Outcast used undead too. At least we saved your kin from that fate."

[Kish]

"I suspect the former mayor would have been disappointed by the lack of a permanent source of magic fruit. I appreciate your efforts," she said in a predictably dispirited voice. "Here's the payment I had promised." She hands you another pouch.

Spoiler

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Like the previous one, it holds 62 platinum and 5 gold.

[razorback]

Feagon bows as he accepts the coins.
"If ever we can be of service, feel free to reach out to us. Again, sorry for your loss." he says as he bows again. Once Suga and Tarak had spoken, Feagon moves to the door, opening it for them and giving the Matron one last glance before exiting and shutting the door quietly, leaving the woman to morn her loss without disturbance.
"Well, boys, I think we did the best we could, all things considered. A heavy blow to the Matron and her family, to be sure, but fate decreed this and it was beyond our power to change, only avenge." he lets out a long sigh as they walk. "I could use a small break, somewhere to put my feet up without having to worry about any strange creatures coming upon us, while we plan our next move. Something to eat would be nice, too. What say you?"

[Cavir]

Suga leaves the manor with the other two. "Yes, cooked food sounds good. We should tell the mayor of what we found too. Off to Knurl next? We should get a map to get there. Maybe we'll get lucky enough for Skitzel to arrive back in town here and we can get paid to escort his caravan to the city."

[RolandDeschain]

Tarak

The hobgoblin walks a short distance away from the Hucrele mansion shaking his head, however at the mention of hot food and perhaps some drinks, his pace quickens and demeanor brightens.

"Who's Skitzel? I do believe we should at least inform the mayor as to what has transpired. Then off to the inn?"

[Cavir]

"Skitzel Wolfswift. A traveling merchant. When I was on the run, I saved his caravan and in return he saved me. I was with his caravan when we got here and he set me up with our Matron back there. He doesn't have a set route. Depends on what goods he gets his hands on."

"Yes, off to the mayor."

Spoiler: OOC

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Split the reward at 208gp each and the extra gp for a great night or two at the tavern? We have plenty of healing needed.

[RolandDeschain]

Tarak

As they move off to seek the Mayor, "Wolfswift you say? Hmmmm, doesn't ring a bell. I know a few merchants in Knurl, but as you say he travels a lot and doesn't have a set route and there be quite a few merchants that come and go to the city."

After a bit of silence, "Would have been...interesting, to speak to the old Mayor. I wonder what sort of arrangement he had with Durnn or The Outcast, but that information likely died with him. The new mayor may know nothing about what was going on."

Spoiler: OC

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I went back and checked my character sheet. Turns out Tarak grew up in Knurl. It's been so long, I had completely forgotten.

Added the 208 gps to my character sheet.

razorback - be sure you add the unidentified wand and the scrolls of Entangle, and Delay Poison to Feagon's sheet because I've taken them off of Tarak's.

CHEERS!

[razorback]

"Alright... sounds like we have a plan or something looking like one." the elf says with a smile. He stops and waves them forward "Sounds like you gents know the way, so lead on." he then gives a mocking half-bow before laughing and following his friends.

[Kish]

You arrive at the mayor's house and, after a brief delay, are shown in to see him again. "Hello...again. I remember you," he says to Suga, doing a bad job of concealing how much revulsion is part of that "remember," "but weren't different people with you before?"

[RolandDeschain]

Tarak

Tarak winces at the mayor's reaction to Suga, being somewhat familiar with the all-too-common behavior. Stepping forward he offers the mayor his hand, "My name's Tarak, and this is our friend Feagon. We joined Suga, here, in his quest to locate the missing villagers and....deal with, the problem lurking in the Citadel. We were just stopping in to inform you that while we were unable to rescue any of the villagers from their doom, we did bring justice to the one that murdered the previous mayor as well as his master. I wouldn't expect any more of the magical fruits because their source was also destroyed. As you've noted, a number of worthy heroes fell in this quest."

[Cavir]

Suga had allowed the other two to be in front of him in the mayor's office. Since he towered over them he was far from hidden. At the mayor's welcome Suga laughed through his large nose in disgust as he sared at the mayor. "Did what none of your folk could do. The village was being prepped to be overrun and they knew nothing about it. Some gave up in fear, others died trying to help the village. Respect would be the honorable thing." The orc let Tarak and Feagon carry on with the conversation.