In reply to Ero Sulaanin (msg # 254):

"Sounds good, though it may get costly, the regents and inks to inscribe them all. But it is something I would be interested in."
Cunaar awaits the reveal of what items they had found in the wizards room. In particular he wanted to see if they had found the spellbook.

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Spoiler text: (Highlight or hover over the text to view)
Casters Notes:
 Cantrips: Firebolt, Light, Minor Illusion
 First Level: Comprehend Lang., Detect Magic, Identify, Mage Armor, Magic Missile, Shield, Sleep

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In reply to Cunaar Clothar (msg # 259):

Amiri smirks.

" being a pact mage I get my spells different."

"I can cast an Identify spell on something the group would like identified. Perhaps the Glasstaff?" Kyler volunteers, eying Glasstaff curiously. "Probably won't be able to use it though," he says to himself in a disappointed voice.

In reply to Kyler Woodster (msg # 261):

" Please do. "

Kayle took a moment to retrieve his arms and equipment, then suggested to the group "Would it not be better if we did this somewhere a little more secure?"

"True, but there's no urgency to replicate every one.  Some may not even bespoke our expertise.  We should methodize our selections to best minister to our necessities."

"But that is something for a later time.  The human has an apt suggestion.  If we have amassed all this den of villainy has to offer, we should decamp for the village."

 

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Spoiler text: (Highlight or hover over the text to view)
0:  Firebolt, Light, Mage Hand, Prestidigitation
 1:  Burning Hands, Comprehend Languages, Detect Magic, Fog
     Cloud, Grease, Identify, Mage Armor, Shield, Sleep
 2:  Flaming Sphere, Web

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The pouches that Kyler produces contain 12 precious stones in one, 36 gold pieces in the second and the answer to Cunaar's question in the third--runesticks. The runesticks are the wizard's spellbook... or the equivalent, since they aren't exactly a book.


All the bodies have now been hauled outside and dumped or buried.


So casting Identify on the staff, wand and sword is going to wait until everyone is in a more 'secure' location.

Lureene, for her part, examines the note while the others divvy up the spoils. "Your arrival was noted, it seems. Is this Iarno Albrek, who seems to be a lord, familiar to anyone? It would be odd that a brigand would be a lord, if this addresses a Redbrand. And this talk of Dwarven maps." She shrugs. "And who would sign with a spider? Someone with an overdeveloped sense of drama, surely, but who?"

In reply to Lureene Raventree (msg # 266):

Amiri shrugs.

"Or Drow."

"It does seem to be a mystery," Kyler says rubbing his chin. "I was wondering if this 'Iarno Albrek' was the wizard we captured though perhaps someone the wizard worked for. It would be good if we could get more information..."

"Didn't someone use a Charm Person spell a little while ago to get some really useful information from one of the Redbrands? It might be useful to Charm our wizard friend and get him to answer some questions. I think it would not be too dangerous if we kept him tied up and locked in a cell when we did that. It would be nice to get some answers."

"Or we could always try to find the dwarves mentioned? This journal by Urmon might be of interest to them as well as the letter."

In reply to Kyler Woodster (msg # 268):

" That was Serena our Bard.

Runesticks, this was quite different.
"May I see those runesticks?"
With them in hand Cunaar loses focus on what to do with prisoners and the like. Instead trying to decipher what they hold. While this was grand, any copying would involve special inks to transcribe which could be costly.

Ero tenses at the mention of Drow.  "That would be the excessive flamboyance one would envisage from our nefarious kin.  Let us importune that is not its origin."

While the others gather together the spoils, Ero walks around the room.  "What say you all to the conception of acquiring this dungeon as our sanctuary?  Much as I abhor the hypothesis of subsisting underground for any extended length of time, we could append upwards into the ruins.  Properly shaped, a forest grove rising from the bones of some bygone habitation could be quite exquisite.  The power of nature over artifice, as it were."

"It would take some effort, but it has prospect."

"I've heard of someone... or possibly something... in these parts that was going by the name Black Spider," the Ranger comments. "I'd wager that's who this missive is from. As to whether the Black Spider is a Drow or not, that I can't say."

"Tales of the mine have been told for a long time. It just seems strange to me that someone wouldn't have found it before now, if it's even real and in the area."

"With your suggested modifications, Ero, I'd not be adverse to using the crypts and ruins as a base of operations. This area is my home anyway, so I don't any immediate plans for moving on."

"Forest, wilderness, caves... it's all the same to me."

"That is interesting," the bard comments. "We encountered a Drow at the old castle ruins. I don't think she was the enemy, but Amiri had some sort of grudge against her."

"However, if I remember correctly, the bugbear that was lording it over the goblins, was trying to deal with the Drow we met, but she wasn't the Drow he thought she was. That would mean that there is at least one other operating in this area."

"Once back in town, and Sildar had recovered some... we rescued him from the goblins... he started asking around for this Iarno. I doubt if there are two such people in Phandelver. As near as I could gather, Iarno was a member of the Lord's Alliance. Apparently he went missing about 2 months ago after setting out to explore Tressendar Manor and its environs."

"I think Sildar was going to ask us to find him."

Ero replies as he paces off the perimeter of the room.  "If she wasn't immediately devising a plan to slide a blade between our scapulae, it was because she deduced we had some utility toward whatever treachery she was contemplating.  She would have betrayed us as soon as we served her purpose though.  It's simply their nature."

In reply to Ero Sulaanin (msg # 274):

Amiri laughs.

Grudge. Against a filthy rotten Dhaerow. A demon worshipping gutter trash? Has the all the worlds gone insane not to remember what the Dhaerow are?

Maldor nervously shifted his stance at the words of Amiri. He had no idea what she was talking about. Then again, he didn't remember a lot of things. Having been found near death in the Tower District of Neverwinter, Mal was glad to be alive. But it would be convenient to be aware of certain things.

The half-orc continued to listen, hoping to pick up on some information.

In reply to Amiri Flamestorm (msg # 275):

"It is true, all but a few sects of drow are of the most vile sort. Evils most could not fathom. "
Cunaar could understand her loathing of the drow, being akin to the surface elves yet twisted.

As for bases of operations,
"Milcom, why do you not like the thought of using this as a base? Aside from the Redbrands knowing of its location, the town is known to them and this place keeps the battle away from innocents."
With a 360 look around he adds with a smile,
"A few flowers and it might be quite homey."

Artem sits and munches on an apple as he listens to the discussion. Being a man of action, he soon grows visibly weary of it and simply says, "I have never thought of living in a place like this, but if it makes sense for a short while, then I'm game."

Kayle wondered what his family would make of him living in a cave. It had been several generations since any of them had lived anywhere wilder than Waterdeep's North Ward. "I'd prefer if we fully explored this place before making any decisions about settling here."

"One bad apple don't spoil the whole barrel," Mithra comments. "But just as one apple can go bad, it is also possible for a single Drow to be something else."

"We aren't all bad like these Redbrands, Amiri. These guys were bad apples. You shouldn't judge all Drow the same; there might be a decent Drow in the barrel."

"As for these ruins... well, as I understand it, the section off to the right was the crypts and basement. I have a hard time believing these Redbrands... or the bugbears... excavated all this out. Too much stonework, even if there'd been a Dwarf in the bunch."

"I suspect they'd found some of this had already been started. They made it a dungeon. If we make it our base, we can change it around to suit our needs and tastes. Doesn't seem like we can put in a window, but maybe some deck prisms in the ceiling can bring some light in."

"Some carpets and lamps will help, too."

"It only remains to decide if we want a secret entrance or a grand entrance. Remember, the secret entrance didn't work out so well for the Redbrands. I'd vote for a grand entrance... and a secondary secret way out. Just in case."

In reply to Mithra Stormraven (msg # 280):

Amiri shakes her head.

"They are Dhaerow or God Forsaken for a reason. It was not my decision.

"More perspicacious contentions have rarely been expressed," Ero says.

Maldor furrowed his brow.

"Why elf with big words talk about rain?" he pondered, barely loud enough for even him to here.

The half-orc looked around. He was getting eager to return to action.