Haazheel has been spending his time researching spells and working an an alchemist's shop, usefully, for Haazheel has become an efficient alchemist in is own right. He also meets some interesting customers when he works the counter, for instance, a well-muscled woman with a missing breast, a beautiful helf-elf just past her prime, a halfling whose darting movements remind him of a hummingbird, and a helf-orc with fierce eyes who has a hook for a left hand and a peg right leg.

[“If it squirms, it's biology. If it stinks, it's chemistry. If it doesn't work, it's physics. And if you can't understand it, it's mathematics.”
― Magnus Pyke]

He spends some time with Volsh, who is making progress with reading and writing. Still, he's happy to hep with the contract. He reads it aloud slowly, moving two fingers along and underneath the lines of text while Volsh looks at the words.

When the party is ready to move, Haazheel can contribute [with the GM's OK]

Acid, 3
Antitoxin, 4
Burn Salve, 1
Elf Hazel, 1 [heals scars]
Garlic Charm, 2
Gash Glue, 2 [stabilizes wounds]
Healing Salve, 2
Sunrod, 4
Tanglefoot Bag, 4
Tindertwig, 4

He doesn't plan to carry these; they are for companions to use.

Dellas spent his time mostly in his room at the adventurers guild, as he studied his way through his book and the necromancer's book. Once he had a couple pearls he would take to identifying the items that they had gained from the necromancer.

Vish ran about the room, scurrying under things as the small grey gargoyle gave chase. Dellas would look up and laugh from time to time.

Narthian nods approvingly. He contemplates how circumstances seem to align when one's faith in a higher power is strong. "The name fits, I think," he says, giving the horse a vigorous rub. "Better then the mocking name his previous owners bestowed. Lux is strong, wary, and wise. The two of you were made for each other." Narthian grins warmly.

Temple Row



Brother Xeric waved Bruenor farewell as he returned to the Temple of Boccob.  Once an acolyte had returned him to Sister Page's workshop, he found her with her nose in a book, six more piled up next to her, and an array of tools, bottles of various powders and liquids, and an incense burner already lit scattered across the bench.  She looks up when Bruenor enters, and puts on gloves to take the items from him.

"Admirably prompt, Sedricson.  I have a working theory on the necessary magical components, and I am finalizing the needed paeans and prayers.  Once we have the comfrey roots, I will be ready to start creation.  A most exciting time!"

--

Killdagger Stables



The horse formerly known as Ghost shies a little at Farian's booming recitation, but then sidles a little closer at her friendly body language.  Lux Aurea wickers slightly and shakes his head, ears pointing towards Farian in evidence of interest.

Cenna just chuckles.  "Well then, I'd say that's your horse.  I'll round up his gear, and you can get your payment ready."  She'll head to the tack room to get Ghost's saddle and bridle (as he's already wearing a halter), coming back with sturdy, plain gear.  "Coin, gems, or Goldsmith note?"


---

Mages' Guild and Adventurers' Guildhall



"That will do to hold it," the man says.  He takes a moment and sketches out some simple drawings of running wolves, and then soaring eagles over rushing wind.  "So I don't forget.  Once you have payment in full, I'll refine these for the actual designs."  He smiles and shakes Volsh's hand as they conclude getting the contract in order.



It's Sir Aberlayne who has taken point on the smugglers' job, and she answers Volsh.  "Probably can push the date.  The wheels of justice grind slowly, and anyways the coastal ship that the wine cask was to go out on is 'delayed' in port for some emergency repairs.  They'll divert the cargo to a caravan, but they can delay that for long enough for us to get back. The more information they can squeeze out of all the people involved before we go will be all to the better, because we'll be going in prepared."

Yondalla, the goddess Sir Aberlayne serves, is the Goddess of Community, amongst others, and the smugglers have made a fine mess of this one; it's clear Sir Aberlayne feels it is past time for this to be set right.


--



At Salt of the Earth leathers, he finds the half-elf journeyman apprentice, Salwyn, who is happy to answer his questions about their goods.  "Ah, this one is the armor of eyes, made from the hide of a gauth combined with that of a amphisbanea.  'Tis good for the wary and those who need to watch their back.  It heightens your senses and makes you nearly impossible to sneak up on.  Can give you a bit of a paranoid feeling, though, so most only don it when they have need.  Twill be four thousand for that one."


At Extra Edge, you'll learn that the snow cat sword has a basic enchantment for accuracy, and can be had for a reasonable price of 1,320gp.



Out on the beach, he, Mask, and Prreet can trot through the sunlight, enjoying the sparsely-populated coast.  Away from the bustle of the port, most of the homes along here are small fishing steads and the occasional freeholder, and those are few.  You spied a group of young wizards from the local Pultain School of Polymorphing, out on an expedition for something, a few lone fisherfolk, and a wealth of shorebirds and seagulls out looking for food.  He seems a few little coves with small boats in them, and a few boys, perhaps twelve or fourteen, preparing for a sail in a one-matched ketch.

--

Brotherhood of Alchemy



The Brotherhood of Alchemy can rent Haazheel space for his work for a fee of one gold piece a day, and has supplies for his workings at a reasonable market price.  They're happy to have a fellow crafter busily working away, and will cheerfully chat with him about the effects of different ratios of comfery versus aloe in burn salves, or the techniques for applying gold on a sunrod.

--

Adventurers' Guildhall




The jeweled dagger is a curious case - it bears a simple enhancement enchantment, but also will draw blood from the wound and store it in a bulb inside its handle.  Excellent for scrying, alchemical processes, and necromancy.  Or a snack, if one is a vampire.  It is called Vampire's Kiss. 

The clear spindle gem is an ioun stone.  When set near someone's temple, it will orbit their head, and in the case of the particular stone, it will sustain them without foor or water indefinitely.

The winged key is a Quall's Feather Token, of the key variety.  With it one can open any locked door, provided it hasn't been sealed by magic, and can even open up a hole in a wall.  It will only work once, however. 

The potion of false life is precisely what you thought it was, with no impurities or other hidden effects.

The key with the iron skull is not magical, and you're not certain what it opens as of yet.

The dozen onyx gems are worth about 100gp each.

The book could be sold to an interested spellcaster for about 4000gp.

Vish and Kelvren the gargoyle lead each other on a merry chase as Dellas studies, providing moments of needed levity during his studies of the rather dour necromantic text.

In reply to Dungeon Master (msg # 374):

The swordsman nodded, smiling.  He was a bit pleased with himself, though he was trying not to look too satisfied, since he'd learned long ago that being smug was a sure way to tempt fate.
"Happy to oblige, ma'am.  I'm presuming comfrey roots are available here in town, perhaps at an herbalist, or are they something I'll need a field trip for?"

Temple of Boccob



"Likely there's an herbalist in town who can obtain one, though it might take them a little time to locate one the size I need.  Or if you are versed in herb-craft yourself and can find it, that would be quite fine as well," Sister Page says, carefully arraying the shield and cloth on her bench.

In reply to Dungeon Master (msg # 376):

Bruenor nodded with a smile.
"I have many skills, but herb lore isn't one of them. But I'll have that stuff here as soon as I can.  Until next time, Sister."

With a grin and a wave, he'll head to the market district to look for herbalists.

"I have the coin," Farian says, producing a sack. She stacks the gold in sets of 10 for easy counting. She stops once she has 30 stacks in all.

I''m assuming that the gear is included since Cenna offered it without a price tag... Let me know if I need to subtract more. She will by saddle bags, if not included, and a few days of feed.

She saddles Lux, anxious for a quick ride, but checking with Narthian to ensure its on correctly. She heads for open ground, where she can put the horse through its paces. Eventually breaking into a gallop where Lux's pale tail and mane, as well as her own golden locks, can flow in the sun and wind. Coming back into town, she swings by the temple, to see if they have a spare guidon or pennon. It was the one thing that she felt was missing from her charge across the fields.

Narthian checks the bridle and saddle, gives any advice necessary, then takes his leave. He checks in with Dellas to see what he needs to craft a quiver with a bit of extra dimensional space. And if there's time, hunt those things down. But his priority now is to help solve Rue's problem (he has the beginning of a plan) and Volsh's transformation.

Volsh shook the man's hand and then left.

He looked to Ser Aberlayne and any of the others who were around.

"Well... when are we headed out to help old Rue? I guess when Narthian and Farian get back?"

Bruenor can find a good herbalist in Lull's Herbs.  Upon explaining his need for a five-foot-long comfrey root, the middle-aged half-elf woman behind the counter nods slowly.  "That's something we can find, though it may take us a day or two.  Say give us two days, and we can have it for you, or have it delivered where you wish if it's somewhere in town or right outside it.  That will be five gold, delivery included," she explains.  If that is all right with Bruenor, she will write down Sister Page's name at the Temple of Boccob, and have the root delivered there.  That would leave Bruenor free to assist his friends in the removal of grigs and the control of werewolves...

--

Killdagger Stables

The saddle, bridle, and halter do indeed come with Lux's price, and Farian can obtain saddlebags easily from the stables for a decent price.   Cenna is quite pleased to see the horse formerly known as Ghost go to the a good rider.

"Best of luck to both of you!" she says.  "And come back anytime!"

--

Adventurers' Guildhall




"That should be about right.  Tell you what, I'm going to linger in town for a couple of days and get as much information on this smuggling thing as I can while you all deal with the grig infestation.  Then I'll meet you guys in the Ruby Conclave for your ceremony, Volsh.  I'd want you to have all your friends around you for that," Sir Aberlayne says.

In reply to Dungeon Master (msg # 381):

Bruenor paid the gold, happy to have someone else doing the work for a change.  As a swordsman, he wasn't a stranger to hard work, but he hadn't done this kind of menial delivery work since he'd been a young page in the castle.  It made him feel a bit pompous to admit it, but he couldn't help but feel that it was beneath him


Afterward, feeling pleased with himself, he returned to the Guild to check in on the others

Haazheel reports that he has Identified the jeweled dagger. It bears a simple enhancement enchantment, a bit better chance to strike and to do damage. It also will draw blood from a wound and store it in a bulb inside its handle.  That makes it excellent for scrying, alchemical processes, and necromancy. If the bulb is empty, the dagger will do a bit more damage if it connects. Who wants it?

Volsh frowned at the news Haazheel reported. "That sounds dangerous or evil. Maybe Pelor's church will pay us for it to destroy? Or we can sell it on the market to the mages guild perhaps?"

He looked to Dellas and those who'd fought the necromancer. "So we have some 1,200 gp of gems, a book worth a few thousand, a blood-sucking dagger, a feather that will open a door, and a gem that will keep someone without food or water. Before we leave we can take these or sell them. I for one could use the funds towards projects I have commissioned, but am open to other opinions."

OOC: the gems, book, and ioun stone would be 7,200 gp total + whatever the dagger might fetch if we wanted to sell/split them.
This message was last edited by the player at 23:03, Mon 16 Dec 2019.

To sell or keep, the ethic is the same, I guess. So taking it to a Pelorian temple might be best.

"Take what to the temple?" Farian says, catching the end of the conversation as she returns from her ride. Once she gets the facts of the matter, she says coolly, "I lay claim to it. I will pray for the guidance of Pelor and Saint Bane on what should be done with it."

Volsh frowned a bit at Farian. "Why don't we just go ask your temple in town what they want to do with it? Seems like that'd be quicker than waiting for your god to answer himself."

"Are your god's words cryptic when he does speak to you? The shamaness of my tribe always talked of the riddles she was dealt when she asked questions of Vatun." he added with a shrug.

"Come to think of it, the Ruby Conclave dedicated to WeeJas might have an interest in such an item as well. We could also take it to them."
This message was last edited by the player at 00:31, Tue 17 Dec 2019.

Dellas head bobs in an excited motion as Haazheel explains the dagger "It's interesting and I could make some use of it I'm sure. I don't know why anyone would want that floating around your head and never having to eat. Food is AMAZING! You just have to have the right herbs." Dellas exclaims "Have I told you about this special root that grows near home? NO? Oh I will later, it adds a good spice to your food. But is not easy to attain." Dellas holds out the book "We could sell it after we have taken what we find of use from it." motioning to him and Haazheel "Splitting the funds to the others. But there are some interesting notes in here that maybe we should check out first."

Haazheel hands the dagger to Farian, saying It's best if we trust each other.

Bruenor joined the others, but had no objections to the cleric taking the dagger.

Farian nods at Volsh, knowingly, with a side smile of 'similar minds' for Haazheel. "The Wolf Spirit calls to you as Saint Bane calls to me," she says in words that Volsh cannot deny. She continues with conviction. "In time, I will know the right thing to do with this. That I know in my very soul, where the Light of the Shining One burns bright. But until that time, I will keep it from doing any Evil."

Volsh again shrugged at Haazheel and Farian. "I trust Farian, it's not that. I just think her temple is a short walk away. It would be fast to seek the guidance of her elders and maybe they would want to buy the dagger to destroy it. That is all."

He chuckled, "I don't know how to understand the Wolf Spirit often, so I hope that your Bane is more clear to you."

He reached over and held up the clear magic rock, "what of this, should we sell it for funds or keep it? Not needing to eat is very useful in the wilds... you don't have to carry extra food or water, you don't have to stop to gather root or hunt, you can run more free and faster that way."

If we keep it, it may be useful in a bargain or trade.

"Keeping the ioun stone is a given," Narthian chimes in. "And the good thing about it is that you don't have to use it all of the time. We should keep it for future need."
This message was last edited by the GM at 10:03, Thu 19 Dec 2019.

The armor of eyes would be very good to have, particularly given the threat hunting him, but buying it would prevent Dante from buying much of anything else. "It sounds very useful, Salwyn," he tells the half-elven journeyman reluctantly, "but a bit out of my reach right now, given I've a few other defensive needs yet to purchase. Perhaps you'll still have it when I next come back."

One of those defensive needs was an enchanted sword, so he'd prepared should circumstances force him to draw a blade in self-defense again. It won't fully compensate for his terrible swordsmanship skills, but lucky strikes do happen; in such an event, a magicked blade at least had the potential to cause some harm to creatures resistant to normal weaponry. Thus, he does buy the sword with the snow cat on it.

Without the armor, he finds himself returning to Ehlonna's Grove once again, in search of some advice. There are items other than armor that can be enchanted for protection, and different forms of protections available. The Grove-warden had understood the nature of the shadows, so he felt she would know if what he sought needed to come from a priest's crafting, or a mage's. When the Grove-warden, or one of the priestesses becomes available, he laid out his situation for them, then asked, "I'd like to get something that would offer some protection against creatures such as the shadows. I know the Moonbow offers me protection from evil creatures, but I don't know that the shadows are evil, so far as the magic defines it. So perhaps some sort of protection against creatures not natural to this world? Or even just protection against their specific type of attacks. The ones we fought caused damage with cold -- freezing metal armor and flesh. Would an amulet or other device to protect against such things be made by a priest, or should I visit the mage's guild for it?"