What seemed like a lifetime ago, Aldara recalled others using fake tears and emotions to manipulate others.  To her, it was akin to poisoning a knife before a fight.  Just as she opened her mouth to reprimand Sarah, the mage looked to her.  Even she could tell that the Thief's tears were real.  She very gently put a hand on her back.  As Valthur speaks, she watches him closely...and gives an approving half-smile when he finishes his piece.

Following the Thief's lead, Aldara begins to rifle through her bags.  A ragged-looking spell book.  A ring - and a wink at the Dwarf.  A pouch of spell components - a nod at Eoni.

Having gleaned whatever she intended to glean from the others' reactions, Sarah stretches her hand over the pile again.  This time, she deposits four pieces of quartz: one white and three blue.

"Do you think anything here is magical?" Eoni asked of Aldara.  "I don't think that acorns normally glow like this." She tentatively prodded one of the glowing nuts in the carved wooden bowl.

"Perhaps these were from the great tree?" she proposed tentatively.  If they were she would be very interested in planting some of them in the forest to renew it's lineage.  In it's day, that tree must have been magnificent!

She was satisfied with the proposed division of what they'd found though still sore at the two armsmen who seemed only to merit the martial value of a person's contribution.  She would have thought the dwarf's dance on the edge of death would have gained her some small favor.

Each of them contributed what they could.  Even if sometimes unseen as it appeared by Sarah's most recent revelations.  Eoni was glad that the girl hadn't been swayed by the example of the more selfish members of their group.

Avandra bless her.

After Eoni mentions the possibility of items being imbued with magic, and while the cleric pokes at the acorns, Sarah watches.  Slowly -- more slowly than before, even -- her hands escape from under her cloak.

This time, she has a pair of silver bracers.  Carefully, as if fearing to break them, she lays them on the table.

Then, as before her hands retreat to the tor hiding place.  Sarah's posture diminishes, as she scrunches over as if trying to retreat her entire body under her cloak.

And stil, the fidgeting continues.

 Marklin’s jaw dropped as Sarah kept producing yet more items from her garments. “ Gods, woman, what are ye going to bring forth, next?”

"Be careful what you ask," Valthur chuckles. "The next thing may be something from your own coin purse."

He nods to the girl. "I mean no offense, missy. I am, in fact, more than impressed with your quickness."


OOC: At the end of the Witchwood adventure, Valthur offered his healing potion to Marklin. Not sure if that potion was taken or consumed. If he didn't take it, Valthur will dig it out and add it to the stash.

At some point following the discussions at the Green Apple, the party elects to pay a visit to the House of Sertieren the Wise to inquire about the magic components they have acquired.

The wizard's resides in an old noble manor-house with a handsome view from the bluffs overlooking the river. The house appears to be in poor repair, several tiles missing and the hedges overgrown and unruly, causing some locals to believe it is haunted by ghosts or worse. There's no telling with wizards.

Approaching through the creaky iron gate, which is unlocked and hanging slightly ajar, the party arrives at Sertieren's threshold and raps the dragon-headed knocker. Some time passes and the party hears shuffling beyond the threshold. Eventually the door opens and the party is suspiciously greeted by a man of advanced years who wears spectacles and has a disheveled mop of gray-white hair. With his free hand, the robed man is clutching a leather-bound tome and a few rolls of parchment in his ink-stained hand, the other holds the door slightly open.

"Callers? Callers indeed. Yes. I am well, thank you kindly," he offers without explanation. He peers at those assembled suspiciously. "I see, very much indeed...What is the nature of your tarriance?"
This message was last edited by the player at 08:45, Sun 22 Jan 2017.

Eoni stepped forward with the queerest feeling that she needed to act before Sarah accosted the man to purchase parcels of cookies secreted from beneath her cloak.

"May Avandra bless you," Eoni intoned formally with a slight bow.  "We have some items that we believe are magic and hope that you might be able to tell us more about them.

"In exchange, we have gold or perhaps you have some task we may assist you with."

She resisted the urge to look around the unkempt exterior of the house and shuddered to think of the squalor if it were a mirror to the home's interior.  Cleaning was not the task that Eoni had envisioned when Marklin first proposed they barter their services with the wizard.

Sarah is -- or at least tries to be -- the last to enter.  She stays within one step of a party member at all times, is careful to not touch anything, and she shifts her gaze constantly.

The old man's interest piques slightly upon hearing Eoni mention magic items. "Greetings and well met to you all. I am Sertiernen and may be of some assistance in this regard," he says by way of polite introduction.

Sertiernan invites the adventurers into the plaster and wood-paneled parlor of his home, and much to Eoni's surprise, the interior is quite orderly if not a bit cluttered with piles of neatly stacked books resting on available surfaces, as though thoughtlessly left behind for perusal later. The parlor furnishings are old but well mended and do not form any specific theme, rather being a collection of different motifs and styles thrown together in an eclectic clash. A long hallway leads off the parlor, deeper into the manor, two closed doors at either side, and a wrapping staircase leading up to either wing.

Sertiernen motions for the party to take a seat in the parlor and asks the adventurers to lay out their wares on a central table, with two unmatching lanterns placed at opposite ends.

When the party lays out the items, Sertiernen examines each briefly and comments. "Yes, quite within my abilities, but all will require some time to thoroughly research." 

The old sage says he charges 100 g.p. per item, if the party is agreeable. When pressed about the possibility of doing errands for him in exchange for a discounted rate, he says he could be persuaded to waive certain fees should the party have any rare tomes they are willing to part with. Not necessarily magic tomes, as he is more interested in lore. "A rare gift, words passed down through the ages. Words of distant times, places, peoples, struggles, victories, love and loss..." he adds wistfully.

 Marklin followed the others into the wizard’s dwelling, he looked around him as he went. Once ushered to take a seat, the Warrior sat with his back towards those doors and entrance. He always looked for the tactical advantage in a situation, even if it might not help with magic.

 The groups items where laid out for the Hedge wizards edification, and said wizard bespoke of fees, potential fees to be waived in exchange.etc. Marklin lost interest quickly in that topic, and blurted out the following. “ Be there anything of interest around here to explore, Sir? We seek to add to our purses and if we find anything interesting, we can bring it to ye. But we need a place or places to find em , first.”

Sertieren strokes his chin thoughfully while glancing over each party member briefly. He then gazes out across the river. "Interesting. Anything of interest. Why yes, now that you mention it, but interesting things do not yield themselves so easily. No, nothing of interest is ever devoid of certain peril."

He runs his hand over the wood-grain on the table and begins to relay a tale about The Insatiable Savant of the Nimon Hills. Apparently a deathless sage dwells somewhere south of Terrelton, in a dungeon beneath the roll of hills rising just south of the Dawn Way. Nobody knows it true name, for it zealously keeps its secret, but the Insatiable Savant is said to possess a vast library within its dungeon. There it has pored over tomes for countless years, since long before the rise and fall of Rhestilor. Some have gone to the Savant seeking knowledge, but few have returned. Those who have returned refusing to talk of what may have transpired beneath those hills.

Sertieren produces a roll of parchment from a nearby shelf. Unrolling it on the table, the party sees a charcoal rubbing of strange runes. "These runes are found on several of The Old Ones, just outside of town. I have long desired to learn their meaning, but my studies have thus far proved unfruitful..."

Sertieren says he is willing to hire the party to seek out an audience with the Insatiable Savant, to learn what the runes say. To secure the Savant's cooperation, Sertieren will give the party a personally scribed tome detailing the history of Rhestilor. "The Savant is not likely to know these details, as it has been cloistered in its dungeon since long before Rhestilor was even conceived."

If the party is agreeable and can glean the meaning of the runes, Sertieren offers to identify all of the party's magic items at nothing more than cost of the material components necessary for scrying spells, etc. This agreement will be valid through the life of the sage and the adventurers.

He seems quite eager for the party to accept, but makes no assurances for their safety should they agree.

OOC: Material costs are generally about 50 gp to identify a magic item.
This message was last edited by the player at 23:21, Sun 22 Jan 2017.

Eoni looks over the staff, ring, and bracers lying on the table.  They could prove useful if the group chose to accept the old wizard's task.  She didn't know what the acorns might do but they seemed less useful as she still hoped they were seeds from the great tree.

"Your proposal sounds agreeable," Eoni replied, looking at the others for approval, "but these items here may prove useful in retrieving what you seek."  She indicated the contents of the table with a nod.

"Perhaps we could pay full price to have them identified now and be reimbursed the difference upon our return?"

The choice seemed to be having magical items that might prove useful or immediate gold for more mundane items.

Sertieren readily agrees with the proposal and asks the adventurers to leave the items with him so he can begin studying the items.

OOC: It will take one day per item to complete the identification. Which items will you have him identify?

 As soon as Marklin heard the Wizard agree, and say to leave the items for a day, he was heading for the door. “ If anyone needs me, I’ll be drinking and dicing at the Brewery.”

"The staff first?" Eoni proposed looking to the others for confirmation.  "Then someone else can chose another for tomorrow." She began to collect up the other items from the table.

"We'll be back tomorrow," she continued as she cleared the table and started stacking pieces of gold ten high on the table in ten rows.  This really was a lot of gold.  She hoped they had found some valuable items.

They still had yet to revisit the alchemist with their potions, but she did not begrudge Marklin his time alone.  Or perhaps not alone.

Location: The Shrine of Pelor

While the party is attending to various downtime activities, Aldara and perhaps others, pay a visit to the Shrine of Pelor to inquire about Yhus' relations. A small temple at the eastern end of Drellin's Ferry is built of the same fieldstone-and-wood construction used by many of the other buildings in the town. The shrine is in the care of Brother Derny, a stout old man who can at times be pompous, preachy and long-winded. Despite his flaws, he seems to be a good and charitable individual who goes out of his way to aid less fortunate folk.

When informed about Yhus' fate he is visibly saddened and responds, "A light vanished. I am very sorry to hear this, but take comfort in the knowledge he gave his life trying to do good works." He then relates he had known Yhus, the acolyte having recently arrived from Terrelton after his family farm had been burned out by marauding goblins. He says Yhus claimed his father, mother and a few of his siblings had taken work at the tanneries. "Yhus had gone off adventuring hoping to improve his family's lot."
This message was last edited by the player at 07:50, Mon 23 Jan 2017.

Location: Gausler's Brewhouse and Gambling Hall

At some point during downtime activities, Marklin and perhaps others pay a visit to Gausler's Brewhouse. The tavern occupies the old barracks where a small garrison of Rhestilorian soldiers formerly guarded the bridge; the brewhouse is course a brewery and defacto gambling hall in Drellin's Ferry. The proprietor, a burly half-orc named Gausler attracts a rough crowd and is quick to deal with troublemakers. Certainly, minor scraps occur now and again, but Gausler is quick to move such frays into a fighting pit on the banks of the river.

The ales here are quite good and there is no shortage of action for those so looking. One could certainly spend, and perhaps earn, coin at a place like this.

"Just don't break my stuff while you're having a good time--I worked hard to get what I got and I am to keep it!" the burly half-orc says.

OOC: Anyone wishing to gamble and carouse here may make a d100 roll and post results here to determine if anything unusual happens :)
This message was last edited by the player at 07:51, Mon 23 Jan 2017.

Sarah does not gamble.  She keeps to herself.  If/when she's in the inn or gambling hall, she sits and watches others.  But she's often absent, her whereabouts and intentions not announced by her.

[Private to DM Pawn: (OOC: I'd be interested in engaging in some petty larceny.)]

12:44, Today: Marklin rolled 78 using 1d100 with rolls of 78.  Roll for the Brewhouse.

"Thank you, brother," Eoni replied to Brother Derny.  "How far are the tanneries from here?  We would like to let them know what happened to their son."

Eoni thought about dropping a few coins at the shrine but it sounded as though Yhus' family was in greater need than Pelor.

With the loot divided and rooms secured for the night, Valthur joins Marklin at the brewhouse. The dwarf has waited a long time for the opportunity to put his feet up and enjoy a pint of ale and he enjoys every moment of it.

Although the cast of characters here includes many for whom nefarious would be a complement, Valthur feels much more comfortable than he did at any point during their adventure into the Witchwood. "Marklin my good man," he sighs while raising his mug. "Here's to surviving that last adventure. The foul odor of this fine establishment is like a bouquet of flowers compared to that awful tree."


Then his shoulders fall slightly. "And here is to Yhus. Rest in peace, laddie."


3:17, Today: Valthur Ironhelm rolled 36 using 1d100 with rolls of 36.  brewhouse antics.

Brother Ferny says the Terrelton tanneries are a good day's walk east along the Dawn Way, for a lightly encumbered person. "Perhaps a bit longer if you're carrying some weight along the way." Still, he reckons even an armorer warrior could make the journey in two days time.

He claims the roads are relatively safe between most of Drellin's Ferry and Terrelton, except for a short stretch of road adjacent to the Nimon Hills, where a gang of bandits known as The Jackals are believed to operate.

"Speaking of which, that reminds me. I should introduce you to a traveling Cleric of Ioun whom has just arrived in town: Charlotte. She came through that way and might have more information to share..."

Brother Ferny directs one of his acolytes to send for Charlotte, whom is presently staying at The Green Apple. In short order, the acolyte returns with a woman in tow...

OOC: This would be a good time to introduce Charlotte to the group. We are just about down with downtime activity and ready to embark on our next adventure so time to bring her into the fold.

"Evening"  Charlotte greeted--only to be caught up in a yawn after having the poor sense to open her mouth when she was getting bedded down for the night.  She was a fair ways taller than the average woman--if not necessarily holding the obvious conditioning of one who had trained to fight from birth--but a few weeks on the road had done wonders towards shoring up an otherwise poor constitution.

"Something about the roads your acolyte mentioned?  Yeah, the trip between here and Terrelton's got some rather more aggressive-than-average bandits on the way--tried to waylay the caravan I was riding on. The good news at least is that they didn't want to risk divine wrath by stabbing at a priest--but they still took a good chunk of my change--and a fair tax off the rest of the caravan too.  Nobody died at least, which was a good sign, but I'm not sure if that's just them being in a good mood or me being good at talking fast."

She blinked at that.  "Someone planning to do something about them?  It'd be nice if the roads could be cleared for the future."

Eleven gold left Aldara's pouch, and found their way into the hands of the Pelorites.  "It feels right, to give you this.  It won't do anything to fix your brother's loss," she said to whatever priest received the coins, "But... I don't know, buy food or blankets for the beggars with it." Well, at least she was good at masking her discomfort.

Her lips curl at the mention of bandit activity.  She looks to her present companions, as if to say "Well?  What are we waiting for?".