The Whores return to town, paying Airk and Garthmond from the electrum they found, and make a quick stop at the Temple to get Gregory healed (again using the electrum).

Then it's back to the Oak and Eagle for some food and drink, tales of the dungeon, and a good night's rest for tomorrow's dungeon run.

The night at the Oak and Eagle is fairly quiet, until Toutates the Priest, who tends the Sacred Grotto, enters with a small entourage of nature worshipers. One of them is from out of town, and keeps asking the druid about the Ruins of Yeffal.

Toutates strokes his rich black beard. "Yeffal had truck with demons, as you all know. Unnatural creatures that need to be sent back to Hell. Also the undead, likewise abominations against nature. Yet he also had servants of a more natural sort. Of course the orcs and goblins, but also great grey worms and some say even a dragon."

Old Harvel, the dwarven jeweler and moneychanger harumphs at that. "The real legends of Yeffal are about the treasures he stole. Using his dark magic, he plundered crown jewels from a score of nations, plus various nobles and knights and rival magicians. The Eye of the Frost Troll was an amber gem with a black impurity the size of a quail's egg. Then there was the Jewel of Vendredi, Edreal's Heirloom Mirror, and Baroness Lysette's Brooch, among many others. Never mind the monsters, it's those treasures he stole that show the real evil of Yeffal."

A group of dragonborn adventurers, armed to the teeth, enters the Oak and Eagle and listens to the tales about the ruins. When the tales end, for now, anyway, one of the dragonborn makes his way across the room to Old Harvel.

"We set out for the ruins tomorrow," he says, trying to hide his nervousness. "Can you tell us about the Keep? Bart thought we should start there and he's our boss...."

Harvel nods and strokes his beard. "Ah, the Keep? That's where Yeffal had his throne room. Also, so it's said, where he practiced his magic experiments. My grandsire was one of the dwarves taken slave by Yeffal and forced to work on the construction. He, like all the other builders, was never seen again. I'll tell you this, Yeffal wouldn't have needed so many dwarven engineers if he didn't want to fill up the keep with secret passages. Oh, and I'm sure some of the looted great treasures must be there, where he could have admired them, rather than down in the dungeons guarded by who knows what. Best of luck to you. And remember, if you come back with gems and jewels, I'll be happy to trade them in for cash...for a small surcharge."

The dragonborn thanks the jeweler and refills Harvel's cup before returning to the table full of dragonborn to relay what he said in case they missed anything.

The next morning, we will head for the ruins after breakfast.

The party of dragonborn heads to the Temple of the Sun, getting the party healed for a total of 10 gp.

Then it's off to see Arvan at the House of Gold - we'd like to exchange all that copper for gold, please.

At the House of Gold, Arvan Hasrels eyes the bags of coins greedily. He's visibly disappointed when he sees they're full of coppers to be cashed in for gold coin. "Here I thought you lot had made a score worth bragging about," he grumbles as he breaks out his scales to weight the copper coins. After certifying the amount, he hands over 80 gold coins in exchange for the copper. "Any other services I can offer you today?"

"No, good sir, but if we find ourselves a score worth bragging about, we'll come see you again. We were just glad to kill those ghouls before they killed us." With that we head to the Oak and Eagle to spend some of these gold coins (50 gp for meals, drinks, separate rooms, living it up.) We listen for any rumors of note.

At the Oak and Eagle

Gretta serves her finest roast mutton, garlic and potato stew, fine wine, and whatever the high-spending dragonborn wish for, glad to have a party with plenty of gold to spend in her inn.

Talk around the inn centers on the dungeon with the Party Posse in the common room. An old-timer dwarf tells the party that if they're in trouble in the dungeon, search for a "door of yellow mist" which, if they step through it, will transport them directly home to Silverwood.

A group of trappers and woodsmen talk about the Knockers that inhabit the ruined Keep. The Knockers, they claim, are crafty and sly, but will serve a True Knight or Maiden without betrayal. All others should beware.

The next morning, we will gear up and head out for the Keep again, hoping to reach the spot with the doors left and right that we already explored without any trouble.

At the Oak and Eagle

The Flames of the Sun adventuring party arrives at The Oak and Eagle. Selen, Andre, and Marlene head inside... the others stay outside on the street, with the body.

"Hey," says Selen to the room. "We found a body in the dungeon... Dragonborn fighter of some sort... was wearing torn-up plate mail? Might have been killed by ghouls, maybe? We brought back the body in case his party wanted to bury him... Sound familiar to anyone...?"

The Oak and Eagle

Greta Valendenier, the owner of the inn, comes out. "Dead adventurer? I'd better go take a look."

She steps outside and views the remains, then comes back inside. "When you said dragonborn, I thought it might have been one of the group that came through recently. Eight dragonfolk together. I've got a good memory for customers, now, and this one was with the mixed race group that mostly frequented The Granite Cup. Probably because the dwarf in the group is the leader...or maybe the gnome. In any case, best take the remains to the Temple of the Sun. Sister Clarion can prepare the remains for burial or cremation or floating down the river on a canoe. When the Adventure Harlots get back in town, if I see them, I'll send them that way."

Selen shrugs. "Makes sense to me. C'mon, guys."

The Temple of the Sun


The Flames of the Sun speak to Sister Clarion about the dead dragonborn adventurer...

The Temple of the Sun

Sister Clarion directs a pair of acolytes to assist with the body. It is placed on a table in a side chamber. Removing a cone of incense from a small wooden case, she puts it in a bronze censor and lights it, then swings the censor around the body, masking the smell of decay with incense smoke as she recites The Prayer to the Sun at the End of the Day.

After performing the preparation ritual, she returns to the Flames of the Sun. "You have done a good deed for this poor soul. I would like to reward you with a small token of gratitude." She hands a rolled up parchment to Selen, who appears to be the leader.

"By the way, if you are returning to the Great Dungeon soon, would you be interested in performing a small task for me?"

Selen absently hands it to the party standing behind him. "I'll just hold onto that, thank you," says Marlene, taking it it out of his hand. Jabez makes a slightly annoyed face, but doesn't argue.



"We're... interested to hear what you have in mind..." says Selen...

Sister Clarion places her hands together in a prayer-like gesture. "Three years ago, a group of adventurers were exploring the ruins. They claimed that they discovered the lost entrance to the Well of Bones, a tomb once used by the Church of the Sun before Yeffal built his castle on the site. However, the party later suffered some bad luck, and the only survivor of the expedition retired and took a boat down river, never to return. They never told me exactly where the Well of Bones was located, but I know from other things they told me that it was somewhere in the northern part of the first level, near the Great Pit.

"The Well itself may well be very dangerous. I do not doubt that Yeffal corrupted the bodies of those laid to rest there if he found it, which he likely did. Yet, there are likely some great treasures there. The records of the Temple suggest that a magical giant-slaying sword named Hofud may be there, as well as a cloak that obscures the wearer.

"I think exploring the Well may be dangerous for you, but if you could confirm for me the location of the entrance, I would reward you each with 50 gold coins."

"...We'll go do our best," Selen agrees. "...Anything else you can tell us about any possible dangers on the way...?"

Clarion looks at Selen with compassion. "The tomb was lost to us over four hundred years ago. The best case scenario would be that Yeffal never discovered it while constructing the labyrinth beneath his castle. In that case, aside from a few traps to discourage grave robbers, the danger should be low. Given the extent of the dungeons, however, and the fact that the adventurers I mentioned earlier found a way in, I would guess Yeffal did indeed discover the Well of Bones. As he did with other earlier works beneath his castle, I can only assume he used foul magics to turn the interred holy men and women into abominations. He may even have summoned demonic guardians and placed them there to guard the treasure. If you do find the entrance, bring word to me rather than risking your own lives trying to plumb its depths."

Selen raises an eyebrow and nods.

"Yeah, don't worry," mutters Sandor as they leave. "We're broke because we'd rather be alive than maybe-rich..."

Any other town business? Or would you like to start a new delve?

Did we get anything we can sell this last time?

I won't be shocked if you say no...


If yes, we go and sell it.

If no, yeah, time to start a new delve.
This message was last edited by the player at 14:52, Mon 18 June 2018.

In reply to The Flames of the Sun (msg # 61):

I just looked through the last delve thread. Looks like the treasure you found was the 2000cp and the two tin serpent rings. Based on your last post I assume you're going to try to sell them.

Oh, and that's 20XP from treasure for the group. Not much, but you did cover a lot of ground in the dungeon, and found out a few interesting things in the two delves...

The House of Gold

Arvan Hasrel, the elder dwarf, wakes up from a nap when you enter the shop. He welcomes you, saying, "So, you found something in the dungeons that you want to sell? Well, let me see it. I haven't got all day."

No one else is in the shop, and he was napping, giving the lie to his request for urgency.

We show Hasrel what we found...

The House of Gold

Old Arvan isn't one to show much emotion aside from avarice, but when he sees the tin rings his face visible pales and his hands tremble slightly. "I won't buy these," he whispers.

After he takes a moment to settle down, he continues in his normal grumbly voice. "They belonged to that snake cult. Thought they could summon some demon or dark god to raise Yeffal from the dead or some nonsense. Maybe a century back, when I was middle-aged, they came to Silverwood. Threw around a lot of money. Got some young humans and a few gnomes to follow them. Tried to set up a shrine in the dungeon. Their leader was rich. Probably a noble's son. He wore proper jewelry, some fine pieces. All the other cult members wore these rings. You might want to keep them as souvenirs, but I won't buy them since I know no one in town will buy them off of me."