"How can they both be white and rainbow-colored?" Barnabas helplessly wonders. Still, he's secretly impressed with Valerian's observation and deduction.

He then says what he hopes everybody is thinking.

"We found a few baubles and there are still a few hours of light. Let's head back."

He makes no mention of the immolation of Connor.

Bertilak also takes a keen interest in the umbrella. "A very strange item, indeed. I've not heard of such in my studies. This is a curious place. But as for heading back to town, that's a good idea. We need to have poor Arietta tended to, for one thing. And I would like to rest and recover my arcane abilities for another."

"A meal and bath do sound welcome."  He says.  "I wonder if a jeweler would be interested the scales.  It may be of more value in pieces than the whole." he considers.  "Though if you were to meet an angry dragon, the whole might be still be the better."

"I am ready to return."  He says, starting towards the door.

Teodore pockets the nose ring for now and moves to join the others.

By the time the adventurers had explored the last room of the old gatehouse and examined the odd objects found within it was middle way through the afternoon. The journey through the hills and woods back to Fourtower Bridge laden with carrying Arietta rather than loaded with treasure took another two or three hours. So it was evening when they returned to the sight of Fourtower bridge, the torches and braziers of the bridge a welcome beacon in the cold and dark moorland.

On the way back, Ben occupies himself with totting up the day's trophies and generates the following list:

• 3 fire beetle glands
• 10 gold pieces and a gem
• 1 goblin nose ring
• 48 electrum pieces
• Bottle of blue liquid, redolent of almonds (cyanogen chloride?)
• Iridescent Umbraculum (protection against leprechauns?)
• Stained and worn red cloak (curiously preserved)

Had those last three items been confiscated, lawfully or unlawfully, by a customs official?

Back at the inn, he settles down and orders food for himself and Nerida. He wonders why he's paying for her if she makes more than he does.

There is a topic on his mind.

"Where," he asks, "is the proper entrance to Stonehell?"
This message was last edited by the player at 21:43, Fri 05 Mar 2021.

In reply to Ben (msg # 385):

"It is so white that all of the other colors bounce off of it, like mother-of-pearl."

ooc: weren't there 3 fire beetle glands?


Fiene makes his way to the inn, letting Ermangard go her own way.  "I do hope you're willing to accompany me into a second delve, if we decide to return after some rest." he offers.

Once at the table, he orders warm stew, bread, whiskey and a beer, choosing to savor each.  "I would assume it is deeper into the canyon.  It did continue further west from where we stopped."  He offers.


He places the blue liquid on the table.  "Smells like almonds.  Perhaps it is a liqueur of some type." he wonders. "Perhaps the innkeeper might know."I would not expect to find an enchanted tincture, though if it is, I'm not sure the how to test it, save for taking a sip.

When they had safely return to Fourtower Bridge the old fisherman Hopkins went to his shack by the river and the dismissed Ermangard returned to her family. The offer of future employment they accepted and said they'd check at Inn for when they were ready.

Nerida followed Ben at the offer of food, well treated she also too agreed to accompany the party on another expedition.

When the party had been in the canyon they had seen that it went further west before ending, with more caves and entrances visible.

At the Moorland Magpie Inn Lorna served a lamb steamed bun with peaches and a tankard of beer for five silvers. A few regulars were drinking too and also some newly paid caravan guards were gambling at another table.

Lorna took one look at the strange blue liquid and shook her head "nothing I'd serve and don't go spilling any of it on the tables" she warned then pointed to the towers  "Dagunn Rakel might tell you more of it or take it off your hands, she's got a laboratory in her tower. Collector of mystic goods if you ever in need of coin" she added helpfully.

OOC Yes there are 3 fire beetle glands. We'll continue posting in this thread for now and start a new thread when the next expedition starts.

A young man in chain mail, a shield across his back, and a long hammer at his waist pushed open the door and looked around the taproom tentatively.  His only other possession seemed to be a small sack in one hand.

Seemingly satisfied with the room's current occupation, he closed the door and made his way to the bar.  Once there he simply asked for directions to Stonehell.

From behind, his shield was emblazoned with the blue Sky Sigil.

Ten silvers lighter, Barnabas sets about enjoying meal. The peaches, he finds to be especially to his taste and he casts his eyes about for extra on the plates of the others. Peach juice drips too readily off of his fingertips. Little does he know that familiarity breeds contempt.

"Dagunn Rakel," he acknowledges. "It could be we have a few trifles with which to tempt him. Is he interested in gems as well?"

Overhearing the young man's question, he calls out, "We know the direction."

The exact location of it, that's another matter.

Hearing an unexpected response from nearby, the young man turned and approached their table.

"My name is Devin, Acolyte of Auril, and I am here to search Stonehell on behalf of the Church of Auril," he stated as if a practiced reply.  "Please tell me where I must go to find it."

Fiene snorts a laugh.  "Head towards your gravestone, and stop just before you get there." he says. Sliding a chair out with his foot for the man to sit.

Bertilak smiles. "A pleasure to meet you, Devin. I am Bertilak the Green, a student of the arcane. We will be heading back there soon enough. Join us for a meal, why don't you?"

Devin was surprised and a little confused.  It had been as easy as the bishop had explained.  That Stonehell and suitable companions would be easy to find upon reaching the Fourtower Bridge.

The confusing part was the gravestone.  Stonehell must lie near a well known cemetery or burial site.  That would be good to remember if he were later separated.

"Thank you," he replied earnestly.  Slipping the shield from his back, he hung it on the chair back before taking the proferred seat.  The hammer at his waist banged awkwardly on the chair and it took him two tries to achieve a seated position successfully.  He set the sack beside the chair and waved happily for whatever was being served.

Looking eagerly about the table, he felt that Auril was truly watching over him to have found direction so quickly.  Especially finding a group with what sounded like a practiced wizard.  Those of the arcane arts were few and far between.  He was truly blessed by Auril to happen upon such a rarity.

The ever welcoming Lorna slipped Ben an extra serving of peaches, she was happy to please her new regulars. She knew that when you journeyed to Stonehell and returned you deserved a little special treatment. Whilst she refilled his bowl she shook her head "her" she corrected Ben's error "an' I don't think she'd have much interest in gems. Silar might or perhaps Thomas" she pointed to a beautiful man drinking at another table, his long hair was pulled back and his beard was grey. Thomas looked like he'd been drinking heavily and only had one leg.

"Fiene." he adds, not that is was much of an introduction to the baby face.  "Some of us have just returned from Stonehell, and some of us didn't." he follows up, raising his half empty glass as a toast, and takes a large swallow.

He gestures to Ben.  "Do you want me to see what I can get for coin for them?" he asks, nodding in Thomas' direction. "Harder to carry, easier to spend."

"That's true," concurs Barnabas, after he has slurped down another slice of peach. The last one, he swears to himself.

"A couple did just wander off into the mists, so to speak, so they met yet stumble in."

To Fiene's question about the gem, he only shrugs. He's curious; that's all.

He recalls the battles of the previous day, with the fire beetle, skeletons, and goblins. Space was tight. Something told him it was about to become tighter.

Regretfully, he turns to Nerida and laments her services, although invaluable, would not be needed the next day. He comments that she's a "resourceful lass" and that he's sure she'll prove even more able the next she's needed.

The young girl had been paid and fed. Nerida felt no slight at no further offer of work from Barnabas's. She finished her beer and bid farewell to the adventurers. The nervous but now bloodied warrior left the inn perhaps slightly more confident.

"An inn! Just the place to start," Leah said aloud to herself. "That's where the adventurers are, so I should be there. Or in a dungeon. Being out here, I'm not much of an adventurer."

Pushing the doors to the inn open, she surveyed the place. It was quite nice, she thought, but it could use a good sweeping. She took inventory and realized she did not have the broom anymore. But that was good, because otherwise there would be no room for the 10' pole, and an adventuring group needed a 10' pole.

Oh! People! Adventuring type people, maybe! "They might not be adventurers," she reminded herself. Nary a ten foot pole in site. But there is a walking stick," she argued with herself. "So maybe they are just not very good adventurers."

In any case, she decided they needed her. She approached Fiene, since he seemed to be the wisest of the group and said, "I am Leah and would like to join your group. I have a ten foot pole and much garlic. Would you care for a nibble?"
This message was last edited by the player at 00:07, Sun 07 Mar 2021.

Lilith stumbled into the conversation with an audible gurgle and hiccup, "Another round for this table, I'm buying."  Her voice was raspy, like someone who smoked way too much way too often.  She moved over to the table with the others in a kind of saunter.  "Lily's the name Hawke to meet you all.  Did I mention that I'm buying you a drink?"  She pulled a chair up from a nearby table.  The sound of it dragging across the floor was certainly worse than the sound of her voice.  "So who are you all and I can't wait to hear about all your tales of adventures."

 Heavy footsteps can be heard from outside the inn, getting closer every second.  Eventually, a heavily armoured halfling enters the establishment, her sallet-style helmet with aventail in hand.  A spear is kept across her back along with a round shield, while a dagger occupies a sheath at her right thigh and a sling and pouch of bullets her left.  She notices quite a few adventuring types in her presence.  No doubt, all on the side of order and wholesomeness, just as she!  She gives a nod of approval, and a satisfied grunt.

 This halfling approaches the most active table, around which two other women have also gathered, and slams her mailed palm onto her chest.  "Heya.  Name's Brandli.  Need another set of hands?  My spear is a good one." Her address seems to be to, well, everyone at the table.  She speaks confidently, although her manner is that of a lout.  A hooligan, even!  What have the gods sent to these poor, nerve-wracked adventurers!

"Teodore." The human smiles at the offer of a drink. Upon receiving one, he raises his glass, toasting, "To absent friends," before turning to the newcomers and adding, "And hopefully to new ones as well."

The fighter pays Hopkins for his trouble and dismisses him, saying that maybe they'll look him up again in a few days. Until they find something more substantial, he'll have no trouble carrying his share.

The entrance of the heavily armoured halfling was followed by others  similarly dressed in coats of platemail. A lusty young man in his teens swaggered into the inn, he fetched himself a beer and after a word with Lorna made his way over to the table of adventurers, he eyed them up curiously with extra attention given to the ladies "Brandli?" he queried "I'm Whitcombe Cardonell. I've heard you were looking for a woman but perhaps you're in need of a man." he jested with a hearty laugh. The lusty lad proposed himself as a man-at-arms, he wore plate armour and carried a sword, spear and shield, his offer of employment was twenty-eight gold pieces a day.

Later in the evening a woman did answer Brandli's advert, she was older in her middle years and had a troubled expression on her face. She too wore plate armour and holy symbol of Sidhe a pair of scales, hung around her throat, it appeared to weight heavy on her and she hung her head as she approached "I'm Orla Pont" she said with a haunted look on her face. She carried with her a shield and a warhammer. She said little but her offer was to request a half share!

Devin was amazed at how easily he'd been able to find someone to accompany into the labyrinth.  He would never doubt anything the bishop again.  Help was coming out of the woodwork from all directions!