Bertilak's first priority is to see that Arietta receives a proper funeral and burial.

The magic-user spends his down time over the next few days looking around for any potential henchmen to replace Arietta.

He also makes inquiries at the smithy about having her plate armor re-sized for any potential replacements.

On the bridge Teodore found Athalgrim the fighter at the northwest tower. Athalgrim was a large man with a black beard. It was Athalgrim's duty to collect the toll on the copper pot and secure the iron bound wooden gate at night time.

Athalgrim invited Teodore in, he was welcoming if a bit surly. Inside the tower the walls were decorated with the broken and splintered shields of his enemies.

"You've come to store your treasure?" he asked Teodore.
Mourned by the villagers and residents of Fourtower Bridge a funeral is arranged for the warrior Arietta. Her family and friends were more even tempered than her and mourned her loss in quiet dignity.

After the funeral Bertilak was able to advertise for another man-at-arms. Within a day he had a varied bunch of applicants. All arrived wearing leather armour, Roark the blacksmith confirmed it would be possible for the platemail to be adjusted to fit any of them. The youngest was Ingrede de Reynes, an adolescent with a short sword. She was rather nervous and asked for one gold per day. The other two were older men. Oakes Fitzalan a man in his prime, a bit of dandy he dressed well too. He had a shield, club and shortbow, he asked for fourteen gold per day. The last was Darby Aguilon, the spearman was just past middle age and asked for eight gold per day. He was cheerful if a bit of a prankster.

Derry considers what the aged man has said.

"Whereabouts would we find this tower, during the day, you know, if we didn't want to rely on the lights?"

"If we comrades are of one mind, we could find this tower and extinguish the evil within."

"But we are not of one mind."

He turns to opportunistic magic man, before speaking to him, "Comrade, why are you so bound to find these locked doors?"

It is known that "comrade" is one of those words with limitless meanings depending on tone and usage. It is clear that Derry's use of it here does not match his earlier ones.

The old fisherman answered Derry "follow the east road until it turns to the north. Leave the road to continue east into the woods. You'll find the ruins before you reach the foothills. There is a large clearing of the trees around the old tower"

Fiene smiles at the dwarf, speaking simply as one explains to a child. "I am here to explore Stonehell, to take its riches and knowledge". He says."The doors are near the entrance and as they are locked I don't expect them to have been raided yet."
This message was last edited by the player at 14:06, Fri 30 July 2021.

As much as Devin wanted to explore Stonehell, he felt safer with the dwarf.  With Ben's death, he'd come to the conclusion that wizards were not as powerful as he'd thought they were.

It is true that among Derry's native gifts intelligence is not foremost among them. He has enough, though, to recognize logic and, occasionally, exercise it himself.

He snorts in acknowledgment.

"What you say has reason. By the same token, I would expect the old tower is shielded by fear in the same fashion locks shield the chamber beyond your doors."

"I propose that the people venture beyond those doors ... first."
This message was last edited by the player at 23:16, Fri 30 July 2021.

Teodore answered Athalgrim, "Actually, I was hoping you could give me some idea as to what a fighter like me could spend some of my treasure on. Standard armor and weapons don't seem to be enough in Stonehell, as I was saved from death by a Cure scroll read by our cleric."

The large fighter guffawed at Teodore "aye lad an' I'm sure they'll be similar near death experience in those halls before ye are rich" he rubbed his black beard as he considered Teodore's words "am afraid there's nothing mightier than sword and shield" he gazed around at the broken shields of his defeated enemies "save you treasure, build a stronghold, stop adventuring, that's what I did!" useful advice but perhaps not what Teodore was searching for "don't fret lad, keep your friends close and I'm sure they will pick you back up again. Any of your party are welcome to keep their treasure in my vault. Only rule is if ye die or go missing for more than one year then I keep it."

The magic-user Dagunn Rakel was in the southwest tower next door whenever Teodore was ready to visit.

Valerian slips back into the inn, having purchased some more supplies.

"Well, yes...ruins have always been an ideal spot to go adventuring. Hopefully I can find an arcane parchment or two ensconced in a preistine catacomb..."

Now Devin wasn't sure where the dwarf wanted to go.  The locked doors in Stonehell or the doors at the ruins?

"Where are we going?" he asked the dwarf in newfound confusion.

Derry considers where they should go next: into the forest or to the locked doors.

"I don't like to leave a job undone even if it has been started by others. I will join the magic man in his journey to the doors and beyond."

"The forest folk will have to live in fear a while longer," he concludes with an uncharacteristically wry expression.

The fishy smelling old man nodded to Valerian "arcane things maybe. It was once the tower of Modnar and his apprentices. The stories say that a terrific explosion destroyed the tower and flames of unnatural hues burnt the trees all around."

Teodore thanked Athalgrim for his time and advice, adding that if he ever scored it big he might store treasure here. Then he headed for the tower of Dagunn Rakel to make their acquaintance.

The magic user Dagunn Rakel was a tall woman in her sixties. She was friendly and invited Teodore in the tower and offered him tea. On the bottom level of the tower Rakel kept a stuffed crocodile. An intelligent woman she asked her visitor "how can I help you?"

"I was hoping you could show me some items that a fighter like me could purchase from you. Standard armor and weapons don't quite seem to be enough in Stonehell, as I was saved from death by a Cure scroll read by our cleric. I would appreciate any help you can provide." Teodore sipped at his tea, trying not to burn his tongue.

In reply to DM (msg # 25):

Valerian nods.

"Not an uncommon occurrence, apparently. Hopefully there will be something useful left to salvage."

Sophisticated Dagunn served tea and offered witty conversation. She could offer no aid to Teodore however "there's little I can offer to aid any adventurer. My collection of pottery or other mystic goods won't protect you from harm nor strengthen your sword arm" she apologised.

After three days in town all injuries had healed and provisions had been restocked. The rain and clouds of the last few days cleared. The sun rose but brought no warmth, the weather was unseasonably cold.

There was frost on the boughs of the trees as they passed through the forest and into the foothills. Their breath clouded in the air. No wildlife was spotted and they reached the canyon safely.

OOC If any characters have anything else left to do in town let me and we can sort it out.

Day: 10. Time: 6:00am. Weather: Sunny, dry and unseasonably very cold. Vision: Daylight. Movement: 20'

In reply to DM (msg # 31):

[Do we need to buy winter clothing?]

OOC A cloak is enough to keep warm unless it gets colder.

As as become his custom, Fiene spends a few moments at the statue of St Ras, leaving wine and a cake, and then leaves a offering of meat at Coal's cave.

He and his hirelings Ermengard and Holden follow closely as he goes to towards the entrance.

Devin would rather have explored in the other direction, but no one was going that way.  Reluctantly, he stuck with Teodore, Valerian, and the dwarf.

"Comrade Fiene willing," Derry smiles. "We will free the forest folk from their fear."

"But, for now, we must free him from the geas of the locked doors."

Amiable in the company of his fellows, Derry cheerily moves towards the entrance.

The passed safely into the mouth of the canyon and through the gatehouse in the curtain wall safely and into the clearing beyond. The black bear Coal was nowhere to be seen. Fiene diligently laid out meat for the bear, other adventurers had clearly had similar rituals as other animal bones and much chewed adventuring gear lay strewn about the entrance to the bear's cave.

A prayer at the fallen shrine of St Ras took only a moment before those that chose to venture further reached the stone archway carved into the cliff at the end of the canyon.

OOC Day: 10. Time: 9:10am. Turn: 2, Weather: Sunny, dry and unseasonably very cold. Vision: Daylight. Movement: 20'