Kara was not certain where they intended to go, but she went along nonetheless. Normally, she would try to be centered in the group, but she moved a bit further to the edge, to allow those sickened to be in the centrally protected area if desired.

The journey out of the canyon was slow but nothing impeded them. In the forest the bulging of elks was heard as a herd of twenty elks grazed on the grasses and low branches. The herd ignored the slow procession of adventurers as they passed.

It was evening time when the adventurers returned to Fourtower Bridge. The torches and braziers on the bridge welcomed them home and the bearded fighter Athalgrim drew the gates shut behind them.

OOC 5 XP each.

Day: 11. Time: Evening. Weather: Sunny, dry. Vision: Daylight. Movement: 20'

Devin made his way to the southeast tower as best he could.  His joints burned and he didn't know how much longer he could hold on.  No matter what the dwarf said, he knew he wouldn't last the night without help.

He thought about using one of the healing scrolls, but wasn't sure it would even work.  This seemed different, though.  If the old nun wasn't there, he'd have to use it.

Feebly, he rapped on her door, hoping for salvation.

Valerian wakes with a start, pulling at his robes in a frenzy, then slowing and stopping when he finds none.

He stands up and brushes off his robes like nothing happened, then follows the rest of the party.

The day after they return, Derry runs a few errands. He'd like a grappling hook for his rope and he needs to replace the flask of oil he emptied. Maybe add a second to his store. What's more, he thinks the collective would benefit from the addition of another able-bodied fighting man, woman, or the occasional one that seems to be a bit of both. As such, he pays for an advert and spends liberally on drinks.

Wanted: One man or woman or they-at-arms to join highly promising adventurer's union. Polearm experience preferred. All genders welcome.

He crosses out highly. Don't want to oversell.

The next morning, Teodore makes sure to buy a hammer and four more torches at the general store before heading to Mother Majken's with the mangled holy symbol.

With no coin recovered, and little else besides, Kara had naught available to do but rememorize her spell, then get some rest in the warmest ditch she could find.

The next day, she again looked to see if she could find a retainer who would hire on for a future share. If not, then she would wait until the others were ready to try again. Perhaps this time they might consider trying the ruins of Modnar's tower.

The stern Mother Majken prescribed bedrest, plenty of it for the sickened Valerian and Devin. She was unable to identified the crushed remains that Teodore had picked up but confirmed that it had most likely once been a holy symbol of some kind. Unidentifiable and made of pewter it's value was most worthless, merely an odd curio she said.

At the Moorland Magpie Inn Lorna was serving lamb steamed buns with peaches and beer for five silvers. The magic user Dagunn Rakel showed off her collection of infernal pottery. No one liked this.

The dwarf Derry was approached in response to his advertisement by an adolescent woman-at-arms by the name of Eadwynn Haute, she was well prepared for any adventure in the dungeon. Armoured in chainmail and shield and armed with shortsword and shortbow. She took a peculiar and morbid interest in the afflication that Valerian and Devin were suffering from. Her hiring cost was twenty gold per day.

OOC The general store has stock for all regular purchases.

Kara thanked Derry for the generosity of the room. It was definitely better than a ditch.

"It would seem we have time to have that conversation about coming up with emergency commands and calls," she mused. "Also, while I would prefer to go to Modnar's tower the next time out, I assume we will be trying to reach that same door again? If so, perhaps someone might consider a crowbar this time, or an axe to take the door down if the key cannot be found."

Derry considers Ms. Eadwynn Haute. Does he think she merits 20 gp a day?

Devin tries to encourage the others to go on without him.  He felt so bad it would probably be more than a week before he was ready to even think about even walking around.

Derry takes Ms. Eadwynn Haute and her pathological predilections into his service, with actual service to begin upon departure. Despite Devin's protests, Derry delays his departure until the man has fully recovered from his ordeal.

45 sp for 10 days of meals?
This message was last edited by the player at 02:33, Fri 24 Sept 2021.

Kara agrees with Derry that waiting is not an issue, now at least. Unless Valerian also urges them to leave, she will wait. In the meantime, she will familiarize herself with the maps they had already assembled, learning what and who was found where, and most importantly, where the pits are so she was not going into things as blindly this time.

"So, I assume we are going back to find a key and the door again? If so, as before, I would suggest an axe or crowbar," she added, since it still seemed as if nobody had one yet.


(ooc)
At 20 gold a day, Derry might want to wait 10 days before hiring her... ^_^

OOC Yes if there's nothing else characters want or need to do we can skip the 10 days and prepare for the next delve. Yes 45sp for food sounds right.

Derry announces himself ready for departure, having made one last acquisition: a 10' wooden pole. Unless there are other objections or interruptions, he will lead the expedition back to that troublous pit trap, the one into which he had emptied an oil flask. He instructs Ms. Eadwynn Haute to tap the pole in front of them as they go -- but that there is no need until they reach untested corridors.

Oracular doors fear neither crowbar nor axe. And besides where's the fun in that?

Having thoroughly cleansed his system many, many times over the past week or so, Devin is finally ready to venture once more back into the maw.

Fiene continues upkeep on his single room, paid up well in advance, as well as Ermengard and Holden's wages for another trip.    And needing all the help he can get, he also leaves another offering for Coal, and at St Ras.

Once they reach Stonehell, he lights his lantern, and has Holden carry a torch.  "I expect the kobolds will have repaired the pit by now." he offers, so no one is surprised.  "Perhaps this time, we can skirt the edge instead of walking right through the middle."

The party's conversation was interrupted by a cloaked figure entering the room. Removing his hood, he revealed himself to be a man of slight build and middling height. He dropped his gear with a thud and patted the road dust from his clothes. Noticing several sets of eyes on him, he looked up.

"Oh...ah, hail friends. Heard you were looking for some help. I know my way around locks and traps, and I'm passing fair with a bow. The name's Wyndham, but Wyn will do."

"How are you at running away?" Devin asked the cloaked figure.  "We do a lot of running."

In reply to Devin, Wyn raises a boot with little more than a paper thin sole.
"I've seen my share of hasty retreats. Hmmm, I'm getting the feeling I'm gonna need some new boots soon."

(ooc)

Derry the Dwarf:

Oracular doors fear neither crowbar nor axe.

The most accurate prophecies are the ones you fulfill yourself.
This message was last edited by the player at 02:55, Sun 26 Sept 2021.

Derry smirks, "He wasn't doing any running after our last run. We nearly had to carry his pestilent self back. But then a miracle occurred!"

Derry takes a couple of steps away from Devin before continuing.

"He learned to run again -- to the pot again and again."

"Did you and, uh, that other magic man take turns emptying the pot ... or what?"

Derry squints and looks about to see if he can spot that other man in the group.

"Say what you want," Devin said soberly, "I wouldn't wish that pain on anyone.  It was a miracle we all survived."

Hearing the cheery words and boisterous tales of heroism, Wyn wonders if he's made a grave mistake signing on with this crew...

"It was a miracle," Kara agreed. "But not from any bug threat. Our own lack of cooperation caused the entire problem."