Stoutly, Derry replies, "We're making good progress and getting better as we go. We're coming back. Save your dip for later."

Devin was all in favor of getting back to town for a rest.

In reply to Devin Harper (msg # 207):

Gael hands his torch to Bosley. His priority was to get Eglantine back to Four Tower Bridge soon as possible.

OOC I need to know exactly where everyone is and who has the torches.

Gael and Eglantine went into the hallway. Gael handed their torch to Bosley who then went into the pit with Derry. Where is Wyndham and his torch? Is Wyndham with Gael or is Gael in darkness? Where is Devin with Gael or Derry?

Wyndham has a refreshed torch and is with Preston and Eadwynn. We are all together on the ape-side of the pit and are heading back to town.

This message was deleted by the player at 12:38, Tue 12 July 2022.

Devin sticks with the wounded armswoman as he still has one scroll in case her condition worsens before they get back to town.

Burdened with an injured Eglantine and many sacks of Electrum pieces the party retraced their steps and returned to the stairs. As they climbed upwards towards daylight and escape of the dungeon Wyndham was sure he heard movement below.

OOC

Day 26. Time: 11:20am. Weather: Sunny and wet. Vision: Daylight. Movement 20’

"Hold! There's someone or something down there! Maybe they're following us. Derry, mind having a peek with your dwarf eyes? Or should we just hightail it back to town?"

"Back to town with eyes at the back of our heads," Derry responds, unwilling to curtail their progress back to Four Tower.

Led by Derry the party escaped the dungeon and entered the clearing in the forest where the ruins of Modnar’s tower lay. It was near midday, the sun high above them. The moss covered flagstones and tumbled blocks were wet with recent rain and the clouds overhead promised a damp march to Fourtower Bridge.

Nothing was spotted emerging from the closed trapdoor as they exited the clearing into the cover of the trees. The remainder of the journey was quiet. They reached Fourtower Bridge in the middle of the afternoon.

OOC Party members receive 201XP each. Retainers Bosley, Garrick and Aylmer receive 100XP each. Retainers each claim 182ep of the treasure, leaving the party with 1454ep.

Their return in the middle of the afternoon left some time for shopping before retiring to the inn (-1.5 GP). Derry first sees about restocking his apple supply, this time buying 3 bags (-3 CP). Then he considers the length of that incommodious pit and what manner of board could help ensure its safe traversal. Should such lumber be available, he will buy it.

He leaves decisions pertaining to hirelings and retainers to Gael.

For their return, he thinks they could start with a spa treatment for Wyndham and then they could try to pick or force that locked door nearby. He would prefer to return the next day, worried about the overdevelopment of the ape's appetite.

Wyndham Will

• Set up Eglantine with a private room at the inn for a week (7gp)
• Spend a night at the inn for himself (1gp)
• Visit trader Ricky Pickles about her special pair of leather boots
• Attempt to recruit a mage/elf (Buying drinks, posting a notice and hiring the services of a town crier) (25gp)
• Restock oil and torches (7gp)

This message was last edited by the player at 20:30, Fri 15 July 2022.

"I'll need to take some time to heal," Devin said to the others.  "One of those rats bit me pretty good."

Devin will take a day off, but the others are free to go on without him as they do have another who can fend off the undead.

OOC: Devin Harper rolled 3 using 1d3.  Day of Healing.

More apples were bought by Derry at the store, the dogs Thongor and Brute watched the visitors to the store carefully as they lounged by the door. The leather boots were of amazing quality and Millie asked twenty gold pieces for them. Oils, torches and general supplies were all available to buy.

Despite Wyndham’s investment and call for a sorcerer, wizard or elf he had no enquiries from any applicants.

As the evening wore on Frode, now drunk, told a tall tale of when he once caught a pike the size of crocodile.

After a full day’s rest Eglantine once again was conscious. Some of her wounds remained but she was eager and lusty to get back into the dungeon whenever the party were ready.

OOC Purchases for general supplies can all be made at standard prices. Wyndham’s advert for a magic-user or elf this attempt was unsuccessful.

When do you plan to return? If you go straight away it will be minus Devin and Eglantine, also Garrick will still be wounded.

Wyndham was disappointed not to find a mage. He sorely missed Kara's sleep spell on their encounters.
He consoled himself somewhat by buying the boots from Millie. He discarded his old pair and pulled on the new ones.
Now, Wyndham waits for the others to finish up their tasks before deciding next steps.

We'll wait until Devin's ready.
Gael can make the call regarding retainers and hirelings.

What about the planks? Are they considered general supplies?

In reply to Wyndham (msg # 221):

Gael would like to buy the scabbard and a 10 foot pole.

Millie wasn’t sure easy it would be to carry around heavy planks but getting idea what Derry needed she fetched some ladders. The ladders were ten foot long and she charged five gold pieces each. If Derry really wanted planks she said she can get some for the same price but they would be a lot heavier.

The fabled back scabbard cost Gael forty gold pieces.

OOC The ladders weight 150 coins each. Planks will weight 300 coins each.

In reply to DM (msg # 224):

Gael presents the scabbard to Bosley. "There you are lad, just as promised... Now, I sense there are treacherous times before us. Do you truly accept this mission, to restore peace to this realm? You alone must make this decision."
This message was last edited by the player at 13:44, Wed 20 July 2022.

Astounded, Derry grasps the full implication of Millie's revelation and buys a ladder.

-5 GP.
-1.5 GP for another night at the inn.

Wyndham takes an end of the ladder.
"Derry, don't be getting any notions of us carrying you around like a wee dwarf prince on a litter. We won't have it!"
After a moment of consideration, Wyndham continues,
"Maybe if the adventuring thing doesn't pan out, we can put this thing to use rescuing cats or something."

Their purchases made everyone retired to the inn to hear Frode’s tall tale of the exceptionally big fish he once caught.

Bosley was pleased with his new scabbard and soon tried it on, proudly wearing his sword on his back. He seemed less pleased with the sermon he received and offered Gael only a nod but no vow of any such heroic nonsense. From the battles earlier in the day Bosley looked like he enjoyed the fighting too much to want anything as grand as peace and harmony.

Wyndham and Derry carried the cumbersome ten foot ladder between them.

OOC To clarify then Derry, Wyndham, Gael, Bosley and Aylmer are returning to Modnar’s cellar in the morning. Everyone else including Devin are staying in town?

No, we're waiting until Devin makes a full recovery before returning.

In reply to DM (msg # 228):

Gael has a pensive look on his face before nodding his head. "Alright then, the road ahead will require our vigilance. When we return to Modnar's tower, tap ahead with this pole. We must not allow ourselves to be blindsided like last time. Now, let's get you fitted for some proper armor. Remember, defense is the most important aspect of any combat." He tries to keep his sermon brief this time.

Gael purchases two sets of plate armor for Bosley and Aylmer.
This message was last edited by the player at 14:27, Wed 20 July 2022.