After a night’s rest in Fourtower everyone was recovered from their latest delve and concluding that no further riches were hidden in Modnar’s Cellar the adventurer decided to return to Stonehell.

The sky remained filled with clouds, the storm however appeared to have passed leaving behind drizzly rain.

OOC Any plans or actions first?

Day 36. Time: 6:00am. Weather: Cloudy, drizzly rain. Vision: Cloudy. Movement: 20’

Derry knows that there were further riches within the cellar, there must have been. But the others had little patience left and he wasn't about to test it any more than he had already. They should have at least looked in on the kobold lair which might well have been without any kobolds.

"Where to, Devin?" he asks.

He had heard about a hive of bees? hornets? wasps? in the gate house. They should have the means to silence those stingers.

Derry buys another flask of oil and two more torches.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:08, Sat 18 Mar 2023.

Chessintra looked at Derry and then to Devin for a moment, then her eyes looked over at Brilliance for there was spells that she would like to share.

"Do you need to return into there so soon?  I would like to take the time to share any spells that I can with anyone who needs or to learn before going back in. she paused "It is not a quick process and may take days.

 "I have to agree with you..." Brilliance says to Chess.  She says to the others, "Think of it like armor: Would you rather have just a chain hauberk today, or some plating in addition a little later?"

Wyndham's fingers drum on the table as he considers their options.
"For the best, perhaps. Should we reconvene when you're ready?"

"How long is this spell sharing going to take?" Devin asked.  He could always move more stone in he meantime.

Looking to Devin "It could take a few days depending on the skills of the Mage. she paused "It could take a week if things are not good. she thought it would be best to let him know that it will be a long time.

 Brilliance nods.  "That sounds about right.  With us, it'll only be a few days..."

Wyndham nods.
"Last call to buy, beg, or steal whatever you think we'll need. Derry, are you bringing your collection of rat tails? I should have enough oil and torches."

"Still got the tails and the tales, yes, I do," Derry answers.

The road out of Fourtower bridge travelled over the river and led west into the foothills of a mountain chain. The road although neglected had many signs of regular traffic. Nearer the river the road skirted a dank marsh from which the foothills rose. Once past the marsh the road threaded through a wooded forest. After several uneventful miles through the drizzly rain the road terminated at the mouth of a narrow box canyon that bisected a high cliff wall. Steep cliffs and tall mountains beyond the defile loomed overhead.

At the mouth of the canyon stood an old curtain wall that has crumbled in places, leaving large gaps. The gatehouse doors lay rotting on the ground before it and spaces between the rusty portcullis allowed easy access.

OOC Day 36. Time: 9:00am. Weather: Cloudy, drizzly rain. Vision: Cloudy. Movement: 20’

Wyndh scouts up ahead of the party to have a listen at the gatehouse doors.

If the way seems clear we'll carry on.
This message was last edited by the player at 14:46, Sun 02 Apr 2023.

"Will that sleep magic work on wasps?" Devin asked nervously.  He didn't think sword and hammer would be much good against flying insects if the nest got out of hand.

The way was clear. The gatehouse doors, old and rusty, lay collapsed on the ground. The portcullis was rusty and bent; missing bars permitted access into the gatehouse. An unlit sixty foot long corridor travelled through the gatehouse and out the other side.

Devin was looking forward to getting back to Stonehell and lit a torch to lead the way into the gatehouse.  They'd need a light for the prison anyway.

Once lit, he'd head in with an ear out for buzzing.

Wyndham follows along, listening as they go.

Chessintra was next to last entering in for she knew not what to expect and she also allowed her eyes to shift a bit to see better in the darkness.  It seemed that her Infravision granted sight in the dark up to 60 ft.

Keeping her hand on her staff and a spell at the tip of her mind.  She wasn't skilled much on things like this but this was all a new experience for her.

Having been here before, Derry passes through the gatehouse without any scarcely any worries. Had brigands once manned this way, making lethal use of the murder holes? Not for hundreds of years.

 "It'll work just fine on wasps..." Brilliance reassures Devin of her magic.  "It'll work on anything with a pulse, however weak."

As you pass by the gatehouse you hear the sound of galloping from behind you, a lone rider moving with great haste.

As he closes within shouting distance he calls out, "Wyndham! I have news! Let us speak!"

Wyndham waves and then trots over to have a word with him.
After a few moments you see Wyndham pass the stranger a small pouch and you hear the unmistakable jingle of coins.

The stranger gives Wyndham a curt nod then circles back the way he came. He speeds off leaving a trail of dust in his wake.
Wyndham walks back to you and takes a tentative breath before speaking.

"Friends, that was an agent who I sent on a mission to confirm whether the rumors were true that I have a living brother. They are! All these years I've spent alone thinking I was an only orphan... My brother resides in far-off town called Riverrun and there awaits my arrival. I must go. Now. But I do not wish to leave you empty-handed. For you, Devin, a bar of silver worth 100 gold to help rebuild the temple. Brilliance and Lady Chessintra, some equipment to help you on your way:

• Lantern
• Flasks of oil (8)
• Rations (1.5 weeks)
• ten sticks of chalk
• four sheets of parchment
• a quill
• a scroll case
• Torches (12)
• an ink vial

And you, Derry," says Wyndham, patting the dwarf's shoulder. "A few token gifts to celebrate our adventures together:

• 100gp
• Small pot of slow acting poison.
• Small pot of fast acting poison."

"May you all travel well and safely, and receive whatever rewards the Fates have in store for you."

With that, Wyndham waves farewell to you and begins the long journey to reunite with his family.

While Derry can't help but be touched by Wyndham's generosity, an equally powerful resentment steals over him, whispering insidiously in his ears, "By all rights, those sticks of chalk were yours. By what right, did those up-jumped hedge wizards claim them? By no right, I tell you!"

Derry would go one to perseverate upon this, and only this, for the rest of the year until he could claim Fiene's Fortune for his own, living the parts of miser and mendicant in equal measure until that time.
This message was last edited by the player at 23:55, Mon 08 May 2023.

 "Well, good for you!" Brilliance pats Wyndham on his shoulder.

 "What say we split our gifts?" The mage turns to Chess.

Chessintra was a bit shocked at the sudden words of Wyndham.  To go meet his lost brother was nice but he was doing a mission right now and abandoning those with him.

"Safe travels.  Until our next encounter. she said as she then looked over to Brilliance "You may have them all.  You been with them longer than I and I don't need those things.

Then she looked over at Derry.  Was he too going to leave now.

 Brilliance nods, saying, "Well, the rations can go to all of us... I'll share the ink with you if you run out... and, this oil is just handy."