Ordin, Kozibi, and Zale, a thin older man in a jacket that was once probably very luxurious but now not so much seeks you out the following morning.

"Greetings.  My name is Jacko if you didn't know.  I am Lord Coombs butler.  The Master is requesting your presence for dinner tonight.  No need to dress up.  My wife will be making a good lobster dinner.

"He wishes to show his thanks for your efforts the other day, and discuss some business."

---

Jacko visits you in your room at the Inn Bellinha.  "Miss.  I have invited the gentlemen to dinner.  Master Coombs says you will be joining us as well."

---

The Coombs manor would pass for a merchant's home in Coinhaven.  But this Salt Lick and so it's a manor house.

Jacko greets you each at the door and ushers you into a sitting room.  Lord Coombs rises to greet you, a bandage around his right hand.  The halfling from the other day, Moon, is seated on a cushion, nursing a beer.  She nods at you.

"Welcome.  Nice to see ya.  Thanks for coming. In case you didn't know, I'm Orus Coombs.  How are things going?"

"Thank you, Jacko.  Please inform my cousin that I will be joining him shortly."  Bellinha said, turning her attention back to the small mirror in her room.  She used a cantrip to make a few small changes to her hair, several strands weaving themselves back into small braids.  Stepping back from the mirror, Bellinha turned from side to side, once again wondering whether she was wearing the best outfit for this meeting or not.  The outfit that she had chosen, blouse, skirt, and vest, was not as fancy as the dress that she had worn to dinner the night before but a little more rugged.  Hopefully it would make a good impression on her, hopefully, new partners.

Taking a breath to calm herself, Bellinha glanced over at the sword that was sitting in the corner of the room, the blade nestled in its sheath.

---

Bellinha was late, but not by much.  As she walked up to the door, it appeared that the others had already arrived.  "Good evening, Gentlemen." she greeted them with a smile.

In reply to Bellinha Grunnel (msg # 2):

Orus nods at your late entry Belinha.  "Was just pouring some drinks for our friends here."

Kozibi gives a smirk and raises his glass.

Jacko asks both Ordin and Zale what they would like to drink.  A saucer of milk and water are set down for Dillo and the otter.

"Well.  I guess there's no point in beatin' around the bush.  I'll feed everyone here in a bit.  But we wanna talk some business first.  Ordin?  You an' Nys follwed them tracks didn't ya?  Why don't you tell us what you guys found."

Ordin had said he would join at the manor later that evening for his part after breakfast Ordin moved out into the village and walked around.  He had a lot on his mind after what Nys his mentor had talked to him about.

So he was looking at Salt Lick with a whole new outlook of things to come.

Later on Ordin had cleaned up some and even Dillo as well.  He meant to bring him to the party as well.  When he arrived and was greeted by Jacko he smiled and gave a slight bow before entering.  Taking his seat he waited for the others to arrive.

When Orus asked him to tell what they found Ordin began, "Nys and I scouted the tracks of the dead.  We didn't go any further than the Braker Estate but the tracks at least came from there.  There were two groups of the dead that came here but both started from there or beyond."  Ordin hadn't known he was going to speak so he was a hit scatter brained in telling his story.
This message was last edited by the player at 07:30, Fri 05 Nov 2021.

Business? With Zale? Not sure about it, the undine ponders it for a moment. He nods his head and when the time comes he goes to the home. The man looks down at his bare feet then back at the home before knocking and entering when he can. Soon its asked what he liked to drink "Water." Heck he doesn't know any of this people though he did fight with some of them but that doesn't mean he trusts them. Heck he barely trust himself. Zale listens as the dwarf speaks but isn't sure where it is located. The otter finishes his milk and jumps onto Zale's lap, head popped up over the edge "I think they were pirates, long dead." Well...

In reply to Zale Morcant (msg # 5):

Orus raises an eyebrow.  "Pirates?  Like from the Merciless?  I wouldn't think so.  They woulda clambered up outta the grave we dug them...'less they got another place they died at.  That's an idea.  Maybe they were comin' back to their ship...

"In any case.  I need some folks to head up to the Braker Estate.  It needs to be checked out.  To make sure we don't have a problem that needs takin' care of.  I'd go, but my hands not quite mended-"

"It needs some more time to heal," the halfling healer named Moondog says, giving Orus a hard look.  "Don't do anything stupid to make it worse."

"That'd be why I'm talkin' to all a' you," Orus counters.  He gestures to Belinha.  "I asked my cousin here to lead the trip.  I'd like to ask you three gents to join her.  Moon, I'd like you to go too and keep 'em patched up."

Jacko is serving drinks.  Orus picks up his beer.  "Bellinha?  Ordin?  Kozibi?  Moon?  Zale?  Can I count on you?"

The undine sips his water and puts it down, the otter watching everyone. Zale crosses his hands over his chest. He waits for the others to respond, part of him not wanting to go and the other to find out what is going on. One minute life is peaceful, the next he's getting confused "What is Braker Estate?"
This message was last edited by the player at 04:18, Sat 06 Nov 2021.

Bellinha watched the others around the table, sensing some hesitation.  This was not going to be easy.

"The Braker Estate, from what I've been told, is an abandoned manor house a short distance from the village."  Bellinha started to answer Zale.  "Turns out that it is a great place for malcontents to gather up and seek shelter.  The villages troubles, including the latest, seem to originate from the place."

It was time to put her own cards on the table.  "In light of the recent...undead goings on, I mean to head up to the estate and see if the cause can be found and...if necessary...dealt with.  I..I can't do it alone.  We all made a pretty good team when we...dealt with the undead before and I was hoping that we...I...could count on your assistance."

Ordin had already made up his kind.  He was going to help cause 1. these were his people and 2. The land would suffer if more undead came and killed more of the areas animals.

"Bellinha, you have Dillo and I by your side."

In reply to Bellinha Grunnel (msg # 8):

Orus nods at what Bellinha says.  "Sorry Zale.  Keep forgettin' you an' our bard friends ain't locals.

"What Bellinha says is right.  About five...six miles up the coast.  It's an old manor.  The family that built it fell on hard times and it's been abandoned for a hundred years.

"Bandits.  Gnolls.  Lots of folks like to use it as a hidey hole.  It's kind of convenient for us, 'cos whenever there's trouble, we know the most likely place to start lookin'.

"I'm drawin' up a map of what I recall the layout was from the last time I was there.  Nys is gonna look it over too.  So you guys will have some idea of the lay of the land.

"But I just need you to run up there, take a look around, and see if there's anything to worry about.  If there is, and you can handle it, great.  But if not, you can come back here and tell us what's what.  One way or the other, I need some strong, young backs to take care of this.  'specially since me and Norvis are down for the count.  I can't send Nys up.  She's the only one of us who's still on her feet.  I need someone who can watch over the town in case something comes up while you're gone.

"How 'bout it?  Zale?  Mr. Kozibi?  Will you guys join Bel an' Ordin goin' on up there?"

'Death is coming. I can feel it." Zale seems hesitant. It seems he has a new family now and wants to protect them. But from who? The undead? Gnolls? Something unknown? He presses his hands upon the table as the otter barks who seems excited about the adventure but he has no ties to anyone besides Zale. The man takes a sip of the water "If Hettie is safe as well as others I live with, alright. I will go." He ponders something. I wish I knew who I am....
This message was last edited by the player at 00:16, Mon 08 Nov 2021.

In reply to Mr. Whetstone (msg # 10):

Kozibi grins.  "Why not?  A tale has to begin somewhere, right?  And I should have the time."

Orus nods, obviously pleased.  "Perfect.  Thank you all.  I can give you some coin upfront.  Jacko will distribute them to you before you leave.  And I will reward you when you return.  But for now...let's eat."

The lobster dinner is delicious.

Just to speed things along:

Zale, Koz, and Ordin you get a bag with 20 silver coins in it.

If any of you want to purchase any supplies, let me know what they are and I can tell you if they are available.  Keep in mind Salt Lick is rural. Very. Very. Rural.  So don't expect high quality or rare merchandise.

I am having some technical issues with the map.  Will get that posted up as soon as I can.

Let me know if there are any questions. If none, we should be heading off to the Estate by week's end.

Also, everyone go ahead and level up please.  Makes sense to do it at this point.

Thanks

After the plates and dishes are cleared, Orus brings out two rolls of parchment.  He unrolls the first.

"Okay.  Here is what we can recall about the grounds for the Estate..."

Please refer to the first map in the Adventurer's Almanac for the Braker Estate.  The one labeled "Braker Estate-The Grounds"

"It's built on a cliff.  Got a nice view of the ocean.  I can see why ol' Braker picked it.  Anyhow.

"There's three things of note on the grounds.  The Manor a' course.  We'll talk about that in a bit.

"There's an old shack here..." He points to it on the map.  "I think it used ta be like a servant's or guards quarters when the Brakers lived there.  A woodcutter lived in it for a while about...oh.  Twenty some odd years ago?  But he moved on.  Not much left in it last time I checked.  But that was over a year ago.

"Now this..."  He points to the circle to the south.  "This is one a' them menny-ear things.  Whatchacall 'em?  Menhirs?  Ordin?  Am I saying that right?  Hell.  Let's just call it a stone circle.

"It ain't all that impressive.  Lest I never thought so.  We got some who say it's a very spiritual place.  But me...meh.  I never felt no embrace a' the cosmos or anything like that while I was there.  It's interesting for a few minutes.  Then not so much so.

"Any questions thus far?"

Ordin enjoyed his meal, giving scraps to Dillo along the way as well.  It had seemed that they all agreed to check it out and that was a good thing.  The others who had helped out the day prior did their parts well.

Finally as dinner concluded and Orus brought out the map of the Braker Estate, Ordin looked it over.  He had been near to it and knew it well enough to nod along with Orus's account of the place.

"Yes, you said it right.  The circle as you call it is indeed a magical place.  Not everyone is able to access its magic though which is why you probably thought it nothing special."

A few times in his training, Nys had taken Ordin to the circle and had accessed the magic of the place.  A single druid had to be powerful to access one on their own though and thus Ordin wouldn't be able to do such a thing, or at least not yet that is.

Bellinha looked at the circle on the map.  "Is there anyway to remove the circle?" she asked.  The question was thoughtful at first, practical, but then she realized that perhaps asking to dismantle some natural magical monument around the Dwarf was not the best idea.  "I mean if it is not something natural or...important to nature..."

Bellinha turned her attention back to the map.  "There isn't a graveyard or anything on the map, so where would the bodies fo rate undead have come from?"

Without even thinking, Zale blurts out towards Bellinha "The ground?" Then he realizes what he just said and holds back. Undead romaing around from somewhere. And he still thinks they are the deceased pirates-but he could be wrong. Still that is what he believes. He looks down at the map. No water. Lovely "Maybe the circle is the cause of it. People are laid to rest but it keeps them from it. A barrier. Or a gate."

Ordin wasn't looking too happy with what the others were saying about the circle.  "The circle isn't keeping the dead from staying dead.  Nor is it going to be moved.  As I had briefed a little earlier, we, Nysene and I believe the undead came from farther North.  We didn't go past the manor to know for sure though as it was getting late."

"Magic can be manipulated. All magic." Zale points it out and he can tell the dwarf wasn't happy. But he then moves from the table and nods his head to the ones in charge before the otter jumps up into his arms. He nods a thank you to the ones who provided the meal and starts to head towards the door, not trusting the dwarf at the moment. He doesn't know anyone here besides that scuffle with the undead and arguing with a dwarf isn't something he wishes to do. Magic has always been a part of him. Within him "Kai." The otter yawns in his arms.

In reply to Zale Morcant (msg # 18):

Orus watches, a little amused, but shrugs.  "I know you hate to hear it said Ordin, but Zale could be right.  Someone could have messed with the circle.  Even more reason to go inspect it.  If it's not the cause, then a quick looksie will confirm.  If it is, we need to figure out how to correct it.

"In any case, there is a crpyt under the manner.  But it only held a single tomb the last time I was there.  So the number of undead doesn't make sense.  Unless the Brakers were buryin' folk somewhere close by.  But I've never seen a graveyard."

Moon stands up.  "All that being said, it comes down to us going to take that "looksie" you asked for.  If we get provisioned out tomorrow morning, we can be at the Estate by late afternoon.  Should we all meet here before the second morning bell?"

Second morning bell would be about 10 AM.  Time to make any purchases you may wish to.

If there are no more questions, I will start a new thread on Sunday.  On to the Estate!

Thanks Folks

Ordin watches as the blue-skinned man stands up and leaves.  He was very useful in the fight against the undead earlier and while he didn't want to believe what was said he knew too that magic can be manipulated.

After Orus spoke Ordin had relaxed his demeanor and began to eat again.  He gave a nod and said, "We will have that looksie as you say.  If something has done something to the circle I will see to its repair personally."

"Second bell is fine with me, Moon.  Orus thank you for the meal and I wish you a good evening."  Ordin then made his way back to see Nysene and tell her what was about to happen and what was said.

Kozibi had been a little surprised by the invitation - and the somewhat fancy if outdated messenger. But he had, of course, accepted. It would be rude not to take in a free meal. Er, to accept a dinner invitation. "Please inform him that I would be honored and delighted to accept."

He had shown up in his normal outfit, despite the butler saying there was no need to dress up, but that was because that was what he wore - a bright and somewhat-fancy entertainer's outfit. He really did want to get some different clothes at some point, maybe some thing flashy for one outfit, but definitely several nice ones too, with some good jewelry.

He smiled at Moon, and even brighter at Bellinha, greeting everyone warmly. He was in a good mood, after all.

---

He had listened to the...well, what turned out to be like a job offering and mission briefing honestly, and of course he had agreed to go. Bellinha was going, after all, and the town thought he was some kind of hero. It wouldn't be right to tarnish that reputation. Not yet at least.

He shook his head. "No questions yet." Questions would only arise once they were there on site and likely be too late, he figured. "Thank you for an...entertaining and unorthodox evening." He said it with a smile.
This message was last edited by the player at 03:34, Sun 14 Nov 2021.