Augustin tells RL that all the stories say the tower is a bit of a local legend with an evil reputation. Those people who went to look - mostly teenagers and young adults going on a dare or because they want to be delvers - say that it is empty, but there are allegedly stories of people who went to look and were never seen again. The last time that happened was when Augustin was a small boy. Up until recently people had more pressing survival needs and did not have time or energy to spend exploring ruined towers.
Meanwhile in Hammerfast, Grimbald has made a startling discovery. Tholarn Goldspinner (the sage whose body you found) is a relative of the High Master of Hammerfast and the leader of the Trade Guild, Marsinda Goldspinner. Grimald ponders what to do about this. Her younger sister, Varda Goldspinner, owns the Coach and Pony, an inn in the Trade Ward. Grimbald also remembers the shortsword found in the ankheg lair bearing the mark of Frelda Blackshield and is interested to learn that Frelda Blackshield is still alive and is the head of the Craft Guild.
While he does so Grimbald explores Hammerfast. He is shocked to find orcs also living in Hammerfast, and learns it was part of the deal brokered by agents of Moradin and Gruumsh (head deities of dwarf and orc respectively) to avoid further attacks on Hammerfast a century ago. The orcs keep to themselves, and while there are moments of antagonism, the law is clear about hostilities.
Grimbald also discovers that while Hammerfast is the most important trading partner and one of the most affluent and stable communities in the Nentir Vale, it still has some problems. Food and other supplies can sometimes run short. Since Hammerfast was built as a necropolis, it lacks arable land to grow its own food and so is very reliant on trade to bring food to the town. Grimbald hears about food panics, especially in winter, that have rocked the town in the past.
Also there is a disruptive group called the Circle of Stone, a group of religious fundamentalists who believe the folk of Hammerfast are too impious and disrespectful of the town's original purpose. They dislike any non-dwarves - especially orcs and half-orcs - being present in Hammerfast. They campaign against the town's embrace of trade and profit over piety. Most people think of the Circle members as humourless fundamentalists that want to turn Hammerfast into a theocracy.
RL would like to let Vakiel and AUgustin know what hes going to do then go up to close to the tower and standing just over 30ft from the tower ritually cast detect magic and then slowly move towards the tower door and then around the outside of the tower. He is willing to re-cast it as many times as needed as a ritual each time he loses concentration due to his injury. He would like to circle in towards the tower walls taking note of any magical signatures coming from the tower until he finds something.
Augustin tells RL that all the stories say the tower is a bit of a local legend with an evil reputation. Those people who went to look - mostly teenagers and young adults going on a dare or because they want to be delvers - say that it is empty, but there are allegedly stories of people who went to look and were never seen again. The last time that happened was when Augustin was a small boy. Up until recently people had more pressing survival needs and did not have time or energy to spend exploring ruined towers.
Augustin also tells RL two more interesting facts - that on one moonless night a month lights are seen from the tower. He also tells another story, although the paladin is more skeptical of this one - the day the wizard disappeared, the whole village had a day exactly like the day before - the same events happened exactly as they had the day before. No one who experienced that is left alive apart from Old Kellar. His take on it is that it was "magic". The day did not repeat again.
The next time the lights would appear, Augustin and RL work it out, is the evening of the first day of next month - about nine days away.
RL would like to let Vakiel and AUgustin know what hes going to do then go up to close to the tower and standing just over 30ft from the tower ritually cast detect magic and then slowly move towards the tower door and then around the outside of the tower. He is willing to re-cast it as many times as needed as a ritual each time he loses concentration due to his injury. He would like to circle in towards the tower walls taking note of any magical signatures coming from the tower until he finds something.
RL finds the whole tower radiates a transmutation magical aura.
The tower is square with four stories. Each face of the tower has a barred and shuttered window on each floor, the shutters all closed. The front door has been broken into, likely by would-be delvers or robbers in the past.
RL would like to let Vakiel and AUgustin know what hes going to do then go up to close to the tower and standing just over 30ft from the tower ritually cast detect magic and then slowly move towards the tower door and then around the outside of the tower. He is willing to re-cast it as many times as needed as a ritual each time he loses concentration due to his injury. He would like to circle in towards the tower walls taking note of any magical signatures coming from the tower until he finds something.
RL finds the whole tower radiates a transmutation magical aura.
The tower is square with four stories. Each face of the tower has a barred and shuttered window on each floor, the shutters all closed. The front door has been broken into, likely by would-be delvers or robbers in the past.
RL will go back and find Augustin and Vakiel and discuss whether to go in for a look now or wait for the light to appear.
If the timing is right, will RL's armour be ready soon so that he can go and pick it up and talk to Esa about what has been discovered to date about the tower and whether Esa has any ideas on the transmutation magic permeating the whole tower and what might have happened on that fateful night. Also does she want to come back for a delve into the tower?
The timing should be right for the armour, it's already been a few days since you paid for the armour to be made.
Vakiel won't be available for the adventure unless you make it the following month after he has fully recovered from being frozen.
We'll wait for Augustin's take on whether to look now or wait for the light to appear.
RL wont be over his injury either since his was going to take 40 days to heal. Once again, after hearing from Augustin, RL would like to take a cart to Albridge (2sp again?) to pick up the armour to avoid aggravating the injury and then wait around in Albridge for the nex time Esa is in town.
DM note: Vakiel will be fully healed from his painful condition on the 6th day of Harvestmoon (next month) and RL will be fully healed from his major concussion on the 14th day of Harvestmoon.
When the ankheg armour is ready to be picked up RL takes the cart to Albridge once again, costing 1sp per day. It rains all the way there, and the rumble of thunder is heard, but not much else.
Kathrid ushers RL in out of the rain and shows him the Ankheg breastplate. It consists of a fitted chitinous chest piece worn with supple leather. Although it leaves the legs and arms relatively unprotected, this armour provides good protection for the wearer's vital organs while leaving the wearer relatively unencumbered.
"It's lighter than metal," explains Kathrid, "but it's also more brittle. It will turn aside a blade, but a blunt force could crack it. I've treated it with a lacquer which should help it hold together in those situations."
After putting his armour away in his room at the Mallard Inn, RL seeks out Esa. He tells her about the tower. The pixie wizard has a ponder about it and suggests that there is some time manipulation effect going on.
"Transmutation is the school of magic most commonly associated with time," she explains. "The spell Time Stop is a transmutation spell. But any magic to do with time is tricky and the slightest mistep in its manipulation can have dire consequences. You have to be really good or crazy to experiment with it. Sounds like the arch-mage, whoever it was, was one or the other."
DM note: Vakiel will be fully healed from his painful condition on the 6th day of Harvestmoon (next month) and RL will be fully healed from his major concussion on the 14th day of Harvestmoon.
When the ankheg armour is ready to be picked up RL takes the cart to Albridge once again, costing 1sp per day. It rains all the way there, and the rumble of thunder is heard, but not much else.
Kathrid ushers RL in out of the rain and shows him the Ankheg breastplate. It consists of a fitted chitinous chest piece worn with supple leather. Although it leaves the legs and arms relatively unprotected, this armour provides good protection for the wearer's vital organs while leaving the wearer relatively unencumbered.
"It's lighter than metal," explains Kathrid, "but it's also more brittle. It will turn aside a blade, but a blunt force could crack it. I've treated it with a lacquer which should help it hold together in those situations."
After putting his armour away in his room at the Mallard Inn, RL seeks out Esa. He tells her about the tower. The pixie wizard has a ponder about it and suggests that there is some time manipulation effect going on.
"Transmutation is the school of magic most commonly associated with time," she explains. "The spell Time Stop is a transmutation spell. But any magic to do with time is tricky and the slightest mistep in its manipulation can have dire consequences. You have to be really good or crazy to experiment with it. Sounds like the arch-mage, whoever it was, was one or the other."
RL asks Esa, do you think the day a light is there might be a better or worse time to investigate?
Maybe the mage is even back on that day? Would dispell magic work to remove the spell?
"If it's like time stop it would be very difficult. It might not even be what the mage wants, he or she might have had only one day pass for every month here. If the whole building is being affected I doubt counterspell would work, but we could try. It's just we don't know what the ramifications of stopping the spell would be. It might wreck the experiment, it might trap the tower in an alternate zone. I'm all for giving it a go!" Esa claps her hands in excitement!
"Apparently the "groundhog day" as some called it," she continues, "reached near across the entire Harkenwold and into the Harken Forest. Something like a 50 mile radius from the tower. Some of the older fey remember it happening. Although it didn't touch us in the feywild."
Esa tilts her head on one side as she thinks. "I propose we do two investigations - one now or soon as practical. Take note of everything. I suspect there will be little threat. Then investigate again on a moonless night when the lights come on, and see what is different. Other than the lights. Hopefully more than lights. It would be a bummer to get worked up and investigate only to find that the mage had simply invented a magical timer for his indoor lights to come on."
Grimbald seeks out Varda, with an aim for an introduction to Marsinda. Despite the recent conflicts, he thinks trade could be established with the more abundant farmlands of Nentir Vale . A deal that would see both human and dwarves prosper.
In Hammerfast, Grimbald strides through the Trade Ward, looking for the Coach and Pony. The Trade Ward is the economic heart of Hammerfast. Merchants gather here to buy and sell goods from across the Nentir Vale. Compared to the rowdy, chaotic Gate Ward (where Grimbald first came into Hammerfast and where most non-dwarves do not go any further), the Trade Ward is relatively quiet and sedate. There are a number of shops and high-end inns here.
Soon Grimbald finds himself at the Coach and Pony. It looks like a fine inn, perhaps a bit more upmarket than anything he has stayed in before. The dwarf eyes the clientelle at the bar as he walks in - finely dressed dwarf merchants for the most part, other travellers - also well dressed, so perhaps scholars, envoys, or nobility. Grimbald is aware he looks out of place, but he is not too bothered by the side eye looks and frowns of bristling eyebrows or pursed moustached lips.
A half-orc - who is obviously an employee of the inn - moves past, talking to a dwarf maid in a worried tone. Grimbald sees he carries a notepad with blue lines in one hand and a pencil in the other. The half-orc is complaining his list of customers and the locations he is taking them to in the coach has gone missing. The dwarf maid is telling him that he just forgot where he put it and he can just ask them where they want to go. The pair move past and out the door before Grimbald can hear any more.
The ranger looks around and sees bar staff, none of them seem like they would be the owner. Then he sees a dwarf woman with blonde hair tied back in a ponytail talking to a merchant. She has a huge smile and the dwarf she is talking to is trying to impress her. This must be the owner, Varda Goldspinner.
Augustin spends a large amount of his time helping his family rebuild Harken, to the best of his ability. He see's if he can find that Rod of Mending that was mentioned back in Albridge to help the rebuild. He does not seem to make much efforts to seek out his party and engage them. But is his usual self when anyone talks to him. He seems just focussed on the task at hand, having been away from home for a number of months, physically broken, and mentally broken from seeing his home broken to the ground. He would have known the owners of the houses that burnt, and attended many, if not all the funerals that took place. Now he is just another man, working to rebuild the town by day and by night a few quiet beers around the tavern. He excuses himself relatively early each night and walks around the town, making sure all the work is secured and no one is struggling. He would break up any fights that spilled out onto the street. Further, he is not a detective, but he follows up on any unscrupulous individuals looking to exploit the town. It turns out knocking on those people doors in full plate armour and armed to the hilt, has a tendency to change people morals very quickly.
Once a week, Augustin disappears completely for the evening. Slipping out under the cover of darkness and when the taverns are at their fullest. He disappears into the woods surrounding Harken, and the party here the sound of Augustin's horn no matter where they are each time, as if it was being blown down the road. Some folk report a number of bestial howls coming from the forest on these nights, however, nothing more is said as the rumours say that Augustin is completing secret delving business in the area. Each week that he goes out, less and less is taken on his person until he runs out, plain clothed and barely armed, a large dagger and horn hanging off his belt.
Augustin takes a deep breath before entering the woods, he has been tracking something in here for weeks now. But has found himself too encumbered by his armour and weapons to successfully track his prey, even with the help of his hounds. He wonders if he needs the help of his friends to track whatever this is down. A single long note erupts from his horn as a number of hounds walk out from behind the trees, seemingly always there. He takes another deep breath before taking off at a sprint to where he last saw the beast, a large mass of fur and muscle. A predator in its own right who owned these woods for who knows how long. The hounds lead the way, a series of overlapping runs as they pull away from him before falling back, dodging between the trees and over small ditches. The pack hunting something unknown. After an hour of running, the hounds disappear, slinking behind trees to wherever they come from and the sound of leaves snapping underfoot stops. The only sounds that punctuate the air are a small whistle of wind through the trees and Augustin's deep breathing. He rubs his leg, knowing it continues to slow him down, infact there was a number of times he slipped and fell or misjudged his step and fell over.
He sits down and catches his breathe for 10 mins enjoying the serenity and being almost in another world, far removed from the Nentir Vale and its worries.
Unbeknownst to Augustin, a silence descends over the clearing he has taken up rest in, the owls have stopped hooting and the sounds of insects have ceased. Augustin finds himself wondering out loud:
"What's next? Can I go back to being a farmer or the nephew of the Baron?"
"How does this help anyone?"
"Is delving really for me? A treasure hunter?" The last word lingers in the air as a familiar smell of iron begins to over power the fresh scent of the woodlands.
"Hunter, predator, prey." He chuckles to himself and shouts out laughing to himself and the woods.
"Behold, Augustin, Apex predator, Avatar for the Master of the...." he can barely finish his sentence before bursting out in laughter and shaking his head at the notion. He fails to hear the crack of branches under a heavy padded foot.
He closes his eyes and cracks his neck, ready to make the run back to town.
His mind starts to race:
:Iron. Blood. Fresh. Close. Too close. How could he have missed it.:
"Animals, silent. A branch snaps to his right. Prey? Predator? Fight? Flight?"
Augustin's eyes shoot open as he reaches for his dagger. The sound of heavy paws streak across the clearing and he is bowled over before he can get to it. A large mass of grey fur brings its self to its feet about 10 feet away. It turns and stares straight at Augustin, large yellow eyes stare almost through Augustin as it gnashes its blood covered snout in his direction.
"...A dire wolf..." Augustin whispers incredulously. Why would he think he could track and chase such a beast. His thoughts are cut short as he is lunged at again, however, he is a bit more prepared and managers to roll with the beast to his advantage, getting to his feet quickly. None the less he is set upon immediately but manages to catch the beast open jaw, inches from his face. The smell of fresh and rotting flesh flows over him making him gag. For a moment everything seems to flow to a snails pace, Augustin's thoughts continue to race:
"After everything, this is how I die, alone in the woods like a helpless animal."
Images flash before his eyes, friends, family, bodies burning, laughter, houses destroyed, houses being rebuilt, Esa, running through the woods, a rabbit being chased by a dog. The dog turning into his hounds, splitting into several more chasing something across a vast plain. A shadowy figure in the distance gains on them with impossible speed. Not chasing, chased, hunted. A hungry look in its yellow eyes as it descends upon the pack of hounds, biting at the heels of the hounds, taking them down one at a time.
Augustin finds himself back in the present the same powerful jaws inches from his face. "I am not prey." Summoning a strength from deep inside himself, he manages to throw the beast over his head and stand up before the dire wolf can right itself. Augustin launches himself at the beast and manages to thrust his dagger into it a number of times, before being thrown off by the increasingly agitated creature. The creature howls, both in pain and anger. Both Augustin and the Wolf circle each other in the clearing, equally as weary of each other now.
The same images as before flash before his eyes, however, as the shadowed figure in the distance has changed. It's green eyes the most noticeable thing, piercing in the distance, a stark contrast to the yellow angry, irrational primal eyes of before. As the figure gains shape, it becomes clear that the creature now has a rider, Augustin sits atop the beast as it runs along, falling into stride with his hounds before the image disappears from his mind. The same beast eyes Augustin from across the clearing, it's eyes, changing colour slowly from yellow to green, the same as Augustin's. Augustin thinks, to himself. "The pack grows". A voice? A thought? No, a response is felt in his mind. Not an echo, something primal and old "The pack grows". Almost unconsciously Augustin finds himself walking over to the beast, running his hand through its thick course fur. Instinctively Augustin jumps on top of the dire wolf before it takes off at full speed, disappearing into the woods.
"If it's like time stop it would be very difficult. It might not even be what the mage wants, he or she might have had only one day pass for every month here. If the whole building is being affected I doubt counterspell would work, but we could try. It's just we don't know what the ramifications of stopping the spell would be. It might wreck the experiment, it might trap the tower in an alternate zone. I'm all for giving it a go!" Esa claps her hands in excitement!
"Apparently the "groundhog day" as some called it," she continues, "reached near across the entire Harkenwold and into the Harken Forest. Something like a 50 mile radius from the tower. Some of the older fey remember it happening. Although it didn't touch us in the feywild."
Esa tilts her head on one side as she thinks. "I propose we do two investigations - one now or soon as practical. Take note of everything. I suspect there will be little threat. Then investigate again on a moonless night when the lights come on, and see what is different. Other than the lights. Hopefully more than lights. It would be a bummer to get worked up and investigate only to find that the mage had simply invented a magical timer for his indoor lights to come on."
Thank you Esa, will you be heading back to participate in the investigation or are you too busy here?
Also there is something else I wanted to talk to you about. You know there is a dragonborn named Dirth that has a regeneration orb or similar living in Harken forest. I want to go and see if it can be obtained soon so that it can be used on Augustin. He has taken so much damage on behalf of us all I think he needs it the most. Would you be willing to help me get it? Dirth has bullwugs as slaves so im not sure what it will take to get it. Im happy to pay or perform a service as long as its not too expensive but also happy to take it by force if I need to.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Grimbald freezes momentarily, then walks outside to gather himself. He spits in his hand and tries to stroke down his hair and beard. He pulls out as many nose and ear hairs as his chubby fingers can reach. He shoos away a squirrel nesting in his pocket, explaining "I'll be back shortly, I have dwarf business to attend to". He dusts of his clothing and tidies as best he can, removing several twigs. Grimbald then enters and tries to casually and confidently walk like a casual yet confident dwarf. Performance 14.
He orders a beer from the bar and makes his way over to Varda "I don't mean to be presumptuous, please and thank you, but if I am not mistaken you are Varda Goldspinner?..... I um returned the remains of, I believe, a relative of yours, Tholam Goldspinner. I wish to pass my condolences if I may.? You see I am quite the famous and brave and bold and polite dwarf these days.
"Where are my manners, my name is Grimbald, my family name was lost to me, but I am known as Grimbald Squirrelking." He immediately and nervously sculls his beer, with a fair amount dribbling down his beard. The abandoned squirrel is fast behind him, runs up his leg, gives him an annoyed look and returns to her nest.
"My uncle Tholarn? You found his body? He went missing years ago. I'm unaware of his body being returned, where is it?" Varda seems skeptical, perhaps expecting a scam of some type.
Augustin tells RL that all the stories say the tower is a bit of a local legend with an evil reputation. Those people who went to look - mostly teenagers and young adults going on a dare or because they want to be delvers - say that it is empty, but there are allegedly stories of people who went to look and were never seen again. The last time that happened was when Augustin was a small boy. Up until recently people had more pressing survival needs and did not have time or energy to spend exploring ruined towers.
Meanwhile in Hammerfast, Grimbald has made a startling discovery. Tholarn Goldspinner (the sage whose body you found) is a relative of the High Master of Hammerfast and the leader of the Trade Guild, Marsinda Goldspinner. Grimald ponders what to do about this. Her younger sister, Varda Goldspinner, owns the Coach and Pony, an inn in the Trade Ward. Grimbald also remembers the shortsword found in the ankheg lair bearing the mark of Frelda Blackshield and is interested to learn that Frelda Blackshield is still alive and is the head of the Craft Guild.
While he does so Grimbald explores Hammerfast. He is shocked to find orcs also living in Hammerfast, and learns it was part of the deal brokered by agents of Moradin and Gruumsh (head deities of dwarf and orc respectively) to avoid further attacks on Hammerfast a century ago. The orcs keep to themselves, and while there are moments of antagonism, the law is clear about hostilities.
Grimbald also discovers that while Hammerfast is the most important trading partner and one of the most affluent and stable communities in the Nentir Vale, it still has some problems. Food and other supplies can sometimes run short. Since Hammerfast was built as a necropolis, it lacks arable land to grow its own food and so is very reliant on trade to bring food to the town. Grimbald hears about food panics, especially in winter, that have rocked the town in the past.
Also there is a disruptive group called the Circle of Stone, a group of religious fundamentalists who believe the folk of Hammerfast are too impious and disrespectful of the town's original purpose. They dislike any non-dwarves - especially orcs and half-orcs - being present in Hammerfast. They campaign against the town's embrace of trade and profit over piety. Most people think of the Circle members as humourless fundamentalists that want to turn Hammerfast into a theocracy.
RL would like to let Vakiel and AUgustin know what hes going to do then go up to close to the tower and standing just over 30ft from the tower ritually cast detect magic and then slowly move towards the tower door and then around the outside of the tower. He is willing to re-cast it as many times as needed as a ritual each time he loses concentration due to his injury. He would like to circle in towards the tower walls taking note of any magical signatures coming from the tower until he finds something.
Augustin also tells RL two more interesting facts - that on one moonless night a month lights are seen from the tower. He also tells another story, although the paladin is more skeptical of this one - the day the wizard disappeared, the whole village had a day exactly like the day before - the same events happened exactly as they had the day before. No one who experienced that is left alive apart from Old Kellar. His take on it is that it was "magic". The day did not repeat again.
The next time the lights would appear, Augustin and RL work it out, is the evening of the first day of next month - about nine days away.
RL finds the whole tower radiates a transmutation magical aura.
The tower is square with four stories. Each face of the tower has a barred and shuttered window on each floor, the shutters all closed. The front door has been broken into, likely by would-be delvers or robbers in the past.
RL will go back and find Augustin and Vakiel and discuss whether to go in for a look now or wait for the light to appear.
If the timing is right, will RL's armour be ready soon so that he can go and pick it up and talk to Esa about what has been discovered to date about the tower and whether Esa has any ideas on the transmutation magic permeating the whole tower and what might have happened on that fateful night. Also does she want to come back for a delve into the tower?
The timing should be right for the armour, it's already been a few days since you paid for the armour to be made.
Vakiel won't be available for the adventure unless you make it the following month after he has fully recovered from being frozen.
We'll wait for Augustin's take on whether to look now or wait for the light to appear.
Arcana check for Esa: 23.
Esa will probably have some ideas when you get around to talking to her. :)
RL wont be over his injury either since his was going to take 40 days to heal. Once again, after hearing from Augustin, RL would like to take a cart to Albridge (2sp again?) to pick up the armour to avoid aggravating the injury and then wait around in Albridge for the nex time Esa is in town.
DM note: Vakiel will be fully healed from his painful condition on the 6th day of Harvestmoon (next month) and RL will be fully healed from his major concussion on the 14th day of Harvestmoon.
When the ankheg armour is ready to be picked up RL takes the cart to Albridge once again, costing 1sp per day. It rains all the way there, and the rumble of thunder is heard, but not much else.
Kathrid ushers RL in out of the rain and shows him the Ankheg breastplate. It consists of a fitted chitinous chest piece worn with supple leather. Although it leaves the legs and arms relatively unprotected, this armour provides good protection for the wearer's vital organs while leaving the wearer relatively unencumbered.
"It's lighter than metal," explains Kathrid, "but it's also more brittle. It will turn aside a blade, but a blunt force could crack it. I've treated it with a lacquer which should help it hold together in those situations."
After putting his armour away in his room at the Mallard Inn, RL seeks out Esa. He tells her about the tower. The pixie wizard has a ponder about it and suggests that there is some time manipulation effect going on.
"Transmutation is the school of magic most commonly associated with time," she explains. "The spell Time Stop is a transmutation spell. But any magic to do with time is tricky and the slightest mistep in its manipulation can have dire consequences. You have to be really good or crazy to experiment with it. Sounds like the arch-mage, whoever it was, was one or the other."
RL asks Esa, do you think the day a light is there might be a better or worse time to investigate?
Maybe the mage is even back on that day? Would dispell magic work to remove the spell?
"If it's like time stop it would be very difficult. It might not even be what the mage wants, he or she might have had only one day pass for every month here. If the whole building is being affected I doubt counterspell would work, but we could try. It's just we don't know what the ramifications of stopping the spell would be. It might wreck the experiment, it might trap the tower in an alternate zone. I'm all for giving it a go!" Esa claps her hands in excitement!
"Apparently the "groundhog day" as some called it," she continues, "reached near across the entire Harkenwold and into the Harken Forest. Something like a 50 mile radius from the tower. Some of the older fey remember it happening. Although it didn't touch us in the feywild."
Esa tilts her head on one side as she thinks. "I propose we do two investigations - one now or soon as practical. Take note of everything. I suspect there will be little threat. Then investigate again on a moonless night when the lights come on, and see what is different. Other than the lights. Hopefully more than lights. It would be a bummer to get worked up and investigate only to find that the mage had simply invented a magical timer for his indoor lights to come on."
Grimbald seeks out Varda, with an aim for an introduction to Marsinda. Despite the recent conflicts, he thinks trade could be established with the more abundant farmlands of Nentir Vale . A deal that would see both human and dwarves prosper.
In Hammerfast, Grimbald strides through the Trade Ward, looking for the Coach and Pony. The Trade Ward is the economic heart of Hammerfast. Merchants gather here to buy and sell goods from across the Nentir Vale. Compared to the rowdy, chaotic Gate Ward (where Grimbald first came into Hammerfast and where most non-dwarves do not go any further), the Trade Ward is relatively quiet and sedate. There are a number of shops and high-end inns here.
Soon Grimbald finds himself at the Coach and Pony. It looks like a fine inn, perhaps a bit more upmarket than anything he has stayed in before. The dwarf eyes the clientelle at the bar as he walks in - finely dressed dwarf merchants for the most part, other travellers - also well dressed, so perhaps scholars, envoys, or nobility. Grimbald is aware he looks out of place, but he is not too bothered by the side eye looks and frowns of bristling eyebrows or pursed moustached lips.
A half-orc - who is obviously an employee of the inn - moves past, talking to a dwarf maid in a worried tone. Grimbald sees he carries a notepad with blue lines in one hand and a pencil in the other. The half-orc is complaining his list of customers and the locations he is taking them to in the coach has gone missing. The dwarf maid is telling him that he just forgot where he put it and he can just ask them where they want to go. The pair move past and out the door before Grimbald can hear any more.
The ranger looks around and sees bar staff, none of them seem like they would be the owner. Then he sees a dwarf woman with blonde hair tied back in a ponytail talking to a merchant. She has a huge smile and the dwarf she is talking to is trying to impress her. This must be the owner, Varda Goldspinner.
Actions?
Augustin spends a large amount of his time helping his family rebuild Harken, to the best of his ability. He see's if he can find that Rod of Mending that was mentioned back in Albridge to help the rebuild. He does not seem to make much efforts to seek out his party and engage them. But is his usual self when anyone talks to him. He seems just focussed on the task at hand, having been away from home for a number of months, physically broken, and mentally broken from seeing his home broken to the ground. He would have known the owners of the houses that burnt, and attended many, if not all the funerals that took place. Now he is just another man, working to rebuild the town by day and by night a few quiet beers around the tavern. He excuses himself relatively early each night and walks around the town, making sure all the work is secured and no one is struggling. He would break up any fights that spilled out onto the street. Further, he is not a detective, but he follows up on any unscrupulous individuals looking to exploit the town. It turns out knocking on those people doors in full plate armour and armed to the hilt, has a tendency to change people morals very quickly.
Once a week, Augustin disappears completely for the evening. Slipping out under the cover of darkness and when the taverns are at their fullest. He disappears into the woods surrounding Harken, and the party here the sound of Augustin's horn no matter where they are each time, as if it was being blown down the road. Some folk report a number of bestial howls coming from the forest on these nights, however, nothing more is said as the rumours say that Augustin is completing secret delving business in the area. Each week that he goes out, less and less is taken on his person until he runs out, plain clothed and barely armed, a large dagger and horn hanging off his belt.
Augustin takes a deep breath before entering the woods, he has been tracking something in here for weeks now. But has found himself too encumbered by his armour and weapons to successfully track his prey, even with the help of his hounds. He wonders if he needs the help of his friends to track whatever this is down. A single long note erupts from his horn as a number of hounds walk out from behind the trees, seemingly always there. He takes another deep breath before taking off at a sprint to where he last saw the beast, a large mass of fur and muscle. A predator in its own right who owned these woods for who knows how long. The hounds lead the way, a series of overlapping runs as they pull away from him before falling back, dodging between the trees and over small ditches. The pack hunting something unknown. After an hour of running, the hounds disappear, slinking behind trees to wherever they come from and the sound of leaves snapping underfoot stops. The only sounds that punctuate the air are a small whistle of wind through the trees and Augustin's deep breathing. He rubs his leg, knowing it continues to slow him down, infact there was a number of times he slipped and fell or misjudged his step and fell over.
He sits down and catches his breathe for 10 mins enjoying the serenity and being almost in another world, far removed from the Nentir Vale and its worries.
Unbeknownst to Augustin, a silence descends over the clearing he has taken up rest in, the owls have stopped hooting and the sounds of insects have ceased. Augustin finds himself wondering out loud:
"What's next? Can I go back to being a farmer or the nephew of the Baron?"
"How does this help anyone?"
"Is delving really for me? A treasure hunter?" The last word lingers in the air as a familiar smell of iron begins to over power the fresh scent of the woodlands.
"Hunter, predator, prey." He chuckles to himself and shouts out laughing to himself and the woods.
"Behold, Augustin, Apex predator, Avatar for the Master of the...." he can barely finish his sentence before bursting out in laughter and shaking his head at the notion. He fails to hear the crack of branches under a heavy padded foot.
He closes his eyes and cracks his neck, ready to make the run back to town.
His mind starts to race:
:Iron. Blood. Fresh. Close. Too close. How could he have missed it.:
"Animals, silent. A branch snaps to his right. Prey? Predator? Fight? Flight?"
Augustin's eyes shoot open as he reaches for his dagger. The sound of heavy paws streak across the clearing and he is bowled over before he can get to it. A large mass of grey fur brings its self to its feet about 10 feet away. It turns and stares straight at Augustin, large yellow eyes stare almost through Augustin as it gnashes its blood covered snout in his direction.
"...A dire wolf..." Augustin whispers incredulously. Why would he think he could track and chase such a beast. His thoughts are cut short as he is lunged at again, however, he is a bit more prepared and managers to roll with the beast to his advantage, getting to his feet quickly. None the less he is set upon immediately but manages to catch the beast open jaw, inches from his face. The smell of fresh and rotting flesh flows over him making him gag. For a moment everything seems to flow to a snails pace, Augustin's thoughts continue to race:
"After everything, this is how I die, alone in the woods like a helpless animal."
Images flash before his eyes, friends, family, bodies burning, laughter, houses destroyed, houses being rebuilt, Esa, running through the woods, a rabbit being chased by a dog. The dog turning into his hounds, splitting into several more chasing something across a vast plain. A shadowy figure in the distance gains on them with impossible speed. Not chasing, chased, hunted. A hungry look in its yellow eyes as it descends upon the pack of hounds, biting at the heels of the hounds, taking them down one at a time.
Augustin finds himself back in the present the same powerful jaws inches from his face. "I am not prey." Summoning a strength from deep inside himself, he manages to throw the beast over his head and stand up before the dire wolf can right itself. Augustin launches himself at the beast and manages to thrust his dagger into it a number of times, before being thrown off by the increasingly agitated creature. The creature howls, both in pain and anger. Both Augustin and the Wolf circle each other in the clearing, equally as weary of each other now.
The same images as before flash before his eyes, however, as the shadowed figure in the distance has changed. It's green eyes the most noticeable thing, piercing in the distance, a stark contrast to the yellow angry, irrational primal eyes of before. As the figure gains shape, it becomes clear that the creature now has a rider, Augustin sits atop the beast as it runs along, falling into stride with his hounds before the image disappears from his mind. The same beast eyes Augustin from across the clearing, it's eyes, changing colour slowly from yellow to green, the same as Augustin's. Augustin thinks, to himself. "The pack grows". A voice? A thought? No, a response is felt in his mind. Not an echo, something primal and old "The pack grows". Almost unconsciously Augustin finds himself walking over to the beast, running his hand through its thick course fur. Instinctively Augustin jumps on top of the dire wolf before it takes off at full speed, disappearing into the woods.
Augustin casts Find Steed.
Thank you Esa, will you be heading back to participate in the investigation or are you too busy here?
Also there is something else I wanted to talk to you about. You know there is a dragonborn named Dirth that has a regeneration orb or similar living in Harken forest. I want to go and see if it can be obtained soon so that it can be used on Augustin. He has taken so much damage on behalf of us all I think he needs it the most. Would you be willing to help me get it? Dirth has bullwugs as slaves so im not sure what it will take to get it. Im happy to pay or perform a service as long as its not too expensive but also happy to take it by force if I need to.
Grimbald freezes momentarily, then walks outside to gather himself. He spits in his hand and tries to stroke down his hair and beard. He pulls out as many nose and ear hairs as his chubby fingers can reach. He shoos away a squirrel nesting in his pocket, explaining "I'll be back shortly, I have dwarf business to attend to". He dusts of his clothing and tidies as best he can, removing several twigs. Grimbald then enters and tries to casually and confidently walk like a casual yet confident dwarf. Performance 14.
He orders a beer from the bar and makes his way over to Varda "I don't mean to be presumptuous, please and thank you, but if I am not mistaken you are Varda Goldspinner?..... I um returned the remains of, I believe, a relative of yours, Tholam Goldspinner. I wish to pass my condolences if I may.? You see I am quite the famous and brave and bold and polite dwarf these days.
"Where are my manners, my name is Grimbald, my family name was lost to me, but I am known as Grimbald Squirrelking." He immediately and nervously sculls his beer, with a fair amount dribbling down his beard. The abandoned squirrel is fast behind him, runs up his leg, gives him an annoyed look and returns to her nest.
Grimbald's Story:
Varda's brows knit together.
"My uncle Tholarn? You found his body? He went missing years ago. I'm unaware of his body being returned, where is it?" Varda seems skeptical, perhaps expecting a scam of some type.