Although he has no answer to Augustins speech, Vakiel will take some time around the campfire to explain the difference to RL about killing for food, the killing we have done & murdering folk.
RL listens with great attention but can't help his mouth falling open in suprise. He can't believe that civilisation makes such distinctions. Everything kills to survive, or defend itself or to remove problems. Still Vakiel has given RL something to think about.
He goes and has a quiet word with Grimbald to find out if the Ranger knows this new information as well
"I guess it depends on what kind of creature you are RL. A squirrel will defend its territory. The wolf will weed out the weak for a feed. I've seen a fox kill just because a squirrel moved, she wasn't even hungry, just left em dead and walked away. I'm a squirrel that way. I don't want to murder, I just want nature left alone to run its course. But if there's a fox out there, I'll kill that murdering ****er".
"As for our name, I consider you all my dray, even that bloody pixie, I'll defend you to my last breath, then find another breath"
"I guess it depends on what kind of creature you are RL. A squirrel will defend its territory. The wolf will weed out the weak for a feed. I've seen a fox kill just because a squirrel moved, she wasn't even hungry, just left em dead and walked away. I'm a squirrel that way. I don't want to murder, I just want nature left alone to run its course. But if there's a fox out there, I'll kill that murdering ****er".
"As for our name, I consider you all my dray, even that bloody pixie, I'll defend you to my last breath, then find another breath"
RL is quiet again while he processes this from Grimbald. 'So, as long as I act to keep the balance of nature I don't have to worry about whether what I am doing is 'murder' then?'
"In the fey world such distinctions about intention to take a life is really important," Esa replies to Grimbald. "Fey folk have a reputation for being cruel to non-fey sometimes, but it's not really cruelty which indicates intent to create suffering, it's more uncaring, like nature is. And we can be just as callous about each other as well. Killing, in all its forms, can be part of that. And how that is perceived - self defence, killing for a purpose, killing for revenge, killing unnecessarily or out of whim, killing for cruelty, is important for what action is take in response. It makes for interesting politics, and our long-lived arch-fey love politics and drama."
"And.." the tattooed pixie lands in front of Grimbald and looks up at him, "I appreciate what you said, and you should know the sentiment is returned. Now if we're finished being mushy, I have my lessons in Infernal to complete for today, as well as studying my spells for tomorrow."
Even with the fire it was too cold overnight to sleep outside. The rain came, pattering on the roof, but not loudly. Everyone has a successful long rest.
Shepherd is up early, tending to her chickens and sheep. The party help out by making breakfast for everyone. Esa drops some of her silver coins on Shepherd's bed for her to find later. As usual it is amazing to see such small coins suddenly turn big when they leave her hand. A fey trick, of course - otherwise Esa would be weighed down with 10 copper coins - but fascinating even if you know how or why.
She catches some of the party watching her. "What? It's to pay her back for eating all her food. Anyway, what's the plan? Where are we going next?"
"That old haunted mansion on the edge of the forest north of here? Where you can hear the crying lady? There's something in Carrion's journal about that place, I saw it when I was flicking through it last night!"
"That old haunted mansion on the edge of the forest north of here? Where you can hear the crying lady? There's something in Carrion's journal about that place, I saw it when I was flicking through it last night!"
RL sits down near Shepherd,' I love stories'. 'Can you tell it please'
Shepherd opens the old book carefully, the pages are dry and brittle in some places. She scans using her finger. Esa looks, trying to catch familiar words written there in the Infernal tongue, but most of it is too difficult for her to read.
"Ah, here it is, a good two pages of it. But some is missing," she points to where part of the first page has flaked away. "But that seems to just be the part about how and why he did the curse - seems like the Lord of the manor foiled Carrion's plans at some point in the past."
The tiefling reads some more before saying "The ruin was once the manor home for a powerful lord and lady, known to Carrion, and the necromancer harbored feelings of revenge for him. The bit about how is missing too. The Lord - he just calls him The Lord rather than use his name - was a delver in his adult years who was granted an estate by the Emperor of Nerath - or likely the Imperial Bureaucracy granted it - when he retired, but for some reason not stated here, the Imperial Bureacracy granted him an estate in Nerath's far northern province of the Nentir Vale. Like many retirees, after a life of adventure, doing very little except mundane work was depressing. When the charismatic Carrion appeared, seemingly the Lord did not recognise him - disguised or maybe had not actually met in person - the Lord encouraged him to stay for a while. Carrion as we know was there for his own agenda, for revenge. He encouraged the Lord to dabble in the dark arts, Carrion made it exciting and interesting, but then mixed in a curse of his own patron - Orcus. Over time the Lord's connection with Orcus drove him insane, as Carrion expected. In a fit of rage induced by the curse, the Lord murdered his entire family, brutally slaying his loving wife and two darling daughters. He then took his own life after Carrion removed the rage, hoping for just this outcome. This act of extreme violence triggered the curse Carrion had set, and the entire manor was cursed forever; all four members of the family returned as undead spirits, doomed to interminably haunt the location. Not only that but the servants were all also turned into undead. Carrion left, pleased with himself, and moved on to other things. Occasionally the tiefling would stop by the ruined manor to admire his handiwork, and was even more pleased when would-be delvers entered the ruins to find the Lord's fabled treasure, but would be killed by the undead there. The Lord was able to trap the souls of the best of the delvers to form part of his ghostly guard."
"What evil was perpetrated there," gasped Shepherd, putting the book down in her lap. "It's the worst thing I've ever heard." She picked up the book again.
"Apparently the curse on the manor can only be broken if the bodies of the Lord, the Lady, and two daughters are all laid to rest with formal burial rights. They'd be just bones now, surely."
Shepherd closed the book. "You may have heard it's called The Tower of the Banshee because most humans don't know what a real banshee is, but you can hear the Lady crying long before you reach the manor. The manor is just a ruined tower and the other buildings not much more than stone shelters now, mostly open to the weather. Some of the manor walls are still up. Are you sure you want to go there? Sounds like a trap for delvers!"
Augustin thinks before standing and pensively stating:
”… I have asked a lot from you all over the last few months. You have obliged without question. If you agree this is the priority, I will help. I just need…. Something hard to come by. Powdered silver….”
”my family have taught me…. Rites…. That may be able to meet the requirements you speak of. I’ll have to try and remember it…. But there was a lot of silver involved.”
Augustin pauses again.
“… I’d like to continue to help the vale, not spot fire things that seem to be managing themselves…” he seems to nervous to continue “…. If that’s what we decide to do I’m in. Perhaps they’ll have a library we can consult… . For what I don’t know, but history seems to be key…”
”….im ready to leave when we are…. Just the silver…. Powdered….”
The party decide to take some downtime to prepare for their foray to the haunted mansion.
Augustin heads to Harken Village to see his family and petition Sister Sondal at the House of Faith for some powdered silver. He takes Beaumont Oakenheel with him to show him how the Harkenwold had changed since he first went into Shepherd's Undercroft. Beaumont noted sombrely the decline of technology and resources since the fall of Nerath - which he was still having trouble getting his head around. Augustin would also frequent the inn and two taverns at Harken to talk to travellers to ask about what was happening in the 'Wold in particular and the Nentir Vale in general. The trip to Harken took longer due to the ever present rain muddying the trails and roads.
RL sets his herbal kit up in a room at the Mallard Inn and sets about creating some healing potions for everyone (2 each).
Esa decides to stay with Shepherd and continue her lessons in the Infernal language, while helping the tiefling on the farm with her magic, especially mage hand, summon fey (who would charm sheep), and enlarge/reduce.
Vakiel stays in Albridge, helping people where he can, especially those affected by the war. He chops wood for war widows, he works on the farms of injured veterans and their families, and also spends time in the Mallard Inn, listening to travellers tales.
Grimbald spends some time in the woodlands, talking to squirrels about what they've seen and listening to the whispers of the wood.
Esa flies to Albridge and talks to Rustling Leaves about using some party loot to do an exchange with some fey for a gold gilded flower. RL needs one also and gives her three semi-precious stones they acquired during their adventures. Esa takes these and heads into the Harken Forest and negotiates an exchange. The next day she delivers a very small flower gilded in gold and held inside an almost clear resin (hardened sap) sphere no larger than a marble. Esa assures him it will work fine as a spell component. She has one also, even smaller than RL's.
Over the next few days the following information is gathered from travellers:-
There has been an increase in travellers going missing on the roads and from small communities in the Nentir Vale. Slavers are believed responsible, and the descriptions of some of the slavers match those of the Iron Circle soldiers seen entering The Seven-Pillared Hall under the mountain known as Thunderspire.
The Tower of Green Flame in Harken was all lit up again on the moonlit night a couple of nights ago. The curse of this timey-wimey tower is still active.
The dragonborn soldiers of Dythan's Legion have not yet found their missing scouts. They have continued their search, but now have scaled it back. Most communities have a notice on their noticeboard about it, offering a reward for information. This has led to people going out looking and some not returning (see note about slavers above).
The Raven Roost bandits are still the most violent of the established bandit gangs, often resulting in the death of one or occasionally all of the people they rob. There is finally some official alarm about this group. Government officials from both Fallcrest and Hammerfast are having discussions together about what action to take.
Once everyone has had enough of semi-civilised life, the party gathers again and heads north towards the haunted manor. Without guidance of someone who knows the area (like Fredrick Quicksilver), it takes a couple of extra days to locate it. But when they do, Augustin and Esa instantly recognise you are entering a land of desecration. The plants here are notably sparse and appear wilted. The land is quiet, very few insects are seen, none are heard and no birds at all are seen or heard. Initially the ruins cannnot yet be seen, so it seems the curse must extend to the borders of the ruined manor's holdings, not just the manor itself. With nerves on edge, the party continues. Within a short time RL's spirit owl familiar spots the ruins about a mile ahead. It is around this time a sobbing can be heard on the wind, coming from the direction of the tower. It is faint, but audible.
RL listens with great attention but can't help his mouth falling open in suprise. He can't believe that civilisation makes such distinctions. Everything kills to survive, or defend itself or to remove problems. Still Vakiel has given RL something to think about.
He goes and has a quiet word with Grimbald to find out if the Ranger knows this new information as well
"I guess it depends on what kind of creature you are RL. A squirrel will defend its territory. The wolf will weed out the weak for a feed. I've seen a fox kill just because a squirrel moved, she wasn't even hungry, just left em dead and walked away. I'm a squirrel that way. I don't want to murder, I just want nature left alone to run its course. But if there's a fox out there, I'll kill that murdering ****er".
"As for our name, I consider you all my dray, even that bloody pixie, I'll defend you to my last breath, then find another breath"
RL is quiet again while he processes this from Grimbald. 'So, as long as I act to keep the balance of nature I don't have to worry about whether what I am doing is 'murder' then?'
"In the fey world such distinctions about intention to take a life is really important," Esa replies to Grimbald. "Fey folk have a reputation for being cruel to non-fey sometimes, but it's not really cruelty which indicates intent to create suffering, it's more uncaring, like nature is. And we can be just as callous about each other as well. Killing, in all its forms, can be part of that. And how that is perceived - self defence, killing for a purpose, killing for revenge, killing unnecessarily or out of whim, killing for cruelty, is important for what action is take in response. It makes for interesting politics, and our long-lived arch-fey love politics and drama."
"And.." the tattooed pixie lands in front of Grimbald and looks up at him, "I appreciate what you said, and you should know the sentiment is returned. Now if we're finished being mushy, I have my lessons in Infernal to complete for today, as well as studying my spells for tomorrow."
Even with the fire it was too cold overnight to sleep outside. The rain came, pattering on the roof, but not loudly. Everyone has a successful long rest.
Shepherd is up early, tending to her chickens and sheep. The party help out by making breakfast for everyone. Esa drops some of her silver coins on Shepherd's bed for her to find later. As usual it is amazing to see such small coins suddenly turn big when they leave her hand. A fey trick, of course - otherwise Esa would be weighed down with 10 copper coins - but fascinating even if you know how or why.
She catches some of the party watching her. "What? It's to pay her back for eating all her food. Anyway, what's the plan? Where are we going next?"
RL votes to continue on to the haunted mansion as he has never seen a ghost and then to Drith to get the regeneration item.
"Can you punch a ghost? Im up for a try"
Shepherd listens with interest.
"That old haunted mansion on the edge of the forest north of here? Where you can hear the crying lady? There's something in Carrion's journal about that place, I saw it when I was flicking through it last night!"
RL sits down near Shepherd,' I love stories'. 'Can you tell it please'
Esa also flitters over and alights on RL's shoulder to hear.
Shepherd opens the old book carefully, the pages are dry and brittle in some places. She scans using her finger. Esa looks, trying to catch familiar words written there in the Infernal tongue, but most of it is too difficult for her to read.
"Ah, here it is, a good two pages of it. But some is missing," she points to where part of the first page has flaked away. "But that seems to just be the part about how and why he did the curse - seems like the Lord of the manor foiled Carrion's plans at some point in the past."
The tiefling reads some more before saying "The ruin was once the manor home for a powerful lord and lady, known to Carrion, and the necromancer harbored feelings of revenge for him. The bit about how is missing too. The Lord - he just calls him The Lord rather than use his name - was a delver in his adult years who was granted an estate by the Emperor of Nerath - or likely the Imperial Bureaucracy granted it - when he retired, but for some reason not stated here, the Imperial Bureacracy granted him an estate in Nerath's far northern province of the Nentir Vale. Like many retirees, after a life of adventure, doing very little except mundane work was depressing. When the charismatic Carrion appeared, seemingly the Lord did not recognise him - disguised or maybe had not actually met in person - the Lord encouraged him to stay for a while. Carrion as we know was there for his own agenda, for revenge. He encouraged the Lord to dabble in the dark arts, Carrion made it exciting and interesting, but then mixed in a curse of his own patron - Orcus. Over time the Lord's connection with Orcus drove him insane, as Carrion expected. In a fit of rage induced by the curse, the Lord murdered his entire family, brutally slaying his loving wife and two darling daughters. He then took his own life after Carrion removed the rage, hoping for just this outcome. This act of extreme violence triggered the curse Carrion had set, and the entire manor was cursed forever; all four members of the family returned as undead spirits, doomed to interminably haunt the location. Not only that but the servants were all also turned into undead. Carrion left, pleased with himself, and moved on to other things. Occasionally the tiefling would stop by the ruined manor to admire his handiwork, and was even more pleased when would-be delvers entered the ruins to find the Lord's fabled treasure, but would be killed by the undead there. The Lord was able to trap the souls of the best of the delvers to form part of his ghostly guard."
"What evil was perpetrated there," gasped Shepherd, putting the book down in her lap. "It's the worst thing I've ever heard." She picked up the book again.
"Apparently the curse on the manor can only be broken if the bodies of the Lord, the Lady, and two daughters are all laid to rest with formal burial rights. They'd be just bones now, surely."
Shepherd closed the book. "You may have heard it's called The Tower of the Banshee because most humans don't know what a real banshee is, but you can hear the Lady crying long before you reach the manor. The manor is just a ruined tower and the other buildings not much more than stone shelters now, mostly open to the weather. Some of the manor walls are still up. Are you sure you want to go there? Sounds like a trap for delvers!"
Augustin thinks before standing and pensively stating:
”… I have asked a lot from you all over the last few months. You have obliged without question. If you agree this is the priority, I will help. I just need…. Something hard to come by. Powdered silver….”
”my family have taught me…. Rites…. That may be able to meet the requirements you speak of. I’ll have to try and remember it…. But there was a lot of silver involved.”
Augustin pauses again.
“… I’d like to continue to help the vale, not spot fire things that seem to be managing themselves…” he seems to nervous to continue “…. If that’s what we decide to do I’m in. Perhaps they’ll have a library we can consult… . For what I don’t know, but history seems to be key…”
”….im ready to leave when we are…. Just the silver…. Powdered….”
Augustin thinks that if anyone is going to have powdered silver, it is likely to be Sister Sondal, at the House of Faith in Harken Village.
The party decide to take some downtime to prepare for their foray to the haunted mansion.
Augustin heads to Harken Village to see his family and petition Sister Sondal at the House of Faith for some powdered silver. He takes Beaumont Oakenheel with him to show him how the Harkenwold had changed since he first went into Shepherd's Undercroft. Beaumont noted sombrely the decline of technology and resources since the fall of Nerath - which he was still having trouble getting his head around. Augustin would also frequent the inn and two taverns at Harken to talk to travellers to ask about what was happening in the 'Wold in particular and the Nentir Vale in general. The trip to Harken took longer due to the ever present rain muddying the trails and roads.
RL sets his herbal kit up in a room at the Mallard Inn and sets about creating some healing potions for everyone (2 each).
Esa decides to stay with Shepherd and continue her lessons in the Infernal language, while helping the tiefling on the farm with her magic, especially mage hand, summon fey (who would charm sheep), and enlarge/reduce.
Vakiel stays in Albridge, helping people where he can, especially those affected by the war. He chops wood for war widows, he works on the farms of injured veterans and their families, and also spends time in the Mallard Inn, listening to travellers tales.
Grimbald spends some time in the woodlands, talking to squirrels about what they've seen and listening to the whispers of the wood.
Esa flies to Albridge and talks to Rustling Leaves about using some party loot to do an exchange with some fey for a gold gilded flower. RL needs one also and gives her three semi-precious stones they acquired during their adventures. Esa takes these and heads into the Harken Forest and negotiates an exchange. The next day she delivers a very small flower gilded in gold and held inside an almost clear resin (hardened sap) sphere no larger than a marble. Esa assures him it will work fine as a spell component. She has one also, even smaller than RL's.
Over the next few days the following information is gathered from travellers:-
Once everyone has had enough of semi-civilised life, the party gathers again and heads north towards the haunted manor. Without guidance of someone who knows the area (like Fredrick Quicksilver), it takes a couple of extra days to locate it. But when they do, Augustin and Esa instantly recognise you are entering a land of desecration. The plants here are notably sparse and appear wilted. The land is quiet, very few insects are seen, none are heard and no birds at all are seen or heard. Initially the ruins cannnot yet be seen, so it seems the curse must extend to the borders of the ruined manor's holdings, not just the manor itself. With nerves on edge, the party continues. Within a short time RL's spirit owl familiar spots the ruins about a mile ahead. It is around this time a sobbing can be heard on the wind, coming from the direction of the tower. It is faint, but audible.
I need a DC13 Wisdom save from everyone.
Esa's wisdom save: 22.
RL wisdom save 11
He will also cast Guidance on Vakiel then Augustin and Grimbald in that order if allowed
They'll make their save the same time as you.
Grimbald Wisdom save 17 plus guidance 1
Vakiel wisdom save 17 plus guidance if it counts… 4