“A blue stick? I hadn’t noticed it,” says Metsi. “Bela loves to collect all kinds of oddities to add to her nest, so it could be anything. Honestly, sometimes she picks up items that aren’t good for her. Every week or so, I have to comb through to make sure everything is safe. She may wish to keep it, but I would rather it go. So help yourself. You’ll be saving me the bother of it later. I’ll distract her so she doesn’t notice you taking it.”

“Thank you, Metsi. And thank you, Bela.” Bramble says with a slight bow of the head.

As Metsi turns Bela aside, Bramble will quickly and silently enter the stall, extract the blue tipped stick and tuck in under his cloak.

As he exits the stall, he will bid them both a good night.

“Thank you again for your time and hospitality.”

As Bramble and Sphyboe make their way back to the others, he will discretely show the stick to her.

”Do you know what this could be? Perhaps it is nothing, but we do travel with some gifted people who might be able to discern if this is a hidden treasure.”

Sphyboe will hold the stick carefully to examine it's property, then she will use the helm of her shirt to rub it clean:

"It can be a magic item or just a normal stick decorated for ornate purpose. I might be able to recall something about the magical tradition of staves, rods or wands but not the exact school of magic."

Arcana 13

Bramble and Sphyboe leave the garrison, studying the stick. It shows signs of being carved, though simply. It is well polished and the blue on the end is a cylindrical gemstone that seems bonded to the wood. It certainly looks like a magic wand of some kind. To know for sure, you would need to spend more time with it or find someone with a spell to identify its nature.

You return to the Red Rune Inn. It’s been less than an hour*, so Essie may still be sitting at a table in the dining room. Helena long ago retired to her room for her dinner and bath. Daerthe may have finished her bath and found a corner in which to meditate for the night. Presumably Ryndar is doing something similar, maybe in a location where he can watch any approaches to Helena’s room.

(Any actions or conversation before we move on to the next day?)

*Although it may feel like much longer.

Bramble will order the stew (3sp), a room (5sp), and a bath (1sp). And plan on showing the wand to the rest of the party at breakfast. After his bath, he will discard the unused goodberries and cast up a new batch before going to sleep.

Sphyboe has been inspecting the carvings and the gemstone of the stick, finally ruling that it's a wand of some sort. She will return the wand to its finder, then she announces:

"I wish I could communicate with the Griffons through some kind of magical means, they might have seen something during their patrol. Do you know what I mean? Giants!"

She utters the last word in a muffled tone so that only Bramble can hear that. After that, she reveals her findings to him, and suggests that he should show it to the other members of the party.

Arcana 12

Those of you who secured rooms enjoy the comfort of civilization protected from any attack by giants or goblins or such. You sleep well and rise feeling well rested. Breakfast is included in what you have already paid for food: eggs, bacon, potatoes, fresh crusty rolls, and cider are offered to all who wish to partake.

As we gather around a table to enjoy breakfast, Bramble will say,

”Good morning, all. Sphyboe and I visited the garrison last evening and visited with a Griffon, which was remarkable. But that, perhaps, is not the most important discovery. In one of their nests, and with the permission of the trainer, I was allowed to keep this.”

Bramble will produce the blue gem tipped stick from under his cloak and he will set it in the center of the table, within reach of anyone who wishes to examine it.

”Sphyboe believes it could be magical, but please, anyone, examine it and if it can be of use to any of you, please feel free to keep it.”

Daerthe having only needed a few hours of her trance has already eaten and takes her leave to find a ship where she can aquire new thieves tools and perhaps better quality clothing then the patch work mess she has been wearing. If possible she will also sell off the 2 jet she took in Nightstone. (100gp a piece.)

Daerthe leaves the inn to find an overcast morning with wisps of fog about. She looks around the yard of the fortification and it seems that the inn is the only building. There are several wagons and carts with a few guards watching them. A few merchants seem to be preparing their caravans to depart. There is also the gate in the inner wall that leads into the garrison. Within, you can make out a few buildings that look like barracks and the tower that Sphyboe and Bramble visited the evening before.

(Roll investigation if you wish to ask around to find anyone who would sell you the items you seek.)

Investigation: 18

As Daerthe checks over the various caravans, merchants, and guards, she is struck by the sight of red-skinned female tiefling with curling horns and black eyes standing in front of a wagon. Her burly arms are crossed as she watches over the yard, a longsword sheathed at her side. She gives Daerthe a nod as their eyes meet. Although her whole posture is one of warning for the general public to stay clear, she calls over, “You appear to be looking for something?”

Daerthe looks the female over, scanning every inch of her before moving towards her slowly. As she walks closer she offers a raised brow. "Perhaps you can help with that. I am in need of a few items and thought it would be best to aquire them before setting out."

As Daerthe examines the tiefling closely, you notice a swishing tail, well-kept leather armor, a small scar on one cheek, and the slightest grin that begins to widen the longer you stare. “Hmmm...getting a good look, eh? You are either deciding if you trust me or if you want to ask me out. Unfortunately, we are about to hit the road, so I don’t have time to dally. If you really want to make some purchases, you may have better luck. Our wagons are full of all kinds of general supplies that we’ll be selling in various communities. What exactly are you looking for?”

"I do not ask anyone out. If I wanted such a thing you would be on your knees groveling for my affection." Daerthe says as she looks the tiefling directly in the eye with a smirk of her own. "Now what I require is better clothing and a new set of lockpicks. Also I wish to sell these." She hold out the two jet she has, winking at the tiefling.

A laugh bursts out of the tiefling and she claps Daerthe on the shoulder, “Well said! ‘Groveling’! Yes, indeed.” Then she calls back over her shoulder, “Garret! Tilo! We have a customer.” 

You hear a voice call back, “What’s that, Lakta? A customer? Here? At this time of day?” Then two neatly dressed halflings come out from behind the wagon.

“Yes, she’s looking for some clothes and lockpicks. And she has some gems to sell,” explains Latka. “Careful, she’s a tough negotiator!” And she winks at Daerthe.

The halflings bustle about, opening some boxes and sacks and finding a couple of outfits from which you may choose. Garret says, “These are good sturdy clothes for a traveler like yourself. A set includes leather boots, a wool skirt or breeches, a sturdy belt, a shirt (with a vest or jacket), and an ample cloak with a hood. We have a variety of colors.” He also presents a set of thieves’ tools. “The set of traveler’s clothes is 2 gold and the lockpick set is 25 gp.” Meanwhile Tilo examines your gems. “Oh, these are very fine indeed. I do believe they are worth a good 100 gold each! Unfortunately, as we are at the beginning of our journey, we don’t have that kind of coin on hand. You would do best to keep them safe and try to sell them in Waterdeep, assuming you are heading that direction. If you do go there, I recommend going to Bristlehands Brightgems in the Trades Ward. Ask for Javela, tell her Tilo Riverworthy sent you. She’s a good sort and won’t cheat you or put on airs like they do in some of the jewelers’ shops there.”

Daerthe nods as she moves to look over the clothing, taking off her work cloak and trying on a black one. As she removes the cloak cloak tattered remains of her underdark clothing can be seen, the web like designs barely visible due to the damage from direct sunlight.

After a bit of messing about she picks out a dark colored tunic, the breeches and boots along with the vest. Once she picks out her clothes she goes to look over the tools, nodding as she picks them up. Reaching into her pouch of coins to set down the 27 required. She then turns to the tiefling and moves close enough to whisper as she walks by. "I may need assistance putting on these foreign clothes. If you could assist me it would not take much time... Latka..." She then walks off slowly to see if the tielfing reacts, offering a smirk over her shoulder.

Lakta lets out a breath and shakes her head, “You are quite a temptress. If we were not leaving so soon...I like to take my time to get to know a person. We will be back in Waterdeep in a couple of weeks. Perhaps our paths will cross again.” And she watches you walk back to the inn.

(Meanwhile, what have Helena, Ryndar, Essie, Bramble, and Sphyboe been up to in the inn? Anyone checking out the wand? Ready to hit the road?)

"That is a shame it would not take more then an hour or so. But alas it seems both of us are not long for this place." Daerthe says as she plays up being disappointed before shrugging and giving the tielfing one last smirk. 

'Look for the name Daerthe then... Make sure to bring good wine... I am not sure what surface dwellers drink but I only drink the best.' She says into the tieflings mind as she walks away, not looking back as she does so.