Rohuzar holds the bark. “I think… if this spirit is the same as vhat you say, then I vould have killed it, too. But I do not think I vould torture it or keep it prisoner here. Battle is battle. And I do it for coin now. I am not cruel for any reason. I vill return it on my own, vhen ve return to Bardstown. Alone, I vill not risk all of you for personal reason. Everyone deserve break. Done vell. Have much to do I am sure. Then back to vork.” 

Rohuzar will then approach Leelan. “I feel no love for this bird man. But I vill help you if you need. Vhat do you suggest?”

Leelan tries to help with what little preparations are left to prepare the camp. When asked about the fate of the owl-man, he seems conflicted.

 ‘’Frankly, I would rather not kill it. I realize that it complicates our position here, but after my short exchange with it, I would argue that it is…quite harmless. Its character evokes to me that of a lost child.’’ He pushes his glasses back up. ‘’I doubt it lied in any case, not after Dawntreader put the fear of the Gods into it.’’, he says that last part with a tone that indicates discontentment. ‘’Rohuzar, if you are not cruel for no reason as you say, then I believe we should spare its life, at least for now. Though, if you all believe otherwise, I would only ask that it’d be put out of its misery as quickly and as painlessly as possible. But what a waste it would be.’’

With this said, he awaits the group decision. Some part of him, hopes that they will agree and spare the owl-man’s life, if not for him to have the occasion to study it, then simply because it feels morally just to him. He realizes however that this is an uphill battle.

From the cavern, Leelan would have brought the books, the ring, the herbalism kit, the climber’s kit, the antitoxin vial and the warm clothing. (Not sure if we’ve already rounded up all the loot yet, I think this is what would be the most valuable to us. Feel free to ignore this last part or correct me if I’m wrong).

Spending some time to ritual-cast identify, Grugga confirms that you have found two magical items.

• The deerskin gloves which feel unusually warm are just that.  Meera's Gloves were a gift to the Carcerimon healer who was the caretaker of this safehouse.  She would sometimes remark to her visitors how cold and lonely this place could be in the wintertime, when visitors and agents grew scarce.  While they could not help with the loneliness, one autumn she was presented with this pair of gloves to help with the cold.  When worn, the gloves make the wearers hands feel nice and toasty.  A matching set of slippers was promised, but they will never come, now.  (There is no mechanical benefit to the gloves.  They are just nice, extra warm gloves.)
• The ring with the fire motif Leelan found below is called Heatsink, and it is a ring of fire resistance.  Originally given to the Carcerimon rangers by a Dwarven mining cartel after their archers saved a caravan from hill giant attack, this ring was considered communal property within the guild and was given out to particular rangers if and when their mission might call for a little fire protection.  It was taken from a dead ranger by necromancers, who started using it to feed a lich's phylactery.  The ring has been slightly drained as a result.  (Anytime the ring would act to grant resistance to fire damage, roll a d20.  On a 1, the band cracks and the ring is destroyed, without granting resistance.)

Rohuzar nods to Leelan. “Okay. You have plan for it vhen ve return to Bardstown? I’m not sure is safe to keep it vith us.” Rohuzar brainstorms with Leelan while packing everything up into packs for the donkey (Daisy? Did I remember right?). Then camp just outside the cave tonight

After hearing Leelan's depiction of the owl-man, Grugga's already soft heart is softened further. "I didn't realize it had the mind of a child, though that makes sense for a creature that was created." He shakes his head, "I agree, we can't hold it accountable for its evil actions given it has been created and brainwashed by a lich."

((As for transporting goods in the morning, we have 4 horses (right? I guess we didn't talk about them much but I'm hoping we all keep them as mounts.), and I was thinking that we could make some bags out of the curtains and drapes from the cabin like DM said and fill them with rations for the peasants of the Empire. I'd love to just direct the nearby villages to the ranger hideout, but I don't think they could survive Maggie's Wood, so I think we'll have to take it to them.

As for what to take, I'd say everything but the torches and tinderboxes. We can distribute some of the things we don't need, like the extra cold weather clothing, to some of the nearby villages. I don't think we'll be able to take all the rations, but we can take as many as possible. If we need more bags, we can fill up the tents with a bunch of stuff and use them like giant bags too.))

"What about Lady Shelley? We may have failed to bring her proof of sea folk, but I think she’d be delighted at the idea of studying bird-folk.", the gnome suggests

Rohuzar’s usual serious demeanor breaks with a wry grin. “I say before: you are very clever. Is good idea.” 

As the rain pitter patters on the roof of the tents and everyone gets ready for bed, Grugga seems to have something on his mind as he sits down for first watch. He looks like he's about to say something a few times before he finally chooses an angle to attack the issue from. "Do you guys remember a few days, when we were at that fishing hut with the 2 sailors from the little village downriver of Midway? And, uhm, they got taken? And I swam out into the lake to look for them." He clears his throat. "ahem. Well after I came swimming back to the dock. It was because I'd seen something. Some fish swam up to me. Just regular fish. And they, uhm, they swam into the shape of the symbol that was carved into Malia's face."

"I remember telling you that the hag had seen me. Well, I think she still sees me. Every time there's a body of water: the lake, a river, a stream..." he pauses and looks down at the mud splashing onto his already mud-caked pantlegs, "... the rain... I can feel her watching me. I can feel  her right now, I've felt her ever since the damned rain started. And the worst part is," He's found his groove now, and the words are coming more easily, even as they start to sound crazier, "I'm not even sure it's a hag anymore. I think it's bigger than a hag. Older. Something ancient connected to that damned lake.

"And then that stone tablet that the ogre was holding. When I touched it I saw a vision from Something's point of view. High up in the mountains. Flying, I think." He clears his throat again and continues, "I pissed It off too. I could tell it was angry. The Lake Thing was pissed that we deprived it of its sacrifice, and the Sky Thing was pissed we... I don't know? Killed its ogre? Broke its stone? Who knows how these things think."

He looks to his companions to assess their reaction. "I wish I could be brave like Guilim and Rohuzar, but I'm not. Not against something like this. I think..." He looks at his shows again, elbows resting on his knees, not able to look at his friends while he begs them, "I think I need help. I don't know what's going to happen to me, but I'm terrified of facing it alone. I think I need your help." He realizes he's socially obligated to look his team in the eyes when begging them to risk their lives for him, so he does. "Leelan, Aubrey, Rohuzar, Guilim, please help me with this. I can't face it alone, and I can't live with it always watching me.

"It's only been, what? A week? But I already feel like you're family. I understand if you can't. I understand if you don't feel the same about me. I'll still work with you, even if you can't help. But, ahem, I don't know how to finish asking this..." He just stops talking and waits for responses, unsure of what they'll be.

Aubrey thanks Dawntreader for sharing information on Randall Foote and rejoins with the others. "Bringing the owl-man to Lady Shelley, what an excellent idea Leelan." Aubrey says smiling, having cleaned himself up after the conflagration. He then recounts what Dawntreader has told him about Randall Foote (Posts # 1325, 1333 and 1339).
He offers to take second watch after Grugga.

Aubrey listens attentively as Grugga explains his predicament. "A lot has indeed happened since we met at the Robust Hound Inn and Tavern that has brought us closer together. I'm not sure what my father would say about calling you my family..." He says with a wry smile. "...but I certainly consider you all trusted companions and loyal friends. So of course I will not let you face this alone Grugga." He says, laying a friendly hand on the artificer's shoulder.

Leelan listened to Grugga’s plea for help with concern. Then, a thought occurred to him. A week ago, he took on a job and joined a mismatched group of individuals. At the time, he didn’t think much of it. Each of them at come to further their own goals, him included. But now, he found himself having grown fond of his companions, nay, his friends. He enjoyed going on these wild adventures, not only because it allowed him to pursue his research, but also for their company. If Rosie could see him now, fighting and studying monsters firsthand,…

 ‘’Rest assured, Grugga, my friend. I will endeavor to rid you of whatever hex curses your existence. We’ll have to research those symbols more thoroughly, but we will find an answer, I swear it.’’ 

Just to clarify: do we have the means to carry everything? Rohuzar intends to make a litter or sled to hook up to a couple horses so they can take the bodies of the Banshees out of here. He’ll want to look into an undertaker/carpenter bag at the village outside Maggie’s Wood and to buy a cart or wagon to get them all the way back to Bardstown. It’s important to him. 

The stuff, he’d like to pack on Leelan’s donkey or the other horses. All of it. 

“I am afraid I don’t know how to fight this. But to be on this team means none are left behind. None but enemy.” He gestures towards the Screaming Banshees and then towards the necromancers. “I am uncertain… should be burn them? I not like leaving body of necromancer. They don’t stay as they are.” 

"I say burn the bodies before they somehow rise and attack us again. As for the bird part of me actually agrees with the Elf for once. It is an unknown and could prove to be very dangerous despite only seeming like a child. But it does seem innocent of everything but doing what its parents told it. So I say as long as it does not prove to be hostile any longer we let it live but keep a very close watch on it." Guilim suggest ad he looks to the others.

"Yes, burn all the corpses I would say, and take the owl-man to Lady Shelley, assuming we believe we can make sure he won't escape on our way back to Bardstown." Aubrey says, nodding.

Rohuzar works on getting a real bonfire going to burn the bodies of the necromancers

Aubrey joins Rohuzar, helping him with burning the corpses of the necromancers. "Are we bringing the Screaming Banshee's back with us to Bardstown?" He asks as the last necromancer lies on the pyre. "Unless we know where to deposit them I suggest we burn them too. I don't think they would be opposed to that. And besides, bringing a corpse back all the way to Bardstown might be a bit...smelly."

“It is unpleasant task, yes. But… is important. Legion got a couple things right, like not leaving the dead. No one should be left behind. Ve stop for boxes and cart in that village outside Maggie’s Voods. Ve already have horses. It not come out of team’s pay.” Rohuzar shrugs. “Sell cart right after.” 

Aubrey nods. "Well, then our work tonight is done." He says and starts to magically clean himself up before turning in for the night.

"Thank you all for your support. It means a lot to me." Grugga beams, things are looking up. After everything is taken care of for the night he takes first watch as planned and is ready to move out in the morning.

As the last things have been sorted out Aubrey unpacks his bedroll and quickly gets to sleep. As Grugga wakes him up for his shift he nods and quietly finds a comfortable position to keep watch while contemplating last days events. They had been travelling north for some days now, Rohuzar, Grugga, Leelan and Guilim and himself, even past Shelley. He had learned so much on these last couple of eventful days of the hidden powers of the world. If only they could be tamed and controlled. He felt his control of the talisman he wore strenghtening with each use. His father should be pleased with this kind of progress, and a visit on the way back to Bardstown seemed appropriate. Perhaps he could even help to negotiate some kind of deal with  Dr. Barr and he should also discuss the predicament with Beneducci boys with his father. Something should definitely be done about them. Bringing the owlman to Lady Shelley also seemed like a good idea, further encouraging her to delve into her esoteric interests and consequently keeping her mind away from her family's business. There was also Gregory Steelsong, the seneschal of house Shelley unfortunately, but perhaps he could be...recruited. As his shift was over Aubrey woke up his teammate and went back to sleep, content that he was on the path his father had hoped for him. Waking up next morning Aubrey readies himself for the journey back to Shelley.