(Homebrew) Heroes of Bardstown

Aubrey is magically cleaning himself up a bit after the arduous work of cleansing the temple, curiously stepping closer as Grugga seems intent to take a closer look at the mirror and the wand.

Grugga:

Grugga reveals what he learned from his time magically studying the mirror and wand. ((See spoiler above))

"Hmmm... well the mirror is probably mostly harmless without the hag, but I suppose its existence might invite some unsavory types to use it. I suppose we should try to get it out of here and give it to someone trustworthy who can keep guard over it. Maybe a local temple or leader has some place to safeguard it...

As for the wand, I'm not sure who would want to attune to that, but it seems quite powerful. We could put it to good use if someone dared to link their soul to it... I certainly wouldn't."

As Rohuzar leads the team upstairs to make sure all the ghosts are quelled, Grugga follows.

Aubrey listens and ponders what Grugga just told them. "The mirror, do you think it could be reattuned? And the wand, didn't you say it was a plain wand again? If no one else wants to I could offer to attune to it. Setting fear into the hearts of our enemies will not be what condemns my soul I think." He says to the others with a smile, then joining Rohuzar and Grugga upstairs.

Leelan seems uneasy about the mirror.

"Though I don’t understand the nature of this mirror, I’d rather leave it in the capable hands of the clergy. I’m sure they’ll be much better equipped than we to deal with it."

Grugga's interest is initially piqued by Aubrey's line of questioning about the mirror. "Hey yeah, now that the primary soul has been banished form this plane, maybe the anima bindings have been loosened or broken outright. Let me see if I can find any signs of ectoplasmic backlash on the frame..." After a few moments of looking, Grugga suddenly turns and looks at Aubrey with concern in his eyes. "Aubrey you're not thinking of attuning to this, are you? This was linked with that hag for a long time... who knows how tainted it is. I agree with Leelan; we should leave this with the clergy."

Grugga crosses his arms and takes a good long look at the hag's old spellcasting focus. "The one time I'd like to see a priest of Skrillis..." He snorts derisively at the idea, and his comment seems less than sincere. "Does anyone remember seeing a priest of Valkur at the Basilicae Universalis? I think that's our best bet. I know this mirror is dangerous, but I wouldn't mind learning more about it - you know, for knowledge's sake - and I bet they would study it there."

Grugga completely misses the implication of Aubrey's comment about the condemnation of his soul ((insight -1)). He hands the wand to his human compatriot. "Think about this before you bond with it. Its creation was hidden from Zip's magic and we might want to pay to check it for curses... also, Rohuzar, do we need to report this to the Lieutenant?"

Rohuzar scoffs. "Ve are here for the ghosts. Ve must see to them first. If they are gone, then our job is done and ve may inform the owner of the mirror. It is his to deal vith as he chooses. If they are not gone, Ve go see priest. Report vill go to Lieutenant Falstaff vhen ve are done." 

Aubrey motions for Grugga to hand the wand over to Rohuzar instead, glancing over at his scoffing leader, deciding to stay quiet now.

Guilim will call upon his ability to tap into other worldly senses. Calling l upon his Divinse Sense he will spend a minute wandering through the house to feel for the presence of the ghosts if it is possible.

Guilim's careful inspection of the home finds it to be free of the further presence of any undead, fiends, or celestials.

Once Guilim gives the okay, Rohuzar will nod in satisfaction and head to the client to report. 

Guilim nods and moves to put his weapon finally, stopping long enough to wipe some sweat from his forehead. "We are good to go. I don't sense anything else here. Now let's tell them the job is done and then we can go rest.,"

"Right then... back to the Bonnaduccis' manor without the mirror? We did save their family from probably being sacrificed by a hag to an ancient god of fear... maybe they'll forgive the damage we - er, the ghosts - caused in the dining and living room. We probably still deserve a bonus on top of that, but I'm just happy we got that thing out of this plane."

With your basement dismantling and gravedigging having taken the remainder of the night, the sun has risen when you return to the Bonnaducci's town house, tired, wounded, but having completed your mission.  The streets of Umbridge bustle with activity.  The air is still and warm, with the promise of a hot day ahead.

As you approach the front walk, the voice of Christopher Bonnaducci hailing you from the road.  He jogs up to meet you, sweat dripping from his brow.  "Good morning.  I was just out for some calisthenics and..." he trails off as he takes in your appearance and bruised bodies, "... and you lot look like hell.  Pray don't tell me those ghosts whipped you and sent you running.  You wouldn't be the first, but I had high hopes of your success.  Tell me now, what news of our project?"

Grugga, being only moderately injured, jumps in and gives an overview of the situation, leaving it up to his party to fill in the gaps with their particular expertise.

"The house is safe for the first time in a long time. There was some sort of fiend - a hag - living in a secret basement, torturing the spirits of its former victims. We killed the hag and a monstrosity she created." Grugga looks to Leelan to add his expertise on the nature of the hag, monster and/or poltergeists.

"It was pretending to be a benevolent household spirit that wanted to bless the house one the tortured spirits were gone - fortunately our group is experienced in hunting these creatures." He nods to Leelan and Guilim and continues, "we determined its true nature and it fled to the secret basement. In the basement was a altar to a dark and ancient god that feeds on fear - in fact my hunch is that the fire a century ago that consumed much of both armies was caused by the hag to feed their fear to this god. We destroyed the shrine and found the bones of the creature's victims. We buried them in the garden, which stopped the haunting." Grugga looks to Guilim to describe how his ancestor spirits calmed their tortured souls.

"The only thing remaining in the basement is the hag's spellcasting focus - an enormous and heavy mirror capable of dark magic. We tried to break it, but it was impervious to our weapons. I recommend handing it over to a temple of Valkur or somewhere else for safekeeping." Grugga looks to Aubrey for any other suggestions regarding safe places in his hometown.

"Your living room and dining room were damaged in the fight, but I think you'll agree that the complications added by the fiend merit our forgiveness for those damages at the very least... A lesser team might have believed the disguised hag, and left your family in imminent danger of that fiend and her god of terror..." Grugga looks to Rohuzar to apply his formidable haggling/bargaining to the young noble.

Aubrey follows along to Christopher Bonnaducci, standing back and listening as Grugga reports on the mission, with a motion of his head passing along the question about where to place the mirror to Rohuzar. As Grugga finishes Aubrey has nothing to add but a smile and an affirmative nod to the artificer.

Rohuzar shrugs as Grugga wraps it all up quite nicely. Turning back to Bonnaducci: "Ve hope you vill call on Red Band again for any further vork. I believe it is up to you to discern vhat sort of discretion to use regarding the mirror, but I suggest: the most. And bury that basement. Offer prayers for the dead. Keep their spirits at ease. Who knows vhat sleeping in that house vhile the mirror is still there might do. Ve have gone vell beyond the average merc, but this sort of evil enchantment is the business of the nobility."

Leelan readjusts his glasses as Grugga gives a report of their stay in the estate. While walking back to the Bonnaducci residence, Leelan would have stored the book in his backpack. He would attempt to restore it as much as he can when he has the time before entrusting it to the clergy.

When asked for his insight on the matter, Leelan would simply nod in agreement with Grugga’s recounting.

Clearly a little surprised at your tale, and perhaps a little incredulous, the young lordling listens intently to Grugga.  "Fiends, you say?  How dreadful."  His brows furrow in concern when you describe damage to the building.  "Hmmn...".

"Well, that is quite an adventure.  We have a contract and I will honor... as soon as I can confirm all is as you say.  Please, come back to see me this afternoon.  In the meantime, I will have an acolyte from the church of Kryptos do a reading at the manor and make sure the spirits are well and truly gone.  And perhaps send a foreman out to quote the repairs."  He settles down on a bench in the garden along side his town house.  "I must say, this is good news, all things considered.  I cannot imagine what mother will say to learn that the gardens where she planned to install her roses are now littered with graves, but perhaps Kryptos will aid us with that as well.  In any case, father will be pleased to hear none of his trophies were damaged.  Now, if you don't mind, I have my meditations to see to.  Please, return after lunch and we will settle our accounts."

Rohuzar nods and gestures to the group. 

"Drinks and lodging on me for any that care to." He goes looking for an inn. Robust Hound is far from here, ya?