The night outside in the tents passes without incident.  During the first watch, Dawntreader departed with only a silent nod, fetching his horse and riding off to the North.

17 May 2105

With the dawn, the rainfall finally ends, the clouds rolling away to the east as though shooed away by giant invisible hands.  The rays of the morning sun are a welcome relief after so much time under stormy, overcast skies.  Firewood from inside the cave is used to light a funeral pyre, and the corpses of the necromancer, the murdered rangers, and a handful of otherwise unidentifiable undead are set to ash.

Rohuzar assembles a simple litter to drag the corpses of the two women and the dwarf from the Screaming Banshees.  This is affixed to Dandelion and she is able to pull it along, in addition to a load of all the weapons and other items looted from the cottage and cave.  The four horses are then loaded down with rations.  Using curtains, bedsheets, robes and any and every other cloth-like material, you are able to load up rations and attach them to the horses like makeshift saddlebags.  Altogether you are able to load up 960 rations in this way before the horses can carry no more.  This leaves them unable to carry a rider, and so the party is forced to walk out of the forest, just as they had walked in.

The owl-man, Sixteen as he is called, is bound at the hands and tied to a rope leash, the party taking turns holding on.  There is one instance, when Leelan takes his turn with the reign, when it looks like Sixteen is considering trying his luck flying away... but he hesitates and then submits back to your custody.  He marches the rest of the way along behind you in sullen silence.

The walk is slow going, without a magical pathway to guide you.  When you draw closer to the area where you had met with Maggie, her Grand Wolf and three smaller wolves fall in behind you.  

"You did not take our lady's fair offer to collect the Elf's blood.  There is no more welcome for you here.  Leave these woods, lest the Lady unshackle me and let me feast on your sweet marrow."

He follows about 50 yards behind you for a time, before peeling off.  Still, at least a few of his wolves are always present, just within sight behind you as you continue the long trek back toward Malvern's Town.  When darkness falls and you consider whether to make camp or press on, the wolves begin to howl, unsettling you enough to keep you moving.  You carry on through the night, using the moon to navigate and keep yourself headed in the right direction.  As the following dawn breaks, you emerge from the forest and see the outskirts of Malvern's town in the distance.  

18 May 2105

Still unsure of the old Orc woman Phlox's connection to Maggie, you decide to make camp in a field just outside town and catch up on sleep, setting a watch.  At mid day you strike camp and proceed into town.  Checking in with the local Church of Deimos, you learn to your great sadness that it is to late to cast gentle repose and there is nothing to be done to arrest the ongoing decay and putrefaction of the corpses.  Rohuzar is able to secure a cart for 15gp.  Dandelion is able to pull this faster than the litter.  Though it could hold the rations as well as the bodies, you decide it is probably best not to mix the two together and you leave the rations on the horses.  Eager to get back to proper civilization, you depart Malvern's Town and arrive back in Shelley, just as the sun is setting in the West.

At Malvern's town, Grugga will leave a bag of rations with the mayor and inform him of the fate of the Carceimon rangers. Whether the town knew it or not, the rangers were probably protecting them from some of the more potent dangers of the wilderness, particularly a group of necromancers on the other side of the Wood. Grugga further warns the mayor that human-like owl people are those necromancers' spies (he doesn't mention anything about liches) and their motives should be mistrusted, though they may not be inherently evil.

At Shelley, Grugga would like to stay the night since they arrived in the evening. He would also like to tell the mayor of Shelley what he told the mayor of Malvern's town and leave them with some rations as well. He leaves the talk of the Beneducci boys up to Aubrey. He would then pay an evening visit to Dr. Barr on his boat, remaining near the lake for only as long as necessary, and inviting him for another evening meal and drink. (Hopefully he'll have some cash by that point).

He doesn't have anything in particular to talk about, except that he's getting close to finishing his main project, his "steel defender." Mainly he just wants to take the opportunity to say hello to a fellow artificer again, since the opportunity is infrequent in the empire. He leaves talk of any discussion of a meeting between the Goldentides and him to Aubrey, as he seems like the best mediator for the job at hand. Upon leaving, Grugga tells the old professor where to find him in Bardstown (Robust Hound) if he wants to say hi on his way back down the Breitvasser.

Before leaving, Grugga would like to confirm that Lady Shelley herself isn't back in town. That would be awkward to miss her and have to come back.

After that, his business in Shelley would be concluded and he would rejoin the rest of the group (besides Aubrey) on the way to Bardstown, where he has a laundry list of things he wants to get done before the group's next adventure.


Edit: I jumped the gun a bit. RPing through it instead.

Rohuzar settles in the horses and DANDELION (gah, not daisy or Dixie etc) with Leelan. 

“You are glad to be doing this? It everything you hope for?” 

Guilim spends the journey back on high alert after the meeting with the wolf. At all times he carries his halberd at the ready, either in a fighting stance or using it like a very large walking stick. As the owlman looks like he is considering flying away, he looks back at him. "We should tie him with weights so he can't fly."

Weighing down the owl-man is an excellent idea, Guilim, and by rotating a bag of rations off of the horses and onto the owl-man, it both rests the horses a tiny bit and grounds with birdman to earth.

***

Rohuzar is able to secure lodging for everyone again at the Browning House (15sp) in Shelley but the costs for stabling the horses and Dandelion has gone up... it is 9sp to house all the horses, donkey and wagon.  They will not keep the corpses in the stable (more on that).

Traipsing across the street to the Reed Castle you see a familiar face in Dr. Barr.  He happens to be sitting with another crew of Red Band fighters.  The leader, an Orc cleric of Kryptos named Bor bin Saleh, sees your group and Rohuzar's leadership ring, and strikes up a friendly conversation.  They were hired out of Bardstown by Lady Shelley - who is back here in Shelley - to provide security.  Apparently, she received some bad news and had to come back up this way in a hurry.  The rest of his team is two more Orcs and two Humans, all men and all fighters by the look of them.

Dr. Barr is absent-mindedly preaching to them about the importance of seeing that pork is thoroughly cooked before consuming it when he sees Grugga and exchanges pleasantries.  He agrees to store the corpses on his boat overnight.  At the table, he and Grugga are able to McGuyver-up a simple deodorizing powder that should make the night and the rest of the trip less unpleasant.  He then takes Grugga aside.

Grugga:

 (We can roleplay a little in Shelley, or the group can just depart for Bardstown and I can handle Aubrey's business via DM.)

While on the road to Shelley, Leelan attempts to strike a conversation with Sixteen. He realizes that the owl-man probably feels like a prisoner being dragged against his will, so he tries to make it more comfortable. He asks questions about him. How old is he? How’s life back at the nest? How was he treated back there? Why did his ‘Mother’ choose him for this mission? How many brothers and sisters does he have?

He seems to take a genuine interest in the answers and takes notes of whatever answers he may give. 

(I figure a persuasion roll might be in order to earn his trust. If not disregard. Persuasion: 9)

Quote from nschrock >>

Rohuzar settles in the horses and DANDELION (gah, not daisy or Dixie etc) with Leelan. 

“You are glad to be doing this? It everything you hope for?” 

 (You had the right idea, just not the good flower XD)

’’Most assuredly, Sir! Tis been but week since I’ve joined your retinue, and I’ve seen and done more than I’d hope for. While I could pursue my research over the old dusty tomes kept in the Imperial libraries, on-the-field experience simply isn’t the same. I get to witness first-hand the monsters and oddities of this world. And the rush of adrenaline makes me feel like I’m in my prime years again. I do hope that my services have been to your satisfaction, Sir.’’

When the gnome hears that Lady Shelley is in town, he sees this as an opportunity. He would ask where he could find and meet her, and if anyone is interested in accompanying him and Sixteen to the meeting.

Grugga:

 
Grugga leans away from his private conversation with the Doctor and asks his colleagues, "Can we spare some of the rations and warm clothes for the sick in Pentwater. There's a pox spreading among the Dwarven population; Dr. Barr is heading back to Pentwater to administer treatment to the sick. Aubrey, he'll be leaving in a day or two. He's just waiting on a care package from Lady Shelley," he turns to the Doctor again, "so are you free enough to speak with the Goldentides about the paddleboat business?"

Quote from SavageVince >>

 

When the gnome hears that Lady Shelley is in town, he sees this as an opportunity. He would ask where he could find and meet her, and if anyone is interested in accompanying him and Sixteen to the meeting.

 Grugga expresses his interest in coming along, mostly as an observer. He recognizes that Leelan is by far his superior in biological sciences, and that Aubrey could maneuver through any political or social concerns that may come up.

Grugga:

 Dr. Barr is still interested in meeting with the Goldentides, but if it cannot be arranged quickly he will have to put it off until his next visit to the north.

Lady Shelley is apparently in mourning, though it is not clear who has passed.  Nevertheless when word reaches her that you possess some kind of strange bird-man, you receive word that she is willing to meet to discuss this new development.  22

Rohuzar claps Leelan on the back. 

“This is fine team. I hope you stay on for a long time. I plan on doing this til I retire, but not everyone is here for that. They pursue long term interests. I must keep those interests aligned. You tell me if ever you feel yourself pulled avay.” 

Rohuzar starts to count up the value of everything they acquired when Grugga comes asking for equipment. 

“There is clothes vith the supplies ve retrieved. Take them and anything else you think they need from our findings. Make sure they don’t spill how they came by it, or there vill be a bill.” 

“As for the gloves… again, expensive. And I’m not convinced it’s vorth that price. If you vant it, it comes from your share. If ve find something more convincing, I vill help pay.”

Let me know if there’s any stuff you want from the loot, and I’ll mark it off as I add up what our earnings are for doling out shares)

At Reed Castle in Shelley Aubrey is all for helping those suffering in Pentwater. He would like to join Leelan and Grugga visiting Lady Shelley and paying his respects. He would also like to travel on to his family's estate as soon as possible to make sure there will be a meeting with Dr. Barr before he leaves.

Grugga leaves the team a "cold weather clothes" each and donates the rest to Dr. Barr. He prepares to donate 200 rations to the cause, but thinks he should maybe check them for rot before sending them to sick people. Is there a church of Helios or Deimos in Shelley that would cast detect poison and disease on all our rations in return for a donation of the rations? A church of Helios in particular might be interested in the necromancer threat nearby. He warns Dr. Barr that the rations have been recently found and we haven't payed taxes on them yet, so he should either keep stumm or be ready to pay a portion of their worth. Grugga will leave 5 gold with the professor in case of the latter; to be used on succor for the sick if the former.

After leaving the donations with Dr. Barr and thanking him for his good work in fighting the pox, he heads with the others to see Lady Shelley.

Grugga, there are several temples in Shelley, the nearest being a Mariners Church devoted to Ord.  The priests there are suspicious but not openly hostile to the artificers and their paddleboat machine and donate their services clearing the rations as their own contribution once they hear about the spreading disease in the south.  The rations are in good condition with no spoilage.

(The party can order meals and drinks as they choose from the menu of Reed Castle (post #832).  Just note it in your coin on your sheets.)

Lady Shelley is willing to meet with you all in the morning.

19 May 2105

You are invited to the keep of the Shelleys in the center of town.  A 10 foot stone wall surrounds an inner courtyard which is itself divided by a stone wall.  In the first area you enter is Fort Shelley and the local guard barracks.  Through a second gate is Sunrise Hall, the seat of House Shelley.  The main manor house is large but rather plain, perhaps lacking in decoration due to its position hidden inside these walls.  A tower rises in the back and is of obviously different and newer construction.  This can be seen rising several stories above the walls and is much more colorful, with the tapestries of House Shelley hanging from all sides.  

You are greeted at the door by Gregory Steelsong.  He engages in formal greetings and shows the expected noble house to noble house hospitality to Aubrey.  Lady Shelley awaits in a large study at the top of the tower.  

(What is the pitch/presentation to Lady Shelley?)

On the way to Sunrise Hall Aubrey suggests Leelan should do the talking about the owl-man and Aubrey could stand by to help out with any negotiations.
(Ready to give help action for now.)
(Was it possible to somehow learn exactly why Lady Shelley had returned?)

At the church of Ord, Grugga thanks the priests and clerics for their service. "Please take some of the rations to give to the poor of Shelley as our thanks. We found these in Maggie's Wood and knew they'd go to waste if we didn't haul them back. By the way, while I'm here. Do you happen to know this symbol in relation to the Great Lake?" Grugga considers making a shining glyph of it using his magical tinkering, but thinks better of it and uses a more traditional method, like scratching it into the dirt with a stick, or using some chalk.. He shows them the symbol that was carved into Malia's forehead. ((I'm planning on leaving them with 100 rations, but that number is pending group approval in the OOC thread)).

That evening Grugga orders the venison and a pint of cider and bids his companions an early goodnight.

In the morning he joins his companions at Sunrise Hall.

Leelan, on the walk to Shelley, Sixteen opened up to you a little.  In the process, you learned the creature is intelligent and skilled but not well educated.  It was taught to read and write common and sometimes serves as a messenger as well as a scout.  He has no concept of his age, but talking to him about the passing of winters in the mountains, you gather he is at least 12 and maybe as old as 13 or 14.  He has 4 brothers and 2 sisters, all of owl-stock like himself.  You gather there are additional breeds as well, though only the hawks and the gulls have any station or agency at the nest.  The parrots, ravens, storks and finches all suffer from imperfections and are confined to the laboratories and dungeons of the nest.  The 'nest' is not actually a nest, in any sense, but just a castle or fortified tower.  "Nest' seems only to be a nickname, but it is all he knows his home by.

Grugga:

Grugga:

For those who need that menu again lol

 
Rohuzar will enjoy a victory meal, Grilled Venison, washed down with a huge mug of Dancing Goblin Cider. Then follows along for the trip to the Shelley manor. 

Aubrey orders the grilled venison with a bottle of Witches hex. He would stay up fairly late socializing at Reed Castle, curios of the latest gossip in Shelley, particularly regarding Lady Shelley and the reason for her return.
Persuasion if needed: 18

Grugga:

Aubrey: