Hoghead looks at the woman. If there's a lost kid that we can return to their mother, I'd like to do that.Hoghead pauses, "What do you all think of that shard? I feel like I'm better able to use my shield since touching it. I've obviously yet to trulytest it out.. I feel like we've been taken for a ride though. That shard must be worth a pretty penny if the innkeeper comped our meals this morning. I've been in a lot of inns and they are there to make money to give things away. We wouldn't have stood a chance against that armored guy so there's not much we could've done but next time, let's try to keep things a little closer to the vest."
"Thank you Zerxius, but I don't think it will do quite the same thing. When I touched that shard I... I'm not sure how to explain it. I remembered things I had forgotten? Or maybe I learned new things? Anyway, I know the best way to use gauze and topical ointments now. And I'd hate to be stuck someplace and not have any on me." Jane looks over at the gnome. "There's something about that gnome, I don't think I quite trust him."
The matronly woman sitting at the table looks up as you approach. 'Ah, you must be the brave adventurers who plummed the perils of the Portal last night. I've heard of your deeds and your bravery. I am Kerowyn Hucrle' a long pause as she waits for recgonition from any of you, seeing none, she presses on 'and I'm hoping you might help an old woman looking to find her missing children?'
As she speaks the Dragonborn behind her stiffens noticeably and scans each of you carefully. At the mention of missing children they snort, black smoke shooting from their nostrils as they do in a clear sign of derision. 'Talgen and Sharwyn are hardly children - headstrong fools, but neither of them is a child.'
'They are my children, Valzrie, no matter their age and I am their mother, and the Lady of Hucrle Manor and I will find them.' Her voice like cold steel, she turned her attention back to your party. 'I will pay. Handsomely. For information on their whereabouts, evidence of their fate and even more generously for their safe return. 150 gold to each of you for each of them.'
She pulls out a large, heavy coin purse and spills gold coins across the table in front of her 'and I'll double that if you bring them back to their mother.'
SUMMARY AND ACTION
Down the portal to uncertain adventure and a chance at another Shard or off to save the wayward Hucrle youth and claim the reward?
Shopping: Jane can buy 2 healers kits at PHB pricing of 5gp each. Anyone want anything else - assume ready action to any non-magical items.
Rantel has been poring over the book he found, his large eyes darting back and forth between it and his own book which is mostly pictograms that look like scribbles. He seems like he's cracked a code. "I don't know how to use a shield any better than before but my mind's been on fire ever since I touched it. Can't get it to stop."
As the party heads over to Lady Hucrle, he springs up at the mention of missing children. Now that was more his speed. He listens to her pitch, and immediately adopts an experienced inquisitor's stance, pulling out scrap paper to make some sort of notation. "Now finding missing people is something I've done before, during my days with the Watch. Name's Rantel. Retired. Anyhow, what do you know of what Talgen and Sharwyn have been up to before they were last seen? Tell me anything, even if it doesn't seem important. Small details matter."
Jane lets Rantel talk with the noble woman and moves around to talk to the Dragonborn. "Excuse me, hi, my name is Jane. You seem like you might have an opinion on what happened to Talgen and Sharwyn, is there anything you can share?" She looks curiously between the two people and tries to puzzle out what the deal is between them.
Lady Hucrele brightens noticeably when Rantel introduces himself as a retired member of the watch 'Well then, you must be who I've been waiting for! Retired Watch you say? Perfect, perfect!' She claps her hands and looks over her shoulder towards the dragonborn as if to say 'I told you so' 'I just knew we'd find the help we need here amongst all you brave souls.'
She then launches into a well-rehearsed story about her two wayward - and very much adult - children. Talgen is a young man, 20 years old, skilled in the ways of the forest but maybe not as cautious with humans as he should be. He and his twin sister Sharwyn purchased a map from a traveling merchant - a map that promised them glory and treasure. They babbled on about the sunken Citadel, about a dragon cult, and a tree of Everlife. This had gone on for months while they 'trained' in the forest and field around the estate. Finally, it became too much - they weren't aimless adventurers, wandering minstrels or reformed bandits - they were Hucreles! They had responsibilities about the estate, about town, at council even. It was time to settle down and think about their future. At her orders, Valzrie had taken the Map from the children and locked up Talgen's beautiful suit of armor and the family sword - they were meant for show afterall, not romping about the woods and getting all muddy. That very night, the two of them had grabbed what they could and slipped away from the manor - it had been six weeks and they hadn't returned or sent word at all.
Valzrie leans forward and places the map itself on the table in front of Lady Hucrele. It's worn and torn a bit in places but shows a location just north of Waterdeep about a half day's walk off the Trade road and a set of stairs headed down into a ravine. The rest of the map is a rough sketch of an old fortress that was apparently swallowed by the earth in a long-forgotten calamity.
Jane watches the interaction between Lady Hucrele and Valzrie carefully and sees a worried mother attended by a loyal retainer. Valzrie is clearly worried about the lost heirs of the Hucrele estate and feels responsible for their safe return. He doesn't respond directly to Jane's query - but when Lady Hucrele stops talking he fills in the practical details. The children were both well trained - Talgen as an archer and swordsman, while Sharwyn showed an aptitude for harnessing the power of nature. They each took simple weapons and their training armor - light, well-made leather - when they slipped away. He's worried about them, and worried about Lady Hucrele.
Rantel would remember the family name, they were a modestly prosperous house involved in exporting fine furniture and other manufactured goods from the port of Waterdeep. Hucrele's had served on the Council of Lords from time to time over the years, but didn't currently have a seat. There was something nagging at the back of his head - a minor scandal perhaps - around the death of Lord Hucrele, but he can't seem to recall.
SUMMARY AND ACTION
You've got a map and a promise of 150g each for any information and 300g each for the return of the Hucrele offspring.
The line down into the Underdark seems to be steady, but you could join in and pursue the depths of the dungeon below.
Drax tries to remember what he’s heard about the sunken Citadel, a dragon cult, and a(the?) tree of Everlife. (If anything. Let me know what rolls you would like) He is ready for either further adventuring into the dark depths below, or finding a pair of wayward rich kids.
Well, Jane didn't walk all the way over here and listen to the whole story for nothing, She looks around at her companions with little nods, ready to accept this job and track down the sibling pair.
Hoghead is still sitting at the table eating as much as he can. He takes another long pull of ale and slams the cup down. "Right, I don't care that they're not kids. They're still her children and she's lost them. I know that feeling and I will gladly die to bring them back." He stands and walks next to Jane and looks at the rest of the group.
The party gathers itself and begins the half-day walk north towards the village of Oakhurst, the small town where the Old Road meets the Trade Road. The map you've been given seems to indicate the ravine that marks the entrance to the Sunless Citadel lies about 7 miles to the East of Oakhurst. As you walk the chatter is about the Hucreles, the missing youths, and the silly fairy tale that drew them into this adventure. Drax recalls that Lord Hucrele was caught up in some kind of financial shenigans before his sudden and mysterious death. Something about buying and selling paintings that may or may not have ever existed in the real world, but people believed they existed, so were bidding up the price on them without ever really touching them....strange business.
Oakhurst springs up on either side of the trade road like mushrooms after a spring rain - sudden clusters of buildings sprouting out of the ground, thickening in density until you get to the Old Road junction. At the T junction where the Old Road meets the Trade Road you find a cluster of modest but solid-looking buildings. There is a Central Hall of sorts, with an attached jail, a General Store, a Shrine to Pelor, and a quiet taver and inn with a large boar's head hung over the door.
Summary and Action
Last call for any supplies or anything else you may want to do before turning East towards the ravine.
"Anyone need a drink at that tavern?" Hoghead licks his lips. "It's ok if you don't want to. I don't need a drink or anything. It sure as hell wouldn't hurt though."
Jane smiles at Hogshead in amusement. "You go on and have a drink if you'd like, I'm just gonna stop by that general store. Shouldn't take me too long, I can meet you at the tavern when I'm done."
Bree was the last of the party to wake up. She stumbled out of her room, hair still tousled from sleep and rubbing her eyes, and headed to the dining area.
When she arrived, she could see most of the others gathered around a table talking to a woman and a Dragonborn. Sensing that there was adventure afoot, and coin to be made, she dashed to the bar and retrieved a plate of food. She was barely able to find a table and shovel it all down before everyone finished up their talk and made up their minds to go look for some kids. Or adults. Somebody's family, she gathered from listening to the conversation. Leaving her empty plate on the table, she joined the others as they left and headed north.
Along the way, Bree takes a quick inventory of her arrows and remarks on how much the coin from this job will help. "No doubt I'll be near out of them by end of this. I just don't see this place being empty," she says with a bob of her head. She never made any move to comb her mass of curls, so her hair is still as tousled as ever.
At the crossroads, she gives the tavern a long look. "Would it be worth going inside to ask around? See if anybody has seen these two or if they stopped here on the way? Same as us?"
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Hoghead looks at the woman. If there's a lost kid that we can return to their mother, I'd like to do that. Hoghead pauses, "What do you all think of that shard? I feel like I'm better able to use my shield since touching it. I've obviously yet to truly test it out.. I feel like we've been taken for a ride though. That shard must be worth a pretty penny if the innkeeper comped our meals this morning. I've been in a lot of inns and they are there to make money to give things away. We wouldn't have stood a chance against that armored guy so there's not much we could've done but next time, let's try to keep things a little closer to the vest."
He then downs his ale and sausages.
"Thank you Zerxius, but I don't think it will do quite the same thing. When I touched that shard I... I'm not sure how to explain it. I remembered things I had forgotten? Or maybe I learned new things? Anyway, I know the best way to use gauze and topical ointments now. And I'd hate to be stuck someplace and not have any on me." Jane looks over at the gnome. "There's something about that gnome, I don't think I quite trust him."
"I dont need anything at the moment but can come along if you want to stock up"
Laissez les bons temps rouler
The matronly woman sitting at the table looks up as you approach. 'Ah, you must be the brave adventurers who plummed the perils of the Portal last night. I've heard of your deeds and your bravery. I am Kerowyn Hucrle' a long pause as she waits for recgonition from any of you, seeing none, she presses on 'and I'm hoping you might help an old woman looking to find her missing children?'
As she speaks the Dragonborn behind her stiffens noticeably and scans each of you carefully. At the mention of missing children they snort, black smoke shooting from their nostrils as they do in a clear sign of derision. 'Talgen and Sharwyn are hardly children - headstrong fools, but neither of them is a child.'
'They are my children, Valzrie, no matter their age and I am their mother, and the Lady of Hucrle Manor and I will find them.' Her voice like cold steel, she turned her attention back to your party. 'I will pay. Handsomely. For information on their whereabouts, evidence of their fate and even more generously for their safe return. 150 gold to each of you for each of them.'
She pulls out a large, heavy coin purse and spills gold coins across the table in front of her 'and I'll double that if you bring them back to their mother.'
SUMMARY AND ACTION
Down the portal to uncertain adventure and a chance at another Shard or off to save the wayward Hucrle youth and claim the reward?
Shopping: Jane can buy 2 healers kits at PHB pricing of 5gp each. Anyone want anything else - assume ready action to any non-magical items.
Rantel has been poring over the book he found, his large eyes darting back and forth between it and his own book which is mostly pictograms that look like scribbles. He seems like he's cracked a code. "I don't know how to use a shield any better than before but my mind's been on fire ever since I touched it. Can't get it to stop."
As the party heads over to Lady Hucrle, he springs up at the mention of missing children. Now that was more his speed. He listens to her pitch, and immediately adopts an experienced inquisitor's stance, pulling out scrap paper to make some sort of notation. "Now finding missing people is something I've done before, during my days with the Watch. Name's Rantel. Retired. Anyhow, what do you know of what Talgen and Sharwyn have been up to before they were last seen? Tell me anything, even if it doesn't seem important. Small details matter."
He pauses, at ease in a listening mode.
Zerxius stands behind Rantel arms crossed taking in the two
Insight: 4
Laissez les bons temps rouler
Jane lets Rantel talk with the noble woman and moves around to talk to the Dragonborn. "Excuse me, hi, my name is Jane. You seem like you might have an opinion on what happened to Talgen and Sharwyn, is there anything you can share?" She looks curiously between the two people and tries to puzzle out what the deal is between them.
Insight: 22
Rantel also tries to recall anything he's heard about the Hucrle family, up to and including how it got its spelling. History: 7
Drax listens attentively as he continues eating his breakfast.
Lady Hucrele brightens noticeably when Rantel introduces himself as a retired member of the watch 'Well then, you must be who I've been waiting for! Retired Watch you say? Perfect, perfect!' She claps her hands and looks over her shoulder towards the dragonborn as if to say 'I told you so' 'I just knew we'd find the help we need here amongst all you brave souls.'
She then launches into a well-rehearsed story about her two wayward - and very much adult - children. Talgen is a young man, 20 years old, skilled in the ways of the forest but maybe not as cautious with humans as he should be. He and his twin sister Sharwyn purchased a map from a traveling merchant - a map that promised them glory and treasure. They babbled on about the sunken Citadel, about a dragon cult, and a tree of Everlife. This had gone on for months while they 'trained' in the forest and field around the estate. Finally, it became too much - they weren't aimless adventurers, wandering minstrels or reformed bandits - they were Hucreles! They had responsibilities about the estate, about town, at council even. It was time to settle down and think about their future. At her orders, Valzrie had taken the Map from the children and locked up Talgen's beautiful suit of armor and the family sword - they were meant for show afterall, not romping about the woods and getting all muddy. That very night, the two of them had grabbed what they could and slipped away from the manor - it had been six weeks and they hadn't returned or sent word at all.
Valzrie leans forward and places the map itself on the table in front of Lady Hucrele. It's worn and torn a bit in places but shows a location just north of Waterdeep about a half day's walk off the Trade road and a set of stairs headed down into a ravine. The rest of the map is a rough sketch of an old fortress that was apparently swallowed by the earth in a long-forgotten calamity.
Jane watches the interaction between Lady Hucrele and Valzrie carefully and sees a worried mother attended by a loyal retainer. Valzrie is clearly worried about the lost heirs of the Hucrele estate and feels responsible for their safe return. He doesn't respond directly to Jane's query - but when Lady Hucrele stops talking he fills in the practical details. The children were both well trained - Talgen as an archer and swordsman, while Sharwyn showed an aptitude for harnessing the power of nature. They each took simple weapons and their training armor - light, well-made leather - when they slipped away. He's worried about them, and worried about Lady Hucrele.
Rantel would remember the family name, they were a modestly prosperous house involved in exporting fine furniture and other manufactured goods from the port of Waterdeep. Hucrele's had served on the Council of Lords from time to time over the years, but didn't currently have a seat. There was something nagging at the back of his head - a minor scandal perhaps - around the death of Lord Hucrele, but he can't seem to recall.
SUMMARY AND ACTION
You've got a map and a promise of 150g each for any information and 300g each for the return of the Hucrele offspring.
The line down into the Underdark seems to be steady, but you could join in and pursue the depths of the dungeon below.
What say you?
Drax tries to remember what he’s heard about the sunken Citadel, a dragon cult, and a(the?) tree of Everlife. (If anything. Let me know what rolls you would like) He is ready for either further adventuring into the dark depths below, or finding a pair of wayward rich kids.
Well, Jane didn't walk all the way over here and listen to the whole story for nothing, She looks around at her companions with little nods, ready to accept this job and track down the sibling pair.
Hoghead is still sitting at the table eating as much as he can. He takes another long pull of ale and slams the cup down. "Right, I don't care that they're not kids. They're still her children and she's lost them. I know that feeling and I will gladly die to bring them back." He stands and walks next to Jane and looks at the rest of the group.
"I think its decided then" zerxius says softly
Laissez les bons temps rouler
History: 14
The party gathers itself and begins the half-day walk north towards the village of Oakhurst, the small town where the Old Road meets the Trade Road. The map you've been given seems to indicate the ravine that marks the entrance to the Sunless Citadel lies about 7 miles to the East of Oakhurst. As you walk the chatter is about the Hucreles, the missing youths, and the silly fairy tale that drew them into this adventure. Drax recalls that Lord Hucrele was caught up in some kind of financial shenigans before his sudden and mysterious death. Something about buying and selling paintings that may or may not have ever existed in the real world, but people believed they existed, so were bidding up the price on them without ever really touching them....strange business.
Oakhurst springs up on either side of the trade road like mushrooms after a spring rain - sudden clusters of buildings sprouting out of the ground, thickening in density until you get to the Old Road junction. At the T junction where the Old Road meets the Trade Road you find a cluster of modest but solid-looking buildings. There is a Central Hall of sorts, with an attached jail, a General Store, a Shrine to Pelor, and a quiet taver and inn with a large boar's head hung over the door.
Summary and Action
Last call for any supplies or anything else you may want to do before turning East towards the ravine.
"Anyone need a drink at that tavern?" Hoghead licks his lips. "It's ok if you don't want to. I don't need a drink or anything. It sure as hell wouldn't hurt though."
Zerxius just looks at Hoghead with an eyebrow cocked
Laissez les bons temps rouler
Jane smiles at Hogshead in amusement. "You go on and have a drink if you'd like, I'm just gonna stop by that general store. Shouldn't take me too long, I can meet you at the tavern when I'm done."
((Jane will buy one healer's kit for 5 gp))
Bree was the last of the party to wake up. She stumbled out of her room, hair still tousled from sleep and rubbing her eyes, and headed to the dining area.
When she arrived, she could see most of the others gathered around a table talking to a woman and a Dragonborn. Sensing that there was adventure afoot, and coin to be made, she dashed to the bar and retrieved a plate of food. She was barely able to find a table and shovel it all down before everyone finished up their talk and made up their minds to go look for some kids. Or adults. Somebody's family, she gathered from listening to the conversation.
Leaving her empty plate on the table, she joined the others as they left and headed north.
Along the way, Bree takes a quick inventory of her arrows and remarks on how much the coin from this job will help. "No doubt I'll be near out of them by end of this. I just don't see this place being empty," she says with a bob of her head. She never made any move to comb her mass of curls, so her hair is still as tousled as ever.
At the crossroads, she gives the tavern a long look.
"Would it be worth going inside to ask around? See if anybody has seen these two or if they stopped here on the way? Same as us?"