Crannoc doesn't know what to make of the contents of the chest. He is drawn to the wooden tokens with the image of a rabbit as one might expect.
If Maggwyn allows, he will pick one up and examine it, taking it with him to try to attune to it if it is magic for an hour before going to sleep.
To Jasper's question, he will earnestly say that he was sent and tasked with finding the source of disturbances and rends in Temuth's balance of nature that he worships. Clearly, the summoning of that avatar of the Lord of Savagery was one such disturbance. But he does not know where to begin to find the next lead, other than the distant clue provided by the half-elven ranger of the strange desiccated hole in the Hailvort Woods, though he senses the group would not be interested in that.
"My sense is that we hunt well together as a group, even though we have different purposes. I would join in any... 'new work'," (Crannoc says the phrase awkwardly) "If you will have me. Perhaps in time, I will come to a clearer answer as to my purpose. In the meantime, I can help you all with yours."
(Unless someone has specifically set Crannoc up with a room and points him to it, he will not know any better except to wander out of town to the nearest wooded area and sleep sitting with his back against a tree. Trying to clear his head of the cat-man's drink.)
As Maggwyn checks through the chest, she hears Miesha readying herself to leave. Maggwyn scoops up the wooden tokens with rabbits on them, "Wait, before you head out Miesha, take one of these. I'm not sure what they are, but there are exactly enough for each of us, so I can only assume we are each meant to have one." she then proceeds to hand out one to each of the ones that assisted in the job.
She then scoffs at Jasper, "Headache? sure you do. Hey, there are some scrolls and a potion here. Wizard friend of mine, can you make anything of them?" as the party starts to disperse, "Shall we meet back at the rabbit for breakfast tomorrow?" not really expecting an answer, she heads off herself, to get rest as well.
Each person that takes one of the wooden coins experience a feeling of confidence wash over them. You don’t know why, but something about these coins makes you feel like you are better off than you were.
Miesha - As you head back to the Inn you see the post where the two cultists are tied. Aalsan is not with them as he was when you left.
Jasper steps up and looks into the chest only to be disappointed. He takes one of the wooden tokens, turns it over and then scoffs and tosses it over his shoulder. When Maggwyn mentions a wizard friend he looks around expecting to see someone else there, perhaps one of their other new allies. He then winces slightly however while touching his head and replies "oh" and then instinctively touches the pouch where he keeps his spell book. "Right, I suppose that distinction does apply. How peculiar."
The tabaxi turns and sends a spectral cats paw to pick up the wooden token he had just discarded. The paw turns it over in the air in front of his face while he studies it with renewed interest before stowing it in a pouch on his belt. He then picks up the scrolls, silver raven, and the bottle in the same manner and studies each briefly. "I shall consider each and report my findings back to the group," he declares.
Now more focused on the inquisitive side of his brain Jasper once again looks back in the direction of wherever he last spotted the tablet and appears to be thinking deeply. He seeks out Miesha once again and asks to study the item.
(OOC: DM I'm a bit rusty on this, do you want an Arcana check to try to identify a bit more about each item or how would you like to handle that?)
Crannoc - Taking time to focus heavily on the coin, you gain a greater understanding of it. This coin offers some good fortune to you. You may add a Charm of Luck to you inventory.
Jasper - You can roll an Arcana check to understand more of each item’s nature.
Miesha takes the wooden token from Maggwyn and hesitates a moment. She still feels uncomfortable taking anything from these people... But eventually smiles, says "Thank you," to Maggwyn, and tucks the coin into one of the leather pouches on her belt. Miesha would be uncomfortable taken the town riches, but such a small token of appreciation seems harmless enough.
"C'ya in the morning," Miesha half asks, half says then indeed heads off to her room for a much needed rest. On the way there she swings by the post where the cultists had been left tied up. She finds no Aalsan in attendance.
"Nobody freed you? Just left you?" Miesha asks, mostly to herself, as she draws out a dagger and cuts the binds loose. "Seems they feel you've faced enough trouble, you don't need more. You're banished though... They see you in town after tonight and all generosity is off." Miesha hurries the cultists off and vaguely wonders why they were left alone but not freed... But they've been spared so it mattered little, she figured. ((Though if DM has more to happen here, we can always skip back to it...))
---
They're good people, she thinks to herself as she stows her gear and prepares herself for sleep. Not soldiers, for sure. Though she left soldiering behind so perhaps that is a good thing. An oddball collection with dubious motives... Though they all do seem to want to do what is right, even if not for the perfect reason. Though really, are my own motives so pure? she wonders...
The morning (assuming no overnight disturbances or interruptions) finds Miesha once again at the Busy Rabbit Inn eating breakfast slowly and curious if the others will show. They could likely turn into quite an effective unit, considering their varied skills and talents... But they would need to want to and Miesha wasn't even sure if the others were even still in town.
Crannoc wakes curled up comfortably against a tree and stands up, stretching and rubbing an itch on his back against the bark as a bear would. There is a tiny remnant of an ache in his head left over, he supposes, from that cat-man's creamy fire drink. But other than that he feels wonderful. Refreshed.
So much better to be out here in Temuth's wild realm, even if just outside the cusp of the city, than it did cramped in there with the sweat and stink of so many humans close together.
He touches the wooden rabbit token, feeling appreciation for Aoswell city-folks' gift to him and his companions. He wonders where the rest slept.
A few leaves and pine needles still in his hair and on his clothing, but face freshly washed in a stream, he strolls into the only establishment in the city that he remembers before things got a little fuzzy. The Busy Rabbit Inn, run by the halfling, Stira... or was that one of the Lonsvells? No matter, he smiles and murmurs Temuth's blessing to her briefly as he enters, then spots Miesha in the midst of her morning meal. Making eye contact with the bronze honor-warrior and smiling without staring, to show respect but not subservience (somehow, he senses that one of Maggwyn's eye rolls is not appropriate here), he approaches and sits if he appears welcome. His dappled brown eyes sparkle a bit as he shows her the wooden rabbit token.
"I found these wooden tokens of the rabbit we all received to be worthy gifts. I believe we can use them thrice to help us when we most need it. Aiding us as Kass' or your armor helps you, or as Jasper and Maggwyn's quickness helps them, but in a different way." (He explains to her how he thinks the Charm of Luck works):
Charm of Luck
This wooden coin has a rabbit carved into its face.
When you fail an ability check, attack roll, or saving throw, you may choose to succeed instead. This feature can be used 3 times before the coin becomes non-magical and loses this feature. Each time this feature is used, the creature that used is has a 10% chance of being cursed with bad luck for 24 hours. They must subtract 1d4 from all of their ability checks, attack rolls, and saving throws for the duration.
After a bit of talking, he wonders if he has been rude to interrupt her meal. He pauses, eyes slightly lowered.
"Ah... how are you? Have you seen the others? Or Osboran and the other cultist?"
((Ack, misunderstood first read about cultists, but fixed now...))
Seeing Crannoc enter Miesha smiles and gives a brief wave to usher them over to the table. "Sit, please," she says in welcome. "Food is always a good way to start a day, better when shared."
Miesha listens carefully as Crannoc explains the token, even pulling her own out to examine it as he did. "I had thought it just a token... a memento. I did not mean to leave the town weakened. Still, it is an ill omen to return a gift..." Miesha slips the token back into it's pouch and tries not to let it trouble her.
"I freed the cultists last night. Cut them loose and warned them to make haste out of town, that they were unwelcome here. Hopefully they understand," Miesha advises. "In truth I'd have voted for a harsher penalty but I am a fighter, not a judge..."
"I am hoping to see the others. To say goodbye, if nothing else..." Miesha says tentatively. "But... I was thinking too that we did well yesterday. Specially for strangers working together. I've no idea of anyone's plans or desires but personally I am more accustomed to working in a unit than alone..."
Crannoc nods as Miesha explains about freeing the cultists and sending them away with a warning not to return. Unlike her, it is more or less the punishment he would have chosen, though he guesses this is likely coincidence as the ways of city-folk remain ever strange and inscrutable to him.
Regarding the wooden tokens, he adds, "I think the gifts are for a purpose. The city-folk of Aoswell and the Lonsvells believe we can do more good with these tokens together than they could, just as my mother for me did with this." (He gestures to a subtle, entwined necklace of leaves he wears that seems to radiate the deep stillness of the forest). "I do not think they would want us to return them."
"And speaking of doing good, I think what we did yesterday was a start. Not only did we fight well together for a pack newly-formed, but we ended (for now) an immediate threat with this Lord of Savagery manifesting. An abomination against Temuth's world. In truth, I left my woodland home to find and remedy such deep wrongs that I sense against the skein of nature. The only clue I have left now is an odd, desiccated hole where living things apparently die in the Hailvort Woods east of here that a half-elven hunter spoke to me of last night. I sense that some or most of our group may have no interest to investigate something so strange, with no promise of reward. And I too need to learn more before I rush off alone like an over-eager pup. So for now, I hope to stay together, at least the two of us, if you will have me, but even better with the others as well."
The sycamore seedling on his shoulder perks up, looking hopeful.
Jasper - You examine the items closely. You determine that the potion has to do with going unseen, and also notice that on its cork is a small engraving. The engraving reads "Birgon's Apothecary." The silver raven strikes you as odd, but with not too much difficulty you pick up on the nature of its magic: transmutation. You get the sense that upon command the figurine would transform into something greater. You feel a strange sense of expectation from the figurine, it is awaiting something. It is expecting you to determine the command word that would cause it to transform. The two scrolls both contain a spell on them, though it is harder for you to decipher what each spell is. They are spells which you could have the capacity to cast, but they are written in way that relies more on divine aid than you are used to. The spells contained on each are Divination and Remove Curse. A surprisingly powerful pair of spells for such a small civilization. Upon examination you determine that the wooden tokens have more power than you first gave them credit for. You think on them for a while, but you have difficulty determining their true nature because of your prior notions of them. You take some time to think on typical idioms and superstitions and come upon the idea that a rabbit's foot is lucky. That train of thought guides you to eventually determine the coin's usage: to bestow luck on a situation that was previously an unfortunate event.
(For now, we will assume that Maggwyn accompanies Jasper)
Miesha - As the two cultists make their way out of the city, Osboran stops. "Miesha, during tonight's festivities there was a strange occurrence. Aalsan's eyes glowed a murky purple before he turned and seemed forcibly drawn away from us. A small distance away, he pulled out this flower. An odd purple one. It and he emanated this energy before he just... disappeared. I just thought you ought to know. Thank you, Miesha. Perhaps we will meet again someday when we have righted our wrongs and you can look upon us with less skepticism."
(As you all find your respective places to sleep, you may Long Rest)
Everyone who enters or is in town in the morning is met with much activity. People are preparing for the inspection to occur later today. Miesha and Crannoc have gathered in the Busy Rabbit Inn and are awaiting the arrival of their other companions.
Kass trudges into the Busy Rabbit Inn, decked out in her armor. She takes a seat with Miesha and Crannoc. "I greet you this morning. Apologies for getting separated during the festival. I do not enjoy celebrations much, so I slipped away to train. Are we to plan our next strategic move?"
"We were just discussing such," Miesha says, gesturing for Kass to feel free to partake of the foods and drinks upon the table as they wish. "We were not sure if the others would be joining us or not. I am glad you have..."
"I do fear, however, that Aalsan may not be. As I set free the prisoners last night and warned them against returning, they imparted on me that they had seen Aalsan not long before. But they were distracted and preoccupied. The cultists claimed that a strange purple glow came from Aalsan's eyes and that they then pulled out of their clothing a similarly purple flower and promptly disappeared into thin air..." Miesha related. "Now I'm not one to take the word of cultists but from what I could tell they were just trying to be informative... Helpful. I perceived no deception in their words..."
Crannoc does not know what to make of Aalsan's strange disappearance as told by Miesha, though if he was holding a flower, perhaps it wasn't all bad.
He doesn't think Kass would be interested in investigating (with no reward) the strange desiccated hole in nature within the Hailvort Woods that the half-elven hunter had mentioned. So he keeps quiet about that. But he does bring up the questions he had tried to ask her at the previous night's party about the Carafairn Frostlands. Though as it turned out, the cat-man's drink had been too strong and he had not noticed that the armored hobgoblin's had already departed. So instead Crannoc had mistakenly spent the better part of a minute earnestly posing his questions about Kass' homeland to a large tureen.
He takes the opportunity to ask her again now ((mostly pasted from post 277)):
"Can you tell me of your homeland, Kass? Temuth's children are strange and wondrous in the the far north, I have heard, the seas teeming with life despite the cold, and the land animals hearty and fierce. Is this true? Were your people hunters?" (The nature cleric has no problem with hunters and trappers as long as they are part of the balance of nature and cycle of life.) "It sounds as if your people have great respect for pack leaders and order. Why did you leave? It seems we are both outlanders here, though my home is much closer, in the woodlands not far south of Aoswell."
Jasper sleeps in a bit past the others but is soon seen at the bar of the Busy Rabbit looking a bit disheveled and ordering a glass of cream for breakfast, his crimson hat held back atop his shoulders by a bit of string. He massages his forehead and scans the room before raising his glass with a nod towards Miesha, Crannoc and Kass. (Also picturing Maggwyn at his side for now as mentioned.)
After a few more minutes at Maggwyn's urging Jasper slowly makes his way over to the rest of the group while still looking a bit lethargic. He nods a silent greeting to them all and snatches a small bite of food from their table. While the others talk he starts licking his paw and cleaning up the hair on his head before putting his hat on and making sure it is perfect in place. Suddenly the tabaxi looks a bit more alert and he stands up straight and starts muttering elven words while cleaning himself up more completely with Prestidigitation.
Soon Jasper is much more talkative and is sporting a more scholarly tone than normal as he presents the magic items from the chest back to the group, reporting what he has thus far discerned about the raven, the potion and the scrolls. "I thought it best to inquire as to how each of you would like to distribute our treasure before anyone departs. Additionally, Miesha, it may be prudent for me to investigate the tablet you've acquired and attempt to discern more about the the dark magic of this cult activity."
When there is a moment, Crannoc shares what he's found about the Charms of Good Luck (wooden rabbit token) that we all received:
((This wooden coin has a rabbit carved into its face.
When you fail an ability check, attack roll, or saving throw, you may choose to succeed instead. This feature can be used 3 times before the coin becomes non-magical and loses this feature.
Each time this feature is used, the creature that used is has a 10% chance of being cursed with bad luck for 24 hours. They must subtract 1d4 from all of their ability checks, attack rolls, and saving throws for the duration.))
"I believe the people of Aoswell feel we may need these more than they do," he concludes wryly.
"You may be right. And the people may be right as well. If we stick together and work together, try to make things better for the people, try to strike down the evils we find... Our having these items may be for the better good..." Miesha says with some thought. She wasn't used to such introspection but it did make sense.
"If the scrolls are of the divine... Crannoc, perhaps, may be our best bet to hold on to them?" Miesha offers. "As for the potion, I suppose anyone could find some advantage to being invisible on occasion. Generally it's probably best I be seen though, even in battle. Better foes target me than some of you, yes?"
"As for my thoughts on the silver raven..." Miesha shrugs. "I suppose I'd need know more precisely what it is to even have a suggestion. Perhaps whoever figures put it's magic word should hold it?"
"The tablet... I must admit it crossed my mind to just smash it and call it done. But not all ills can so easily be destroyed, or so I hear. You are of course welcome to examine it. We should decide what to do with it as a group, I would think. The same with the flail. I suspect both are too vile for us to risk falling into the wrong hands. Or even unprepared hands."
Jasper happily places the potion bottle and the two scrolls on the table. He grabs a chair and sits while cupping the silver raven in his hand. "Awake, transmute, change, live, alive, fly, friend..." He repeats the seven words in Elvish before passing the statuette along to the next interested party member if unsuccessful.
We'll be looking for more work, the kind that pays, but I'll commit to staying in town for another night to further investigate the tablet before you smash it if that is satisfactory. With that Jasper prepares to set out about town with Maggwyn if there is no other business to discuss with his companions of yesterday.
Jasper - Upon the word “fly,” the small figurine in your hand grows in size and becomes a full-sized raven that still appears to be made of silver. It is pushed off of your hand in the transformation and now sits on the table, awaiting order. (You may add a Figurine of Wondrous Power (Silver Raven) to your inventory)
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"Looking for the next opportunity to be a hero," Miesha would answer Jasper on her way to bed. "Perhaps we could all discuss this over breakfast..."
Crannoc doesn't know what to make of the contents of the chest. He is drawn to the wooden tokens with the image of a rabbit as one might expect.
If Maggwyn allows, he will pick one up and examine it, taking it with him to try to attune to it if it is magic for an hour before going to sleep.
To Jasper's question, he will earnestly say that he was sent and tasked with finding the source of disturbances and rends in Temuth's balance of nature that he worships. Clearly, the summoning of that avatar of the Lord of Savagery was one such disturbance. But he does not know where to begin to find the next lead, other than the distant clue provided by the half-elven ranger of the strange desiccated hole in the Hailvort Woods, though he senses the group would not be interested in that.
"My sense is that we hunt well together as a group, even though we have different purposes. I would join in any... 'new work'," (Crannoc says the phrase awkwardly) "If you will have me. Perhaps in time, I will come to a clearer answer as to my purpose. In the meantime, I can help you all with yours."
(Unless someone has specifically set Crannoc up with a room and points him to it, he will not know any better except to wander out of town to the nearest wooded area and sleep sitting with his back against a tree. Trying to clear his head of the cat-man's drink.)
Tanis(Ranger1): Shiverquill's Tempest City | Xarian(Fighter2): NioNSwiper's Tyranny of Dragons | Lyra(Warlock2/Bard4): VitusW's Silverwood Forest
Dyson/Eleo(Cleric4): Vos' Beyond the Veil | Soren(Druid5): Bartjeebus' Ravenloft | Ophelia(Sorcerer4): Ashen_Age's Risen from the Sands
Joren(Fighter6): NotDrizzt's Simple Request | Sabetha(Monk3): Bedlymn's Murder Court | Seri(Cleric3/Sorcerer1): Bartjeebus' Greyhawk
As Maggwyn checks through the chest, she hears Miesha readying herself to leave. Maggwyn scoops up the wooden tokens with rabbits on them, "Wait, before you head out Miesha, take one of these. I'm not sure what they are, but there are exactly enough for each of us, so I can only assume we are each meant to have one." she then proceeds to hand out one to each of the ones that assisted in the job.
She then scoffs at Jasper, "Headache? sure you do. Hey, there are some scrolls and a potion here. Wizard friend of mine, can you make anything of them?" as the party starts to disperse, "Shall we meet back at the rabbit for breakfast tomorrow?" not really expecting an answer, she heads off herself, to get rest as well.
Each person that takes one of the wooden coins experience a feeling of confidence wash over them. You don’t know why, but something about these coins makes you feel like you are better off than you were.
Miesha - As you head back to the Inn you see the post where the two cultists are tied. Aalsan is not with them as he was when you left.
Jasper steps up and looks into the chest only to be disappointed. He takes one of the wooden tokens, turns it over and then scoffs and tosses it over his shoulder. When Maggwyn mentions a wizard friend he looks around expecting to see someone else there, perhaps one of their other new allies. He then winces slightly however while touching his head and replies "oh" and then instinctively touches the pouch where he keeps his spell book. "Right, I suppose that distinction does apply. How peculiar."
The tabaxi turns and sends a spectral cats paw to pick up the wooden token he had just discarded. The paw turns it over in the air in front of his face while he studies it with renewed interest before stowing it in a pouch on his belt. He then picks up the scrolls, silver raven, and the bottle in the same manner and studies each briefly. "I shall consider each and report my findings back to the group," he declares.
Now more focused on the inquisitive side of his brain Jasper once again looks back in the direction of wherever he last spotted the tablet and appears to be thinking deeply. He seeks out Miesha once again and asks to study the item.
(OOC: DM I'm a bit rusty on this, do you want an Arcana check to try to identify a bit more about each item or how would you like to handle that?)
Crannoc - Taking time to focus heavily on the coin, you gain a greater understanding of it. This coin offers some good fortune to you. You may add a Charm of Luck to you inventory.
Jasper - You can roll an Arcana check to understand more of each item’s nature.
Arcana rolls:
Potion bottle: 8
Silver raven: 20
Scroll 1: 11
Scroll 2: 9
Wooden Token: 18
Miesha takes the wooden token from Maggwyn and hesitates a moment. She still feels uncomfortable taking anything from these people... But eventually smiles, says "Thank you," to Maggwyn, and tucks the coin into one of the leather pouches on her belt. Miesha would be uncomfortable taken the town riches, but such a small token of appreciation seems harmless enough.
"C'ya in the morning," Miesha half asks, half says then indeed heads off to her room for a much needed rest. On the way there she swings by the post where the cultists had been left tied up. She finds no Aalsan in attendance.
"Nobody freed you? Just left you?" Miesha asks, mostly to herself, as she draws out a dagger and cuts the binds loose. "Seems they feel you've faced enough trouble, you don't need more. You're banished though... They see you in town after tonight and all generosity is off." Miesha hurries the cultists off and vaguely wonders why they were left alone but not freed... But they've been spared so it mattered little, she figured. ((Though if DM has more to happen here, we can always skip back to it...))
---
They're good people, she thinks to herself as she stows her gear and prepares herself for sleep. Not soldiers, for sure. Though she left soldiering behind so perhaps that is a good thing. An oddball collection with dubious motives... Though they all do seem to want to do what is right, even if not for the perfect reason. Though really, are my own motives so pure? she wonders...
The morning (assuming no overnight disturbances or interruptions) finds Miesha once again at the Busy Rabbit Inn eating breakfast slowly and curious if the others will show. They could likely turn into quite an effective unit, considering their varied skills and talents... But they would need to want to and Miesha wasn't even sure if the others were even still in town.
Crannoc wakes curled up comfortably against a tree and stands up, stretching and rubbing an itch on his back against the bark as a bear would. There is a tiny remnant of an ache in his head left over, he supposes, from that cat-man's creamy fire drink. But other than that he feels wonderful. Refreshed.
So much better to be out here in Temuth's wild realm, even if just outside the cusp of the city, than it did cramped in there with the sweat and stink of so many humans close together.
He touches the wooden rabbit token, feeling appreciation for Aoswell city-folks' gift to him and his companions. He wonders where the rest slept.
A few leaves and pine needles still in his hair and on his clothing, but face freshly washed in a stream, he strolls into the only establishment in the city that he remembers before things got a little fuzzy. The Busy Rabbit Inn, run by the halfling, Stira... or was that one of the Lonsvells? No matter, he smiles and murmurs Temuth's blessing to her briefly as he enters, then spots Miesha in the midst of her morning meal. Making eye contact with the bronze honor-warrior and smiling without staring, to show respect but not subservience (somehow, he senses that one of Maggwyn's eye rolls is not appropriate here), he approaches and sits if he appears welcome. His dappled brown eyes sparkle a bit as he shows her the wooden rabbit token.
"I found these wooden tokens of the rabbit we all received to be worthy gifts. I believe we can use them thrice to help us when we most need it. Aiding us as Kass' or your armor helps you, or as Jasper and Maggwyn's quickness helps them, but in a different way." (He explains to her how he thinks the Charm of Luck works):
Charm of Luck
This wooden coin has a rabbit carved into its face.
When you fail an ability check, attack roll, or saving throw, you may choose to succeed instead. This feature can be used 3 times before the coin becomes non-magical and loses this feature. Each time this feature is used, the creature that used is has a 10% chance of being cursed with bad luck for 24 hours. They must subtract 1d4 from all of their ability checks, attack rolls, and saving throws for the duration.
After a bit of talking, he wonders if he has been rude to interrupt her meal. He pauses, eyes slightly lowered.
"Ah... how are you? Have you seen the others? Or Osboran and the other cultist?"
Tanis(Ranger1): Shiverquill's Tempest City | Xarian(Fighter2): NioNSwiper's Tyranny of Dragons | Lyra(Warlock2/Bard4): VitusW's Silverwood Forest
Dyson/Eleo(Cleric4): Vos' Beyond the Veil | Soren(Druid5): Bartjeebus' Ravenloft | Ophelia(Sorcerer4): Ashen_Age's Risen from the Sands
Joren(Fighter6): NotDrizzt's Simple Request | Sabetha(Monk3): Bedlymn's Murder Court | Seri(Cleric3/Sorcerer1): Bartjeebus' Greyhawk
((Ack, misunderstood first read about cultists, but fixed now...))
Seeing Crannoc enter Miesha smiles and gives a brief wave to usher them over to the table. "Sit, please," she says in welcome. "Food is always a good way to start a day, better when shared."
Miesha listens carefully as Crannoc explains the token, even pulling her own out to examine it as he did. "I had thought it just a token... a memento. I did not mean to leave the town weakened. Still, it is an ill omen to return a gift..." Miesha slips the token back into it's pouch and tries not to let it trouble her.
"I freed the cultists last night. Cut them loose and warned them to make haste out of town, that they were unwelcome here. Hopefully they understand," Miesha advises. "In truth I'd have voted for a harsher penalty but I am a fighter, not a judge..."
"I am hoping to see the others. To say goodbye, if nothing else..." Miesha says tentatively. "But... I was thinking too that we did well yesterday. Specially for strangers working together. I've no idea of anyone's plans or desires but personally I am more accustomed to working in a unit than alone..."
Crannoc nods as Miesha explains about freeing the cultists and sending them away with a warning not to return. Unlike her, it is more or less the punishment he would have chosen, though he guesses this is likely coincidence as the ways of city-folk remain ever strange and inscrutable to him.
Regarding the wooden tokens, he adds, "I think the gifts are for a purpose. The city-folk of Aoswell and the Lonsvells believe we can do more good with these tokens together than they could, just as my mother for me did with this." (He gestures to a subtle, entwined necklace of leaves he wears that seems to radiate the deep stillness of the forest). "I do not think they would want us to return them."
"And speaking of doing good, I think what we did yesterday was a start. Not only did we fight well together for a pack newly-formed, but we ended (for now) an immediate threat with this Lord of Savagery manifesting. An abomination against Temuth's world. In truth, I left my woodland home to find and remedy such deep wrongs that I sense against the skein of nature. The only clue I have left now is an odd, desiccated hole where living things apparently die in the Hailvort Woods east of here that a half-elven hunter spoke to me of last night. I sense that some or most of our group may have no interest to investigate something so strange, with no promise of reward. And I too need to learn more before I rush off alone like an over-eager pup. So for now, I hope to stay together, at least the two of us, if you will have me, but even better with the others as well."
The sycamore seedling on his shoulder perks up, looking hopeful.
Tanis(Ranger1): Shiverquill's Tempest City | Xarian(Fighter2): NioNSwiper's Tyranny of Dragons | Lyra(Warlock2/Bard4): VitusW's Silverwood Forest
Dyson/Eleo(Cleric4): Vos' Beyond the Veil | Soren(Druid5): Bartjeebus' Ravenloft | Ophelia(Sorcerer4): Ashen_Age's Risen from the Sands
Joren(Fighter6): NotDrizzt's Simple Request | Sabetha(Monk3): Bedlymn's Murder Court | Seri(Cleric3/Sorcerer1): Bartjeebus' Greyhawk
Jasper - You examine the items closely. You determine that the potion has to do with going unseen, and also notice that on its cork is a small engraving. The engraving reads "Birgon's Apothecary." The silver raven strikes you as odd, but with not too much difficulty you pick up on the nature of its magic: transmutation. You get the sense that upon command the figurine would transform into something greater. You feel a strange sense of expectation from the figurine, it is awaiting something. It is expecting you to determine the command word that would cause it to transform. The two scrolls both contain a spell on them, though it is harder for you to decipher what each spell is. They are spells which you could have the capacity to cast, but they are written in way that relies more on divine aid than you are used to. The spells contained on each are Divination and Remove Curse. A surprisingly powerful pair of spells for such a small civilization. Upon examination you determine that the wooden tokens have more power than you first gave them credit for. You think on them for a while, but you have difficulty determining their true nature because of your prior notions of them. You take some time to think on typical idioms and superstitions and come upon the idea that a rabbit's foot is lucky. That train of thought guides you to eventually determine the coin's usage: to bestow luck on a situation that was previously an unfortunate event.
(For now, we will assume that Maggwyn accompanies Jasper)
Miesha - As the two cultists make their way out of the city, Osboran stops. "Miesha, during tonight's festivities there was a strange occurrence. Aalsan's eyes glowed a murky purple before he turned and seemed forcibly drawn away from us. A small distance away, he pulled out this flower. An odd purple one. It and he emanated this energy before he just... disappeared. I just thought you ought to know. Thank you, Miesha. Perhaps we will meet again someday when we have righted our wrongs and you can look upon us with less skepticism."
(As you all find your respective places to sleep, you may Long Rest)
Everyone who enters or is in town in the morning is met with much activity. People are preparing for the inspection to occur later today. Miesha and Crannoc have gathered in the Busy Rabbit Inn and are awaiting the arrival of their other companions.
Kass trudges into the Busy Rabbit Inn, decked out in her armor. She takes a seat with Miesha and Crannoc. "I greet you this morning. Apologies for getting separated during the festival. I do not enjoy celebrations much, so I slipped away to train. Are we to plan our next strategic move?"
"We were just discussing such," Miesha says, gesturing for Kass to feel free to partake of the foods and drinks upon the table as they wish. "We were not sure if the others would be joining us or not. I am glad you have..."
"I do fear, however, that Aalsan may not be. As I set free the prisoners last night and warned them against returning, they imparted on me that they had seen Aalsan not long before. But they were distracted and preoccupied. The cultists claimed that a strange purple glow came from Aalsan's eyes and that they then pulled out of their clothing a similarly purple flower and promptly disappeared into thin air..." Miesha related. "Now I'm not one to take the word of cultists but from what I could tell they were just trying to be informative... Helpful. I perceived no deception in their words..."
Crannoc does not know what to make of Aalsan's strange disappearance as told by Miesha, though if he was holding a flower, perhaps it wasn't all bad.
He doesn't think Kass would be interested in investigating (with no reward) the strange desiccated hole in nature within the Hailvort Woods that the half-elven hunter had mentioned. So he keeps quiet about that. But he does bring up the questions he had tried to ask her at the previous night's party about the Carafairn Frostlands. Though as it turned out, the cat-man's drink had been too strong and he had not noticed that the armored hobgoblin's had already departed. So instead Crannoc had mistakenly spent the better part of a minute earnestly posing his questions about Kass' homeland to a large tureen.
He takes the opportunity to ask her again now ((mostly pasted from post 277)):
"Can you tell me of your homeland, Kass? Temuth's children are strange and wondrous in the the far north, I have heard, the seas teeming with life despite the cold, and the land animals hearty and fierce. Is this true? Were your people hunters?" (The nature cleric has no problem with hunters and trappers as long as they are part of the balance of nature and cycle of life.) "It sounds as if your people have great respect for pack leaders and order. Why did you leave? It seems we are both outlanders here, though my home is much closer, in the woodlands not far south of Aoswell."
Tanis(Ranger1): Shiverquill's Tempest City | Xarian(Fighter2): NioNSwiper's Tyranny of Dragons | Lyra(Warlock2/Bard4): VitusW's Silverwood Forest
Dyson/Eleo(Cleric4): Vos' Beyond the Veil | Soren(Druid5): Bartjeebus' Ravenloft | Ophelia(Sorcerer4): Ashen_Age's Risen from the Sands
Joren(Fighter6): NotDrizzt's Simple Request | Sabetha(Monk3): Bedlymn's Murder Court | Seri(Cleric3/Sorcerer1): Bartjeebus' Greyhawk
Jasper sleeps in a bit past the others but is soon seen at the bar of the Busy Rabbit looking a bit disheveled and ordering a glass of cream for breakfast, his crimson hat held back atop his shoulders by a bit of string. He massages his forehead and scans the room before raising his glass with a nod towards Miesha, Crannoc and Kass. (Also picturing Maggwyn at his side for now as mentioned.)
After a few more minutes at Maggwyn's urging Jasper slowly makes his way over to the rest of the group while still looking a bit lethargic. He nods a silent greeting to them all and snatches a small bite of food from their table. While the others talk he starts licking his paw and cleaning up the hair on his head before putting his hat on and making sure it is perfect in place. Suddenly the tabaxi looks a bit more alert and he stands up straight and starts muttering elven words while cleaning himself up more completely with Prestidigitation.
Soon Jasper is much more talkative and is sporting a more scholarly tone than normal as he presents the magic items from the chest back to the group, reporting what he has thus far discerned about the raven, the potion and the scrolls. "I thought it best to inquire as to how each of you would like to distribute our treasure before anyone departs. Additionally, Miesha, it may be prudent for me to investigate the tablet you've acquired and attempt to discern more about the the dark magic of this cult activity."
When there is a moment, Crannoc shares what he's found about the Charms of Good Luck (wooden rabbit token) that we all received:
((This wooden coin has a rabbit carved into its face.
When you fail an ability check, attack roll, or saving throw, you may choose to succeed instead. This feature can be used 3 times before the coin becomes non-magical and loses this feature.
Each time this feature is used, the creature that used is has a 10% chance of being cursed with bad luck for 24 hours. They must subtract 1d4 from all of their ability checks, attack rolls, and saving throws for the duration.))
"I believe the people of Aoswell feel we may need these more than they do," he concludes wryly.
Tanis(Ranger1): Shiverquill's Tempest City | Xarian(Fighter2): NioNSwiper's Tyranny of Dragons | Lyra(Warlock2/Bard4): VitusW's Silverwood Forest
Dyson/Eleo(Cleric4): Vos' Beyond the Veil | Soren(Druid5): Bartjeebus' Ravenloft | Ophelia(Sorcerer4): Ashen_Age's Risen from the Sands
Joren(Fighter6): NotDrizzt's Simple Request | Sabetha(Monk3): Bedlymn's Murder Court | Seri(Cleric3/Sorcerer1): Bartjeebus' Greyhawk
"You may be right. And the people may be right as well. If we stick together and work together, try to make things better for the people, try to strike down the evils we find... Our having these items may be for the better good..." Miesha says with some thought. She wasn't used to such introspection but it did make sense.
"If the scrolls are of the divine... Crannoc, perhaps, may be our best bet to hold on to them?" Miesha offers. "As for the potion, I suppose anyone could find some advantage to being invisible on occasion. Generally it's probably best I be seen though, even in battle. Better foes target me than some of you, yes?"
"As for my thoughts on the silver raven..." Miesha shrugs. "I suppose I'd need know more precisely what it is to even have a suggestion. Perhaps whoever figures put it's magic word should hold it?"
"The tablet... I must admit it crossed my mind to just smash it and call it done. But not all ills can so easily be destroyed, or so I hear. You are of course welcome to examine it. We should decide what to do with it as a group, I would think. The same with the flail. I suspect both are too vile for us to risk falling into the wrong hands. Or even unprepared hands."
Jasper happily places the potion bottle and the two scrolls on the table. He grabs a chair and sits while cupping the silver raven in his hand. "Awake, transmute, change, live, alive, fly, friend..." He repeats the seven words in Elvish before passing the statuette along to the next interested party member if unsuccessful.
We'll be looking for more work, the kind that pays, but I'll commit to staying in town for another night to further investigate the tablet before you smash it if that is satisfactory. With that Jasper prepares to set out about town with Maggwyn if there is no other business to discuss with his companions of yesterday.
Jasper - Upon the word “fly,” the small figurine in your hand grows in size and becomes a full-sized raven that still appears to be made of silver. It is pushed off of your hand in the transformation and now sits on the table, awaiting order. (You may add a Figurine of Wondrous Power (Silver Raven) to your inventory)