Crannoc is in a fine mood, sycamore seedling whirling almost jauntily as he strides into town.  He feels Temuth's blessing suffusing his being, and he senses unseen guardians, radiant like dappled woodland sunlight, that he can call when sore pressed as they had been with the minotaur and the hag.

Upon reaching town, he is thrilled to hear that Vara Lonsvell has been chosen.  A fine den mother, from what I have seen and heard.

The bit about Sir Brodstin confuses him, however.  Sheepishly he tries to remember, asking the others, "What is a spy?  Is it like a big cat hidden in tall grass, watching its prey when the prey cannot see it?  Or an eagle diving down from the sky to take its next meal unaware?"

He assumes their destination is Birgon's shop, though he is not certain.  He would like to thank her for the herbal leaves he had bought from her - from which he was able to brew the elixirs (one of which he had given to Maggwyn).  Though he wonders aloud if they should first pay respects to Vara.

     Having fought for South Vexcall before having left the military, Miesha is quite curious to hear more about Sir Brodstin and the accusations against him.  As such, Miesha is eager to hang out and listen to any who are chatting or gossiping about it.  She will keep her own service quiet, she in truth has no real love for her former home barrings perhaps a few she knows who still live there.

     "Yes, Crannoc," Miesha answers, "Both are very apt if not exactly precise.  Imagine if the big cats was able to disguise themself as the prey and live amongst them - Learning where they sleep, where their favorite watering holes are and the like.  Then the big cat goes back and shares that knowledge with all the other cats so they can hunt them down as a group while the prey are busy sleeping and unaware of the danger..."

     Other than trying to hear more news, arrange lodging for everyone and for the care of Eilc the elk while they are in town, Miesha figures the group should return to visit Jasper's friendly shopkeeper and see what she has to say about the hag's goods and if she knows of a way to destroy the spike.  

In a few moments, Crannoc learns more from Miesha about the ways of cities and nation states and espionage than he has his entire life.

That would be so clever of the big cats... only here, the spies are doing it not to hunt for food, but for other advantages for their own pack...

"Thank you," he murmurs appreciatively, lost in thought.  "Yes, let us go to Birgon's store."

Heading into Birgon's store, you hear murmurs of plans to burn Sir Brodstin's manor this evening. Vara Lonsvell has been discouraging it, but not forbidding it.

As you enter the store Birgon greets you with a jovial smile and wave. "Welcome back, friends! What brings you back this way?"

     “Has the place even been properly searched?” Miesha asks Birgon when the prospect of arson arises.  “By authorities, at least? Preferably by more devious sorts as well?  I’d imagine spies are careful to not leave evidence out and obvious…”

Crannoc nods at Miesha's question about the... spy's den, still lost in thought about the bronze warrior's explanation.

As a result, he doesn't think to hold anything back from Birgon, telling her about the tip he had gotten from the hunter, the strange dreams on the way, the cursed, desiccated hole, the demons, minotaur and hag inside.  He shows her the items they recovered, pointing especially at the cursed spike.

"I dreamt that some... some dark being used this to hammer into the the Earth, nature's flesh, wounding Temuth, creating the cursed pit.  And the hag spoke of serving her king.  The Horned Lord, I think?."  In truth, Crannoc cannot quite remember as he has been trying to put it out of his mind.

He also thanks her for the herbal leaves she had sold him - from which he was able to brew the elixirs.

"His place hasn't been searched, as the only evidence presented wasn't sent to the Lonsvells. I haven't sent anyone else in. I got word from my baby cousin in South Vexcall to stay clear. They said that an operative might be coming to clear it out and rescue Brodstin, and our client just wanted him out of the town. I wouldn't get to near to it any time soon."

She looks perplexedly at the items. She first sorts through the alchemical components. "These are for alchemical or ritual use, not the nicest kind though. These are common of sacrificial rituals. I'm sure I could find some potion to use them in. I'll buy them off of you for 200 gold."

She peers into the green orb. "I suspect something is contained in this. I don't know what. If you wanted to be rid of it I'd buy it for 50 gold."

She flips through the book. "This has some spells, some recipes, and some texts. That the format at least, I can't read this. I might be able to resell this to a pearl, but I don't know what its worth."

She then looks at the spike. "I have no idea what that is. You might find answers in this book. Now, I'm not much for faith, but I know that there's no Horned Lord in most pantheons. If its answers you want, you might find answers in a city with a library. Neldfield is famous for its educational institutes."

(Sorry I have been slacking on this - I'm still here!)

Maggwyn listens in on the conversation between Crannoc and Birgon.  Unsure of what to do next, she suggests if they want to sell the common items for the 200 gold, go for it, the rest they should hang onto.  "Unless you want to get rid of the spike, that thing kind of gives me the creeps.

"As for Neldfield, I'm up for the travel if you guys are."

     "We seem to be collecting items we don't want but don't want to let others have," Miesha points out, thinking about the Gnoll flail she picked up from their first taste of combat as a group.  "Creepy, yes. Possibly the cause of future unrest... But better our hands than someone else's, at least until we learn more.  Let's keep the orb, the book and the spike for now and try to learn what we can of them?"

     "Heading to Beldfield may not be a bad idea...  But I wouldn't mind a look into Brodstin's place for myself before the village burns it down.  I recalled seeing Brodstin wielding that mace that was recovered from him... From back during the wars.  I hadn't recognized him before then.  I still don't,  But I recall him fighting with that mace and...  Maybe it was a brief encounter in a battle years ago but I'd like to see if there's anything else that triggers any memories."

     "Perhaps we could head to Beldfield in the morning?  Tonight I'll see if I can maybe break into Brodstin's without causing a ruckus?"

"They're burning the house tonight. Make sure you're out before the sun goes down. Please."

(Miesha, I have added both the gnoll's and Brodstin's weapons to your inventory. Also, the tome, spike, and orb are currently unclaimed in any inventory. If you're selling the alchemical ingredients then you also get an additional 200 gold. Just wanted to get that little bit of bookkeeping out of the way.)

Birgon takes a small notebook from her side. "Miesha, since you're familiar with Brodstin, I think you ought to know what we've decoded of his correspondence and journal. We've also subsequently collected some information on South Vexcall following the war. I wrote this up for you, both for your own information, but also for a mission. After Brodstin's discovery, we got a new client that gave us a large scale job. There are people throughout Vexcall working on this, and I may call on you lot again. If you can complete the tasks, the rewards will be big, we just need to do our part. Keep what you read here in mind, and I'll be in contact with Jasper."

She places the small notebook on the table with the other items you brought her.

Crannoc sees Birgon's notebook and gives it a wide berth, judging himself the least suited to read such things, despite what he's just learned of spycraft.

"Knowing how it has been used, I will keep the cursed spike in the hopes that we can prevent it from falling into the wrong hands.  Perhaps the... library (?) at Neldfeld will provide more clues."  Crannoc seems skeptical but certainly willing to give it a try for lack of better options.

He is fine with selling the alchemical components and has no opinion on what to do with the book or orb.

"Miesha, if you go to the house now, we should come with you, shouldn't we?"  Crannoc seems apprehensive of splitting up the pack.  "Is there a chance we run into the... what did you call them?  Operative?  The one being sent to ah, clear it out and... rescue Sir Br-Brodstin?"

((Actually I think maybe Jasper has Brodstin's Mace?  Miesha suggested he not sell it but I do not believe she took it from him?  Crannoc can surely hold the spike.  Jasper seems likely suspect to hold the tome and orb but if he'd rather not for some reason?  *shrug*  There being four of us... 50 gold each or does someone prefer a different method or having a "party fund" or...?))

     "I would be very interested, of course," Miesha says as she reaches out and takes the journal.  "Thank you.  This is very thoughtful of you..."  Miesha does a quick thumb through to get an idea of how much writing is in it but doesn't start to read it yet.  

     "I was hoping I could slip in after night fall, stealth and being subtle aren't my specialties so darkness would have been handy... But if they are wasting no time on the arson I suppose sooner is better than later," Miesha says.  "Really just want a quick look to see if anything reminds me of anything.  And of course we would be happy to consider any tasks you may have for us... Though we would have to make the decision as a group."  Miesha looks around to the others hoping they are nodding and agreeing.

     Miesha looks to Crannoc and smiles.  "I would appreciate if you all we close by but I doubt an operative after Brodstin would decide to try me instead, I'll hardly be holding or defending their target... But one never knows.  Besides, I could use whatever information we have about the inside - I stayed outside last time so barely know what to expect."

(Noted, now Jasper has the mace.)

The notebook seems almost entirely filled with writing, but the notes appear succinct. To really absorb the information it might take Miesha a few hours to read.

Crannoc is happy to join Miesha in trying the house again if she wishes.

"It is not just the operative.  Sorry, I was mixing two thoughts.  It is also that when we last went in, Jasper and I evaded the guards upstairs. but were attacked inside the room leading to Sir Brodstin's chambers by strange... things.  Neither animal nor plant, undead nor fiend.  Living armor?  Machines?  Jasper may be able to describe them better.  I think Maggwyn and Kass were also attacked by such... constructs, downstairs."

(OOC Apologies, haven't been receiving email alerts and fell behind. Glad everyone is still here!)

Jasper is ABSOLUTELY going to try to rob that house again. He hopes the guards are gone and remembers there were some other interesting rooms that he saw or heard about from other members of the party.

(OOC I'll have to go back and review the more interesting rooms we saw.)

Jasper is also happy to take the green orb and tome and see if his new insights into magic can discern anything further. He is leery of the spike's power for now, however.

Remembering belatedly that his strengthening connection to Temuth had granted him the limited power to return a fallen ally's life force, and that such magic required strange sparkling gems, Crannoc inquires with Birgon about where he might be able to purchase 300gp or 600gp worth of diamonds.

((For the Revivify spell.))

     Miesha nudges Jasper as Birgon is counting out the gold and tries to signal him.  Unsure he is getting the message she intends though, Miesha clears her throat and just tosses the idea out into the air...

     "Pardon me Birgon, but a thought occurs - Perhaps we could all benefit by taking the payment in good instead of gold?  Perhaps you could save the gold and perhaps we could get a deal on some items we may be needing?" Miesha offers, trying to be as charming and persuasive as possible.

(Jasper needs 100gp pearl, Crannoc a bunch of diamonds... Not sure if Birgon would carry all that but we may be able to get more out of them in components than gold?  And to Miesha's thinking, if party members are willing to give up their share of gold for the good of the party, it makes them a stronger, more unified party.)

"Well there are some spells in here that I've been looking at..." replies Jasper in reference to his 'inherited' spell book. "It seems a pearl of worthwhile value would do us wonders... I think."

Birgon flips through her ledger, ducks into her back room, and returns with a few small boxes. "I have two diamonds, one worth 300 gold and the other 350. I also have a pearl worth 100 gold. I'll take the alchemical ingredients and 500 gold for all three."