Thank you Esa, will you be heading back to participate in the investigation or are you too busy here?
Also there is something else I wanted to talk to you about. You know there is a dragonborn named Dirth that has a regeneration orb or similar living in Harken forest. I want to go and see if it can be obtained soon so that it can be used on Augustin. He has taken so much damage on behalf of us all I think he needs it the most. Would you be willing to help me get it? Dirth has bullwugs as slaves so im not sure what it will take to get it. Im happy to pay or perform a service as long as its not too expensive but also happy to take it by force if I need to.
Esa and RL's Story:
"No, I can came, I'm keen to, actually. Lessons are great but I can take a few days off."
The conversation at the inn is put on pause as a young man comes over to introduce himself as Danner, and Danner wants to be a delver. Esa, rolling her eyes tells him to not be so stupid and go away, and that delving is not for human bumpkins with no more sense than the turnips they dug out of the ground. Danner returns to his table, chastised, as his friends laugh uproariously, having expected such a response before they sent their naive friend over. Esa is obviously getting herself the reputation as the reliably cranky fey delver.
"As for Dirth, if he's having all these troubles with the Heart of Harken he might have something for us to do in exchange for his help. And if not, well, then we go with plan B," she grins, clenching her fists and showing way too many teeth, making Reeta the waitress shy away.
Grimbald wants to entrust the return of the remains and sword (seperately) to their home. He asks Kathrid to arrange transportation to their home. The name to remain solemn until they are delivered. Then a seperate courier or messenger with the name once secured.
DM's Note: Just to remind Grimbald what the intention was with Tholarn's body.
The body was sent back in a coffin via merchants. I don't think the rusty sword was, so Grimbald likely still has it. No courier or messenger was sent as no word was sent back that the body was secured. It should be in the Temple of Moradin in the Lore Ward.
Thank you Esa, will you be heading back to participate in the investigation or are you too busy here?
Also there is something else I wanted to talk to you about. You know there is a dragonborn named Dirth that has a regeneration orb or similar living in Harken forest. I want to go and see if it can be obtained soon so that it can be used on Augustin. He has taken so much damage on behalf of us all I think he needs it the most. Would you be willing to help me get it? Dirth has bullwugs as slaves so im not sure what it will take to get it. Im happy to pay or perform a service as long as its not too expensive but also happy to take it by force if I need to.
Esa and RL's Story:
"No, I can came, I'm keen to, actually. Lessons are great but I can take a few days off."
The conversation at the inn is put on pause as a young man comes over to introduce himself as Danner, and Danner wants to be a delver. Esa, rolling her eyes tells him to not be so stupid and go away, and that delving is not for human bumpkins with no more sense than the turnips they dug out of the ground. Danner returns to his table, chastised, as his friends laugh uproariously, having expected such a response before they sent their naive friend over. Esa is obviously getting herself the reputation as the reliably cranky fey delver.
"As for Dirth, if he's having all these troubles with the Heart of Harken he might have something for us to do in exchange for his help. And if not, well, then we go with plan B," she grins, clenching her fists and showing way too many teeth, making Reeta the waitress shy away.
Thank you Esa, are you ok to head back tomorrow then until the first of next month or are you going to come back closer to then? One more question please. I have picked up the Ankheg breastplate but its kind of vulnerable to bludeoning damage. Is there something with magic that can be done to stop it breaking and how do I go about it?
"If we're going to look tomorrow then I'll come tomorrow," says Esa. "Or whatever day you want to go look. It's going to be a while before we're all healed up. Maybe we should even go and see Drith to get Augustin healed up, and maybe your eye too. And THEN go to the tower and check out all the timey-wimey stuff."
"If we're going to look tomorrow then I'll come tomorrow," says Esa. "Or whatever day you want to go look. It's going to be a while before we're all healed up. Maybe we should even go and see Drith to get Augustin healed up, and maybe your eye too. And THEN go to the tower and check out all the timey-wimey stuff."
I think you may be right about the Harken Heart being an issue for Drith so we might need the full team to take care of that, i guess it wouldnt hurt to go and talk to him in the meantime. Lets go and see my halfling friends and catch a boat to see Drith and then how about you come back to Harken on the last day of this month and we can do the first inspection that day and then the next day deal with whatever is causing the light to shine?
"Sounds good," Esa claps her hands together. "I hear it's Sandy Reedfoot who has the durable and more protected keelboat that does the run through Harken Forest. His boat is docked at the moment, we can go see him tomorrow!"
"Sounds good," Esa claps her hands together. "I hear it's Sandy Reedfoot who has the durable and more protected keelboat that does the run through Harken Forest. His boat is docked at the moment, we can go see him tomorrow!"
sounds like a plan.
RL will spend the night at the Inn, trying to get a better sense of 'civilisation' even if it means putting up with the smell of so many unwashed bodies, food smells and old beer instead of the clean scents of nature that exist in the forests
The next day brought the usual mist from the river into the village. In the morning after breakfast of smoked fish, toasted pumpernickel bread, and eggs, RL and Esa went down to see Sandy Reefoot. He was next to the dock, directing the loading of crates onto his keelboat. The halfling took a puff of his pipe and nodded at RL and Esa.
"Seasonal trip to Fallcrest, loading up pumpernickel bread and a few other exports," he explained, when asked. "Very famous, our pumpernickel bread," he added.
When asked he acknowledged he would be going past Dirth's location.
"I can drop you off on the way," Sandy said. "For a silver a piece. Just to cover costs, you understand. But you'll have to make your own way back. You're forest folk, you'll be fine."
Augustin recovers his splint armour from the blacksmith in Albridge. He notes the party has recovered some other armour that he can leave in their capable hands as payment for his current plate armour. He returns this and his the greatsword to the keep in Harken and explains his journey to his Uncle and how it helped shape him over the past few months. He acknowledges that he wasn't the man that he was when the Nentir Vale fell. He enjoys the casual, familiar conversation in recounting his tales. He finds that the common folk are greatly exaggerating his deeds and no amount of denying them can cause them to change their minds.
The next day brought the usual mist from the river into the village. In the morning after breakfast of smoked fish, toasted pumpernickel bread, and eggs, RL and Esa went down to see Sandy Reefoot. He was next to the dock, directing the loading of crates onto his keelboat. The halfling took a puff of his pipe and nodded at RL and Esa.
"Seasonal trip to Fallcrest, loading up pumpernickel bread and a few other exports," he explained, when asked. "Very famous, our pumpernickel bread," he added.
When asked he acknowledged he would be going past Dirth's location.
"I can drop you off on the way," Sandy said. "For a silver a piece. Just to cover costs, you understand. But you'll have to make your own way back. You're forest folk, you'll be fine."
Thank you Sandy, it is appreciated. RL hands over 2 sp to Sandy for passage for Esa and himself. While he waits he pulls out his pipe and pipeweed and sits down to smoke a bowl until the boat and crew are ready to depart.
"Oh my apologies....oh oh um. I have made a terrible assumption. I am so sorry you have to find out this way. I assumed his next of kin would be notified. My companions and I found his remains and I arranged passage for his return to a suitable temple. I humbly apologise" says Grimbald
"So where is his body, and what is it you are expecting?" Varda's eyes roam over Grimbald's clothes, noting the well-battered studded leather armour, shabby but functional clothes and boots, the two hand crossbows, two handaxes, shortsword, mace, warhammer, net, and shield. "Are you some kind of tomb-robber?"
"tomb robber!! tomb robber" grumbling to himself "<no good deed goes unpunished>". "I came to pay my respects, that was the dwarven custom i remember. He was not entombed in any respectful manner I can tell you. You will find your kin at the temple, Good day" Grimbald yet again feels a fool and and walks away. "f@%king dwarves" he mumbles to himself.
"Wait, sir," Varda calls behind Grimbald. "My, you are a prickly one. Would you come with me to the temple to view my uncle's remains? And perhaps tell me the story of how you came across them. I'll talk to my sister Marsinda - she will want to come too. Marsinda will want to know how you became aware the remains were that of our uncle. What can I tell her?"
The crates were packed onto the keelboat within an hour, they were all stacked on the broad deck and covered with tarpaulin which was tied down. There was room to move past on each side of the crates, but crew and passengers would mainly remain at the back of the ship. The passengers all boarded - Fredrick Quicksilver was one, a dwarf mason, and the rich merchant the party met before, Wep Sageleaf and his two bodyguards, the half-orc and half-elf.
The crew then lined up on the side of of the ship facing the river, and took their hats off. Sandy, holding a bag in his hand said "Spirit of our great river, grant us a safe passage," and emptied the bag into the river. Whatever it was the fish there loved it and they were churning the water eating it.
"We started paying homage to the spirit of the White River after the battle, when she swept away the gobbos trying to cross the river," said Sandy. "Seems to work. Makes us feel better anyway. Make yourself comfortable folks! It's a long way to Fallcrest. Although we're not all going that far." He gives a nod and wink to Esa and RL.
"You are due that much, I cannot deny that....but.......the next few rounds are on you, it is a long tale of heroes saving the peoples of Nentir Vale from evil" Grimbald, perhaps all too willing to trust or impress re-tells his battles and adventures, at times straying from the question asked of him. He does restrain from talking of the acorn...or the Mother... for now.
Varda scribbles a note, folds it in half, and summons the half-orc Grimbald saw before. She has a word to him and the half-orc nods and heads off. Then she pours the first two ales and sets one down before Grimbald.
At the end of Grimbald's recounting of the adventures of the Heroes of Albridge, Varda's eyebrows are raised high on her forehead.
"Well, that was a tale," she says, draining her mug and slamming it down on the counter. "If you are one of the delvers that we have heard about - and it seems you are - then I have sorely misjudged you, Grimbald Squirrelking. Do you still have the sword that my uncle Tholarn carried with him? I think Marsinda will need that at least. She isn't as trusting as me." Varda gives Grimbald a wink.
"And speak of the devil!"
A tough looking elderly female dwarf enters the inn. Her hair is snow-white and she is dressed in regal purple and sports a small fortune in jewellery. She is followed by two stern looking dwarves in armour and bearing shields and weapons. These pair look about the inn, looking for any threat. Then they look at Grimbald and watch him closely as Marsinda Goldspinner, the High Master of Hammerfast and leader of the Trade Guild marches over to Grimbald and Varda.
"Well then, Master dwarf, I am Marsinda Goldspinner, and I believe you have found my... our.." she flicks a look at Varda, "uncle. Will you come with us and show us where the body is?"
Grimbald knows this type of dwarf well. One who believes in action over words, a dwarf who prefer to execute a good plan today rather than a perfect plan tomorrow.
The crates were packed onto the keelboat within an hour, they were all stacked on the broad deck and covered with tarpaulin which was tied down. There was room to move past on each side of the crates, but crew and passengers would mainly remain at the back of the ship. The passengers all boarded - Fredrick Quicksilver was one, a dwarf mason, and the rich merchant the party met before, Wep Sageleaf and his two bodyguards, the half-orc and half-elf.
The crew then lined up on the side of of the ship facing the river, and took their hats off. Sandy, holding a bag in his hand said "Spirit of our great river, grant us a safe passage," and emptied the bag into the river. Whatever it was the fish there loved it and they were churning the water eating it.
"We started paying homage to the spirit of the White River after the battle, when she swept away the gobbos trying to cross the river," said Sandy. "Seems to work. Makes us feel better anyway. Make yourself comfortable folks! It's a long way to Fallcrest. Although we're not all going that far." He gives a nod and wink to Esa and RL.
RL will ritually cast detect magic then detect poison and disease for practice to pass the time on the voyage.
Grimbald resists the urge to re-tell his story all over again. Unless Marsinda asks, he will keep the sword sheethed for now. I believe his body was sent to the Temple of Moradin. He downs his ale and stands to leave with them
Grimbald walks with Marsinda, Varda, and the two bodyguards. People of all races make a mark of respect as they pass her, a couple make as if to talk but the bodyguards are firm but respectful - Marsinda is busy.
Walking through the tombs and re-purposed buildings, Grimbald notices a tower with birds circling the top.
"Idara's tower," says Varda, noticing his gaze. "Druid, half-elf. Lot of people don't trust her. You'd probably get on with her though," Varda adds, noticing a squirrel poking its head out of Grimbald's armour.
The Temple of Moradin is an elaborate, marble structure with a pool of fire in front of it. The fire flows like water stirred by a gentle current. As Grimbald watched a dwarf came and lit a torch with it, looking at it reverently. Within the temple Grimbald noticed many workshops dedicated to Moradin and could see priests toiling over elaborate projects in his honour. The priests of Moradin keep the Forge of Life, a sacred workshop located at the centre of the temple, constantly in use.
"If the fires of the forge ever go out, or if a minute passes without the clank of hammer hitting metal, the priests are required to reconsecrate the temple," whispers Varda to Grimbald, with a roll of her eyes, indicating what she thinks of such strict piety.
Marsinda's arrival caught the attention of a priest and after a brief chat she asked them to follow her to stairs leading down. They found a room with some caskets, one of which was the one Grimbald had bought for Tholarn. This was opened and they gazed upon the bones.
"Do you have other proof that this is my uncle Tholarn?" asked Marsinda. "What did you find with his body?"
Esa and RL's Story:
"No, I can came, I'm keen to, actually. Lessons are great but I can take a few days off."
The conversation at the inn is put on pause as a young man comes over to introduce himself as Danner, and Danner wants to be a delver. Esa, rolling her eyes tells him to not be so stupid and go away, and that delving is not for human bumpkins with no more sense than the turnips they dug out of the ground. Danner returns to his table, chastised, as his friends laugh uproariously, having expected such a response before they sent their naive friend over. Esa is obviously getting herself the reputation as the reliably cranky fey delver.
"As for Dirth, if he's having all these troubles with the Heart of Harken he might have something for us to do in exchange for his help. And if not, well, then we go with plan B," she grins, clenching her fists and showing way too many teeth, making Reeta the waitress shy away.
DM's Note: Just to remind Grimbald what the intention was with Tholarn's body.
The body was sent back in a coffin via merchants. I don't think the rusty sword was, so Grimbald likely still has it. No courier or messenger was sent as no word was sent back that the body was secured. It should be in the Temple of Moradin in the Lore Ward.
Thank you Esa, are you ok to head back tomorrow then until the first of next month or are you going to come back closer to then? One more question please. I have picked up the Ankheg breastplate but its kind of vulnerable to bludeoning damage. Is there something with magic that can be done to stop it breaking and how do I go about it?
"If we're going to look tomorrow then I'll come tomorrow," says Esa. "Or whatever day you want to go look. It's going to be a while before we're all healed up. Maybe we should even go and see Drith to get Augustin healed up, and maybe your eye too. And THEN go to the tower and check out all the timey-wimey stuff."
I think you may be right about the Harken Heart being an issue for Drith so we might need the full team to take care of that, i guess it wouldnt hurt to go and talk to him in the meantime. Lets go and see my halfling friends and catch a boat to see Drith and then how about you come back to Harken on the last day of this month and we can do the first inspection that day and then the next day deal with whatever is causing the light to shine?
"Sounds good," Esa claps her hands together. "I hear it's Sandy Reedfoot who has the durable and more protected keelboat that does the run through Harken Forest. His boat is docked at the moment, we can go see him tomorrow!"
sounds like a plan.
RL will spend the night at the Inn, trying to get a better sense of 'civilisation' even if it means putting up with the smell of so many unwashed bodies, food smells and old beer instead of the clean scents of nature that exist in the forests
The next day brought the usual mist from the river into the village. In the morning after breakfast of smoked fish, toasted pumpernickel bread, and eggs, RL and Esa went down to see Sandy Reefoot. He was next to the dock, directing the loading of crates onto his keelboat. The halfling took a puff of his pipe and nodded at RL and Esa.
"Seasonal trip to Fallcrest, loading up pumpernickel bread and a few other exports," he explained, when asked. "Very famous, our pumpernickel bread," he added.
When asked he acknowledged he would be going past Dirth's location.
"I can drop you off on the way," Sandy said. "For a silver a piece. Just to cover costs, you understand. But you'll have to make your own way back. You're forest folk, you'll be fine."
Augustin recovers his splint armour from the blacksmith in Albridge. He notes the party has recovered some other armour that he can leave in their capable hands as payment for his current plate armour. He returns this and his the greatsword to the keep in Harken and explains his journey to his Uncle and how it helped shape him over the past few months. He acknowledges that he wasn't the man that he was when the Nentir Vale fell. He enjoys the casual, familiar conversation in recounting his tales. He finds that the common folk are greatly exaggerating his deeds and no amount of denying them can cause them to change their minds.
Thank you Sandy, it is appreciated. RL hands over 2 sp to Sandy for passage for Esa and himself. While he waits he pulls out his pipe and pipeweed and sits down to smoke a bowl until the boat and crew are ready to depart.
"Oh my apologies....oh oh um. I have made a terrible assumption. I am so sorry you have to find out this way. I assumed his next of kin would be notified. My companions and I found his remains and I arranged passage for his return to a suitable temple. I humbly apologise" says Grimbald
Grimbald's Story
"So where is his body, and what is it you are expecting?" Varda's eyes roam over Grimbald's clothes, noting the well-battered studded leather armour, shabby but functional clothes and boots, the two hand crossbows, two handaxes, shortsword, mace, warhammer, net, and shield. "Are you some kind of tomb-robber?"
"tomb robber!! tomb robber" grumbling to himself "<no good deed goes unpunished>". "I came to pay my respects, that was the dwarven custom i remember. He was not entombed in any respectful manner I can tell you. You will find your kin at the temple, Good day" Grimbald yet again feels a fool and and walks away. "f@%king dwarves" he mumbles to himself.
"Wait, sir," Varda calls behind Grimbald. "My, you are a prickly one. Would you come with me to the temple to view my uncle's remains? And perhaps tell me the story of how you came across them. I'll talk to my sister Marsinda - she will want to come too. Marsinda will want to know how you became aware the remains were that of our uncle. What can I tell her?"
RL and Esa's Story
The crates were packed onto the keelboat within an hour, they were all stacked on the broad deck and covered with tarpaulin which was tied down. There was room to move past on each side of the crates, but crew and passengers would mainly remain at the back of the ship. The passengers all boarded - Fredrick Quicksilver was one, a dwarf mason, and the rich merchant the party met before, Wep Sageleaf and his two bodyguards, the half-orc and half-elf.
The crew then lined up on the side of of the ship facing the river, and took their hats off. Sandy, holding a bag in his hand said "Spirit of our great river, grant us a safe passage," and emptied the bag into the river. Whatever it was the fish there loved it and they were churning the water eating it.
"We started paying homage to the spirit of the White River after the battle, when she swept away the gobbos trying to cross the river," said Sandy. "Seems to work. Makes us feel better anyway. Make yourself comfortable folks! It's a long way to Fallcrest. Although we're not all going that far." He gives a nod and wink to Esa and RL.
"You are due that much, I cannot deny that....but.......the next few rounds are on you, it is a long tale of heroes saving the peoples of Nentir Vale from evil" Grimbald, perhaps all too willing to trust or impress re-tells his battles and adventures, at times straying from the question asked of him. He does restrain from talking of the acorn...or the Mother... for now.
Grimbald's Story
Varda scribbles a note, folds it in half, and summons the half-orc Grimbald saw before. She has a word to him and the half-orc nods and heads off. Then she pours the first two ales and sets one down before Grimbald.
At the end of Grimbald's recounting of the adventures of the Heroes of Albridge, Varda's eyebrows are raised high on her forehead.
"Well, that was a tale," she says, draining her mug and slamming it down on the counter. "If you are one of the delvers that we have heard about - and it seems you are - then I have sorely misjudged you, Grimbald Squirrelking. Do you still have the sword that my uncle Tholarn carried with him? I think Marsinda will need that at least. She isn't as trusting as me." Varda gives Grimbald a wink.
"And speak of the devil!"
A tough looking elderly female dwarf enters the inn. Her hair is snow-white and she is dressed in regal purple and sports a small fortune in jewellery. She is followed by two stern looking dwarves in armour and bearing shields and weapons. These pair look about the inn, looking for any threat. Then they look at Grimbald and watch him closely as Marsinda Goldspinner, the High Master of Hammerfast and leader of the Trade Guild marches over to Grimbald and Varda.
"Well then, Master dwarf, I am Marsinda Goldspinner, and I believe you have found my... our.." she flicks a look at Varda, "uncle. Will you come with us and show us where the body is?"
Grimbald knows this type of dwarf well. One who believes in action over words, a dwarf who prefer to execute a good plan today rather than a perfect plan tomorrow.
RL will ritually cast detect magic then detect poison and disease for practice to pass the time on the voyage.
Grimbald resists the urge to re-tell his story all over again. Unless Marsinda asks, he will keep the sword sheethed for now. I believe his body was sent to the Temple of Moradin. He downs his ale and stands to leave with them
Grimbald's Story
Grimbald walks with Marsinda, Varda, and the two bodyguards. People of all races make a mark of respect as they pass her, a couple make as if to talk but the bodyguards are firm but respectful - Marsinda is busy.
Walking through the tombs and re-purposed buildings, Grimbald notices a tower with birds circling the top.
"Idara's tower," says Varda, noticing his gaze. "Druid, half-elf. Lot of people don't trust her. You'd probably get on with her though," Varda adds, noticing a squirrel poking its head out of Grimbald's armour.
The Temple of Moradin is an elaborate, marble structure with a pool of fire in front of it. The fire flows like water stirred by a gentle current. As Grimbald watched a dwarf came and lit a torch with it, looking at it reverently. Within the temple Grimbald noticed many workshops dedicated to Moradin and could see priests toiling over elaborate projects in his honour. The priests of Moradin keep the Forge of Life, a sacred workshop located at the centre of the temple, constantly in use.
"If the fires of the forge ever go out, or if a minute passes without the clank of hammer hitting metal, the priests are required to reconsecrate the temple," whispers Varda to Grimbald, with a roll of her eyes, indicating what she thinks of such strict piety.
Marsinda's arrival caught the attention of a priest and after a brief chat she asked them to follow her to stairs leading down. They found a room with some caskets, one of which was the one Grimbald had bought for Tholarn. This was opened and they gazed upon the bones.
"Do you have other proof that this is my uncle Tholarn?" asked Marsinda. "What did you find with his body?"