"Yes of course!!!!" Were planning on taking back the grounds in Harken. Any chance you and your friends can provide any aid in that area. We are a little bit stuck for ideas short of knocking on the front door. And then setting fire to the place. I'ts a less then ideal approach but also all we have."
Esa and I both have charm person that we could utilise to get the key holder to let us in, its a risk but hopefully one we dont have to take if we can get in another way. What were our other ideas again Augustin? the greystoke daughter could sneak in and open a door, we could pretend to be captured but that would mean giving up weapons, I dont remember any other options at the moment.
Missy, as a side note do you know much about the Greystoke family? they struck our group as different from most people in these parts.
I don't know this for sure, but it's a possibility. If the Master of the Hunt cannot be woken then it is likely that at some point the balance between prey and predator will be upset, just like the seasons are upset now. That would be catastrophic for many creatures. It could already be happening. There is much I do not know about the major primal spirits. But I believe you must do the following."
Another question please Missy, what do you mean by the statement, the seasons are upset now, can you detect what or where that is coming from and if its from a similar item being destroyed or lost?
Santo enters the room with a basket of vegetables and puts them into a big bucket. He smiles at everyone, his teeth white against his big black beard. He comes over, looming over everyone and pours everyone more tea, and puts a small bag on the table.
"Baked goods!" he announces and reaches in and takes out something that might be a large biscuit or small cake. "I take this one!" He takes a bite and moves away into another part of the room. Missy smiles after him before turning back to Augustin and RL.
"If I can answer this question about the seasons first. Things should run normally - each season should be 3 months long, but it's not the case right now. Summer is, as you know, only one month long. Winter is also one month long, and a miserable spring and autumn are 5 months long each. We have excessive rain. Sometimes crops grow strange and bitter. I don't know enough about this to give you a good answer, but I suspect that the presence of a primal spirit helps regulate the natural laws. In a world with magic, natural laws can be nudged ever so slightly, and small nudges can turn into big consequences over time. Like nudging the heading of a boat by one degree can have a big effect the longer the journey. We need a course correction and only the Mother can fix the seasons and return them to how they are meant to be. I would not be surprised if the Dark Lord had a hand in nudging us off course some time ago. I don't know if it had anything to do with an artefact being destroyed, I think it has more to do with the Mother remaining dormant."
"Yes of course!!!!" Were planning on taking back the grounds in Harken. Any chance you and your friends can provide any aid in that area. We are a little bit stuck for ideas short of knocking on the front door. And then setting fire to the place. I'ts a less then ideal approach but also all we have."
Esa and I both have charm person that we could utilise to get the key holder to let us in, its a risk but hopefully one we dont have to take if we can get in another way. What were our other ideas again Augustin? the greystoke daughter could sneak in and open a door, we could pretend to be captured but that would mean giving up weapons, I dont remember any other options at the moment.
Missy, as a side note do you know much about the Greystoke family? they struck our group as different from most people in these parts.
"I'm not a tactician, or a warrior. I don't have the answers for everything, and I don't have knowledge beyond my river. It sounds like you have some options. I would suggest choosing one of those or coming up with a different one."
Another strange question if I may Missy, do you have access to the mill pond in Harken at all? or even better into where ever the keep draws its water from? Would there be any way for you to help us arrive there without being detected?
Missy considers the questions. "No, the Mill Pond does not connect to the White River, it is connected to two small streams however. I do not know if there are any primal spirits there, if there is one I suspect it has not bonded to a life form, or if it has it is small and goes unnoticed. Perhaps a frog or a fish. But if this is your plan, maybe I can help there. I can give you the means to breathe and travel underwater if that would help you get inside the castle. It might be tricky though. If there is a primal spirit there you might need its help."
Augustin remembers that the water in the well at the keep does come from the same water source as the Mill Pond, so there must be an underwater tunnel connecting them.
Missy considers the questions. "No, the Mill Pond does not connect to the White River, it is connected to two small streams however. I do not know if there are any primal spirits there, if there is one I suspect it has not bonded to a life form, or if it has it is small and goes unnoticed. Perhaps a frog or a fish. But if this is your plan, maybe I can help there. I can give you the means to breathe and travel underwater if that would help you get inside the castle. It might be tricky though. If there is a primal spirit there you might need its help."
Augustin remembers that the water in the well at the keep does come from the same water source as the Mill Pond, so there must be an underwater tunnel connecting them.
Thank you so much Missy, you have been very helpful and your offer of assistance is graciously appreciated, I think we will be back to have many more conversations with you about the current situation and Primal Spirits in general." RL stands and offers a bow to Missy. Then he waits and turns to Augustin, do you have anything else to ask at present or should we go and catch up with the others and see what the rest think of this possibility. Do you remember where the well in the castle is, is it in an area that we would be able to sneak into the rest of the castle to get to your family rooms or might we have more luck with another or even combined options, is it climbable or would we need someone at the top to lower a rope?"
Augustin remembers the well is in the courtyard of the keep, which means it is in plain view of guards on the wall or people going about their business within the keep. It would give you access to any area in the keep, unless the door was locked. The water level in the well is low - so a long climb out of the well on the iron rungs driven into the side of the wall for the builders to use when the well was constructed.
"Your assistance in this area Missy would be greatly appreciated. And we thank you for the sharing of your knowledge as well. I can't begin to understand the pressures you are under. We were well directed to come speak to you about these matters."
"I should be able to recall where the well is in the castle, but I may need to make some sketches first. I cant imagine It would be too difficult to make it to Mill Pond, but perhaps my knowledge of underwater travel is limited. Nothing a short walk cant fix."
RL and Augustin finish their tea and stand to leave.
"Come see me when you're ready to leave and I'll give you what you need, if you are choosing the well as your entry point," said Missy, taking up the teacups and taking them to the washbasin. "Good luck in whatever it is you decide to do. Don't die. You may be our best hope in a long time for awakening the Primal Spirits."
RL and Augustin finish their tea and stand to leave.
"Come see me when you're ready to leave and I'll give you what you need, if you are choosing the well as your entry point," said Missy, taking up the teacups and taking them to the washbasin. "Good luck in whatever it is you decide to do. Don't die. You may be our best hope in a long time for awakening the Primal Spirits."
RL will bow again to Missy before heading outside to catch up with Grimbald and Vakiel. He will wait in the doorway to the house for Augustin until Augustin is leaving as well.
He waves as he approaches and asks 'Any sign of Esa? We have a few things to talk about with everyone.'
"Augustin gives a shrug in regards to Esa. She's out galivanting for a few days. Something to do with a Tiefling Farmer I believe. I think I know where I am going if you want to go and see her. Now that I'm back to my regular self." He says, limping aggressively. "We should look at moving on Harken sooner rather than later. The longer we wait the more time they will have to prepare for our arrival. I was thinking too. We know who the spy is. We should make sure word reaches him that we are headed in a different direction to Harken, perhaps, they will be more at ease if they think we are going South."
Augustin is just being absurdly hyperactive on the journey having been on light duties for 2 weeks. He's doing short sprints for no reason. Jumping up to touch try branches and doing pull ups if its the right height. He's like a little kid who has just been let outside to play after its been raining all day. If he sees a fallen tree or something similar, he 100% makes a point of "moving it out the way" even though its unlikely in the way of anything.
When they do eventually get back to the village, he would like to find someone to spar with, to give his new armour a test run. If he can't find anyone, he has a merry time just letting kids belt him with sticks. He is trying to really pump the stereotype of hero, particular amongst the younger kids.
"Augustin gives a shrug in regards to Esa. She's out galivanting for a few days. Something to do with a Tiefling Farmer I believe. I think I know where I am going if you want to go and see her. Now that I'm back to my regular self." He says, limping aggressively. "We should look at moving on Harken sooner rather than later. The longer we wait the more time they will have to prepare for our arrival. I was thinking too. We know who the spy is. We should make sure word reaches him that we are headed in a different direction to Harken, perhaps, they will be more at ease if they think we are going South."
Augustin is just being absurdly hyperactive on the journey having been on light duties for 2 weeks. He's doing short sprints for no reason. Jumping up to touch try branches and doing pull ups if its the right height. He's like a little kid who has just been let outside to play after its been raining all day. If he sees a fallen tree or something similar, he 100% makes a point of "moving it out the way" even though its unlikely in the way of anything.
When they do eventually get back to the village, he would like to find someone to spar with, to give his new armour a test run. If he can't find anyone, he has a merry time just letting kids belt him with sticks. He is trying to really pump the stereotype of hero, particular amongst the younger kids.
I have been thinking, anything that generates an underground disturbance should be investigated as the two shrines we have found so far have been underground so if anyone hears of anything else strange that might live in the ground or be a disturbance in the ground we should go and look at personally.
Saying that, definitely Harken first, your not really free to act with your family hostage to the Iron Circle, plus I just dont like those people, no sense of balance at all.
Augustin returns to Kathrid's smithy and tries on his new plate armour. It is a good fit and she gleefully takes up his suggestion and starts hitting him with her warhammer she had nearby before he can even get his defences up. Not too hard, she doesn't want to undo her good work. Augustin finds the armour spreads the force of the hammer blows evenly across the armour.
Esa returns eventually and finds Augustin sparring which she watches for a while with an attitude of a parent watching children playing silly games.
The others all wander in, and for the first time in a while the party are all together. That realisation hits them all at the same time.
RL thinks there will be enough time to talk tactics tomorrow. Augustin stops sparring and takes off his armour. The plate armour is more time consuming to don and take off, he realises. But it will be worth it.
The party all head off to the Mallard Inn to talk about what they've learned, what they've been doing.
The fog is thick in the morning. It was cold and raining overnight and everything is wet. Sandy Reedfoot's boat is being loaded with goods, ready for his trade trip to the camp of Drith the dragonborn.
The dwarven merchant party are making ready to leave Albridge and head back to Hammerfast, taking the coffin and body of Tholarn Goldspinner with them.
The party meet for breakfast, and there is spicy sausage, eggs, and mushrooms, as well as pumpernickel bread.
The party pour over the map to come up with a plan. Alesia Gravelstoke joins you, having returned to Albridge that morning. She munches on a spicy sausage wrapped in a cheesy pastry as she observes.
The baron will be in the cell in area 22 or may be just locked in area 22.
There is a postern gate (area 21) for servant access, but it is an iron gate locked with a key. It is for the servants to exit. Alesia tells you the servants in the castle are Harkenwolders being held against their will. The Iron Circle have identified the postern gate as a vulnerable area, and so the rubbish is taken out the front gate now instead of the postern gate. To gain access this way there would need to be some way of unlocking the gate without the key, or have the strength of a giant to break it open.
Vakiel ponders this. He has some connections and might be able to hire someone in his network of rascals who is good with locks. This could be another option.
The Lord's quarters are at 30. No doubt some Iron Circle bigwig or other has appropriated them. There is a set of secret stairs that lead from area 26 up to 30 as clearly marked on Old Kellar's map.
Grimbald appears completely focused on his food, and occasionally pockets more bread and sausage when he thinks no one is looking. "If we can't open that lock, we've either got to fly over the walls, or. maybe we could disguise ourselves and pretend Augustin is our prisoner. I can disguise myself at least"
Alesia leans over and whispers to Grimbald, "Or I can fly over the walls and let you in through the back door." She grins and moves away, munching on a sausage that has suddenly appeared in her hand.
Alesia leans over and whispers to Grimbald, "Or I can fly over the walls and let you in through the back door." She grins and moves away, munching on a sausage that has suddenly appeared in her hand.
Esa and I both have charm person that we could utilise to get the key holder to let us in, its a risk but hopefully one we dont have to take if we can get in another way. What were our other ideas again Augustin? the greystoke daughter could sneak in and open a door, we could pretend to be captured but that would mean giving up weapons, I dont remember any other options at the moment.
Missy, as a side note do you know much about the Greystoke family? they struck our group as different from most people in these parts.
Santo enters the room with a basket of vegetables and puts them into a big bucket. He smiles at everyone, his teeth white against his big black beard. He comes over, looming over everyone and pours everyone more tea, and puts a small bag on the table.
"Baked goods!" he announces and reaches in and takes out something that might be a large biscuit or small cake. "I take this one!" He takes a bite and moves away into another part of the room. Missy smiles after him before turning back to Augustin and RL.
"If I can answer this question about the seasons first. Things should run normally - each season should be 3 months long, but it's not the case right now. Summer is, as you know, only one month long. Winter is also one month long, and a miserable spring and autumn are 5 months long each. We have excessive rain. Sometimes crops grow strange and bitter. I don't know enough about this to give you a good answer, but I suspect that the presence of a primal spirit helps regulate the natural laws. In a world with magic, natural laws can be nudged ever so slightly, and small nudges can turn into big consequences over time. Like nudging the heading of a boat by one degree can have a big effect the longer the journey. We need a course correction and only the Mother can fix the seasons and return them to how they are meant to be. I would not be surprised if the Dark Lord had a hand in nudging us off course some time ago. I don't know if it had anything to do with an artefact being destroyed, I think it has more to do with the Mother remaining dormant."
"I'm not a tactician, or a warrior. I don't have the answers for everything, and I don't have knowledge beyond my river. It sounds like you have some options. I would suggest choosing one of those or coming up with a different one."
Missy considers the questions. "No, the Mill Pond does not connect to the White River, it is connected to two small streams however. I do not know if there are any primal spirits there, if there is one I suspect it has not bonded to a life form, or if it has it is small and goes unnoticed. Perhaps a frog or a fish. But if this is your plan, maybe I can help there. I can give you the means to breathe and travel underwater if that would help you get inside the castle. It might be tricky though. If there is a primal spirit there you might need its help."
Augustin remembers that the water in the well at the keep does come from the same water source as the Mill Pond, so there must be an underwater tunnel connecting them.
Thank you so much Missy, you have been very helpful and your offer of assistance is graciously appreciated, I think we will be back to have many more conversations with you about the current situation and Primal Spirits in general." RL stands and offers a bow to Missy. Then he waits and turns to Augustin, do you have anything else to ask at present or should we go and catch up with the others and see what the rest think of this possibility. Do you remember where the well in the castle is, is it in an area that we would be able to sneak into the rest of the castle to get to your family rooms or might we have more luck with another or even combined options, is it climbable or would we need someone at the top to lower a rope?"
Augustin remembers the well is in the courtyard of the keep, which means it is in plain view of guards on the wall or people going about their business within the keep. It would give you access to any area in the keep, unless the door was locked. The water level in the well is low - so a long climb out of the well on the iron rungs driven into the side of the wall for the builders to use when the well was constructed.
"Your assistance in this area Missy would be greatly appreciated. And we thank you for the sharing of your knowledge as well. I can't begin to understand the pressures you are under. We were well directed to come speak to you about these matters."
"I should be able to recall where the well is in the castle, but I may need to make some sketches first. I cant imagine It would be too difficult to make it to Mill Pond, but perhaps my knowledge of underwater travel is limited. Nothing a short walk cant fix."
RL and Augustin finish their tea and stand to leave.
"Come see me when you're ready to leave and I'll give you what you need, if you are choosing the well as your entry point," said Missy, taking up the teacups and taking them to the washbasin. "Good luck in whatever it is you decide to do. Don't die. You may be our best hope in a long time for awakening the Primal Spirits."
RL will bow again to Missy before heading outside to catch up with Grimbald and Vakiel. He will wait in the doorway to the house for Augustin until Augustin is leaving as well.
He waves as he approaches and asks 'Any sign of Esa? We have a few things to talk about with everyone.'
"Augustin gives a shrug in regards to Esa. She's out galivanting for a few days. Something to do with a Tiefling Farmer I believe. I think I know where I am going if you want to go and see her. Now that I'm back to my regular self." He says, limping aggressively. "We should look at moving on Harken sooner rather than later. The longer we wait the more time they will have to prepare for our arrival. I was thinking too. We know who the spy is. We should make sure word reaches him that we are headed in a different direction to Harken, perhaps, they will be more at ease if they think we are going South."
Augustin is just being absurdly hyperactive on the journey having been on light duties for 2 weeks. He's doing short sprints for no reason. Jumping up to touch try branches and doing pull ups if its the right height. He's like a little kid who has just been let outside to play after its been raining all day. If he sees a fallen tree or something similar, he 100% makes a point of "moving it out the way" even though its unlikely in the way of anything.
When they do eventually get back to the village, he would like to find someone to spar with, to give his new armour a test run. If he can't find anyone, he has a merry time just letting kids belt him with sticks. He is trying to really pump the stereotype of hero, particular amongst the younger kids.
I have been thinking, anything that generates an underground disturbance should be investigated as the two shrines we have found so far have been underground so if anyone hears of anything else strange that might live in the ground or be a disturbance in the ground we should go and look at personally.
Saying that, definitely Harken first, your not really free to act with your family hostage to the Iron Circle, plus I just dont like those people, no sense of balance at all.
Augustin returns to Kathrid's smithy and tries on his new plate armour. It is a good fit and she gleefully takes up his suggestion and starts hitting him with her warhammer she had nearby before he can even get his defences up. Not too hard, she doesn't want to undo her good work. Augustin finds the armour spreads the force of the hammer blows evenly across the armour.
Esa returns eventually and finds Augustin sparring which she watches for a while with an attitude of a parent watching children playing silly games.
The others all wander in, and for the first time in a while the party are all together. That realisation hits them all at the same time.
RL thinks there will be enough time to talk tactics tomorrow. Augustin stops sparring and takes off his armour. The plate armour is more time consuming to don and take off, he realises. But it will be worth it.
The party all head off to the Mallard Inn to talk about what they've learned, what they've been doing.
16th day of Latesummer
The fog is thick in the morning. It was cold and raining overnight and everything is wet. Sandy Reedfoot's boat is being loaded with goods, ready for his trade trip to the camp of Drith the dragonborn.
The dwarven merchant party are making ready to leave Albridge and head back to Hammerfast, taking the coffin and body of Tholarn Goldspinner with them.
The party meet for breakfast, and there is spicy sausage, eggs, and mushrooms, as well as pumpernickel bread.
They decide what their agenda is for the day.
The party pour over the map to come up with a plan. Alesia Gravelstoke joins you, having returned to Albridge that morning. She munches on a spicy sausage wrapped in a cheesy pastry as she observes.
The baron will be in the cell in area 22 or may be just locked in area 22.
There is a postern gate (area 21) for servant access, but it is an iron gate locked with a key. It is for the servants to exit. Alesia tells you the servants in the castle are Harkenwolders being held against their will. The Iron Circle have identified the postern gate as a vulnerable area, and so the rubbish is taken out the front gate now instead of the postern gate. To gain access this way there would need to be some way of unlocking the gate without the key, or have the strength of a giant to break it open.
Vakiel ponders this. He has some connections and might be able to hire someone in his network of rascals who is good with locks. This could be another option.
The Lord's quarters are at 30. No doubt some Iron Circle bigwig or other has appropriated them. There is a set of secret stairs that lead from area 26 up to 30 as clearly marked on Old Kellar's map.
Grimbald appears completely focused on his food, and occasionally pockets more bread and sausage when he thinks no one is looking. "If we can't open that lock, we've either got to fly over the walls, or. maybe we could disguise ourselves and pretend Augustin is our prisoner. I can disguise myself at least"
Alesia leans over and whispers to Grimbald, "Or I can fly over the walls and let you in through the back door." She grins and moves away, munching on a sausage that has suddenly appeared in her hand.
Grimbald checks his pockets for missing sausages
Grimbald is one sausage short.