Brix looks up from the notes he had been pouring over and smiles with exuberance at the invitation to share the family recipe. He gives Carina an apologetic grimace as the bench he drags closer to the group makes loud scraping and thumping noises as it's bounces across the cobble floor. The bench allows Brix to unsling his box of a pack and place it at a much more manageable working height for his gnome frame. The box stands taller than it is wide. Hinges running down the side and a hair line crack going down the center of the front mark where the case opens and how. Brix undoes the clasps holding the portable lab closed and swings the two halves open revealing a brown bottle tuckered into soft cushioning on one side and a number of small drawers on the other. The back side of the box has various beakers, tubes and vials strapped in to prevent breakage.
He gingerly removes the bottle and approaches the group. He handles the bottle with obvious reverence for its contents. As he undoes the stopper and begins to pour out small samples for all, he can't resist going into his sales speech.
The drink of which you're about to partake comes from a recipe and method handed down through generations of Philbins. Distilled from the finest ingredients and aged in specially designed casts, this liquor goes down smooth and with a fiery finish. Perfect for warming yer bones after a cold hard day. Careful now, it's potency is quite strong. A little goes a long way.
Brix raises his glass in solute and tosses back the contents. His face involuntarily scrunches as the intense liquid hits his throat. The initial burn quickly dissipates leaving a smokey pleasant caramelesk taste behind.
"Ah, alright," Irven responds, nodding as the Warlock explains the situation to him — or, at least, as much of the situation as she can bear to tell him in front of his family. "Thank you for letting us know, adventurers." He gives your characters a relieved smile, believing with that matter settled that the danger is behind them. Unfortunately, you all know that he is wrong. The man leans back in his seat, gratefully accepting a small glass from Brix and taking a sip of the warm drink while Carina begins to play her music. The family seated at the table all listen with great attention, the young Tiefling Magic in particular — who leans forward and rests her head in her hands, gazing at the Warlock as though she's never seen anyone more amazing.
The innkeeper is also taken by the Artificer's sales pitch, downing his own sip of the fiery liquor while they all listen to Carina's harmonica playing. "A fabulous brew you've got here, sir," the Dwarven man compliments, lifting his glass towards Brix. "Your musician is right, I'd love the opportunity to sell some of your drink here if you've got more to spare. I'm sure the dwellers of this village will love somethin' so warm and tasty. I've got all the coin for it, if you do," he offers with a smile.
Meanwhile, Taiga finds the leader of Palebank Village in the large meeting hall near the center of the snow-dusted town, where the Elven man immediately stands and addresses the Fighter. "Taiga!" he greets, sounding relieved for a moment — before an expression of confusion falls upon his face. "Where are the others? What happened?" Elro Aldataur asks.
Meanwhile, Taiga finds the leader of Palebank Village in the large meeting hall near the center of the snow-dusted town, where the Elven man immediately stands and addresses the Fighter. "Taiga!" he greets, sounding relieved for a moment — before an expression of confusion falls upon his face. "Where are the others? What happened?" Elro Aldataur asks.
Taiga, slightly out of breath for the jog to the town center, “Elro,”she pauses, “ahem, Sir, Mr. Aldataur, we believe we found the disease agent. Please come with me, the owner, a merchant, is not yet aware about the danger he and his family are in. Please come, hurry. We think he will be convinced more easily that he needs to surrender the vials to us, or you as the voice of authority here. Ah, the agent appears to be a vial with some magical blue dust. In principal the vial is intact but we must hurry and secure the vial before it gets more out of control.” As soon as Elro follows she will explain the rest on the way. She adds, “The merchant obtained the vial from a bandit leader or priestess called Hulil, you might have heard of her or her bandits? Anyway, she lived in croakers’ cave and we left her there unconscious and bound with ropes. She tried to kill us! But we managed. Still, in the confusion of the battle we lost sight of one of us, the ranger Elbert. Even afterwards we couldn’t locate him, neither in nor outside the cave. I fear the worst. Still, now we need to focus on the disease and make sure that there won’t be another victim.”
Following behind the Earth Genasi, their feet crunching through the freshly-fallen snow, Elro Aldataur listens carefully while she recalls the party's discoveries on their quest so far — from the mysterious vial containing the source of the frozen disease, to their battle against Hulil of the Uttolot Bandits. The Palebank Village leader's expression is grim when they push open the door of the Jolly Dwarf inn, his eyes landing upon the unsuspecting family who hold the source of Frigid Woe among them. But the weathered Elf puts on a gentle smile, following your characters' lead in not panicking the merchants.
After a quiet discussion with Irven Liel and his husband, Elro receives the vial wrapped up in a cloth. He still doesn't explain to their family the severity of the blue-dusted vial, not yet. With the artifact of Aeor safely in his possession, the Palebank Village leader hopes that the cheerful merchants and their children have been blessed by the gods enough to be safe from Frigid Woe even after touching it — and that they'll never have to know the danger they were in. It would be a miracle, he knows, but he'd rather count on that than the tragedy of seeing the look in their eyes when being told they might die.
With Brix Philbin's ale warming their bellies, and their daughters lulled by the sound of Carina Ravenscale's lovely harmonica playing, Irven Liel and his family eventually bid your characters a good night and head to their room upstairs — finally leaving the party of adventurers, Elro Aldataur, and the innkeep in the quiet of the Jolly Dwarf. The Elven man takes a seat at the table, gesturing for all of you to listen. "I thank you all for your help in uncovering the source of the disease that has taken the lives of our people here in Palebank. You've even risked your own lives in searching out what I could not. I cannot express my gratitude enough," Elro says, reaching into his bag and distributing 25gp to each of you, placing the coins on the table solemnly. "If it's possible for you all, I can pay our innkeep here for your stay in the village tonight. Depending on what happens with Irven Liel and his family, I may need your help again. What do you all think?"
(I'm glad that you are back! Let's get this show back on the road!)
Taiga finally lets herself come to rest and sinks deep into her chair when Elro speaks, listening carefully at what the wise elf has to say. "It was the least that I could do to make sure the illness that took Urgon would not claim more victims. Though, I fear greatly for this young family and hope sincerely that they have not contracted the disease. I will wait for your word tomorrow and continue to help find a cure if you require me to, otherwise I will return back to Uthodurn with the next caravan."Taiga collects her share of the gold and waits for the response of her newfound companions. 'What will the morning bring? Will they continue to look for a cure? Where and how should they even look? The morning will bring answers', or so she hopes.
Carina wraps up her musical interlude with a final, soulful melody, then releases her dark harmonica to hang at her throat once more.
"Well done, everyone. As Taiga says, we did what we had to. I hope the disease is contained now, with one vial having been used to trap Hulil's chest and the other now quarantined by you, Elro Aldataur. But I doubt this is over. So far, admittedly based on small sample size, the vials appear to have a contact-infection rate of 100%. Urgon, Tulgi, Pelc, Hulil. Should our worst fears regarding Irven Liel's family come to pass, I am glad to help, particularly if the goal is to seek an antidote by whatever means possible."
Carina speaks truth while hiding another truth. She does want to find an antidote, particularly for the children's sake. But she also wishes to travel to Eiselcross as Urgon had. If the late dwarven adventurer had returned with such relics, who knows what other Aeorian artifacts lay hidden there...
This must be the reason I was sent here... such relics must not fall into the wrong hands...
(She gladly accepts Elro's offer of lodging at the Jolly Dwarf for the night).
Unease creeps into his mind as he thinks about what has transpired and what may befall the family. Grimacing he looks over to Elro, "I'd prefer ta not wait an' see. I'd like ta offer my service ta ya an' tha town, an' venture inta tha ruins ta find out more information about this disease. If there is more of what's in tha vials, it needs ta be destroyed."
He looks to the others, "I'd be glad to have ya at my side, but I'd understand if you've had yer fill of adventure, or me."
"I'll admit you are an acquired taste, Ragnus," quips Carina, "But then, so am I. Regardless, I think we may all be in this together, no matter what we wish."
She nods and the dwarf and genasi, then turns to face the gnome. "What say you, spirits merchant? Coming with us? You found yourself a nice sale of your wares here at the Jolly Dwarf, but it will not avail you, Brix, if all the potential customers here at Palebank Village keel over from the frigid disease."
(we'll continue on without Brix for now, and when @MrJanuary812 returns, we'll have him rejoin the party!)
"Thank you all very much," the aged Elven man says, nodding sincerely at the adventurers' desire to continue assisting with the frozen disease. "I knew I could count on your group, but you've gone even beyond my expectations. You're all very kind," Elro Aldataur expresses earnestly. He then turns to Ragnus, dipping his head solemnly towards the Paladin. "I should hope it doesn't come to that, as I don't want you to place yourself in more danger without need — but should you need to travel to those ruins to put an end to this sickness, I thank you deeply for your bravery. Let's hope it isn't needed, though."
The Palebank Village leader stands, bidding your characters a good night before he approaches the innkeep and pays him for three rooms for your stay. Keeping the cloth-wrapped vial held carefully close, Elro bows to you all once again before stepping back out into the snowy evening. Now the Jolly Dwarf is silent, aside from the crackling of the fire in the hearth and the sound of the Dwarven man behind the bar cleaning glasses. Once Elro has exited, the innkeep places three keys upon the wooden bar and gives the adventurers a kind smile, trying to appear as though he hadn't overheard the grave discussion you've had. "Here are the keys for your rooms, and make sure to let me know if you need anything else," the gray-haired Dwarf says. And with those words, the hectic day has finally reached its end, and the adventurers are free to do what they like before heading to sleep. Is there anything your characters do before retiring to their rooms? In the meantime, go ahead and advance them to level 2!
Carina inclines her head to the town leader, keeping her tone solemn and the eagerness out of her voice.
"We will await your message in the morning, Elro Aldataur, and journey to Eiselcross if need be for an antidote." And any other relics we find, she thinks.
She bids goodnight to her newfound companions and ascends to her room, shutting and latching the door, then wedging a chair against it as a further guard against it opening, musing to herself that Hulil and her bandits remain at large and have every reason to kill us and recover the artifacts once more.
Carefully, in a cipher unintelligible to anyone but herself and specific people in her faction, Carina begins to pen a note to be sent southward tomorrow.
... recovered artifacts from Eiselcross ... at least one a lethal disease agent ... no antidote currently known ... bandit lackeys for cult of Tiamat involved ... Palebank town leader an asset ... likely planning journey to ruins with local contacts ...
The harmonica hangs darkly at her throat, drinking the last of the lantern light.
He guffaws at Carina telling him he's an acquired taste. "Oh aye, I hear that a lot."
He understands Elro's hope, but can't draw any inside himself. He truly believes they need to go to the ruins to put an end to this sickness.
After Elro and Carina leaves, he sits there in silence considering all that's happened over the past day. Then he pushes away from the table and heads up to his room for sleep.
Taiga retired to her room as soon as Elro left not too long after the merchant family. She was just dead tired after a long, eventful day. She still couldn’t fathom what she had been caught up into. Are they now entertaining the thought to travel to Eiselcross? To the place where her friend got cursed or diseased or whatever it was that had killed him? That was plain crazy, but then this poor family. If they are affected, who would help them? If Elro thinks that she, Taiga, is the right one to safe them, should she not listen to his wisdom? With her mind heavily loaded, and her sleep plagued by visions of which she can’t make head or tail, she gets up early and waits in the breakfast room for everyone to arrive.
As the pale morning light filters in through the curtains of the Jolly Dwarf Inn's windows, the glass frosted over by the dawn chill — so, too, does a sense of unease that can't be driven away even by the warmth of the hearth downstairs. The innkeep is already cooking breakfast by the time Taiga has awoken, and a bit of chatter can be heard upstairs within the lodgings. The Dwarven man serves Taiga and the other few early risers plates of warm eggs and freshly fried potatoes, but the tables are missing the jovial laughter of last night, which had come from Irven Liel and his family. Instead, it is Elro Aldataur who descends the wooden staircase into the dining area, and he gives the Earth Genasi a grim expression. He seats himself at her table, folding his hands in front of him and saying nothing.
"Morning," Taiga says hesitatingly leaving out the Good for his hard demeanour. "You're giving me the shivers, what's news do you bring? Don't make me wait, please," the short woman pleads as her spoon nervously rummages in her eggs on her plate.
Waking up in a heap of blankets on the floor, he curses at gravity. He stretches trying to get the knots out. Somewhat successful he dresses for the day, making sure to don his armor and collects his things before heading downstairs.
He collects a plate of food and sits next to Taiga and Elro, sensing the tension in the air. "Good morn' ta ya both. Any news?"
Carina shivers and stretches, despite the warmth inside the Jolly Dwarf. In anticipation of a trip to frozen Eiselcross?
The first thing she puts on while still in her bedclothes is the dark harmonica around her neck like a choker. Playing a quick riff on the instrument, she dresses and gathers her things, donning her armor and stowing her shield on her back. The black warhammer goes last at her belt.
Coming down the stairs, she stops when she sees her companions with Elro, and makes note of the town leader's stony expression. Carina's voice is quiet as she joins them, but her words are more a statement than a question as she looks at Elro's eyes. She thinks of Magic, the tiefling child.
"It is as we feared, then." Curse you and your draconic goddess, Hulil. May you join her in Hell.
"I'm sorry," the Palebank Village leader says regretfully in response to Taiga, looking sorrowful while the other adventurers seat themselves at the table. "I didn't mean to raise your anxiety — but it's as Carina says. Irven Liel and his family have begun showing signs of the disease early this morning." With a somber breath, the weathered Elven man leans back in his chair and folds his arms across his chest. "I did some research after examining the vials last night, looking into what lore of the ancient Aeor we have." He turns his gaze upon the breakfast that the Fighter picks at, but can't bring himself to garner the appetite to eat anything.
"I've uncovered a bit of information on the disease, called 'frigid woe'. According to legend, the Aeorian mages created the disease themselves to weaken the gods. It's said to have only one antidote: a milky liquid that the ancient Aeorians stored in gold vials." He taps at the wooden table with his fingertips in his nervousness while he explains. "If we're fortunate, the antidote might be found around the same place where Urgon Wenth had found the vials of frigid woe, in the ruins of Eiselcross." Elro meets the eyes of your characters now, his expression deadly serious. "I know you offered to continue assisting and even head into the ruins yourselves last night. But I cannot require such a dangerous task of you." When his gaze lands upon Taiga in particular, he remembers the girl's grief from the previous morning and his lip trembles with sadness and regret. He lowers his eyes again.
"All I can do is ask if you have the kindness and selflessness in your hearts to do so. If you've changed your mind, I will understand. Urgon would have lived, had he never ventured there. I can offer you two hundred gold for retrieving the antidote, but there is no price that can be paid in exchange for a life."
Carina had already assumed the worst, though she finds she is still saddened to hear of the stricken family, especially with respect to the two children.
On the other hand, the trip to Eiselcross to search for Aeorian relics... she studiously keeps the eagerness out of her voice, but her response is immediate.
She plays a determined chord on her dark harmonica. "I will go. What plans must we make to voyage there and when can we leave?"
"The family needs help fast and I do not wish to live with burden that they froze to death because I was too afraid to do what must be done. I will join the expedition and do my best to return in time with the antidote," Taiga states determined. With a glance towards Carina, she repeats her question, "Yes, what will we need for such a journey? How do we even get there?"
Brix looks up from the notes he had been pouring over and smiles with exuberance at the invitation to share the family recipe. He gives Carina an apologetic grimace as the bench he drags closer to the group makes loud scraping and thumping noises as it's bounces across the cobble floor. The bench allows Brix to unsling his box of a pack and place it at a much more manageable working height for his gnome frame. The box stands taller than it is wide. Hinges running down the side and a hair line crack going down the center of the front mark where the case opens and how. Brix undoes the clasps holding the portable lab closed and swings the two halves open revealing a brown bottle tuckered into soft cushioning on one side and a number of small drawers on the other. The back side of the box has various beakers, tubes and vials strapped in to prevent breakage.
He gingerly removes the bottle and approaches the group. He handles the bottle with obvious reverence for its contents. As he undoes the stopper and begins to pour out small samples for all, he can't resist going into his sales speech.
The drink of which you're about to partake comes from a recipe and method handed down through generations of Philbins. Distilled from the finest ingredients and aged in specially designed casts, this liquor goes down smooth and with a fiery finish. Perfect for warming yer bones after a cold hard day. Careful now, it's potency is quite strong. A little goes a long way.
Brix raises his glass in solute and tosses back the contents. His face involuntarily scrunches as the intense liquid hits his throat. The initial burn quickly dissipates leaving a smokey pleasant caramelesk taste behind.
**This Space for Rent**
"Ah, alright," Irven responds, nodding as the Warlock explains the situation to him — or, at least, as much of the situation as she can bear to tell him in front of his family. "Thank you for letting us know, adventurers." He gives your characters a relieved smile, believing with that matter settled that the danger is behind them. Unfortunately, you all know that he is wrong. The man leans back in his seat, gratefully accepting a small glass from Brix and taking a sip of the warm drink while Carina begins to play her music. The family seated at the table all listen with great attention, the young Tiefling Magic in particular — who leans forward and rests her head in her hands, gazing at the Warlock as though she's never seen anyone more amazing.
The innkeeper is also taken by the Artificer's sales pitch, downing his own sip of the fiery liquor while they all listen to Carina's harmonica playing. "A fabulous brew you've got here, sir,"
the Dwarven man compliments, lifting his glass towards Brix. "Your musician is right, I'd love the opportunity to sell some of your drink here if you've got more to spare. I'm sure the dwellers of this village will love somethin' so warm and tasty. I've got all the coin for it, if you do," he offers with a smile.
Meanwhile, Taiga finds the leader of Palebank Village in the large meeting hall near the center of the snow-dusted town, where the Elven man immediately stands and addresses the Fighter. "Taiga!" he greets, sounding relieved for a moment — before an expression of confusion falls upon his face. "Where are the others? What happened?" Elro Aldataur asks.
Beginner DM & Barbarian
Taiga, slightly out of breath for the jog to the town center, “Elro,” she pauses, “ahem, Sir, Mr. Aldataur, we believe we found the disease agent. Please come with me, the owner, a merchant, is not yet aware about the danger he and his family are in. Please come, hurry. We think he will be convinced more easily that he needs to surrender the vials to us, or you as the voice of authority here. Ah, the agent appears to be a vial with some magical blue dust. In principal the vial is intact but we must hurry and secure the vial before it gets more out of control.” As soon as Elro follows she will explain the rest on the way. She adds, “The merchant obtained the vial from a bandit leader or priestess called Hulil, you might have heard of her or her bandits? Anyway, she lived in croakers’ cave and we left her there unconscious and bound with ropes. She tried to kill us! But we managed. Still, in the confusion of the battle we lost sight of one of us, the ranger Elbert. Even afterwards we couldn’t locate him, neither in nor outside the cave. I fear the worst. Still, now we need to focus on the disease and make sure that there won’t be another victim.”
|| Oriace - Halfling Bard - Dragon Heist || Valerian - Elf Rogue - Wildnis || b'Reh - Stig Cleric - Humblewood || Rowan - Halfling Giant - Runewarren || Khazela - Spiritfarer Dervish - Tribute || Arista - Frost Sorcerer - Old Keep || Zephirah - Demonic Bard - Sands || Merry - Gifted Surgeon - Short || Marasatra - Blood Mage - Avernus || Lan - Dwarf Dragon - Wuxian ||
(thank you all so much for your patience!)
Following behind the Earth Genasi, their feet crunching through the freshly-fallen snow, Elro Aldataur listens carefully while she recalls the party's discoveries on their quest so far — from the mysterious vial containing the source of the frozen disease, to their battle against Hulil of the Uttolot Bandits. The Palebank Village leader's expression is grim when they push open the door of the Jolly Dwarf inn, his eyes landing upon the unsuspecting family who hold the source of Frigid Woe among them. But the weathered Elf puts on a gentle smile, following your characters' lead in not panicking the merchants.
After a quiet discussion with Irven Liel and his husband, Elro receives the vial wrapped up in a cloth. He still doesn't explain to their family the severity of the blue-dusted vial, not yet. With the artifact of Aeor safely in his possession, the Palebank Village leader hopes that the cheerful merchants and their children have been blessed by the gods enough to be safe from Frigid Woe even after touching it — and that they'll never have to know the danger they were in. It would be a miracle, he knows, but he'd rather count on that than the tragedy of seeing the look in their eyes when being told they might die.
With Brix Philbin's ale warming their bellies, and their daughters lulled by the sound of Carina Ravenscale's lovely harmonica playing, Irven Liel and his family eventually bid your characters a good night and head to their room upstairs — finally leaving the party of adventurers, Elro Aldataur, and the innkeep in the quiet of the Jolly Dwarf. The Elven man takes a seat at the table, gesturing for all of you to listen. "I thank you all for your help in uncovering the source of the disease that has taken the lives of our people here in Palebank. You've even risked your own lives in searching out what I could not. I cannot express my gratitude enough," Elro says, reaching into his bag and distributing 25gp to each of you, placing the coins on the table solemnly. "If it's possible for you all, I can pay our innkeep here for your stay in the village tonight. Depending on what happens with Irven Liel and his family, I may need your help again. What do you all think?"
Beginner DM & Barbarian
(I'm glad that you are back! Let's get this show back on the road!)
Taiga finally lets herself come to rest and sinks deep into her chair when Elro speaks, listening carefully at what the wise elf has to say. "It was the least that I could do to make sure the illness that took Urgon would not claim more victims. Though, I fear greatly for this young family and hope sincerely that they have not contracted the disease. I will wait for your word tomorrow and continue to help find a cure if you require me to, otherwise I will return back to Uthodurn with the next caravan." Taiga collects her share of the gold and waits for the response of her newfound companions. 'What will the morning bring? Will they continue to look for a cure? Where and how should they even look? The morning will bring answers', or so she hopes.
|| Oriace - Halfling Bard - Dragon Heist || Valerian - Elf Rogue - Wildnis || b'Reh - Stig Cleric - Humblewood || Rowan - Halfling Giant - Runewarren || Khazela - Spiritfarer Dervish - Tribute || Arista - Frost Sorcerer - Old Keep || Zephirah - Demonic Bard - Sands || Merry - Gifted Surgeon - Short || Marasatra - Blood Mage - Avernus || Lan - Dwarf Dragon - Wuxian ||
Carina wraps up her musical interlude with a final, soulful melody, then releases her dark harmonica to hang at her throat once more.
"Well done, everyone. As Taiga says, we did what we had to. I hope the disease is contained now, with one vial having been used to trap Hulil's chest and the other now quarantined by you, Elro Aldataur. But I doubt this is over. So far, admittedly based on small sample size, the vials appear to have a contact-infection rate of 100%. Urgon, Tulgi, Pelc, Hulil. Should our worst fears regarding Irven Liel's family come to pass, I am glad to help, particularly if the goal is to seek an antidote by whatever means possible."
Carina speaks truth while hiding another truth. She does want to find an antidote, particularly for the children's sake. But she also wishes to travel to Eiselcross as Urgon had. If the late dwarven adventurer had returned with such relics, who knows what other Aeorian artifacts lay hidden there...
This must be the reason I was sent here... such relics must not fall into the wrong hands...
(She gladly accepts Elro's offer of lodging at the Jolly Dwarf for the night).
Tanis(Ranger1): Shiverquill's Tempest City | Xarian(Fighter2): NioNSwiper's Tyranny of Dragons
Dyson/Eleo(TwilightCleric4): Vos' Beyond the Veil | Soren(ShepherdDruid5): Bartjeebus' Ravenloft | Ophelia(WildMagicSorcerer4): Ashen_Age's Risen from the Sands
Joren(EchoKnightFighter6): NotDrizzt's Simple Request | Sabetha(MercyMonk3): Bedlymn's Murder Court | Seri(NatureCleric3/DivineSoulSorcerer1): Bartjeebus' Greyhawk
(Woohoo! Glad you're back!)
Unease creeps into his mind as he thinks about what has transpired and what may befall the family. Grimacing he looks over to Elro, "I'd prefer ta not wait an' see. I'd like ta offer my service ta ya an' tha town, an' venture inta tha ruins ta find out more information about this disease. If there is more of what's in tha vials, it needs ta be destroyed."
He looks to the others, "I'd be glad to have ya at my side, but I'd understand if you've had yer fill of adventure, or me."
"I'll admit you are an acquired taste, Ragnus," quips Carina, "But then, so am I. Regardless, I think we may all be in this together, no matter what we wish."
She nods and the dwarf and genasi, then turns to face the gnome. "What say you, spirits merchant? Coming with us? You found yourself a nice sale of your wares here at the Jolly Dwarf, but it will not avail you, Brix, if all the potential customers here at Palebank Village keel over from the frigid disease."
Tanis(Ranger1): Shiverquill's Tempest City | Xarian(Fighter2): NioNSwiper's Tyranny of Dragons
Dyson/Eleo(TwilightCleric4): Vos' Beyond the Veil | Soren(ShepherdDruid5): Bartjeebus' Ravenloft | Ophelia(WildMagicSorcerer4): Ashen_Age's Risen from the Sands
Joren(EchoKnightFighter6): NotDrizzt's Simple Request | Sabetha(MercyMonk3): Bedlymn's Murder Court | Seri(NatureCleric3/DivineSoulSorcerer1): Bartjeebus' Greyhawk
(we'll continue on without Brix for now, and when @MrJanuary812 returns, we'll have him rejoin the party!)
"Thank you all very much," the aged Elven man says, nodding sincerely at the adventurers' desire to continue assisting with the frozen disease. "I knew I could count on your group, but you've gone even beyond my expectations. You're all very kind," Elro Aldataur expresses earnestly. He then turns to Ragnus, dipping his head solemnly towards the Paladin. "I should hope it doesn't come to that, as I don't want you to place yourself in more danger without need — but should you need to travel to those ruins to put an end to this sickness, I thank you deeply for your bravery. Let's hope it isn't needed, though."
The Palebank Village leader stands, bidding your characters a good night before he approaches the innkeep and pays him for three rooms for your stay. Keeping the cloth-wrapped vial held carefully close, Elro bows to you all once again before stepping back out into the snowy evening. Now the Jolly Dwarf is silent, aside from the crackling of the fire in the hearth and the sound of the Dwarven man behind the bar cleaning glasses. Once Elro has exited, the innkeep places three keys upon the wooden bar and gives the adventurers a kind smile, trying to appear as though he hadn't overheard the grave discussion you've had. "Here are the keys for your rooms, and make sure to let me know if you need anything else," the gray-haired Dwarf says. And with those words, the hectic day has finally reached its end, and the adventurers are free to do what they like before heading to sleep. Is there anything your characters do before retiring to their rooms? In the meantime, go ahead and advance them to level 2!
Beginner DM & Barbarian
Carina inclines her head to the town leader, keeping her tone solemn and the eagerness out of her voice.
"We will await your message in the morning, Elro Aldataur, and journey to Eiselcross if need be for an antidote." And any other relics we find, she thinks.
She bids goodnight to her newfound companions and ascends to her room, shutting and latching the door, then wedging a chair against it as a further guard against it opening, musing to herself that Hulil and her bandits remain at large and have every reason to kill us and recover the artifacts once more.
Carefully, in a cipher unintelligible to anyone but herself and specific people in her faction, Carina begins to pen a note to be sent southward tomorrow.
... recovered artifacts from Eiselcross ... at least one a lethal disease agent ... no antidote currently known ... bandit lackeys for cult of Tiamat involved ... Palebank town leader an asset ... likely planning journey to ruins with local contacts ...
The harmonica hangs darkly at her throat, drinking the last of the lantern light.
Tanis(Ranger1): Shiverquill's Tempest City | Xarian(Fighter2): NioNSwiper's Tyranny of Dragons
Dyson/Eleo(TwilightCleric4): Vos' Beyond the Veil | Soren(ShepherdDruid5): Bartjeebus' Ravenloft | Ophelia(WildMagicSorcerer4): Ashen_Age's Risen from the Sands
Joren(EchoKnightFighter6): NotDrizzt's Simple Request | Sabetha(MercyMonk3): Bedlymn's Murder Court | Seri(NatureCleric3/DivineSoulSorcerer1): Bartjeebus' Greyhawk
He guffaws at Carina telling him he's an acquired taste. "Oh aye, I hear that a lot."
He understands Elro's hope, but can't draw any inside himself. He truly believes they need to go to the ruins to put an end to this sickness.
After Elro and Carina leaves, he sits there in silence considering all that's happened over the past day. Then he pushes away from the table and heads up to his room for sleep.
Taiga retired to her room as soon as Elro left not too long after the merchant family. She was just dead tired after a long, eventful day. She still couldn’t fathom what she had been caught up into. Are they now entertaining the thought to travel to Eiselcross? To the place where her friend got cursed or diseased or whatever it was that had killed him? That was plain crazy, but then this poor family. If they are affected, who would help them? If Elro thinks that she, Taiga, is the right one to safe them, should she not listen to his wisdom? With her mind heavily loaded, and her sleep plagued by visions of which she can’t make head or tail, she gets up early and waits in the breakfast room for everyone to arrive.
|| Oriace - Halfling Bard - Dragon Heist || Valerian - Elf Rogue - Wildnis || b'Reh - Stig Cleric - Humblewood || Rowan - Halfling Giant - Runewarren || Khazela - Spiritfarer Dervish - Tribute || Arista - Frost Sorcerer - Old Keep || Zephirah - Demonic Bard - Sands || Merry - Gifted Surgeon - Short || Marasatra - Blood Mage - Avernus || Lan - Dwarf Dragon - Wuxian ||
As the pale morning light filters in through the curtains of the Jolly Dwarf Inn's windows, the glass frosted over by the dawn chill — so, too, does a sense of unease that can't be driven away even by the warmth of the hearth downstairs. The innkeep is already cooking breakfast by the time Taiga has awoken, and a bit of chatter can be heard upstairs within the lodgings. The Dwarven man serves Taiga and the other few early risers plates of warm eggs and freshly fried potatoes, but the tables are missing the jovial laughter of last night, which had come from Irven Liel and his family. Instead, it is Elro Aldataur who descends the wooden staircase into the dining area, and he gives the Earth Genasi a grim expression. He seats himself at her table, folding his hands in front of him and saying nothing.
Beginner DM & Barbarian
"Morning," Taiga says hesitatingly leaving out the Good for his hard demeanour. "You're giving me the shivers, what's news do you bring? Don't make me wait, please," the short woman pleads as her spoon nervously rummages in her eggs on her plate.
|| Oriace - Halfling Bard - Dragon Heist || Valerian - Elf Rogue - Wildnis || b'Reh - Stig Cleric - Humblewood || Rowan - Halfling Giant - Runewarren || Khazela - Spiritfarer Dervish - Tribute || Arista - Frost Sorcerer - Old Keep || Zephirah - Demonic Bard - Sands || Merry - Gifted Surgeon - Short || Marasatra - Blood Mage - Avernus || Lan - Dwarf Dragon - Wuxian ||
Waking up in a heap of blankets on the floor, he curses at gravity. He stretches trying to get the knots out. Somewhat successful he dresses for the day, making sure to don his armor and collects his things before heading downstairs.
He collects a plate of food and sits next to Taiga and Elro, sensing the tension in the air. "Good morn' ta ya both. Any news?"
Carina shivers and stretches, despite the warmth inside the Jolly Dwarf. In anticipation of a trip to frozen Eiselcross?
The first thing she puts on while still in her bedclothes is the dark harmonica around her neck like a choker. Playing a quick riff on the instrument, she dresses and gathers her things, donning her armor and stowing her shield on her back. The black warhammer goes last at her belt.
Coming down the stairs, she stops when she sees her companions with Elro, and makes note of the town leader's stony expression. Carina's voice is quiet as she joins them, but her words are more a statement than a question as she looks at Elro's eyes. She thinks of Magic, the tiefling child.
"It is as we feared, then." Curse you and your draconic goddess, Hulil. May you join her in Hell.
Tanis(Ranger1): Shiverquill's Tempest City | Xarian(Fighter2): NioNSwiper's Tyranny of Dragons
Dyson/Eleo(TwilightCleric4): Vos' Beyond the Veil | Soren(ShepherdDruid5): Bartjeebus' Ravenloft | Ophelia(WildMagicSorcerer4): Ashen_Age's Risen from the Sands
Joren(EchoKnightFighter6): NotDrizzt's Simple Request | Sabetha(MercyMonk3): Bedlymn's Murder Court | Seri(NatureCleric3/DivineSoulSorcerer1): Bartjeebus' Greyhawk
"I'm sorry," the Palebank Village leader says regretfully in response to Taiga, looking sorrowful while the other adventurers seat themselves at the table. "I didn't mean to raise your anxiety — but it's as Carina says. Irven Liel and his family have begun showing signs of the disease early this morning." With a somber breath, the weathered Elven man leans back in his chair and folds his arms across his chest. "I did some research after examining the vials last night, looking into what lore of the ancient Aeor we have." He turns his gaze upon the breakfast that the Fighter picks at, but can't bring himself to garner the appetite to eat anything.
"I've uncovered a bit of information on the disease, called 'frigid woe'. According to legend, the Aeorian mages created the disease themselves to weaken the gods. It's said to have only one antidote: a milky liquid that the ancient Aeorians stored in gold vials." He taps at the wooden table with his fingertips in his nervousness while he explains. "If we're fortunate, the antidote might be found around the same place where Urgon Wenth had found the vials of frigid woe, in the ruins of Eiselcross." Elro meets the eyes of your characters now, his expression deadly serious. "I know you offered to continue assisting and even head into the ruins yourselves last night. But I cannot require such a dangerous task of you." When his gaze lands upon Taiga in particular, he remembers the girl's grief from the previous morning and his lip trembles with sadness and regret. He lowers his eyes again.
"All I can do is ask if you have the kindness and selflessness in your hearts to do so. If you've changed your mind, I will understand. Urgon would have lived, had he never ventured there. I can offer you two hundred gold for retrieving the antidote, but there is no price that can be paid in exchange for a life."
Beginner DM & Barbarian
Carina had already assumed the worst, though she finds she is still saddened to hear of the stricken family, especially with respect to the two children.
On the other hand, the trip to Eiselcross to search for Aeorian relics... she studiously keeps the eagerness out of her voice, but her response is immediate.
She plays a determined chord on her dark harmonica. "I will go. What plans must we make to voyage there and when can we leave?"
Tanis(Ranger1): Shiverquill's Tempest City | Xarian(Fighter2): NioNSwiper's Tyranny of Dragons
Dyson/Eleo(TwilightCleric4): Vos' Beyond the Veil | Soren(ShepherdDruid5): Bartjeebus' Ravenloft | Ophelia(WildMagicSorcerer4): Ashen_Age's Risen from the Sands
Joren(EchoKnightFighter6): NotDrizzt's Simple Request | Sabetha(MercyMonk3): Bedlymn's Murder Court | Seri(NatureCleric3/DivineSoulSorcerer1): Bartjeebus' Greyhawk
"The family needs help fast and I do not wish to live with burden that they froze to death because I was too afraid to do what must be done. I will join the expedition and do my best to return in time with the antidote," Taiga states determined. With a glance towards Carina, she repeats her question, "Yes, what will we need for such a journey? How do we even get there?"
|| Oriace - Halfling Bard - Dragon Heist || Valerian - Elf Rogue - Wildnis || b'Reh - Stig Cleric - Humblewood || Rowan - Halfling Giant - Runewarren || Khazela - Spiritfarer Dervish - Tribute || Arista - Frost Sorcerer - Old Keep || Zephirah - Demonic Bard - Sands || Merry - Gifted Surgeon - Short || Marasatra - Blood Mage - Avernus || Lan - Dwarf Dragon - Wuxian ||
With a look of such intensity it could cut steel, he looks at Elro, "Ya had my answer last night, there's no change. How soon can we leave?"