Aedra’s new dagger.

For the former-pirate halfling, Ackam felt right at home swimming in the open waters. While he did some diving when he was a pirate, he never wore a manta ray suit that allowed him to enjoy the bountiful wonders of the deep sea. Upon entering the Merrow's lair, and with the aid of the glowing stone being carried by the mage hand, Ackam was able to detect the Chuul before it made itself known and quickly maneuvered behind the creature to get into a fighting position. He tried his best to get Thorok and Agency out of the pincher's of the Chuul to know avail, but with teamwork they were able to vanquish the sea beast. Searching through the treasures the Merrows had gathered, Ackam stumbled upon his giant slayer greataxe, a beautifully detailed axe that's double the size of Ackam. He named it Ol' Betsy.

Back on board the ship Ackam made sure both Bael and Issa were stabilized, keeping by Bael's side as the medicine administered to him coursed through his veins and the signs of petrification started to subside. With the first mate and captain still unable to take up their duties, Ackam stepped in as first-mate. He found a corn-cob pipe and borrowed a friendly amount of Thorok's kenabi, stuffing the green herb into the pipe's mouth and lighting it with a flame from a candle. As he helped navigate the ship to port at Balon's Rest, Ackam kept the corn-cob pipe tucked into the side of his mouth, a trail of blue smoke billowing behind him like an active volcano. 

After making sure the ship was properly tied to the its slip, Ackam left with Thorok, Agency, and Varris in search of Dacklow. After staking out the blacksmith shop and noticing Dacklow was not there, they decided to ask some of the locals where his whereabouts might be. They found themselves entering in the Red Bar & Inn. When the owner Red started to ***** and moan about Thorok as a pug Ackam quickly picked up the cute little beast and Varris improvised how it was Ackam's therapy dog. As he stroked Thorok Ackam did feel his anxiety and minor depression be slightly lifted and he thought that maybe there was something to this whole therapy dog thing, but his thoughts were interrupted after Agency, always the showgirl, freaked out the regulars at Reds with the use of some magic. Luckily, they got all the information needed from Red herself and were able to leave without a table being overturned. 

They approached Dacklow's garden with open arms to show the former convict they meant no harm. After some quick back and forth negotiating they decided to help Dacklow with his infestation problem and then he would help the group find a way into the prison. What seemed like a simple rat problem turned into a full blown battle as the leader of the rats was a giant Wererat. Ackam took out one of the giant rats and then, with the help of Ol' Betsy, was able to knock the fecken' Wererat prone, allowing for the rest of the group to pounce on the helpless creature. There was a point where the group decided to question the creature, but he wouldn't relent and they decided to put him down for good. 

Thanks for the dagger, Earthhand!  Aedra says gleefully, turning the new weapon over in her hand, examining its hilt. 

Aedra stops suddenly with her nose slightly in the air, looking around as if trying to find some source of a scent.  I’ll be right back guys.  With a suspicious glint in her eye, she takes off running towards the east as she yells back Don’t wait for me, I’ll catch up with you later!  And with that, she was gone. 

Quote from kristiwink >>

Thanks for the dagger, Earthhand!  Aedra says gleefully, turning the new weapon over in her hand, examining its hilt. 

Aedra stops suddenly with her nose slightly in the air, looking around as if trying to find some source of a scent.  I’ll be right back guys.  With a suspicious glint in her eye, she takes off running towards the east as she yells back Don’t wait for me, I’ll catch up with you later!  And with that, she was gone. 

Quote from MarkDmitri >>

Quote from kristiwink >>

Thanks for the dagger, Earthhand!  Aedra says gleefully, turning the new weapon over in her hand, examining its hilt. 

Aedra stops suddenly with her nose slightly in the air, looking around as if trying to find some source of a scent.  I’ll be right back guys.  With a suspicious glint in her eye, she takes off running towards the east as she yells back Don’t wait for me, I’ll catch up with you later!  And with that, she was gone. 

 

Awesome! is this the beginning of where Aedra gets to? Let me know and we can figure out something cool.

 

Dacklow is quite a bit shaken after the encounter with the giant wererat, you help him drag the corpses out of his warehouse, including the human one, and build a small pyre far enough behind the building to make sure it doesn't spread. What does spread is the smell of burned rat, so you decide to head on back to Dacklow's forge. One of you runs and collects Aedra and Bastion (maybe it's that delightful little pug?) and you all convene back at Dacklow's. 

Dacklow brings you into his shop, it is modest, there's nothing ornate, but everything is solidly made with a clear eye for detail. Everything has been meticulously examined and try as you might you can't find any flaws with the simple but flawless craftsmanship on display in the shop. Dacklow clears some tools and papers off of his long table, grabs a bottle off of one of the shelf, grabs glasses, and pours you all a shot. Well, I owe you my life, so even if I wasn't inclined to help before, I am now. Here's to you all. Dacklow takes his shot. The liqour is strong and smooth, with a hint of something green. It has a light herbal after taste and leaves a pleasant warmth in your chest. That's the auroch's grass vodka, one of my favorites. Alright, first things first, I owe you my life, so i'll answer your questions and help as I can, but I must notify the guard about that wererat soon, that wasn't normal for these parts. What do you want to know?

Earthhand closes his eyes and smiles with pleasure and the liquor passes down into his gullet, and lets out a sigh. "Oi hope yeh don' mind me sayin' Decklaw, but yeh should give up blacksmithin', thisee is a harty licker." He glances around the party, seeing that none of them seemed to have recovered from their shot quickly enough to have spoken up. "Well, Oi'm no' normally teh one ter be teh face o' teh group, so ter speak, but we came ter ask about yer escape from teh prison of Olber through teh eldermade toonnels. As we said folk's been disapperatin', taken underground we figure." Thorok looks around at the party for confirmation. "Any...Oh I dunno, notable features yeh noticed? Crevices, passages what might go unnoticed by less keen folk then yerself?" The druid peers curiously. "How DEEDjyeh escape anyhow?"

Varris sits on a chair in the corner of the shop shot in hand and thinks back on the happenings of the past few days. I have been far and wide, but never down below. There's a first time for everything I guess...can't say I enjoyed the place he thinks to himself. Mishkala's light has not been in that cave in quite some time, and where there this darkness, there are ancient horrors like a Chuul. That was a bad omen. The wererat in a small town, that too. There is dark magic at work here, potentially with the strength of crossing the planes of existence. I fear that the Chuul was only the first of many evils yet to come. 

Hearing Earthhand begin to discuss with Decklaw the nature of his escape, Varris utters a psalm, taps the glass on a table, and downs the shot. Huh, that was good he thinks to himself as he walks forward to enter the conversation.

BASTION takes the shot, and though it cannot taste anything, the strong alcohol makes steam shoot out it's ear ports.

"MMMM. Good vakka."

Ackam finds a wooden chair and rests his butt gently on the seat, his ass still slightly sore from the bite it took a few days ago. As Dacklow goes about setting glasses and pouring his homemade hooch Ackam pulls out his corn-cob pipe and with the remaining kenabi he borrowed from Thorok while on the ship, packs the pipe and lights it the closest flame he can find. He takes a few deep drags and settles into his seat. 

Ackam throws back his shot and smiles as the warm booze warms up his organs. "Dat is sum fine firewater ya got yerself, Dacky," Ackam says as he holds out his shot glass for another round. He leans back back in his chair as he listen't to Thorok's questions and when he can throws a few himself, "do we need ta worry about any magic being used fer security? Are dere several ways ta get into and outta da place or just one? How is it you came to get out of da place yerself? Did ya have any help?"

Well, firstly what do you think your doing smoking in my shop? I don’t come into your house and fart the place up, if you must smoke go outside. Secondly, it’s DACKLOW a long oh sound at the end there, Declaw sounds like it coulda been the name of that wererat. As to your question, I had a map, and I had this. He walks to the back of his shop. Here, he gestures to Bastion give me a hand moving this crate here. With the crate moved aside, Dacklow pulls up some floorboards and removes a small cloth wrapped chest. He walks back over, unwraps it and places it on the table. He looks at all of you for a moment, sighs, and opens the chest. He pulls out a rolled up piece of paper, yellowed with age, and a small clear gemstone on a silver chain. Right, this map shows the way through the deep paths to a secret door into the Eldermade tunnels. The code to open it is here on the map as well. And this beauty here is a gem of seeing which will let you see the door and the places you’ll need to press to open the door. He sighs again, sits down and leans back in his chair. Look, now, I’m no dogooder or anyghing like that and gods know I’ve had my troubles with the Twelve, but I’d like you all to promise me something. Please, don’t let these fall into the wrong hands, I’d not have that on my conscience if it could be avoided.

Agency is still a bit miffed about being told to be quiet by the group.  But, eager to get things over with she says Thankyou for trusting us with something so important.  We really should be on our way as things could be getting worse as we speak but since we are already in your shop, can we take a look at some of your wares?

Of course, of course, allthough he tries to play it down, you can see that Dacklow is quite proud of his work. Let me show you what I have, is there anything in particular you’re looking for?

Ackam mumbles some halfling quip about orcs having more manners than this dirt farmer we just saved while he extinguish his pipe using the bottom of his boot. 

Ackam gets up and looks over at the map and makes sure he gets a good look at that code and repeats it to himself under his breath. 

When Dacklow offers to show them his wears Ackam goes out of the shop. He finds himself a nice stump and rolls it over next to the entrance. He gingerly sits on the stump, and relights his corn-cob pipe, takes a couple of big puffs, and then leans against the building's wall and loses himself in people watching while the others shop inside.

Perception: 7

In the shop Dacklow shows you finely crafted daggers, shortswords, longswords, maces, a flail, and a spear. Then he points you over to the armor section where you see a breastplate, chainmail, and a set of splintmail.

Outside Ackam relaxes with his pipe and watches the few people walking around the town at night, nothing seems out of the ordinary, just a normal fishing village.

“Moy moy, now this’n IS a foin piece o’ stone Dacklow - sorry about teh name - lemme takee a closer look...” Earthhand peers through the gem. “Oi’ve a foin appreciation fer enchanting what are wrought outta earth aen stone. Foin make, foin indeed...” The wolfpelted druid looks around at the rest of the group, seeing nothing of interest among the wares. “Best we head ter teh Winggull Oi suppose, teh more time we’re ‘ere teh more gummers slip off teh streets.”

Agency looks around and agrees the craftsmanship is quite admirable. I may have to agree with my compatriot.  But I would love to come back one day and see about commissioning you for a dagger.

She performs a small courtesy and turns to Earthhand, nodding her head.

Listen now, I owe you my life, and it seems there’s many counting on you back in Olber. I wish you the best of luck. I wish I could be of more help, but here, take these. He pulls a rolled up piece of cloth from under the counter and unrolls it. Inside are six ecsquisitely made hiltless daggers. Sometimes I forget that I’m an honest man now and still make things more useful in my old line of work. I know you won’t slay any dragons with these but they’re sneaky and may make a difference in a pinch. They’re small enough to stick in a boot or up a sleeve. If you pass a cord through this hoop here you can wear them like a necklace at the small of your back, that was my favorite trick once upon a time. And here he puts two crates of his liquor on the counter, a bottle for each of you and a crate for Nimbus. Ah well, enough of that, I imagine you should be on your way. 

Earthhand licks his lips at the crates. C'mon now Thorok now's no' teh time fer tha'... "Oi thankee fer these daggers, may they come roit in handy in our search." He slips one into his boot. "Ter teh ship?"