Chilling Adventures in the North

Shad shrugs in answer to the question of taking the cauldron, at first. Then he looks at the body of the witch and the bones of the skeleton. Maybe it's petty, but he doesn't want them to get anything they want, even after they're dead.

"Let's take it with us," he says. "That's my vote."

Once the cauldron is empty, Qinfaren shakes out the last few drops and picks it up, ready to leave.

"Not a cult?" Qinfaren muses. "Do you prefer sect? Whatever it is, sacrificing people out on the ice and not seeing any return for it seems a bit culty. But we can talk about that on the way back to town."

If they're traveling back by boat and have the time, Qinfaren will, as a ritual, cast Detect Magic while he focuses on the cauldron, looking to see if he can make out anything more about it and how it might be used or what kind of magic it held, if any.

Captain Arlaggath shakes her head in response to Qinfaren's accusations. The two men also hear Qinfaren speaking and look at him with disdain. 

Upon casting Detect Magic, Qinfaren senses that the cauldron itself is magical. However, the magic emanating from the cauldron does not belong to any recognised school of magic. 

Arogna helps to carry the cauldron to the shore. "Maybe they don't wanta talk about it right now like," she whispers to Qinfaren when she gets an opportunity. "We din't get sacrificed here, so maybe they got some other way of doin' it."

Qinfaren nods at Arogna's thoughts.

"I don't know why they're all secretive about it," Qinfaren says. "Maybe they're ashamed of it."

He then taps the cauldron.

"This is magical, but I'm not sure what way yet," Qinfaren says then adds "Maybe if I spend some more time back in town with it something will reveal itself."

Bjorn nods, "Okay, so I think we should at least take it back to town. I don't imagine we will want to carry it with us across the whole of the north, though."

Shad continues with the others. He'll try and help with the cauldron. "Is there a safe place for it in the town? Would we feel good about leaving it there at all?" He pauses for a moment. "The place that stands out in my mind has an obelisk and a demon already. Probably not the best spot. Maybe with that halfling who introduced us to the ghost?"

"As soon as Danneth hears about the cauldron, he will want it guarded in the town hall," Arlaggath replies. "I'm not sure which halfling you are talking about, but if you were introduced to a ghost, then it looks like it was your doing that brought the ghost's wrath down upon us in the town hall."

Arogna sputters a little. "He said he talked to her reg'lar like!" she bursts out. "The Lady of the Lake. I dunno why she'd be pickin' on us. We only jus' met her."

"Oh, did he now?" Captain Arlaggath replies. "I shall have to have a talk with this man then.

Anyway, let's get this cauldron back down to the boats if we are taking it with us and we can figure out who is going on which boat."

Qinfaren continues along to the boats, puzzling over the cauldron.

"I think Shad and I together can figure out more about this cauldron," Qinfaren says. "Perhaps we should be in the same boat and examine if further."

Shad follows Qinfaren to whichever boat he boards. "Arogna," he says, "help us get this cauldron aboard. Then you can ride with us."

If Captain Arlaggath and the others get in a separate boat, Shad will whisper the suggestion that since the party seems to have worn out whatever welcome they might have had in Easthaven, perhaps another town is a possibility?

Arogna helps to heave the cauldron into the boat. "I ain't never been so glad to see a boat in all of my life," she says with a grin. "An' I hope I ain't never gonna be again, neither. Yeah, Shad, I dunno if we wanta stay aroun' here, with their sacrificin' an' ghosts an' all."

"Alright," Captain Arlaggath says. "You lot take the row boat that we brought here. We will take the skiff that you brought here. However, I think the cauldron is going to be too heavy for that boat. There certainly won't be enough space for all three of you and the cauldron."

"Suits me," Arogna says. "I don't mind heavin' an oar. Makes me feel more in charge of the thing, you know? An' I'd not like for that witch pot to end up in the bottom of the lake with the ghost-woman."

(Four of us, with Bjorn)

Shad shrugs. He'll join the other boat. "Where in the town hall will Dannath want the cauldron kept? Surely not the obelisk room?" He'll also say, "Thank you, Captain, for coming after us. I thought I was on the way to the Cat Lord more than once."

Once in the rowboat, Qinfaren does his best to lower his voice, and whisper to Arogna and Bjorn. 

"I don't think we should give over the cauldron until we know what it does," Qinfaren says.

"I dunno how we'd keep it from all a the town guard if they wanted it," Arogna answers quietly. "I says we lets 'em take it, an' gets ourselves outa town. All the more so if it winds up in that ghost room." She shudders, almost breaking the rhythm of the rowing.

"You seem to have forgotten about me captain," Bjorn speaks up.

Captain Arlaggath looks over at Bjorn almost as if she is surprised to see him.

"Yes, well it would be an even tighter squeeze with all four of you. Even if you are wanting to join our boat, that would still leave three of you."

She turns her attention to Shad.

Bjorns then whispers to Qinfaren and Arogna, "How dangerous could it be? The witch was using the cauldron to cook a stew.

However, do I need to remind you that Danneth had sent for the other leaders of Ten-Towns? To call a Council of the Speakers, did we want to be here for that or do we just want to be on our way? Xardorok could be releasing the chardalyn dragon at any moment."

"I ain't got no use for a cauldron what's had people cookin' in it," Arogna whispers back. "Even if it's been scrubbed an' all. Maybe they can cook food for the Council in it. I think we oughta get out before they decides we're worth arrestin'."