Prentiss tries to hide his disappointment as the butterflies disappear, then wrinkles his nose at the sight - and smell - of the ghouls' bodies. He turns to Joshua and says "Agreed, this place is a bit... bitey for my liking"
He turns away to get his kit, then stops and half turns back as if about to ask Joshua a question. Thinking better of it, he returns to his original task and starts packing up his bedroll, softly singing (badly) a folk tune under his breath.
You are able to relocate your camp to a more secluded location away from the stench of the long undead and various Stirge bodies. The campfire re-established and watches for what remains of the night. It is now mid-night.
(Please advise of any night activities and watches that you take. Because of the late night battle, you expect to arise later in the morning.)
Loren is probably a bit wired from the multiple combats, so he'll stay up a little while, refletching some of his recovered arrows and generally taking time to wind down after all the excitement. A quick check over the bodes for any signs of where they might have come from (the ghouls, anyway - the stirges I assume were feral) and any loot they might have been carrying behind closed claws might also be in order.
Upon closer inspection they look as though they could have been family at one point and have very little money. Among the entire group you find 11 ep, 17 sp, 11 gp and 15 cp. (or 3 gp, 6 sp, 7 cp ea) Some other common and ruined items on them seem to imply that they were in the midst of daily duties at their time of death. Things you may carry on you living on a small farm or country home. pocket knife, old nails, a half apron on one with a wooden spoon in it, and an old pipe are the only recognizable items. Injuries imply a sad and likely quickly lost fight by a brutal, monstrous foe who spared them no mercy. Weapons used against these defenseless people. You have no evidence as to why they walk again.
The evening grows cooler and calmer through the night and nature sounds seem to reassure that all is well. Waking late in the morning, you rise to a fresh bright day having finished a long rest. Ready to set off, you should reach Conyberry by mid-day.
As we approach the outskirts, Loren takes a seat on a convenient boulder and pops a boot off his foot. He starts rubbing it with a sour look on his face.
"That was an awful long walk. Any chance we won't need to walk back the same way? And besides, we should have a chat before we go in. Think about how we're going to talk to that banshee and about what that nasty old wizard said."
(nice roll) You actually recall a great deal as you think about it among yourselves.
Agatha once said to have helped the town of Conyberry by providing food and assist in times of difficulty with defense when various raiders attacked. You are unsure why.
She was known as a particularly vain Elven Wizard with a fondness for people who were also extremely attractive. She coveted beautiful objects: fine jewelry, paintings, statues, and other objects of art. Banshees are said to detest any reflective surface which would enrage them as they cannot bear to see themselves as they are now.
Banshees are the undead remnants of elves who, blessed with great beauty, failed to use their gift to bring joy to the world. Instead, they used their beauty to corrupt and control others. Elves afflicted by the banshee’s curse experience no gladness, feeling only distress in the presence of the living.
Sister Garaele from the Shrine of Luck also provided a jeweled silver comb to use to appeal to her vanity in exchange for an answer to the question of where a spellbook that belonged to a legendary Mage - Bowgentle has gone.
Joshua sits down with Loren "So we have two questions that need asked. Do we go in two groups? Or do we decide which question is more important? I believe she was very vain in life so we might be able to appeal to that."
"Two parties for two questions is a smart way to exploit a loophole" says Prentiss, impressed. "So do we have one gift per question - the comb and the box? If it's beauty she values then I can see why the necromancer suggested we send in The Face over there" he jibes, indicating Joshua playfully "But who would front the second group? I can talk my way out of trouble more times than not. But what if one attempt goes wrong? I'd feel more reassured if we could stay within reasonable distance of each other"
Realising that he has probably offered more questions than answers, and suddenly self conscious again about talking too much, he sits down and pokes at the fire with a stick for distraction, scratching at the scales on the backs of his hands.
"Well, the wizard with the zombies said that I needed to ask her a question: 'the name of the wizard who built the old owl well,' and then he'd give us the location to wave echo cave in exchange. I'm... not super comfortable with that, to be honest. For one, I don't much like interacting with undead things, let alone ones who think they're pretty - because they're not. We've also got the comb to exchange for the answer to that sister's question, right? About the location of a spellbook belonging to that one magic guy. Does that about sum things up?"
"That does about sum it up. As far as the loophole, for it to be effective we would need to maintain 2 very separate groups, even possibly separate days, but should def be nearby in case of trouble." Joshua goes to stand up and brushes himself off "I would imagine if she sees another group just waiting in line it would seem very fishy and could set her off."
"So we go as a group and ask the sister's question, being as she seems to be good people? And then I guess it's a choice; try the banshee again the next day for a second question, or back to the necromancer and try your silver tongue against his instincts?"
Prentiss is speaking frankly, not sarcastically - he thinks that their options to satisfy both clients are waning and, like the others, he has no love for a wrangler of soulless abominations.
Joshua's butterflies flutter away.
(Please also click on short rest for each of your characters for now until decisions have been made.)
Joshua looks around and slightly recoils at the smell "I think a new camp site is in order" yawning now that the adrenaline is beginning to wear off.
Prentiss tries to hide his disappointment as the butterflies disappear, then wrinkles his nose at the sight - and smell - of the ghouls' bodies. He turns to Joshua and says "Agreed, this place is a bit... bitey for my liking"
He turns away to get his kit, then stops and half turns back as if about to ask Joshua a question. Thinking better of it, he returns to his original task and starts packing up his bedroll, softly singing (badly) a folk tune under his breath.
"Is this area just known for this sort of thing? Undead hordes, I mean? Seems a little odd to run into two in a row..."
You are able to relocate your camp to a more secluded location away from the stench of the long undead and various Stirge bodies. The campfire re-established and watches for what remains of the night. It is now mid-night.
(Please advise of any night activities and watches that you take. Because of the late night battle, you expect to arise later in the morning.)
Loren is probably a bit wired from the multiple combats, so he'll stay up a little while, refletching some of his recovered arrows and generally taking time to wind down after all the excitement. A quick check over the bodes for any signs of where they might have come from (the ghouls, anyway - the stirges I assume were feral) and any loot they might have been carrying behind closed claws might also be in order.
@Loren - possibly first watch?
Upon closer inspection they look as though they could have been family at one point and have very little money. Among the entire group you find 11 ep, 17 sp, 11 gp and 15 cp. (or 3 gp, 6 sp, 7 cp ea) Some other common and ruined items on them seem to imply that they were in the midst of daily duties at their time of death. Things you may carry on you living on a small farm or country home. pocket knife, old nails, a half apron on one with a wooden spoon in it, and an old pipe are the only recognizable items. Injuries imply a sad and likely quickly lost fight by a brutal, monstrous foe who spared them no mercy. Weapons used against these defenseless people. You have no evidence as to why they walk again.
Joshua yawns again heavily before settling in, he will take third watch. He's still a little tired from first watch last try.
Prentiss will take second watch, eyes heavy from the exertions so far and desperate to get a few hours' sleep before having to be alert again.
"Definitely a lay-in tomorrow my friends, I think we best start the day prepared, even if that means starting it late"
He is asleep as soon as soon as he is comfortable that the new site is secure and his colleagues need no assistance.
The evening grows cooler and calmer through the night and nature sounds seem to reassure that all is well. Waking late in the morning, you rise to a fresh bright day having finished a long rest. Ready to set off, you should reach Conyberry by mid-day.
As we approach the outskirts, Loren takes a seat on a convenient boulder and pops a boot off his foot. He starts rubbing it with a sour look on his face.
"That was an awful long walk. Any chance we won't need to walk back the same way? And besides, we should have a chat before we go in. Think about how we're going to talk to that banshee and about what that nasty old wizard said."
"What do we all know about banshee's" Joshua asks the group
(History or arcana they are the same 9)
(nice roll) You actually recall a great deal as you think about it among yourselves.
Agatha once said to have helped the town of Conyberry by providing food and assist in times of difficulty with defense when various raiders attacked. You are unsure why.
She was known as a particularly vain Elven Wizard with a fondness for people who were also extremely attractive. She coveted beautiful objects: fine jewelry, paintings, statues, and other objects of art. Banshees are said to detest any reflective surface which would enrage them as they cannot bear to see themselves as they are now.
Banshees are the undead remnants of elves who, blessed with great beauty, failed to use their gift to bring joy to the world. Instead, they used their beauty to corrupt and control others. Elves afflicted by the banshee’s curse experience no gladness, feeling only distress in the presence of the living.
Sister Garaele from the Shrine of Luck also provided a jeweled silver comb to use to appeal to her vanity in exchange for an answer to the question of where a spellbook that belonged to a legendary Mage - Bowgentle has gone.
Joshua sits down with Loren "So we have two questions that need asked. Do we go in two groups? Or do we decide which question is more important? I believe she was very vain in life so we might be able to appeal to that."
"Two parties for two questions is a smart way to exploit a loophole" says Prentiss, impressed. "So do we have one gift per question - the comb and the box? If it's beauty she values then I can see why the necromancer suggested we send in The Face over there" he jibes, indicating Joshua playfully "But who would front the second group? I can talk my way out of trouble more times than not. But what if one attempt goes wrong? I'd feel more reassured if we could stay within reasonable distance of each other"
Realising that he has probably offered more questions than answers, and suddenly self conscious again about talking too much, he sits down and pokes at the fire with a stick for distraction, scratching at the scales on the backs of his hands.
(OOC: Did we get a long rest?)
Yes long rest officially had
Loren frowns.
"Well, the wizard with the zombies said that I needed to ask her a question: 'the name of the wizard who built the old owl well,' and then he'd give us the location to wave echo cave in exchange. I'm... not super comfortable with that, to be honest. For one, I don't much like interacting with undead things, let alone ones who think they're pretty - because they're not. We've also got the comb to exchange for the answer to that sister's question, right? About the location of a spellbook belonging to that one magic guy. Does that about sum things up?"
"That does about sum it up. As far as the loophole, for it to be effective we would need to maintain 2 very separate groups, even possibly separate days, but should def be nearby in case of trouble." Joshua goes to stand up and brushes himself off "I would imagine if she sees another group just waiting in line it would seem very fishy and could set her off."
"So we go as a group and ask the sister's question, being as she seems to be good people? And then I guess it's a choice; try the banshee again the next day for a second question, or back to the necromancer and try your silver tongue against his instincts?"
Prentiss is speaking frankly, not sarcastically - he thinks that their options to satisfy both clients are waning and, like the others, he has no love for a wrangler of soulless abominations.
(letting you all work out a plan, just checking in)