Upon returning to the Friendly Arm Inn from their expedition to the Cloakwood, the Troupe meets Jet’Laya who has asked them for help finding her missing sister. They make their way inside the fort to rest and prepare for the quest, but first they must deliver some tragic news.
4 Eleint 1368
As we approach the Friendly Arm’s gate, Aura tells us she has managed to get her Multipurpose Protective Goggles working, and thinks she can use them identify the magical items we took from Davaeorn’s corpse. She seems excited to try them, so we stop for a moment as I pull them out from my Bag of Holding.
His robes and his ring seem to come from the same source. An ancient archmage, the mad wizard Halaster. Robes created to torment the young, a reflection of Davaeorn’s treatment of the slave miners. These robes hold too much evil in them for us to have any desire to wear them.
Halaster’s ring allows the bearer to teleport at will. Davaeorn made good use of this when we fought him. It doesn’t hold the same darkness as the robes, so Dynaheir says she will make good use of it.
His staff is a powerful weapon passed down from an ancient tribe of Druids. This isn’t a weapon that belongs in Davaeorn’s hands. I can only surmise he must have stolen it from the Druids of the Cloakwood.
She also identifies one of the scrolls we found in the mines, which is unfortunately cursed to destroy the intelligence of whoever reads it.
While we are digging through the Bag, I suggest to Jet’Laya that she takes a look to see if there is any equipment she could make use of. The first thing she pulls out is the umber hulk plate, duergar armour that should provide ample protection.
She complements this with an enchanted small shield, one that won’t break due to inferior iron.
She upgrades her mace to the Enlightenment Star. Consecrated by the temple of the sun, this mace will suck the heat out of those it strikes.
She takes an enchanted sling so she can hold her distance if she needs to.
Finally she takes some potions for her belt, two for Cold Resistance.
And two for Absorption.
We are about to move on when I see a familiar face running toward us from the Friendly Arm’s gate. I have been dreading this meeting. I pull out the corpse from the Bag. I just stare at the boy, unable to face his mother.
Aphriel: There you are. Do you have… what is it? Is that… oh no! Perwell!
Give me my son! Come on!
Aegon: Of course. I’m sorry.
Aphriel: I hope it’s not too late… a priest! I need a priest!
I know I don’t have the power to help, but the guilt is overwhelming. I have to try something.
Aegon: I am a cleric. Let me see if I can do something.
Aphriel: Do not touch him! You’ve already done enough damage! Help! We need help!
She runs away back through the gate, presumably to Gellana’s temple. I can only hope we got the body back in time.
I close up the Bag and stand, my hands slower than they should be. We need rest. A bed for the night. Something to drown out the look on her face.
We walk through the gates, past the guard, and almost instantly hear the hustle and bustle of patrons and traders. Not all of whom are friendly company.
Pilar: Unless you’re willing to buy a gal some ale, you’re not welcome here.
Seeking friendlier company, we decide to pay a visit to Brokk and update him on the bandit situation. He’s more than grateful to hear news of our latest exploits.
Brokk: Aegon! Ye did it, m’boy! Them bandits be running like ye set their asses on fire!
Ye be making quite the name fer yerself with all this hero’s business. This dwarf will ferever be in yer debt!
Here, take this with ye, and wear it with pride, hero!
Hero. His praise stings a little. We just gave a mother the corpse of her son. A son we failed to protect. We are no heroes.
He hands us a girdle, one that makes the wearer an honourary clan member. Pride indeed! There could be no better gift from a dwarf. Branwen takes the girdle and fits it around her waste. Brokk smiles and welcomes her to the family. I could swear I saw a tear forming in her eye.
We start talking about our adventures and I show him some of the finely crafted equipment we’ve found along the way. He recognises one of Taerom’s pieces.
Brokk: Mm? That be sum armor y’got yerself there, m’boy. Ankheg, if I be nae mistaken? Must be Taerom’s work, yes?
Y’know, this be givin’ me an idea. Y’think ye could fetch me another of them ankheg shells? Then fer, let’s say 2000 gold I could make ye a matchin’ shield.
There’s a look of surprise on his face as I pull an ankheg shell from the Bag of Holding.
Aegon: Sure, I got another shell right here in fact, and the gold. Let’s do this!
Brokk: Making armor outta ankhegs, why dinnae I think of that meself. Alright, Aegon, I be workin’ on this right away. Come see me tomorrow, aye?
He also spots the unicorn horn we found at the bandit camp a long time ago. It piques his interest more than I expected.
Brokk: Mm, what’s that horn there, m’boy?
Ah, this be da horn of a magnificent woodland creature. A shame t’kill one really, but it seems ye be nae ta blame fer this. If ye like, I kin be puttin’ it on a spear head fer ya. It’ll cost ye, oh, 2,000 gold.
Kivan seems keen to try out a new spear.
Aegon: A splendid idea, let’s do it!
Brokk: Alright, this will nae take long. Come back tomorrow fer it, aye?
I’ve already spent four thousand coin, over half our funds, and I haven’t even looked at his wares yet! We steer the conversation toward business, and I ask to see what he has already crafted.
Brokk: Ah, Aegon! Welcome back t’ me forge. What can this old dwarf do fer ye today?
Aegon: Could you show me what you have for sale?
Brokk: Ye’ll find no finer than these anywhere on the Sword Coast!
He has some interesting weapons, but we have unfortunately spent too much of our gold on commissions. We thank him for his time and bid him farewell. We will check on his progress tomorrow.
Outside we seek Maltz the weaponsmith. He may have some weapons we can still afford.
Maltz: I see you’ve come back, need more weapons?
Aegon: Yes, let me see what you have today.
Maltz: The best weapons that your eyes have laid upon. They don’t come cheap I’ll tell ya. Have a look!
I find among his weapons an extremely well enchanted war hammer. I feel it in my hands and I know it is finally time to retire Bashrik’s Hammer.
We also take the opportunity to buy more missiles. We are especially low on sling bullets, given that they are hard to find among our enemies. Bandits usually prefer bows to any other ranged weapons.
On our way to the main fort, we come across Ms. Godfrey. We want to be able to better organise our scrolls, gems and potions, so we purchase a Copper Gem Bag, a Brass Scroll Case, and a Black Potion Case from her.
Aura comments on how fast our gold is disappearing. I reassure her that we still have enough for a good night’s sleep. We climb the steps of the fort. On entering the tavern we see many familiar faces.
We say our hellos as we pass by them, but we have a new quest to prepare for. We move to the back of the bar to talk to Thorengrim.
Thorengrim Hammerfist: Well, Aegon, lets see what ye ‘ave eh?
Aegon: How about the Spider’s Bane Sword? Any way this can be improved?
We show him some of the weapons and materials we have gained from our expeditions. He notices the Spider’s Bane Sword.
Thorengrim Hammerfist: The Spider’s Bane Sword? This sword and a dead spiders body I kin make it so the sword does poison damage. Ha ha dish the poison back at the spiders, poetic justice no? Any how I be needin 5000 gold pieces fer this work. How about it?
Aegon: No, not right now.
Aegon: Anything you can do to improve this long bow?
Thorengrim Hammerfist: A Long Bow +1? With this and a pair of Gauntlets of Dexterity I kin make this a powerful bow indeed. Ah yes also my fee of 3000 gold pieces. How about it?
Aegon: No, not right now.
Aegon: How about this wyvern head? Can you do anything with this?
Aegon: Nevermind I’ll be on my way.
Thorengrim Hammerfist: Ahh ye have a wyvern head. With 6000 gold pieces and this head I kin make a very powerful helm from it. How about it?
Aegon: No, not right now.
Thorengrim Hammerfist: Well come back when ye change yer mind.
Unfortunately most of our gold has gone. These commissions will be out of reach for a while. All we can afford is a night with a good meal and a soft bed.
Kivan compliments one of the singers while I go to talk to Bentley about a room.
Kivan: Your singing voice reminds me of my departed Deheriana.
A little morbid perhaps, but a compliment nonetheless. I spend some extra coin for some luxury rooms and we retire for the night. I lay there on the bed staring at the ceiling. All I can see is the boy’s, Pillar’s, corpse. It’s all I can think about. I should have kept a closer eye on him. I should have… I don’t know.
I don’t sleep for a long time.
