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Tests and Trials (Manzanita Judging)

Rae ArdGaoth

Explorer
Garrit and Cryndo both look horrified at what Devlin and Malen have done. Cryndo rushes to the old man, but it's already too late. Malen's bolt went straight through the man's heart, and not even Hyrag can bring the man back now. Garrit kneels down next to the boy and puts his hand on his shoulder, whispering something into his ear. Slowly, the boy calms down and stops his incessant screaming. Instead, he stares blankly at his master's surprised, dead face. Garrit continues whispering in the boy's ear, but it doesn't seem like the boy is listening.

The search of the tower reveals only three things: First, a tiny bag with a pittance of copper inside (11 pieces). Second, a wooden bread box with three stale loaves. And third, an old piece of parchment written in Olde Common. Jasper easily translates to the current dialect:

This Indenture of Sale, made and entered into this 12th of Uktar 1046, between George Tellamein of the township Orussus, the one part, and Robert Front of the township aforesaid, for and in consideration of the sum of fifty gold to him in hand paid, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged a certain tract or parcel of forested land containing fifty acres, be it the same more or less, lying in said township situated as follows to wit: beginning on the north side of sd township and extending to the end of the forested land to sd Robert and his heirs and assigns, do Warrant and defend the land aforesaid from the claims of themselves or any other person or persons claiming through or by them whatever by our hands, and seals this 12th Uktar 1046.

George Tellamein
Robert Front


Scribbled in on the other side is a long list of names coupled with dates and prices, each successive pair of names appearing more recent than the last. The list ends with:

James Ferrier to John Lerrot, 5 silver, 27th of Tres, 1372

Jasper translates the 'legalese' to real Common: "Basically, George Tellamein sold this 50 acres of forest to Robert Front for 50 gold, and Robert Front sold it to Frank Smith, and Frank Smith sold it to... so on and so on. Until we get down to the bottom here, where John Lerrot appears to have paid 5 silver for it about a month ago."

Upon total exploration of the entire tower, there is no evidence of any arcane laboratories, experiments, scrolls, books, or anything even remotely magical whatsoever.

[sblock]OOG: If anybody is clearer on Enworldian chronological history, tell me. For lack of better information, I used the Forgotten Realms time system. Uktar is the 11th month (November) and Tres is the 3rd month (March). The 'current year' (or so I chose it to be, since I couldn't find anything) is 1372.[/sblock]
 

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scout989

First Post
Luthiel Faradar Elven Rogue1

"Well, I don't know quite what to make of what we've found out- and I'm so tired of this business, I'm not even going to try to figure it out. Those who want to stay here and talk with the boy, feel free. I'm heading back to the wolves to tell them what we've accomplished, and to get some information on the logging camp. Perhaps we'll soon be shut of these unnatural woods."
 

Dungannon

First Post
Devlin Magruder, human rogue 3

Devlin ponders the news. "Now, was that old man there John Lerrot? And if so, why was he trying to pass himself off as a powerful mage?" Devlin walks outside and stares up into the stars. "Gods, what am I supposed to do now?"

When Luthiel announces his intentions to go inform the wolves, Devlin stops him. "Don't go out there alone, Luthiel. I'm still not convinced the wolves are the good guys in all this. Let us wait until morning and then we'll head out together."

Devlin then heads back inside to see if Garrit is having any progress with the boy.
 

Rae ArdGaoth

Explorer
The boy seems to be in an advanced state of shock. He does nothing but stare at the bloody body of his master. Garrit refuses to give up, but he is doing nothing more than gently shaking the boy by the shoulder and speaking softly.
 

scout989

First Post
Luthiel Faradar Elven Rogue1

Luthiel stares at Devlin's back as he walks into the tower. A few moments after he disappears inside, Luthiel mutters to himself "Sod this. I'm off."

He sets off through the woods on the trail to the clearing, expecting at any moment to hear the rustle of the wolves surrounding him. However, he sets his resolve and goes on.
 

Dungannon

First Post
Devlin Magruder, human rogue 3

Devlin stares at the boy, pity creeping into his heart. "Garrit, why don't you take the boy to our camp, get him out of here where he doesn't have to look at that," Devlin motions towards the old man's body.

Once Garrit and the boy are outside, he continues. "Malen, you're familiar with magic. Can you tell if anything in this place or on the body is magical in nature?"
 

Enkhidu

Explorer
"I'm not prepared for that right now," says Malen. "Didn't expect to have to do it twice today. Jasper or Cryndo might still have one prepared, though."
 

Rae ArdGaoth

Explorer
Jasper just shrugs, he has prepared no such spells today. But Cryndo nods and closes his eyes. After a few moments he opens them and says, "This whole clearing is filled with magic. It's... strong. One of the strongest enchantments I've ever seen, I think perhaps the strongest. And it is an enchantment.

Garrit, not paying attention to the exchange, puts his massive arm around the boy's shoulder and leads him away, out of the tower, away from the body, to the group's small camp in the clearing.

Luthiel...
walks out into the forest. A pair of wolves immediately jump out at him, but make no noise. They simply follow him all the way to the wolf den, like an escort. There, Alpha is sitting in his spot, directly in front of the great rock, eyes closed. Other wolves glance in Luthiel's direction but otherwise pay him no heed. The ancient elf is nowhere in sight.
 
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scout989

First Post
Luthiel Faradar Elven Rogue1

[sblock=Luthiel's actions]Luthiel clears his throat nervously, then plunges right in: "Well, we've started on what you wanted us to do. Wait, can you even understand me without that statue?"
He looks around, trying to figure out how to communicate with the wolves.[/sblock]
 

Enkhidu

Explorer
Malen, Dwarf Wiz1

"Enchantment?" says Malen. "That means this isn't a ward, that'd be abjuration. Has to be some sort of compulsion on animals and animal touched things like that gobbo."

"Cryndo, is the ground the thing that's giving off the aura, or is it emanating from the tower itself?"
 

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