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Story Hour
The New Adventures of Thundina Seong! Completed May 4
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<blockquote data-quote="Ealli" data-source="post: 3416884" data-attributes="member: 804"><p><strong>Chapter 9, part 2: Matters of the Dead</strong></p><p></p><p>Once back in the burough, the trio of survivors visited the church to give rites to those who fell in the battle. Thundina retrieved Orning’s papers and Ashlyn’s holy symbol and put them with the other Lightbringer symbols that needed to be returned to the guild headquarters in Korth. With the last of the Lightbringer expeditions being put to rest, Thundina had to consider what the loss of everyone who had shared her goals meant. </p><p></p><p>Of all the people Thundina had met since leaving Thronehold, it was Ashlyn she had respected the most. A competent warrior who had been chosen by the Sovereign Host, she had been willing to give her life to save Thundina once. Thundina idly turned Ashlyn’s holy symbol over and over in her hands wondering what would inspire someone to act like that. She was having trouble thinking of anyone that she’d be willing to do that for. As the last of the funerals ended, Thundina tucked the holy symbol away.</p><p></p><p>Later that evening, after Romann had gone to bed, Thundina was finally able to get Cyron alone. “Cyron, what in the name of all the Sovereign Host happened back in the castle?”</p><p></p><p>“Romann was not in his right mind,” Cyron repeated dejectedly. “You know he would never strike me intentionally, but you saw the greatsword wounds.”</p><p></p><p>“I saw the wounds, but didn’t want to believe. Did Romann really kill Ashlyn, Grim, and Halas?”</p><p></p><p>“It wasn’t Romann’s fault. I think the creature exerted some sort of control over Romann, and over you, Ashlyn, and Halas too.”</p><p></p><p>“Aren’t you at all disturbed by what he did?”</p><p></p><p>“I mourn our lost allies, but it was the spider thing that killed Ashlyn, Grim, and Halas just as surely as it was the spider that killed Krel.”</p><p></p><p>Not entirely satisfied, Thundina let the subject drop. She was still disturbed and upset by the encounter, but couldn’t articulate her problems or any further objections.</p><p></p><p>The next morning, both Romann and Thundina were complaining of continued weakness. The bite wound from the spider wound had not healed. Cyron attempted a <em>Lesser Restoration</em> only to discover that the damage was more severe than that spell could handle. A full <em>Restoration</em> restored Romann, but that was the last of the diamond dust and only one had been prepared. Some of Halas’s and Ashlyn’s equipment was bartered to Bildreth for additional diamond dust. Once resupplied, the party visited the church where Halas was still laid out waiting for burial.</p><p></p><p>“I will be able to ask three questions to Halas,” Cyron described, “What do we need to ask him?”</p><p></p><p>“Where the Symbol is hidden, of course” Thundina listed. “I dunno what else. Wait, didn’t you once say that you didn’t actually know how to activate the Sunsword?”</p><p></p><p>“Didn’t I ever mention how to activate the Sunsword?” Cyron was surprised.</p><p></p><p>“Not, that I ever recall, and I have good memory.” Thundina insisted.</p><p></p><p>“Okay, although we should clearly specify ‘Holy Symbol of Ravenkind’, and I think ‘bond’ is a better word than activate regarding the Sunsword.”</p><p></p><p>“If that’ll please you. Does magic really need to be that precise?” Thundina said with a look of boredom. “We still get a third question.”</p><p></p><p>“Ask what he knows about the castle or Strahd, I’d say. Whatever it is, it’ll be the lowest priority incase we need clarification on one of the other questions.”</p><p></p><p>“Ask about Strahd, I really don’t believe he ever had been into the castle before he came with us. So cast your spell already.”</p><p></p><p>Cyron sank into a deep concentration over the body of Halas while Thundina paced about the room. Ten minutes later, Cyron gestured everyone to gather round to begin the questioning.</p><p></p><p>“Halas, where is the Holy Symbol of Ravenkind hidden?” Cyron asked the corpse.</p><p></p><p>The corpse of Halas groaned and answered in a raspy voice, “Hidden safe and sound, buried in a box beneath the town.”</p><p></p><p>“Halas, how does one bond the Sunsword?” Cyron continued.</p><p></p><p>“Pray to your gods for salvation,” came the reply from the dead.</p><p></p><p>“Okay, third question then. This is the one about Strahd.” Cyron looked to Romann and Thundina.</p><p></p><p>Thundina was frowning, “I didn’t like that first answer. It’s too general. Ask him what building the symbol is nearest to.”</p><p></p><p>Cyron mentioned, “We could ask him what building it’s in instead of what building it’s closest to.”</p><p></p><p>Thundina shook her head, “He could have buried it outside of a building though. I don’t want him getting the last laugh.”</p><p></p><p>Cyron nodded and turned to the dead Halas one final time, “Halas, to what building is the Holy Symbol of Ravenkind nearest?”</p><p></p><p>“A house made of stone,” croaked the corpse.</p><p></p><p>“Well, that’s that.” Cyron said. Then musing on the stonework of the town, “I seem to remember the shack Halas was hiding in was made of wood, but most of the houses here are made of stone. I think the first place to search would the be the Kolyanavich manor.”</p><p></p><p>Thundina and Romann looked to each other before telling Cyron, “Well, if you really want to talk with Ismark, you’ll be the one who does.”</p><p></p><p>At the Kolyanavich manor, an angry Ismark answered Cyron’s knock, “So, you’re back again. Where is Ireena now?”</p><p></p><p>While Cyron stammered, Thundina cut in, “Why are you asking us about Ireena?”</p><p></p><p>Ismark continued scowling, “A day and a half ago she ran off to join you. Where is she?”</p><p></p><p>“We haven’t seen her since you grounded her. We’ve respected your wishes on Ireena.”</p><p></p><p>“First time you’ve respected anything,” muttered Ismark. He then sighed, “Will you please find her and return her here then please. I’ll ask Urik to assist you.”</p><p></p><p>“Of course, she is a dear girl, we will find her,” Thundina said, then added, “if only for her sake.”</p><p></p><p>Ismark began to close the door, but Cyron stopped him to fulfill the purpose of the visit, “We have learned from Halas that he hid the Symbol near a house of stone. We would like to around your grounds to see if he hid it here.”</p><p></p><p>“Very well,” Ismark sighed. “Just so long as you find Ireena.”</p><p></p><p>The manor grounds were nicely kept up; Halas had not hidden the Symbol in the Kolyanavich manor. The party took to the inn to ask the nature of Halas’s movements. After a brief debate on who would be most effective at gathering information, Thundina declared that it would obviously be her since everyone loved her. When Cyron objected and attempted to use Ismark as a counter-example, Thundina shushed him and repeated that she would be the one who was most likely to learn what was needed to learn. The villagers the party talked to reported that Halas had spent most of his time between the town square and the church, but had been furtive and keeping mostly to himself.</p><p></p><p>The party began by searching the town square, but the only disturbed dirt looked like it had been done by the mole-like creatures from when Thundina had first ridden into town. The church basement was likewise clean, and while several of the graves had been filled back in, not the one that had originally held the Symbol. The party decided it would sweep abandoned stone houses, starting on the outskirts nearest the church.</p><p></p><p>The house nearest the church was both made of stone and abandoned. Thundina looked around inside, but found nothing. Then, looking around the yard outside, she found a suspicious pile of dirt. Digging out the dirt, she found a small steel box hidden in the ground. Thundina noted how oddly sticky the box was as she pulled it out just a moment before her hands began to shake and the box slipped from her grip.</p><p></p><p>“Ooh, I feel weak,” Thundina mumbled. “It’s coated in a contact poison. What a bastard. I feel like I could faint. Let’s see what I can do before that happens.”</p><p></p><p>Thundina checked the box over three times before being satisfied that there were no other problems and popped the lock on the first try. As she opened the box, a puff of orange vapor flew out. As Thundina coughed, she fell backwards away from the box. Cyron stepped forward to see what the problem was, but Thundina waved at him.</p><p></p><p>“No, keep back,” Thundina coughed and crawled away from the box. “That bastard burnt othur! Gods blast him, do you have any idea how much gold he must have spent trapping this box. If it weren’t so expensive, I’d ask you to <em>Raise</em> him so I could kill him.”</p><p></p><p>When Thundina felt that the vapor had dissipated, she peeked into the box again. In the bottom of the lead lined box was a steel raven-symbol. After inspecting the symbol for any further poison, Thundina took it out of the box. She then collapsed in another fit of coughing. Romann and Cyron attempted to tend to Thundina, but the poison was in her lungs and they could do nothing but wait and pray that she’d be fine on her own. After a minute of coughing, Thundina spit out an orange-tinted phlegm mass on to the ground. Her breathing calmed and she climbed weakly to her feet.</p><p></p><p>Cyron hovered anxiously around, “Well Thundina, what do you have there?”</p><p></p><p>Thundina opened her left hand to find Ashlyn’s holy symbol. “I don’t remember grabbing that,” she said somewhat abstractedly. The right hand was the prize she had grabbed from the iron-lined box, the Holy Symbol of Ravenkind. Thundina offered it to Cyron, “I think you’ll be the best one to handle this.”</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Ealli, post: 3416884, member: 804"] [b]Chapter 9, part 2: Matters of the Dead[/b] Once back in the burough, the trio of survivors visited the church to give rites to those who fell in the battle. Thundina retrieved Orning’s papers and Ashlyn’s holy symbol and put them with the other Lightbringer symbols that needed to be returned to the guild headquarters in Korth. With the last of the Lightbringer expeditions being put to rest, Thundina had to consider what the loss of everyone who had shared her goals meant. Of all the people Thundina had met since leaving Thronehold, it was Ashlyn she had respected the most. A competent warrior who had been chosen by the Sovereign Host, she had been willing to give her life to save Thundina once. Thundina idly turned Ashlyn’s holy symbol over and over in her hands wondering what would inspire someone to act like that. She was having trouble thinking of anyone that she’d be willing to do that for. As the last of the funerals ended, Thundina tucked the holy symbol away. Later that evening, after Romann had gone to bed, Thundina was finally able to get Cyron alone. “Cyron, what in the name of all the Sovereign Host happened back in the castle?” “Romann was not in his right mind,” Cyron repeated dejectedly. “You know he would never strike me intentionally, but you saw the greatsword wounds.” “I saw the wounds, but didn’t want to believe. Did Romann really kill Ashlyn, Grim, and Halas?” “It wasn’t Romann’s fault. I think the creature exerted some sort of control over Romann, and over you, Ashlyn, and Halas too.” “Aren’t you at all disturbed by what he did?” “I mourn our lost allies, but it was the spider thing that killed Ashlyn, Grim, and Halas just as surely as it was the spider that killed Krel.” Not entirely satisfied, Thundina let the subject drop. She was still disturbed and upset by the encounter, but couldn’t articulate her problems or any further objections. The next morning, both Romann and Thundina were complaining of continued weakness. The bite wound from the spider wound had not healed. Cyron attempted a [I]Lesser Restoration[/I] only to discover that the damage was more severe than that spell could handle. A full [I]Restoration[/I] restored Romann, but that was the last of the diamond dust and only one had been prepared. Some of Halas’s and Ashlyn’s equipment was bartered to Bildreth for additional diamond dust. Once resupplied, the party visited the church where Halas was still laid out waiting for burial. “I will be able to ask three questions to Halas,” Cyron described, “What do we need to ask him?” “Where the Symbol is hidden, of course” Thundina listed. “I dunno what else. Wait, didn’t you once say that you didn’t actually know how to activate the Sunsword?” “Didn’t I ever mention how to activate the Sunsword?” Cyron was surprised. “Not, that I ever recall, and I have good memory.” Thundina insisted. “Okay, although we should clearly specify ‘Holy Symbol of Ravenkind’, and I think ‘bond’ is a better word than activate regarding the Sunsword.” “If that’ll please you. Does magic really need to be that precise?” Thundina said with a look of boredom. “We still get a third question.” “Ask what he knows about the castle or Strahd, I’d say. Whatever it is, it’ll be the lowest priority incase we need clarification on one of the other questions.” “Ask about Strahd, I really don’t believe he ever had been into the castle before he came with us. So cast your spell already.” Cyron sank into a deep concentration over the body of Halas while Thundina paced about the room. Ten minutes later, Cyron gestured everyone to gather round to begin the questioning. “Halas, where is the Holy Symbol of Ravenkind hidden?” Cyron asked the corpse. The corpse of Halas groaned and answered in a raspy voice, “Hidden safe and sound, buried in a box beneath the town.” “Halas, how does one bond the Sunsword?” Cyron continued. “Pray to your gods for salvation,” came the reply from the dead. “Okay, third question then. This is the one about Strahd.” Cyron looked to Romann and Thundina. Thundina was frowning, “I didn’t like that first answer. It’s too general. Ask him what building the symbol is nearest to.” Cyron mentioned, “We could ask him what building it’s in instead of what building it’s closest to.” Thundina shook her head, “He could have buried it outside of a building though. I don’t want him getting the last laugh.” Cyron nodded and turned to the dead Halas one final time, “Halas, to what building is the Holy Symbol of Ravenkind nearest?” “A house made of stone,” croaked the corpse. “Well, that’s that.” Cyron said. Then musing on the stonework of the town, “I seem to remember the shack Halas was hiding in was made of wood, but most of the houses here are made of stone. I think the first place to search would the be the Kolyanavich manor.” Thundina and Romann looked to each other before telling Cyron, “Well, if you really want to talk with Ismark, you’ll be the one who does.” At the Kolyanavich manor, an angry Ismark answered Cyron’s knock, “So, you’re back again. Where is Ireena now?” While Cyron stammered, Thundina cut in, “Why are you asking us about Ireena?” Ismark continued scowling, “A day and a half ago she ran off to join you. Where is she?” “We haven’t seen her since you grounded her. We’ve respected your wishes on Ireena.” “First time you’ve respected anything,” muttered Ismark. He then sighed, “Will you please find her and return her here then please. I’ll ask Urik to assist you.” “Of course, she is a dear girl, we will find her,” Thundina said, then added, “if only for her sake.” Ismark began to close the door, but Cyron stopped him to fulfill the purpose of the visit, “We have learned from Halas that he hid the Symbol near a house of stone. We would like to around your grounds to see if he hid it here.” “Very well,” Ismark sighed. “Just so long as you find Ireena.” The manor grounds were nicely kept up; Halas had not hidden the Symbol in the Kolyanavich manor. The party took to the inn to ask the nature of Halas’s movements. After a brief debate on who would be most effective at gathering information, Thundina declared that it would obviously be her since everyone loved her. When Cyron objected and attempted to use Ismark as a counter-example, Thundina shushed him and repeated that she would be the one who was most likely to learn what was needed to learn. The villagers the party talked to reported that Halas had spent most of his time between the town square and the church, but had been furtive and keeping mostly to himself. The party began by searching the town square, but the only disturbed dirt looked like it had been done by the mole-like creatures from when Thundina had first ridden into town. The church basement was likewise clean, and while several of the graves had been filled back in, not the one that had originally held the Symbol. The party decided it would sweep abandoned stone houses, starting on the outskirts nearest the church. The house nearest the church was both made of stone and abandoned. Thundina looked around inside, but found nothing. Then, looking around the yard outside, she found a suspicious pile of dirt. Digging out the dirt, she found a small steel box hidden in the ground. Thundina noted how oddly sticky the box was as she pulled it out just a moment before her hands began to shake and the box slipped from her grip. “Ooh, I feel weak,” Thundina mumbled. “It’s coated in a contact poison. What a bastard. I feel like I could faint. Let’s see what I can do before that happens.” Thundina checked the box over three times before being satisfied that there were no other problems and popped the lock on the first try. As she opened the box, a puff of orange vapor flew out. As Thundina coughed, she fell backwards away from the box. Cyron stepped forward to see what the problem was, but Thundina waved at him. “No, keep back,” Thundina coughed and crawled away from the box. “That bastard burnt othur! Gods blast him, do you have any idea how much gold he must have spent trapping this box. If it weren’t so expensive, I’d ask you to [I]Raise[/I] him so I could kill him.” When Thundina felt that the vapor had dissipated, she peeked into the box again. In the bottom of the lead lined box was a steel raven-symbol. After inspecting the symbol for any further poison, Thundina took it out of the box. She then collapsed in another fit of coughing. Romann and Cyron attempted to tend to Thundina, but the poison was in her lungs and they could do nothing but wait and pray that she’d be fine on her own. After a minute of coughing, Thundina spit out an orange-tinted phlegm mass on to the ground. Her breathing calmed and she climbed weakly to her feet. Cyron hovered anxiously around, “Well Thundina, what do you have there?” Thundina opened her left hand to find Ashlyn’s holy symbol. “I don’t remember grabbing that,” she said somewhat abstractedly. The right hand was the prize she had grabbed from the iron-lined box, the Holy Symbol of Ravenkind. Thundina offered it to Cyron, “I think you’ll be the best one to handle this.” [/QUOTE]
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