[AU] Lost Dreams: The Stone Troll

[GladiusNP]

Aadin Lofgred, 4th Level Human Runethane

Kalythar's query about the items is met with a slight grimace " I need more time, Kalythar. Unfortunately I can only find the most useless of information so far. It would help if we knew more about these Rhodin."

The Runethane idly examines the vial with the orange rune, trying to decipher its' meaning.

As Master Mollen addresses the group, Aadin takes a large bite of bread, and begins to munch away. As the caravan-master ends his speech, Aadin finishes chewing his mouthful of bread.

"Master Mollen - is such weather usual for this time of year? These seem more like the spring rains in Ka-Rone. And does the name Murtz mean anything to you?"

(ooc - Have Leveled up in Rogues Gallery Thread - INT up to 18, 8 skill points alloted, Will, BAB, and HP increased. Aadin will also use his Rune of Knowledge to find out what he can about the ring, then move on to the nice axe)

 

[Erekose13]

Puzzling over the rune on the vial, Aadin decipher's it ~ 'Healing'. The rune is made of coloured dye added to the glass of the vial during the heating process. The vial itself including the rune has been quite lovingly crafted.

To his queries Mollen answers, "No these rains are not normal for this time of the year, nor is this morning frost and cold temperature. The north around now, is usually a little cool with some overcast rain, but not the pounding storm of last night. Murtz, nope that does not ring a bell at all. Why?"

Aadin sits with the ring a little more going over it with his runes of knowledge. Over the course of the morning he discovers that the maker of the rune, Shethswana is a hag. The item was designed to harness the power of chaos to increase the users chances in battle. It was made of copper, red glass, and ground troll's teeth, in the Citadel of Ice east of the Harrowdeep.

 

[GladiusNP]

"No these rains are not normal for this time of the year, nor is this morning frost and cold temperature. The north around now, is usually a little cool with some overcast rain, but not the pounding storm of last night. Murtz, nope that does not ring a bell at all. Why?"

Aadin grins wryly, and replies. "I read it in the runes. It was the name of one of these Rhodin."

 

[Isida Kep'Tukari]

Kelsis the Bright-Eyed, female sibeccai akashic

*In the morning Kelsis will share what she learned from the stone.*

"I learned something rather interesting. It seems that the rhodin are in league with what I believe to be ice trolls. Also, perhaps a hag as well. I remember the bard saying that hags could change the weather, so perhaps that is the reason for the unseasonable rains. I also saw a citadel of ice... perhaps that is where they reside," she says, taking some bread to eat.

 

[Erekose13]

Norville

It takes another three days to reach the small town, Norville, which has sprung up in the foothills at the head of the river. The weather has been getting progressively colder and the skies have remained heavily clouded. There has not been another heavy thunderstorm like the first night out of Brighthomle. The clouds have mostly threatened, though there have been a few light showers in the early afternoons for the past couple of days. The rain that fell was really cool and made for really depressing travel during those days. You arrive there in the late afternoon, the sun has already started to set though it is impossible to actually see it through the clouds.

While travelling Aadin continues his research going over the ring first, then the axe. The most recent owner of the ring was Shethswana and the item's magical ability is to increase the chances of hitting opponents in melee combat similar to the bash spell, it is a charged item with 43 charges remaining.

The axe was created only 1 month ago and the last creature to touch the item was Horth, whom you already know was rhodin. This item was also created by Shethswana and its purpose is to hit things. It is made of heavy iron, green wood from the Harrowdeep, and the ground bone of a frost worm. The item was made in the Citadel of Ice and was owned by Horth. Its magical ability is to hit things hard [ooc: +1 battleaxe].

Comparing notes, Kelsis is able to figure out a bit more about the visions in the memory stone. The hag's name is Shethswana, she is also the creator of the ring and axe. The bigger, fast rhodin was Horth and one of the lackies was named Murtz. Listening to the language patterns for those names and trying to grasp the others you find that the other two lackies were Durz and Doff, the caster was Norn and the akashic scout was Woer. The troll was called Crusher. You are able to match equipment to name so that Aadin can avoid receiving information you already know as he searches the runes across the other items.

A few buildings have sprung up in the small hamlet, mostly boarding houses and taverns. A sherriff has set up a jail and there is a general store as well. Master Mollen leads you to one of the few unmarked buildings and directs you to bring the horses and wagons inside. It is a large warehouse type building and it appears that many people use it to house such large caravans. Inside Master Mollen speaks to the owner and takes care of business type stuff.

When he is finished he comes over and says, "Okay we are here, I am going to see about gathering my associates so that we can get out of here as soon as we can. The gentleman here says that there have been an increasing number of attacks on the gold diggers and merchants who come here. I would like one of you to stay with the caravan at all times in shifts and one of you to accompany me, Lemm you are with me. The others I would like you to gather what information you can from the locals to find out more about these raids. I need more information on whether my other investments here are in danger."

Gren agrees to stay with the wagons for the first watch so that he has an opportunity to clean and water the horses. In the small town there are 3 large taverns, the Gold Ring, the Ventrid Saloon, and Grey's Tavern, 2 boarding houses, the Mollen House and Grey's Hostel (attached to his tavern).

[ooc:Aadin used up 10 uses of his Rune of Knowledge. 3 days nets you 12 uses, so you still have another 2 to use on the next item. Let me know which you choose next and I'll give you the details you have already gathered about it.]

 

[GladiusNP]

Aadin Lofgred, 4th Level Human Runethane

Aadin looks around at the others. "Well, where should we head to first? I wouldn't mind a proper meal, though we may be able to find more information if we split up. I suppose I'd head to the Gold Ring."

(ooc - Can I please try the eyepatch? Also, can I have used detect magic on the other items over the course of the three days? I had meant to do so, but forgot during the 2nd combat. This way I'm not wasting the rune magic.)

 

[Erekose13]

Aadin also discovered the following information about the eyepatch, that it was created 3 years ago. From the discussions with Kelsis, he already knows that Norn the spellcasting rhodin was the last one to use the item so the next piece of the puzzle indicates that the item was created by Luerym Steelshuttle.

Spending some time sorting through the loot in the wagon, Aadin discovers that the following items radiate magic:

• a very nice looking battleaxe [Scartooth, battleaxe +1] - faint transmutation.
• 5 small vials, two of which contain clear liquid, another a thick yellow liquid, one a viscous red liquid and the last is murky white. - 2 faint evocation and 3 faint transmutation
• a copper ring, inscribed with the symbol for wild magic embossed with a large sword through the center.[Ring of Khorne, bash] - faint transmutation
• two small crystals, one pale blue and the other a deep black, each with a small rune inscribed on them.['Dispel' and 'Fear'] - faint abjuration and faint enchantment
• a miniature buckler made from a red gem and carved with leaping flames. - faint abjuration
• a small waterskin, in which is an oil like substance pale transparent blue in color. - faint transmutation
• a studded leather eyepatch which has five small lead studs. - faint transmutation
• a bracelet with four small charms on it. - faint transmutation?
• another small vial with clear blue liquid. This one has a small orange rune carved into it. ['Healing'] - faint evocation

[ooc: I forgot to include the names of the items, so I have added them to the list above.]

 

[Isida Kep'Tukari]

*Kelsis will hunt about, trying to determine which Inn or boarding house has the best food and rooms for the price. On the way she'll inquire about the raids, taking about a hour or two to accomplish these tasks.*

 

[DrSpunj]

Kalythar, Litorian Mage Blade 4

"Sounds good. I'll head over to the Ventrid Saloon and see what I can discover. Meet back here in a couple of hours?"

He heads directly there and takes a table in the middle of the room. After ordering he'll listen to the conversations around him as unobtrusively as possible while savoring his hot meal and sipping his ale. He'll focus on any conversations about recent attacks, specifically what creatures were involved and what tactics they used (frontal assault, ambush, bait & draw, etc.).

 

[Erekose13]

With a little time spent poking around Kelsis finds out that the Gold Ring is about as high class as you get in this little mining town which is to say not very high class at all. The drinks are a little over priced and there is no fighting going on, but its not very impressive. The Ventrid Saloon is more colourful, run by a quickling named Faerwyn Darksong. The people there are more lively which can mean fighting at times but the drinks are well priced. Grey's Tavern and its associated Hostel are both rather drab. The clientelle seem to be more hard core miners rather than the rabble who take to panning the river. The rooms are cheap and the beer is watered down. Mollen's House is in fact run by an associate of your employer and as you enter he offers you free rooms while you are in town. He says that unfortunately the rooms are all full up, but there are enough spots in the common room for everyone.

In all locations the talk is of the weather, prospects, and dangers. Aadin spends a little time (and probably more money than he had wanted too) in the Gold Ring. The meal though is quite decent, which makes up for the price of the alcohol. After a while sitting there a large gentleman comes over to your table and asks to join, "Evenin' names Fat Jack, what brings you all the way out 'ere?

Meanwhile at the Ventrid Saloon, Kalythar things get interesting pretty quick as your table is over turned during a small scuffle. Luckily your meal hadnt come yet, though your drink has fallen along with the man who had been pushed into the table. The two who are arguing appear to be rather tall men, both sporting heavy leather coats and hats. The one still standing laughs loudly and says, "Johr, there ain't no way you fought that troll like you says. Cant even hold your drink, look youve spilled it all over yourself." He laughs again as the man on the ground, Johr, tries to right himself. "Did too, came down out of them hills towards where I was siftin. Big ugly git."