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Message: <blockquote data-quote="WayneLigon" data-source="post: 1454140" data-attributes="member: 3649">Ashes of ZarhanEpisode 17 and 18: A Return Home and GoldThe party consists of…Vorz, male Litorian Totem Warrior (Wolf)3/Litorian3Sellik, male Verrik Mage Blade5, Verrick 1Kyran, female Verrik Iron Witch4/Mage Blade2Mont Nuyen, male Human Unbound Unfettered6Alayah, female Loresong Faen Greenbond6Shan Greensong, male Human Akashic3The group takes their prisoner and departs from the area around Blackgate after making sure that healers and such are made available for the former slaves. Na-Vilorus and Rizz decide to stay behind and aid with the clean-up and then stay in the area, to see what can be seen and hear what can he heard. There is a parting, then the shrunken group leaves to make their way around the lands of Blackgate. First staying with the good Baron Ruder, who will be housing most of the healed former slaves and working at finding them a place once more, or a way back home, the group sets out on the Forest Road which is a days-long detour to the city of Heron, then a shortcut through dense forest back to the main road. Their first night, seeking shelter from the oncoming storms, the group finds an abandoned shrine, though with a fresh deer sacrifice on the worn altar. Once the group steps closer, the bas-reliefs arise and come to life, revealed as hideous gargoyles. A long and bitter fight later, the group stands victorious only to discover that the shrine was once a temple to the baboon god. They discover no hidden areas, save for the temple hoard of silver. And the sword trap that pins Mont. The city of Heron proves to be a clean and bright walled town, with peaceful people who seem to thrive under Duke Emeris. Their stay is too brief, though, for they are eager to get back home. Taking a shortcut through the forest towards the marsh road, they kill two blade-trolls and hear tell of their smithy and underground complex. The group moves on, through, rejoining the road a couple of days later and escorting in a merchant wagon that turns back when it hears of plague in Blackgate. Once back in Runestone, the group settles into their villa. Mont goes to see Eana up in the castle, and hear what can be heard about how things have gone over the past weeks. Other than to comment that the Queen tires easily after her long sessions or meetings, she has little real news to impart other than she’s currently working with Crown people on dealing with the traitorous Lord Tharan. Conn has been kept busy, dealing with possible threats to Eana and others, and with maintaining the information network in the Lost Quarter.After buying potions from Iaska and watching the woman give some lessons to Alayah in exchange for the rare herbs gathered on the trip (as well as gold), the group begins to see what weaponsmithing options are open to them. Contacting Ua-Sylos, a Giant woman who deals in strange and unusual merchandise, mainly spell components, they go see Ar-Lyrn, an armorer.The group now has another large party at the villa to celebrate their homecoming, and Mont buys off the bond for the two women that have done the most for Vorz as paid companions. Choosing to stay with the huge Litorian for now, the two human women take up residence in the villa for now. During the party, Vorz and Alayah scout the area (knowing that they are still menaced by the shadowy figure of the Jewelers Guildmaster) and encounter two ghouls spying on the villa from a rooftop. They dispatch the monsters without finding much, save that the emaciated bodies were tattooed in a southern jungle manner. The next day, the group goes to see Dolmen Havvek, the Goldsmiths Guildmaster. The man is pleased that his only son has been delivered safely to the island and the safe keeping of the Magisters. He gives the group their reward, and also some information on the ongoing feud. Mont praises the man’s son, Coran, to him and the Guildmaster invites the group to his hunting lodge a day outside of town, on the edge of the wild lands. The next day finds them mounted up and journeying there, in the company of the Guildmaster, his guards, and servants. The slow-moving party beds down for the night about halfway there, and in the night they are attacked by a trio of medusa who manages to turn most of the Guildmaster’s troops to stone. Finally, the terrible monsters are slain, and the group journeys back to the city so help can be dispatched to the people left behind. Later, the group decides to pool their money and purchase a failing inn in the good part of town, and re-christen it the Merry Medusa. Days are spent getting the place ready, arranging for entertainment, and such. Shan is given a place at the Inn as entertainer, and the group anticipates a goodly profit from the place. Lastly, Vorz deals with the artificer Elarus to get some items made. </blockquote>

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