[sblock=OOC]
Sorry for the delay, I was sick in bed yesterday, and spent the last big block of time I had to read through threads and total up XP finishing off my other adventure.
[/sblock]
The priest can't resist a chuckle at Tonk's antics, and reaches a hand out to steady him as he stumbles. Tonk finds it easy to go through his robes as he holds him - he is carrying nothing but a set of prayer beads on a string, an empty pouch with a few grains of dust in the bottom, and a stack of "receipts" similar to the ones he handed to each of you. None of them have names filled in (and they're not signed, unfortunately).
There is a loud, "Harumph,"[/sblock] from the door. The stern, uniformed halfling who you dealt with earlier is standing in the door. "Oh, it'sz ZIS vun," he says disapprovingly, glaring at Tonk. "Vaste uf sze gift, if you aszk me." He stomps over to the elderly priest, hands him a note, and then spins on his heel and marches out the door, nose in the air.
[sblock=OOC]
Feel free to interject and tweek the halfling any way you want to, but I'm moving on.
[/sblock]
The priest reads the note, and frowns. "Well," he says, "I have good news and bad news. The good news is, well, you're a live. And you should stay that way for a while, because we've taken care of all the bounty hunters that are after you. Well, nearly all of them.
As you've probably realized, Jaffery Applethorpe has been spending money like water to arrange your deaths. We can't have that - you were working in Our service when you killed his father, and the people have to know that servants of Lauto are untouchable. So one the orders of the High Priest, we've taken care of the matter. I can guarantee that Mr. Applethorpe will not be making any more trouble. Ever.
As for the money he's already spent, it's taken an almost equal sum for the Temple of Lauto to buy out the various contracts he put out on you - and believe me, there were a LOT of them. We managed to intimidate some of the mercenaries who were lying in wait for you, and persuade many others that they would lose all hope of resurrection if they collected on this particular contract - resurrection is an important consideration to those who live by the sword, of course. Some of the other parties arrayed against you took... special persuasion. Those last," he nods at the sphere, where the elemental is slowly crumbling away, "were a circle of dark summoners calling themselves the Lords Arcane, who seem to have turned the hunt for you into a sort of contest. To protect you from them, we needed to erect some potent magic wards. But we managed it. So when you leave here, you should be free from molestation. Mostly."
He pauses and looks embarrased. "Now the bad news. Two pieces here, I'm afraid.
First, there was one party that we were unable to buy off. The contract being handled by the firm of Blorstrob, Eisenfeld & Grimm is still in force, I'm afraid. We tried - Lauto how we tried! - but they're untouchable. They have an unblemished reputation for absolute integrity, and they're completely unwilling to jeopardize that by abandoning a trust. So there's still a chance someone might try to collect on that one. And I think it was a pretty big one, too. But we got rid of all the OTHER ones, and that's good.
Second... well, I'm very sorry about this. But Lauto does not permit us to work for free. The ferryman must have his coin. So I'm afraid we will have to recoup the considerable money we've spent on your behalf - from you. On top of the 500 gp resurrection fee I've already billed you for, I'm afraid you owe us twenty-eight thousand, nine hundred and eighty-four gold.
Each.
You have one week."
The priest bows slightly and leaves, followed by the acolytes. The sphere goes dark.
[sblock=Rewards!]
For each milestone Dextyr kept you alive to reach, you'll gain minor quest XP equal to the highest level encounter you beat. Also, the "double XP" proposal passed during the encounter with the drakes, so all XP awarded after that is doubled.
Since I last awarded XP, you successfully survived the following encounters:
Skill challenge: Chasing the Bandit (L1, complexity 3) = 300 XP
L2 encounter: 2 Hafling Slingers (L1), 2 Human Bandits (L2), 1 Deadfall Trap (L1) = 650 XP
Milestone! L2 minor quest = 125 XP
L1 encounter: Warforged Soldier (L5), 4 Rot Hounds (L1 minion), 2 Fell Taint Lashers (L1) = 500 XP
L2 encounter: Hobgoblin Subcommander (L3), Warhorse (L1), Spitting Drake (L3), Guard Drake (L2), Needlefang Drakes (L2) = 650 XP x2 = 1300 XP
Milestone! L2 minor quest = 125 XP x2 = 250 XP
L4 encounter: Crazed Necromancer (L4), Mad Wraith (L4), Specter (L4), Wraith (L5), 4 Wisp Wraiths (L1) = 825 XP x2 = 1650 XP
Skill challenge: Running Away (L2, complexity 4) = 500 XP x2 = 1000 XP
Milestone! L4 minor quest = 175 XP x2 = 350 XP
L6 encounter: Stone Elemental (L6 solo, half XP for bloodying) = 625 XP x2 = 1250 XP
Since you're all level 1, you get equal time XP: 4 months (July 26-Nov 26) x 83 XP x 5 characters = 1660 XP
Total: 8385 XP (1677 XP each)
No wonder the difficulties seemed kind of wonky. I could have sworn I set it up to go L1, L2, L3, L4, L6, but it actually goes L2, L1, L2, L4, L6. I must have totally miscounted the XP when setting up some of the encounters.
Treasure:
Luckblade +1
Boots of Stealth
Cloak of Distortion
Vanguard Mace +1
60 gp taken from dead hobgoblin
-28984 gp total debt to Temple of Lauto
[/sblock]
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