stonegod's Expedition to Castle Ravenloft: Ch. II [IC]

[stonegod]

Avron finds his potions, and Tessa volunteer's her scroll to do what can be done. Marot's strength refuses to be mended, returning only slightly, but Ashlyn and Khensu feel more of themselves.

[1 Str to Marot, 2 Str and 4 Con to Ashlyn, 2 Con to Khensu]

Status
M: 46/46, 9 Str damage (3/12), unable to move
A: 46/48, 4 Str damage (10/14), 9/14 Con
K: 57/57, 1 Con damage

 

[pathfinderq1]

They had done what they could, for now, Tessa realized- she hoped it would be enough. Tucking the partially used scroll back into her Haversack, she turned to regard the fane. "So, who wants to dig this time?," she asked, trying to muster a smile and an enthusiastic tone to lighten the dark mood.

 

[EvolutionKB]

Avron wanders over to the pillar and examines the crytals embedded in it. With the lady's question posed, the scholar turns and smiles, and begins ripping more earth up with his hands. The spade on his back nearly hits him in the back of the head, clearly forgotten once more.

 

[DEFCON 1]

Sir Khensu moves over to stand behind the archivist as the crazed gentleman scrabbles through the dirt. He reaches over and gently works the spade free from his pack, careful not to disturb the man's work. Once it is free, the shifter moves around Avron and leans the shovel against the pillar. "For your work, Avron." he says to him quietly.

Khensu then moves a few paces away from him to guard him during his efforts.

Jarrith moves over to Marot and pats the warlock on his leg. "Won't be long, my Brother. We'll get you to a warm bed shortly."

 

[stonegod]

With the spade, the digging moves apace. Soon—the soggy ground is more easily dug—the archivist turns up a waterlogged metal box carved in shapes similar to the others. Everyone eyes Ashlyn and Tessa's bags a moment, but nothing untoward happens... for now.

Carefully opening the box after a quick inspection by Jarrith, Avron finds inside a decaying, yellowed string tied to the long browned remains of a tooth. There is no identifying mark to indicate the former possessor.

 

[pathfinderq1]

Tessa gave a wary look around them, as if she expected _something_ to show up and trouble them. She didn't tempt fate by offering a sigh of relief when nothing immediate happened, either.

"Well, that is it," she said with a grimace of distaste. "Now let us get out of here, somewhere we can try to rest."

 

[DEFCON 1]

Jarrith sighs as the box opens and nothing untowards happens as a result. After Tessa comments, he nods to her. "Yep, I guess that is it. Tell you what... both you and Ashlyn have the other relics in your bottomless backpacks... I think we keep this one seperate as well. Khensu... you have a bottomless haversack too, right?"

The large shifter nods as he cleans the dirt off the spade before sliding it back into Avron's pack. "Aye, Brother. I will carry the item in my pack. Perhaps having all three inside their own pocket areas will be enough to forestall whatever will happen when they are brought together?"

Jarrith agrees, and provided no one else has a better suggestion, he closes the box and hands it to the paladin to store within his handy haversack.

"And like Tessa says... let's go home. We all need a night's sleep or five to regain our strength and health. Once we are back on our feet, we can go outside the village... maybe back to the farmhouse we stayed at last night... and bring the three relics together, eh? Deal with the results then."

 

[EvolutionKB]

Avron

Avron hands the box with the tooth over to Khensu. "Home..." The archivist sighs and tightens the lacings on his soggy boots. Returning to his place in line, Avron turns and looks back at the upturned ground before slogging though the muck with the others.

 

[Stormwind]

Ashlyn seems relieved that the nothing has happened with the three relics and she nods at Jarrith's comment to Khensu. "These bags appear to be useful for more than just carrying things around. It seems that they are sufficient to forestall whatever will happen when the relics are bought together. Let us hope that they continue to do so until we are properly recovered."

Ashlyn looks around again as her raven flies silently above, vigilant for anything approaching. "Tessa is right, we need to get to a place in which we can rest. The closer the better."

Ashlyn stands ready to continue their journey, though she looks like she would like nothing better than to crawl into a nice warm bed.

 

[stonegod]

The group gather's their belongings, making the soggy trek back to Barovia. Their shifter companion is no where to be seen, and, ill affording to wait, the group uneasily returns without her.

Jarrith, having given Marot a little more boost [His other lesser restoration] leads the group out of the swamp the best he can. Urban environments more his home, it takes them until dusk for the group to successful make the return.

It is with dread the party returns to town. Only ill tidings have met them each time. This time was different: No deaths. None missing.

But, in a way, it was not different. The looks on the caravaner's faces were low. Eyes were not met, greetings only half-heartedly returned. The people of Barovia were as sullen as ever, going through their benighted lives as they always had. One thing had died.

Hope.

Sir Urik still convalesced in the tavern, though his wounds were much healed. One of the halfling healers had caught him sleeping and, very much against his will, restored much of his strength. She had received minor wounds from a belligerent raven, but the "damage" was done: Urik was almost to full strength. Upon seeing Marot and the party, the healer's groan, but get to work. [No restorations today, but ability damage is healed twice normal (2 pts) tomorrow)]

Of Irena and Janis, however, nothing is heard. Irena was seen returning earlier in the day, but she had retired to her manse. The Stormhand, however, had not been spotted, though a woodsman did mention a possible siting of a bear with a white streak wandering south of the village.

Evening settles in Barovia.