There is much in the D&D school of thought to taking everything that isn't nailed down, as if some esoteric recluse somewhere will want the fungus or stray bit of weird shit you carved off a dead thing and will pay in top platinum for it. It's also unreasonable. There was LOTS of discussion on taking or not taking and should we or shouldn't we, but the group did manage to come together and the decision was to leave Castle specific things here for no need and goodwill, and to jettison low value items. We are going to be moving at 1/2 speed at best, and that's still leaving lots of stuff behind.
Follows:
FIVE HUNDRED SEVENTY SEVEN
As they were walking, Lyra asked, “So, are we giving anything to Candella? I reckon we owe it to her considering we killed or drove away everyone who lived in the castle.” She sniffed her underarms and frowned at the charred look of her clothes and armor. “Might be the time to do it, especially since we plan to make a good bye trip in the morning.”
"She seems kind enough, what do we give her?” Lannis asked, “The keys? Some coin? I don't have much worth giving."
“Let’s go take some baths and chat wit Candella,” Wyn advised, hands up, “before we talk about what we be givin away.”
Lyra nodded. “I’m just excited that tomorrow we’re finally leaving this giant shithole of a hell-castle. Fuck dragons. Fuck hobgoblins. I plan on retiring with 100 horses.”
"Amigos, no podemos take todos los treasures tenemos ganar.” Abraxas shook his backpack heavily. “We should split up que estamos taking y que podemos carry y offer que es left over a Candelabra. We should do that before a bath, yo creo. Tenemos weapons, oro, armor, magic items, gems, potions, y mas a go through before we rest. Hacemos que y then we bathe, eat, drink, y sleep, si?"
“We just have so much, and truthfully, some of it is just stuff that works or applies to here.” The Scout still looked left and right down the crosshalls, even though the place was empty. “Everyone that we let go left with something after a trade or gift. Money, weapons, a hope for a future…” Lannis was making a face as Brendon spoke, but the scout didn’t catch it as he was leading the group north to the Baths. “You know as well as I do that we all left a piece of us here, some more than others.” He clapped Kovid on the shoulder and offered the dwarf a soft smile. “We should leave Candella with a few items more than just the walls.”
“She be part of de castle. Literally.” The elf shrugged, head cocking. “So leavin stuff behind “for her” might make ye feel good, but it could be a complete waste since she may not be able to leave the castle at all.”
“I’m just saying, if the robe and scepter will help Candella we should leave it. She won’t be safe after the walls fall.”
“Wow! I can’t wait to get clean, huh guys?” Lannis spoke loudly, interrupting Brendon. “Yep. Let’s get in there!”
“You’re being petulant, Lannis…”
“Whoo hoo! Yippie kai ya and all that.”
“Whatever.”
“Knock knock! Dirty adventurers looking to reward ourselves, can we come in?” Lannis asked, rapping on the bath door with the back of his hand.
The bath door opened and Candella was there, beckoning the party in. “Please. Come,” She said with a smile. There were a few more candles around the room and it seemed brighter. Plus, something was different about her. It was hard to define, but she seemed just less worn down. “I would hate to presume that things have gone well, but, these old bones just know that things have gone well.”
The party was beaming with happiness, quickly divesting themselves of their gear as well as filthy clothes. She had already gotten the tub filled and the party wasted little time in taking turns dunking themselves and getting clean, while wine flowed and laughter followed.
It was when the goblin Matron pulled out a tray of freshly baked chocolate chip cookies, offering one to each of the party members that Kovid took one hesitantly, sniffed it, and then crammed the whole thing into his mouth with a smile. “Ahhh. Now THAT’S a cookie.” He gave Candella a foot to head once over and then asked, “Candella, you’re not really a gob are you? Gobs don’t act like you do, at least not all the ones that have tried to kill me over the years.”
“Aye,” Wyn asked, noting that there was also a ewer of chilled milk here, pouring himself a glass and dunking his cookie within. “Were ye a free goblin before being bonded to de castle? Or is dis form you have sometin dat was created by Ispan magics?”
“Why, Master Manslayer,” she effected a stance of false modesty, “do you not believe your own eyes and ears?” She then turned to the elf and added, “My form is what my form is.” She sighed a bit. “For the majority of my existence, I appeared quite different, let me tell you. Tall, willowy, lithe, skin like spilled milk, hair like sunshine, a voice that could sweeten honey.”
“What happened?” Lyra asked.
“My form is that of the subjects that the ruler of Halgafar’s Castle presides over. What better way to remind the lord of the charges he had to govern and protect, that to be constantly reminded at all times.” She idly traced one hand in the water. “When this castle was usurped by Corfard and assumed mastery over it and Acreage, my countenance did change to be as I appear now.”
“But Corfard is deceased,” Lannis offered. “When you die, twice, and pretty brutally I might add, why have you not changed to Kate Beckinsale DeLaElfHotness again?”
“There isn’t a new ruler here as of yet,” She said with a smile. She then pointed to Wyn’s bag, “And holding the Crown Jewels does not make you ruler, Ispan, King, or overlord either. There is a majesty involved that would have to come from the next Ispan or a being capable of presenting such an obvious might.” She scowled, “As Corfard’s presence so awfully showed.”
“What do ye think will ‘appen to dis place once de ward is down?” Wyn asked, “Are dere heirs to de Ispan heirs dat will try en come back ‘ere?”
Candella smiled. “Of course. The Ispan has relations, parents, aunts, uncles, cousins, and the like. And Lolth of guiding Arik, Moira, and Dingar at this moment to whoever is the next best choice in line. I can feel it, and the castle is bathed in the glory of the 4 goddesses and know that in due time, they will return with the next Ispan, who will come and with much work ahead of them, help make things right here once again.” He looked east. “Remember, the Dawnlands are the shield that guard the western realms of Karamiekos from the forces of Jector.”
Brendon grunted and looked at Wyn’s pack. The elf sighed and then asked, “We found a cloak en scepter in de vault. Do ye know if dere be any importance wit dem related to dis castle? Or are dey just symbolic?”
She looked over at Lannis. “Is his hat important or just symbolic?” She glanced at Lyra, “Is her holy Symbol the same?” She looked then at Kovid’s beard, “Or young Manslayer’s facial hair? Is it important or just symbolic? The answer is both and none. They are devices of office that the rightful Ispan would use to show and display his power, help project his or her strength and majesty, and further assert his capability to rule and rule well.”
Candella waved her hands and then closed them into fists. “If they were not there, Lannis would still be a magister, Lyra still a priestess, and Kovid still a dwarf. But they would also be lacking in some manner.” She shrugged. “I leave it to you to decide, I have never told you directly or not directly what to do, only offered an old woman’s advice where it would and could do some good.” She smiled, “IF you want to take it with you, then do so. You’ll be thanked, and the items will be either displayed in some nobleman’s hall or locked away in some moulding tower. But the day will come when the new Ispan will arrive and look for them and will eventually track down where they went, and who brought them there.”
Wyn chuckled. “I unnerstand.” He sluiced some fresh water over his head and sighed contentedly. “So, Candella… not gonna mince words at dis point. Are ye basically stuck here? Or could ye leave?”
“I could always leave this chamber, but Corfard’s presence meant that I would be hurt…bad..and often. So I found myself abrogating other areas of the Castle and reducing my presence to the most stringent definition of where I could hold the most sway. And that was here. So now? No, the entire castle is my domain once again, including the grounds beyond the walls. And from what I have been able to suss out, there is much to do and much I need to make done.”
“Could you close the gates? Lock them?”
Candella shrugged. “Without the Dragon? Yes, yes I can. On your leaving, I will walk you to the gates, wish you the best of luck, and then close the portcullis and lock the gates behind you. Mind you, it will not stop a determined individual who might wish to scale the walls and enter through the broken skylights, but they will find the Ispan’s castle uninviting to them. Alternating blasts of cold and heat, moistened air to confound torches and candles, doors that jam, steps that are wet and treacherous, and whatever host of troubles I can concoct to thwart their tramping around these halls. There is much to make right and it will take years to do so, but I can keep the Castle whole and undisturbed until the new Ispan arrives.” She looked the group over and smiled, “Including anything you think you might wish to leave for that person.”
Kovid nodded, looking over all his gear. “Anyway, thanks for the bath. With Corfard dead, twice over, I guess the castle is all yours, or all… you… again. I’m not clear on how all the hocus works, but you get my meaning. As for me, when we leave I intend to set up the ale house I’ve been dreaming about. Now that I’ve had a glimpse of the ale halls of Valhalla, I have some construction inspiration to aspire to…. Not sure why I told you all this, but we've appreciated the help you've given along the way. It's one of the reasons we are all still standing.”
“Happy to help,” she said. There was a thump at the door and she opened it, showing that a cask of wine was there as well as a haunch of beef that had been braised and cooked somehow. “Ah. Just checking. Seems I have some control over the kitchen, butchers, and larder again.” She looked the party over. “Well? I cooked it? Who’s hungry? There isn’t much left, but more than enough for tonight and tomorrow easily.”
The group laughed as the food was handed out, watching at the matronly goblin woman stepped awkwardly into the hall and took a deep breath, feeling the stones with an almost reverent touch. She wiped a tear aside and smiled at the party as she took a few hesitant steps away before heading back, bringing the food and drink with her.
They had all their gear out at this time, taking advantage of whatever laundering they could do, Lyra and Kovid working on small repairs and stitching on their clothes and armor. Abraxas was sharpening daggers and knives. And Brendon was walking around with a mug of wine, drinking it down and singing off key any chanty or song that came to mind. At one point, Abraxas climbed into the tub and winked at Candella, lying back in the water and staying under the surface for over ten minutes with no ill effects, thanks to Lannis’ spell. “You’re welcome!” he shouted at the submerged fighter, getting a thumbs up through the tub’s surface in reply.
Time now is Day 13, 12:00 Noon
(OOC)
Water Breathing (Abraxas): Expires 7:48 AM on Day 14!!
Ok! Questions answered. I will send everyone’s sheet as well. Go through it, figure out what you want to purge from your sheet for now.
Anything in “yellow” will be part of the “treasure” listing – those items that have a monetary value, and would be considered divisible for treasure purposes. I suggest that if there is something that someone specifically wants for their character, let me know in the next write up and that would be part of your share, with the corresponding coin value being removed from your total (ex: Someone wants the Dragon teeth necklace @ 75 crowns and each person’s share is 5,000 crowns – you would get the necklace and 4,925 crowns). Again ,assuming there isn’t another person wanting the same item – which can be discussed in chat, discord, or email. Good luck We are in the denouement at this point. There is enough food if the party moves at least at loaded speed (60’/20’) to get to the nearest town which is 4 days away (at lightly loaded speed – 90’/30’). Moving loaded speed means it will take us 6 days to get there. And moving overloaded (30’/10’) will mean 8 days to get there. So keep that in mind when figuring out what we are taking and what we are leaving here – either as detritus, gear for Candella/next Ispan, or treasure we truly don’t need to carry. Abraxas’ Bag of Holding holds 10,000 c/w but registers at 200 c/w on him.
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