The two ogres were beset by Latisto and his two mercs, getting cut and hurt. Ix ran up finally, Furd in tow, and the ogress smashed the merc back a step or two. Meanwhile the sky above was growing darker and menacing. Furd then hit – but targeted Latisto. “What the FUCK are you doing!?” “Um, Sorry!”
“Get with the program, Damn it!” Furd was torn – attack the ogres, attack the mercs? At this point Artoo, Estarda, and Latisto each finished off Ugg and then Krak – the two ogres dropping down with mortal wounds, howling their death cries. Ix was furious, and forced her fury out with a raucous cry – and a bolt of lightning tore from the sky and blasted Latisto to death. The ground became as glass and the concussive blast drove everyone back. This then allowed a second burst to fall from the sky –and Artoo and was slain, the entire front of his body charred and black.
Esartda lowered her battle axe, hands up, and dropped to her knees. And Ix commanded her to go. She bent to pick up Artoo’s body and was granted it. She left. And Ix looked around, Furd with her. And then Ugg made a cough and climbed to his feet. “Why was I dead?” “Cause you suck at fighting.” “Why am I not dead now?” Ix shrugged, “It happens for some reason when I’m here. So get up.”
The same thing happened to Krak and Furd was happy he didn’t side against the ogres. They talked a bunch, comparing him to a baby ogre. The thought then came to check out the obelisk to make sure it still was locked. So they tried to do the combo around the great stone, One ,Two, Three, Four, Five. It took 8 tries for them to get it right. But this time – the Obelisk moved! It slid aside, revealing an opening in the stone base going down. It was too small for any of the ogres to fix, but Furd if he removed his armor and pack could squeeze his bulk down there.
It was a tomb with a dead body on a bier of rock, clad in the remains of vestments. A spear with the same lightning symbol as above was against the wall. There were a few cases as well and a holy symbol. As he was looking around he felt a voice in his head and a presence in the area. It was happy to see him, and Furd was happy to hear the voice. He needed some help here and could not directly help out. The Ogres have been great praying to him this last year, but he needed a more direct champion. Furd was happy to be that guy. He took the spear, the symbol, and one of the chests filled with Silver ingots. And he left with the knowledge that Zeus had his back.
On emerging the spear and silver appeared to be disguised as dirty and unvaluable. Hew bartered with Ix for her armor (Chainmail, ogre sized), leaving his behind and agreed that’d he’d be back to see his new friends soon.
As for the rest of the party’s time in Nulb, they made the most use of the advantage of the next 2 and a half weeks. Training, meeting, drinks, food, camaraderie, and recentering themselves after the rough time they had in Hommlet. They know the Viscount’s representative would be coming soon and they wanted to be rested and well enough to meet with him.
Ophelia spent a decent amount of time with Saleyn, getting better and better with her healing. She even made her own kit, aided by the Master of Cups in putting it together. They had many deep conversations of a clerical nature about the gods and their place in the cosmology – and the concerns with the demonic entities that had already made themselves known here and what they might plan in the future days to come.
Rowan did work with Argalaine of the Order of the Gnarly Woods, the druid learning about their earlier days. There was a temple here, located in the Woods. It was once upon a time a place of harmony and learning but over a century ago, had been overrun by a warped shattering of elemental forces, powered by a number of demonic creatures. Many died at that time and it took the entire might of the Order to help contain the evil in place as champions entered the Temple and sealed the rift, killing the demons within and themselves as well.
Since then, the Order prevents others from going in to that area, fighting against the corruption every year that threatens to escape the place. The forest had been claiming more land each year, but the evil still exists. As for Rowan himself, the Order helped outfit him in a set of hide armor and corrected Hamburger’s vision for the near future.
Aredhel got a second tattoo of Persephone on her other forearm, the twin to the Hades one she already sported. She also had a burgeoning relationship with the Master of Swords, Boris Silversword; the two of them often seen at shows, plays, or even just getting a drink or meal. She expanded her time and friendship with people in town, blossoming in her time not under Albert’s shadow.
As for Albert, he spent almost every day he could in the library. He poured over old scrolls and books, hoping to get a more detailed answer as to how the demonic issues and the dice he had found were all connected. And he studied. A lot. He wrote scrolls and practiced his magic. Every day. Even when he failed to bathe or take care of himself, he stayed inside, even Percy Threecoppers wanted Albert to get out and see the world. Pestle would come by and Prestidigitate the worst of the dirt and filth from her wizard friend.
Pestle made a few scrolls but she ended up looking for a better set of clothes, something that she knew she had always wanted. In her shopping, she remet up with Banana, the gnomish merchant they had freed from the Manorhouse along with the Siksalli family. They had a nice time for a few days until the gnome mentioned that he was heading upriver to arrange a shipment of textiles to come back here. He was going on the Longsword, a large merchant vessel that plies the Nyr Dyv river and would be back in a week and half.
Seeing Pestle’s clothes, Furd went and visited the same clothier with the gnome where he arranged the crafting and purchase of a set of suede gloves. Then an entire outfit followed. But the end piece was a belt buckle that Fione the smith allowed the Half-ogre to craft at one of her forges – successfully making a nice one.
During the days though as the group was getting closer to the end of their time, Aredhel ran afoul of Captain Tolub of the Longsword. He was advising the sorceress that she should choose better friends and to leave Lodriss alone. He even leaned in and gave her a depreciating and aggressive kiss on the cheek before sauntering off. She returned to the College and asked the party if they would come to the tavern tonight, telling them about Lodriss. Boris and Tricia were there as well. Tricia informed the party that even though she was far from the larger cities, she was aware that Tolub and his crew were members in good standing of the Freesworn Collective; a thieves guild that operates in this area of the world.
All she wanted was to have some back up if she went to support Lodriss tonight by showing up even though Tolub told her to stay away. The party agreed and we were going off to the Boatswain’s Tavern tonight, Birthmonth the 5th just around dinner.
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