Chapter 2.3: Return to Hochoch

"Hopefully we can receive a fine price for all that we have brought with us."

"Abel and Elista Jarl, I hope to meet up with you after we've taken care of some immediate matters," Aanbo says to the departing crofter. "If you can speak to Lady Diana at the temple, please tell her that I will do what I can to help arrange for your lodging and safe keep."

As for Reptile, Aanbo isn't sure what needs to be done, nor who they should contact about it. His monastery performed cremations with meditative ceremony, but it doesn't seem suitable for the fallen warrior. "Myrtha, you've known Reptile longer than us. What would he have wanted to honor his departure?"

Regardless of Reptile's care, Aanbo knows his immediate task is to report to Olpert about their experiences in Orlane and their discoveries in the Dim Forest.

Chase will say a quick Wardens prayer again for the fallen Retile and will look to Myrtha"If there is a service I would like to attend." He will then look to Aanbo"I will come with you to report to Olpert before I look for my trainer."

"We must report to Olpert first, all else can wait," Myrtha responded. "He may have ideas regarding Reptile and our immediate priorities," she continued, "I fear that Joseph's life is at stake, we cannot tarry here."

She continued to ponder all the different tasks at hand.

Aanbo confides to Myrtha, "I know we must find Joseph as quickly as possible. I want to travel again, but I fear I must confer with Tuan Vo about... well, about my behavior in Orlane. I've done things that I am not proud of, and I might have betrayed my teachings with the feelings I let surface and how they compelled my actions. I don't think I can safeguard you or Theran or any of the Dungeon Busters until I can come to terms with what I've done, much less rescue our lost companion."

The monk looks to the ground, unable to meet Myrtha's eyes. "Please forgive me. Once we have reported to Olpert, I must take some time in isolation and meditation. If you need to leave before I return, I promise that I will catch up with you. I wish I could promise more."

Theran agrees that they need to report to their boss. What's happening is grim, and far reaching.

After that, Theran will look into the wealth they aquired in Orlane, and how much the Jarls will need to have a home in the city.

Once their friends are taken care of, Theran will look into improving himself. The task before them seems insurmountable... but the wood elf refuses to be the weak link. And with Aanbo choosing to come to terms with the debacle in Orlane, Theran feels a similar focus is warranted.

"Like Aanbo, I need to take some time. I was unable to save Reptil, and I barely survived myself. I feel as though the rest of you cannot depend on me. I intend to remedy that."

Chase will look to Myrtha"We don't all need to report. We can handle that part so you can take care of Reptile. I must search out Green Allen for some training before we head back to Orlane. I will have some spells available to me when we return."

LOL. Yeah. Tavern after business.

Arya will go first with the others to see Olpert.

"I too must seek a mentor, a sword master to hone my skills so I don’t let any of you down," Myrtha responded. "But I do think we need to report to Olpert. He’ll probably know more about how Reptile’s body ought to be handled. Better than me, in any case… wouldn’t surprise me that the Dungeon busters have arrangements for fallen members, they might even know what would be appropriate for someone like Reptile, what his tradition would be, I mean."

Upon entering, surprised Manthis eyes Lienne immediately. "Always nice to you too. And how I could use some beer." with full intent on taking up some of Lienne's time.

"Where's Olpert?" Myrtha spoke up, gently letting the travois in a shadowed art of the courtyard.

Aanbo follows Myrtha, waiting for the answer. He is not interested in food or drink at this time, not with important business to attend.

Jonel takes a seat. It has been a long trip.
"Hail, friend. Could I get something to drink?"

Chase is also awaiting with his friends to hear about Olpert.

Aanbo nods. "You have my thanks, Karliel. We're not in the mood for idle conversation with non-Dungeon Busters, anyway. Please, lead the way."

Chase will look to Karliel"Not likely. A guild hall now? Things are looking up."

Arya's presence radiated a quiet serenity, her expression calm and still. Yet, she offered only brief acknowledgments, the priestess doesn't want to engage in trivial conversation that will delay them further to meet with Olpert.

Aanbo considers the question. "Hm. A lot has happened and we only recently met the newer members. I'm not sure I'm up to speed with what's going on. Why don't we talk in full, and in private, with Olpert?"

Jonel makes note of the popular woman's hair color and decides to have a chat with her when she is less occupied.
He follows along listening to the new acquaintance's words. Being the newcomer and not really understanding all that is being discussed, he lets them do the talking.

Theran stays silent as they walk, his goal being to reach Olpert before any conversation is had. This last outing had been... rough... and he wasn't of a mood to repeat it over and over.

Myrtha pulled the travois with grim determination. As Karliel hypothesized, she cut through with a short answer. "Reptile. Joseph’s been caught, or worse," but she refused to elaborate. As her companions, she thought the report ought to be made properly, behind closed doors.

Seeing that Lienne appears too busy, Manthis instead will find himself a beer and relax for a bit. After that he plans to ask around where he can unload those items he wants to sell for coin.

At the end of the row of houses there is a lot with a half-constructed building taking shape set back from the road a little way. In front of it is the familiar Dungeon Busters wagon that Olpert brought with him to Hochoch. Olpert Razorsson is seated on a stool by his little table out front. Morgran the dwarf and Thacogygax the blue-scaled dragonman are speaking with him as your group walks up. Olpert raises a hand, interrupting whatever Thacogygax was saying, and stands up, looking at the litter with concern. He squints a little and says "...Reptile?"

At the adventurers' nod, he calls back to Thacogygax: "Get the others; tell them to come right away." To the dwarf, he says, "We'll have need of your services, Morgran." Morgran hiccups, nods, and swaggers over to examine the body on the litter. "I want to hear what happened. Ordinarily I'd want to wait until we had performed the rites, but it will be a while before everyone can gather."

While Morgran is praying over Reptile's body, everyone else is talking at once, trying to communicate important information. Olpert raises a hand to forestall the noise. "I can see there's a lot to discuss. We have a while; why don't you set down your packs and rest for a bit? The well isn't dug yet, but I have broached a cask - everyone can rest and refresh." He points to a tapped cask on the buckboard of the wagon. "If you don't have a mug, I have three for use by the cask." Realizing that this will take a while and they've been hiking all morning, the party starts setting down packs and sitting on them while they slake their thirst. "First of all," Olpert says, turning to look at the newcomer Jonel, "Who is this? Forgive me if I don't remember meeting you in the past. I'm Olpert Razorsson." The grizzled bald human man smiles and bows lightly to the sorcerer. "I'm sure there's a story to tell about how you fell in with these..." Olpert pauses, unsure what adjective to use in this situation, and then amends, "...my associates." He goes to the wagon, reaches inside, and pulls out another stool. Sure, Jonel looks like a dusty backbacking vagabond like the others, but looks can be deceiving, and maybe he's a customer. Olpert sets the stool down by the table and gestures for the man to sit. "Please, sit, and tell me what brings you here today: looking to hire, or looking for work?"

Jonel lowers his hood as he sits and addresses Olpert.
"Mister Razorsson, my name is Jonel Steele. I am what is referred to in some circles as a sorceror. I generally work for town guards and such, doing a bit of cloak and dagger. I fell in with your..employees on the road. I assume they will discuss the particulars with you. I'd like to offer my services such as they are."
He takes a cup and fills it about a quarter of the way, sipping it lightly as he waits for a response.

Olpert smiles and shakes Jonel's hand. "Our organization was founded and is still run by Cecily Raptor (though I'm her representative in Hochoch). This town of Hochoch was founded after Cecily cleared the area of monsters generations ago. So adventuring is in our blood. But after we clear a lair, exorcise a crypt, or rout an army, there remains opportunity for people with many and varied skills - heroes like yourself - to continue serving the community. Cecily's vision is to provide a path for heroes to make a living beyond smiting evil. We call ourselves Dungeon Busters, but we also try to make connections in the communities we serve so that, when members of our organization are ready to stop risking their lives, they have other, less dangerous work available for them to do.

"That's what we're doing here. The way it works is this: we find a problem or problems that need the expertise of adventurers to address: bandits, say, or an apex monster terrorizing the region, or the possible disappearance of a neighboring community. Having identified the problem, our adventurers go in and solve the problem. These two," here Olpert points to Morgran and Aanbo, "along with some others, rescued Keb Miller and his family from Black's bandits on their first day here. Because of that success, word of mouth spread, and people started coming to us with other odd jobs that we could do for them - pest control, healing, spellcasting - much less dangerous stuff. Paying jobs. So while these two," here he points at Theran and Aanbo, "went to save that Jarl kid, some of the heroes who helped at the mill were taking less dangerous jobs around town.

"You with me so far? Here's the way it works: you start out doing the dangerous/more interesting work - adventuring - and there's no pay except for food and lodging here in Hochoch and what you earn or find for yourselves. Meanwhile, I'm setting up a pipeline of cushier paid jobs that are less interesting, but less dangerous, too. Kids in wells, cheating spouses, messages delivered, cows acting funny: people pay us - Dungeon Busters the organization - to do these things, and you get a cut. It's not as glamorous as sending demon spawn screaming back to hell, but when you lose a limb or two and are having a hard time swinging a sword as well as you used to, it's good to have a fall-back plan other than begging or dying on the end of a spear."

Jonel returns the handshake noting the strength of Olpert's grip.
"Bandits, undead, other ne'er-do-wells. All in a day's work. I must say that I'd appreciate the opportunity from such an esteemed collective. Should war come, I think you'd agree that I wouldn't make a great frontliner. Nevertheless, you have my word that I'll do what I can as long as I choose to serve your cause.
The more pedestrian tasks I generally leave to the less capable. I do understand the need for a testing stage for a new recruit and also the need to protect the pillars of our community. Room and board seems more than fair.
I do what I do in the name of justice. Sometimes, I have to get my hands dirty. Better to have to wash your hands than to have to pull innocents out of the muck.
Speaking of our findings, I think Manthis has some equipment you might consider having your quartermaster look over assuming the Dungeon Busters are in need of equipment.
Do the Dungeon Busters also serve as the Hochoch town guard? Also, does your organization operate over multiple towns or just this one?"

Myrtha was relieved to see Olpert and the others, and grateful for Morgran’s ministrations over Reptile’s body. Though she had cared for the mortal flesh, her main concern was having her fallen companion find his way to the eternal hunting grounds of his forefathers, and she feared he might not be able to reach them without proper guidance; she knew, in any case, that she would not have been an appropriate guide.

She would enquire into any funerary arrangements and next of kin that might have to be informed, at a later time.

She waited patiently for the moment where they would report in detail what they had faced in Orlane and near that cult-ridden town.

"I fear something’s wrong at the Temple of Merikka. The bandits that attacked us were led by one of their priests. That needs looking into. And I fear Joseph’s there with them," Myrtha added, as she racked her brain for additional details that might have escaped Olpert’s detailed summary.

"Oh yes, and that smith we came across on our way to Orlane. Someone of ours should keep an eye on him; might turn out he’ll be another Jonbon."

"The dead seem to only reanimate at night and go dormant during the day. At the camp sight they were at one position when I first went there then the next time I was there they were in a different position."

"I think the measures we took with the ogre, while extreme, should be utilized with any of the fouler monsters we face. I have no doubt if we did such with human corpses, there would be outrage from the community if any found out. It looks very much like we have our work cut out for us."

"We could bind the corpses of those that fell. Seat them with knees to their chest, arms around their knees, and tie them up," suggests Aanbo. "If we suspect that something in the Dim Forest is reanimating bodies, we've left seven more creatures to wander about. We should not be surprised to find that false priest again."

Aanbo continues, "As for the blacksmith, an inspection for that spiral symbol might be enough. Did we check if Jonbon had the same?"

Addressing Manthis, Rosemary, and Arya:
"If you guys want to, I'd be fine with letting Olpert sort this equipment out."
He removes a light crossbow and two shortswords from his pack to add to the rest.
"Master Olpert, if there's anything else you need from me, please don't hesitate to ask."
Jonel bows slightly with an informal salute.

Theran has sat silent. It's... a lot to process. The funeral for Reptile sees him at the front of the group, not looking away as the rights are performed. He stays with Reptile start to finish, almost as if the procedings were his responsibility.

As the others talk about the cult, and accusations, and everything else... he sits. He listens. And when Olpert makes mention of heading back, he simply nods.

Once the party splits, Theran will seek out training. He will also see how much coin they can provide the Jarls, as well as giving the kids the extra toys he had picked up.

Myrtha nods at Olpert’s instructions. "We’ll make our preparations as quick as we can, and make our way back to Orlane, to find out more."

"The lockbox and chest had a great deal of coin. Whatever we get from selling the equipment we salvaged, I would like my portion to go to the Jarls to help them get settled here in town," Theran tells Olpert before heading off to find Gwydn.

Myrtha will seek out Cormac as soon as she has obtained a sufficient share of the loot taken from Orlane. She also seeks out someone to confirm whether the longsword found in Bertrand’s coffer has any dweomer or other feature of note. If it doesn’t, the sword will also be put to sale.

Aanbo, satisfied that they've reported all they can to Olpert, addresses the coordinator privately. "I must take a leave of absence for a few days," he says. "I will not be far, in fact you will find me with Master Tuan Vo at the nearby monastery. If there is an emergency, please send for me. Otherwise, I will return."

The monk departs to visit the monastery, hoping to reconcile the conflict between taking lives and sparing them. He saw how killing someone under the influence to do evil promoted just as much suffering when that person's friends and family discovered the act. Yet would sparing the lives of such a person not just leave them to continue their acts of evil? Aanbo doubts that Constable Grover, Donovan, and Hulbar seek to make amends for their acts, and they may even be threatening innocent Orlane citizens this very moment.

And now with reports of the undead, has Aanbo left more fodder for whatever dark force to use against travelers in the Dim? Should he have tried to capture those bandits and turn them into Hochoch's authorities? It would have been difficult while also escorting the Jarls, but not an impossible task, and Aanbo begins to think that the early convenience in killing the bandits may have made things more difficult in the long term.

Aanbo hopes that the wise Tuan Vo may have some insights that could lift this mountainous weight off his shoulders.

Chase will head off to train with Green Allen but will also let Olpert know where he will in case something important should arise. Chase is excited to get some more archery training. He loves shooting bow. There has always been something calming to and he swears there are times when he can actually call the target to him and know exactly where the arrow is going to hit. He is also looking forward to learning some spells that can help the party when in a jam. Chase is also hoping Green Allen can tell him the difference in the white fletched arrows and their purpose. Also a trading in his scale armor for a chain shirt.

Theran will find time during his training days to have Derek's belongings checked for magic (and if need be identified).

He will also hand 20 Imperial Dragon coins to each of the eight active members.

Before he leaves for the monastery, Aanbo turns over his 'Pretty Good Shortsword' confiscated from the Dim Forest Bandits. He wonders if the craftsmanship might hold additional secrets, and he will return for it once his meditations are complete. Even if it is just a pretty good blade, Aanbo reasons that its light weight will work for quick strikes, as opposed to the sweeping style of his quarterstaff.

The monk also stops by any general or specialty store to replenish the supplies of his healer's kit.

Manthis last seen was in the bar drinking. And currently he isn't there and is nowhere to be found. (Manthis has left the game.) As for where his share of loot goes? Not his problem.

Hearing that someone just named "Cormac" is the recommendation for training her, Myrtha asks around about him. What she hears is somewhat enigmatic; since they've arrived in Hochoch, the Dungeon Busters have heard stories about the scarred champion who has a standing challenge: anyone can bet him that they can last a full minute in the battle ring against him will win his crown of office as fightmaster. So far, he's beaten every challenger, including Albertus, Klak, Morgran, Sara, and Durren from the Dungeon Busters. Xana apparently challenged him in secret, but she won't say anything more about it. Several of the others have encouraged Thacogygax to try his luck, but the gentle thraakon is enjoying his present life and doesn't want any reminders of his time of fighting wars in chains. "Too much this like my life before is when fought I in pits" he says in his broken language (which always becomes more pronounced when he is upset).

Myrtha goes to find Cormac. She's not sure what to expect - a fighting pit, a training hall, a smithy, or even a stable, perhaps? - but she is directed to a small scriptorium where several scribes work diligently at copying scrolls and books or documenting major transactions. One of them looks up at the towering armored woman as Myrtha enters. "You're here for Cormac?" he asks. At Myrtha's nod, the scribe sighs and calls out "CORMAC! You've got another challenger!" One of the scribes raises his index finger in a gesture to wait while he finishes a line of text. Then he sets down his quill, sprinkles some sand on the document, and stands up from his cramped little desk. This is Cormac?

Cormac wipes his ink-stained hand on his ink-stained robe as he walks up to Myrtha and looks her up and down. "Let's step outside to talk," he says, and Myrtha can see that the man is neither young nor particularly old, and his face is criss-crossed by many scars, most from cuts, although one puckered scar on his neck appears to have been from a puncture, and part of the skin around his jaw to his ear was burned long ago. Myrtha is taller than he is, but he is broader across the shoulders.

Stepping outside with Myrtha, Cormac picks up a bamboo stalk from a bucket and starts worrying and whittling the tip with his thumbnail. "I've been wondering when we'd meet," Cormac begins, leaning against the outside wall. He reaches under his robe, rummages around for a bit, and then pulls out a battered golden diadem: the emblem of office of the Champion of Geoff. "You want this, huh?" When Myrtha shakes her head and explains that she wants to learn from him, Cormac stuffs the crown back under his robe and stands up, looking at her with different eyes. "You know, I've been hearing a lot about you. I'm familiar with the Knights of Holy Shielding and how they fight. The Northern Rangers and the Sentry Corps, those are known to me. The Swordmasters Guild, the Kordites and the Clangeddins - I know their styles. But what I want to know is: how does the Valorous Maiden fight?" As he finishes saying this, he lashes out in a furious series of blows with the bamboo stalk, and Myrtha barely manages to get her shield up in time to block them, though the blows push her back more than three paces. The blows stop. "Good," Cormac nods approvingly, "You are wise to not lower your defenses." He squints and looks down the street, first one way and then the other. "Yeeees...yes, I think I can teach you some things."

Cormac charges for his tutelage, to cover the cost of his time and expertise plus the lost income from not working as a scribe. Would he make that much money for just writing?? Myrtha wonders as she pays him the first 15 eagles. As soon as the coin disappears into his robe, Cormac begins with her training, telling her to run. She spends the rest of the day performing various physical feats with Cormac pacing her easily. At one point, panting from the exertion, Myrtha remarks that he has it easy, because she's running in full armor, her pack, and all her weapons, and he's just in a robe. Wordlessly, Cormac lifts his robe to reveal that he has iron weights strapped to every part of his body. As a smith, Myrtha recognizes that he has at least 400 pounds of weight he's carrying so casually (she also recognizes that he's not as broad as he appears - the iron ingots add considerable bulk to his frame - without the weights, he'd have about the same breadth of shoulder as she has).

The first day is exhausting, but the second is even more trying, as he repeats the ordeal of physical performance but interspersed with sudden attacks from different directions. She gets faster at blocks and parries, her awareness grows, and by the end of the day, her adrenalin is so high that she can push herself to go just a little farther and a little faster than she could before she started.

At the end of the second full day of training (and the second 15 eagles), Cormac stops and says, "You're young and a quick learner. You've made a lot of progress. But for you to improve even further, you must use what you've learned out in the world."

With her training completed (for now), Myrtha is now a L2 fighter and gains the Action Surge ability.

"Rockhead! You survived!" Tuan Vo, using one of the affectionate nicknames for the dwarf, is delighted to see Aanbo again. "Hey, I guess that means I am pretty good teacher, eh?" He laughs, exposing the large gap between his teeth again. "Are you here to learn more?" Tuan holds out his hand expectantly. Aanbo pays him the thirty eagles that he paid for his previous training, and Tuan shakes his head. "No, it will take more time for you to learn. Another day, at least." Aanbo pays the 15 additional eagles. "Good! First, we warm up!" Tuan begins drills with the nimble Earthshaker dwarf.

Aanbo falls back into the routine of the various forms with little prompting, flowing from one stance into the next. But he is taken aback when Tuan begins throwing random objects at him. "No!" Tuan scolds when Aanbo spins out of the path of an flowerpot. "No! You do not dodge!" Tuan throws a stone at Aanbo, and as Aanbo begins to step out of the path, Tuan has already thrown a trowel at the monk; the handle hits him in the forehead. "When you dodge, this happens!" Tuan Vo chuckles as he picks up the objects and returns them to their spots. "Dodging is good, but a clever opponent can tell where you will go when you dodge. Next you must learn to catch."

Tuan Vo watches Aanbo carefully over the course of the day as he moves and begins to learn how to react fast enough to catch or at least knock aside the missiles that his trainer throws. "What were the tenets of your tradition at the Earthshaker Abbey?" he asks, peppering doctrinal questions in amongst the missiles. After a while, Tuan calls to one of the other disciples. "Harford, come! My arm is tired. You throw." Without expression, Harford stops doing the push-ups he was performing and jogs over to begin throwing objects at Aanbo. His rhythm is very different from Tuan's, and Aanbo gets a few more bruises before he develops the ability to spot the throw. Tuan takes a long sip of water, then gestures again. "Larfa, come!" That disciple obediently leaves off striking the training log. "You stand over...there." Larfa moves to the other side of the courtyard. "And throw!" Now Aanbo has to keep track of missiles flying at him from two directions while Tuan asks him more questions about Earthshaker dogma. "Is it a greater virtue to prolong a man's life in pain, or to end it so that he will feel pain no more?"

On the second day, Aanbo starts with a repetition of the drills he did the first day, with all three of Tuan's disciples running complicated patterns around the courtyard throwing objects at him at unpredictable intervals. Sometimes a disciple on the other side will catch the item and throw it back that much faster, sometimes the throws land on the ground to be picked up by someone else. But at midday, Tuan calls "Enough!"

"Now that you are warmed up," Tuan addresses Aanbo while the others immediately return to other tasks. "I will teach you more of ki. Follow!" Tuan walks away, moving as fast a person sprinting full-out. "Why so slow?" he grumbles at Aanbo when the trainee is unable to catch up to him, but he does slow down to a pace that Aanbo can just barely maintain. Soon enough, they have arrived at the Temple of Rao. The acolytes there open the doors and bow as Tuan walks right in. Tuan leads Aanbo into an interior space where Diana is meditating. Tuan kneels next to her and Aanbo kneels a bit behind them when it becomes clear that there is no space next to them. Eventually, Diana opens her eyes and gives Tuan a stately nod. Silently, she leads him and Aanbo to a room similar to the one where Devek recuperated. There is a man laying on a cot there with a mangled leg, with an acolyte praying over him. Diana touches the acolyte, who looks around, gets up and leaves with Diana.

"You have ki, as I have taught you. I have ki, as you know. But all creatures have ki, even if they do not know. Now I show you: you can use your ki to affect another's ki." Tuan turns to the mangled man, inhales deeply, and then exhales in a number of short, fierce puffs as he pushes his hands out from his stomach toward the injured patient. As Tuan's hands touch the man, the man's labored breathing eases a bit, his color improves, and scabs form as Tuan adjusts the angle of the man's leg. Tuan repeats this twice more as Aanbo observes intently; each time the man's injury heals a bit more. Tuan leads his student out of the room; they bow respectfully to Diana and her acolyte, then leave the temple.

"You saw what I was doing?" Tuan peers at Aanbo and nods. "Heh. Good. Now you try on me." Aanbo begins to imitate what Tuan had done, and the master interrupts him impatiently. "No! You cannot heal when I am not hurt. Hurt me first!" Aanbo shrugs and takes a stance, wondering how he can land a blow on his teacher. But Tuan does not defend himself; the punch lands, but punching him is like punching the practice log. "No! No!" Tuan shakes his bald head. "Use your ki to hurt! Like this!" Before Aanbo can see it, Tuan's fist had glanced off the side of his head, leaving his ears ringing. It was a light blow, but he staggers as some of his life force was drained away in the momentary contact. "See? Feel? Your ki can give, or it can take! Take from me first, then give again!"

The rest of the day is spent with Aanbo mustering his ki and draining Tuan's life force with a punch (and, later, kicks) and then restoring life force with a touch.

The third day is more of the same. Tuan's disciples advance to throwing hatchets and knives; Aanbo is able to block most of them. Then the rest of the day is spent redirecting ki from and to others.

As the third day ends, Tuan serves soup to his tired students and applauds Aanbo's progress. "Now you are better able to protect your friends, neh?"

With that, Aanbo has completed his level 3 training, gaining the Deflect Missiles, Hands of Harm, and Hands of Healing abilities.

Drenched in sweat, her short cropped hair plastered to her temples, Myrtha looks at Cormac with respect and thankfulness.

These were two truly harrowing days, reminding her of her very first days of training under the drill sergeants of the Lord’s Keep closest to Three Elms crossing. But this was tougher, more personal, and very practical: she had now experienced real combat on more than one occasion, and unlike her great feat of juvenile glory, she remembered every moment of each of the fights she’d had since taking the road in the employ of the Dungeon Busters. Everything Cormac told her, or illustrated through action, rhymed with or echoed with actual instances of deadly risk faced in the last few days.

She understood Cormac’s teachings all the better for she’d now confronted risks, and pain, and loss that she’d not truly known before. The scribe drill-master was quite a mystery to her still, but he had opened many windows in her mind, and she felt stronger, and better for it.

"The The Valorous Maiden is just some poet’s dream; the girl that survived that day is all she was, and is. Broken as she was, grieving as she still is. Thank you Cormac, for your time and your help. I’ll go and act, and if the gods will it, I will come back to learn more. Good scribing until then!" Myrtha said in parting ways with her tutor.

The exhaustion from the near-daily regimen of physical training helped Aanbo establish a clear mind during downtime. A clear mind prepared to meditate on the flow of ki within himself and within others, now open to resolving the conflict of life and death. Aanbo realized that while everyone deserved a chance for redemption, true mercy also required the understanding that sparing the life of evil meant endangering the lives of others, much like removing a blockage of ki to allow life's energy to flow onwards.

The cult in Orlane was like the patient's mangled leg, a wound that threatens to poison the rest of the body. The flow of ki within the town needed to be restored, even if should be as gradually as Tuan Vo did for the patient. Aanbo resolved to remove the cancerous sores from the town, however long it would take.

Before he left Tuan Vo's monastery, Aanbo asked permission to sift through the garden for plants that might help speed restorative healing and stave off infections. He also shared the recipes he found in the Temple of Pae for the healing potion and the awakening agent; if anything the monks would have a useful reference in the event either was required.

"Sounds great. What do you think of these arrows?" Chase will hand him a white fletched arrow.

Aanbo nods with approval of Kragga's offer. He regrets not confiscating Constable Grover's weapon, but the time was not right to be lugging around such cumbersome steel.

"Fine by me "
Few could stand up to the golden standard set by his mentor, and this one surely fell short. Jonel had no doubt that he could have made short work of this. He begins to question if leaving the spellbook in Kragga's possession would be a waste.

"I wonder if this sword bears any enchantment," Myrtha stated, setting the heavy blade in its scabbard on the table next to Kragga.

Aanbo retains the shortsword and silver bowl. He turns over the spiral pendant to Olpert as a reference for other Dungeon Busters and the eventual arrival of the Reeve, in case anybody encounter more troglodytes or cultists near Hochoch. "I prefer that at least one of these symbols is kept for evidence," he says. "I understand that we can't just search everyone without justifiable cause, but at least we know what to look for."

For the remaining non-magical equipment, Aanbo leaves the decision to everyone else since they might find a use for such gear. If the proceeds from any sale is meant to be distributed to the Dungeon Busters, Aanbo volunteers his share for the Jarl family.

"Thank you Kragga, this is most helpful," the warrior responded, warmly. She had not adventured with the half-orc wizard, but had frequently found his presence reassuring, and his talk kind and useful.

Once she determined that the sword was not magical, she stepped over and dropped it onto the travois. She had owned a decent blade for years, there was no point wielding the weapon of an evil man, unless it could have been put to use bringing about the greater good. She kept the longbow and arrows, and also set aside Reptile's hand axes, battle horn and guardsman badge as keepsakes; her own axes she set on the travois, to be sold with the rest of the confiscated gear.

"Thank you, Kragga. I have something you might be interested in if we could speak in private for a moment."
Jonel entrusts the deciphering of the spellbook to Kragga letting him do with it as he sees fit.

Chase will nod "Thank you Kragga. This was much help." Chase will keep the dice and all the arrows black and white. Everything else he will leave for sale and those proceeds can also go to the Jarls.

@matmaisan If you want to keep the spear that is cool with me. I have some neat arrows.

Chase at the end of his training will thank the Green Allen."My eye seems keener already with the bow. And these arrows will sure come in handy. Thank you for the training and info."

After leaving training Chase will head to the tavern and have a mug of ale. As he sits he will pull out the bone die he looted and give it a roll.

Theran enjoys his time training with Gwydn, giving in to the embrace of nature. It's work, but it's enjoyable work. Something about losing himself in the process...

"Thank you, Gwydn. I hope I see you again sooner rather than later."

Eventually he wanders back to the Busters. Theran intends to keep the potions, but if anyone else wants any of the gear they're welcome to take it before the remaining equipment is sold off.

Chase will talk with Theran to see if he can get the leather armor that was taken from Derek. Chase will then take the leather armor to Larrisa to enquire if she could tell him what it is.

"Certainly. Although I am unsure what the enchantment is. It may be a problem in its own right, so be cautious," Theran replies to Chase.

"Thank you, and yes I am going to try and find out what it is before I use it. I know it was owned by a very evil man. Maybe it was the armor that made him that way." Picking up the armor"I will take it to Larrisa and see if she might be able to help."

"Do let me know what you find out, would you? Curiosity and all," the wood elf remarks.

Three days with unchecked evil festering in the forest chafed at Arya's sense of urgency. However, her remarkable self-control prevented rash decisions. Instead, she sought out Diana the town's other cleric, to share the unsettling events of their recent journey and entrust her with the holy symbol of Merikka found on their adversaries.

Having secured her lodging at the inn for the coming days, her companions from the DB will find her in front of a table at dinner, surrounded by locals drawn to her radiant presence and eager to hear tales of Pelor or simply to bask in her serene beauty and grace.

Chase will enter with the armor "Hello my lady." with a slight bow"Yes I would like to have this armor and bone die identified ." Chase will hand Larissa 25 eagles.

During her third day in Hochoch Myrtha would visit the Jarls to see how they are settling down, and visit the merchant streets / quarter to examine weapons and armor that might be necessary.

Chase after finding out what the Leather Armor is will go back to the room provided by the DB and remove his Scale armor and don the black leather. He will then find Olpert and donate the scale armor in case a new recruit need it.

As Chase moves back into town after dropping off his old armor he sees Myrtha doing some shopping and heads over to her."How are you doing? I know Reptile was a big loss for you. You forge strong bonds while traveling and fighting beside someone. That was the biggest reason I liked being a Boundary Warden. I lost a friend on a mission when we were young and fresh in the army. It was hard." Looking around he will change the subject."Doing some shopping? I think it would be wise if we all bought a horse. Move around quicker, carry more, and have fresher legs for the fight."

Finished with his own training, Theran will start looking into the possibility of better armor, although... nothing metal. Perhaps a hardened wood breastplate? He didn't think he had the coin to afford it, but he had to at least determine if such a thing was even available.

"This sounds excellent. Would you accept 300 gold now, to get started, with the remainder to be paid upon completion?" Theran asks the woodcarver as he looks over a variety of Raymond's wears. "I will be honest -- I fully trust you to complete the order. I simply don't have the full price yet, but the timeline you've set forth should be ample time to accrue the difference."

If Raymond agrees, Theran will hand over 100 eagles and the 20 imperial dragon coins.

Simple Morton replies to Olpert, "Yes, sweet Cecily sent me here to help deal with your bandit problems. First that I have heard about our missing ones."

"Unless there are immediate plans for all to leave soon on some needed action, I should invest some quality time in the nice local inn here. Least the recent weather has been fair. "

Jonel decides to slip away for a bit. He inquires about a tavern in Hochoch. Having the relevant information, he sets off.

Having taken one of the longest absences, Aanbo is late to catch up with those idle in the tavern or about town. He apologizes to Olpert for the wait, but asserts that he has a clearer mind to pursue the Dungeon Buster's goals in Orlane and he is ready to proceed.

When the money from the sale of confiscated goods is handed out, Aanbo directs his portion to the Jarl family.

Myrtha listened silently as Chase shared some of his own past, and his feelings about loss and the dangerous business they were both in.

"Now that Reptile's body been taken in by Olpert, I'm feeling better," she stated simply. "I'd known him for only a couple of weeks, but we'd travelled by ourselves; one listens while walking, and learns," she continued, much of the grief of the past few days seemingly lifted from her. "He was a strong companion, trustworthy and reliable," she added, "his death is a loss for the team. And if Manthis' is really gone, our frontline is becoming thinner. No matter, we'll manage with what we have."

As they continued to walk, she explained what she was looking to buy. Horses or a cart seemed a good idea, though that might mean hiring a carter or someone to stay with the animals while the dungeon busters were busy busting dungeons. Otherwise the horses could be mauled by stray beasts in the woods, or stolen. She also wanted to buy a tent or two, so the party could camp in greater comfort.

Olpert Razorsson looks somberly at the collected adventurers: Aanbo, Albertus, Arya, Chase, Durren, Jonel, Karliel, Klak, Kragga, Morgran, Morton, Myrtha, Rosemary, Sara, Thacogygax, Theran, and Xana. "Each of you has done good service and heroic deeds for the people of Hochoch. But now one of our own has been killed, and another taken. We cannot abandon the tasks we've taken on, but at the same time we must do what we can to save Joseph, avenge Reptile, and restore trade with Orlane. To that end, the following Dungeon Busters will go back to Orlane to proceed with these things:
Theran, Myrtha, Morton, Jonel, Chase, Arya, and Aanbo."

Theran simply nods in response, before letting his eyes flit from one Buster to another. His gaze settles on Aanbo, and he gives another nod but says nothing.

Aanbo returns the nod. Quietly, he thanks Olpert for giving them the opportunity to recover Joseph and right the wrongs in Orlane.

"We should avoid the citizens, if at all possible," he says to the team of selected Dungeon Busters. Looking at Arya, Jonel, and Morton, he continues, "Our faces are familiar to them, but while you three would be strangers, you will be looked upon with suspicion as we were in our first visit. Our objective is the temple; we can either sneak across the surface from the edge of town, or try to break into the Golden Grain Inn and use those tunnels we discovered. Either way has risks, of course.

"What do you all think?"

As per the OOC thread, I'll deduct 3 gold and 5 silver for Morton's seven days' worth of rations.

Poor Morton greatly thanks kind Aanbo's generosity.

"I will place trust in your judgement. We four are at a disadvantage assuming we have never been to Orlane."

"Maybe sneaking back in through the Golden Grain inn would be best. We have yet to scout the set up of the temple. Which I could do once we get there. See if there is an easy way." Chase must also pickup a weeks rations before we leave and two healing potions.

"The tunnels seem like our best bet. At least to me. If we can reach those undetected, it should simplify our tasks."

On the road, Aanbo describes the town of Orlane to those that haven't been there. He begins with the crude map of notable locations and points out where the Temple of Merikka and the Golden Grain Inn are. "Here is Ramne's hut, a bit secluded in his own grove, but he is a friend that might help us when needed."

That comment leads him to the list of people known to be under the influence of the green spiral symbol and those who weren't, at least when the Dungeon Busters were in town. "Hopefully we will not encounter anyone at all," says Aanbo. "Are we able to time it so that we arrive in Orlane at night, and can immediately attempt to sneak into the Golden Grain Inn? I assume there will be people there, so perhaps later in the evening is best when most are asleep."

Looking at Aanbo" We can surely time it up that way. We also already have secure camp sights along the way." Chase will head out and stay about a half ahead of the group. He will mark the trail as normal for the others to follow. If nothing comes up along the way Chase will have the camp sight waiting for the others.

"The easiest entry would likely be the doors into the basement," suggests Theran. "Alternatively we can go into Bertram's room and through the trap door. Either option seems viable, and better than just walking in the front door."

Chase looking at Aanbo and Theran"It is nice to be back out in woods again. I always feel uncomfortable in town." Finishing up with breakfast Chase heads out"Back on the trail. I will see you later this evening unless I spot some trouble. I will find a good place near Orlane but far enough out we shouldn't be noticed. Good travels."

"Be mindful of your surroundings," Aanbo says, though it is unspoken that he includes the rest of the group in the statement. "We didn't spy any undead nor bandits yesterday, but it makes me think that the closer we get to Orlane, the higher the chance we will run into them."

Jonel approaches the new DB and introduces himself.
"Morton, is it? Jonel Steele. Just wanted to say welcome to the group. I just joined a few days ago myself. Capable lot we got here. You'll get used to their quirks."

Chase nods to Aanbo before heading out"Always."

Traveling along Morton affirms, "I'm sure that I can deal with the situation." as he maintains his position in the group. With no knowledge of things, he advises nothing.