Jul 15, 2025 4:53 am
Once inside, Aanbo checks if the door can be re-locked. He hopes that a patrol doing a door-check would think nothing is amiss if the door is still secured.
Chapter 3.2 - Return to the Golden Grain Inn
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Jul 15, 2025 6:43 am
Myrtha enters in silence, taking in the smells of the taproom. The metallic tang that characterised the smell of this place, the room where Reptile had met his end, seemed less prevalent. The villlagers might have cleaned the blood of their fight, or perhaps it was just that the blood had dried enough.
"Should I light a torch? I’d rather avoid drawing attention to our presence here…"
"Should I light a torch? I’d rather avoid drawing attention to our presence here…"
OOC:
If someone had candles, Myrtha would try to light one. If not, she’d rather be guided down into the cellar before lighting a torch.
Jul 15, 2025 2:58 pm
"We should probably do a quick sweep of the inn, to make sure we're alone. This seemed to be something of a base of operations, I'm not sure this group would abandon it -- especially if they have a private way in and out. Beyond that... the village is bad enough, but I don't want to leave additional threats behind us if we can help it," Theran suggests as he looks around the common room, keeping a wary eye out for changes since their last visit. He also takes a moment to coil up his rope and resecure it to his ruck.
The memories of this place... he felt his throat tense as his grip on his staff tightened. Still... he had to keep a cool head. Mistakes now could cost a lot of lives -- the Dungeon Busters were accomplished, but against most of a town? Especially if they held back?
No... cooler heads must prevail.
The memories of this place... he felt his throat tense as his grip on his staff tightened. Still... he had to keep a cool head. Mistakes now could cost a lot of lives -- the Dungeon Busters were accomplished, but against most of a town? Especially if they held back?
No... cooler heads must prevail.
Last edited July 15, 2025 2:59 pm
Jul 15, 2025 3:44 pm
Myrtha and Chase have their exchange about light in soft voices. No one is certain that the Inn is completely empty, though there is no sound or sense of movement aside from themselves. Realizing that there's no convenient key on the inside, Aanbo nudges Ember, who understands immediately. As Theran and Morton take the hands of Arya, Chase, and Myrtha to lead them around the furniture (there are still some stubbed toes as chairs are bumped in passing) to the kitchen, the rogue finds the lock again and works her skill on the tumblers, re-locking the front door. Then Ember whispers "Done" so that Aanbo knows its time to take her hand and lead her after the others.
As they move through the common room, through another door, past the kitchen counters, through another door, and carefully down the stairs in the pitch darkness, Morton, Theran, and Aanbo observe that the Inn does not seem to have seen recent use, nor (the druid and monk notice) does it seem to have been cleaned since they left it ten days ago. The remains of the late-night meal that Derek, Hamiff, and Bertram were having when the party interrupted them still sits, moldering, on one of the tables. The kitchen air is stale and the counters are dusty. If anyone has been here since the dead bodies were collected, they haven't used any of these spaces.
Finally, the party arrives down in the basement, with a flight of stairs and three closed doors between them and the outside. All four doors leading out of this room - the door to the wine cellar, the door to the pantry, the secret door, and the door upstairs back into the kitchen - are closed. Aanbo checks the stashed weapons that he left here behind the barrels; they are gone.
As they move through the common room, through another door, past the kitchen counters, through another door, and carefully down the stairs in the pitch darkness, Morton, Theran, and Aanbo observe that the Inn does not seem to have seen recent use, nor (the druid and monk notice) does it seem to have been cleaned since they left it ten days ago. The remains of the late-night meal that Derek, Hamiff, and Bertram were having when the party interrupted them still sits, moldering, on one of the tables. The kitchen air is stale and the counters are dusty. If anyone has been here since the dead bodies were collected, they haven't used any of these spaces.
Finally, the party arrives down in the basement, with a flight of stairs and three closed doors between them and the outside. All four doors leading out of this room - the door to the wine cellar, the door to the pantry, the secret door, and the door upstairs back into the kitchen - are closed. Aanbo checks the stashed weapons that he left here behind the barrels; they are gone.
OOC:
Who is providing light?
Jul 15, 2025 8:30 pm
Although Morton is good for leading the blind, he has no means of producing light as he has no need of it. Morton lives well in the dark and only needs light to read.With it being that he is also entirely broke, he also doesn't have anything to light up with a tinderbox that he manages to have. No torches, candles, or a lantern. Be barely has any coin and certainly not enough for adventuring supplies such as the ration he has barrowed.
He does look about the walls and such for a possible source to light up to aid others and rid him of leading the blind. Torch or a sconce would be nice.
He has been rather quiet and offers nothing in planning. Being rather new, he is much a bump on a log.
Last edited July 15, 2025 8:36 pm
Jul 15, 2025 8:45 pm
Morton sees several unlit torches in iron sconces hammered into the stone north wall. Theran, Myrtha, Chase, and Aanbo already knew they were there (though the two humans can't see them at the moment) from their previous visit.
Jul 15, 2025 8:51 pm
Considering the party is rather enclosed and safe now and illumination would not expose us to problems, quiet Morton takes down a needed torch from a nearby sconce and lights it up with his handy tinderbox from his lean backpack after he stops aiding the blind by leading. He will give the burning torch to priestess Arya for light to aid her after as it flares to life.
Last edited July 15, 2025 8:53 pm
Jul 15, 2025 8:51 pm
"Let's find the tunnels," says Aanbo. "Sorry, everyone. We'll be in the dark for a little while longer, bear with us."
Jul 15, 2025 10:25 pm
As Morton retrieves a torch, Aanbo is addressing the group: "Let's find the tunnels." The dwarven monk tests to see if his memory serves as to how to open the secret door. "Sorry, everyone. We'll be in the dark for a little while longer, bear with us." Moments after, the sparks catch the pitch, and soon all the human adventurers breathe a sigh of relief because they can see again. Aanbo pulls the wall sconce furthest from the stairs, and it shifts. With a shudder and a creak, the secret panel in the eastern wall swings open again, revealing the secret meeting room. The light shining through the opening reveals a narrow patch of the far wall with a ladder set into it. Theran steps in immediately to get a quick look; he sees no sign of an ambush in the shadows, and he's secretly relieved that their former captives Lhari and Hamiff aren't here, dead from starvation (or otherwise). The trap door in the ceiling is closed, and the heavy door in the southern wall that leads to the tunnels is closed and barred.
The newcomers to the basement take stock of their surroundings: two large support pillars hold up the floor of the kitchen and common room above. To the west, the stairs lead up to the kitchen from the center of the room. On either side of the stairs a sturdy wooden door is set in the western wall. Tables and chairs have been stacked against the southern wall with old barrels: castoffs or overflow from the Inn. Part of the wooden wall to the east has slid back to reveal a secret meeting room where Theran is standing, scanning for threats (he sees none, as described above).
The newcomers to the basement take stock of their surroundings: two large support pillars hold up the floor of the kitchen and common room above. To the west, the stairs lead up to the kitchen from the center of the room. On either side of the stairs a sturdy wooden door is set in the western wall. Tables and chairs have been stacked against the southern wall with old barrels: castoffs or overflow from the Inn. Part of the wooden wall to the east has slid back to reveal a secret meeting room where Theran is standing, scanning for threats (he sees none, as described above).
Jul 17, 2025 5:07 am
Arya doesn't like the dark and tight space, she often grab the arm of the person in front of her, startled by some weird noise come from oblivion. - " Are we there yet... ? " As a worshipper of the sun, nothing less would be expected from her.
Arriving in the shady basement, Arya doesn't take initiative and wait for Theran report of what is beyond the secret door.
Arriving in the shady basement, Arya doesn't take initiative and wait for Theran report of what is beyond the secret door.
Jul 17, 2025 3:20 pm
As soon as the light floods the Golden Grain's basement, Myrtha breathes slightly easier, and immediately moves behind Theran. She stands protectively behind the elf, and tries to observe the barred door beyond: "You think they tampered with it?"
Jul 17, 2025 3:22 pm
"Tough to say. It is probably safer to assume they have, since they know we are aware of this entry point. Still... that would impact them as well. So perhaps not?"
Last edited July 17, 2025 3:22 pm
Jul 17, 2025 5:16 pm
Ember blinks a few times, letting her eyes adjust to the sudden light. "I can inspect the door, if you like," she offers.
Jul 17, 2025 9:53 pm
"Do you think they would expects us to comeback? Most people would never comeback after what happened to us."
Jul 17, 2025 10:05 pm
After listening lately, Morton sees that adventure lies in bed with danger. Well, his previous path wasn't bringing much of anything. So this is good. Tempting thoughts of what chaos he can make. Idle time is never good for him. He seems to be taking a moment of thought.
Last edited July 17, 2025 10:07 pm
Jul 18, 2025 5:28 am
Meanwhile, weeks ago...
Elves do not sleep as other creatures do. Rather they enter into a restful, meditative state to commune with the world around them and organize the impressions, emotions, thoughts, and memories of the previous day into the decades and centuries worth of information that adults have accumulated. It is not sleeping, and there are no dreams...except in rare circumstances, such as when an elf is spirited away to the Feywild. Then even elves rest and have experiences that are not their own memories, but new visions and interactions. Thus it has been for Lyrel. Ever since she first dreamed of Unshalevagoruvimue Kalaign telling her that she must help the great wizard of Orlane, Lyrel has been traveling to find that place.
Finally, after much wandering in foreign lands unknown to her, Lyrel met someone who had heard of Orlane in the Duchy of Keoland. On the road, she broke bread with a traveling outlander, and they exchanged stories of the strangeness of the people of Keoland and their ways. The shaggy traveler with the large axe told her that he had left the town of Hochoch and its Dungeon Busters guild a week earlier to return home to his people. Though he had never been there, he believed that Orlane was east of Hochoch, through a dark wood "filled with monsters and deviltry." He did not have much else to offer about the place, and had not heard of the great wizard. After the meal, Lyrel thanked him for his company, wished him well, and adjusted her course south for the town of Hochoch (at just about the exact same time, dozens of leagues to the south and east, heroes leaving Orlane with their dead companion were attacked by a sounder of wild boars).
...and every night as she traveled south through Keoland, Lyrel dreamed of the fantastically alluring otherworldly creature smiling at her in her dreams. They spoke of many things, large and small, sharing laughter and tears, but invariably Unshalevagoruvimue would also cajole, flatter, or importune her to attend to Orlane's wizard.
Even with these dreams, Lyrel needed little time to rest, and whenever she was awake, her feet tapped and her fingers twitched until she started on the path to Orlane once more. So it was that, nearly a week later, Lyrel arrived in Hochoch in the morning of the day after Olpert sent the Dungeon Busters squad east to rescue Joseph and uncover/stop the evil in the village (Day 26 in our campaign reckoning). No sooner had the dusty, road-rank traveler set foot within the West Gate than she was approached by a friendly and very pretty young human woman, who introduced herself as Lienne. "Good morning, dear!" Lienne smiled, "You seem new to our town. Welcome to Hochoch! Is there anything I can help you find?"
Elves do not sleep as other creatures do. Rather they enter into a restful, meditative state to commune with the world around them and organize the impressions, emotions, thoughts, and memories of the previous day into the decades and centuries worth of information that adults have accumulated. It is not sleeping, and there are no dreams...except in rare circumstances, such as when an elf is spirited away to the Feywild. Then even elves rest and have experiences that are not their own memories, but new visions and interactions. Thus it has been for Lyrel. Ever since she first dreamed of Unshalevagoruvimue Kalaign telling her that she must help the great wizard of Orlane, Lyrel has been traveling to find that place.
Finally, after much wandering in foreign lands unknown to her, Lyrel met someone who had heard of Orlane in the Duchy of Keoland. On the road, she broke bread with a traveling outlander, and they exchanged stories of the strangeness of the people of Keoland and their ways. The shaggy traveler with the large axe told her that he had left the town of Hochoch and its Dungeon Busters guild a week earlier to return home to his people. Though he had never been there, he believed that Orlane was east of Hochoch, through a dark wood "filled with monsters and deviltry." He did not have much else to offer about the place, and had not heard of the great wizard. After the meal, Lyrel thanked him for his company, wished him well, and adjusted her course south for the town of Hochoch (at just about the exact same time, dozens of leagues to the south and east, heroes leaving Orlane with their dead companion were attacked by a sounder of wild boars).
...and every night as she traveled south through Keoland, Lyrel dreamed of the fantastically alluring otherworldly creature smiling at her in her dreams. They spoke of many things, large and small, sharing laughter and tears, but invariably Unshalevagoruvimue would also cajole, flatter, or importune her to attend to Orlane's wizard.
Even with these dreams, Lyrel needed little time to rest, and whenever she was awake, her feet tapped and her fingers twitched until she started on the path to Orlane once more. So it was that, nearly a week later, Lyrel arrived in Hochoch in the morning of the day after Olpert sent the Dungeon Busters squad east to rescue Joseph and uncover/stop the evil in the village (Day 26 in our campaign reckoning). No sooner had the dusty, road-rank traveler set foot within the West Gate than she was approached by a friendly and very pretty young human woman, who introduced herself as Lienne. "Good morning, dear!" Lienne smiled, "You seem new to our town. Welcome to Hochoch! Is there anything I can help you find?"
OOC:
@runekyndig - we can play out some of the interaction with the people of Hochoch here, if you like. If you'd rather, we can conduct that in the Side Conversations thread, to keep this thread on the action in Orlane (which Lyrel will be joining soon).Jul 18, 2025 3:07 pm
Arya, Myrtha, and Chase follow Theran into the secret meeting room, the light of the torch illuminating the space. Aside from the vertical ladder leading up to the ceiling's trap door, there is a table with chairs, a bench that has been used as a counter, and a large set of shelves. Chase notices there is a bit of severed rope under the table: the ropes that had bound Hamiff and Lhari.
A heavy wooden door is set in the southern wall; the hinges reveal that the door swings inward. Rings anchored to the wall bracket the door, and a stout beam has been slid through the rings to prevent the door from opening. It looks substantially the same to Theran, Myrtha, and Chase as when they saw it last. Ember examines the door more closely; there are no signs that the door has been tampered with on this side: no wires, twine, or traces of any sticky material.
A heavy wooden door is set in the southern wall; the hinges reveal that the door swings inward. Rings anchored to the wall bracket the door, and a stout beam has been slid through the rings to prevent the door from opening. It looks substantially the same to Theran, Myrtha, and Chase as when they saw it last. Ember examines the door more closely; there are no signs that the door has been tampered with on this side: no wires, twine, or traces of any sticky material.
Jul 18, 2025 3:23 pm
Aanbo shakes some of his nerves from his hands. "If there's nothing preventing us from moving forward, let's do so," he says. "Just be mindful of anything the cultists might have set up to block our progress."
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