Chapter Six: The Muster of Caltlikrath

Yup

Garho bids farewell the party and remains near the woodpile-covered cavern, explaining that he will perform further rituals to cleanse it at daybreak. The party marches on through the woods and the gathering dark.

It's very late at night when you finally return to the Trout and Apple inn. The innkeeper grumbles at the late hour of your arrival and demands payment up front before he'll open the doors for you. "You smell of a sick man's piss," he points out, no doubt referring to the lingering stench of the spiderbeast lair that yet clings to your boots.

The innkeeper favors Mordred with a blank look of incredulity as he tells his tale. "Ah-hah. I intend to spend the hours between now and sunup in my bed, thank you. It'll be twenty silver for a room and breakfast, and I'll have my girl warm two kettles so you can wash up and boil your clothes."

On the gold front it should be, I think some of the potions might have been snagged. I'll do some back checking.

The innkeeper looks at the gold, then at Mordred, then back at the coins, and steps aside to let the party through the door. "As you say. Come in."

You walk into the common room. The innkeeper disappears into the ground floor quarters, and a few moments later, the barmaid from earlier comes out, eyes still half-shut. But she does recognize the party. "You're back. How was the hunt?"

"You did, really?" the barmaid says, not sounding entirely convinced. Zangua wanders upstairs, finds an empty room, and lays himself down to sleep. The barmaid gets to work in the kitchen, starting fires and filling kettles. As soon as they're set up, she loads a tray with leftover food and brings it out for the rest of the party.

"There's a washroom in the back," she says. "You can clean up in there as soon as the water's hot. So what did the beast look like? Did it put up much of a fight?" There's still skepticism in her voice, but you can tell she isn't quite sure what to make of the condition you all came back in.

Sleepy as she may be, Domarc holds the barmaid's interest with his tale of the battle. "What a fantastic story," she says at the end, impressed if still not quite sold on the veracity. "Did you bring back proof?"

"I'll send my loyal retainers," the barmaid says, laughing as she heads to the kitchen to tend the kettles.

At this point, there's no guarantee Garho could be reached before daybreak.

You can eat, clean up, and take a Long Rest now.

Will you be continuing on to Hazard in the morning, or do you have other plans or further business here?

Our plan was to head to Hazard first, and at least warn the Heirophant about the nature of the Sphere. Or did we want to take a run at recovering the Sphere itself?

In case anybody missed it, be sure to check out the Bload Sourcebook that was posted to the plot notes thread!