After the skeleton battle, the group searches the underground lair. They find a pile of bones in the center of a ritualistic pentagram. It starts to grow flesh and after some time a large Minotaur is "re-born". He introduces himself as Gourd and then upon realizing he is underground he faints. Once revived the group gets him safely to the outdoors.
The group enjoys a great evening of food and drink at the Dead post Alley Inn with the Bard playing his sad, sad songs.
Meanwhile Gourd tells the group of the two orc females he rescued in an alley. He says he killed the assailants and wasn't sure who they were. The group investigates to make sure he didn't kill the town guard. Thankfully, they were just thugs. The orcs had only come into the city to buy some sheep. Varis offers to help them get their sheep at a fair price and escort them out of the city. After seeing them clear of the city walls, he is ambushed by a bunch of thugs who beat him to near death and leave him naked in the streets.
Meanwhile, a fire rages at Rasa's dojo and the city quickly responds. The roof will need to be rebuilt, but the building is saved.
Back at the Dead Post Alley Inn, soup is served and Rasa is nearly killed with poison. Thankfully Wurm was there with a quick spell to prevent his untimely death. The barkeep and employees are interrogated, but none seem to have been the one to spike the soup.
Later that day, the group heads over to MoPuck's citadel where they discover his mentor Malacron is missing. He then notices that his new obscure sheep painting above his bed has changed and now shows a new image on it of what appears to be the old sage Malacron next to the blurry sheep. They speak to Malacrons assistant who provides them with scrolls that allow them to "enter" the painting (a "demi-plane"). They rescue Malacron along with a young girl named Amy who was trapped in there for about 10 years.
This is exciting! To be brought back from the dead! The crew that brought me back are truly rich in nature and character. Sucks I can't get over my fears of being inside or underground, but damn! Being buried in a box can change a man. Plus, I don't think I can handle heights anymore either unfortunately. Dying by falling has a way of changing how you view things....
ReplyDeleteI can't believe one of my best customers was poisoned. This is most disturbing. I know my staff was not responsible. I will have to get my old friend involved to investigate. He will get to the bottom of it as he has the power to detect lies.
ReplyDeleteGourd has an interesting way of "procuring" his needs; just ask politely seems to work for him. The orcs got a raw deal visiting Diamond Bed City. We tried to help them and then Varis got thumped doing so. When I find out who did, I say we slowly peel their skin off, reel out their intestines and feed it to each other until they beg for death...or just ask them politely for his gear back, like Gourd. The picture of the sheep was more than meets the eyes. And glad I didn't have to stay more than an hour! That place and sheep creep me out. Be a nice scam to sell the painting, go raid the new owner's hime when he is trapped. And repeat. Wonder if the gang wants to try for that?
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