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Post by EDM Libby on Sept 5, 2023 9:48:12 GMT -5
Aric Sundolyn sat in the Regal Griffon Inn debating how he would get this stone to his business partner in Suzail. Varro was a ladies man and much preferred the night life in Suzail over the quiet evenings in Greatgaunt. Luckily, a group of adventurers happened upon him and agreed to take the rare and valuable stone to Suzail. Aric insisted it be delivered on foot as he did not trust the caravans. The group travelled the roads through Valkur's Roar and towards Suzail. On the road the group encounters several groups of bandits who seem very interested in getting the stone. They fight hard, but ultimately fall to the strength of the group. One group in particular has distinguishing tattoos. Jellyfish. The small group puts up a great fight, but too falls to the power of the adventurers. As the adventurers continue on their way they encountered a very distressed little girl at the intersection that leads to Shallybrook. She was looking for heroes to help her father. She explained that her father was upset because of the "geebles". They followed her back to the farm and discovered a rotten, dead mess. No, not people. The farmer and his wife were alive and well as was their daughter, Eleya. Ellis and Lya Oatsman had faced great hardships this season, losing most of their crops, trees, seeds, land, etc. They were understandably quite distressed. The farmer explained that he was looking to raise coin to sell to replace the seed, treat the soil, and do whatever necessary to set his farm back right. Though the adventurers were very suspicious of the farmer, several offered coin or items to sell to help recover the costs of fixing the farm and assured them they would report the damage to someone who might be able to help in Suzail when they arrived. Shortly after leaving the farm they discovered the little girl following them and trying to steal items from their pack. When caught she explained that she just wanted to be able to save the farm by selling these items. They sent her back on her way, though the generous Dot did give her a pair of valuable gloves to sell. Upon arrival in Suzail, the group is unsure where to find Varro, but they know he likes fine drinks and pretty women, so they naturally end up at the Osculatory. Unfortunately, Mira informs them that Varro had to move along to Espar and gives them half of their fees with the understanding that Varro has the other half in Espar.
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Post by EDM Libby on Sept 5, 2023 9:51:48 GMT -5
The group discovers that the dwarf holding the stone for the group was murdered and the stone was stolen. Unfortunately the only witness simply reports an average sized human in dark clothes who escaped into the night. An attempt was made by a priest to revive Dour's body, but it was apparent he did not wish to return to this realm. The group meets up in Espar with intentions of meeting with Varro. They soon find out that Varro is concerned because he has not heard from Aric since his time in Greatgaunt and he's even gone in search of him with no reports of him after his time in the Regal Griffon Inn. Varro also thinks the War Wizards may have more information about the stone. The adventurers visit the War Wizards and are informed that the lady they spoke with didn't even really believe it existed. They thought it was simply rumors. The Whisper Stone is actually a set of three stones. Two were thought to be in the far north and one thought to be in the far east. The stones are thought to hold secrets. Some say that the stone only speaks gibberish, but others say that some have been driven mad by the voices within the stone. Maybe the only way to understand the gibberish of the stone is to tell it one of your own secrets - one private and interesting enough to warrant the sharing of the secrets kept by the stone,. Or maybe the stone just picks someone at random to share secrets with. Beyond this, the War Wizards have little else in terms of information, and even this information has not been confirmed. It is asked that if the group finds the stone to bring it to them for further study. General rumors say that the Oatsmans have been seen shopping for supplies in Suzail and that they are trying to get their farm on its way to recovery. If they are successful it will be more than a year before they are able to begin growing things again. The adventurers traveled back to the farm and noted that a Jellyfish goon who claimed to be helping get the family and their farm back in working order. It was the middle of the night and he refused to wake the family, who'd been working hard, to prove they were okay. Clearly skeptical since they'd been attacked by Jellyfish on their original journey, they did not believe him. The goon, sincere in his efforts, then offered to let Rith go quietly into the house and see for herself the safety of the family. Korbin snuck in with her and they did see a safe and sound family. Additionally they discover indications there are more goons, but see no additional goons. When Rith trips on the way out, she gets something on her clothes, later to discover that it appears to be bug guts. This is discovered when someone checks the crop and discovers there are definitely still beetles there. The group decides to go to Valkur's Roar to see what they can find out about this Jellyfish gang. Along the way they were ambushed by a group of bandits, one which they were able to capture. The bandit said he was just trying to feed his family and the bounty for the stone would help him and his family survive without needing to continue to live this kind of life. He refused to give more information because they'd kill him and his family. He also mentioned that if he didn't return from his patrol they'd kill his family and use him as an example. It did not appear that he was involved with the Jellyfish gang, but it did appear that is who offered to pay the bounty he was trying to collect. He attempted to make a run for it, but ultimately died from his injuries. The group confirmed the Jellyfish were indeed a small-time gang in Valkur's Roar that pretty much stayed under the radar and that they were offering a reward for the stone. One of the bandits had on him a piece of cloth with words, though they were illegible because the cloth appeared to have been soaked in bug guts, dried, and somewhat burned.
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Post by EDM Libby on Sept 5, 2023 10:23:08 GMT -5
Adventurers decided to look in Valkur's Roar for the gang. After talking with one of the prostitutes on the dock, and being side-eyed by her boss, the group headed to the Tipsy Imp. They ran into two goons, Varilla and Anton. While discussing the stone and reward they were all ambushed by a group of bandits. Varilla and Anton helped to defeat the bandits and the Nacrya was thankful to all of them for not making too much of a mess of it. One of the bandits had a book on him with only names. There were nearly 200 names written in it. Of those names the adventurers recognized Dour and Varro. After some convincing from Anton, he and Varilla decided to bring the group to Jelly. Varilla went ahead to warn Jelly they were coming and Anton guided them back to gang headquarters so they could share the information. Upon their arrival, the adventurers were likely surprised to find immaculate headquarters. A jellyfish tube held a pet jellyfish and the barracks were squeaky clean. Only there was one bed and desk that were in disarray. Scattered with books and notes all about the desk and floor, this living section seemed out of place. The bed was blood and bodily fluid, all indicating a very ill person. Anton indicated he would go upstairs to get Jelly and with a little snooping the group discovered the books and notes were research on various diseases. After a loud thump, Anton called for help and the adventurers ran upstairs to find Varilla and Jelly attempting to bathe a very ill man, who must've fallen. Anton and Varilla helped Jelly's husband, Calin downstairs while the group talked with Jelly. Jelly explains that her husband is extremely ill and they can't determine a cause and therefore can not find a cure. The hope is that the stone will hold that secret or they can sell it to someone who is knowledgeable. They hope to be able to sell the stone in exchange for coin that will pay for appropriate information and care. The adventurers ask why they were attacked by a group of her goons and she assures them that it was not under her orders. The reason the group likes to stay small and quiet is the fact that they typically only still from the rich to help those in need. She wants the group to leave their reputation as it stands for this reason. No undue attention should be brought her way. She also lets the group know the reason for the goon at the farm is because Lya Oatsman is her sister. She assures them that she will check on the farm and not worry about it and instead they should check on Varro in Espar.
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Post by EDM Libby on Sept 5, 2023 17:46:40 GMT -5
The adventurers make their way to Espar where they hear that Varro is still staying at the inn. After a quick conversation with the waitress they discover that he hasn't been down since the night before. She's also not all that upset because like the caravan driver said, he's not a good tipper. Then they talk to the inn keeper and find out that he still owes a balance and Anglowen pays off his balance in exchange for a key to the suite. Upon arriving in the suite the witness the last breath of a brutal, painful death. Varro lies on the floor, eyes wide soaked in blood and bodily fluids from every orifice and pore of his body. The group quickly decides to make a report and do some searching of their own. The determine that the women's undergarments, fancy figs, and wine bottle with a label from the Osculatory, that Varro must have spent his night here with a lady from Suzail - though she's no where to be found. Anglowen is able to sense magic, but not what school it is from, and the trail quickly fades as they leave the room. The waitress downstairs says that the lady with Varro was a red head and wore a fancy dress that she thought was magical. Someone from the group remembers this sounds like the Osculatory waitresses uniform. After a quick an uneventful trip to Suzail the group finds their way to the Osculatory. Hoondin's sharp questioning upsets Mira greatly and she runs off crying while the rest of the group talks with the manager, Richard. He takes them outside to not start any trouble within the Kissing Club and lets them know that Laina was sick and he sent her home. She had some upset stomach and was feverish, but nothing major and just a few hours later she was found dead in the alley. Hoondin has a chance to speak with one of the Purples ( Chrick) and is told that the lady's body was burned as they anticipated it was some awful disease they did not want to spread. He also mentions that there is a rumor that Laina was related to someone in the Jellyfish gang. He doesn't state where the Jellyfish gang is or what they do, just a bit of gossip from one to another. Given that Chrick did not mention the stone, Hoondin is under the impression that no stone was found. If the Purples don't have it, then it must still be missing. While Chrick and Hoondin chat, Korbin searches in the alleyway to find a book of diseases and ailments, their causes, and potential cures. While paging through looking for something similar to the symptoms they have seen Unen mentions that there is a snake that causes such symptoms, but that particular kind of snake was often found in the heat of the Jungle or deep in the depths of the desert. It would be impossible for such a snake to survive without extensive aid in Cormyr. No one remembers seeing a snake bite on Varro, but Korbin mentions that snakes can be milked and the venom could be delivered in other ways. Anglowen racks her brain trying to remember any magical spell that would be so torturous, but thinks of none so far. Vylee asked Anglowen if the magic she detected could have been from the stone, but she was unsure as she'd never actually held the stone. Kose drooled a bit as he listened to all of the potential pathways. The group made there way back to Vylee's room at the Tipsy Imp to discuss their next plan of action. |
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