"Aye," said Karok. "But would not studying them, perhaps, yield some knowledge? I know little of such things, but can't think these be normal growths. Mayhap your sister, or some other sage, could find something useful in them."

Jhaelin shrugs, "I know nothing of such things. It is up to you whether to dive for them or not. You know the risk."

Jhaelin opens his satchel and grabs his rope in case Karok decides to dive. Unfortunately, the depth of the well meant they had to use two ropes tied together.

"Give me a fresh face covering, too," Karok requested. "I'll take every edge I can get in this."

He began tying the end of one rope into a series of Spelunkers' Harness knots to fit him

Two non-combat turns pass... note the sun sets in another hour and half or so. Falcon's Hollow is an hour's walk north at a slow pace along a wagon track.

With a new face covering, Karok descends into the well again, anchored by Jhaelin, Durwe, and Brett on the other end of the rope. It takes no time for the dwarf to dive into the water and retrieve the two slightly larger than fist sized rocks and put them into a sack. While defended against airborne particles, there is no escaping the intrusive water which soaks the dwarf to the core. Only time will tell whether the tainted water will affect him.

(Karok needs to make a CON check)

Back topside, Karok drops the wet sack to the ground with a thump.

"Well then." Karok announced, wringing out his clothes as well as he could, and pulling his boots on. "I've had a good bath. Now I think I'd like to get back and dry off by the fire. And wet my insides with either hot wine or cold ale. Maybe both, by turns."

Dûrwë nods and says, "fine, let's return to Falcon's Hollow now."

Tynia glances around before nodding, "I'd say we should return as well." She said. always warily.

The one handed old man replaces the two wooden planks over the well and orients the bovine skeletal bones again as the party leaves the hilltop where the well is located.

Following the wagon track through the rolling hills of rock and shrub, they begin descending the last hill into Falcon's Hollow and the river appears off to their left. The walled village is up ahead, perhaps another ten minutes walk away.

The sun is low on the horizon now, less than a hand's travel left in the sky. Long shadows cross the track from scrub trees and the hills. The shrill call of the evening birds echo in the air and annoying, lazy little bugs flit through the brush.

Once back into the village, the party finds Jak'a'napes a little more busy than before. Evening is settling in, and the farmers return to their homes and the cut yard workers, those with enough coin, come to the village. At one table sits five cut yard workers. Another table sits four adventurers by the look of them, and another table sits a man and a woman engaged in conversation. There is plenty of banter in the inn to pick up on.

-- One fella felled a tree today and was attacked by giant beetles. He made it out of the hollow alive, but they might have to leave that hollow alone for a while.
-- Mutterings of missing goatherds and livestock.
-- Tilly's daughter caught sight of those wolves thats been prowling around of late. Third time this week o' seeing them near Falcon's Hollow.
-- Trade route north on Neufaulk road is still being shunned. Monsters up there....
-- Word spreads about the well being the source of the black scour taint in town. Plenty of advice on avoiding water, which is good for ale business.
-- Two more died today from the black scour taint.

Jak brings the party ale and plenty of food. It is still too warm for the lobby fireplace, but Jak offers to let Karok warm and dry himself by the kitchen fire.

Tynia is seated, her ears (no pun) pricked up as she listens in on what is saying around her. A brow rose before she turns to the others in the group, her hands in her lap, a cup of ale, this time before her - she had nothing to drink of it yet.

"So, are we to continue to search for those items Laurel mentioned some time ago?" She inquired of the group.


(DM) Oh come on!! That was DEFINITELY a pun!!!!! :o)

Jhaelin is quiet and thoughtful. He eats sparingly of his food, having no appetite from the day's news and events. Two more dead today, his mind repeats from the whisperings around him. How many more will die?

Tynia's question seems to draw him from some inner place he was visiting.

"Aye Tynia. We should plan on visiting the lumber camp tomorrow morning and find this Milon Rhoddam woodsman. He is our best source right now in helping us to locate any one of the three regeants."

"Before it is too late in the evening, someone should get these rocks to Luarel and someone should visit Lady Cirthana at the church of Iomedae."

"Well if that is true, then I know of the Elderwood moss, the other two, nothing." Tynia began. She didn't shrug but it looked like she did. "Of those three regeants, that one is the most familiar, to me."

"I've got the rocks here," Karok stated, coming back from the kitchen drier and warmer, a mug and food-laden plate in his hand, the stones tied in the bag hanging from his belt. "They can go after after I have some supper. Somebody may want to come along as chaperone, though."

Dûrwë says with a pleasant tone, "I will accompany you to take the stones to Laurel, and then afterward we can visit Lady Cirthana together."

Ordil was happy to take a load off at the tavern, but he was troubled. The matter of foul play had him checking everyone out around the bar. After agreeing to Karok and Durwe's plan, he speaks quietly

"Don't look now, but the fellow at the other table," he gestures towards the grouping of other adventurers, "is a fellow tradesmen in ways of shadow. And from the looks he's been giving you all, I'd keep your hands to your purses and not get too drunk."

Once the warning was given, Ordil remained surprisingly introverted. However, one more thing was offered before the eating and drinking was done.

"Jhaelin, you and this town go back a ways. Do you have any thought to who might be trying to scare off business and kill a few innocent people all in one go?"

Tynia nods in agreement, "I guess that would be prudent, at this stage." She said glancing at Jhaelin. And her eyes perked at that mention from Ordil. She made the gesture sort of nonchalant and looked at those Ordil mentioned. "Seems like it," she said under her breath for Ordil and the others in their group to hear.

"I too think we should visit this person," Brett said. He had a tankard of ale before him but he hadn't as of yet drunk any. "We need to find out what we need to know before heading out to find those items."

Brett heard the conversations and noticeably stiffens. He didn't like what is happening and wishes for it to not happen.

Karok did not look at the other party of adventurers as he rumbled quietly, "If we're expecting trouble from THEM, on top of everything else, we'd better not travel alone, any of us. We'll want to keep our moves as secret as we can, and watch for anyone following us."

"So, do you all want to go to the Herbalist's, then the church, or do we divide into two groups to do that more quickly?"

Dûrwë raised an eyebrow at Ordil's observation, but only let that show to his companions. He made no motion to look over at the other table that moment, and waited for a more opportune moment to glance at the men there so he knew what they looked like.

"Divide and conquer," Dûrwë says cheerfully, "as Karok proposes, is a good idea I think. Who will go with me to see Lady Cirthana?"

Jhaelin purses his lips in thought before exclaiming, "I will go with Karok."

To those perceptive individuals in the party, that exclamation might seem a little strange and rather illogical. The rational choice would be for Jhaelin, an acolyte of religion himself, to visit the church. Perhaps it is some sort of doctrine that he cannot visit? Perhaps there is some history there between him and that church? Or, between him and Lady Cirthana?

As if reading others thoughts he says, "I would speak with Laurel about these rocks and..."

Jhaelin gives the other adventurers in the room a quick glance to direct his point.

"...I would like to know if we are the only ones seeking these reagents."

"One more to go with us, and we've balanced and split the party," Karok murmured, voice carrying only to those at the table, while holding a riotous smile for anyone who just happened to be watching.

"And I," began Tynia. "Shall accompany Dûrwë to see Lady Cirthana as well. We may be able to get more information if there was another female."

Tynia was hesitant but she was curious about these goings on.

Brett was silent, thoughtful, in wonder. Where would he go, to the Lady or with Karok? He then made his decision.

"I think I'll come along with you and Jhaelin, Karok, if that's okay with you?" He said. He glanced around at the group thoughtfully.

Ordil watched as the group decided to split up. He was hoping to take a little more time to drink, but such was his new, responsible life.

"While I don't have much business there, I suppose I'll head to the church with you two," he says to the elves, "for to keep things even, of course. But I'd like to ask around this tavern afterwards to find out who else might be searching for these regents, as they're called."

"We can ask Laurel about the reagents," Karok suggested to Ordil. "She's, likely, the source of their shopping list-- unless they know on their own, and that would be fair ominous."

"And I support the divisions of the group," he nodded over to Brett. "With three Magic-Casters in the party, it is well we have at least one of them at the herbalist's."

He drained his tankard. "So. Ready to go, or do I order another drink?"

The party leaves the inn to their respective destinations. Karok, Jhaelin and Brett head to the shop known as "Roots n Remedies", while Durwe, Tynia and Ordil head for the church of Iomedae to speak with lady Cirthana.


Please refer to the appropriate thread... Church of Iomedae, or, Roots n Remedies.