Session Seven - Town, and Other Adventures

The figure of a respectable, chestnut-furred longhorn man in a tweed and velvet smoking jacket thrust itself between Sir Glad and Sherbert, and said---

But first, we looked back to when Sir Glad arrived at High Hankle in the first place, before he'd met the others.

Sir Glad had travelled west from Castle Brackenwold along Camp Road to the Woodcutter's Encampment, ferrying from there down the Lower Hameth to Dreg, and from there over to Lankshorn and then High Hankle, searching adventure. At High Hankle, he made sure to stop at The Chantry, knowing its old history as an inn exclusively for travelling clergy. There he met Sandrine Candlewick, and learned the story of her old ancestor, Abygail Grynn. This is the first of multiple possible adventures the group learned of tonight, and as such will be bullet-pointed.

• Abygail Grynn - Young woman seen by her fellow pilgrims to be lifted up into heaven as though by angel wings after a whole night praying at the crest of a hill. Reported to have happened somewhere in the Dwelmfurgh. No proof is known to exist, Sandrine Candlewick wants to find proof (preferably the spot, on which is said to exist a stone memorial), to gain her ancestor entry into the official church canon as a saint.

Glad then travelled north, looking for such a hill, and stumbled upon the party at Sir Chyde's tomb.

And now back to Snerd Furroughby, who said, when he thrust his head between Sir Glad and Sherbert, "I see you looking at my phallus sus nocternicus! It's quite a rare specimen... And not for sale, although, as we all know, for the right price..."

Glad then brokered the deal for the jewels. At first, Snerd was questioning where so many gems came from, and made a subtle suggestion that objects of 'questionable' provenance may require different channels than usual, to which Glad became uncomfortable, smelling thievery. Snerd quickly threw it back upon Glad, acting offended that the knight had even suggested anything involving criminal acts... His eyes grew very intense, during this, and although the Longhorn Gaze wasn't used, it nearly came into play.

The jewels, gems, bracelets, brooches, amulets, coats and dresses (save one, to be gifted to Lady Harrowmoor) were all offloaded for a staggering 17,500gp, which Snerd quietly procured from strongboxes in the back of his establishment.

Seeing them bring in such a stupendous haul of saleable materials, Snerd confided in them his information regarding the cache of Dewidort of Smerne.

• Dewidort of Smerne reputedly stole something quite valuable, known as the Hangle Horn, which Snerd will pay handsomely for. He belives Dewidort hid it within the solid rock of a standing stone, somewhere...

The party next moved westward through High Hankle, to Helmsmith's. Sir Glad learned that Griselda Helmsmith is considered the best armorer in the Dolmenwood, and that, in Lankshorn, the best weaponsmith resides---Joremy Whilston Puddingfoot. For the cost of 650gp, he took measurements to have Sir Chyde's armor fitted to him, and stamped with the Helmsmith mark.

This will be done in 1 week, on colly next (7th, Colly, Haelhold).

After Helmsmith's, the party move further west to the quiet, yew-covered graveyard beneath the Silent Tower. They quietly walked the stele-lined path to the great iron doors of the tower, and were admitted in upon mention of the injuries they gained during the recovery of Sir Chyde's tomb, and the discover of the Shrine to St. Sedge.

Commander Joan Ablewright deigned their claims worthy enough to see them personally.

Immediately, she seemed put off by the members of the party other than Glad, making frequent remarks about the 'worldliness' of the adventurers, and how 'God's work isn't always done by the godly.' Most of these remarks went over Glad's head, although the rest of the party took them in stride.

After hearing of their adventures, she asked to see proof of their tales. They showed her the golden prayer book, the special weapons they took from the tomb's weapon racks, and the candle which, when lit, produced the sounds of battle... Joan listened very closely to these sounds, and was finally convinced.

She laid hands upon Meowianne's injured leg, reciting the Prayer of St. Lillibeth. The sound of doves and the fragrant scent of fresh flower blossoms filled the room as the flesh and tendons knit themselves together again, and Meowianne's leg was healed.

Commander Ablewright then broached the topic of the Abbey of St. Clewyd. She didn't believe in offering healing for money, she said, however, if she were to continue healing for the adventurers, she wanted to know if they could extend their expertise to a 'survey and excavation' operation of St. Clewyd's ancient abbey...

• A hundred years ago, a cataclysmic event sealed off the abbey. Some strange miasma seemed to keep the curious out, and the sound of wailing and shrieking concerned travelers passing below on the nearby road. In the last twenty years or so, the reports have lessened---Joan believes the abbey might be once again accessible. She is particularly interested in the church relics interred therein, especially the "Hand of St. Signis," the patron saint of her holy order.

The party agreed, and was given a small scroll and seal, bearing a brief commission and signed by a wax seal of the order's emblem, an ivy-wreathed skull. Around this time, it was also explained that Joan is the commander of the Order of St. Signis, the lichwards, who guard the slumber of the graveyards at Dolmenwood, keeping the undead dead.

Sir Glad hung back as the party left, to ask who would be most interested in the Shrine of St. Sedge, and the answer was certainly Hilda Harrowmoor, the commander of the Order of St. Sedge, the protectors of the church in Dolmenwood, and Lady Harrowmoor's sister!

While this was taking place, the rest of the party watched a pitched duel between two nobles in the streets. 'Borbry' won, drawing first blood of his enraged opponent, who then exclaimed that "Brynne will never favor me now!" Of course, Ddane, Sherbert, and Meowianne had wagered on the outcome... Sherbert and Meowianne lost their bets.

After this, some basic shopping was done. Plans were made to eventually search out retainers. Meowianne and Sherbert decided to carouse, and Ddane went in search of some fine tea.

The evening went thusly:

Sir Glad returned to Hankle Heirlooms in search of presents for Lady Harrowmoor. What he found was a magical mandolin for 20,000gp, so instead he bought some Corpse Wax Candles, Fire Powder, and a Fairy Comb. After that, he prowled around the alleys, lightly laden, looking for rumors, and was able to discover that:

• The Griffonry was missing three griffons, which Sir Waverly would pay very handsomely for. They are reputed to be flying around something called "Monk's Hill," and supposedly will land very prettily beside anyone who rings a dainty bell...

Ddane went to the Crown Cruciferous, perched upon the upper layer of the escalade in the middle of town. There, in a quiet, discreetly partitioned velvet-upholstered seat and fine oak table, she ordered Longmere Pike with Trifle for dessert, accompanied by a delicious cup of Earl Yellow tea, a pale liquid with dark, gold-flecked leaves still hanging in it.

Meowianne and Sherbert went to the Balustrade. They started in the dingy public tavern at the lower levels of the escalade, where they med Bagsley Corundum, who purported to own the place, and hooked them up with the Golden Aspintheon. By the time the brawl they started ended, it was the early hours of the morning. By that time, their own significance in the brawl was somewhat lost... They fought and partied all up and down the three levels of the establishment, from the seedy lower stories to the glittering ballrooms, served by skimpy lingerie-attendants.

In the morning, Meowianne awoke in a dark alley by a warm rain, which trickled down through the escalade above her, hitting her face. She was beaten and scratched (1hp remaining), and had been mugged of everything she held... But also had gained 1100xp!

Sherbert woke lying beneath the steps to the Balustrade... Unfortunately, she had insulted a handsome breggle, and the other handsome breggle beside him had taken offense, and challenged her to a duel, which she accepted. She is committed to a duel to first blood in two days, on Hayme, the 3rd.

The reconvened at the Chantry in the morning, and began discussing plans. Horses and mounts on Eggfast, retainers, the Brackenwold Tourney in a week and a half, Sir Glad's knighting, the Abbey of St. Clewyd, Dewidort's treasure trove, Sherbert's duel, Meowianne still needs to heal her HP, and Ddane wants more tea and to further establish her relationship with the charmingly proper Emeritus Jasquith of the Crown Cruciferous.