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After a moment of awkward silence, it was Danton who spoke first:

“Well, good Mauser, I guess the moment hath come: are you going to venture back to the citadel -- alone, if need be -- or not? If you are of the mind to go back, I shall wish you the stealth and blessings of Olidammara because you shall be absent mine own stealth and blessings. I am not going back, at least not without further need.

Rather, I am inclined to take Mrs. Hucrele up on her offer. Delivering a letter for some 200 additional sovereigns sounds like not a bad offer. Mauser, no doubt you'll say 'tis a pittance relative to what might be found in the citadel, and p'raps you'd even be right. But, particularly now that I've found the light of day again, I'm done with that rat's nest. After a week spent in darkness, breathing in the reek of kobolds, rats and Nanoc's bedroll, I'm done with such closed-in spaces. I'm for the road, with a breeze at my back, the sun in the sky, and the occasional rural tavern to find and sample. Not to mention a tavern wench or two.

Ho, Nanoc! Doth that not sound like the way to spend the next several weeks, my boy? Tramping the highlands like the freebooters we once were ... and still are? P'raps there are even halfling girls in Hommlet....”

Nanoc nodded emphatically from his position on the couch that was being gradually ruined by his bulk.

“I'm wit Danton on this one, Mauser. Don't see no point ta going back where we already done been. I mean if'n there were somethin' for certain there, but there ain't. I think we oughta take Mrs. Hucrele up on her offer. Heck it sounds like easy money ta me, and who knows what new things we can run into on the way. Plus Erky, here may change his mind and want ta stick around longer once we get there. Say Danton, how much moolah have I earned anyway? Make sure I get my fair bit when you all divide it up. I gots some stuff ta buy I if'n we ever get back ta a big city.”

“I’m with them too,” said Telemachos. “Being stuck in that hole for a week was about all I could stand. A trip to Hommlet may not turn up my missing father, but I’m more likely to find information on the road than in that dank rat’s nest.”

“Frankly, Mauser,” continued Telemachos, “with this talk of going it alone, you sound more like a madman than a philosopher - though the line is at times blurred. Marching into the citadel again doesn't sound to me like courage or good scholarship of the arcane . . . it sounds more like suicide. Perhaps you can adventure along with us and help me find my lost father whilst my mother's suitors eat up the worth of our estates, fattening themselves up for their own eventual slaughter with me at my father's right hand. I tell you, my father shall reward you greatly for any aid you provide. I shall then bring several hand-picked members of Furyondy's 300 Companions to assist you in exploring the secrets of the citadel.  But, for now, please desist from your plan of action.  You have proven yourself a worthy adventurer and one better alive than dead."

Mauser shrugged. “Very well. I do mean to go back to the citadel, but I shall join you in Hommlet as soon as I am able. I do not mean to tarry long in the citadel, but if your stay in Hommlet is not a long one, be sure to leave word for me with this Joman at the Old Trading Post as to where I may rejoin you. But for now, let us gather supplies at the store across the way and then return to the Ol’ Boar for an evening of relaxation.”

“Okay, said Telemachos. “I share Danton’s desire to walk long roads, see mountains, and fight in the open air. I agree that we should seek to deliver this letter, earn the reward, and make our way towards a larger city. There we can spend some of our money re-fitting our weapons and armor, and re-stocking our provisions. Also, there is sure to be more news of possible war in Furyondy and possibly my own father.  'Tis probable that we shall hear many false rumors as well, but I must have this information. If there is indeed war, I may have to give up my quest temporarily and answer my call to duty.  Or, perhaps we can use several adventurers of your skill in the war or the mission,” he said, looking at the other party members. 

“But, I get ahead of our knowledge of events,” continued the fighter. “Whatever is happening, I shall remain a part of this party for the present. I still want a feast and a tankard of ale while I try to learn more information.  Shall we return to the inn?" 

“I couldn’t a said it better meself!” said Nanoc, lurching up from the ruined couch. “Let’s go—I’m big time hungry.”

When Danton informed the Hucrele family butler, Walt, that the party would take Kerowyn Hucrele up on her offer to deliver a letter to her brother in Hommlet, the butler told Danton the letter would be ready for pickup first thing the following morning.

After departing the Hucrele residence, the party stopped at the nearby shop owned by the family in order to sell off unneeded items recovered from the Sunless Citadel and pick up a few new items for their upcoming journeys. Because everyone in the party agreed that Oakurst would be a poor place to sell jewels and other valuables, the party sold only bulky, mundane items recovered from the citadel at this time, including surplus sets of armor, caltrops, weapons and the like. The armor fetched the greatest value, as the shopkeeper explained that no one in Oakhurst was capable of fashioning either metal or leather armor, and the party netted 125 gold for all the items it sold.

While at the shop, the party members heading towards Hommlet purchased additional trail rations and Mauser replaced the clothing and other items that had been damaged or destroyed by the fire worm in the lower level of the citadel. Since Danton had claimed the magical, ever-burning torch, Mauser also purchased additional mundane torches for use in his return to the citadel.

Upon leaving the general goods shop, the party returned to the Ol’ Boar, where it gathered in Nanoc’s room to sort through the remaining money and treasure hauled out of the Sunless Citadel. When Danton counted and began dividing up the coinage, Mauser asked Nanoc to hold on to most of his portion until the group met up in Hommlet.

“That way, if I die in the citadel, none of our hard-won treasure will be lost in that hell-hole,” explained the cleric simply.

Nanoc agreed, and the party members also decided that the barbarian would maintain safe keeping of all gems and jewelry acquired by the party until it reached a large enough town or city where these items could be profitably sold. By this time, Danton had finished counting the coinage and announced that, minus expenses, the party had recovered 860 gold and 1100 silver from its Sunless Citadel adventure. Dividing the money equally, which Danton insisted on, resulted in 172 gold and 220 silver per adventurer, including Erky.

After the money was divided, Mauser communed briefly with Boccob to regain use of his spells and then proceeded to identify as many of the more special items recovered by the party as he could. The cleric successfully determined the nature of his own weapon, taken from the huge goblin with the rats, an enchanted morning star (+1 morningstar) that increased the chances of striking a hit and the amount of damage done. He also determined that Telemachos’ new longsword, taken from the fallen Sir Braford, had similar properties (+1 Longsword). Additional information was provided by the runes inscribed on the blade. These named the weapon Shatterspike and confirmed what the party already knew from painful experience—the blade was capable of destroying other weapons brought to bear against it if the wielder actively targeted his opponent’s weapon.

Mauser also sorted through the various scrolls the party had taken from the citadel. The four from the sarcophagus each contained a single divine spell: cure light wounds, inflict light wounds, command, and magical stone. Mauser claimed the first three, while the last went to Erky. The cleric also handed the two arcane scrolls that had been recovered in the citadel over to Danton.

“Maybe you can sell these in Hommlet, for I can make no use of them.”

“Perhaps,” said Danton, accepting the two sheets of parchment, “but ‘ere it comes to that, I may try to decipher them myself. I am no wizard, but one never knows what one can use till one tries.”

With the loot largely identified and divided, the party returned downstairs for a large meal to celebrate its successful foray into the Sunless Citadel. The small common room of the inn was filled with locals by this time and Nanoc was only to happy to regale them with stories of the party’s battles with rats, goblins, and stranger creatures. Both Danton and Mauser sought to shush the barbarian, but he proved irrepressible and they eventually gave up.

Food and alcohol flowed freely throughout the evening and even the appearance of the other adventuring party several hours after dark could not dampen the atmosphere, even if it did cause Danton to stop drinking and keep a close eye on the newcomers.

At one point late in the evening, Mauser flashed his fingers at Danton across the table, using his body to block his hands from view of the other party, which sat sullenly around a table on the far side of the room.

Nanoc said he thought he’d seen that group before. Would that have been when the two of you were traveling alone before we all met in the capital? Any idea who they are?

Danton frowned.

No. I cannot remember encountering them before, but at the same time I cannot say the boy is wrong. Although he is generally not one for attention to detail, sometimes small things do stick with him—images, sounds, stories, a bit of music—anything that captures his imagination in some way. For this reason I am inclined to trust his judgment—I think it likely that he at least has seen this lot before. To me they look like nothing more than trouble.

Mauser only nodded and resumed sipping his drink.

***

Sometime much later in the evening, as Telemachos led the still-full common room in round after round of Furyondian martial ballads, with Nanoc’s raucous voice drowning out most of the others, Mauser slipped down the hall to the rooms he knew were occupied by the other adventuring party. Having observed the other party for much of the evening, the cleric had made a judgment as to who led the group and had watched which individuals had gone to which rooms when the party retired for the evening.

Mauser tapped lightly on the door he had chosen. Voices could be heard from inside and moments later, the door opened. Standing in the doorway was the human woman he had seen earlier. She had let down her long brown hair and no longer wore her armor, but had a huge sword in her free hand. Behind her stood the elven male, his own blade at the ready.

“Stand down,” hissed Mauser. “I would speak with you about a mutually profitable business arrangement that could make your trip here worthwhile after all. I am no threat to you, but feel free to call the rest of your party if you wish—just do so quietly.”

The woman’s eyes narrowed, but she stepped back from the door and allowed Mauser to enter. She motioned for the cleric to take a seat at the small table that sat against one wall of the room. She and the elf remained standing and did not set down their weapons.

“We’re listening,” said the elf.

“Although it is true that the other party, with which I was temporarily associated, has already been to the citadel and back and fulfilled the contract offered by the Hucrele family, there is still much profit to be made from the Sunless Citadel,” began Mauser.

“Go on,” said the woman.

“The other group found a combination of kobolds and goblins infesting the place. They avoided hostilities with the kobolds, but largely wiped out the goblins. There was also a crazed druid with some kind of connection to an enchanted tree that gave him great powers and enabled him to control the goblins. The other group recovered the Hucrele reward and carted off a fair amount of treasure, but they did not explore the place thoroughly. Much of the citadel remains to be plundered and the loot is ripe for the taking since the goblins and other creatures that inhabited the place are much weakened.”

“The kobolds may have considerable treasure,” continued Mauser. “They also possess a white dragon wyrmling that could be sold for considerable profit if taken alive. I now have intimate knowledge of the citadel, the traps and creatures that defend it, and I also believe that a number of dragon shrines scattered about it hold some sort of undiscovered ancient secrets. I would be willing to offer your group guidance, healing, and knowledge of the citadel in return for an equal share of whatever treasure we may find together. What do you say?”

The man and woman exchanged glances before speaking.

“Your offer is intriguing,” said the woman finally. “We have indeed come a long way only to find out that others beat us to the Hucreles’ reward and we do not relish the idea of marching all the way back to Verbobonc City empty handed. But why aren’t these others going back to the citadel to finish looting it?”

Mauser shrugged. “They are anxious to head to other places and seek other adventures. After a week underground, some of them are tired of dark, dangerous places.”

“And when do you propose we enter the citadel?” asked the elf.

“We can head out tomorrow morning,” said Mauser. “I’d prefer to wait until the other group leaves town, but I believe that will be at first light. We can move out immediately thereafter and be at the citadel by mid-day. With my knowledge of the place, I’d say that we could loot it thoroughly in a couple of days and be back here, much the richer, in short order.”

The man and woman again exchanged glances and then she nodded at Mauser.

“Very well. It’s a deal. With you added to our group, that makes six of us. In return for your information and services, we offer you one sixth of whatever we find in the citadel. I’m Jil du Gal, this is Archangel. The dwarf is Dhavut, the half-orc is Eiger, and the halfling is the White Spider. We’ll meet you on the Old Road south of town an hour after sunup.”

“Fair enough,” said Mauser, getting up from the chair and heading for the door. Although the cleric had done his best to judge the character of the two people he had just met (sense motive: 5+6=11), he walked away from the meeting without any clear impressions one way or the other. Jil du Gal and Archangel, if those were their real names, seemed inscrutable, at least so far.

***

Danton, Nanoc, Telemachos and Erky picked up the letter from Kerowyn Hucrele first thing the next morning and then took their leave of Mauser, who promised to meet them in Hommlet as soon as he could. The party then departed Oakhurst via the New Road, heading north and east towards the larger, more used highways that connected the various parts of the Viscounty of Verbobonc to the capital in the north. The late spring weather was largely pleasant, with warm, sunny days and slightly cool nights mixed with the occasional rain shower.

Everyone in the group was in good spirits at traveling across open terrain again after spending so much time underground. As the days rolled by and the party moved farther eastward, there was more and more traffic on the road and Danton took advantage of the increasing opportunities to speak to the other travelers and inquire as to events in the Viscounty and the wider world (gather information: 16+7, 18+7, 6+7, 8+7, 14+7, 18+7).

Although many a passing peasant, merchant or caravan driver had little knowledge of events beyond his own purview, others, particularly those that had recently been in the capital, were more knowledgeable and most were anxious to tell stories of what they had heard.

Most of the talk was of war in the east, with lurid stories of the demonic legions of Iuz driving deep into Tenh, the Pale, and the County of Urnst, sowing chaos, death and destruction wherever they went. The armies of Nyrond had reportedly entered Urnst from the southeast, not being willing to wait for Iuz to come knocking on their door. There were rumors that King Lynwerd had sent urgent appeals to King Belvor in Furyondy and Canon Hazen in Veluna to launch a new offensive against Iuz in the west in order to force the demon-emperor to withdraw some of his legions from the southeastern front. If these reports were true, no one knew what the response of Belvor and Hazen had been, but all agreed that, as yet, there had been no new fighting in the west.

Telemachos also spoke with each and every traveler the party met on the road, inquiring as to any knowledge of one Captain Odysseus Rhavelle of Furyondy, lost while leading a naval expedition on the western Nyr Dyv, but each query the fighter made was answered in the negative.

Aside from trying to catch up on troubling world events, Danton used the days of walking to get to know both Erky and Telemachos a bit better. The Velunese increasingly found the gnome to be a friendly, reliable traveling companion and, several days into the trip, he invited Erky to become a regular member of the party.

“You’re good in a fight; we could use you,” said Danton simply when he made his pitch. “I understand that you need to see home and family again after such a long imprisonment, but if your village isn’t far from Hommlet, we could all stop by there together after delivering the Hucrele missive. Even if you cannot join us immediately, I would have you know that you have an open invitation to rejoin our band at any time.”

Erky promised to consider the offer and to let Danton know his decision after the party reached Hommlet.

As for Telemachos, now that he had traveled with the party for several weeks, he began to open up more and more. The fighter was every bit as worried as Danton about the rumors of war, noting that his family estate in Furyondy lay only a few dozen leagues from the border with Iuz’s empire of darkness. While part of the fighter wanted nothing more than to rush home to join his fellow soldiers in defending home and country, he also felt compelled to continue his search for his lost father. Danton, Nanoc and Erky sat around the campfire and listened to Telemachos talk of this dilemma for many an evening.

“Perhaps Uncle Jaroo in Hommlet will be able to offer some guidance,” said Telemachos on more than one occasion.

“You have an uncle there?” asked Danton the first time the subject came up. “I seem to recall you mentioning that once before.”

“He’s not really my uncle,” said the Furyondian. “He’s actually my great uncle and he’s a very powerful druid. I’ve only met him twice, but he always seemed very wise and I’m sure he could offer help and guidance now.”

“Then we shall seek him out,” said Danton.

“So, let’s see,” said Nanoc. “We gotta deliver the letter, visit the druid, get Erky ta his village, and find me a good leatherworker. I wanna use some of this moolah to upgrade my armor an’ I’m really hopin’ there’s someone in Hommlet who can do it.”

“’Twould also be a fine thing to enjoy a bit more rest and relaxation,” added Danton, “and who knows what other opportunities may present themselves upon our arrival? Tis certainly a far better thing to be approaching a new and unplumbed town than delving back into dark and vile ruin for the second time.”

***

As promised, Jil, Archangel and their entire adventuring party met Mauser on the Old Road south of Oakhurst not long after he bid farewell to Danton, Nanoc, Telemachos and Erky. Mauser had nearly a full complement of spells as he set out again, minus only those he had used to identify the party’s equipment the previous evening and a single healing spell used to heal his last injuries.

As the group traveled south to the dark ravine and the citadel that lay within it, Mauser found his new companions to be a taciturn lot. The dwarf and the half-orc walked ahead of the rest of the group and whispered back and forth incessantly, but Jil and Archangel remained silent and watched Mauser closely. The last member of the group, the tattooed halfling woman, was the one exception to the rule. She chattered on about anything and everything without pause, apparently not caring in the slightest whether anyone listened.

Mauser continued to try to analyze the group as they traveled. Dhavut and Eiger were obviously warriors, as, it seemed, were Jil and Archangel. The cleric was sure that there was more to at least some of them than that, but he had yet to see anything conclusive. As for the halfling, Mauser found her to be little more than annoying.

By mid-day, the group stood at the edge of the dark ravine once more, and the others turned expectantly to Mauser.

“So,” said Jil, “walk us through it. Where are we going and what are we doing?”

***

Nine days after leaving Oakhurst, Danton, Nanoc, Erky and Telemachos arrived in Hommlet. The group had spent long days on the road, but it had nevertheless been a relaxing journey and the group was now well rested and recovered from the exertions of the Sunless Citadel.

The town of Hommlet lay roughly ninety miles southeast of Verbobonc City, just to the east of the Kron Hills and just west of the Gnarley Forest. The town was built on and around a hilltop, offering a good view to the party as they approached. Most of the town was on flat ground north and west of the hill. This larger part of the town was separated from the rest by a small river that ran north and east towards the Gnarley Forest. South of the river was the hill itself, where some houses and businesses were built. At the top of the hill stood a large and imposing keep with at least a half-dozen high towers. The keep dominated the hill and the town, and appeared, at least from a distance, to be recently built.

As the party members walked into the lower town, they found a kaleidoscope of sights and sounds awaiting them as the people of Hommlet went about their daily business in the late afternoon. It was obvious to all that while Hommlet would be dwarfed by Verbobonc City, it was vastly larger than Oakhurst and would likely offer all manner of goods and services that the tiny town to the west had not.

As they walked through the streets of Hommlet seeking to get a feel for the place, the party members saw temples to Ehlhonna, Pelor and St. Cuthbert, at least two sizable inns, the Inn of the Welcome Wench and Terrigan’s, the former appearing by far the more upscale, and all manner of artisanal shops, including weavers, tailors, breweries, blacksmiths, leatherworkers, and stonemasons. They passed taverns and restaurants, a bakery, potters, and a milk market. There was even a teamsters’ office, a wainwright, and a large mill on the riverbank powered by a huge waterwheel. Aside from the imposing keep visible on the hilltop, the party members also passed a town hall.

Perhaps of greater interest to the party, the group also found the Old Trading Post near the center of town, just north of the river and across from one of the three bridges that crossed the water to the upper town. Danton also noted with interest signs proclaiming the existence of a sage, a scrollmaker, and a brewer of potions in various parts of the town. When Telemachos inquired with passersby as to the residence of Jaroo the druid, he was told that the man lived in a small grove high on the hillside west of the keep.

“Well, Danton,” said Nanoc with wide eyes after the group had walked up and down the streets of the town for nearly a half hour, “we’re in yer ‘civilization’ again, so what do we do first? I rilly wanna get back ta that leather shop an’ get somebody workin’ on my new armor!”

________________________________________________________________

Notes for turn 18:

Please send postings for Turn 17 by the end of Thursday, August 3rd.

Keep in mind that for the bulk of the party the date is now 6 Lipanj (“Wealsun”), but for Mauser it is still 25 Svibanj (“Flocktime”).

Items gained this turn: new supplies from the Oakhurst store

Undivided Loot previously gained: none

Items used/lost/destroyed this turn: 9 days rations for most of the party

FOES DEFEATED:

This Chapter:

Entire Campaign:

Current Status of the Party:

Nanoc

AC: 17
Hit points: 35/35
New XP: 180
XP total: 3390
XP needed: 6,000

Equipment: great axe, short bow, short sword, studded leather armor, 46 arrows, 2 quivers, backpack, waterskin, 7 days trail rations, bedroll, 2 sacks, 2 flint & steel, bearskin, tent, 50’ rope, 1 sap, 2 small marble statues, 3 silver rings, jewelry and jeweled dagger from the sarcophagus in the Sunless Citadel, 3 gems, 2 onyx gems

Gold: 174

Silver: 220

Mauser

AC: 18
Hit points: 31/31
New XP: 180
XP total: 3390
XP needed: 6,000

Spells Available:

0 Level (4): Light X2, Resistance X2
1^st Level (4* one of these four spells must be a domain spell):Summon Monster I, Cause Fear, Nystul’s Aura
2^nd Level (3*one must be a domain spell): Hold Person

Equipment: quarterstaff, heavy mace, light crossbow, scalemail, 36 crossbow bolts, small wooden shield, backpack, pouch belt, 50’ silk rope, 10 torches, waterskin, flint & steel, 2 holy water flasks, peasant outfit, bedroll, entertainer’s outfit, cleric’s vestment, healer’s kit, 14 days rations, four jade dragon figurines, ½ potion of cure light wounds, 1 sap, 1 unknown potion, scrolls of slow poison, command, cure light wounds, inflict light wounds, unknown tome, morningstar +1, magical orb from the Sunless Citadel

Gold: 10 (plus 162 in safe-keeping with Nanoc)

Silver: 220

Danton

AC: 15 (16 vs. one opponent)
Hit points: 14/14
New XP: 180
XP total: 3390
XP needed: 6,000

Equipment: rapier, 6 daggers, light crossbow, studded leather armor, quiver with 13 bolts, bedroll, backpack, flint & steel, thieves picks, waterskin, 9 days trail rations, hooded lantern, notebook, pen, ink, gold ring engraved with the name Karakas, 1 sap, 1 metal key from Yusdrayl, Everburning Torch, 2 unknown arcane scrolls

Gold: 181

Silver: 220

Telemachos

AC: 16
Hit points: 32/32
New XP: 180
XP total: 3390
XP needed: 6,000

Equipment: short sword, 2 daggers, longbow, quiver and 36 arrows, scalemail, large wooden shield, backpack, large sack, flint and steel, 10 days rations, waterskin, bedroll, tent, 1 sap, Shatterspike (Longsword +1 with special properties)

Gold: 184

Silver: 220