Aria
Aria awakens as if from a strange dream in which she was a demiurge in control of a vast realm, which she had to populate with all manner of strange creatures, providing them with habitats each. She has no idea what's going on but is ready to attack...something...anything.
And which might those be?
;-)
GWYDION
Gwydion tears himself from study of the book to ensure nothing of the fleeing elf is left behind. Once that is accomplished, he will move to the cottage to assist in the search there. He is also interested in a thorough search of the body as well in case there may be tattoos or other markings.
Kerrick Helmsworth
Once Gwydion returns to the cottage, Kerrick will hand him the map.
“Their leader had this on him; it appears to be marked in elvish.”
Sword, Arrows, Armbands, Bow, Scale armor, Box, in that order, not knowing at the moment how much time each takes; if it's quick I still have that weird torc and the green glass ball from earlier I could Magically Engineer, possibly, now that I've remembered what proficiencies I have.
Masov first considers the matched blades wielded by the spellword. While noteworthy for their elegance, the blades do not appear to be enchanted, and he does not recognise their make or origins. The blade wielded by the other elf is a different matter. Longer and heavier than those of his companion, with a bronze and cherry-wood grip, this blade has faint green-patinaed etching on the blade that Masov recognises as coming from the smiths of the Greywoods. Many such enchanted blades were carried here by the elves that originally cleared the area after the Mountain that Fell. Although you can't read elvish, you're fairly certain Gwydion would tell you the etching reads: ORDER.
The arrows seem unremarkable, some even appearing to have been handcrafted without the aid of proper tools. As Masov examines them, something clatters to the floor from the quiver. It appears to be a small, brass key.
The armbands are copper, and to the untrained eye would appear to be nothing more than unremarkable elven jewellry, though the knotwork design hails from the elven Greywoods region. But more than that, Masov knows that the fabled Rangers of Blackmarsh are said to bear such tokens as a sign of their allegiance; inexpensive copper signifies humility, bands around the wrists signify duty, and the knotwork represents the order the elves purport to bring.
The bow carried by the spellsword appears to be a simple yew shaft, unremarkable in its design and construction. The composite bow Hengist now carries is of far better quality, though it, too, does not appear to be in any way magical.
The scale armor worn by the elf that wore the copper armbands does not appear to be enchanted, although it shows intricate hand-tooled detailing.
The box is as Kaul reported earlier. Well-made, and of ebony wood, with a brass lockplate in the front of the lid.
The glass ball is like nothing Masov has ever seen, even among the artisanal glass-blowers of Blackmarsh. No seam or nipple remains on the vessel as evidence of its make. Inside swirls a thick, cloudy substance, its appearance more of clouds in the sky than a liquid, although Masov can feel the substance's shifting weight as he moves the sphere about. The nature of the substance eludes him.
Kerrick hands Masov the chain armor worn by the apparent spellblade, and the bard is immediately struck by the feel: feather-light, supple, the links as fine as fishscale. No mere apprentice's enchantment binds this armor - it bears the mark of a powerful wizard. None of the damage Kerrick described is apparent. The mail appears as untouched as when it left its maker's hand.
Kerrick Helmsworth
Kerrick will also offer Masov the chain armor worn by the spellsword for examination.
“I suspect there might be something about this armor, since it appears undamaged even after being stabbed repeatedly.”
Aria ignores the others, performing a kata with her blades while the other talk, talk, talk, and busy themselves examaning the cabin like a bunch of goodwives keeping house. Lost in dreams of becoming a virtual god, she is brought up short when she nearly decapitates Dagmar. The blunt and homely woman scowls at Aria.
While Masov carefully examines the items recovered from the bodies of the two elves, Gwydion examines the bodies of the elves themselves. The one his party members surmised was a spellsword is unmarked (save his grievous wounds) and bears no tattoos, but his companion has a swirling, blue and green pattern on his chest. It bears a certain resemblence to the pattern of leaves on the recovered puzzle-box, but is also distinctly different, and recalls the artistry that decorates the halls of the King's Tower and the Queen's Tower at the heart of the Greywoods.
As he finishes, Kerrick hands him the map from the spellsword's beltpouch. Puzzling over it for a moment, Gwydion recognises it as a map of Orlean. Grabbing another piece of parchment and a fragment of coal from the fire, the enchanter begins redwrawing and translating in the common tongue. His work, while crude, is legible.
GWYDION
Gwydion grunts as he ponders the implications. “What is this ‘power?’ How many factions seek to do mischief here?” He crosses his arms and frowns. “What is the connection here with the Rangers?”
Masov
...will hand the key off to Kaul - 'This may make things a bit easier this time?' and will get Gwydion's attention: 'We have quite the sword here - inscribed 'Order'? What sort of order is generally promoted from the Greywoods?'
Masov
...will take a peek at the map after giving Kaul the key.
'I am somewhat suspect we may have done these elves a disservice, and perhaps ourselves as well.
Which building is the one we're in on the map?
Which is the carpenter's house?
What are the green buildings? The one to the far right is the keep, yes?
What's the walled off area to the left?
'He Watches' - that road points to the wizard?
The ravens are the rangers, Gwydion?
I feel like the "X"s mark enemy locations - the fanged maw is a location deeper in the island? - the question marks are perhaps actors whos side is unknown?'
Kaul
"ok, maybe we killed the good guys... but its their fault for not being willing to talk to us." i said as i use the key to open the box.
inside Kaul is just imagining how much money they can make by selling the elven chainmail.
Masov
...takes an armband each to Kerrick and Gwydion - 'These mark allegience to the Blackmarsh Rangers, a movement whose involvement in this we're not sure about yet. What I would suggest, however, is wearing these - concealed but easy to show - in case we need to appear allied to a particular cause at some point.'
GWYDION
Gwydion frowns before offering a counter-point to Kaul’s remark. “The carpenter, by all accounts, was not wholesome. Yet, he was a disguised Elf. Whatever the allegiance of the Rangers, I do not think the Elves here to be the sort with whom we might have common cause. Perhaps they were turned by the evil here?”
Kaul
"in that case we must be extra carefull"
Aria
"If they'd been good, they'd still be alive. You slew them easily. They can't have been all that good." She shrugs.
"Are these rangers a force for order? for protection? Are these elves expanding into human territory? Investigating human encroachement to their lands? There is still much we don't know here."
The cleric looks around at the other members of the party. "Where do we go from here?"
Hengist
"Awkward. But I'd almost swear we knocked. Or pounded, anyway. Any ideas on where to next?"
[quote="Masov"] Masov will take a peek at the map after giving Kaul the key.
'I am somewhat suspect we may have done these elves a disservice, and perhaps ourselves as well.
Which building is the one we're in on the map?
What are the green buildings? The one to the far right is the keep, yes? [/quote]
The large building on the far right appears to correspond to Baron Mallory's manor house. It is a large stone building, but not actually a keep. The building you are in is just outside the walls around the manor, on the north edge of town. On the map Gwydion copied, it would be the second to the right from the building with the question mark near the top of the map.
[quote="Masov"] Which is the carpenter's house? [/quote]
The carpenter's home appears to be near the bottom-left, marked with a question mark on the elven map.
[quote="Masov"] What's the walled off area to the left? [/quote]
You're not entirely certain, but that seems to be where constable Thorsdun and his "deputies" came from the first time you encountered them upon entering the town.
[quote="Masov"] 'He Watches' - that road points to the wizard? [/quote]
The arrow points in the direction the old man's hovel.
[quote="Masov"] The ravens are the rangers, Gwydion? [/quote]
The enchanter looks at you and shakes his head, a slightly confused look on his face. At the mention of "the ravens", Hengist remembers something and rummages in his pouch, tossing a small object over that Masov catches out of the air. The bard looks down at the item he has caught and visibly starts, bringing it closer and examining it much more carefully...
To the uneducated eye, it appears as nothing more remarkable than a clasp for a cloak, formed in the shape of a raven, but the look of it has triggered far deeper memories for Masov...
"You'd best mind your manners or the Ravens'll get you!" was a common admonishment for a wayward boy, seemingly nothing save the invocation of childhood bogey-men. But the darker history in the region suggests something more: dark "ravens" with ultimately inscrutable purposes, and a seething hatred of men. Symbols similar to the clasp appear in unsavoury texts, such as histories of the dark rule of Atacyl Oathbinder, and presage events of great turmoil for the lands of men. Folk stories of dark fey that would bind mankind in eternal servitude abound in the region, and references to such creatures as "black ravens" are far too consistent to be mere chance. That a simple carpenter would have such a symbol in this troubled place by mere coincidence seems unfathomable...
[quote="Kaul"] "ok, maybe we killed the good guys... but its their fault for not being willing to talk to us." [/quote]
[quote="Aria"] "If they'd been good, they'd still be alive. You slew them easily. They can't have been all that good." She shrugs. [/quote]
[quote="Gwydion"] Gwydion frowns before offering a counter-point to Kaul's remark. "The carpenter, by all accounts, was not wholesome. Yet, he was a disguised Elf. Whatever the allegiance of the Rangers, I do not think the Elves here to be the sort with whom we might have common cause. Perhaps they were turned by the evil here?" [/quote]
[quote="Kaul"] ...as i use the key to open the box. [/quote]
The lock on the box gives a sharp "click!" as Kaul inserts and twists the brass key. Satisfied, the thief lifts the lid...
In the bottom of the box lies a beautiful blue velvet pouch and a folded piece of parchment. Loosening the drawstring, Kaul looks through the contents of the pouch, finding 195pp of elven mint, along with 50gp in Blackmarsh coin.
[quote="Masov"] Masov takes an armband each to Kerrick and Gwydion - 'These mark allegience to the Blackmarsh Rangers, a movement whose involvement in this we're not sure about yet. What I would suggest, however, is wearing these - concealed but easy to show - in case we need to appear allied to a particular cause at some point.' [/quote]
[quote="Miska"] "Are these rangers a force for order? for protection? Are these elves expanding into human territory? Investigating human encroachement to their lands? There is still much we don't know here."
The cleric looks around at the other members of the party. "Where do we go from here?" [/quote]
The Blackmarsh rangers are generally considered to have been involved with the "liberation" of Castle Blackmarsh: http://www.autarch.co/comment/20855#comment-20855
Not all humans see it as such, as the elves of the Greywoods have dominated Blackmarsh since, and seem to have worked to maintain that state of affairs.
[quote="Hengist"] "Awkward. But I'd almost swear we knocked. Or pounded, anyway. Any ideas on where to next?" [/quote]