Day 3: Rest incoming… or not

My stomach growled. Maybe too loudly, because the others finally talk about going back to the inn. I’m good with that. The idea of sleeping in a real bed (not some hay pile in the animal tent or a hammock with the bearded lady) with a full stomach is a very welcome thought.

We make it back to the inn without issue, and order a feast! (I have to remember to stash some of the food for later. Never know when food will be scarce again or worse, I have to actually pay for it.)

I finally had time to explain to the group what I had found about the black spider veins on the corrupted plants and the black sand that poured out when I took samples. After some discussion, we came to the conclusion it only seemed to effect living things as the skeletons showed no signed of the spider-like veining/black sand I had noticed on the plants and wasps. Thulnir got slapped for trying to check out the barmaids ankles looking for the veining (Still laughing about that one).

 

Decided to talk to the elder women about the missing wedding lovers. Seems Lena was the only survivor when her family went missing. Another family went missing too – Hovase Family. Both had farms near the woods. Brother supposedly dug up something in the field – didn’t know what. Now they see strange lights at the farms. (More Wasps??) Little Lena was taken in by [BABA DONYA(SP?)], the local herb mistress – works with plants/wards/herbs/elixirs/ even tattoos (scandalous!). She is located across from the inn in the main village.

Asked the women about Lana’s wedding ring. They said was special and the local blacksmith had done an engraving [STEPHEN BALEN] – he was located close to Baba Donya’s place in the blacksmith shop. Decided we needed to visit both first thing in the morning.

 

Decided to prowl around the inn. Nothing special until I got upstairs and spied the guest log. Let’s see who had been her around recently. Damn. Freaking book bites. Sucking on the papercut I find the name of [RADU VADUVA] – the peddler the elders had mentioned who showed up like clockwork. According to when he last appeared, he should be around within the next week. Wondered who had been around during the time of Lana’s disappearance? Gods blasted book must have some magical protections on it or something. 2 more papercuts later, I gave up, but thankfully Thulnir decided to tackle the most unpleasant book. He found out that Lena had stayed her the night before her wedding. Also that same night, [GREGOR PENDERGRAST] (now we know the correct last name of the Baumgardner partner!), the son of the other owner of the Slauch Wolfen Manor House & logging business

 

I needed sleep if a damn book could get the better of me – except that didn’t happen.

I had a lead on my twin. Tracked to old abandoned temple. I had to find Kidra. A huge hazy door both black as midnight and bright as the sun at the same time appeared. Trapped. Black sand pouring in. No. I had to get out. Stay alive. Door refused to open. Higher and higher. No way out. Something watched me drown in the black sand, observing my every move.

 With a jerk I rolled out of bed, daggers readied in both hands. My room was empty, silent. Yet the image of the entity remained ingrained into my mind. He/she/it wearing a fine coat with a monstrous face of white fur & several thick horns. Was it a dream? Or a memory? Or was the Ethereal plane corrupting me as it had my father? Not sure I should share this with the group…yet.

 

Morning arrived too early. The party was waaaay to cheerful. Kept my mouth shut about my dream. Off we went to talk to the blacksmith [STEPHEN]. Outside the brick house we found a pile of unnaturally black coal. I nicked a piece.

ITEM [SPECIAL BLACK COAL]

On touching it, I flashed back to my dream. (What in hells planes was that about??) I bite my lip and say nothing. We go into speak to the blacksmith. A bald man scurries around the place, filled with all manner of tools and oil & water quenching stations. More of the strange coal inside. Nice enough fellow, he confirmed he made a ring for Hans – a GOLD ring with the engraving “H&L Always & Forever”

Asked him about Hans & learned the father [YOHAN] died of a head wound – drank himself to death after Hans disappeared. A nephew now owns the house [DRAGO BOWER] down by the stream.

Asked him about the coal. Said he started getting it from [RAZON] about a month ago. Kid won’t tell him where he got it from. Just like Olof won’t say where he gets his special plants (although he was sure it was by the church).

Traded some of our extra items. Wasn’t impressed with the extra scimitar I had, but really liked the one Charles had, but with the girl’s encouragement, he really like the extra leather armor I had. Upgraded some of Thulnir’s gear.  Refused to buy the dwarf’s armor (Think he actually crinkled up his nose in disgust)

 

Off to the plant woman. Baba Donya lived in a white river stone & black clay house, with a herb garden protected by white roses. More of the shutter carves runes graced her shutters. Inside the place smelled of dried herbs and flowers, well lit by a central cauldron. A silver haired elder lady watched us. Asked her about Lana. Said she took her in as an apprentice at 9 after her family disappeared. Stayed until she was 15 & left to go to the capital. Eventually returned, Hans had always been sweet on her a courted her after she returned, fascinated by her craft. (Obsessed with her?)

Asked about corrupted plants. Claimed no such thing. Showed her the plant samples I had. She said they had tiny holes all through them – like termites had bored into them. Asked her about the black sand. Opening the pouch and contacting the sand again caused another flashback to my dream. (Not sure I like this) Didn’t know what it was and refused to touch it.

Charles and I studied her. Sensed an Alchemical/Divine aura/presence about her. I caught sight of the Gatewalker mark on her neck. Asked about it and if she knew of any gates around her? *Beware elven gates – was NOT happy with those questions.

Decided to buy some supplies from her to change her mood. Had potion of minor healing (4g 1d8 HP)/Elixer of Life (3g 1d6 HP)/Magical tattoos (WAAAY too expensive)/Runes: Purify food/drink (up to lvl 3).

Bought [MINOR HEALING 1/d8 HP]

 

Restocked and renewed (well theye were), I mention my nightmare (no details about my twin) and how I flashed back to it when I came in contact with both the coal and black dust. Mutu offers to watch over me at night instead of Charles if needed. AWKWARD. Decide to ignore that and move on to the crypt again.

 

Back to the crypt…

Something was off. I could feel it. Decided to scan the area for concealed creatures as we moved through the carved double doors. Something moved in the rubble next to Charles. Yelled a warning just as a disembodied hand launched itself at Charles.

After a brief struggle, it [Gangly Kon] “died” (AGAIN) and we found a ring. A missing left hand…could it be the ghost’s? Checking the ring we found the inscription Stephen had told us about. Definitely Lena’s. 

 

My thought…where is the rest of her body???