Resurfacing

Bidding Carmeneren farewell we headed back to the surface we found evidence that the Illithids had found a way to continue their activities. The fire traps on the double doors had been sprung and the corpses left in our passing burned. Cursing their magical shortcut we hurried to the surface. Mervin cried in exaltation upon feeling the sun on his skin again and burst into the form of a magnificent eagle, in his excitement to fly he almost left without the cottage full of gold.

We began to follow on foot; I took the opportunity to cut a few choice branches and began whittling the down to arrow shafts as we walked. After a few hours a magical message appeared in my hand, almost causing me to stab myself mid-whittle, the text read: "Potion and Armour guys at Millbourne. Palfrey setting up lots of guard outposts. Adventurers being sent to the Keep." Assuming this was from Mervin with Tauster's assistance I utilised the space below for the reply to indicate we would meet him in Millbourne, as soon as I had finished writing both ink and scroll vanished!

The change of destination was both good and bad news for those of us on foot; fortunately Millbourne lay only a day's travel from the mines we exited from, however we'd spent most of the morning heading in the wrong direction! After re-routing ourselves and picking up the pace we managed to make Millbourne before nightfall and let ourselves in through the fields rather than speak with Palfrey's guards.

Approaching the Baron of Mutton we could not help but notice the busy air over what had previously been a sleepy little village on the river. The guards were out in force on the main entrances by road, serious looking professional, not the locals taking turns by rota as before. The whole town seemed abuzz with activity. The temple had grown and people were still abroad despite it being so late in the day.

The Baron of Mutton threw a warm and inviting glow the night air, sounds of drunken boasts and laughter pealed through the night. Posted under a lamp outside was a newly erected notice board bearing a single promise of bounty for adventurers. They were offing 500 Gold Pieces to any group able to clear the Old Palfrey Keep of a bandit infestation. I looked quizzically at my friends who were all equally dumbfounded; for this was the keep they had entered and indeed freed me from on their way into the underdark! Upon opening the door we fund most of the tables in the common room taken by small groups of fresh-faced adventurers, all wearing a smattering of light armour and smiling at one another nervously over their flagons of ale. Three groups in all sat about, the loudest of which contained both a scholarly young man in wizard’s robes and a pious looking fellow in light chain.  Much conversation ceased upon our entry, compared to these greenhorns we were practically an army; angry mutters spread in our wake, but no one spoke when looked upon.

Dirkaster recognised us almost at once and set to preparing us all a fine round of ale and some fresh roast lamb in large grainy cobs. Both Snagga and UNCLE cried at once in recognition, quickly slipping into dwarven as they were reunited for the first time in almost a year. Andre appeared from the end of the bar and urgently began asking about his lost love, Jenneleth. Nothing we told him of our discoveries seemed to sate his broken heart, despite all indications that we are close to discovering her whereabouts (We dared not tell him of the Illithids or speculate upon their designs for Jenneleth or the many other missing magic users).

As we made small talk Dirkaster informed us that the bounty had been raised not long after we had last left, Tivian’s claims that the keep had been cleared were met with confusion; ‘Why then is Lord Palfrey offering bounty?’ We resolved to find out just that, although a suspicion was already forming in my mind as I knew him to be neither generous nor altruistic.

Two groups of adventurers had already disappeared within the Keep and a third was due to head out in the morning; the one with two casters. Asking around we discovered that the order of descent into the Keep was being determined by Squire Marlen, who would assess the groups on their chances of success. Those with practitioners of magic being fast-tracked as they were ‘more likely to succeed.’

Tivian and Malthus attempted to distract several of the adventurers from certain death by telling them a preposterous tale of how they had left a magical shield in a goblin cave to the southwest. The next group due to enter the Keep were entirely uninterested, but the others made marks upon their maps and began discussing the option.

We attempted to buy lodging from Dirkaster but, motioning to the full house, informed us he was full. I approached one of the groups I’d spoken with earlier and offered them 50 gold to let us take their room. Their greed nearly got the better of them as they asked for 75 gold pieces; a flat scowl convinced them my original offer was a fair price and we retired for the night.

We woke early with the dawn to the smell of frying bacon and were all of a good mood. Even Malthus complained less than normal, obviously the benefits of a night spent in a bed rather than on a rough stone floor. Dirkaster did not disappoint with breakfast; bacon in fresh bread and his own brewed small bear to wash it down with. We spied the trader in magical items breaking his fast and approached him once finished indicating we’d like to conduct our business privately. Once upstairs we established he had little to offer us that would improve our equipment and bemoaned the lack of business he suffered, despite the recent increase in adventurers passing through.

After some brief discussion we offered him the half dozen lightning lances in exchange for the lot. After examining the lances with a contraption bedecked in a bewildering array of lenses he agreed and concluding out business went to find the party we had spoken with before.

After some initial scepticism they agreed to join us in our room but could not contain their excitement when we revealed our offer. We would outfit them with these enchanted armours and asked that they give serious reconsideration to entering Palfrey’s service. There were the goblins nearby and who knows how many threats roaming Harranshire which could more profitably occupy their time. They were wary still, so Malthus outlined the details their time in the area and how we suspected Palfrey was up to no good. The party graciously accepted our gifts and said they would consider our advice well.

We went to the temple and dealt with a young priest specialised in crafting potions of healing, I struck a deal saving us a considerable amount of gold and we bought out his entire stock. Tivian spoke with the head priest, but was regrettably informed that they did not have any means by which he might leave a tithe for his brothers in the Church of Helm. We then set about replenishing our basic supplies, rations, rope, tea and arrowheads and met back up at the Tavern.

We were chatting outside when Mervin re-appeared in the form of an eagle; landed on Malthus’ shoulder and almost entirely imbalanced him. We spoke quietly over a light lunch and some more of Dirkcaster’s excellent draught of what he’d learned and what we’d found. The road towards Thurmaster had been widened and was well travelled, but only for half its length. Many travellers were heading south through the Briarwood on a fresh path towards the Keep. We related our suspicions regarding the bounty and Mervin suggested that the Illithid’s may have gotten to him via his son, whom they had previously encountered masquerading as a caravan guard on the river and was well known for his desire to go off adventuring.

We resolved to return to the task at hand and fight our way to the Illithid’s City of Glass. They had already garnered themselves a replacement cat's-paw once, in form of the Count and the only way to end their blight was to dig deep and cut it out at the root, deep under the ground.  Mervin had spoken with the Queen of the Marsh; an old Green Dragon who had offered him a boon for a ‘simple’ favour. We were to be watchful for a silver flask that had been stolen from her horde by agents of a rival Shadow Dragon; she suspects that it may be found in our travels underground. I worry we might also come across her rival. Mervin left 60,000 god pieces with Tauster, he was optimistic that he might be able to source a bag of holding and would inform us via another Sending spell if so.

As we left Squire Marlen was speaking with the next group of excited adventurers due to head off to the keep. Felix took the opportunity to filch a document from his pocket while invisible; the contents affirmed what we suspected. Palfrey had instructed Marlen to send parties with the most practitioners first, again it was mentioned that they were most likely to succeed. We warned the parties against this foolhardy quest again and set off.

We were still left with a sack full of gold, we interred this in a stone shaped cache at the entrance to the mine which Malthus heavily warded with traps of fire and words of power and set forth once more into the dark.