(047) The Lonely Abbey

[mgtremaine]

mgtremaine wrote:
WenWould try to clean himself off as best as possible then shoulder whatever part of the burden he needs to carry. He would pick up the "Walking Stick" with Enigma and give it a once over, does feel sturdy? Is it well balanced? Wen would finish the the packing and at least give the wall section a glance. "You think there is a hidden door or passage here?

Once that is all done and Desmond/Mondes and Dorgan and ready to go he would head back up, on the way he would gather his candles. Snuffing them and placing the stubs back in his pouch. "You never know, we might need these again."

[waysoftheearth]

sulldawga wrote:
Dorgan lays a hand on Desmond's shoulder.

"No point in lookin' now. I don't think it's a chest full'a silver, I think it's a vein needin' to be mined. We should be headin' back ta the surface."

The dwarf sighs.

"Believe me, I'm with you on findin' more treasure. I ain't never been this broke fer this long. Tis enough ta drive a dwarf back ta tax collectin'!"

[waysoftheearth]

doctorx wrote:
Josiane turns pale and tears run stain her cheeks as Highbough describes the desolation and violation without that the devilish illusion concealed. But she remains steadfast, simply bowing her head and offering up a soft prayer that Saint Madelaine take the fallen into her blessed keeping before cuffing the tears from her eyes and contributing huskily her knowledge to the expansion the map.

If her friends are agreeable, once they emerge from the pit Josiane would like to examine the recovered items to see if she can discern anything more about their use/value.

The more mercenary-minded in the company may be pleased to note that she seems quite relaxed about their looting of artefacts from a holy place - better they end in the hands of allies than buried in the corrupted darkness of a violated ruin. (And the Church is already considerably richer than it needs to be in her opinion...)

"But we might do well to show them to the Sisters before we attempt to dispose of them elsewhere," she adds; "They may well fetch a higher reward from the temple than we will gain in the common marketplace, and, as Dorgan says, it proves we have been true to our quest..."

[waysoftheearth]

tonneau wrote:
Seeing the gruesome business concluded in the basement, Gustave retires to the upper library.

"Come, my doubly-equipped hobbit and sturdy drinking comrade", he says to those finishing up amid the gore, "we should see about finishing this business ere we begin with tunnels, and I for one would rather a wine before a tavern fire than a pickaxe in this despoilment".

Before he turns on the stair his gaze lingers for a moment on the elf wizard as, arm deep in blood and offal and candles flitting about his head, he plucks another shining thing from the hideous mass.

[waysoftheearth]

mushgnome wrote:
Tea... that's a rare luxury Highbough hasn't enjoyed in a while. The others gasp in amazement as the tea vanishes when the elf stuffs it into his invisible pocket!

"Shall we pack up this loot and move clockwise around the courtyard, circling around to meet up with the others? Olaf and I planted a rope near the bell-tower; that's the logical direction he would go if he couldn't reach us."

[waysoftheearth]

waysoftheearth wrote:
Down below Desmond/Mondes makes an effort to search out some secret portal or opening through the implacable stone wall {1d6} as Dorgan and Wen gather up the goodies, and Gustave leads the way back up to the top.

Eventually, Desmond/Mondes is forced to give up the task as hopeless. Dorgan consoles him, and the pair follow the others up the weary spiral, in the receding light as Wen extinguishes and gather his half spent candles.

[waysoftheearth]

waysoftheearth wrote:
Back up top, the goodies are brought out for Dieter, Highbough and Josiane to look over. The tea promptly vanishes at a word from Highbough, while Josiane inspects the religious artefacts and Wen the stave.

They all look to be of sound construction and good quality. The nuns appear to have been of a practical, rather than ostentatious, disposition however, and the items are plain rather than strikingly valuable. There is little doubt as to their religious origins, however, and the Sisters of Mercy will surely recognise them.

Wen feels the stave is well balanced and assured. The timber is smooth and well oiled, and the foot of it is shod with a two inch steel shoe. The religious symbol atop it means little to the Elf, but it is pleasant enough as a piece of art, he supposes.

[mgtremaine]

mgtremaine wrote:
Wen is ready to move on. Since he already has a stout staff he'll try to secure the walking stick to his pack. Doubtlessly it belongs to the Nun's so he'll care for it until the party returns to Ket. "Perhaps once we are away from this place Ulric can look over the lot and divine the nature of this items. In the meantime, I think you said something about a tar monster Gustave? We better find the others."

[waysoftheearth]

ehiker133 wrote:

...they have also extracted a small assortment of religious curios; rosary beads, a tiny Enigma on a bracelet, a walking staff topped with an Enigma, a censor, two more tiny daggers, two broach pins, a small prayer book, a pouch of dry tea, and half a dozen soft purses that, combined, contain a total of 56 silver coins.

Before they pack everything up and head out, Desmond examines the two daggers. Presumably, they fit his hands a little better than they would the larger members of the group. He tests each of them for balance and sharpness (regardless of possible value due to bedizenment) and takes the better quality of the two to examine more closely on their return trip.

If anything else needs to be packed away, he offers what space he has left in his pack for the censor or the pins or the other dagger.

[waysoftheearth]

sulldawga wrote:
Dorgan will safely secure the Marrowstone in his pack and gear up for fighting.

"Lead the way, Gustave. It's high time we all got together and decided as a group whether we're stickin' around or goin' back ta town ta tell the Sisters the bad news 'bout their monastery."