DAY 373 (11h Ches)(March) cont ...
There were a couple more side passages and doors that Fenrir had yet to try, so with the prospect of finding more loot on his mind he took a look.
The first room he tried was a store room full of ancient junk. The next one was larger with two interesting looking wooden chests at the back.
When he reached to open the first one though, a ghost materialised and told him sternly to leave them alone. Fenrir had dealt with ghosts before though and knew that sometimes they lurked on the material plane for reasons that were resolvable.
When asked the ghost replied;
'I will leave this mortal coil when you have killed the woman that resides in the room down the hall. Bring me her talisman as proof.'
Fenrir wandered down the hall and used his ring of Knock to open the door. His arrival awoke the elven lady who was asleep in the chamber he had entered. She went for her mace, but he told her he meant her no harm.
Her name was Vodos, they talked and she told him her story;
'Keren was an elf, we were together for a while. He was a powerful sorcerer, but he turned to evil. He died here a year ago, something that he blames me for. I am a paladin, I see it as my duty to send him on his way, but anything I do, he's back again a few days later.'
Fenrir, ever the 'plan master' came up with a corker, which involved him actually killing her then getting a resurrection later, probably from Veddic. She did not like this plan.
Next he suggested that they made a lot of noise, as if they had had a fight, then he went back all battered and bloody with her talisman. If the ghost had an doubts as to whether she was dead or not he would try and bluff his way out of it. She liked this plan more.
They had a brief mock battle, then he took the talisman to the ghost and told his story. The ghost believed him and disappeared, for a while at least, and he was able to take the treasure from the chests. He then returned to the paladin and was healed.
He bid his farewells to Vodos and left the caves. He arrived back at the Lodge at about four o'clock. He went on to the castle and talked to my father, Sir Humber.
He stayed the night and joined everyone that was around at that time for dinner. He did his best to keep the subject of murder out of the general conversation.
DAY 374 (12h Ches)(March)
Only a high level warlock could get so monumentally lost on a simple two day trip from Kryptgarden to Waterdeep. I almost believe that Fenrir just assumes that this is the way that anyone makes the journey. Set out - get lost - kill some people - find your way - then eventually arrive where you were heading two days later than expected.
Anyway, he did indeed get lost on the way back to Waterdeep. He crossed a river, thinking that this was all well and good as he had crossed one on the way up. When he crossed another one though he realised he was lost.
As it got dark he flew on until he saw some lights, then headed for them. Now, I myself have heard of this place, there is very small monastery hidden away on an island in a bend in the river, dedicated to Leira, the goddess of trickery.
Fenrir walked up to the door and saw the symbol, a triangle with a hurricane in the middle, but could make nothing out of it. When he knocked on the door it was answered by a female halfling who bid him enter.
He ate with her and the other monks that evening. When he asked who they worshiped one of them answered 'Tyr', and the other two giggled.
They gave him a monk's cell for the night and, somewhat suspicious of his hosts, he put something by the door to make a sound if it was opened. He was indeed woken by a clatter, but when he went to the door there was no one there. He then wedged the door with a knife and went back to sleep.
Later he was woken by the sound of chanting from the hall of the monastery and the sensation of something licking his face. As he arose, the room disappeared and he was surrounded by mist.
Something had happened, he didn't know if he'd been drugged and moved or if it was all an illusion, but he was now standing on pebbles, in thick fog as a strong wind blew from his left, bringing the smell of the sea.
He waited for a while, but when nothing happened he decided to walk towards the water. Reaching the sea he saw a robed figure lying in the surf, bobbing in the waves. It was a skeleton, in large black robes, a scythe clutched in one boney hand.
As he took the scythe the skeleton fell, its hand extending one finger back towards the land. With nothing better to do he walked away from the sea and eventually saw a light in the distance. He continued on until he saw a low-roofed cottage, tucked away in the dunes. There was the sound of merriment within and looking through the window he saw six people eating and drinking happily together.
Fenrir tried to knock on the door, but his fist went through it as if it were an illusion. He walked through the wood and into the room. No one could see him.
He began to realise this experience reminded him of a tale he had once heard. As an experiment he returned outdoors, put on the black robe and held the scythe.
He then knocked on the door and this time his fist struck the wood and made a sound.
He was welcomed in by the revelers who eyed him warily. When he pointed down at the table and said, 'It was the salmon mousse!' the spell was broken and he awoke back in the monk's cell.
DAY 375 (13h Ches)(March)
Fenrir woke in the morning and had breakfast in his room. When he went out he found that the whole shrine was deserted. As he got ready to leave he discovered that his precious Bag of Holding was missing!
He found a small carved stone triangle on the dining table which gave off a faint magical aura. Annoyed, he left the shrine and followed a path down to a jetty. He realised for the first time he was on a long narrow island in a river. There was no boat so he reasoned that they must have gone, and probably downstream since that would be easier.
He was invisible, but a wee mouse was sniffing at his feet. It then spoke, 'Hmm!
There is a man here, I can smell him. Hey man!'
Fenrir became visible and looked down at the mouse.
'My name is Vudey,' she said. 'Adept of Leira. If you have had your stuff stolen, which is highly likely as they are a gang of thieves in there, then it will be on its way now to the bishop in Waterdeep. If you help me, then I can help you.
I've been turned into a mouse by this bunch of tricksters and am in great need of a Break Enchantment. If you take me to Waterdeep and pay for it, I will get your bag back.'
Fenrir sighed. 'Do you know the way?'
'Come on the man, we can travel together. I'll sing you my songs as we go.'
They arrived at an inn later that day and spent the night.
DAY 376 (14th Ches)(March)
In the morning Fenrir and Vudey travelled to Waterdeep together and arrived at about eight in the evening. Sometimes the mouse talked and sometimes it sung songs. Fenrir couldn't work out what was more irritating.
Vudey lead him to a wizard she knew and Fenrir handed over the gold to get her changed back. Her natural form was apparently that of a gnome.
'Come on then,' she said. 'Let's get your bag back.'
She lead him to an empty house and then to an empty room, his precious bag sitting in the middle of the floor. He turned to thank her, but she laughed and disappeared.
Fenrir began to think he had been tricked in some overly complicated way, but he wasn't sure how. Everything was still in his bag after all.
As it approached eleven at night he arrived back at Old Jock's Brewery.
'Aha,' he declared wryly when he saw Giselle, 'It is the Widow Gnesher!'
(Technically she was the Widow Yardpike, but never mind!)
'You killed him...?'
Corum, who was also present put his face into his hands. 'Admitting to murder in front of a Civilar of the watch...'
'Like you haven't killed people that got in your way?'
'When?' asked Corum, bristling.
Fenrir had to think. 'Well there was that bloke we beat to death by accident when it turns out we misunderstood how damage reduction magic worked.'
'That was an accident. I don't go around slaying people Fenrir. It doesn't matter though. What did you do with the body?'
'Vaporised.'
Corum knew the sense of it, it made Teru much harder to resurrect if there was no body, but it did mean that Giselle, by the laws of Waterdeep, would not be considered a widow for seven years and could not remarry until then.
'Well,' said Corum. 'If we ever need a body, I suppose we can figure something out.'
They talked well past midnight and decided that Teru's threats were probably empty. Giselle resolved to return to Otter Saint Mary as soon as she could.
DAY 377 (15th Ches)(March)
Today Fenrir went to visit is family. He spent most of his time taking to his father over business affairs. He realised that his father was essentially a well meaning idiot who had no head for business at all.
Unfortunately neither did Fenrir.
[As a side note, I should mention that way back on DAY 217 Fenrir had managed to get Elsdon (his father) out of the Hall of Justice dungeons when the inquisition had nabbed him. Also, on DAY 240 the head of the Thunderstaff family Arsten II mysteriously disappeared, along with his interfering mother Marle. I have no proof of it but I should imagine Fenrir murdered them and installed his father at the top.]
On top of everything else, there had been a fire at the Thunderstaff Villa recently and they lacked the funds to make proper repairs. The family was on the edge of bankruptcy.
Among other things today he contacted Veddic via their magic communications gem and arranged a teleport from Thjodhild the next day.
Back at the OJB be talked to Corum, primarily about Giselle, who was now over at her aunties house arranging travel back to the Lodge House.
Corum liked Giselle and to a certain extent liked Fenrir, but cautioned about involving such a nice young lady in 'all your devil crap' as he put it.
Fenrir went over to see her and they talked for a while. She didn't throw herself at his feet so he took it gently.
She had a lot on her plate and wanted to concentrate on restoring her family.
They arranged to stay in contact via Sending Spells.
Back at the OJB, he and Corum got some drinks in and had a good night of drunken revelry. Gnarlie was there, Corum's sort of unofficial girlfriend, along with Nestoone and Raya.
When he went to bed Corum gave Fenrir the key to the 'Genie Room' down in the cellar and told him he could have some fun down there if he wanted.
Whatever Fenrir got up to with them, I shall not record it here!
DAY 378 (16th Ches)(March)
Fenrir was picked up by Thjodhild in the Market Square first thing in the morning and returned to Westgate.
He'd been away ten days, so it was just as well he had left Veddic to cover for him. He met Zeni, Relleme and Veddic over the skies of Westgate then after a chat went and talked to Trepplemar. She was surprised to see him, assuming he was dead or long gone.
'Well I suppose it's good to see you again,' she said. 'Don't expect a full pay packet this month though.'
That evening Fenrir flew over to Spectre Island and caught up with Random. Finally he went to his house on Wizard's Cut. It was not a happy house, due to being haunted.
That night the ghost of Risolde appeared to him and told him that the demons required him to kill someone. There was a list of five names, and it didn't matter which one he selected as long as it was done in as gruesome a manner as possible.
Fenrir said he would see what he could do.
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