(G327 16/09/2017 via Roll20 - AP(GM), JF) RL9

(G327 16/09/2017 via Roll20 - AP(GM), JF) RL9

[Back in the forests west of Barovia - So sorry, dear reader, for all this chopping and changing! I really must sort out my note books!]

Ah, dear reader, I have neglected to mention something else that happened while we were in Barovia. Not to me, but to my wonderful wee rat that I love so much - Rolanda.

I mourned Badger every moment of every day back then, so it was of some comfort to have Fluffy and Rolanda with me.

When we had been back at the town, burying Kolyan Indirovich, the Burgomaster of Barovia, Rolanda had been sent down into the cellar of the mansion to get a bunch of keys to lock the place up.
'Some of the windows and doors haven't been locked in decades,' Ireena had explained. 'But they should all be locked up now if I am to leave the place empty. The keys are in an old wooden box with the family crest on it. It shouldn't be too hard to find and I think a ... ahem ... rat should have no trouble carrying them back.'

This is the story as related to me later by Rolanda;

''
Well boss, you know, I'd been feeling a bit weird lately. I thought it was just some bad cheese but it seems like I can cast a spell or two now! Nothing as big and impressive as you or Tie-Pie but you know, a magic missile or so. Good eh? I don't know where it's coming from but I'm not complaining!
It sure came in handy when I went down into that cellar. I had a sniff about and the first room I went into had a giant ant in it! I was so frightened that a magic missile just shot out of me!
Up until that point I had no idea I could do it! I think the giant ant was just as amazed as I was. Well I managed to kill it anyway but it did bash me about a bit.
Then in the corridor outside I saw a sleeping gnome.
'Here!', I said. 'What are you doing snoozing away in her Ladyship's house?'
'I mean no harm, little talking rat,' said the gnome. 'My name is Roywyn and I am a gnomish singer and lute player. I came through a tunnel. I was hiding from the undead who had attacked me on my way to town.'
'Fair enough,' I replied. 'Well, make yourself useful and help me find these keys!'

Together we roamed the cellar, finding more rooms and more corridors and many more of those annoying giant ants. We made a good team, sort of I suppose, but those ants were really mean
and we had just about had it when we finally came across the chest with the keys in it.
It was just as well, since Roywyn had only two Cure Light Wounds potions and we had used them both.

Well, you know the rest boss, I didn't tell you until just now, on account of how Roywyn wanted to stay hidden in the cellar for a while longer and I didn't know how Ireena would take to gnomes in her under-rooms. You know how badly gnomes smell right? No one wants that.

Got any more cheese?
''

(G326 09/09/2017 via Roll20 - AP, JF(GM), MJ) WA11

(G326 09/09/2017 via Roll20 - AP, JF(GM), MJ) WA11


DAY 299 (3rd Hammer)(January) cont ...

While Fenrir and Arahel were out on patrol over the skies of Westgate, Veddic prayed and studied the rituals on how to animate dead. He had thoughts along the lines of buying suits of armour and bunging animated skeletons in them.

The Day Air Watch met no one interesting over the city today, but Dressdelle did mention that there had been reports of 'dragon activity' in an area of mountains not too far away called the Southern Uplands. She suggested they could go take a look after they had had their breaks.

Once their shift had ended and after dinner they all decided that tonight would be the night they would try and rescue Bwabazwards from Castle Cormaeril. As they came up with a (pretty rough!) plan there was a knock on the door then they heard Groza the housekeeper talking to another woman. She was a local lass who was pregnant and wanted her tummy to be touched by a fey for good
luck.
Arahel didn't really know what to do, but gave a blessing as best she could.

Once the house was quiet again, Arahel went for a fly above the Castle. It was not far from the cottage they rented, indeed  only another large country house and some woodland separated them. Arahel, who had excellent eyes, saw the guards at the  towers, a culvert that opened out to the sea on the north side and at the base of most of the towers a hole where a  castle latrine emptied.

After this scouting mission they all went through the trees to the base of the castle. Veddic then cast 'Symbol of Sleep' on a stone. This would prove a useful tool for subduing the guards although it did cost them 1000 gold in diamonds and opals.

Fenrir (immune to the effects of the symbol as they all were, due to the properties of the spell) then flew above the prison tower, invisible, and tossed it onto the battlements.

Three of the guards fell over into a deep slumber. Next he returned to the trees and gave Veddic a piggy back up to the tower. In full plate armour, Veddic was not light. As other guards came into the radius of the spell and fell asleep where they stood, they landed on the battlements and dealt with the few that still remained standing.
Next they travelled all the way down to the basement of the tower, stepping over sleeping servants and guards as they went.

They then entered the prison area and quickly dealt with the guards and Fire Knife rogues that were stationed in the central area of the cells. The captain and some others were still standing, but again, quickly dealt with. Fenrir and the others were trying not to kill anyone so when the last guard backed off to help his fallen comrades they allowed this.
They saved some time by asking the guard which cell 'Baz' was in (his name is virtually unpronounceable to anyone on this plane!) and they found him, asleep of course, on the floor of his cell. In the entrance of the cell, between the two doors, was a box of magical items. They did not question why it was there and helped themselves to everything.

Despite saving some time, the castle was now fully awake to the invaders and as they attempted to leave they were attacked by the castles powerful magic users. Arahel had turned into a hill giant, but she was now a bit of a target for Fire Knife rogues armed with magical crossbows that fired Acid Arrows.

Also, from room on the main corridor a wizard had been disturbed from his slumber and came out to rain down fireballs on them. They were now meeting the real power of the castle, something they were not really equipped to face head on.

They managed to chase off the Fire Knives who went upstairs and barricaded the doors, and also injured the wizard (a man called Sodder they would learn later) enough to make him hide in his room.

However, there were more people coming from the other end of the long corridor that the prison exited to. Heavily armed guards, more Fire Knives and more magic users. Things were beginning to get hairy.

Eat Your Dinner!

Eat Your Dinner!

(The Skills That (Don't) Pay the Bills)

Being a father of three I have a lot of recently acquired skills that will only be useful for a short period in my life.
I can change a nappy quickly and efficiently, or at least I used to be able to.
Pop, Pop, Swipe, Wipe, Bag, Bish, Bosh, Yoink, Tab, Tab, Done!
I've not done one in a couple of years, so who knows? How rusty are my nappy changing skills now?

I used to be able to catch, strip and change a toddler for bed in about two minutes. This too is a skill that I no longer have a use for. I sometimes feel like I want to borrow a baby or a toddler now, just to keep my hand in. Seriously.

One thing though, that I think I'll never be able to shake, is my overwhelming desire to make sure a child finishes its dinner. Myself and the wife feel the same way, on this we are in complete agreement, we simply cannot suffer to see a child not clear its plate.

Over the last ten years we have developed the following tactics.

1. Firmly saying (i.e. shouting) 'Eat Your Dinner!' and pointing at the plate repeatedly.
2. Long lectures on Food, Nutrition and the horrors of Vitamin deficiency (i.e. Ye Olde Tales of Skirvy Pete the Pirate).
3. Suggesting that at next dinner time they can eat handfuls of dandelions and mud, since they don't seem to like what is being served to them today.
4. Me guarding the kitchen door to catch kids trying to escape back to Minecraft or CBeebies.
5. Threats of reductions in computer time and other privileges.
6. Guilt trip stories of hungry refugee children from around the world.

It has now reached a level as to be pure instinct. So much so, that now I actually have to leave the room if I am eating at a table where a kid I have no control over is picking over a plate of food, for fear of what I might say.

What I am holding back, if given vent, would go thusly:
Me: 'Eat your bloody dinner!'
Kid's Parent: 'Oh, but Ben doesn't really care for broccoli we just put it on his plate anyway.'
'Wh-at?'
'You know, get him used to it. He never eats it.'
'WH-AT?'
'Don't worry about it.'
'So its just ... thrown away? After every meal?'
'We just, you know, don't force him. He just eats what he wants. If he's not hungry then that's fine.'
'That's. Fine... Oh that's fine, is it? Food going in the bin? Hey, that's no problem! Just eat a few mouthfuls then go back to Roblox. If your hungry later, have a bag of crisps. No problem. It's fine! Well you know what else was fine? Hitler! That's what you want is it? Bring back Hitler? He didn't finish his dinner either!'

... you get the idea, honestly I think I am that bad.

Recently someone said to me, 'Oh, but your children are so good. They always eat their dinner, mine are so fussy.'

Well, let me tell you, my kids clearing their plates did not happen by accident! It's not like we are just got lucky and happen to be blessed with children that will eat anything put in front of them. They eat it because they know what's  good for them and this took years and years of hard work from me and the wife.
They always eat their dinner now because we used every trick and tactic (see above) we had and never ever gave up or even  slacked off. It was a ten year battle, and eventually we won.
And for you, the thing is, you tried to get your kids to eat their vegetables, for a month or two. Or even a year or two.
And then you gave up. Never give up!

Now my kids (bless them) eat everything put in front of them, usually with very little prompting. It remains to be seen if we've inflicted any eating disorders on them, but I suppose we'll see later in life.

But me and the misses, we are so bad that now I think between the two of us, we could break a hunger strike.

... Walks into cell, 'You're on hunger strike eh? Not eating this lovely plate of food eh? Eat the food! Eat it! You want it to go to the birds? There are children in Syria that would cry in joy at the sight of a tiny bit of this food! Eat it!
You'd rather it was thrown away? With so many people hungry in the world? Eat it! You'll get no pudding! No TV or computer tonight, eat it! Look at this lovely meal. The chef spent ages on this. How do you think he'll feel? Knowing you didn't even touch it? Eat it! Eat! It! Eatit!'
... and similar, for hour after hour. I'd take pleasure in it. I think we would break anyone in the end.

There is something wrong with me now. Seeing food going to waste is on a level with genocide. That's not right. I realise that.

All I can say is, hopefully one day my kids will forgive me.

(G325 02/09/2017 via Roll20 - AP, JF(GM), MJ) WA10

(G325 02/09/2017 via Roll20 - AP, JF(GM), MJ) WA10

[And back to West gate again!]

DAY 298 (3rd Hammer)(January) cont ...

Just to do a little back story here and to catch up with someone who was thought dead.
Well, you may remember that Veddic Carver, the cleric of Kossuth who had been one of the original members of the party that had left Waterdeep to travel to Kingsholm.
Of course, he never made it to Kingsholm as he was savaged to death by bears on the Thar.

Or was he? It turned out he was savaged only *very nearly* to death. When the ogres arrived and saw he was a cleric of Kossuth they called off the bears and made sure he did not die.

He was then kept in a cage for ten days and traded for a chest of gold from the Burning Dagger Orcs  that also lived on the Thar and who were, as it happened, devout worshippers of Kossuth.

Veddic was in communication with Jamella Dotrok back in Waterdeep (via the Sending spell) and she helped sort out the trade. Veddic thanked the orcs (and donated a 1000 gp to their tribe) then, as ordered by his boss (or Eternal Flame if you prefer) Dotrok he made his way to Westgate.

He was to seek out Fenrir and see what he was up to. The word on the 'Temple Grapevine' was that something big was going on in the city. He got passage on a fast ship in Melvaunt and arrived in Westgate on this very day.

All he needed to do to find Fenrir was to look up, as the young warlock, Arahel and Dressdelle were all flying about over the city, patrolling from tower to tower in between long breaks and large meals.

Fenrir and Arahel were tired, having had no sleep at all, but they still had a shift to do. Today they encountered a very uncooperative dwarf mounted on a giant owl. He was leaving the city and would not stop and cast magical webs at them. This was an effective way of escaping, but he was still in range long enough for a fireball from Dressdelle to kill his owl.
The dwarf himself plummeted for a bit, but then cast a flying spell. He may have thought that he was then about to make his escape, but Fenrir's ethereal blasts are long range and one was enough to kill him and send him the way of his owl.
It was a spectacular display for anyone who happened to be watching down below. Arahel swooped in and grabbed the corpse (turning into a gargoyle to do so) and when they looted it back at the Watch Tower he was fairly well laden down with treasure. Dressdelle tucked it all away to be sold later.

Later in the day they stopped a flying man who gave his name only as 'Fred'. He didn't want to stop to chat or land and go through the gates so offered 10 platinum pieces to smooth the way.
Fenrir said, 'Make it fifteen.'
Fred handed over the coins and went on his way.

Dressdelle let then leave two hours early, the weather was closing in and they both looked like they needed rest. Arahel, with her eagle eyes, had already spotted Veddic waving up at them and they landed to meet him near the market.

Street performers, fire breathers and jugglers were drawing crowds in the area, part of the new year celebrations.

Veddic followed them to the cottage and Arahel kindly let him have her bed. She herself was happy to, was used to, sleeping in any random corner or chair, much like a cat.

That evening Nebulus came to their door, hooded and discreet. He gave them a mild telling off saying, 'You were there as my guests you know! It will take a few favours and a bit of influence for me to smooth things over with Dreggleblot. I'll probably never get an invite again because  of you!'
He didn't seem all that upset though and reminded them that he still had that warehouse he wanted help with and he also mentioned a castle that 'needed raided' somewhere on the Dragon Coast.
They could do for him in return for messing up his social calendar.

Before Groza (their housekeeper) headed home she asked Arahel to check over the cottage's goat.  The milk had gone funny apparently. Arahel took a look, and cast Detect Magic just in case.
As far as she could tell though the goat just had an upset stomach.
'Was it a witch?' asked Groza.
Arahel said no.

Finaly Fylker and Riz turned up at the cottage, late and drunk. Everyone else was asleep.

DAY 299 (3rd Hammer)(January)

This was Fenrir and Arahel's sixth day 'on patrol' over the skies of Westgate.

Before they went out, Trepplemar the Magnificent called them into her chambers and delivered a fairly stern lecture on the laws of Westgate.

It turned out that you can't just arrest nobles in their own estates outside the city, whatever the evidence. As members of the 'DAW' (Day Air Watch) their jurisdiction was the sky above the city only.
She said:
''
If you want someone arrested within the city, come to me to arrange a warrant. And then the ground based watchmen will likely do it. Even if you see a crime being committed in the streets you are better off - legally speaking - alerting a constable.
Outside the city walls watchmen have no power at all. I don't know how things were done back in Waterdeep, but here we are not a police force. The watch keep the streets clear of scum during the night and guard the gates during the day.
All that being said, in the air you have supreme authority. You can blast anyone you like out of the sky. You don't need a reason. The air above the city is a "no fly zone" and if they don't have a jolly good reason for being up there, then ground them.
''

She told them much more than that and they learned a lot about the city and how it functioned.

(G324 26/08/2017 via Roll20 - AP(GM), JF, MJ) RL8

(G324 26/08/2017 via Roll20 - AP(GM), JF, MJ) RL8

[Returning to my later adventures in Barovia with Sylvia, Yli and Tie-Pie]

DAY 344 (11th Alturaik)(February) cont ...

And so as the evening came to an end we returned to the Inn and ate a late supper before heading for our beds.

I chatted to Ireena for a while before retiring, but gained no new information. She is a pleasant enough conversationalist though.

Geyven, as usual paid for everything. He is a good sort!

DAY 345 (12th Alturaik)(February)

I talked to the landlord in the morning, before we set off west to see the wise woman. He only knew that people that set off in that direction didn't come back and warned of strange beasts and
twisted women.
This part of the world was not a good tourist destination it seemed.

I invested in a hamper full of booze, food and other goodies to help smooth the way when we met this wise woman and whatever other raggle taggle gypsy folk she associated with. I stuffed it into my bag of holding with everything else.

We left the town then, and entered a cold and rugged landscape of tall dark pine forests and mist shrouded mountains. The mist lingered everywhere, limiting visibility and sending a shiver down the spine.

As the day wore on we passed over a bridge, then later found a some wolf paw prints (or something wolf-like anyway, neither myself or Sylvia were not sure) in the track.
They lead to a area choked with underbrush were we found the dead body (dead for two weeks) of a  villager. On the body we found a letter sealed with a letter 'B'.

The letter read:

''
Hail to thee of might and valour:
I, a lowly servant of the township of Barovia, send  honour to thee.
We plead for thy so desperately needed assistance within our community.
The love of my life, Ireena Kolyana, has been afflicted by an evil so
deadly that even the good people of our town cannot protect her.
She languishes from her wound and I would have her saved from this menace.
But I fear the only cure lies within the dreaded walls of the castle,
where none may enter without risking their lives.
There is much wealth in this community. I offer all that might be had
to thee and thy fellows if thou shalt but answer my desperate plea.
Come quickly, for her time is at hand! All that I have shall be thine!

Kolyan Indirovich,
Burgomaster of Barovia
''

Now this was interesting because we had come across another letter earlier (stuffed in the envelope with the strange diary page we had been given in the Weary Horse Inn.

This letter was similar, but where the one we had just found talked of an 'evil so deadly' the earlier one read:

''
The love of my life, Ireena Kolyana, has been cursed by the witches
of Lysaga Hill, and even the good people of our town are powerless
to free her from this enchantment. She wastes away under the witches’
curse and I would have her saved from this menace.
''

Ireena recognised the hand writing of the first letter as her fathers. The letter that talked of the witches then was likely a forgery.

We left the body where it was and continued on our way. After an hour or so we were stopped by an elf that asked us 'What evil do you bring to this forest?' He had a couple of wolves with him.

When I replied that I was a druid and my cousin was a cleric of Sylvanus he relaxed a bit and let us continue. I asked his name and he gave it as Qinnan Thedithas.

As night began to fall we found a decent camp site and settled down to a meal of trail rations and subdued talk. We discussed the events of the day in hushed whispers, feeling the mist about us like a lurking presence. We lit a fire though and that warmed us a little. The magic bedrolls we all have are a tremendous boon in regions like this.

On Ashlyn's watch she heard rustling in the bushes. She quickly woke us all and as we rubbed the sleep from our eyes and drew our weapons there was a tremendous roar and two dire bears charged into the light.

As a druid I have empathy will all animals and attempted to calm them, but they were too enraged or hungry.

Dire bears attack by grabbing you, then slashing with tooth and claw. Fluffy attacked one but was grabbed in a massive bear hug, the poor lad yelping in pain as the bear sunk its teeth into him. As the others backed off I turned into a dire bear myself and met the other one head on, our massive paws swiping at each other.

The bear I was fighting was having the better of me and if I not managed to escape its grasp I'm sure I would have suffered terribly. Sylvia shouted she had a plan though and I disengaged and drew back about twenty feet. Tie-Pie managed to land a Ray of Enfeeblement on one of them and as we scattered Sylvia encircled the bears with a Wall of Thorns.

It was a domain spell and good luck that she had it as it stopped the bears in their tracks and rendered them harmless. I turned into an eagle to get a better view while Yli fired two more arrows through the thorns and killed one of them.

Sylvia cast a Searing Light at the other one then I finished it off with a Splinter Bolt.

As the other bear breathed its last I suddenly realised that in all that heap of fur and thorns was poor Fluffy! He had not stepped back when the Thorns hit and in the darkness I had lost  track of him.

Sylvia dispelled the thorns and I went to him. He was a whisker away from death but we managed to bring him back with magic healing. Sadly he had lost an eye and that would require greater healing later on. He did look rather dashing when we put an eye-patch over it though.

We had also lost a couple of magic bedrolls, torn up in the thorns.

In the morning Sylvia told me she had received a dream from Sylvanus, who was somewhat miffed at us for killing 'defenceless' bears. Well, they were defenceless only after we had penned them in.
I'm not sure how Sylvia took it, but as far as I was concerned Sylvanus could stick his bears up his arse.

(G333 05/08/2017 via Roll20 - AP, JF(GM)) 58

(G333 05/08/2017 via Roll20 - AP, JF(GM)) 58


DAY 148 (sun) cont ...

Kirk spent the next five hours getting the computer based part of his escape plan sorted out.
First an intrusive program called 'Fire Alarm Cascade' would set off all the alarms from floor 30 to
40. Thirty seconds after that a 'Camera Loop' would play back pre-recorded images of all the corridors while they were quiet.
Finally the doors on his floor and up to the roof would unlock.

This took him five hours to do.

His breakfast came, and once he had eaten, he set off all the programs from the terminal in his room and began his prison break.

His plan met with initial success, but after a few floors up he was spotted and chased by armed police to the loading bay. Here he hijack a hover car, with a woman in it, and attempted to drive it out.
He crashed against the wall to begin with and the woman jumped out. As cops came up the stairs and shot at the car he managed, somehow, to drive it out the exit, crashing through the roller doors as they came slamming down.

The car was badly damaged though and began to plummet towards the street far below. Kirk screamed, planted his feet on all the pedals and pulled back on the wheel. In truth he had no idea how to drive a car of any kind, let alone an alien hover vehicle.

The car descended sharply and crashed through the windows of the adjacent office, three floors from the top. Dazed, but still alive, Kirk pulled himself from the wreckage and made his way to the roof.

Perhaps he was still in a state of confusion, as he lingered on the roof long enough for the circling
cop cars that had followed him out to spot him and come towards the office block. Kirk went back in, jammed the door shut and headed down the internal fire escape stairs.

The building was clearing of people, morning workers being hustled down the stairs by police as they came up. Kirk could hear them just a few floors down so before he went down much more than a few flights he had to duck into the open plan offices and find a desk to hide under.

It wasn't long though before the whole office floor was full of cops, methodically searching the main area and side rooms. By a minor miracle he was not spotted in the sweep, but the lingering police officers were cutting off his escape route.

He pitched an ash tray across the office and lured two of them away and headed for the stairs.

Kirk managed to get three floors further down, but spotted cops coming up again so headed back into the building. Unfortunately there were more cops on the floor he entered. Kirk threw a chair, but was no better  at unarmed combat than driving a car and they police quickly closed on him and beat him with their nightsticks then handcuffed him.

Initially he was taken to the medical centre back in the police tower where he at least got a bit of a lie down while the doctor healed him up.
He asked to 'see a priest' but this was not how Vhnori culture worked. The priests (and Thanatologists) did not visit prisoners in the same way they did back on Earth.

Kirk's body clock told him it was late evening by the time he was put back in a cell. A smaller one this time with no computer terminal in it. Luckily though he had managed to hide his comms badge again.

He was exhausted and escape seemed even harder now. He tried to think of another way to get out of the police station, but as he lay back on his bunk he was quickly asleep.

(G323 12/08/2017 via Roll20 - AP, JF(GM), MJ) WA9

(G323 12/08/2017 via Roll20 - AP, JF(GM), MJ) WA9

DAY 295 (30th Nightal)(December)

Everyone reported to their watch house again this morning.
Forgive me, dear reader, I have little information on what Fylker and Riz got up to over the next few days so I will only record here what I know about Fenrir and Arahel's employment.

As they had done the day before they had a long breakfast then took to the skies.

The only thing of interest that happened during there watch was when a wizard flew high over the walls, heading to the city. He had his wife on his back and carried two heavy looking bags yoked over his shoulders.

He seemed fed up, but stopped to let Fenrir question him. He was on the way to see his mother apparently, at  number 75 Wizard's Cut.

'Good,' said Dressdelle who had been watching and appraising. 'But you forgot to ask his name, where he had come from, how long he intended to stay, why he didn't enter by the gate... oh and his school of magic. The city is not keen on Necromancers at the moment after all that bad business in the summer.'

Fenrir accepted the criticism.

That evening, after work, Fenrir and Arahel went to see Nebulus, flying in through the top window as arranged (Fylker and Riz went to the pub - it was New Year's Eve after all!). He had information for them about Castle Cormaeril, its layout and defences and also told Fenrir he could get his stolen stuff for him if he helped clear a warehouse  of guards prior to him robbing it.
They agreed to do it some time soon.

DAY 296 (1st Hammer)(January) 1377DR

And so the start of the New Year saw them all reporting for duty again as normal. This was their third day in the Watch.

As part of their training Dressdelle was having Fenrir and Arahel talk to the people they found flying above the city. Now it was Arahel's turn and as an eagle she intercepted a flying woman in black called Silderan.
The woman was in no mood to talk, but eventually Arahel pestered her into revealing she was leaving the city because she had split up with her boyfriend.

'Good,' said Dressdelle. 'We are less concerned about people leaving the city. But perhaps she was going to burn down a village somewhere to vent some of her anger?'
'Should we follow her?' asked Arahel watching the angry woman in black fly off into the clouds.
'No, it's ok. We have the authority to stop anyone we like up here, for whatever reason or none at all. But she  didn't explicitly said she was leaving to cause harm. If she had been coming in though, that would have been a different matter.'

When they got home that night there was a mysterious letter on the table. It was opened and read:

''
I'm sorry I cannot come and meet you, there is a lot going on elsewhere that I must attend to.
Hopefully this letter finds you well. If you have succeeded in joining a city faction, then the next step is to see how high you can get up in it. The higher the better. Do remember though, Fenrir old chap, that you are one of the good guys here. Any acts of wanton naughtiness will make Gerty sad and none of us want that.
If you need funds, then enquire after a gentleman called Morne Mardo who is a merchant with a premises on the market square. Give the password 'Burnt Cakes' and when he asks your name
give it as our favourite watchman/dung sweeper.
Mardo will provide funds, but please only use this money for furthering our cause and also when you go there, go in disguise, as a merchant or whatever with some vaguely plausible cover story.
When you are down at the market see if you can pick up a copy of a book. The title of the book I will not name here, but see if you can find it based on these clues:
1. The novel's title has seven words
2. The first word is a title for a grand old dame
3. The second word is made up of two words, the first is what Sune is the goddess of and the second is a material made from yarn that might decorate collars or cuffs.
4. The third word is a conjunction and the middle part of a bandana
5. The forth word is a pronoun for number 1
6. The fifth word means lots
7. The sixth word is the race of our good friend with the name 'The upper part of William'
8. The seventh word may possibly describe the relationship between our friends Durz and Berum

You'll need this book for later!

Cavu the Cursed

P.S. Don't forget to snoop about for that Serpent Door!
''

After a long time of puzzling over the letter they thought it was something like;
'Madame Sun (or Love )lace and knot many gnome partners'

Down at the market they found a lovely old bookshop and eventually, after nearly being forced to buy '50 shades of gnome', 'Gnomes in love', 'Marriage rituals of the dragon coast' and 'The spinster bride' they eventually found what they were after;

'Lady Lovelace and her many gnomish lovers'

They paid double for it, a gold, to also reward the shopkeeper for being kept up well past closing time.

DAY 297 (2nd Hammer)(January)

The 4th day of working for the Watch.

Fenrir stopped a witch as she left the city. She gave a false name and was far to fast on her broomstick for him to catch. He did shoot at her and hit her broom.
She yelped, 'Ooh ya bugger!' but she did not stop.

Later in the day another witch gave a false name to Arahel as she entered the city.

This was the only excitement this day (work wise anyway).

Fenrir asked when they could get a day off and Dressdelle seemed surprised.
'A day off? I was hoping once I'd trained you up, I could take a day off. I've been doing the DAW by myself for a month! Well, maybe in a few days if you seem up to it, I'll take a few days off... maybe get my friend Jendins to keep an eye on you. After that you can have a couple of days.'

Fenrir accepted this.

Back at the cottage they had received an invite to a masquerade ball from Nebulus.
'It's an open house and you can use my name to get in', read the note. 'Get a costume and come along. It starts at 10 o'clock tonight. It is the mansion of Lady Dreggleblot, outside the city. Leave by the South Gate and once you are past the castles you can't miss it.'

They arrived at the villa on foot, Fenrir dressed in a rented costume and Arahel going as herself, reasoning that she would look unusual enough as she was, being small and green skinned.

The mansion, more of a fortified villa, was a large walled compound with a main building and several other structures such as the stables and servant quarters.

The party did not really get going until after midnight.

DAY 298 (3rd Hammer)(January)

They met Lady Dreggleblot herself, a powerfully built woman of middle years. Most of the party was in the main hall. There was lots of food, drunk and music. As the night wore on the masque got more and more debauched and in the dark corners of the villa and the upstairs rooms people found places to kiss and cuddle.

At about two in the morning word went round that something bad had happened. Someone that Fenrir had been talking to said,
'I think someone has been killed! Oh Deary me. Hey. You are the "Duck Detective" are you not? You should go help out.'
The young fellow was referring to the incident in Ferbone where they had not quite managed to save poor Daphne the Duck from the pot.

Lady Dreggleblot herself led them to a service corridor where the body of a serving girl lay dead. From the marks on her body it looked like she had been strangled. Her neck was bruised and scratched. The only other clue they found was a few strands of long blonde hair in her hand. Her name was Nance.
When asked about possible suspects Lady D said,
'Well, I don't know but I remember seeing her talking to Lord Bercy before. Oh and she was sat on Sir Metrum's knee for a while. Hmm, I also remember seeing Baron Nader trying to grab her breasts.'

Looking around the hall they saw Lord Bercy, dressed as a goat, chatting with a group of friends. Sir Metrum was dressed as a bear and had a wench on his knee and Baron Nader, dressed as a wolf, was half asleep on a sofa. They dismissed him as he was bald and tried to look at the other's hand, specifically their fingernails. Sir Metrum was evidently a nail biter and virtually had none.
Judging he could not have left the marks on Nance's neck with nail-less fingers, the finger (hoho!) of suspicion fell on Lord Bercy.

They decided to try and trick a confession out of him. Arahel shapeshifted into Nance and lay on a bed in one of the upstairs rooms. Fenrir sent a servant to get Bercy and hid behind the door.

As he entered Bercy said, 'I was told to come to this room. What japes! Oh, it is you my dear. Have you re-thought my offer?'
He climbed into bed beside Arahel.

Fenrir then pounced, his black wings arched above his head, his arms raised. Bercy, a small and timid man feinted dead away.
'To be honest, I don't think it's him,' said Fenrir as they dumped his sleeping body in another room.

They decided to try the same ploy with Metrum and when he arrived he lay down and said,
'I don't think I can manage more than a cuddle my dear. It's very late and I'm spent!'
Fenrir revealed himself again and Metrum was so shocked he soiled himself and the bed.
'Why you! I should... gohhh!' he snarled as he left the room.

This part of the plan having failed they decided to talk to some of the staff and Arahel had a few words with Mavis, another serving girl. She put them onto a footman called Hertman who had had an 'understanding' with Nance.

He was helping looking after all the horses and coaches of the party guests and had not heard of her death. When they told him among other things he said,
'Oh, I did warn her not to get ideas. She said she was going to rob the place because she... well, she was not fond of her Ladyship. I should not say more though my Lord.'

They looked in Nance's room, which she shared with other girls, but found no clues. Just a girl of ten who was trying to sleep and didn't like the intrusion.

They talked to the cook in the servant's kitchen, but by now they were both sure. The murderer was Lady D herself. She was strong enough to have done it and she had long blonde hair.

At five in the morning they met her in a private room.
'Have you resolved the situation?' she asked.
When Fenrir said, 'It was you that did it.'
She snarled back, 'You dare make this accusation? Based on what evidence?'

Arahel tried to look at her nails, but Lady D hid them behind her back.

Lady D look haughty then said, 'Even if it were true. What are you going to do about it?'

'We are of the Watch,' said Fenrir with a sinister look. 'We are going to arrest you.'

She made to run for the door and Fenrir blew her foot off with an Eldritch Blast.
Needless to say her screams drew a crowd. Fenrir put a blessed bandage on her foot to stop her dying of blood loss.

Arahel stepped out the window, turned into a giant, reached in and then slung Lady D over her shoulder. Fenrir flew away up into the night. At the City gates they handed Dreggleblot over to the Watch.

An hour later they reported for duty.

'Well,' said Dressdelle. 'She'll be out in a few hours I expect. The Watch will back you and protect you, but we have less authority outside the walls. Besides, she can pay the Wergild to the family and that's the end of it. You should really have walked away and reported it all to the Marshall. She would probably have accepted the charge and paid the fine, end of story. If you blasted her foot off then you've made a strong enemy today.'

'Meh,' said Fenrir. He had plenty of enemies already!