The Old Observatory

[CGM3]

Still double moving, Cyrius should advance to 1111.

[tdsprouse]

Tex keeps his box trained on Filge, just in case.

[patransom]

Marcus calls out, “Drop to you knees with your back to us. Then lay prone!”Filge complies nervously with Marcus' command.

Lola states “"We need some major healing before we go on. I am out of energy. I can do 3 minor healings, but without rest I can do no more. After rest I can restore strength and healings as needed."” In response to Lola's comment, Marcus adds, “What healing do you have to restore my companions strength and damage?” From his belly, Filge points at two syringes on his hip, “I have here two specially-prepared injections that serve the same purpose as healing potions. One is stronger than the other, but neither will restore strength, I fear.”

Tex keeps his bow trained on Filge the entire time. By now, Cyrius has returned up the stairs.

ACTIVE EFFECTS & CONDITIONS    Cyrius of the Sudden Blade (C) - 8 hp damage Marcus Tilsworth (M) Texudus TreeBender (T) - 3 hp damage Lola (L) - 20 hp damage, 1 STR damage Filge (F) - slightly injured, prone

 

[kabkal]

Lola says to Filge “"Tell us of other dangers in this tower. Give us a basic layout of the building, all floors."”

[Duniagdra]

Waiting for Filge to answer Lola, Marcus then asks: “What has been done with the remains of the Land Family, the remains that the thugs delivered to you?”

[CGM3]

Cyrius advances to 1012, to see what's in the western part of this level (he still has his mind blade activated, just in case).

[tdsprouse]

Tex relaxes a little, moves up the back stairs to (0506) see what's in the NW side.

[patransom]

Cyrius and Tex move around to investigate the rest of the top floor. They find no hidden danger or, really, anything more interesting than what was already visible.

OUT-OF-CHARACTER:    Repeating/updating the room description, just to refresh your memory: A single chamber dominates the observatory’s entire upper floor. Light filters through the wide slit in the roof, bathing the center of the room in illumination. Four large mirrors set along the outside wall reflect bright beams into the direct center of the room, a recessed operating theater accessible via two short sets of stairs. The beams specifically target a blue-skinned humanoid figure splayed out upon an operating table, its chest completely opened and pinned back against the table with long metal needles. Two long shelves cluttered with piles of papers, rotting organs, and instruments comprise the east and west extent of the operating theater

Lola and Marcus interrogate Filge:

Lola says to Filge, “Tell us of other dangers in this tower. Give us a basic layout of the building, all floors.”

Filge says, “You must have gotten past my guards at the front door, curse you. So other than them, there are no dangers. The layout of the building is simple. The low section of the first floor is just unused rooms. The first floor of the tower is the grand dining hall. The second floor, I've made my bedroom and study. And this floor, you can see for yourself, is my research laboratory. Research you've spoiled, thank you very much.”

Marcus then asks, “What has been done with the remains of the Land Family, the remains that the thugs delivered to you?”

Filges sputters in reply, “The who? The Land Family? You mean the raw materials I had Smenk’s white half-orc fetch for me? I needed helpers, so those bones became my skeletons: those at the front door and the delightfully small one here.” He looks wistfully at the pile of bones that remains of his servant, before continuing angrily, “Are you telling me you came here because of the remains that fool brought me? I had no idea where he got them! No idea they belonged to someone important! Curse that pink-eyed fiend!”

[patransom]

OUT-OF-CHARACTER:    Waiting for the party to do something...

[kabkal]

Lola looks about, and then out one of the windows near her. “"We should tie him up and take him to the authorities. Are we still looking to get into the mine? At first glance there does not appear to be a way in from here. (back to filge) Are there any secret doors or passages in this building you would like to tell us about before we rip apart the building looking for them?"”

[CGM3]

“Is necromancy a crime in Rastingdrung?” Cyrius wonders aloud. “I say we tie him up to wait for his friends, then gather up the Land family bones and keep our agreement with the ghost. I can't think of any reason to go into the mine, now that we've found what we're looking for.”

[Duniagdra]

Pondering what to do, Marcus finally concludes: “I agree with Cyrius, there's no reason for us to go to the mines. Let's gather what we came for and go. As for taking him to authorities, I'm not sure he's really committed any crimes. While Necromancy may be taboo, I don't see signs of murder. We can inform the authorities and if they wish to investigate, they will.”
Marcus then looks at the body on the table: “What were you doing here with that body?” He asks Filge.

[tdsprouse]

Trusting the others to keep Filge at bay, Tex begins gathering the bones into a sack. Then goes downstairs and puts each Land family member's bones into a separate sack (if available).

[patransom]

Tex retrieves some empty grain sacks from the pantry in the downstairs kitchen and gathers each skeleton's bones in a separate bundle.

In the meantime, Filge answers the party's questions. To Lola: “I know of no secret doors or passages in this building. But I have not been here that long. It is my understanding that this building is entirely unrelated to the mine, although both are on land owned by my employer, Balabar Smenk.” To Marcus: “I was preparing the body to create the latest addition to my force of servants.”

He adds, “I've done nothing wrong. Any grave robbing or other crimes were committed without my knowledge by that imbecilic pink-eyed half-orc and his goons. Just let me go and I'll leave this miserable town, never to return. Smenk can deal with his cult problem on his own!”

ACTIVE EFFECTS & CONDITIONS    Cyrius of the Sudden Blade (C) - 8 hp damage Marcus Tilsworth (M) Texudus TreeBender (T) - 3 hp damage Lola (L) - 20 hp damage, 1 STR damage Filge (F) - slightly injured, prone

 

[Duniagdra]

Catching something of interest, Marcus asks: “What Cult problem? Please stand up. I agree that there's nothing for us to pursue in regards to your activities. Even Necromancers have their uses in the world.”

[kabkal]

Lola was about to ask about the cult problem, but instead asks “"And who is Smenk?"”

[patransom]

At Marcus' request, Filge stands up and, turning to face the party, dusts some of the dirt off his robe. He answers Marcus' and Lola's questions in reverse order.

“Balabar Smenk owns several mines hereabouts. I thought everyone in this miserable town knew who he was. He sure makes it seem like he's the most important man around. I guess he's wrong.” Filge chuckles a bit. “Anyway, he and I were mates 20 years ago, up north in Tula. I laugh now to think of how far he’s come in so little time. How respectful people around here are toward him. Ha! If they only knew!”

He continues, “The cult's the reason I'm here. You see, Balabar called me down from Tula to help him deal with it. It seems he got himself brought down to a hidden part of the Dourstone Mines a month ago, to set up some provisioning deal with the dwarf what runs the place. But the mine was crawling with awful beasts in hooded robes. He said their wild cries made his stomach heave. The cultists—they called themselves the Triad of Sixes—said something about the Age of Worms, about strange undead in the southern hills and the swamp. These cultists, I guess, made some threats about what they'd do if Smenk backed out his deal with them and the dwarf. Not the kind of guy to respond well to threats, Smenk decided to prepare a defense, so he called in his undead expert. Me.”

[Duniagdra]

Marcus tries to determine if the man is telling the truth in what he says, but has no way of knowing.
Sense Motive (1d20+1=2)
He looks to his companions for any hint from them on what they think.

[CGM3]

“If only we knew what about Balabar Smenk?” Cyrius asks caually.

[patransom]

“Erm, hum...” Filge replies to Cyrius, “Suffice it to say that Balabar was not always the wealthy and influential citizen he's known to be in these parts. Not hardly. But I shouldn't say more than that. I don't really want to get on his bad side, since he's currently my employers, you know.”

Since the discussion seems to have taken a congenial turn, he ventures a suggestion, “Listen. You've gotten the bones you came for. And I apologize for the idiocy of Balabar's imbecilic albino servant in taking what was obviously important to you. But if you don't really need anything else from me...” he gestures feebly toward the stairs. “I've got quite a bit of work to recreate, if I'm still going to help Smenk with his cultists.” He looks at the shattered tanks and destroyed zombie bits around the room.

[CGM3]

“Anybody have anything else to bring up or ask about?” Cyrius queries his companions. “If not, we should be about our business. After all, we've a promise to keep.”

[Duniagdra]

Of like mind to Cyrius, Marcus comments: “Do understand, Sir, that should we return and find that anything of what you've told of your business here to be false, your next meeting with us will not be favorable. Once finished with our prior commitment, we will discuss amongst ourselves if we should get involved. I say we go and do what we promised to do.”

[kabkal]

Lola nods her head in agreement. And makes her way toward the stairs.

[tdsprouse]

Tex returns with his sacks and glowers at Filge.

“I'm ready.”

[patransom]

OUT-OF-CHARACTER:    I will start a new thread tomorrow with the next phase of the adventure. I am going to assume you take a day or two in town to fully heal and recover spells, then return to the Land Family farm to bury the bones, then return to the Whispering Cairn to see if Alastair Land, as promised, has opened that last door for you. Let me know if there's anything else you want to do before or in addition to those activities.

[patransom]

OUT-OF-CHARACTER:    New thread is here