Move 139: Return to Milborne
Milborne--Afternoon, 1 Eleint 1374 DRThe trip back to Kuiper's passed without incident. At his farm, everyone said their final farewells to the dryad who had been traveling with them before Jyothki disappeared across the river. An easy night was spent in various places around the farmhouse and barn. The walk along the side of the river the next day was as uneventful as the trip the day before. That afternoon, the group arrived in Milborne for the first time in two Rides.
They headed to the logical place to meet up with Arachne--the Baron of Mutton. One of the twins posted a piece of parchment on the inside of the door as they entered:
To celebrate the nuptials of his son and heir Lytern Parlfray to the Lady Jillian Cormaeril,
Lord Sandior Parlfray announces a feast to be held at Parlfray Keep on Highharvestide.
All good citizens of Haranshire are invited to attend.Echo stopped to read the paper and frowned. "That's interesting," she commented, glancing at Jana sideways.
"Yes, it is," Jana replied, looking slightly puzzled. "Taking over for his father seems to have done him a world of good," she added in a neutral voice.
"Good citizens. I guess that wouldn't include us. Last I checked we weren't in much favor with our young lord Lytern." Blacky huffed.
"Why, what'd you do? Aside from kidnap him, I mean..." Daelen asked with at least a credible attempt to keep from grinning.
Echo looked confused. She asked Jana, "Did something else happen with Lytern that I don't know about?"
"Not that I'm aware of," Jana replied, equally confused. "I thought our parting was... amicable."
"Yeah, except for the fact that he thinks we're heartless murderers because that bandit mage we killed happened to be pregnant. Oh and maybe the fact that he had to ship one of our group back to Cormyr on murder charges. Other than that, I suppose it was an amicable enough parting." Blacky replied
Echo's face paled slightly at something in Blacky's words. She looked down at her feet before adding very quietly, "I guess we see the 'facts' a little differently."
"He did get the map for me," Jana pointed out. "At the risk of considerable embarrassment for his father. And since that pregnant witch very nearly killed me," she added, irritated, "my sympathy's pretty much nil. If she hadn't been killed," Jana said, glancing at Echo, "her next try might've killed me or someone else. I think he realizes that, even if he doesn't like it."
"Perhaps you are right Jana. I won't be attending the wedding feast in any event, so I don't suppose that I have to worry about whether I'm welcome or not." Blacky finished.
"Leave it to a noble to have a feast when their lands and people are being terrorized..." Daelen said with a smirk.
"Why don't you go and express that opinion to Lord Lytern," Jana suggested.
Daelen glanced at Jana and shrugged. "I'd rather not spend the rest of my days rotting in a dungeon."
"Then you might want to consider being a bit more circumspect," Jana advised.
Jana turned away from Daelen and took a step toward the bar, then looked over her shoulder. "Hey, Echo, you want something to drink?"
"Does she talk down to everyone like that or am I just a special case?" he asked to nobody in particular.
The gnome glanced away from her conversation. "No, I don't think you're a special case," she said carefully.
Inside the common room, they found the little gnome in the company of a moon elf woman. Other than that, the place was deserted, the hour being too early for the respectable folk of Milborne to take to drinking.
Fostering no illusions of respectability, Daelen moved to take a seat at the bar and scratched Snow behind the ears as he waited to be served.
Aloysius had remained mostly silent during the trek back to Milborne. He did seem to pay an undue amount of attention to the river and seemed to be cautiously watching it out of the corner of his eye. Upon the group's arrival at the Baron, he shrugged off his pack and placed it on the floor next to the table where Arachne and the moon elf woman sat.
"Arachne!" he said with a grin, "'tis good to see that thou hath made the journey safely." He stretched his arms up over his head and groaned.
"Uh huh. No thanks to the gnolls," she replied absently, taking up her sewing again. "You all look as though your journey was also fairly untroubled."
"Finally! Ne'er again did Stargazer believe he would eat anything other than trail rations." He sat down at the table, and waved at anyone who appeared to be waiting tables.
"Oh," he said rolling his eyes and looking back at the gnome. "I almost forgot. What found thee in the Glade? Did you manage to procure any moss?"
"Uh, you might have to rely on the trail rations a little longer," the gnome suggested. "Until it's nearer to suppertime, anyway."
"I found nothing in the Glade," Arachne sighed. "That is, I found nothing in the Glade that hadn't been there the day before. It was as if we hadn't been there at all. No sign of Rumer or Falgout. I couldn't even tell where they'd fallen. Unfortunately, that makes it more likely -- to my mind -- that Ranchefus is yet finding some use for them –
"Which reminds me. (Sorry, Ceth, I'm always forgetting my manners.) This is Cethyran of clan Silvermoon. She's very knowledgeable about undead stuff. Know thy enemy sort of thing. Cethyran, this is Aloysius Stargazer of Castle Moonspawn, student of Thelderkein. He's a very esoteric wizard, familiar with many disciplines that are far beyond the common ken. The others are Daelen Bloodless (of the Shining Sword), and Blacky Blackthorn -- he's the one who'd dwarf a smithy. The elves are Etienne Longpath and Rennirolas Starchaser. The women are Janathell Caislean and Echo. They're my friends and they're the ones who did the fighting at the Gleaming Glade. Oh..." Arachne's sewing slipped out of her lap as she dug into her purse. She soon pulled out some vegetable matter. "Here's some of that moss..." she said, looking at it doubtfully.
Echo smiled politely at Cethyrn as Arachne made introductions then stared down at the floor.
Jana nodded to Cethyran as she was introduced. "We appreciate your help," she said politely.
Rennirolas smiled as introductions were made. "It is most pleasant to see one who follows the
Daughter of the Night Skies," Renn said, still with his smile present. "I am Rennirolas, of the Starchaser clan of Evereska, Feywarden of the Protector.""I was of Cormanthyr," Cethyran replied. "But my enclave has gone on now, to the isle. I am the only one remaining on the mainland. It is good to meet one that follows Corellon."
Aloysius sniffed at the moss and eyed it closely. "Excellent, small one. This shall prove most useful."
He took the moss and dropped it in an empty glass vial that he had withdrawn from his pack. he then
oured a little water into the vial in order to keep the moss moist. He then put the vial back into his belt pouch."So Cethyran, thou hast expertise in the area of undead? A most curious field of study, I must say.
The area around here seems to have more than its fair share of such creatires. Certain am I that your studies shall be quite fruitful during your time here."He once again looked around to see if there was anyone who might take a breakfast order.
"Small one," he said, momentarily distracted from his quest for a good meal, "didst thou say something about gnolls?"
"Hmm? Oh, them." Arachne looked up from retrieving her sewing. "They're only where you'd expect them to be: The Great Rock Dale. I flew over it getting here. That was the most direct route. Several shot a few arrows at me, so I had to fly up some. They had enough cover so I'm not certain who the archers were. But a couple of gnolls did trail after me a ways on the ground.
"Anyone interested in some gratuitous violence could definitely find amusement in the Great Rock Dale," the gnome sighed. "Me, I'd rather organize a visit to the Garlstone mines. I think that'd lead to where the orcs were holding Echo. There's Lord Carmen's mines, which are still being worked. The miners, when they're in town can be found at the Silver Dagger -- but I don't think you'd find them there now. The Mutton was _very_ quiet last night, which says to me that there's no festival or the like attracting anyone to town. And usually, the miners camp closer to their work than Milborne. Anyway, I doubt you'd find any orcs around Lord Carmen's mine. It's too active. Besides, there's the Garlstone mine, which has been abandoned for more than 50 years. I think the Garlstone is the one we ought to visit. And of that, I've found a map -- though it may be seriously out of date."
"Nope," Jana muttered darkly, "Kaileer's gone."
"Amusement always goes better with profit. You know if anyone's willing to pay for their heads?" Daelen asked with obvious interest.
"My error," Jana said to Arachne, rolling her eyes. She glanced at Daelen and muttered, "Have fun."
"That would be the whole point of amusement, wouldn't it?" Daelen retorted sarcasticaly.
"Uh huh," Arachne said quickly, taking Daelen's interest at face value. "And amusement is all you'd be likely to get (aside from the usual casualties) unless you took up a subscription from the good citizens around here _before_ going hunting. I don't know that there's any standing order for gnoll heads. If there were, it'd most likely be from Lord Carmen (or possibly Palfrey)."
"Agreed," said Aloysius with a nod of his head. "Do you know how far away these mines are? It might be wise if we equip ourselves for such conditions afore we depart."
"Yeah," Jana agreed. "We'll need rope, a lot, lots of torches, pitons, hammers... I've got a lantern in my saddle bag. Probably need more oil for it, though."
Aloysius rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Rastifer sells nearly every imagineable product. Wonder do I
if he sells these types of things? Mayhap after we eat, we can go and ask him.""Rastifer may sell every imaginable product," Arachne warned, "but he doesn't imagine mining. Apparently, Lord Carmen makes a monopoly for himself in selling mining gear -- at least, that's what Grizzler told me last night. All the miners have to go to Lord Carmen for their supplies -- have you ever heard of the phrase 'company town?' Carmen has it in mining equipment. We might get rope or torches from Rastifer, but I'd bet that the pitons and hammers are likely to be curiously out of stock. And I don't much want to waste the time going all the way to Thurmaster to see Lord Carmen's house. We were there before -- there's a pretty good chance he won't remember us fondly. We could _try_ visiting his mine, I guess, and seeing if we might cadge some equipment from there.
"As for where the Garlstone is, Grizzler wasn't too clear. From his description, I'd say either due north of here, not too far from Carmen's, or possibly in the Rock Dale. I'm hoping for directly north, though.
"Surely if we told this Carmen that his mines are infested with evil beings, he would assist us in cleansing them?" mused Aloysius hopefully. "Of course, there is the possibility that he already knows about Ranchefus . . . ." he added in a much quieter voice.
"Methinks Arachne speaks truly. It may be wise to acquire what equipment we can from Rastifer and then
proceed to the mine without telling ANYone of our intent to do so." He closed one eye and focused momentarily on a spot on a nearby wall."Of course," he continued, still watching the wall, "someone would have to direct us to the mines." He
opened his eye and looked back at Arachne and the moon elf. "Who, exactly, is 'Grizzler'?""A dwarf," Arachne said. "I met him here with you," she added, looking at Ceth. "But I think he's more local."
"I see," replied Aloysius. He stood up on a chair and looked around the room for anyone who might be acting as a server. "The quality of the service here has plummeted since last we visited," he said to those near the table.
"PARDON ME?" he called out. "Could a hungry traveler find sustenance in here somehow?" Folding his arms in front of him, he remained standing on the chair awaiting some response from anyone affiliated with the inn.
Ceth nodded in agreement.
Taken aback by the shouting and the strange antics of the human called Aloysius, Cethyran stood gracefully. "I think I will walk for a while. Thank you for the introductions, Arachne."
"I believe I shall accompany you also," Renn said as he retrieved his gear. "I'd like to find a few silver
arrowheads and perhaps a silvered blade should they be affordable enough.""A private room, and a bath, and a meal when I return from the blacksmith innkeep," Renn said quickly after the man announced his prices. "And a question also. I have been searching for my brother, Lalvarien, and he looks very much like I," Rennirolas explained. "Have you seen or heard tell of him perhaps?"
Barthlew shook his head, "Not too many elves come through here. The only ones I've seen or heard of since Midsummer are the ones I've seen with this group."
"I do suppose it was too much to expect anyway," Rennirolas smiled quickly. "It has been too long since he disappeared while on patrol," he added as he turned to return to the groups' table.
"How much for the night and a meal for the group of us?" Blacky asked indicating his companions and paid him the amount owed out of party treasure. He headed up to one of the rooms and emptied his pack. "I'm going to Rastifer's before we eat to see what he has in silver weaponry as well as pick up anything else we might need. I'll be back by dinner, if anyone cares to join me." He said and headed toward the door, carrying his empty backpack.
"It depends," Barthlew replied, returning to the room and slipping an apron over his head. "If you want a private room, it's nine silvers a head. If you're willing to share, that's five silvers. Both of those include breakfast. The common meal in the evening is a silver and you pay for what you drink. But if you don't get him down off that chair and ask him to stop yelling," he indicated Aloysius, "I might have to ask you to go elsewhere. I don't have much help here right now, and I've got no place for troublemakers. And get that dog out of here too," he pointed at Snow.
"Here, that will cover shared rooms for the eight of us as well as our evening meal." Blacky laid five gold coins on the bar. "I've paid for four rooms for the eight of us as well as the evening meal. If you don't want to pair up with someone, it'll cost you an extra 4 silvers. You'll have to pay for what you drink this evening as well." he announced to the group.
Etienne looked at Blacky, "Thank you, but I have already purchased a private room for myself. I would like to take some time to reflect on what has happened these last few days."
"What, you don't like dogs? Or are you afraid he'll scare away all your customers?" Daelen said, looking around at the almost empty ('cept for the party) room.
“Giddown," Jana growled at Aloysious. She turned her attention to Barthlew. "You have baths available?"
The mage looked down at Jana. "Gid- . .?" he said inquiringly. "Oh. Yes." Aloysius hopped down from
his chair and turned towards Barthlew. "Aye, a bath would be favorable as would a plate of eggs, bacon (or sausage, whichever you have available), mayhap some bread and milk, too."He placed an arm around Barthlew's shoulder. "And while we're at it, I'll also take some ichor of manes,
a smattering of mobat teeth, and a few pinches of powdered nightmare hoof." After allowing a second to let the effect of his jest set in, Aloysius let out an excited giggle and clapped his hands."Oh. I nearly forgot. We may possibly know where your betrothed is, but we'd best eat afore we talk about that."
The mage then stepped away from Barthlew and sat back down on the chair he had been standing on earlier. The corners of his mouth began to twitch before slowly curling upwards in an exaggerated grin.
Barthlew didn't bother to hide rolling his eyes. The normally even-tempered barkeep seemed to be in a foul mood today. "Breakfast will be five silvers now, since I'll have to find someone to cook it for you. Hot baths are a silver each."
Aloysius took out 10 silver pieces and handed them to Barthlew. "Here, my apologies for yelling afore.
Galaret hath taight me that one's behavior must be most upright when one is in a dining establishment.
I'll just sit here and wait for breakfast, and then take a bath." Aloysius pulled a vial from his backpack, took a few sips of the contents within, and then returned it to the pack."I love dogs," Barthlew turned to answer Daelen, "just not here. I can do without the fleas and the smell in a place where people come to eat and sleep in comfort."
"And you're talking about Andren, not me," Barthlew looked back at Aloysius. "He's not doing well, and neither are Jelenneth's parents, so try not to upset them. If you can find her, we'll all be very grateful, don't get me wrong, but please try not to get them any more worked up than they already are." He lowered his voice slightly, even though no one else was around, "Semheis disappeared out of the temple the night before last too. That hasn't helped anyone's spirit at all."
"Oh?" replied Aloysius, appearing somewhat less animated than before. "Does anyone know what
transpired or did he simply not emerge from the temple that morning?""Nobody really knows what happened," Barthlew answered, "but Garyld said it looked like someone took him out of the temple. He tracked whoever it was north for a while, but he lost the trail."
"North?" mused the mage. "Indeed . . . . ."
Seeing that it might take a while to get his drink, Daelen put his helm back on with a shrug and followed Blacky. "C'mon, Snow." he said needlessly as the dog trotted beside him, panting lazily.
"Thanks," Jana said, handing Barthlew money for herself as well as Echo. "Oh, yeah, almost forgot," she muttered, digging through her pack. She handed Echo her share of the monies divided up shortly after Echo had been captured. "You probably wanna buy s'more clothes," she said softly. "I do too, so we can go shopping in a little while if you want."
Echo nodded, "There are some things I need to get."
Aloysius tapped Echo on the shoulder. "Echo? When you feel up to it, Stargazer hath matters arcane to
discuss with thee. I had the chance to analyze the spell book you acquired from the Zhents. Methinks it
likely that there may be incantations therein that would hold interest for thee.""I had thought to make arrangements for a private room," Renn said. "But Aloysius and I shall share one of the rooms. What are the plans for tomorrow?" he asked.
At some point in time after "lunch", but prior to shopping, Aloysius took Renn and Etienne aside and spoke with them quietly for a moment.
Etienne stood quietly as people talked amongst themselves. He seemed quite irritated by Daelen's statement about the price on Gnoll's heads. He seemed to blow it off, though and went to talk to Aloysius when he asked.
After talking to Aloysius, he approached the bar to talk to Barthlew. He pulled a few coins from his pocket and gave them to Barthlew. Then found himself a table in the corner and sat down.
Previous Move
Next Move
Back to Move Summaries
Back to Night Below Main Page
