Episode 28

After tying up some loose ends, the party partake in some of the festivities before heading to the carnival.

Cade tries to flirt with the ladies, but it seems like his current state is not appealing to the ladies. After getting some snacks and drinks the party sits back to watch the different acts. Cade gets the crowd to chant his name. Madam Drina announces that everyone should look under their seat pillows and there they find a gold coin each. Paddy tells the party that Tilly Tanglestrand donated the gold and points to her. Tilly smiles and waves at the party. Madam Drina announces that the party will be moving to the inn again and that the kids will be taken care of at the barn.

Most of the party relaxes a bit by partaking in the festivities at the inn. Taman keeps an eye on the crowd to make sure no one tries to spoil the festivities. Cade sneaks away from the crowd. Mary arranges some dinner for Galhaphé. The rest of the crowd seems to be in for a big night.

Galhaphé hands each party member a healing potion (2d4+2), except for Cade who she was not able to find for some reason. The party members partake in various levels. Galhaphé decides to drink some alcohol to see what all the fuss is about. She has a glass of moon water (white wine) and marks the experience as interesting. Taman questions why she has never had wine before and Galhaphé explains that she never wanted to partake in the consumption of alcohol. Taman picks up that it is more that she was never allowed to and now that she is not under constant watch, she is trying new things. Taman and Galhaphé discuss some of the reasons why Galhaphé constantly gets into trouble. Galhaphé is concerned about her current list of infringements which she still needs to be held accountable for. Taman apologizes to Galhaphé for killing some of the spiders as he was not aware that they are such complex beings as he has learnt over the last couple of weeks.

Cade heads to the temple, to Lliira's shrine. He thanks Lliira for her guidance. He tells her that he is going to get up to mischief and cuts up half of his once doses of his mushrooms and cut it into 15 small pieces. As he leaves the shrine, Cade notices that Maya is excited, but it doesn't seem to be coming from Maya per se. Cade heads back to the inn and proceeds to quietly dose various people and takes one himself. A few moments later Cade starts to see everything as made out of gold. After a short while he goes back to normal. He takes another small piece and the same thing happens. After seeing that it has had no effect on the others, Cade proceeds to focus his attentions on getting Galhaphé drunk. Galhaphé take the time to hand him a healing potion, which he returns the favor by purchasing her two more glasses of wine. He tells her that it is customary to down half a glass when someone buys you a drink. Galhaphé takes a breath and proceeds to down half the glass. Unfortunately she is unable to hold it down and pukes into Cade's face. Mary brings Cade a towel to clean himself off with. Cade arranges for some more new clothes. Cade announces the groups name to everyone present at the tavern. Paddy suggests they change the outlaws to outcasts and says he would have it plagued onto the house. It will read "House of DILDO". Cade hits on a newly widowed lady. Her name is Gertrude and on the canon scale she is a 2/10. She has no children and with enough alcohol she is is happy to join him in his bed. Nok-Nok decides to turn in after two ale barrels. Taman tries to provide Cade with better options but his beer goggles is set on Gertrude. Mary helps Galhaphé up stairs and has some water sent up to her a while later. Taman heads to bed after keeping an eye on Cade. Cade manages to persuade Gertrude to join him upstairs. Taman waits around until the worst of the party is over and helps a man home before heading to his room.

Cade wakes up to Gertrude who is snoring louder than Nok-Nok is. He casts minor illusion on her face to make her look prettier before checking if he still has everything. He finds that he spent 5 gold, but doesn't understand why he would have spent anything if everything was free. He decides to leave another 5 gold for Gertrude be fore heading downstairs. He feels exhausted after his Gertrude escapades. He goes downstairs and decides to spend the rest of his day at the inn to recover.

Galhaphé wakes up with possibly her first headache ever. She finds water standing next to her bed, and being exceptionally thirsty she drinks all of it before heading downstairs for breakfast. She finds a picture of a cup of coffee under her door which was left there by Taman. She joins Nok-Nok and Cade downstairs, noticing that Cade is partially passed out at their table. Nok-Nok notices their state and chuckles about their state and orders fatty meats for the table to try and help them out. As the meat gets shoved in her faceGalhaphé jumps up and runs out the door to throw up. Cade is unable to reach the plate, Nok-Nok ignores Cade's attempts to get food. Mary see's this and helps Cade out. Galhaphé asks Mary for some bread or fruit instead. Mary sets her up at a separate table to avoid the meat since Galhaphé does not eat meat. Nok-Nok tells Galhaphé that the meat is good for the hangover. Galhaphé responds by thanking him but points out that she does not eat her friends.

Taman wakes up and does his usual exercise routine. He decides to go looking for Peter to start on his apprentice ship. He finds Radur who explains that Peter was up all night and is currently sleeping. He decides to check in with Burk to see how things are going at the infirmary. It seems that Carden Noll has put the healing potions and salves to good use and everyone is recovering well. Sarah is changing bandages and informs Taman that Burk is resting, but she can wake him if it is urgent. Taman leaves a message for Burk to find him at the blacksmith shop.

Nok-Nok gives Mary 20 gold pieces to pay for the previous nights drinks. Mary tells him that Tilly payed for all of it, but he still insists on her taking the gold. He then gets Galhaphé and Cade to join him at the blacksmith shop. Cade just barely manages to follow Nok-Nok. They notice Gertrude leaving with a big smile. The others tease him a bit as they walk to the blacksmith shop. Cade takes a position as far away from Taman's hammer sounds as possible. Nok-Nok proceeds to explain that there is 32 dead in town and that Burk mentioned John being sent to find them but not having returned yet. He also shows them the pieces of the nine black gems in the leather bag. Nok-Nok explains that the wall is almost done and that they will be sending for mercenaries from New Port to protect the town in the future as the town has lost enough of their folk. Cade asks what the plan is if they are going to leave for the graves and the basin where the star has fallen. Taman suggests that they stay for a few days to repair some weapons and armors. Nok-Nok decides that the group will stay for a while to help the town and then head out north to the graves after discussing it with the group. Galhaphé reminds the group that she may be in trouble with Natara and is waiting for a reply to a message she sent to her regarding what has happened. Taman questions the motives behind Nok-Nok's assignment to Wharram and the surrounding area. Nok-Nok makes it clear that he does not have any motives and that his assignment here was just following orders as this was an opportunity to move up in the ranks. Taman acknowledges the chain of command and excepts Nok-Nok's response. Galhaphé wants to know what Nok-Nok's plan is with the gems and suggests that some of the crystals can be sent to The Wardens to be studied. Taman points out to Cade that he knows with who he was involved earlier in his life and Cade responds by pointing out that he is no longer associated with the group, but they have been instrumental in teaching him how to survive. During the discussion Taman manages to complete some of his tasks at the blacksmith shop. The forge and kiln is now in working order and Taman's blacksmith tongs have been repaired. Galhaphé offers to fetch some wood since Taman is running low on fuel for his shop. She asks for some assistance but seems like Cade is not in any state and Nok-Nok declines her polite request. Cade offers to help the next day when he's feeling a bit better. Peter arrives at the forge and Taman puts him to work with some easier tasks. Cade tries to convince Peter to fetch some wood, but Taman stops him. Galhaphé searches for wood around town and finds some at the brewery. She contemplates using her bear form to ease the task of carrying the wood to the forge, but quickly decides against it. She manages to stock the forge with enough wood for the rest of the day. Taman starts fixing some of the weapons but realizes that he has nothing to sharpen any of the weapons with. Taman mentions his need for a specific type of stone for sharpening and Galhaphé offer to go search for one. She finds one of the unearthed piece of granite which matches Taman's requirement. Mary eventually comes to fetch Peter for dinner. Taman points out to Mary that Peter seems to have a knack for metal working. Taman keeps working till about 20:00 before heading to the inn. He manages to rough shape the sharpening stone, but it will require more work.

Cade reaches his room to find the 5 gold pieces missing, his room cleaned and a note asking him to try and keep it clean if possible. He heads to bed early and sleeps through till the next morning. Later that evening when Taman arrives, he gets something to eat and relaxes a little before starting to write a letter. He asks Nok-Nok for some paper and after some sarcastic exchanges he walks away with some paper and ink.

Though the rest of the week, Taman manages to teach Peter to craft a horse shoe and nails for them. By the end of the week, Peter has shoed one of the horses at the stable. Taman becomes very enthusiastic about teaching Peter. He manages to teach Peter the basics of blacksmithing and knows that the town can rely on him to do some of the daily requirements.

Galhaphé receives a message from Rawlin: "Just to inform you, I have relayed information about your character to Natara, as given through by Killian." Galhaphé is slightly panicked by the message and decides to visit Rawlin to find out what the message is about. She lets Nok-Nok know that she is leaving on the errand. A day later she reaches the ruined tower and enters through the hidden hole. She notices that there are notes, runes and symbols scrawled across almost every surface surrounding the portal. Lilith seems to be thriving in her new surroundings and the area around the portal has been turned into a living area for herself and Denis. Denis and the spiders catch up with her for a short while before Rawlin addresses her. She asks him in how much trouble she is. Rawlin proceeds to remind her that a simple message would have worked for such an simple request. He informs her that Killian wanted to know more about her as she is a watcher who is not allowed to act in the manner that she did. Rawlin states that he did point out Killian that you were not allowed to proceed without the express permission of Natara. However Killian stated that without Galhaphé's interference things may not have worked out as well as they did at the time and even though she was not following the rules, it was for good reason. He asked Rawlin to pass this information across to Natara. Rawlin congratulates Galhaphé on fighting a dragon and surviving. Galhaphé points out that Killian did most of the work. Galhaphé decides to spend the night and the spiders cuddle up with her. Denis asks weather they have made any progress with regards to recharging his belt. The next morning Lilith excitedly shows their progress on the portal. Shortly after Galhaphé leaves for Wharram. After arriving, she informs the party of all that happened and congratulates them on Rawlin's behalf.

Nok-Nok learns that the town is readying their bi-monthly shipping of ales, furs and surplus grains and goods to Orlon. Kaldur Brayon and two of Wharram's militia have left to New Port to negotiate for trained soldiers to come work in the barracks and to inform them that trade is open to Wharram as the roads are safe again. This should have some traders make their way to Wharram within the next few weeks. Nok-Nok gets some half plate from Taman. He spends the rest of his week training in his new armor and practicing his abilities.

Cade spends his week trying to brew some poisons and decoding Jeffel's journal. He learns that in secret Mary has procured eight spider silks for him and five extractions of venom from Bruce Snakesteen. Cade buys five empty vails from Carden Noll at a discount, only paying 2 gold pieces. He manages to create, A draught of sleep (CON DC15), a paralyzed poison (CON DC15 - can be shot), a paralyzed poison (CON DC15 - can be shot), a Nightsight potion and a Cure Blindness Potion (RCON'ed to have been created by Galhaphé.) Cade also spends some time discussing a poison delivery system for his arrows with Taman. Taman listens to his overly complicated design suggestions and decides to show him a simpler and more efficient bodkin arrow head based system with holes drilled in to store the poisons in cloth or sponges. Cade doesn't really understand the simple design, but agrees to it and asks Taman to create ten, if possible. Taman finishes the arrows through the week (10x poison arrows with 25% chance to break shaft on use)

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