CH. 03 - The Accursed Tower

[Daos]

With this decided, the party packs up their things, readies the animals, and makes the journey back to the small village of Lonelywood.  It is evening by the time they arrive, and head to The Whistling Gallows Inn for the night.  Rooms only cost a silver piece a night, and while hardly luxurious, they are decent enough--especially after spending the last few nights camping in a buried, cursed tower.

The next morning, they set out for Targos.  It takes them most of the day, and they arrive that evening, just as the sun begins to set, and make their way to the Wolf Pelt's Inn, where they last saw Peddywinkle.

=============

It is now Mirtul 28th, Eighteenth Bell.  Casters may choose new spells.

[Daos]

After Malavar casts his spells, the group heads upstairs to Peddywinkle's room.  Knocking on the door, they are let in by Rafferty and Dell.  Rafferty is his usual, stoic self, and simply frowns at the sight of the party.  Dell offers a friendly wave, then wrinkles his nose.  "Wow, you guys haven't bathed lately, huh?" he asks innocently, but a stern look from his uncle quiets him.

The inn room is one of the larger suites.  There's a big bed, and enough space for a table and chairs.  Peddywinkle sits at the desk, the table covered in scrolls and tomes.  He looks up eagerly as the party approaches.  "Come in, come in, please sit," he says, gesturing to the other chairs around the table.  Rafferty and Dell, however, move over to stand by Peddywinkle's side.  "You departed two tendays ago...I had begun to fear the worst after all this time.  But here you are, in one piece and all alive...and bearing good news, I hope?" the merchant asks.

============

Malavar casts Protection from Evil on himself for 3 rounds.
Malavar casts Detect Magic on himself for 10 rounds.

[GreyWolfVT]

Drezden comments on the bathing thing "I had wanted to bathe back in lonelywood but appears we were rushed before I got the chance."

[Rax]

"There's good news and there's bad, Master Peddywinkle," Malavar says without taking a seat. "We found the tower, but it was occupied, so to speak. Drezden, why don't you fill Master Peddywinkle in on what we found down there?" he suggests.

OOC: Hoping that Drezden or Dallion will distract Peddywinkle for a while with lurid accounts of all the undead and the many times we almost died so that Malavar can scan for magic without being too obvious.

[GreyWolfVT]

Drezden clears his throat and scratches his beard then starts in "Well lots of animated skeletons and undead. Think that last thing we fought was a lich."

[Rax]

While Drezden talks, Malavar nods along with his account and scans Peddywinkle, Rafferty and Dell with his detect magic spell.

[Daos]

"A lich?"  Peddywinkle chuckles.  "Forgive me for saying so; I mean no slight against your abilities.  But if you had faced a lich, I doubt any of you would be standing here now.  Still, the tower was filled with undead, you say?  How distressing.  But...I suppose it makes sense.  I've heard stories of places where a lot of people died suddenly, and then rose again afterword.  Especially places of great magic.  Still, I'm glad to see you're all alright then.  So did you find the book?"

"We did," Taska says, stepping forward.  "But the whole thing is written in magic, as I understand."

"Oh, dear," Peddywinkle says.  "But not unexpected.  It was written by a wizard, after all.  It's no problem.  I have a mage friend who can help decode it for me.  Well, don't keep me in suspense any longer, please.  Let's see this book."

Studying the three, Malavar senses no magic at all from Dell or Rafferty.  However, there is an aura coming off of Peddywinkle's hat.

[GreyWolfVT]

Drezden "Well I am not expert in the matter of liches but it very well was undead and could cast magic maybe it was something almost but not entirely a lich. At any rate yes the book, one of the taller folk has it. So tell me Peddywinkle where could I get a hat like yours that sure is a fine looking hat sir."

[Dallion80]

"Its quite simple sir...there is no healing magic in this book." *holds on to the book*

[Daos]

DREZDEN:  "So tell me Peddywinkle where could I get a hat like yours that sure is a fine looking hat sir."

"My...hat?" Peddywinkle asks, clearly baffled by the random question.  It's a simple enough hat, designed more for warmth than anything else, especially when compared to the finery of his remaining clothing.  "Really now, what is this all about?  Why are you stalling?  And why does Malavar stare at me as if trying to look into my very soul?  Have you decided to renege on our deal and keep the book for yourself?"  He tugs at his mustache, concerned.

DALLION:  "Its quite simple sir...there is no healing magic in this book."

"You mean...you've already read it?  Then what is in it then?" he asks.

[Rax]

"I am afraid Dallion is correct, Master Peddywinkle, and more to the point, it seems your research into Damien Morienus was flawed. You see, the 'lich' we encountered? That was Damien himself. He refused to give up his diary even though we informed him of our quest and your reasons for wanting it recovered, so we were forced to destroy him. But before we did, he made it plain that he had never been working on a recipe for a healing salve - he laughed at the very idea."

"We took the liberty of reading the diary and can confirm that he was telling the truth. It contains a great deal of Damien's personal musings on the nature of life and death, and states plainly that his quest was for power and the means to transcend death as one of the undead, not to heal wounds and sickness. The only recipe it contains is an incomplete formula for concocting the necessary potion to become a lich - the worst kind of undead abomination, as you seem well aware."

"Now, I am sure the information in this book would be considered very valuable to those of a similar bent to Damien Morienus, but for your purposes the diary is useless, don't you agree?" Malavar asks innocently.

[Dallion80]

"Evil magic that no good man should ever associate with to put it plainly"

[GreyWolfVT]

Drezden still stares at the mans hat "Wasn't really stalling I really do like the hat. But yeah the book doesn't contain anything good from the sounds of it."

[Daos]

"That's impossible," Peddywinkle insists.  "I researched Damien personally.  I was even given access to limited materials from the Hosttower library and...," he pauses in thought, then sighs and pinches the bridge of his nose.  "Oh, of course.  How naive I have been!  Damien was a member of the Hosttower.  Of course, the Hosttower must have 'edited' the books they gave me access to, in order to make him look good.  I should have known."  He shakes his head sadly.  "It seems I am a victim of their propaganda.  I apologize for all of this.  I have inadvertently risked all of your lives over nothing.  And yes, I agree, this book should be destroyed, lest it falls into the wrong hands.  Fortunately, I have quite a few connections, including a mage friend in the Harpers.  I will see to it that the book is delivered to them.  They will have the resources to make sure it is destroyed, or failing that, hidden away from those who would abuse such knowledge.  And allow me to make it up to you, for putting you through such hardships for nothing.  I will amend our previous deal from a 65/35 split, to 70/30.  And any magical items you have found, please keep them, and if you like, I can have my Harper friend even identify them for you, free of cost, once I send word for him to come and he arrives."

[GreyWolfVT]

Drezden looks at Peddywinkle "That sounds agreeable and fair to me."