The group calls by again at Abraham Willowby’s house the morning after returning the stolen tribute money. Once again his apprentice- whose name you have learnt is Anna- shows you inside and leads the party up into the wizard’s study. Abraham is garbed somewhat more formally this time, in the sky-blue robe of the local diviner’s guild and the items recovered from the battle at the ruined elven temple have been arranged neatly on a white tablecloth, draped over the work surface of one of the room’s many desks. The room is filled with the cloying smell of burning incense from a brazier in the far corner, competing with the less savoury aromas of bitter herbs and rancid fat from the wizard’s alchemical experiments.
Abraham nods politely as the group enters, while Anna closes the door behind you and fetches a half-dozen chalices of mulled wine from a cauldron bubbling above a small wood fire in the room’s centre. Impatient to begin, and enlighten you on the results of his investigation, the old magician pauses only briefly to exchange pleasantries before striding briskly over to the table to fetch the first of your recovered items.
“This” he holds aloft the discarded demon-hide, “this is the skin of a fiend, spawn of the black pit. If I might hazard a guess: I would imagine that she shed it whole- like a snake’s - when you cut her down. Should one of you- ahem- don the item in question then it would bestow upon you certain powers: to shape and change others’ perceptions of your mortal form as you saw fit. As one might expect, however, such things will normally exact a price of their own… one you may well prove reluctant to pay.”
[Mechanically speaking: the skin will function as a somewhat weakened version of the Alter Self spell (Wizard 2). It is incapable of bestowing upon its wearer the ability to fly or breath underwater but will last up to an hour, useable up to three times a day. The skin must be removed and allowed to refresh its energies for at least an hour between uses.]
“The flail bears minor runes of accuracy and wounding, etched together as one,” “It will strike a more damaging blow than a mundane item of its type.”
[The flail is a +1 weapon. It gives a +1 bonus to its user’s attack and damage rolls.]
“The axe bears more a more potent enchantment powerful spell of warding has been cast upon it and it will deal great harm to all but the most resistant of adversaries. In the right hands, I’d imagine it would prove an impressive weapon indeed.”
[The axe gives a +3 bonus to its user’s damage rolls, but no bonus to hit. It is capable of damaging creatures not normally harmed by weapons of less than +2 enchantment. Because of its huge size, a Medium creature will be unable to wiled it effectively with a Strength score of less than 18/01, for a Large creature this requirement is lowered to 16.]
“Two of the telescopes are also enchanted. The first will simply afford its user an uninterrupted view of the heavens… unimpeded by clouds and the like. The second bears a more subtle encirclement, when peering through it one might prove able to discern movements of the stars normally invisible to mortal eyes… precisely what I am at a loss to tell you.”
[You owe him 200 gold Crowns. He’ll charge you a further 200 for any of the four Potions of Fire Resistance you’d prefer to keep. If the party is willing to sell then he’ll take the two telescopes in lieu of payment for the identification.]
[It also seems only fair to point out that any and all of these items might have additional properties… Identify isn’t guaranteed to pick up everything. If you want to pay Abraham to cast it again then just let me know.]
***
I might have the time to write up a broader epilogue tomorrow afternoon… but in case not I’ll just give you a basic run-down of events.
- The six murdered guardsmen are buried in closed caskets in a service presided over by Bishop Abner himself. There’s a lot of anger in the town over the deaths as all six appear to have been local men and reasonably popular. There’s also a fair degree of suspicion that Aliira may have somehow had something to do with the ambush… especially once word spreads that the guard’s had been Entangled before they were killed and that their bodies had been partially eaten by the wolves.
- Mayor Craythorne will be grateful to the group for returning the tribute and placating the dragon. She’ll be irritated but not particularly surprised at Emberburn’s demand for a further 1000 Crowns by the end of the week and will share her view with the group that the dragon is essentially throwing its weight around to underscore its dominance over the town. The town can probably raise the money by taking out loans from Craythorne’s trading coster and certain prominent citizens, but these will of course need to be paid back later. If the party offer to help raise some of the money themselves then she will certainly welcome the suggestion and will emphasise that they’ll be repaid in full for their efforts.
- At some point over the next couple of days Emmerus and anyone else who’d like to go along will receive an invitation from Bishop Abner to come and talk with him at the Minster. The Bishop appreciates that you will all need to make tracks to help raise some of the money and will have scheduled the meeting for the end of the week… after your next adventure.
- If Aliira remains with the party while they remain in Bridhvale then they will fall foul of the suspicions of many of the local residents. Inns and shops will politely refuse to serve them, people will cross the street to avoid her or openly make the sign of Pelor (the equivalent of crossing themselves) to ward off evil when in her presence. Most of the townsfolk will be genuinely appreciative to the party for their efforts but there will be a lingering suspicion in certain quarters of any characters who are seen to associate with a known witch and werewolf and a distinct feeling that no good will come of this association.
***
If there's anything else that anyone would like to do in or about Bridhvale then just let me know.
Shadows of the Empire Q&A
Shadows of the Empire
Neva
(So many NPCs to keep track of... 
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