Long rest. Came down for breakfast at the Empty Net, paid for modest lifestyle.
Old Briar fills us in
Cisco asked the barkeep — turned out to be Old Briar — about the town and the manor.
About Lord Alric: came from afar, tall, broad-shouldered, charismatic. Brought prosperity at first. Went too far, became obsessed with power and unnatural power. Now a recluse, taking what he wants from the village via his guards.
Old Briar told us about the rest of Brackenford: weather-beaten temple, empty lighthouse, hovels, smithy, and a mysterious market.
The chained oak
A massive gnarled oak with finger-like branches raised to the sky. Chained to six rocks equidistant away. All shops and stalls as far away as possible. Everyone avoiding it. (See The Six Stones.)
The party splits up
Yort Li → Briney Breeze apothecary
Yort Li used thaumaturgy to blast the door open and asked for foot cream. Bought cream, had to pay for the door. On his way out cast thaumaturgy to have the door call Ethel a bitch.
Elijah and Cisco → smithy
Cisco told Elijah J. Lucas to leave Fernie outside. Elijah sent Fernie hunting over the ocean — scared the shit out of townsfolk, guards ran to the town square. Elijah ignored this and traded Fernie’s labor for three days for a longbow with Garric Smith. Threatened him if he failed to deliver.
Cisco basically traded a dagger for a shortsword somehow. Rats were involved.
Lorien → temple
Fumbled hot chick (the Mousey Woman). She’s weary and suspicious of outsiders, hates Lord Alric for the town’s downfall.
Ruasar → the chained oak
Stones felt cold to touch but warm underneath. Six runes, one per rock: Sea, soul, sky, blood, death, forest.
Ruasar touched the forest stone — felt countless creatures snarling and snapping awaken to his touch. The forest was alive, moving closer toward Ruasar and the town. Vines crawled around him and offered a choice: destroy the stone for knowledge and power, or let go. He let go.
Frantically took notes for a long time deciphering the hag mystery until Elijah J. Lucas pulled him away.
Lyle’s general store
Yort Li, Cisco, and Lorien Painbearer went to Lyle’s. Cisco asked about the tree — apparently recent. Gave Lyle fake disappearing-after-an-hour coins to get an in.
Lyle showed them his secret stock:
- Creepy candle with many animated faces (great distraction)
- Instrument granting water breathing or water walk once per day
- Tunic granting +1d4 charisma checks
- Mermaid-tail trousers
- Silk tablecloth — sets up as a portable table
- Ouija planchette — speak to a single dead person for one minute
Cisco bought the tunic. No one else bought anything.
Reconvene at the Empty Net
Ruasar told everyone about the tree. Yort Li applied foot cream. Stinky.
Old Briar warned of the night and not to go outside. Tonight Cisco would look outside and check on the locked warehouse.
To the manor
Walking past the warehouse, heard dragging chains and dragging talons. Met the guard Edrin — old man, stronger than he appears. He warned that he could not explain what was inside; we would have to see it for ourselves.