Heroica RPG - Quest #118: The Tale of the Stolen Spirits

[Flipz]

QM Note: Today's sets courtesy of Scubacarrot; thanks, Scuba!

Sylvania's student suggested a split, so some searched the Office while some searched the assembly hall.

[color#4B0082]Entering the Mayor's Office, the Monk and Warden saw a gruesome sight: a ransacked room, with blood, gravel, and dismembered limbs strewn about. A note laid upon the desk, next to the severed head of another golem, a human hand lying upon the floor below. Like the note they'd found in the General Store, this note, too, appeared to be from a logbook of some kind, this one bearing the name Clark Clarke.[/color]

Clerk's note:

Town Clerk's log, date *date smudged*. These may very well be my final entries. I will fight valiantly, but I have no doubts as to my ability to fight my own duplicate. I only wish the townsfolk understood this as well. Kent and Mayor Persephone are in the meeting room with them now. Hopefully he can convince them to take refuge in the Tower's Sanctuary Room, before the lab's containment fails entirely.

I wish we could just tell them everything. They don't comprehend the danger they're in. At this rate, we might not be able to seal the sanctuary door in time. Oh, Clara! Why must you tarry so? I cannot bear to seek safety until I know you are safe! Why must you heed the wishes of your stubborn father over the pleas of the man who loves you most?

--Clark Clarke

Town Clerk of Towr

-----

Town Clerk's log, date *date smudged*

It is done. The townspeople have been told, and like Kent predicted, they panicked. As hard as it is to admit my brother is right, it's even harder to realize that the home I've known since childhood is filled to the brim with utter idiots. Clara and I should have married and left long ago. Now, all I can do is try to make sure Clara makes it out alive.

I gave her the password--the name of the Grand Alchemist who first built the tower, Manfred Ming's great-grandfather. We already gave her father the key to the Tower itself. I know it is selfish to risk releasing these creatures upon the world, but the remaining guards are there to fight them back, and I cannot bear the thought of dying without having done something to ensure her safety.

Damn you, Ming! Your stupidity has doomed us all. I do not know who has swayed your mind to influence you to such a foolish experiment, but I can imagine, and I say shame on you! Shame on you for your selfish risks, shame on you for your selfish goals, and shame on you for hiding with the mayor instead of facing your mistakes like a man! And shame on me...shame on me for keeping it a secret, shame on me for putting my own personal duty over the greater good. I, unlike you, will at least die knowing I faced the consequences of my actions with dignity and honor.

For the final time,

--Cla~

There the entry ended.

The town Meeting Hall bore all the signs of a hastily-abandoned meeting; the heavy benches shoved askew, cabinet doors left open, a scrap of flowery paper discarded haphazardly. This note appeared to be a letter, written in a young woman's flowing script:

Clara Butcher's Note

My Dearest Clark,

It breaks my heart that you have chosen to let your brother take your place in the Tower, and yet it is exactly that nobility and selflessness that made me fall in love with you in the first place. I pray to whatever gods will listen that you will somehow survive and live to read this letter, that you may be reminded of how much I love you and hope for your safety.

I have received your note, and destroyed it as you asked. I will go to my father, and perhaps armed with the truth I may convince him to seek shelter in the Sanctuary. I fear he will not listen, however, not even to me. Mr. Brown and Mr. Smith have announced their intention to make a stand, and Tom Sellars--you know, the baker's son--said he'd join them. If my father refuses to hand over the key, I will seek shelter with them. I will do everything in my power to make it through this crisis alive and return safely to you, my love.

With all of my love,

Your Clara

Edited December 1, 2014 by Flipz

[Brickdoctor]

"Well then. I suppose there is some hope to be found in the fact that the golems are duplicates of some sort."

I pick up the books, reading their covers and gently leafing through their pages to see if any papers had been left in them.

[JimBee]

"Do not worry, it will be like old times, right Docken? It would be difficult to find something worse than the Red Assassin that we fought together."

"Well then. I suppose there is some hope to be found in the fact that the golems are duplicates of some sort."

I pick up the books, reading their covers and gently leafing through their pages to see if any papers had been left in them.

"Hm, yes, and these experiments in the tower... perhaps they have some sort of device to create more people. I have seen it before." Hybros bends down and inspects the severed hand, trying to determine if it was similar to the one they found at the campsite.

OOC: Oh yes, thanks Scuba for the sets. And I forgot to mention earlier Flipz, loved the Layton reference.

[Brickdoctor]

"Well, there was the case of Lady Wren and her Arena; both that and the encounter at Lord Guffington's manor were indeed fairly bad. At least this time we didn't get our stuff taken away from us..."

[swils]

"So I guess they were holed up in the tower, then. Wonder if any of 'em weren't turned into faceless golems?"

[JimBee]

"Well, there was the case of Lady Wren and her Arena; both that and the encounter at Lord Guffington's manor were indeed fairly bad. At least this time we didn't get our stuff taken away from us..."

"Yes, I was locked in a dungeon most of that time, but I remember you fighting Thothwick. That was a long time ago, before we knew about this hero business to well, eheh... Still, I hear of heroes fighting each other. I can only hope that that is not our future, Docken."

[Sandy]

Ellaria double-checked the cabinet in case something was left there.

"We're not much wiser about the events, yet", she said to Thormanil. "The Tower seems to contain all the answers. We should return to the others."

[Flipz]

"Well then. I suppose there is some hope to be found in the fact that the golems are duplicates of some sort."

I pick up the books, reading their covers and gently leafing through their pages to see if any papers had been left in them.

"Do not worry, it will be like old times, right Docken? It would be difficult to find something worse than the Red Assassin that we fought together."

"Hm, yes, and these experiments in the tower... perhaps they have some sort of device to create more people. I have seen it before." Hybros bends down and inspects the severed hand, trying to determine if it was similar to the one they found at the campsite.

OOC: Oh yes, thanks Scuba for the sets. And I forgot to mention earlier Flipz, loved the Layton reference.

The books were dry and dull, a comprehensive list compiling the complete commercial exchanges between the town and the Guild of Invision. Though they revealed that Tonics used to be less expensive in the past and Phoenix Essences more so, there was no information relevant to the current situation contained within their pages.

The hand was masculine in appearance, though soft and uncalloused--clearly it had belonged to a man not involved with strenuous physical labour.

Ellaria double-checked the cabinet in case something was left there.

"We're not much wiser about the events, yet", she said to Thormanil. "The Tower seems to contain all the answers. We should return to the others."

The druid found a Remedy tucked away in a back corner, before leading herself and the Dragoon into the Mayor's Office with the others.

Edited November 26, 2014 by Flipz

[Brickdoctor]

I search the drawers.

[Sandy]

"So, what did you find?" Ellaria asked when she and Thormanil returned to the others. "We found the Meeting Room abandoned in a hurry, with only a letter from some Clara to a man named Clark. She was talking about a sanctuary..."

Ellaria showed Clara's letter to Docken and Hybros.

"After we are finished here, let's check the Inn next."

[JimBee]

Hybros inspected the plant idly, then picked up the newspaper to read it.

"So, what did you find?" Ellaria asked when she and Thormanil returned to the others. "We found the Meeting Room abandoned in a hurry, with only a letter from some Clara to a man named Clark. She was talking about a sanctuary..."

Ellaria showed Clara's letter to Docken and Hybros.

"After we are finished here, let's check the Inn next."

"Maybe that is where the people are, and not the tower. We will have to find out. Lead the way, Ellaria."

[Flipz]

QM Note: I'm terribly sorry. Today's been a terrible day. Family sucks.

I'll move you on to the Inn tomorrow, if possible. Again, I'm terribly sorry for the lack of updates this week.

[Flipz]

I search the drawers.

The Warden found even more records, but nothing of real interest. As he read page after page of boring text, the Warden began to feel drowsy, as if he might fall Asleep at a moment's notice.

Hybros inspected the plant idly, then picked up the newspaper to read it.

"Maybe that is where the people are, and not the tower. We will have to find out. Lead the way, Ellaria."

The plant smelled nice, if dusty. The monk recalled that the "newspaper" was actually the note they had just read.

"So, what did you find?" Ellaria asked when she and Thormanil returned to the others. "We found the Meeting Room abandoned in a hurry, with only a letter from some Clara to a man named Clark. She was talking about a sanctuary..."

Ellaria showed Clara's letter to Docken and Hybros.

"After we are finished here, let's check the Inn next."

The trashed Town Hall searched, the party paraded on to the Inn, a place of haunting familiarity...

An unnatural stillness pervaded the place, the statue of a certain angel dominating the decor. The only indication of life, however, was the lone note on the counter of the bar. Would the party read it? Or was this wayward inn one place they would not dare to tread?

[JimBee]

Hybros swallows a mead, and pokes the statue.

[swils]

While Hybros approaches the statue, Thormanil picks up the note and reads it to the group.

[Sandy]

"A statue of a dark angel. Well, this can't be good... What does the note say?" Ellaria asks Thormanil. She also glances around to see if there's anything useful lying around.

[Brickdoctor]

Shaking my head to clear it and prevent myself from falling asleep, I wait to see what happens as Hybros prods the statue.

[Flipz]

Hybros swallows a mead, and pokes the statue.

The monk touched the statue, but nothing happened. Then, for an moment--just an moment, no more, no less--the sensation of detachment, adrift from time, from space. Perhaps he had felt it before, some other time and place.

While Hybros approaches the statue, Thormanil picks up the note and reads it to the group.

Barkeep's Note:

Dear Customers and Delicious Friends,

Welcome to the Inn of the Wayward Angel! I'm afraid I must offer my apologies. My dear friend Piro says the end is nigh, again, and wants me to leave town with him, again, and since he's drunk, again, he won't take no for an answer. Again. On the off chance that the world is not ending--again--pour yourselves a drink from the emergency supply, on the house.

Cheers!

"A statue of a dark angel. Well, this can't be good... What does the note say?" Ellaria asks Thormanil. She also glances around to see if there's anything useful lying around.

As she stepped behind the counter, the Druid discovered a small box labeled "emergency supply", containing a tiny recipe book along with several colored bottles of ingredients.

MM=R+B

SB=B+L

FG=R+W

TB=L+W

Upon closer inspection, there were two bottles each of red, blue, lime, and white liquid--enough for a total of four beverages. What colorful concoctions would the aspiring alchemist formulate first? And to whom would she give them?

QM Note: As a hint, all four of these beverages have been given to (and consumed by) Heroes in past Quests. The color of the final beverage should (roughly) correspond to the image we've had of each consumable in the past, with the exception of one (which was never given an item image). Note that these drinks must be consumed immediately to have any effect.

[JimBee]

"Hmm... I am not sure what these concoctions are, so why not just make one of each? It seems that we have enough ingredients, eheh..."

[Brickdoctor]

"Well, that seems unnecessarily cryptic. Why don't you check to see what 'R+L' equals? 'J'?"

[JimBee]

"I would assume the combination of letters pertains to the color of ingredients. As for the resulting potions, I assume the letters represent the names. R+L means red plus lime, and so on."

[Sandy]

"Hmm, I've worked as an farmacist's assistant, but these letter combinations don't sound familiar... "FG" might be a drink called the Flaming Gumball, I know it because my friend Lord Boomingham likes it. Although that man has never said no to any drink in his life... "TB" might be Tiger Balm, but for the other two, we just have to see."

Ellaria mixes a red and a blue bottle and offers the "MM" drink to Hybros. Then she mixes the blue and lime and drinks the "SB" drink herself. Mixing the second red and a white bottle produces the "FG" drink which she gives to Thormanil. And finally, Docken gets the "TB" drink that is made from the remaining lime and white bottles.

Once the drinks are downed, Ellaria takes her party to the butcher's shop.

[Flipz]

QM Note: Doing this party update in a separate post so I have an easier time quoting it later. Next update in about 20-30 minutes.

The Druid mixed the drinks, composing four different concoctions before serving them to her party members. They drank up, the Dragoon feeling strangely lonely for some reason.

Hybros:

Red + Blue = Magician's Mead (+2 max Ether)

Ellaria:

Blue + Lime = Stickleback Brew (+2 max health)

Thormanil:

Red + White = Flaming Gumball (Camaraderie - All heroes gain +1 power for total number of heroes in battle with Camaraderie. Cannot exist in only one hero that has camaraderie.)

Docken:

Lime + White = Trial Brew (Halves the drinkers max HP, max ether, and max SP for the duration of one battle. These effects are irremediable. Surviving a battle without getting knocked out in this state nets you double EXP. Being revived after being knocked-out removes these effects.)

The Party:

Ellaria Arbour

(Sandy)

23 years old female human Druid

Level 30.25

*Immune to

Sealed

,

Poisoned

,

Bleeding

, and

Hexed

* *Ignis Fatuus: permanently

poisoned by 15

*

*Party Leader*

Power:

42

(30+12)

Defense:

7

(3+4)

Health:

48/48

(9+29+7+1+2)

Ether:

37/42

(5+29+5+1+2)

Gold:

223

Equipment:

Ignis Fatuus (WP:12, permanently poisoned by 15,

fire

- and

lighting

-elemental staff), Robe of the Archmagi (SP:3, Max Ether +5, protects from sealing; bodywear), Sterile Gloves (immunity to poisoned and bleeding, handwear), Spider Helmet (SP:4, passes poisoned and bleeding effects to the enemy when the wearer is hit; headwear), Paper Doll (Protects from hexed; accessory)

Inventory:

Weapons

Sylvania's Crossbow (WP:10,

wood

-elemental crossbow), Pan Flute (WP: 7, instrument), Wizard's Staff (WP:1,

fire

-,

wind

-,

water

- and

earth

-elemental staff), Skull Shield (SP:6; immunity to

Darkness

-elemental damage; suitable to Black Knights only; shield.)

Artefacts:

Ranger's Quiver (WP: +1 to bows and crossbows. Suitable for rangers, beast warriors, infiltrators, and winged warriors), Spirit Robe (Renders wearer invisible to the enemy for the first three rounds of battle so they do not take free hits; backwear), Black Bandana (Power +3, pirate lingo; headwear),

Spell Items:

Scroll of Inspiration (Inspired for rest of battle, 10 ether, 50/50 chance) Scroll of Sealing, Scroll of Frailty, Scroll of Weakening, Serenade of Water (Causes Water damage equal to the minstrel's level to all enemies per round for as long as the song is sung. Costs 10 ether per round. Battle Song), Ruby (

Fire

)

Consumables:

3 Potions, 2 Grand Potions, 4 Health Cores, 4 Tonics, 5 Grand Tonics, Ether Core, Elixir, 3 Remedies, 2 Neutralizers, Tiger Balm, 2 Phoenix Essences, Emergency Essence, 2 Meads, Smelling Salts, 2 Nostrum, 2 Soma, Ambrosia, Deadly Venom, 2 Smoke Bombs, Flash Bomb, 3 Fire Bombs, Ice Bomb, 2 Lightning Bombs, 2 Water Bombs, 2 Holy Bombs, Pumpkin Bomb (Causes stunned-, poisoned-, asleep-, blinded-, sealed- and confused-effects to all opponents when used.), Grating Stone,

Currency:

Gold Ore (worth 80 gold)

Tools:

Bedroll, Pickaxe, Telescope, Magic Compass, Magnifying Glass

Quest Items:

Tower Key

Hybros (played by JimButcher)

53-year-old male imp Chi Monk

*Permanently Hastened*

*Immune to

Cursed

,

Asleep

,

Blinded

,

Confused

,

Fragile

,

Weakened

*

*Immune to all elements except wood*

*Intimidation*

*Natural Respite*

*Encouraged*

Level:

33

Power Bonus:

3 (8 in front row)

*

Defense:

0

Health:

54/54

(7+32+12+3*)

Ether:

28/37

(32+3+2)

Gold:

754

Equipment:

Golden Armor

(user is permanently hastened and cursed,

fire

-,

water

-,

earth

-,

wind

-,

ice

-,

lightning

-,

darkness

-,

light

-elemental, grants immunity to Sleep, Blindness, Confusion, Frailty, and Weakening; bodywear),

The Black Hat

(Suitable for anyone, grants

Intimidation

, immune to

darkness

and

cursed

, headwear),

Fighting Boots

(Power +5 on the front row; suitable to barbarians, knights, rogues, beast warriors, chi monks, dragoons, harlots, infiltrators, marauders, skirmishers, regulators and winged warriors),

Metal Claw

(Unarmed attacks drain health from the enemy equal to 50% of the strength of the attack (rounded up); handwear)

Inventory:

• Sword of Ancestral Hatred (WP: 45.25 gains 1/4 WP every kill made with it; longsword), Zoot's Reaper (WP:15; scythe, suitable to Hybros), Clock Cog (WP:14, retrievable), Banana Bladerang (WP:9, damage all, retrievable), Justice (WP:8, causes blinded-effect, dagger), Twin Kunai (WP:6, dual strike, daggers), Hollow Dagger (WP:6, hollow blade [nothing]; dagger), Spinning Bolas (WP: 5, deals the Slowed effect, but the effect is removed when retrieved; retrievable), Wrench (WP:3, decreases the target’s level by 1, retrievable), Pan (WP: 1, +1 Health; suitable for all classes)

• Sticky Gloves (gains 50% more gold, suitable for Rogues, handwear), Baron's Epaulets (Suitable for short heroes, grants Command over short NPCs), Cloak of the Blue Assassin (SP:1, suitable to Rogues; backwear), Cloak of the Red Assassin (Chance of Assassination is 1/3, suitable for Assassins; backwear), Sterile Gloves (grants immunity to poisoned- and bleeding-effects, handwear),

• Emerald, Garnet, Amethyst, Diamond, Ruby, Sapphire, Opal, Scroll of Luck (grants Lucky-effect for one battle, costs 10 ether)

• 13 Potions, 12 Grand Potions, 16 Health Cores, 11 Remedies, 2 Neutralizers, 3 Elixirs, 3 Grand Tonics, Soma, Feather of White, 2 Phoenix Essences, 4 Phoenix Incenses, 2 Deadly Venoms, 4 Smoke Bombs, 3 Holy Bombs, 5 Nostrums, 3 Meads, 2 Mulled Wines, Minimizing Dust, 3 Pumpkin Bombs (causes stunned-, poisoned-, asleep-, blinded-, sealed- and confused-effects to all opponents when used), 2 Gold Rings (Worth 15 gold; can be given to someone to make them enamored with the giver), Skeleton Decoy, Bone

• Bedroll, Shovel, Pickaxe, 4 Mythril Shards, Crimson Haze (Causes a weapon to deal the poisoned by 7 and cursed effects permanently), Grating Stone

Bartholomew Docken

, Dragonslayer

(Brickdoctor)

34-year-old human male, Warden

Level 47

*Gains Triple XP* *Takes Halved Damage from Free Hits*

*Scary*

*Immune to

Defense Reduction

,

Removal of Positive Effects

,

Confused

,

Blinded

,

Poison

,

Fragile

,

Fire

,

Earth

,

Wind

, and

Sudden Death

*

*Counterstriking*

*Asleep (3 Rounds)*

*Trial*

Power:

57

(Level 47 + WP: 10) (

Power Bonus:

0)

Defense:

23

11

(SP: 20 + SP: 3)

Health:

81/81

40/40

(base HP: 6 + Level bonus: 46 + Class bonus: 8 + permanent boost: 21*)

Gold:

521

(1 Gold loaned to Lord Lawrence Boomingham [Zepher])

GP:

27

Equipment:

Darksteel Crossbow

(WP:

10

0; inflicts the

Blinded

-effect; Crossbow),

Mythril Shield

(SP: 20; Shield),

Dread Hat

(permanent

Scary

effect; immune to

Defense Reduction

,

Removal of Positive Effects

,

Confusion

,

Blindness

,

Poison

,

Fragile

,

Fire

,

Earth

, and

Wind

; suitable for anyone; Headwear),

Mail of the Renegade Commander

(SP: 3; Damage of all Free Hits is halved; suitable for anyone; Bodywear),

Cobweb Cowl

(immune to

Sudden Death

; suitable for anyone; Backwear),

Medal of Glory

(Mark of true talent that allows the wearer to gain triple experience from battles; suitable for anyone; Accessory),

Counterstrike Gloves

(After the wearer is struck by a Free Hit, he counters with strength equal to his Level; suitable for anyone; Handwear)

Inventory:

• Pan (WP: 1; +1 Max HP; suitable for all classes), Fishstick (WP: 7; deals double Damage on ships; club), Unlucky Horseshoe (WP: 13; inflicts the

Jinxed

-effect; Throwing Weapon [borrowed from Arthur Justus Regulus VII (Flipz)])

• Large Water Canteen (Carries 6 portions of water; Accessory), Aqua Gear (Adds

Water

-element to physical attacks, immune to

Water

, Accessory)

• Potions (4), Grand Potions (11), Health Cores (3), Remedies (10), Phoenix Essences (3), Phoenix Incense, Meads (2), Smelling Salts, Mulled Wine, Feather of Lithe, Feather of White, Smoke Bombs (5), Water Bombs (5), Lightning Bombs (5), Bones (11), Venom (5), Deadly Venom, Skeleton Decoy, Teleportapple, Grating Stone, Adamantite Shards (3/4 Adamantite), Writ of Blacksmith Service (Voucher for one free weapon or shield upgrade at Anwyl's Smithy)

• Bedroll, Shovel, Magnifying Glass

• Silver Ore (60 Gold)

• Incomplete Formula (Quest Item, note, found: Blacksmith), Portia Butcher's Diary Entry (Quest Item, note, found: General Store), Storekeeper's Note (Quest Item, note, found: General Store Cellar), Clerk's Note (Quest Item, note, found: Mayor's Office), Clara Butcher's Letter (Quest Item, note, found: Town Hall Meeting Room)

Thormanil Nihai

, Dragonslayer, Orc-kin (Played by swils) and

Arx

the Youngling (

Ice

)

Level 42.4 Dragoon

*Immune to

Darkness

,

Light

,

Water

,

Fire

,

Air

,

Earth

,

Lightning

, and

Asleep

,

Blinded

,

Bound

,

Confused

,

Fragile

,

Slowed

, and

Weakened

*

*Gains Triple Experience*

*Reflects physical damage*

Power Bonus

: +1

Defense

: 18

Health

: 61/61

Gold:

1636

Equipment:

Shishkebab (WP: 16, dual-strike,

darkness

-

elemental, lance), Iris Shield (SP: 15; reflects physical Damage back to the attacker regardless of Row or Defense, if the user survives the attack.), Bright Armor (SP: 3, Null

Darkness

), Winged Sandals (Wearer is immune to

Light

,

Water

,

Fire

,

Air

,

Earth

, and

Lightning

, and the

Asleep

,

Blinded

,

Bound

,

Confused

,

Fragile

,

Slowed

, and

Weakened

-effects), Medal of Glory (Wearer gains triple experience, accessory)

Inventory:

• Dragonsbane Lance (WP: 20, triple damage to enemies with 'Dragon' in their name, lance), Gladiator Trident (WP: 11, Spear, causes bleeding-by-5 effect), Tongue on a Stick (WP:1, Miss -> "Aim"), Frozen Saber (WP: 9, longsword,

Stuns

enemies), Repeater Crossbow (WP: 7, crossbow. Hastened for first round of combat while equipped.), Schoolyard Sword (WP: 8 great sword), Wooden Shield (SP:5, Null

Wood

), Crossbow (WP:5)

• Trickster's Mask of the Gender Swap (Accessory), Trickster's Mask of the Weredog (Accessory), Trickster's Mask of the Elf (Accessory), Fighting Boots (Footwear, Power +5 on the front row, suitable to barbarians, knights, rogues, beast warriors, chi monks, dragoons, harlots, infiltrators, marauders, skirmishers, regulators, and winged warriors), Sticky Gloves (Handwear, Increases the amount of gold stolen by 50% (rounded up)), Aqua Gear (Wearer deals and is immune to

water

-elemental damage)

• Pickaxe, Shovel, Magnifying Glass

• 2x Amethyst (

Darkness

), Emerald (

Wood

), Opal (

Ice

),

• Potion, 2x Remedy, Phoenix Essence, Neutralizer, Milk

• Mead, 2x Nostrum, Smelling Salts, 2x Mulled Wine, Jinxy Juice, Feather of Lithe,

• 2x Fire Bomb, Lightning Bomb, 3x Smoke Bomb, Ice Bomb, 5x Water Bomb

• 3x Venom, 2x Deadly Venom,

• 2x Grating Stone, Bright Polish, Teleportapple

Edited December 1, 2014 by Flipz

[JimBee]

Hybros drank up, at this point feeling more than a little tipsy, but felt new power coursing through his veins. He shook his head to try to clear his mind. The statue gave him an oddly familiar feeling, but he wondered whether it was from the statue itself, the drinks, or... something else. He thought for a moment on his quest to find his people. Here he was, doing small jobs for Heroica when he could be looking for a way to complete his life's work. Maybe they weren't mutually exclusive, but still he couldn't help but to feel rather useless.

[Flipz]

Once the drinks are downed, Ellaria takes her party to the butcher's shop.

The party left that wayward inn, some changed by the experience, some not. Their reprieve was coming to a close, however, as they homed in on the two spots in town still unsearched. The birch-carved bird above the Butcher's Shop door made the location unmistakable.

Like the other locations, the Butcher's Shop was as dead as the rest of the town. A cold chicken carcass lay on the counter next to a pile of 14 gold coins, both likely abandoned mid-transaction. As the party had come to expect, another note was on the counter, this one bearing the signature of Jim Baker, the town butcher.

Butcher's note:

Dear Future Me,

If you haven't figured out what the alchemists are doing in that Tower, I need to to come back in time and slap me. Not sure how you're going to pull that off, maybe you could ask that weird mage who wandered into town to do it for you. I dunno, I think mages can do that sort of thing, right? I dunno. Never really known a lot of mages. Or even one. I guess they're not common in an alchemist's town, are they? But you know that, because you're me. Unless you're not me. In which case, hi! I'm Jim Baker! I'm the town butcher in Towr! I own a lot of knives! Which, I mean, I guess you'd know, because duh, but hopefully you don't know firsthand because that would imply future me used them on you and now is probably dead, in which case shame on you for killing future me! He was, er, will be a very nice guy. Unless he wasn't. In which case, I'm...well, I'm not really okay with it, obviously, but I guess I can understand. Sort of. Anyway.

Oh, right, future me. In the event that you're not dead, you really do need to tell future you--future future me?--about whatever's going on in there. Because it has to be the most exciting thing happening in this boring town. Well, next to Portia and her costumes, buuuut that's private and I probably shouldn't tell you about it just in case you've turned mean and then died and someone else is reading this. Portia would kill me if that happened.

Well, I should probably finish this entry in--ooh, a customer! Be right back!

The remainder of the note was written in the same handwriting, but much more sloppily, as if written in a rush.

Um, listen, Future Me? Forget the whole business with the mage. It'd probably lead to you unnecessarily stabbing some nice person who only wanted to read our letters anyway. Anyway, I need to wrap this up because I need to leave a note for my wife. OK? Okay, be you later!

Your self,

Jim Baker

Dear Portia,

They asked me! They finally asked me to come to the Tower! Captain Sloane said I'll probably be there a while, so don't wait up for me! Oh, and if you could pick up the order from Gideon, I'd be super happy. Thanks, love!

XOXO,

Jim

...Jim Baker was always a little weird.