Episode 10- Riverguard Keep

Upon arriving in Womford, it was very apparent that it was not the type of place that one would make an end destination, more like a passing through. It is a run down fishing village. But they had heard tale that the person who sold the Genealogy of Mirabar had come from this direction. Perhaps someone had knowledge...?

Henry finds the Red Herring Inn and walks in to try to get information. Thok and Vega step in for a drink. The bartender told Henry to "Get Out". He doesn't serve to kids nor does he like them. Henry, in a spark of inspiration flashed the ring he had gotten from Nalaskur. Maybe the guy was in the know?

Nope.

He glanced at the ring, shrugged and said it was shiny.

Henry left the Inn,defeated to keep Menelwen and Theamen company. Thok and Vega pick up and manage to get some information that Henry was unable to.

"If anyone would know, Sholar would know. You can find him at the Sea Spray Keelboat." After finishing and paying for the drinks, the party headed to the docks to find Sholar.

Henry took initiative and approached the halfling male that went by the name of Pike. After some persuasion and coin changing hands, he brought them to meet Sholar.

Sholar is the Captain of the ship, and a water genasi. The Captain was living well, lots of plush, lavish surfaces. He was in rather impressive robes with blue green skin, seafoam eyes. and hair like green seaweed. He greeted the party warmly, kissing Menelwen's hand, hugs and cheek kisses to Thok, Vega and Theamen, and a head pat to Henry.

After some words, Sholar requested to speak with Henry, alone. Theamen took Menelwen out of the room.

A little while later (and a few more coins changing hands), he agreed to take the party down the river to Riverguard Keep with a warning that there are some unsavory folks down that way. Pike told them they'd be heading out in two hours with or without them.

Most of the party takes advantage of the time to freshen up in the river. They arrive back in time and set sail.

It would take about two days with decently cramped quarters.

Theamen and Vega step aside and speak, mainly about the use of Hellish Rebuke seen on the way to Womford. Henry spoke with Menelwen, watching the two of them.

"I'm happy he found someone he loves. He's glowing, so much happier." Menelwen agreed. But the next statement flustered the elf. "I hope we don't need to plan a wedding anytime soon."

There were a couple more private conversations (Vega with Thok, as well as Vega and Theamen). Unfortunately, among the crates on deck, Thok discovered one with this symbol.

One he recognized.

He brought this up to the group, saying he wanted to investigate the contents. So they hatched a plan. One that accidentally sent Vega (who had turned into a rat) over the edge of the boat. He swam back. With some luck and stealth, Thok managed to open the crate and take the contents before throwing the crate overboard.

Inside was: a shark tooth sword, a cloak of elven kind, a decanter of endless water, a circlet of summon elemental, and a few sapphires. They hide their finds well. The rest of the journey was smooth.

They arrive at Riverguard Keep. A white banner hangs from it with a blue gauntlet on it.

Guards flank the gate with similar swords to the one that Thok found.

The group posed as refugees. Upon entering, they could see men, women and children, working. The men were repairing parts of the keep, lifting large bits of wood. The women were cleaning or cooking. The party split to work.

Vega went up on a roof to work repairing, Thok and Theamen were hauling wood. Menelwen went to cook with the ladies.

Henry walked over to the kids. A young girl maybe a year his senior with darker skin, light brown hair, and tawny eyes helped him out with a bowl. They got to talking. She told him to not talk to the men with the swords.

Henry managed to charm her to a point that the young woman, Sasha, became completely in love with him.

Asking around, the party was slowly informed to also avoid the North Tower and the chapel. Thok and Theamen end up speaking with another of the builders (who turns out to be Sasha's father). He tells about the attack of hobgoblins, bandits, fire demons....the drought, losing land, family...and also about Grimjaw. The name rings a bell with Thok. Though a pirate gone straight, the information is rather valuable.

Henry snuck away after speaking with Sasha, hearing something sketchy going on in the Tower. None of the guards wanted to deal with it. Henry followed the man carefully. He saw a dark haired woman in priestess robes talking to guards. Then up in the tower, a "big shaggy creature" that Grimjaw was paying for protection.

Information learned, he headed back to speak with Menelwen. Fortunately, no one saw him. Menelwen however, had seen him sneak off on his own and was furious. Grateful for the information yes, but what if it had all gone wrong. She slapped Henry and sent him to speak with Thok. When Thok heard about Henry sneaking and encountering Bug bears, he was furious as well.

Henry was furious. No one was valuing him for what he could contribute.

"I don't do work." He told Thok.

That flipped a switch. Thok grabbed him roughly. "Oh you're gonna work." And threw Henry onto the rough roof before taking the ladder away.

This is how Henry gained a full scholarship to the School of Hard Thoks.

Vega, who was already working on the roof, tried his best to assure Henry that they weren't trying to be abusive, they were trying to cultivate him.

Theamen, to his credit was working shirtless with Thok and the other men. The ladies who were hanging around Menelwen cooking were eyeing him. All except Sasha who was trying to weasel any information from her about Henry. Until Theamen walked by to get water. Then everyone looked.

Eventually the work day finished, the group met back up for dinner. Sasha edged real close to Henry, propositioning him for a good night...while they planned their next move. To tackle the tower and hopefully, take down Grimjaw himself.

~To be continued....~