Turn 44A -- Returning to Thurmaster

As there is no opportunity to go searching around the keep, what with the guard posted outside everyone's door, all the party members take the opportunity to bathe in a real tub with hot water and sleep in a real bed.

Not trusting the guard outside his door, Talimar places one of the chairs near the window to smash it if required for an escape route before moving another chair against the door to block it. He then moves to the table in the room and places the longsword and longbow acquired from the bandits the previous day on the table in preparation for divining any magical nature in them. Everyone else quickly heads to bed to get several hours of quiet sleep. Beleg heading to bed only after first inquiring if there was anyone in the common room that he might play to. The guard quickly informed him that there was no one as the Count was not feeling well and had turned in early that evening.

The evening passes quietly and all of the companions get a very nice sleep, excepting of Ras who did not feel safe in the room and as such did not sleep well. Everyone rises early and decides to go ahead and head on back to Thurmaster as there is nothing more to do within the Keep. As the party is preparing to leave, Anderon meets the party outside the gates as they are preparing to leave. Ras took the Count's offer of outfitting the party for the search through the mines and he, Beleg, Ortho and Druckner are just completing packing the two mules that will carry their new equipment as Anderon walks up.

"Morning, gentlemen," says the scholar warmly. "The Count is still a bit under the weather so he asked me to come and thank you personally for your visit, as well as taking care of his son. He also offers you godspeed in your quest and hopes that the equipment you now carry will be of assistance to you."

"You will thank the Count for us?" asks Talimar.

"Of course, consider it done," answers Anderon. "May the gods bless you in your journey," he says with a bow as the party mounts up. With the sun rising warmly, the party sets out through the gates of the keep leading the pack mules and heading to Thurmaster.

The journey to Thurmaster is a quiet and relaxing one, Beleg plays several tunes on his lute as Ortho, Druckner and Ras sing along. During the journey, Talimar informs everyone that after casting on the items from the previous night that he was able to divine that both the sword and the bow are indeed magical in nature. They then decide to save the discussion of who will get the items for when the entire party is together again. The morning is still rather early as the six companions ride into Thurmaster.

Not knowing if their other companions will be up yet at the Hound and Tails, they decide to head first over to Thurmaster and meet up with Dain and get what information Tauster may have for them. As Dain meets back up with his companions he tells them that Tauster was able to identify the ring as a malfunctioning ring of water elemental control. Apparently the ring was leaking water from the elemental plane of water into this plane and the goblins settling in that area was causing the rise of the mire.

"Tauster drew up a document that I have here that will explain all of that to Darius Carmen for us," says Dain as he pats a pocket of his robe.

The party then heads over to the Hound and Tails and walks in to join their friends. After entering, they find their companions seated at a table in a corner of the inn apparently enjoying breakfast. More ale is ordered as well as a breakfast meal for them.