Wesley is offering a raise dead scroll made with the 5000 gp component cost. A scroll will also halve the time required to cast it (like all scrolls do).
He is also offering the components for the linked portal. Actually he is offering two sets of components to allow for your return.
The walk crossroads ritual is also a scroll, you are not sure how it works, but there must be some kind of special spell on it to allow such a long range. You are guessing it is because it only works for a specific pair of crossroads.
Faelar replies to Numaar:
We were to be paid three thousand gold per man if we return the artefact. It is some kind of large orb that is located inside a broken tower made out of obsidian. I still have the container for it. Wesley said it was dangerous to carry it without the container and a ritual that seals the container after the orb is placed in it.
Faelar digs out a box made of some kind of shiny metal - you are guessing it is mithril.
The box is maybe a 1´ per side. Faelar has some kind of bag of holding or some such magical container to be able to carry it with ease
This is the container. There is a ritual scroll that will seal it inside.
Wesley says:
The orb is a netherese artefact that my master wants to study. It is quite powerful and once removed from the tower it will attract the attention of the Shades. The container will keep it safe from scrying magic.
OOC: Artefact does not necessarily mean artifact as in game terms, it is just a name for a magical item that was crafted for a special purpose, not necessarily for implement use even if it is an orb.
"I think we make haste, and I do not trust the Fey as much as I trust solid earth around my body. But if the rest of you think they can be trusted...And if it will make sure we don’t loss anyone to the bore fiends.”
Halgrath takes an other swig of the cider and gives a slight smile. “Dancing will have to wait, but it will be that much better when we get Ariana back and find Learath, then we can truly celebrate.”
"I fear no one when it comes to finding friends, especially Netherese guards!” Varis nearly shouts, startling the group at the loss of his usual calm, jovial manner. His right glove start to glow, but it quickly dies down as he calms.
“We should find our friends first, which will require us to use the earthnode. Then we will see about this artifact which Wesley’s master desires,” Varis says, back to normal now, though his grin has not returned with such serious matters at hand.
“We should leave soon, and arrange for our friends to follow us quickly. Let us go and speak with Wesley’s master, so that we might gather a little more information to go with these scrolls to aid in our journey.”
“And dear friend Wesley, I hope you take no offense to my outburst, but with my friends in danger it is hard to remain calm when I feel so helpless. Do not blame yourself, for I do not.” Varis flashes a quick smile toward Wesley to show him he means no harm, then regains his stern look while waiting for his fellow company members to make a decision.
OOC: That is a fine way to perform the Insight checks Rothe, and makes it easier for you.
Genova enter the inn, shes wearing her black cloak with her hood above her head, her huge sword tied on her back. From the purpleness of her skin and the silvery energy line running through her face and forearms she seem in a calm mood but her trait show that shes a bit tired from her traveling the last few months. When she saw her friend sitting at a table with a stranger she wonder who is he.
She move through the people and the tables and grab a seat and wave the waitress for a drink.
“Hello my friends, how are everyone...” She notice the wary face of her friends.
“What are the bad news this time? And where are Laerath and Ariana? And why are you standing there Halgrath?”
OOC: I assume everyone explain to me what happen and whats going on, so i will continue on my roleplay
“I see… we need to move fast earthnode is probably the safest and fastest way. I guess it mean i wont have a good bed tonight again? Can i atleast get a bath before leaving! I am back from Akanûl… i could’nt believe that my homeland is in Fearûne now… Its very weird what happen to our worlds!”
“But i dont want to go throught the Feywild i cant stand those pest! No offense Numaar but i can stand the feyfolk outside some occasional elves or eladrin. Traveling by feet i have been for the last few months, or airship but still i really believe that earthnodes will be the fastest.”
Taking a good slip of her glass of wine she then order a good plate of food and drop her cloak and lay down her sword by her side.
“But i think first we should get Ariana back and then make our way to the earthnode since we will have already some of the way done. If we wait, they can use her in way we dont want to think about and we migth never be able to restore her.”
OOC: When i am done eating if no one else come i will go take a bath relax a bit and then get ready to leave, if we spend the nigth at the inn i would be even more pleased but if not i will just go with everyone else.
Wesley starts to say something, but was interrupted by Halben.
After hearing his angry speech, he starts to talk a bit quietly, so that you have to get a bit closer to him to hear what he is saying.
My master is a busy man, long ways off in his study. We cannot go to him now. I can contact him about the scrolls and such, if you want them. We have a way of sending things back and forth, so he can get them to me quickly.
Numaar takes Halben to the Bar with him and whispers “Halben, the others seem quick to trust Wesley, I don’t trust him. I need someone I can trust to watch him for me while I am gone. My specality of tracking and knowledge of rituals means I have to go.” not to mention my personal feelings towards her thinks Numaar “I know that you won’t for one minute let your guard down around Wesley. I also know that everyone here trusts you and those that might arrive deserve to hear the truth from someone they trust. I can think of no one better suited for this task. I beg you, for me, to stay and watch this Wesley guy find out as much as you can about him and his master and prepare for our return. When we return and everything checks out we will celebrate, if you have found out this guy is bad we will then together hunt him down and make him pay.”
If halben agrees:
Grabbing the round of drinks he had just purchased he winks at halben and returns to the table passing them out. “Well lets have one last one before we hit the road.”
“Faelar you should have your man here go get those scrolls so we can be off and soon reunited with our companions. It would be best to have two ways of quick travel in case we need them.”
OOC:
Numaar does not manage to convince Halben alone (diplomacy check total 14, including a +4 bonus for finding good reasons to keep Halben here).
Perhaps someone else will convince him? I will count Numaar’s check as an assistance and that gives +2 to the next check (which will decide what Halben will do).
Halben replies to Numaar:
Nah, I could never forgive myself if I don’t go. Who cares what happens with this Wesley fellow, he is the one who caused all this in the first place!
Wesley continues:
I will get the scrolls now, you still have a moment to think about this situation.
If I was in your shoes, I would just get the scrolls and save your friends. My master does need the payment, but I am sure a group like you can finish the mission successfully.
Wesley looks at Faelar.
I do feel sorry about this, but my master is going to be demanding some results from me now, with all the resources we already spent.
Wesley starts to walk up the stairs to his room, which is located in the second floor of the inn.
You have a moment to speak without him present if you want to say something in confidence.
I use astral tongue on myself and go speak to Halben. “It is hard to stand and see friends go, and you are brave to want to come with us, but it is true, we do need you here. More aid may come, and what if this Wesley turns on us and holds our other friends against us. I do not wish you to feel worse then you do for anything that you could have prevented.”
Halben clearly starts to think about this. He also realises that he is quite drunk and can barely stand up.
He looks at Halgrath who caught his attention. He seems a bit ashamed now.
Uh… Maybe I am not in the best shape to travel right now. I mean, surely you must be getting on the way tonight already. I will come to save your asses with a second team if I don’t hear about you guys. And surely there must be more of us on their way here.
Then he looks at Wesley, who is already going into his room.
That guy… I don’t know what it is but I feel like he does not know what it takes from us adventurers to actually do these things. Sheesh! He thinks it is just a simple thing, cast a few spells and go on your merry way. Get some A-R-T-E-F-A-C-T (spelled drunkenly) and then get back. Those shades are not nice I tell you! You must be careful.
Now that I think about it, I think these enchanted conch shells will come in handy.
He digs something out of his pockets, and hands one conch shell to Halgrath.
We could keep in touch with these. Once per day, you can speak into it, and I can hear you with the other one. Same for me. Just a few sentences worth, but it is great for keeping in touch. I am not sure how far this thing works though.
OOC: they don’t take a daily item use, but they only work once a day. One shell can speak to the other’s keeper and then he can respond, roughly 25 words worth per use.
Oh, and by the way, Halgrath really nailed it with his diplomacy check.
Halgrath smiles at Halben. “Thank you my friend, and don’t you worry, I’m sure my (Gibbering Mouther Ate Your Word!) will need much saving from you. You know how I love to fall into traps and have my friends get me out, its my way of saying we are friends.” He pats him on his back and puts the conch into his beg.
“Sorry Genova, just like the dancing, the bath will have to wait, we leave, tonight. You rest, eat something while we ask a few things more of Wesley, but then we are off.”
Halgrath turns to his other friends, “Do we need more then just the scrolls, or is there more need.”
Halgrath smiles at Nummar and whispers as he gives him a pat on the back, “Thanks for helping me with Halben.”
"Supplies would be the only thing we need besides the scrolls. We should be able to gather something from here at the inn. Other than that small preparation I am ready” Varis has regained his big grin here, ready for the adventure before him.
“Let us be gone as soon as Wesley returns, and everyone be on your toes. I’m still not entirely sure if I trust that man yet, he seems a bit shakey to me. It might be nothing but it has never hurt to err on the side of caution.”
You are able to put together rations for a week or so for the 7 of you (counting Faelar in), just from what is available at the inn. To get more, it would take some time since most people are having a party tonight.
You could try the streetwise skill to get extra supplies in the evening.
smiling back at Halgrath “Your tongue has always been more silver coated than mine, glad to be of some help.”
“I propose we head to the earthnode, get to Ariana as fast and safely as possible. Then on the way back from rescueing Laerath we will have a choose of whatever is closer. Is there anything any of us can think of that we might need? You have that food basket still don’t you? If there is anything else we can think of lets go get it tonight even if we have to go in and leave money on the counter. If we head out we can make camp at the node. Might be best to get to Shade country during the morning when they are weaker or more confined.”
