Return to Merylsward

Considering how foolhardy this bunch is, myself included, it's amazing that we've survived the battle with Hacavia and her minions. The foul woman's powers were a challenge but somehow, we scraped by. So, to the victors go the spoil, so they say...
 
As an aside, I still have no clue who "they" are or where "they" come from but it can't be anything good.
 
Anyway, we pick the bones of her and her henchmen clean and we make out pretty well. All her bumblefucks had pretty good equipment on them and she herself was carrying some magical potions. Fine nonmagical gear to boot. Then there was the chest in the middle of the room.
 
I'm pretty sure I disarmed that trap but I've learned my lesson. Besides, what good is having this new skill I've been working on if I don't get to use it? So I step back and pop the lid of the chest. Good thing I stepped back... doh! It was worth it though!!!
 
It's been a long time since I've seen that much gold in one container. Reminds me of the days back when I was unwittingly aiding the bastards at Kundarak and Sivis to hide the shame of their screw-ups. Fuck those guys! Phiarlan too... Those lying sacks of shit. Fuck them especially hard!!!
 
Where was i? Oh yeah! Gold...! We take our spoils, hop into the rowboat in the secret cove entrance into this cavern and we paddle our merry asses back to the ship. Then we sail our asses back to Merlysward.
 
Alice and the guys go sell the bootie but Lomeia's really banged up so she goes back to the Purple Ostrich. (What a stupid name by the way! No-one, and I mean NO ONE has ever seen a purple ostrich!!!) I'm pretty banged up myself and could use a drink so I join her.
 
That was a mistake. Apparently alcohol fuels a need in here to open up to others. Yeesh! I mean, I told her it'd be fine for her to join the crew when we head back north but I didn't expect the sudden puppy-dog treatment. Oh well... Live and learn.
 
And I guess whatever affliction she has is contagious because, before long, I'm telling her the deepest and darkest secrets I've learned so far. She doesn't like the marked houses almost as much as I don't so she pretty much agrees to ride into hell against them with me.
 
I suppose she could be useful...
 
Then, the rest of the gang returns. Alice flubbed one of the sales of goods and bootie but they still bring back a nice sume of additional cash. Maybe I'll check the town out for an ehanced longbow. Got some coin rattling around in my pockets now. I can spare it.
 
Well, wouldn't you know it that no way we get a chance to relax much. First the halfling spots his dead friend staring at us from the outside of the tavern through the window. He of course freaks out, regardless of the fact I reveal to him that at least half of all deaths are faked, and goes running out into the streets. Lomea chases but she's drunk and that can't end well.
 
I'm not too steady myself by now but it won't do for half of them to get killed now, after we just survived the greatest challenge in our collective lives. But I get out there too late and the whole kerfuffle is done before it started. We head back inside and Alton tells us that the visage was actually some spirit creature and that they're after Alice's soul. Too bad for her, I guess...
 
She's a cool customer, the bard, though. The weird happenings don't throw her off her game when it's time to entertain all the little purple ostrich eggs. She's fantastic to start but then shit gets weird. A discordant second number is interrupted by the sort of silent, screaming, out of body experience that you only hear about necromancers and demons being able to do. What's more, both Alice AND Alton are affected. Well, fuck...!
 
I react immediately and lash out with my telekenetic powers, trying to corral Alton and drop him to the ground. But, remember how I said I was pretty sauced by now?
 
I really do feel bad for that barmaid...