The boys came over as I had to discuss my dire predicament with Idlewood.  I had sent a note to Obscura but did not hear back, not unusual when she is busy with other things.  I sold the last of Archie’s precious items worth anything and now I did not have enough to keep Cedric off my doorstep.  I hated asking the boys for help, but either I increase their rent, ask them to be part owners, or we will have to move.  I hate the idea of moving.

I cooked them a feast of turkey, stuffing, potatoes, cranberries and corn, along with some rolls and a good wine I picked up from one of my merchants.  I called my unseen servant as I needed all hands on deck to get the table set.  We were about to tuck in when I heard a knock at the back door…probably Fluffy who was feeling left out I surmised. 

I went to open the door and stared up at a stone statute standing by my front door.  Fluffy was bleating his warning and scratching the ground. “Boys,” I called as my heart began to pound.  The boys must have heard the fear in my voice as they came running. 

“When did you get a statute?” Raelin asked. 

“I didn’t,” I replied.  I shooed Fluffy away and knocked on it’s kneecap…stone. The statute stood about eight feet and atop it’s head was a black helmet.

We saw on the base of the statute IDLEWOOD carved into the stone.  We walked around it looking for some clue as to who sent it or maybe a level that turned it on as we had all seen such creatures called “constructs” that mainly rich nobles used to run errors or guard their property.  “Maybe if we take the helmet off,” Samus said and grew large.  He pulled the helmet off and the stone hand shot out and took the helmet from Samus. 

“I am Sentinel Nine, I was sent to ARTS to protect you.”  It said.  Friz was instantly intrigued and wanted to do experiments on it.  I was not liking that I had a construct in my garden.  I thought we were to be inconspicuous and every knows I cannot afford a construct.  But like Friz I was very curious. Is it male…yes; does he eat…no; does he sleep…no; can he die…sort of; can he heal…yes; can he laugh…not sure; is he compassionate…once Friz explained it to him, yes, can we call him Nine…yes; how strong is he…strong enough to pull up my begonia bush and crush it, I was not impressed and I need a very large goblet of wine.  I motioned for him to come inside and we all sat back down at the table to finish our meal.

He told us that N sent him to protect us and opened up his chest delivering notes and items for all of us.  N sent me three scrolls: Blur, Dust Devil, Enlarge/Reduce; Friz got the Ring of the Raven; Samus received Fine Gauntlets (+1); and Raelin received a Great Adamantine dagger (+2): N also sent a note:

My apologies for my absence. I was unavailable due to intense scrutiny on our organization. It appears that some recent activities have exposed some of our members to certain individuals who have taken it upon themselves to extract revenge upon us and I have been forced to go undercover for  while, and though I am risking sending you this letter, I feel you may need aid in you endeavors and have enlisted the services of Sentinel Nine to assist your group.  I have a mission I need your help with as well, more details to follow.  In the meantime, get to know 9, he is not a chatty type but he is of pure heart and quite helpful, and he has a built in messaging system that I can use to contact you! The wonders of the weave, indeed!

With Nine’s permission Friz examined his compartment and found it is much like our bag of holding.  Nine confirms he can carry many items within himself.

We asked Nine about his background while we finished our dinner. For not being a chatty fellow, he did have a lot to say:

He is known as the Warforged.  He is 9 of 20 constructs that were created by the Wizard of the Valley of the Mage for Archbold of Nyrond to serve him during the Great War.  Archbold wanted an army of of tireless golems to serve him as unstoppable soldiers. Archbold was greatly disappointed with the results—the mindless automatons he received were incapable of tactics and easy to outwit and defeat. After many failed attempts, Archbold’s son Lynwerd was able to perfect the technology known as creation forges. These forges were able to produce constructs that were entirely sentient and capable of a full range of emotions. And these creatures would become known as the Warforged, a powerful weapon for Nyrond. By the time the Great War ended, two powerful edicts were enacted: the first said that all Warforged were to be treated as people and not possessions or machines. The second decreed that Lynwerd was to let their creation forges go dark forever, never building another Warforged again. After the Warforged were released from servitude by Lynwerd, Sentinel 9 was wandering Oerth aimlessly when he was captured by minions of Drax and taken to Rel Astra to serve as a guardian for Drax's palace. Great magics were put into play by Drax's Fiend, a powerful demon, to enslave Sentinel 9, dominating him into obedience. Strangely enough, the magics would occasionally be resisted by 9, and he would run amok, attempting to escape. Eventually Drax's guards would recapture him, but eventually the death toll and embarrassment were too much and Drax decided to shelf 9 in a chamber deep beneath the palace known simply as 'The Waiting Room'. For many years 9 whiled away in captivity, with only other automations and automotrons to occasionally chat with. He made a few friends amongst the somewhat sentient automations, but often they would be taken away to serve Drax and the waiting room would go quiet, sometimes for months before they would return to wait reassignment. When he awoke he found himself at Idlewood with a new directive given to him by N, protect Agniss and her crew.

After Nine finished we welcomed Nine to our group.  I asked him to try and tread lightly on the floorboards as they are old.  He offered to stand guard in the backyard but I already have a watch goat in the backyard.  I offered him a free corner in the front hall that had a view of the front door if he would like to stay there.  He said that would be adequate.  Raelin seemed quite pleased with having Nine as part of the group and felt he would be great to go out and gather information as nobody questioned constructs or why they were there.  Nine said he could also blend into walls if we need him to be less conspicuous.

Over pumpkin pie with whipped cream our discussion went back to Idlewood and we came to the conclusion that Idlewood is not just mine – but belongs to the entire party and we will use funds gathered in our ARTS adventures to pay the back taxes. I am 2 ½ years in arrears. 

Samus asked Raelin for those gauntlets that we took off the ogre during our last adventure that I identified as gauntlets of ogre power and lo and behold an Ogre stood before us in the ratty remains of Samus’ clothes and his voice coming out of the ogres face.  Could this night get any odder? 

Off to Gertie’s to see if she could help Samus.  Apparently Natty’s ogre’s were men that had crossed her at one time or another.  Gertie had Samus lean down, and I thought she was going to give him a potion or do a spell but instead, she kissed him full on the lips.  Samus was back…sort of…his tiny human head now sat between hulking ogre shoulders…yes, it could get odder.  Gertie said to come back in a few days, she needs to work on the cure. She said she needed an herb called Hogwart.

 I told the boys I needed a stiff drink and we headed out into the city to get one.  As we were passing an alleyway, Nine heard voices and I sent Mouse over to investigate.  It was Snargras talking to some mysterious chap that stayed in the shadows, but this shadow man was definitely giving orders and not pleased with Snargras at all. 

I want them dead, unrecoverable, their souls taken to the abyss for endless eons of the foulest sort of agony! Now, we have discussed the one called the Bender, and we already have this other one, the sycophant Obscrra, …”

 “Yes, this Obscura, we are taking care to cover our tracks…”

“What? Why waste time covering your….wait, did you hear something?’ “Damn you Snargrass, you are sloppy! This is why we ‘waste time… take care of this interruption, shades. We will discuss your inadequacies later, Snargrass.”

Obscura! My heart fell and then Mouse poof out of existence. We entered the alley wanting answers and we ran into shadow wraith creatures. In one of the pockets we find that Samus has a bounty on his head for 1000 gp and his associates for 500 gp.  We are to collect the bounty at Lifton Wales. While we dealt with that threat Snargras and the mysterious gentleman disappeared.

On our way home, Friz ran into Will and he asked him about Hogswart and Will said it grows in the forest.

I did not sleep at all that night. I sat on the floor and called Mouse back and snuggled her tight telling her what a brave familiar she is. Though each time I shut my eyes my dreams fill with Obscura’s lifeless body in a ditch somewhere, or she is being beheaded in the town square while Cedric Tunney and Snargras look on or being tortured in a dark dungeon somewhere calling for me to save her.

I awoke feeling not well rested and made the boys a large breakfast of eggs atop potato and turkey mash and day-old rolls with jam and butter and a nice pot of tea.  They all had a busy day planned as I know they were worried about Obscura as well.  She was prickly and not easily liked, but she was true to ARTs and to us.

I did find out that I cannot send messages to N. he can only send them to me.  Ah, well, I will pen him note on all that has happened and see if he can put some feelers out as to where Obscura might be.

I watched Nine and Samus.

After Nine goes out with Friz and Raelin, Agniss will pen a note to the Hexx's saying she will look for Obscura and if they hear anything, or find out anything more to let her know right away.

She will take the time to write down the three new spells from the scrolls the society gave her - Blur, Dust, Devil Enlarge/Reduce.

She will pull down her books on herbology to research hogswart, so she can see if there is a drawing of the plant.  Friz had told her he met Will who said, though he didn't have any, it could be found in the Grandwood.  If her books at home don't have drawings she will go to the University Library and look through their books.  She will bring parchment with her (the cheaper stuff) so she can copy the picture and notes about growing such a plant.

On her way she stops at the shops to buy: 20 gp of incense, charcoal and herbs; she goes to see Will for a couple pieces of licorice root.  She buys some things to add for KFC Stock: bedrolls, small keg of ale, mess kits, small cauldron and frying pan (a gnome cannot live on rations alone!), a bag of potatoes, braiding of onions, bag of flour. (DM: I will need prices). 

Once back, she collects: some salt, some bunches of dried herbs (parsley, Lavendar, sage, basil, rosemary, oregano), some of her harder cheeses that will keep well, the bottle of rum and one of the fine wines she took from the Dead Gull.

She will make a meal of hot turkey on bread and fried potatoes with gravy drizzled over it, along with greens and carrots from the garden and await to see what the boys have found out on their reconnaissance mission.