Disclaimer: I in no way own Harry Potter, although I wouldn't mind one bit if I did.
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8: the first rune stone
As Alice heads for the Farhaven tavern Ginny, Luna, and I return to searching for wolves. Turning west I spot an outcropping a few feet beyond the brambles. Deciding to check it out I examine my map. I start by turning north and walking forward. After a few feet, I turn west. As I reach a thicket I turn south. Just before I reach a set of brambles I turn east. Walking on to the outcropping I find a pair of chests. In the first 1, I find some more gold, but more importantly, I find a leather helm which I equip. The second chest contains some more gold along with 2 opals, 1 cracked, and 1 flawed. After placing all I found in my pack we leave the outcropping.
Deciding to see what is on the north side of the river we begin to search along the water's edge. While heading west we are attacked by 3 wolves. These wolves were polite enough to leave a wolf pelt behind for us. That is our 17th wolf pelt, leaving only 3 to collect.
While exploring along the water's edge we found a fishing dock. I guess wolf pelts weren't the only things being sold to the general store. Exploring the dock we find a crate that contains a "Catfish" and a "Trout". After collecting these I spot the actual fishery and decide to examine it. Entering through the door we see 2 more crates. The first contains a "Salmon". While the other contains another "Trout".
After looking around for a few minutes we move toward the exit of the fishery. Before we can exit we are attacked by a pair of wolves. After defeating them I wonder how the wolves got into the fishery. Well no matter at least we got our 18th wolf pelt.
Having decided we have spent enough time on the north side of the river we head back across the bridge before heading west until we find the trails once again. following a trail south we are attacked by 2 wolves. After an easy battle. After all, we have been fighting these wolves for hours now. We received the final 2 wolf pelts we need. At once we head for Farhaven to turn in these pelts.
Upon entering Farhaven we follow my map to the general store. Entering we find Madeline behind the counter still selling her whears. I briefly wonder who else is buying her items. Deciding not to think about it too much I show her the wolf pelts we have collected. "we've gathered those wolf pelts you wanted."
Madeline hands over some gold. "You really do come through in a pinch. Thanks! Here's your payment, and there's more where that came from."
I can see that she still needs something. "Is there anything else I can acquire for you?"
Madeline nods. "The next thing I need you to find is fifteen nightshade plants. I use them in several of my potions, and using my own ingredients helps me keep my prices down. I usually pick it in the graveyard, though I've heard of it growing other places as well. It takes a trained eye to recognize the plant, though."
I give her a nod. "I'll be back when I have the nightshade."
Madeline waves to us as we leave the store.
As we exit the store I turn to the girls. "Can either of you identify Nightshade?"
Ginny shakes her head. "That hasn't come up in my classes either at Hogwarts or with Sedric when I got here."
Luna nods. "I don't remember what Nightshade looks like."
I sigh. "In order to keep under the radar of whoever is behind these attacks we will need to keep our group at 3. Are 1 of you willing to wait in the tavern while I bring Alice and 1 other along to the graveyard?"
The girls perform a quick game of wand, stone, parchment. Ginny shows "stone", while Luna shows "parchment". So it looks like Luna will be joining Alice and me in the graveyard.
Ginny sighs. "Just be careful you 2 ok!"
We both assure her before heading to the tavern.
As we enter the tavern I realize we never informed Samual about the spirit being put to rest. Walking up to Samual I tell him, "Your guests shouldn't have any trouble sleeping now."
Samual looks relieved although he tries to hide it. "I'm glad to hear it. I'd rather not hear the details - not that I believe it was a ghost, mind you. Just don't want to excite my wife's imagination. Here - you've earned this for your trouble."
Samual holds out a sack of gold but I refuse to take it. "I can't take your money. I was just glad to help. Besides it cost me nothing."
Samual looks surprised. "Well, alright. But you've been good to us, and we won't forget it."
Smiling at Samual I ask "Are any of my companions here?"
Samual nods all business. "Yes, I've rented the south large bedroom for you and your friends. It's the first door on your left—you can't miss it."
I thanked him with a smile before heading over to the hallway leading to the bedrooms.
Entering the south large bedroom I greet Alice again. While Ginny makes herself comfortable I ask Alice to join us in visiting the graveyard. I tell her that we will be helping Luna here seek out the rune stones powering a magical barrier that blocks the way to the source of the attacks from the graveyard. The reason I asked her to come along is so they could search for "Nightshade" which Madeline from the general store has asked us to find. Alice agrees to help and so the 3 of us leave the tavern.
Heading back to the east gate the 3 of us enter the graveyard. Checking my map we try to enter 2 of the mausoleums. The Madranus Mausoleum is locked with a key I don't have, and the entrance to the Linarrio Mausoleum is blocked by rubble. As we search for a Mausoleum we can enter we come across 8 Nightshade, so we are already halfway finished with Madeline's request.
Along the way, Alice reaches level 8 and places her attribute point into Dextarity. However, she doesn't do anything with her single skill point.
A little later after some more fighting Luna and I reach level 9. I place my attribute point into my Constitution to make myself a little more durable. I save my skill point wanting to get a passive skill that will allow me to get even more powerful spells of a specific element.
Luna on the other hand places her attribute into her Intelligence raising her maximum mana again. For her skill point, she does the same as me saving her skill point for a larger skill.
Finally, we find the madranus mausoleum. Inserting the 2 keys I found while looking for the broken amulet our first time here I open the door, and the 3 of us enter the mausoleum.
It's not a bad-looking Crypt. Heading north we walk until we reach a wall. Turning west we follow the wall until it opens to our right allowing us to continue north. until we reach another wall. Turning right we proceed east until we come across a staircase leading up.
We climb the stairs heading west until we run into a wall. Turning to our right we continue climbing the stairs. As we climb we are attacked by 2 Shuffling Boneman, a Tainted Raven, and a Necromancer Acolyte. After the fight, Alice reached level 9 and gained the "aimed shot" skill. After placing her attribute point into Dexterity, Alice placed 2 skill points into her new skill. Raising its rank to 3. When all that was finished we headed for the door we had just discovered.
After finding the door we see it is marked with the word catacombs". realizing this is not where we need to go I glance at my map and direct us to the other staircase leading up. We follow the stairs as they lead west. When we reach a wall we turn north and continue climbing. When we again reach a wall we turn east. We see a door a little in front of us and so we head for it. On the way, we have to fight 3 bats. After the battle, I reached level 10. Glancing at my attributes I decide to place my point into "Will Power" to increase the power of my spells. With my 2 skill points, I purchase the "elemental attunement" skill, choosing to align myself with fire. After that, we headed for the door.
As we glance at the door I realize I lead my team in a circle. Deciding to look around somewhere else I glance at my map. I finally see "Tomb of Alanso" on the map, and decide to check there.
Turning west we start descending the staircase. Reaching the wall we turn south. At the next wall, we turn east. At the next wall, we turn south, allowing us to exit the staircase. When we reach the wall we turn east again. reaching the next wall we turn south. Upon reaching the wall again we turn east spotting the Tomb of Alanso just ahead.
We search the tomb but find nothing except a few items. I sigh in frustration. "I don't get it. There's nothing here. And yet, I can feel a magical object somewhere nearby."
Luna also looks puzzled. "Can your map help us with this?"
"I will try" I respond opening my map.
Looking over my map I find a "Hall of the Patriarchs" to the south. Tracing a path I decide to follow it and see where this goes.
Following my map we turn north and walk until we reach the wall. Turning west we take a few steps to reach the next wall. Turning south we continue forward to the next wall. Turning west we walk forward until we hear a strange noise to our left. Turning south we see the Hall of the Patriarchs in front of us.
Entering the hall we spot a rune stone glowing. Walking up to it Luna faces us. "Please, remain still. I need to focus."
I nod to her while looking around. "Of course. Take your time."
Luna neals in front of the rune stone. As she chants an encantation I've never heard before the glow around the rune stone begins to dim. Once the glow fades Luna rises to her feet. "This one is neutralized. We should continue our search."
I nod to her. "Well done. Let's move on."
Before we leave the Mausoleum we rade the coffins in the hall. I find a robe that increases my fire damage and resistance, so I equip it at once. Nothing else catches our eyes so we head for the exit.
– Separator –
An: and that's where I will leave it for now. At last, I am done with the wolf pelts. I thought that would never get done. Finding Nightshade is so much easier. I mean Ivy and the party already have more than half of what they need, and their not even seriously hunting for it.
Next chapter the group explores another Mausoleum.
As always if you have a comment or questions you can leave me a review, or send me a PM. I hope you are enjoying this story, and I will see you all next time.