Well, I've given Darvi more than a fair amount of time.
Krath also didn't get a quest reward...
Take Knight lv2 and an improved warhammer.
Take Fated Oracle.
Take Well-Dressed Mercenary.
Take Holy Priest lv2 and a food-related artifact.
Take Trophy Raider Level 2 and a damage-raising artifact.
Take Nobleman Level 2 and a defensive artifact.
Take Defensive Caster and a damage-raising artifact.
Take Hunter Lvl 2, Destructive Hunter Lvl 2, Iron Hunter Lvl1, +10 Hp, New or Improved Weapon, RANDOM ARTIFACT!
The party, now joined by the giant Biernat Hara, walked into the courtyard of the massive castle, with Biernat bending the gate back into place behind them and locking it shut by bending a massive bar through it, explaining that this is to keep the monsters outside from following them in. The seven followed him to a hollow tree, where he drew a few items out. At his invitation, the rest helped themselves to whatever they find inside. Claire was the first one to get to the tree, for obvious reasons, and fished out what appeared to be a monacle. She put it on and found that by concentrating, she could almost see where to strike her fellow party members to damage them the most. (Claire gets Revelation Monocle! She can activate it for 1 MP, thus increasing all her damage rolls by 1 for the round.)
Pleased with her find, she wandered off to go study the surroundings with it while Zathyran approached the tree and stuck his arm in up to the shoulder. After some feeling around, he found something... squishy... and pulled his hand out, feeling disgusted... but whatever it was had stuck to him! With no small amount of revulsion, he watched a small, wormlike creature burrow into his hand and apparently disappear entirely. He prodded at the area and pulled his finger away, shaking it from the sudden electric shock. He had the feeling that, as sick as it was, this parasite could increase the power of his electric attacks... (Zathyran gets Eelworm! Enemies weak against Lightning attacks now take +100% instead of +50% when he uses such attacks.) He wandered away, staring at his hand with a sort of uncertain, unhappy expression.
Greenmoore decided to try his luck next. A quick search in the hollow earned him a small leather pouch of sea salt. He'd heard salt distilled from ocean water was healthier. Maybe now he'd have the chance to find out. (Greenmoore gets Sea Salt! Sea Salt can be applied to food - outside of combat, of course. When salted food is eaten, the effect either increases or decreases by a die rank, depending on what kind of food was salted. Salted meat would become 1d8 healing, for example; salted yogurt would decrease to 1d4.) He tucked the pouch into his robe and stepped aside to allow Frenz a chance. The nobleman shrugged and went ahead, drawing out a somewhat gaudy golden helmet. The inside was lined with tough steel, however, and he felt it could take a few blows. (Frenz gets Golden Helmet! Whenever enemies score a critical on Frenz, they deal 25% less damage; a 9 on damage would be the same as 8, a 10 the same as 9, etc.)
Finally, Malleus approached the tree. He grabbed the only thing left: a tin of polish. With a shrug, he sat and began applying it to his warhammer to test it out... and was pleasantly surprised to find it turned his weapon silver! It was quite a bit heavier now, which was great for damage, but it would also be quite strong against were-creatures... (Freezing Warhammer becomes Cold Silver Warhammer Lv1! It now deals +1 damage; +2 against Were-Creatures.) Biernat, meanwhile, was working on his own inventory. While everyone was looking over their finds, he was busy removing the standard steel head from his chain and replacing it with a giant flanged one, like an oversized mace head. Additionally, he had retrieved the lucky charm his father had given him when he was but a boy; twelve years old, but still larger than his dad. His father had told him that even the strongest man could use a little help now and then and had given him a pair of six-sided dice, a hole through the middle through which a black string was pulled. He was too large to wear it as a necklace, but he looped it about his wrist so the dice lay against the back of his hand. (Biernat gets Lucky Dice! Once per battle, Biernat can stipulate that he wants one re-roll on any roll involving him, whether it's his accuracy roll, any enemy's damage roll on him, an ally's healing roll on him, etc. However, once the re-roll is specified, the result might end up worse than the original...)
Once everyone was done fooling around, Biernat gestured for them to follow him further. The courtyard was woven through with trees, but there was an area cleared out for a graveyard. At the edge of the graveyard was a small log cabin, candlelight visible from its windows. Biernat led them to the door and opened it, leaning over to get through the frame. "
Rinaldo," he said, greeting the older man inside. Rinaldo looked up. "I see Biernat is not the only one to make it this far. Welcome," he said, putting away his book. "As you can see, I run a small store here inside the castle. The count prefers his... visitors have a sporting chance," he said. "Is there anything you need?"
After y'all get done shopping and exchanging and what-not, we'll let the party get some sleep to lampshade regaining HP/MP and then we'll get back to questin'. :3