Brevig keeps pace with Corva, jogging a few steps alongside her as he messages to Ashento, and in a moment, the steed catches up with him. If Corva is willing, the assimar swings her up atop the Elk with ease, then he too, springs up while holding an antler for balance. Ashento grunts as the armored paladin lands in place, but its footing is steady as they follow Evie.
Brevig intones a brief prayer, and a light shines brightly upon the palm of his left gauntlet, which he points ahead to help Ashento see the road, and also to help Corva keep eyes on Evie and the girl.
DM for Deathworld: Lost Mine of Phandelver// Story Guide for COYOTE and CROW: Cahokia Forever//Dev Horndin Curious Critters//Co-creator: Princes of the Apocalypse - A DnD Story
Less than a minute later, the party members have gathered around Evie, who has the little girl Rinny in her grasp. Corva has hopped to the ground after her short ride on Ashento and stands there, looking mildly bewildered. The sound of hoofbeats and Gwin's amplified voice have brought Rauvincross to life as if it were the start of a new day. Townsfolk are peering from their houses, and patrons from the inn have stepped into the street.
As expected, Rinny is teary-eyed and receiving an earful from her mother. Rinny interjects now and then, trying to explain she knows where Emrick (Griff's missing son) is.
For Patrin, however, there is something additional of note...
The small iron ring that Rinny has in her hand glows faintly, presenting an aura of divination magic.
Brevig dismounts, armor clicking, and maintains the light, gently illuminating the faces of those gathered. He glances inquiringly at Patrin.
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DM for Deathworld: Lost Mine of Phandelver// Story Guide for COYOTE and CROW: Cahokia Forever//Dev Horndin Curious Critters//Co-creator: Princes of the Apocalypse - A DnD Story
Gwin dismounts and exhales a sigh of relief upon seeing the small child. Looking sheepishly at her companions, Apologies for my haste, my friends. It's been quite a long while since I've been outside the temple walls and I'm a bit impetuous. I shall be more deliberate in the future. As my great uncle, Leeeeroy Jenkinsbrandus used to say, haste makes one chaste.
The cleric also notices an odd look of comprehension pass over Patrin's face. What is it, warlock?Is something amiss?
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
‘The hardest thing in this world is to live in it.’ - Buffy Summers
Fargoth pulls on Ranger’s reins and bring him to a halt next to the group, but doesn’t dismount. He instead remains in the saddle, and keeps an eye on the people coming onto the street.
Patrin dismounts as he reaches Rinny and Evie, passing his reins to Fargoth ‘Could you hold these for a moment please?’he asks
Stepping towards Evie and Rinny he kneels down so that he is looming less than before. ‘Hello Rinny. I’m Patrin. I’m here to help find Emrick..’he smiles conspiratorially, ‘I know some magic, so I know how we can sometimes experience surprising things.’
At this moment he casts Minor Illusion, causing flower petals to rain down on both him and Rinny, turning into minor sparkles.
’Would you tell me what you know about where Emrick is, and perhaps who gave you that ring..?’
As Rinny begins to speak, the iron ring--nearly simultaneously--stops emitting its divination aura. "Emrick is that way,"--she points northward (upriver)--"and I found this ring just outside my window, on the sill a few days ago. No one gave it to me, but a friendly old woman uses it to talk to me. She's old and weak and has found Emrick and cannot walk so far. And because I am very brave, I will do the walking and go to Emrick."
Rinny seems sincere, and her voice conveys an eerie trust in whatever entity it is that might be communicating with her. Evie tears the ring from Rinny's hand and holds it out toward the members of the party, her eyes begging for one of you to take it. Being parted from the ring immediately sends Rinny into a fit of crying.
Fargoth scrutinizes the crowd that is beginning to form, but, thus far, he sees only curious and concerned faces.
Donir raises one eye inquisitively, peering at the small band.
"Could the ring possibly have something to do with the beast that's been terrorizing this land? I've not heard of any ten foot tall kindly old ladies, though, and 'old and weak' certainly doesn't fit the beast's description. We might as well head to Emrick's supposed location, hopefully this will be a simple quest."
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"Ignorance is bliss, and you look absolutely miserable."
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
"Rinny, tiny one," says Brevig, calmly gaining her attention, "You are brave. Very brave, for wanting to help your friend. And with your help, by pointing us to him, you have already done much to save him. We -- my friends and I -- will look up the river, and find Emrick, and perhaps the old woman who knows where he is, too. But now," and he squats down beside Patrin, "we need you to keep being brave, and share some of your bravery with your mother. Do you see how frightened she is right now? Please, stay with her and help her to feel calm. We will be back before dawn."
Persuasion: 19
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DM for Deathworld: Lost Mine of Phandelver// Story Guide for COYOTE and CROW: Cahokia Forever//Dev Horndin Curious Critters//Co-creator: Princes of the Apocalypse - A DnD Story
Patrin puts the ring in one of his pouches. ‘She may know we’re coming, but I can’t imagine she realises exactly what we’re capable of.’
Collecting his reins back from Fargoth with a smile and a nod of thanks, he continues more quietly to the rest of the group ‘If we come across any bodies, I may be able to question them...’
The wood elf raises an eyebrow at Patrin's comment. "From the description this Evie woman gave us of the bodies, I suspect that may be quite difficult... We are leaving immediately then?"
The ring holds up to the scrutiny of Patrin and the other party members; it seems to be nothing more than a simple, roughly-fashioned iron band. Whoever, or whatever, created it left no identifying marks upon its surface.
Brevig's words considerably lighten Rinny's spirits, and Evie's gratitude is obvious as she heads for home. The two dozen townsfolk, however, are not ready to move on from what they just witnessed. Upon learning that five brave strangers will be striking out in search of Emrick, the gathering of miners and laborers turns into a small-scale celebration. As the party makes its way across the one bridge in town and heads deeper into the Moon Pass, they hear a smattering of good will from the people of Rauvincross.
"The blessing of Ilmater upon you," calls a gravelly-voiced man.
"Find our boy!" shouts another.
"A mile or so past the falls. That's the place," warns the innkeeper.
<> <> <> <> <>
Roughly twenty minutes after leaving Rauvincross, the party passes a small waterfall where the Rauvin tumbles downward four or five feet over a jumble of boulders and tree roots. The innkeeper's words prove to be accurate, and in the moonlight you see a pair of scraggly trees, each of which is decorated with what seems to be the belongings and remains of the dead. Among the objects are boots, a fur hat, a shattered wooden shield, a shortsword, and a battered lantern. Among the remains are a few bones (arms and legs), a severed hand, and a skull (probably an adult human). The trees stand at the mouth of a cleft that cuts into the rock hillside to your right. The ground along the riverbank and around these two trees give clear indications of footprints. Large ones.
Patrin notes the condition of the remains from a distance.. ‘Not enough for me to work with, I’m afraid.’ he looks around to the group ‘I’m afraid I’d risk making a mess of the tracks. Does anyone of you have experience with this, before I inspect the remains more closely?’
As the party moves up the river leaving the hamlet behind, Brevig is reminded of, and shares, in his calm, commanding voice, a tale of a battle fought by a few Knights of Samular a few seasons back, involving a riverbank ambush. The Knights arrived at a secluded cove, and would have been surprised and slaughtered, were it not for the good luck that one of them was so vain he happened to pull out a mirror at exactly the right moment, saw a force of bugbears and hobgoblins laying in wait, and, with the few moments that bought him, cast an illusion, throwing their enemies into disarray. The tide was turned, and resulted in an easy win against a superior force. This brings everyone a smile and a sense of calm alertness, such that each member of the party gains 12 temporary HP. (OOC: Inspiring Leader feat).
DM for Deathworld: Lost Mine of Phandelver// Story Guide for COYOTE and CROW: Cahokia Forever//Dev Horndin Curious Critters//Co-creator: Princes of the Apocalypse - A DnD Story
Patrin notes the condition of the remains from a distance.. ‘Not enough for me to work with, I’m afraid.’ he looks around to the group ‘I’m afraid I’d risk making a mess of the tracks. Does anyone of you have experience with this, before I inspect the remains more closely?’
Fargoth dismounts and hands his reins to Patrin, cashing in his favour already. "Mind Ranger will you, friend. I was a poacher in another life, turns out the Harpers like having people with that sort of disposition in their ranks."
He retrieves his bow from the horse, and carefully approaches the debris, trees and footprints, taking it all in, but touching nothing. Focusing primarily on the footprints, the elf looks to see if he can follow them further, but also has a look at the bodies, for clues as to what might have made said footprints.
As they approach the bodies, Donir's scarred face grows dim. He reaches behind his back, pulling off an engraved shield, and places it against the steel cap on his stump arm. He pushes it in and twists it, and with a faint click it affixes to it. He reaches down into the seemingly empty sack at his side, and pulls an ornate helmet out of it. The helmet is modeled after a grim, bearded face, with a blindfold over the eyes, which you would all know to be the visage of Tyr. The blindfold actually has many small holes in it, to allow for clear vision, but from a distance it would appear to be genuine. Donir pulls the helmet over his head, and with another click it too slots into place. With a faint humming, the air around Donir begins to waver, like it would on a hot day. His single is surrounded by a similar effect, though it is much more pronounced. Finally, he pulls a cloak of fine chainmail from the bag, and clasps it around his neck. It too is surrounded by the faint wavering air, and briefly billows in an unseen wind before settling.
"We must be wary. If this thing attacked these people here, we are most likely in its territory. As far as tracking goes, I'm no better than anyone else here, but I suspect you'd need to be a deaf grimlock to miss these. Somebody has big feet."
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
"Ignorance is bliss, and you look absolutely miserable."
Patrin takes the reins to Ranger in the same hand as his own reins, keeping Fenni steady with his knees. He takes the time to reach into a saddlebag for his cloak, draping it over his shoulders with practiced easy. As it falls into place his form shimmers and blurs, and your eyes struggle to keep track of his exact position...
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“It would certainly seem that way...” The wood elf sighs as he gentry digs his heels into the flanks of Ranger, and follows after the others.
Brevig keeps pace with Corva, jogging a few steps alongside her as he messages to Ashento, and in a moment, the steed catches up with him.
If Corva is willing, the assimar swings her up atop the Elk with ease, then he too, springs up while holding an antler for balance. Ashento grunts as the armored paladin lands in place, but its footing is steady as they follow Evie.
Brevig intones a brief prayer, and a light shines brightly upon the palm of his left gauntlet, which he points ahead to help Ashento see the road, and also to help Corva keep eyes on Evie and the girl.
DM for Deathworld: Lost Mine of Phandelver // Story Guide for COYOTE and CROW: Cahokia Forever // Dev Hornd in Curious Critters // Co-creator: Princes of the Apocalypse - A DnD Story
While riding, Patrin mutters a few arcane words, drawing on the power of his patron.
He has cast Detect Magic, to give him an additional sense in whatever comes next...
Less than a minute later, the party members have gathered around Evie, who has the little girl Rinny in her grasp. Corva has hopped to the ground after her short ride on Ashento and stands there, looking mildly bewildered. The sound of hoofbeats and Gwin's amplified voice have brought Rauvincross to life as if it were the start of a new day. Townsfolk are peering from their houses, and patrons from the inn have stepped into the street.
As expected, Rinny is teary-eyed and receiving an earful from her mother. Rinny interjects now and then, trying to explain she knows where Emrick (Griff's missing son) is.
For Patrin, however, there is something additional of note...
The small iron ring that Rinny has in her hand glows faintly, presenting an aura of divination magic.
Brevig dismounts, armor clicking, and maintains the light, gently illuminating the faces of those gathered. He glances inquiringly at Patrin.
DM for Deathworld: Lost Mine of Phandelver // Story Guide for COYOTE and CROW: Cahokia Forever // Dev Hornd in Curious Critters // Co-creator: Princes of the Apocalypse - A DnD Story
Gwin dismounts and exhales a sigh of relief upon seeing the small child. Looking sheepishly at her companions, Apologies for my haste, my friends. It's been quite a long while since I've been outside the temple walls and I'm a bit impetuous. I shall be more deliberate in the future. As my great uncle, Leeeeroy Jenkinsbrandus used to say, haste makes one chaste.
The cleric also notices an odd look of comprehension pass over Patrin's face. What is it, warlock? Is something amiss?
‘The hardest thing in this world is to live in it.’ - Buffy Summers
Fargoth pulls on Ranger’s reins and bring him to a halt next to the group, but doesn’t dismount. He instead remains in the saddle, and keeps an eye on the people coming onto the street.
Patrin dismounts as he reaches Rinny and Evie, passing his reins to Fargoth ‘Could you hold these for a moment please?’ he asks
Stepping towards Evie and Rinny he kneels down so that he is looming less than before. ‘Hello Rinny. I’m Patrin. I’m here to help find Emrick..’ he smiles conspiratorially, ‘I know some magic, so I know how we can sometimes experience surprising things.’
At this moment he casts Minor Illusion, causing flower petals to rain down on both him and Rinny, turning into minor sparkles.
’Would you tell me what you know about where Emrick is, and perhaps who gave you that ring..?’
Persuasion (w/advantage) for Patrin: 18
As Rinny begins to speak, the iron ring--nearly simultaneously--stops emitting its divination aura. "Emrick is that way,"--she points northward (upriver)--"and I found this ring just outside my window, on the sill a few days ago. No one gave it to me, but a friendly old woman uses it to talk to me. She's old and weak and has found Emrick and cannot walk so far. And because I am very brave, I will do the walking and go to Emrick."
Rinny seems sincere, and her voice conveys an eerie trust in whatever entity it is that might be communicating with her. Evie tears the ring from Rinny's hand and holds it out toward the members of the party, her eyes begging for one of you to take it. Being parted from the ring immediately sends Rinny into a fit of crying.
Fargoth scrutinizes the crowd that is beginning to form, but, thus far, he sees only curious and concerned faces.
Patrin takes the ring from Evie, examining it carefully...
’The magic has faded from the ring, and I cannot see any lasting harm on your daughter...’ he says to help reassure Evie.
Arcana/Investigation: 23
(Removed a bit, misread the above post)
Donir raises one eye inquisitively, peering at the small band.
"Could the ring possibly have something to do with the beast that's been terrorizing this land? I've not heard of any ten foot tall kindly old ladies, though, and 'old and weak' certainly doesn't fit the beast's description. We might as well head to Emrick's supposed location, hopefully this will be a simple quest."
"Ignorance is bliss, and you look absolutely miserable."
"Rinny, tiny one," says Brevig, calmly gaining her attention, "You are brave. Very brave, for wanting to help your friend. And with your help, by pointing us to him, you have already done much to save him. We -- my friends and I -- will look up the river, and find Emrick, and perhaps the old woman who knows where he is, too. But now," and he squats down beside Patrin, "we need you to keep being brave, and share some of your bravery with your mother. Do you see how frightened she is right now? Please, stay with her and help her to feel calm. We will be back before dawn."
Persuasion: 19
DM for Deathworld: Lost Mine of Phandelver // Story Guide for COYOTE and CROW: Cahokia Forever // Dev Hornd in Curious Critters // Co-creator: Princes of the Apocalypse - A DnD Story
Patrin puts the ring in one of his pouches. ‘She may know we’re coming, but I can’t imagine she realises exactly what we’re capable of.’
Collecting his reins back from Fargoth with a smile and a nod of thanks, he continues more quietly to the rest of the group ‘If we come across any bodies, I may be able to question them...’
The wood elf raises an eyebrow at Patrin's comment. "From the description this Evie woman gave us of the bodies, I suspect that may be quite difficult... We are leaving immediately then?"
The ring holds up to the scrutiny of Patrin and the other party members; it seems to be nothing more than a simple, roughly-fashioned iron band. Whoever, or whatever, created it left no identifying marks upon its surface.
Brevig's words considerably lighten Rinny's spirits, and Evie's gratitude is obvious as she heads for home. The two dozen townsfolk, however, are not ready to move on from what they just witnessed. Upon learning that five brave strangers will be striking out in search of Emrick, the gathering of miners and laborers turns into a small-scale celebration. As the party makes its way across the one bridge in town and heads deeper into the Moon Pass, they hear a smattering of good will from the people of Rauvincross.
"The blessing of Ilmater upon you," calls a gravelly-voiced man.
"Find our boy!" shouts another.
"A mile or so past the falls. That's the place," warns the innkeeper.
<> <> <> <> <>
Roughly twenty minutes after leaving Rauvincross, the party passes a small waterfall where the Rauvin tumbles downward four or five feet over a jumble of boulders and tree roots. The innkeeper's words prove to be accurate, and in the moonlight you see a pair of scraggly trees, each of which is decorated with what seems to be the belongings and remains of the dead. Among the objects are boots, a fur hat, a shattered wooden shield, a shortsword, and a battered lantern. Among the remains are a few bones (arms and legs), a severed hand, and a skull (probably an adult human). The trees stand at the mouth of a cleft that cuts into the rock hillside to your right. The ground along the riverbank and around these two trees give clear indications of footprints. Large ones.
Patrin notes the condition of the remains from a distance.. ‘Not enough for me to work with, I’m afraid.’ he looks around to the group ‘I’m afraid I’d risk making a mess of the tracks. Does anyone of you have experience with this, before I inspect the remains more closely?’
As the party moves up the river leaving the hamlet behind, Brevig is reminded of, and shares, in his calm, commanding voice, a tale of a battle fought by a few Knights of Samular a few seasons back, involving a riverbank ambush. The Knights arrived at a secluded cove, and would have been surprised and slaughtered, were it not for the good luck that one of them was so vain he happened to pull out a mirror at exactly the right moment, saw a force of bugbears and hobgoblins laying in wait, and, with the few moments that bought him, cast an illusion, throwing their enemies into disarray. The tide was turned, and resulted in an easy win against a superior force. This brings everyone a smile and a sense of calm alertness, such that each member of the party gains 12 temporary HP. (OOC: Inspiring Leader feat).
DM for Deathworld: Lost Mine of Phandelver // Story Guide for COYOTE and CROW: Cahokia Forever // Dev Hornd in Curious Critters // Co-creator: Princes of the Apocalypse - A DnD Story
Fargoth dismounts and hands his reins to Patrin, cashing in his favour already. "Mind Ranger will you, friend. I was a poacher in another life, turns out the Harpers like having people with that sort of disposition in their ranks."
He retrieves his bow from the horse, and carefully approaches the debris, trees and footprints, taking it all in, but touching nothing. Focusing primarily on the footprints, the elf looks to see if he can follow them further, but also has a look at the bodies, for clues as to what might have made said footprints.
As they approach the bodies, Donir's scarred face grows dim. He reaches behind his back, pulling off an engraved shield, and places it against the steel cap on his stump arm. He pushes it in and twists it, and with a faint click it affixes to it. He reaches down into the seemingly empty sack at his side, and pulls an ornate helmet out of it. The helmet is modeled after a grim, bearded face, with a blindfold over the eyes, which you would all know to be the visage of Tyr. The blindfold actually has many small holes in it, to allow for clear vision, but from a distance it would appear to be genuine. Donir pulls the helmet over his head, and with another click it too slots into place. With a faint humming, the air around Donir begins to waver, like it would on a hot day. His single is surrounded by a similar effect, though it is much more pronounced. Finally, he pulls a cloak of fine chainmail from the bag, and clasps it around his neck. It too is surrounded by the faint wavering air, and briefly billows in an unseen wind before settling.
"We must be wary. If this thing attacked these people here, we are most likely in its territory. As far as tracking goes, I'm no better than anyone else here, but I suspect you'd need to be a deaf grimlock to miss these. Somebody has big feet."
"Ignorance is bliss, and you look absolutely miserable."
Patrin takes the reins to Ranger in the same hand as his own reins, keeping Fenni steady with his knees. He takes the time to reach into a saddlebag for his cloak, draping it over his shoulders with practiced easy. As it falls into place his form shimmers and blurs, and your eyes struggle to keep track of his exact position...