Quote from kqstark >>

As Rawlings heads towards the door, she notices an interesting set of figurines.  The horns of the goats, in particular, catches her eye as they are shaped similar to her own.  She turns back towards Aubrey, "What can you tell me of those?"  pointing to the three ivory goat shaped figurines.

 
Aubrey glides over to see what object Rawlings is indicating. Upon seeing the three goats, he remarks, "Ahh, yes, the Three Brothers, as I like to call them. I don't know if the artist actually named them or not. I bought them from a merchant who said he had purchased them in Halruaa. I'll tell you, they seem to have a life of their own. I'll swear I put them down in one place, and then when I turn back they're gone, only for me to discover them a day later in an entirely different room. Of course, I'm not very well organized as you can see," he gestures with a shrug at the dizzying array of shelves stacked with miscellanea around him, "so it could all be in my head."

He gestures back down at the goats again. "They seem to have taken a liking to you. I'm very fond of them, and normally I would ask at least 500 gold, but for you..." He considers, "I would consider 250 gold pieces."

Quote from EMIW >>

Tor will lead Sigi to the dwellings of Van and Rawlings to collect them, and will update them on the situation. If Rawlings is still out he will ask neighbors if they saw which way she went. If they don't know, they will simply wait by her front door.

(Is Tyrel still playing? He came back but I haven't seen anything from him lately.)

 (I sent a message to Tyrel's player, but I haven't heard back yet.)

"I am eager to see your creations in action as well," Brother Siegfried says to Van as they wait for Rawlings.  "Though I pray we do not get the opportunity just yet.  The Mere of Dead Men is no place to have to test out new gear or tactics.  It is ever a fell place, and there are challenges there fit to overwhelm even the 'Swords of Leilon' if we are careless."

Van nods at Brother Siegfried. "Of course. My apologies, I find sometimes that I do my best work when there are high stakes is all. 'Needs must when the devil drives' and all that." 

Rawlings pauses and looks at the three brothers with interest.  But feeling she doesn't really have a use for them now, she turns to Aubrey, "Thank you for you generosity, but since you have such fondness for them, I won't take them off your hands.  I might change my mind next time I am here though."  She says with a little smile.

She nods to the proprietor as she leaves the shop and heads back to the Inn.  Seeing the Swords gathered there surprises her a bit, what a day she thinks to herself after discovering the curious shop and now this.

"Why hello there, something a miss?"

(We can assume Tyrel won't be joining, but if they do, they can catch up)

"Rawlings, there you are," says Tor, to business. "The Swords have a mission. A missing guard patrol down the High Road by the Mere of Dead Men. We're going to find them, get your stuff."

He shifts his own pack back onto his shoulders, having taking it off while they waited. "And don't be long about it."

Rawlings, excited for a mission after meandering around this town so long, was just about to head upstairs and then turns to Tor, “Didn’t need that last comment.  I’m more ready than you are.”

Her pack was all ready to go in her room, so she had to do was grab it and head back down, showing that her words were indeed true.

”So, to the High Road?”

(If there's anything else you want to do in town, let me know, otherwise we'll head out. Also, let me know if you're taking your horses or just walking.)

The High Road leads more east than south as it heads out of Leilon and around the Mere of Dead Men. Within an hour of leaving Leilon, you catch sight of the Mere, though the smell has been with you for at least half of that. It's not overpowering, but the wind from the coast brings whiffs of rotting egg and salt water. The Mere itself, at first, just looks like a simple plain with tall grass waving in the winds. However, as you get closer, it's clear the plain is full of brackish water and salt grass. Further in, twisted, hunched trees rise, with dark leaves and new ugly sprouts as spring has only just arisen. The High Road skirts along the edges of the Mere, elevated on packed dirt.

In the clear, sunny skies, it's almost pleasant--apart from the smell--but there is still something sinister and discomforting about the mere as you travel.

(Please everyone roll perception checks as you travel)

Perception: 21

Perception:  9

As for horses - I'm good either way, what does the group want?

Tor would suggest against horses. If we have to go into the Mere itself horses won't be any use.

[Agreed on no horses, though Sigi would insist on setting a brisk pace on foot… this is still a rescue mission and time is a factor.]

Perception 17

Vandeyr perception 12 

The day continues with mostly clear skies, though throughout the afternoon, cloud cover moves in heavy with rain--it could be in the next few hours or not until tomorrow (you may make a Nature check if you wish to know).

Travel is difficult as you're not sure what you're looking for, so it's hard to know how fast of a pace to take, despite Brother Siegfried's insistence. But just as dusk is coming on, you come upon an area of wet earth, dug up by battle, with bloodstains dotting the ground, you know you could've been half blind and you wouldn't have missed it. An obvious trail leads further into the mere, the ground is clearly disturbed until it reaches the twisted trees. Even a child could see the deep ruts cut into the wet ground and tracks of several creatures, but a more seasoned tracker might find more information (Survival check to examine the tracks in more detail).

Night approaches in less than three hours, though the shadows within the mere are already long and dark.

Vandeyr keeps an eye on the weather, and starts looking through his notebook for a bit of information that might help with discerning what's happened here (Flash of Inspiration to add 5 to a survival check someone makes if it's anything less than 20)

Nature 17 

"Something tells me the patrol haven't just been kicking back... Yorrum's going to feel my foot up his arse when we get back, I swear to the gods."

Tor tries to figure out what type of creatures have made these tracks. Also, do the bloodstains look like a fatal amount of blood loss?

Survival: 15 (+5 from Van's Flash of Genius)

Brother Siegfried looks with dismay at the signs of violence and injury; at the darkening and stormy sky; and at the tracks disappearing into the Mere.  

While the others engage in more physical inquiries, he instead turns to the spiritual.  He moves to the side of the road and lights on offering of incense.  Then he closes his eyes and sends a silent prayer.

Quote from nschrock >>

Vandeyr keeps an eye on the weather, and starts looking through his notebook for a bit of information that might help with discerning what's happened here (Flash of Inspiration to add 5 to a survival check someone makes if it's anything less than 20)

Nature 19 

Forgot to roll for my experimental elixirs, I'll write it in my notes.

1st 5 2nd 5 

 
The rain is likely to start in around 3 hours, about the same time as night fully falls. Judging by the clouds, you think it will start mild, but is likely to turn into a torrential downpour before daybreak.

Quote from EMIW >>

"Something tells me the patrol haven't just been kicking back... Yorrum's going to feel my foot up his arse when we get back, I swear to the gods."

Tor tries to figure out what type of creatures have made these tracks. Also, do the bloodstains look like a fatal amount of blood loss?

Survival: 15 (+5 from Van's Flash of Genius)

As you're searching, you find a broken hand cart, half-buried in the mud and water; and near one of the bloodstains, you find a broken spear and a couple buttons bearing the snowflake of Neverwinter.

You find tracks heading north from further south of a few booted feet (at least two adults and either two children or halflings/gnomes) walking alongside a handcart. These tracks start walking, but shortly start running before they're joined by booted human feet coming south from the north, and all the tracks are mixed up in battle as a large number of bipedal lizard tracks of various size attack from the west. Afterwards, there are strange ruts in the mud, likely some sort of sled, that is heading back west. The ruts are quite deep. Along the top of the mud along the sled tracks are several trails of slimy residue, like those created by slugs or snails.

The blood stains are large enough to indicate significant damage, but no arterial sprays or anything guaranteeing death.

Quote from Bartjeebus >>

Brother Siegfried looks with dismay at the signs of violence and injury; at the darkening and stormy sky; and at the tracks disappearing into the Mere.  

While the others engage in more physical inquiries, he instead turns to the spiritual.  He moves to the side of the road and lights on offering of incense.  Then he closes his eyes and sends a silent prayer.

Chauntea, Earthmother... your servants beseech you for guidance.  We stand at a crossroads and are hearts are clouded by doubt.  We wish to rescue the guardsmen and guardswomen of Leilon; honest servants whose only desire was to protect their agrarian community from the corruption of these fell swamps.  Now they have been taken, by we know not what.  Night falls soon and storms gather... we must decide whether to move now, or wait for daylight.

So I ask of thee; must we press on immediately into the Mere of Dead Men and race the darkness; or must we wait for the Dawn and make daylight our friend in this quest?

 
As Brother Siegfried prays, he observes on the ground ahead of him a line of ants moving west, they appear to be moving slower than normal, as they work together dragging eight spider eggs. As you watch, a jumping spider chases after them, its back has markings that almost appear to be three crossed swords. It follows the ants stealthily, moving towards them from the very road you stand on, knowing that the ants far outnumber it. However, as it moves and tracks the ants, you can see that there are several large beetles lying in wait along the ants path that would eat the ants AND the spider's eggs AND the spider itself. The ants seem aware of the beetles and are trying to avoid them, but they have stopped and prepare to leave some of the eggs to distract the beetles while they head the other way.