Crimson Sands of Time

<real talk.  I didn't believe you when you said you had a passive investigation scire, at all.  It sounds incoh3rent.  But I get it now. Incide tally, for the following, the 13 would suffice.>

Tetrevess finds a blank page unusual.  It is in fact, a nearly folded sheet of paper, the open edge toward the binding.  Removing it from the diary, you read tbe following text written inside;

"Beware the entrance to Throstelgrael's lair. Speak aloud 'Velvet Summons Me.' before you pass over it, lest you die before basking in the great dragon's splendor."

Rurry just shrugs at the questions. "Don't know nothing about that.  Nothing good in pockets.  Let's go we gonna be late for din-din." He pulls at Tetrevess' arm to lead him.

<So, what are we doing? Options include: 'follow the goblin',  'dont follow the goblin' and 'other'>

“ok, Rurry-  lets go find the ladies, then.  we’d like to discuss some things with them.”. 

Tetrevess cautiously lets the goblin lead him to the hags.  He explains to the group about the passphrase.    “does anyone have any way to resist burns from acid ?”. he asks the group.  

(passive scores are like the floor in 5e- for investigation insight and perception- usually, subject to DM fiat of course) 

<I guess the hurdle is like investigate is somwthing youbdi actively, so it's different from PP since the whole point is you don't have to roll to see if you notice something, so the DM doesn't tip their hand that there's something to notice. (Unless the DM just wants to inject some tension and ask for a roll when there actually is nothing, then says "you don't notice anything...").   'Passive investigation' is a bad name.  It's more like the old 'take ten' where you reduce swingy-ness by just calling the result a ten for things you would be insanely good at and missing c9mpletely would be very weird.  But I digress.>

...

Rurry leads you through a brambke-ridden trail that opens up to reveal a short stout tree with thick, gnarled boughs. A rickety staircase winds around the tree's trunk to a wooden landing. 

Nestled among the tree's branches is a small wooden cabin. 

The warm glow of a fire dances behind the drawn shades. A large, rusted cage swings beneath the landing. 

The sounds of a heated conversation can be heard from within the cabin, though it is impossible to hear precisely what is being said. Before you are able to get closer to discern, however, the door to the cabin is thrown open and an elderly elvish woman walks briskly out, shouting "I don't care what you think! We must cast lots! Where is Sister Deathwillow? 

<welcome to bloodroot hollow>

“hello there!” tetrevess calls out, looking back at the rest of the group to verify all are along.   “might we have a word?”. he smiles up at the elf. 

Sister Pusriver, slightly startled by the presence of the adventurers, responds with a warm smile and cheerful greeting "Hello, child," and calls inside "Sister, we have visitors!" Rurry calls up to her "dinner ready yet?"  To which Sister pusriver replies "soon, soon, Rurry."  To Tetrevess she asks "please won't you come in for a spell and join us for a bite? We have sweetwater and enough in the larder to share with all." She gestures with a wave if her fingers to all the others she sees standing in the clearing.

<do you accept her offer to enter the sisters' home?>

"Rurry, if you were planning on having dinner here, then why did you kill someone for any food they might have?"

Chadderlay will put his cat familiar, Mister Fancy, a black and white tuxedo fur pattern cat down and have it lead the way up the stairs and into the cabin.

Sam just gets ready if a fight breaks out 

Quote from Brian_Avery >>

"Rurry, if you were planning on having dinner here, then why did you kill someone for any food they might have?"

Chadderlay will put his cat familiar, Mister Fancy, a black and white tuxedo fur pattern cat down and have it lead the way up the stairs and into the cabin.

The goblin looks confused, the replies slowly, as if explaining to a child: "Treats is nice, sometimes find in pockets. But, lots times treek'nuts. " Rurry responds with a broad smile, adding: "Ladies loves treek'nuts."

Sister Pusrivr is hospitable and offers the adventurers a brief respite from the damp inside their cabin. Sister Rotface emerges from the cabin after a moment anf bids the others inside, broskly, "Well, come in, then.  We cant have our guests standing out in the swamp gawking slack-jawed at our humble hut all day.  Come in, make yourselves comfortable."

Should the adventurers enter, they find a cramped, one-room cabin with three beds, a small larder and a few cabinets. There are two tables, one covered in herbs and crockery, the other covered in melted candles, coins, and shoes.

Investigating the cabin reveals the following information.

Scattered around the room are various pieces of clothing from all types of people and equipment in various conditions.

• A polished, rune-engraved lizardfolk skull rests on a chair.

• Randomly covering various shelves and hanging from string are a dozen trinkets

<updated>.

• An adventurer succeeding at a DC 12 Wisdom (Perception) <someone surely has a passive above this, probably Mr Fancy> check finds two sets of clothes similar to those issued to prisoners, as well as a handful of humanoid bones underneath one of the beds

“we do certainly love your hospitality” tetrevess says, after surveying the scene (13 check but 17 passive perception) attempting to choose his words carefully, while reaching down and deftly picking up the official looking contract.  “we came to ask you about   Velvet, and wondered if we might come to a mutually beneficial arrangement with regard to the same.  What can you tell us about the black dragon, Throstelgrael?” 

"Well, it comes as no surprise that he's the reason for your visit.  But you don't look like those others, come to treat with the foul thing." Announces sister rotface, bluntly.  "Now sister", Pusriver's sing-song voice responds, "we've just met these nice folks. Let's not burden them worh our troubles. Please, enjoy somw biscuits." She adds, laying a tray if seemingly ordinary, if not above average snickerdoodles on a small table.

"Oh, come off it, sister!" Rotface rallies, "They are plainly here to loot the Dragon's hoard while he's away." Looking a bit peeved, Sister Pusriver impunes "Or maybe they didn't know he's away." 

"It matters little.  What does matter, dear sister, is that the absence of Sister Deathwillow is deeply felt, and this motley crew is about the only chance we've to see her returned to us."

Turning to ...

The brothers Wolftree, Sister Rotface implores "Surely, you must understand the pain of the thought of a sibling lost to the clutches of dark forces beyond your power to stop.  You know how desperately you would act to get them back."

Sister Pusriver adds, "we live humble lives here in the hollow, but we can offer you three hundred gold for her safe return."

“we did not know the dragon was away.   And killing the dragon, not stealing from it, was our objective. Where has it gone?- and more importantly, when will it return?”

"If you can kill it it and free us if that curse, you can make it a thousand." Comes the reply. 

Quote from Wile_E_Coyote >>

The brothers Wolftree, Sister Rotface implores "Surely, you must understand the pain of the thought of a sibling lost to the clutches of dark forces beyond your power to stop.  You know how desperately you would act to get them back."

Sister Pusriver adds, "we live humble lives here in the hollow, but we can offer you three hundred gold for her safe return."

Randy felt his heart throb over the first hag's sentence. He never had gotten over this thought that he had to live with one less family member back in his prime. It was a mental scar for him and his brother, even though that they both know that they were still safe and sound. "I almost lost my brother a long time back to whatever you just described. Whatever fear you just blurted out of the blue, I... I've felt it through the edges of my bones for sure. You think that I don't know that?! When..." He clenches his fists over the damaged teleportation device that he intended to fix. "When Ethan went missing, I nearly lost hope in myself, and how much he . If he wasn't alive... If I hadn't found him... then... I wouldn't have..." He notices his brother giving a sharp look before he snaps back to his senses. "Ok, that aside, whatever or whoever you need us to rescue, we'll gladly accept this mission to rescue Miss Death as long as you can provide us some details about what the dragon is and some suggestions on how to effectively neutralize it before others fall victim to its actions. We're not the types to rush in headfirst carelessly without getting a background of what we need to prep for, let alone rescue that sister of yours if we don't know where to look for her."

Quote from Tesservett >>

“we did not know the dragon was away.   And killing the dragon, not stealing from it, was our objective. Where has it gone?- and more importantly, when will it return?”

 "And is it just me... or is whoever that's creeping next to us having the same intentions as us? Did they follow us here?!" Randy whispers if the group has seen him and his brother for real.

"So those ladies are aware of our presence on this island after all. How on earth did we not notice them?" Ethan whispers as he carefully enters the bulding without alerting himself to the others just yet since they haven't been spotted. I don't really trust what's been laid on the table. Stay sharp just in case. Ethan signals to Randy.

Quote from Wile_E_Coyote >>

The brothers Wolftree, Sister Rotface implores "Surely, you must understand the pain of the thought of a sibling lost to the clutches of dark forces beyond your power to stop.  You know how desperately you would act to get them back."

Sister Pusriver adds, "we live humble lives here in the hollow, but we can offer you three hundred gold for her safe return."

The Simic brother straightens his back but continues to grip on his pact weapon just in case as he hears his brother making a small rant and gets mildly irritated. "Randy, that's enough. They don't need your excessive sympathies for sure. But even so, you heard what my brother said right? We had been separated for so long that we struggled to find hope in each of our souls. We both know that we couldn't live without dreading the other would be dead but we both narrowly escaped this fate. So cut it already." As his brother finally ceases, he turns to the hags about the request they've made.

"Pardon  my brother's rash mood but he's right in some sense." He appeases in a calm, but low-pitched tone. "Though we both agree that's a fine offer for us to consider, even if we know her whereabouts, there's no guarantee that we would be able to pull this off as a duo. Besides that, we're not so much into the money, let alone whatever loot the dragon is hoarding itself. Rather we wish to seek information about the dragon in exchange for the rescue. The two of us nearly fell to that monstrosity when it razed upon the town were settled in. So, assuming Deathwillow can still be rescued, we would kindly ask for some details about the situation. Even if you think it isn't sufficient, it's better than not having any to share. If you're all against that atrocious dragon too, then we could find some common ground together for the time being."

Quote from Tesservett >>

“we did not know the dragon was away.   And killing the dragon, not stealing from it, was our objective. Where has it gone?- and more importantly, when will it return?”

 "I know, Randy. I heard something too. Stay on guard as I said."

Sam just listen to his companions chatter and somewhat argue 

Then says “right so hears what I hear you lot rambling on about” 

Quote from Wile_E_Coyote >>

The brothers Wolftree, Sister Rotface implores "Surely, you must understand the pain of the thought of a sibling lost to the clutches of dark forces beyond your power to stop.  You know how desperately you would act to get them back."

Sister Pusriver adds, "we live humble lives here in the hollow, but we can offer you three hundred gold for her safe return."

Quote from Wildland_Shifters >>

Quote from Wile_E_Coyote >>

The brothers Wolftree, Sister Rotface implores "Surely, you must understand the pain of the thought of a sibling lost to the clutches of dark forces beyond your power to stop.  You know how desperately you would act to get them back."

Sister Pusriver adds, "we live humble lives here in the hollow, but we can offer you three hundred gold for her safe return."

Randy felt his heart throb over the first hag's sentence. He never had gotten over this thought that he had to live with one less family member back in his prime. It was a mental scar for him and his brother, even though that they both know that they were still safe and sound. "I almost lost my brother a long time back to whatever you just described. Whatever fear you just blurted out of the blue, I... I've felt it through the edges of my bones for sure. You think that I don't know that?! When..." He clenches his fists over the damaged teleportation device that he intended to fix. "When Ethan went missing, I nearly lost hope in myself, and how much he . If he wasn't alive... If I hadn't found him... then... I wouldn't have..." He notices his brother giving a sharp look before he snaps back to his senses. "Ok, that aside, whatever or whoever you need us to rescue, we'll gladly accept this mission to rescue Miss Death as long as you can provide us some details about what the dragon is and some suggestions on how to effectively neutralize it before others fall victim to its actions. We're not the types to rush in headfirst carelessly without getting a background of what we need to prep for, let alone rescue that sister of yours if we don't know where to look for her."

Quote from Tesservett >>

“we did not know the dragon was away.   And killing the dragon, not stealing from it, was our objective. Where has it gone?- and more importantly, when will it return?”

 "And is it just me... or is whoever that's creeping next to us having the same intentions as us? Did they follow us here?!" Randy whispers if the group has seen him and his brother for real.

 “You two” pointing at the brothers you can now see his left eye has no eye seemingly magically plucked “have a lovely family issue where you almost lost your brother, which ironically is the same issue they have” pointing back to the hags

“I still don’t know what your deal is mr” looking at the rabbit 

“So hear what I propose we go and find your sister and kill this dragon and you help us against the red wizards by two options 1 help us out with information, or provided us with safe refuge” persuasion 11

you could see Sam is understanding being quite all that time and smart enough to let T talk but has some but not a lot of patience