The companions withdrew carefully and continued on....
Sometime towards evening as they began to find the ground sloping ever upward and patches of snow remained on the ground beneath the shade of the trees, they came across something, a snow-covered camp in the middle of the path. This camp has obviously been here for some time, and consists of water-logged cots, a damp, long-dead fire surrounded by stones, several split and rotten packs, and even a pair of aged, snow-filled boots.
Dev is clapping his arms around himself to stay warm and making fists to keep his fingers from losing circulation. He was not slow to unpack his cold-weather gear when the party started picking up elevation, and he had several times looked at Normont or Lokilia or the others with a questioning expression, as if to ask, 'Is it really this cold?,' for he has never been for from the lake and his idea of hot and cold is tied intrinsically to the passing of one season to another. It can't be this cold yet, because it's not winter, some part of his brain tells him. Unfortunately, that part of his brain is getting just as cold as the rest of him and eventually concedes the argument.
"I wonder if this camp was... Tlu's team? That Blainith Windspear told us about?"
“I hope not little Dev, this all looks uncomfortable and painful to me.” Quinn is not as bothered by the cold, temperature is an interesting thing to man made of earth. That said his skin would feel very icy to the touch.
“How much longer do you believe we have before we get to where we are trying to go. This trip has been a tad bit more eventful than I thought it would be.”
Having lived in the mountains, Lokilia doesn't think it is terribly cold. But with her boots she isn't really feeling the drop in temperature yet. "I do wonder who the camp belonged to. Perhaps we could look around, see if there were any clues left." She would first go and check out the boots (Investigation: 12), then look around the area between fire and cots to see if anything catches her attention (Perception: 17).
"Whosever camp this was, it looks like they left in a hurry. I believe Tlu's party came from the sea though, and we haven't even crossed the river yet, so there is some way to go", Normont suggests as he looks to the southern point of the mountains. "That is our landmark", he says pointing to the southern tip of the mountains.
"Whosever camp this was, it looks like they left in a hurry. I believe Tlu's party came from the sea though, and we haven't even crossed the river yet, so there is some way to go", Normont suggests as he looks to the southern point of the mountains. "That is our landmark", he says pointing to the southern tip of the mountains.
Searching the scene uncovers a single, odd brooch showing the heraldry of the Chamber of Whitestone. The food and water in the packs seems new and fresh, though packed inside tobacco leaves to deter animals. The scene is shrouded in an eerie silence, as if it has been there — and will continue to be — for hundreds of years.
Normont will point out the food and water in case the others thought it useful to take.
"And then there is this brooch. The symbol is the Chamber of Whitestone. It is curious and I would like to spend more time checking it. Would you allow me ten minutes or so?", he says to the others.
If they agree, he will look to perform a ritual to help identify it.
During this time, Amber will circle above and keep an eye out for anything moving towards them or of interest in the distance.
"This might be a decent place to camp for the night, as the camp is mostly intact so nothing too large has been through the area to disturb its contents. Might as well make the best of it." Magnus suggests as he starts to Prestidigitation on the cots and tents to help dry them out and clean them up for use. He continues to do this for as long as Normont needs to finish hie study of the brooch, all the while trying to remember what he knows of the Chamber of Whitestone himself.
Normont will point out the food and water in case the others thought it useful to take.
"And then there is this brooch. The symbol is the Chamber of Whitestone. It is curious and I would like to spend more time checking it. Would you allow me ten minutes or so?", he says to the others.
If they agree, he will look to perform a ritual to help identify it.
During this time, Amber will circle above and keep an eye out for anything moving towards them or of interest in the distance.
Amber Perception: 14+4=18
Normont discovers the brooch does have a slight enchantment on it which causes it to glint in the light and draw the eye to the brooch, he suspects it is likely worn by a representative or messenger or the like usually....
Amber spots little more than ptarmigan, hares and some blue jays.
"This might be a decent place to camp for the night, as the camp is mostly intact so nothing too large has been through the area to disturb its contents. Might as well make the best of it." Magnus suggests as he starts to Prestidigitation on the cots and tents to help dry them out and clean them up for use. He continues to do this for as long as Normont needs to finish hie study of the brooch, all the while trying to remember what he knows of the Chamber of Whitestone himself.
History: 18
The Chamber currently consists of seven members: four chosen from community leaders, and three nobles. Its members are appointed and removed from their duties by the head of the chamber.
The Guardian of Woven Stone: The leading figure on the council, responsible for higher civil justice, community unification and internal government. He's faily sure this is Lord De Rolos position.
The Steward of Sunblessed Gifts: Responsible for local farming, goods and distribution.
The Curator of Fortune’s Bounty: Responsible for all major commerce including local trade and trade with foreign entities.
The Keeper of Divine Virtue: Responsible for religious organizations.
The Commissioner of Wardship: Responsible for law enforcement matters and commands the Pale Guard.
The Architect of Enlightened Progress: Responsible for infrastructure of the city and castle.
The Grand Mistress of the Grey Hunt: Responsible for diplomatic relations, and rooting out dangers within the Parchwood.
"This brooch was undoubtedly carried by an official emissary of Whitestone", Normont says as they sit around the camp fire. "I wonder what happened to them", he adds, concern in his voice.
The following morning, before he gets ready to head out, he can be seen tinkering with his pistol once more.
Once breakfast is made, eaten and everything tidied up, he is ready to get moving once again.
Lokilia agrees to rest at this abandoned encampment for the night. She is still a bit wary, feeling like the silence isn't quite normal. But eventually she settles in. After the uneventful night and a quick breakfast, she is eager to continue on.
(I'm assuming Normont's better roll found everything of interest and there was nothing from Lokilia's look about the area in Post #1066)
Before they break camp, Dev asks to hold the brooch and experiments with casting illusions until he can exactly replicate its colors and shape and patterns as he listens with interest to Normont while the gnome speaks his thoughts about the Chamber of Whitestone. Then the tiefling cocks his head and voices a few thoughts of his own.
“I mean… when you were last in Whitestone, was any of them — the chamber — missing? I mean, if they were all there and one of them is missing now, then we kind of know how long they’ve been around here. If they’re still around here. And… there are boots here filled with snow. That’s weird isn’t it? Like who would leave their boots and why would they be here if it wasn’t winter and they didn’t need them.” Dev looks around, soaking in the quiet stillness of the clearing, and his voice lowers a notch. “Are they still around here somewhere? Like, are there footsteps in the snow that show where they went?” (Dev survival: 13)
"I haven't been in Whitestone for months, Dev. And I only really got to see The Commissioner of Wardship, so I can't say much about the comings and going of the others. But I expect none would personally come to this remote place. The most likely would be one of The Grey Hunt. They root out dangers in these forests and keep Whitestone safe. Although, they usually don't advertise their presence like this, so perhaps not. It is a conundrum for sure", Normont explains to Dev.
"The Grand Mistress of the Grey Hunt is actually Lord de Rolo's wife", he goes to say. He will also correct Magnus if he suggests Lord de Rolo is The Guardian of Woven Stone, which is actually Lord de Rolo's sister.
He always speaks of the rulers of Whitestone with awe and reverence.
As they move on in the morning, Normont sends Amber up into the sky to check how far away the river is.
"We might come across the river today, and will need to make a plan to cross it", he suggests as they walk. He is not looking forward to the river crossing, knowing the likelihood is they were all going to get wet in the icy cold waters.
Climbing higher the companions come across a deep ravine splitting the ridgeline in two, it will take many, many hours to go around it but Nettle spots a possibility and directs Normont towards it, after an hour or so the companions spy an old, crumbling, snow-covered bridge spanning the crevasse that has opened in the ridgeline. Standing near the bridge the crevasse here plummets into darkness, the bottom perhaps hundreds of feet below. It is obvious to everyone that he bridge was poorly built; despite this, it has somehow withstood collapse over the decades.....
"With all those titles I could never keep them straight, thank you Normont. I never was good with my studies of titles of the various lords and ladies of the realm. Correct me if I am wrong, are there multiple copies of these brooches, or does only the holder of said titles have them? If this one is here and it is the legit copy of the brooch, who back in Whitestone has a the copy? We might want to stop in Whitestone after we are done with our current message and check up on things. Or am I reading too much into this?" Magnus stated as he broke camp and then followed the others along the trail.
Approaching the rope bridge he looks over the cliff face to see just how far down the drop is and then mentally prepares himself to cross.
Dev, through the passage of years lived in the ramshackle cabin he calls home -- its walls having barely withstood the winds and rains off Mooren Lake -- has learned to trust in ramshackle structures perhaps more than most people would consider prudent. Especially people whose doors and windows are not held in place with repurposed shoelaces. When the company comes to a halt to survey the scene at the old creaky bridge, the teenager looks from face to face before his eerie voice pierces the crisp air.
"Ummm... Why are we stopping? Don't we want to go over there?"
Lokilia is fine leaving the discussions about the brooch to others. Living in the mountains, a narrow bridge over a steep drop doesn't bother her much. But she does recognize the need to ensure the bridges are strong. "I can't imagine who would maintain a bridge out here. So no telling the condition. Perhaps some of us smaller folks could go first with a rope tied around us as a safety." She stops a moment, trying to estimate how far across the span might be. "We could even secure a line across once the first goes, to make it even better for the later folks."
She pulls out the 50-foot rope that she has from her pack.
“I have no wish to fight the Owlbear if I don’t have to”, Normont says quietly, and also starts to back away.
Amber flies down to land on his shoulder, equally wary in case the Owlbear makes an appearance anyway.
The companions withdrew carefully and continued on....
Sometime towards evening as they began to find the ground sloping ever upward and patches of snow remained on the ground beneath the shade of the trees, they came across something, a snow-covered camp in the middle of the path. This camp has obviously been here for some time, and consists of water-logged cots, a damp, long-dead fire surrounded by stones, several split and rotten packs, and even a pair of aged, snow-filled boots.
Dev is clapping his arms around himself to stay warm and making fists to keep his fingers from losing circulation. He was not slow to unpack his cold-weather gear when the party started picking up elevation, and he had several times looked at Normont or Lokilia or the others with a questioning expression, as if to ask, 'Is it really this cold?,' for he has never been for from the lake and his idea of hot and cold is tied intrinsically to the passing of one season to another. It can't be this cold yet, because it's not winter, some part of his brain tells him. Unfortunately, that part of his brain is getting just as cold as the rest of him and eventually concedes the argument.
"I wonder if this camp was... Tlu's team? That Blainith Windspear told us about?"
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries // Dev Hornd in Curious Critters // Eclipse Faraway in Gallows Dancer
“I hope not little Dev, this all looks uncomfortable and painful to me.”
Quinn is not as bothered by the cold, temperature is an interesting thing to man made of earth. That said his skin would feel very icy to the touch.
“How much longer do you believe we have before we get to where we are trying to go. This trip has been a tad bit more eventful than I thought it would be.”
Having lived in the mountains, Lokilia doesn't think it is terribly cold. But with her boots she isn't really feeling the drop in temperature yet. "I do wonder who the camp belonged to. Perhaps we could look around, see if there were any clues left." She would first go and check out the boots (Investigation: 12), then look around the area between fire and cots to see if anything catches her attention (Perception: 17).
Rabbit Sebrica, Sorcerer || Skarai, Monk || Lokilia Vaelphin, Druid || Liivi Orav, Barbarian || Vanizi, Warlock || Britari / Halila Talgeta / Jesa Gumovi || Neital Rhessil, Wizard
Iromae Quinaea, Cleric || Roxana Raincrest, Rogue || Meira Dheran, Rogue || Qirynna Thadri, Wizard || Crisaryn Melkial, Sorcerer
"Whosever camp this was, it looks like they left in a hurry. I believe Tlu's party came from the sea though, and we haven't even crossed the river yet, so there is some way to go", Normont suggests as he looks to the southern point of the mountains. "That is our landmark", he says pointing to the southern tip of the mountains.
He then also begins to investigate the area.
Investigation (with guidance): 13+5+4=22
Searching the scene uncovers a single, odd brooch showing the heraldry of the Chamber of Whitestone. The food and water in the packs seems new and fresh, though packed inside tobacco leaves to deter animals. The scene is shrouded in an eerie silence, as if it has been there — and will continue to be — for hundreds of years.
Normont will point out the food and water in case the others thought it useful to take.
"And then there is this brooch. The symbol is the Chamber of Whitestone. It is curious and I would like to spend more time checking it. Would you allow me ten minutes or so?", he says to the others.
If they agree, he will look to perform a ritual to help identify it.
During this time, Amber will circle above and keep an eye out for anything moving towards them or of interest in the distance.
Amber Perception: 14+4=18
"This might be a decent place to camp for the night, as the camp is mostly intact so nothing too large has been through the area to disturb its contents. Might as well make the best of it." Magnus suggests as he starts to Prestidigitation on the cots and tents to help dry them out and clean them up for use. He continues to do this for as long as Normont needs to finish hie study of the brooch, all the while trying to remember what he knows of the Chamber of Whitestone himself.
History: 18
Normont discovers the brooch does have a slight enchantment on it which causes it to glint in the light and draw the eye to the brooch, he suspects it is likely worn by a representative or messenger or the like usually....
Amber spots little more than ptarmigan, hares and some blue jays.
The Chamber currently consists of seven members: four chosen from community leaders, and three nobles. Its members are appointed and removed from their duties by the head of the chamber.
The group take advantage of the ready-made camp and settle in for the night.
Watches are set and fulfilled but nothing untoward happens through the night and no surprising poppets are seen in the morning.
"This brooch was undoubtedly carried by an official emissary of Whitestone", Normont says as they sit around the camp fire. "I wonder what happened to them", he adds, concern in his voice.
The following morning, before he gets ready to head out, he can be seen tinkering with his pistol once more.
Once breakfast is made, eaten and everything tidied up, he is ready to get moving once again.
Lokilia agrees to rest at this abandoned encampment for the night. She is still a bit wary, feeling like the silence isn't quite normal. But eventually she settles in. After the uneventful night and a quick breakfast, she is eager to continue on.
(I'm assuming Normont's better roll found everything of interest and there was nothing from Lokilia's look about the area in Post #1066)
Rabbit Sebrica, Sorcerer || Skarai, Monk || Lokilia Vaelphin, Druid || Liivi Orav, Barbarian || Vanizi, Warlock || Britari / Halila Talgeta / Jesa Gumovi || Neital Rhessil, Wizard
Iromae Quinaea, Cleric || Roxana Raincrest, Rogue || Meira Dheran, Rogue || Qirynna Thadri, Wizard || Crisaryn Melkial, Sorcerer
Before they break camp, Dev asks to hold the brooch and experiments with casting illusions until he can exactly replicate its colors and shape and patterns as he listens with interest to Normont while the gnome speaks his thoughts about the Chamber of Whitestone. Then the tiefling cocks his head and voices a few thoughts of his own.
“I mean… when you were last in Whitestone, was any of them — the chamber — missing? I mean, if they were all there and one of them is missing now, then we kind of know how long they’ve been around here. If they’re still around here. And… there are boots here filled with snow. That’s weird isn’t it? Like who would leave their boots and why would they be here if it wasn’t winter and they didn’t need them.” Dev looks around, soaking in the quiet stillness of the clearing, and his voice lowers a notch. “Are they still around here somewhere? Like, are there footsteps in the snow that show where they went?” (Dev survival: 13)
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries // Dev Hornd in Curious Critters // Eclipse Faraway in Gallows Dancer
( Dev finds no footprints and yes, Normont found everything that Lokilia would have found.)
"I haven't been in Whitestone for months, Dev. And I only really got to see The Commissioner of Wardship, so I can't say much about the comings and going of the others. But I expect none would personally come to this remote place. The most likely would be one of The Grey Hunt. They root out dangers in these forests and keep Whitestone safe. Although, they usually don't advertise their presence like this, so perhaps not. It is a conundrum for sure", Normont explains to Dev.
"The Grand Mistress of the Grey Hunt is actually Lord de Rolo's wife", he goes to say. He will also correct Magnus if he suggests Lord de Rolo is The Guardian of Woven Stone, which is actually Lord de Rolo's sister.
He always speaks of the rulers of Whitestone with awe and reverence.
As they move on in the morning, Normont sends Amber up into the sky to check how far away the river is.
"We might come across the river today, and will need to make a plan to cross it", he suggests as they walk. He is not looking forward to the river crossing, knowing the likelihood is they were all going to get wet in the icy cold waters.
Climbing higher the companions come across a deep ravine splitting the ridgeline in two, it will take many, many hours to go around it but Nettle spots a possibility and directs Normont towards it, after an hour or so the companions spy an old, crumbling, snow-covered bridge spanning the crevasse that has opened in the ridgeline. Standing near the bridge the crevasse here plummets into darkness, the bottom perhaps hundreds of feet below. It is obvious to everyone that he bridge was poorly built; despite this, it has somehow withstood collapse over the decades.....
"With all those titles I could never keep them straight, thank you Normont. I never was good with my studies of titles of the various lords and ladies of the realm. Correct me if I am wrong, are there multiple copies of these brooches, or does only the holder of said titles have them? If this one is here and it is the legit copy of the brooch, who back in Whitestone has a the copy? We might want to stop in Whitestone after we are done with our current message and check up on things. Or am I reading too much into this?" Magnus stated as he broke camp and then followed the others along the trail.
Approaching the rope bridge he looks over the cliff face to see just how far down the drop is and then mentally prepares himself to cross.
Dev, through the passage of years lived in the ramshackle cabin he calls home -- its walls having barely withstood the winds and rains off Mooren Lake -- has learned to trust in ramshackle structures perhaps more than most people would consider prudent. Especially people whose doors and windows are not held in place with repurposed shoelaces. When the company comes to a halt to survey the scene at the old creaky bridge, the teenager looks from face to face before his eerie voice pierces the crisp air.
"Ummm... Why are we stopping? Don't we want to go over there?"
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries // Dev Hornd in Curious Critters // Eclipse Faraway in Gallows Dancer
Lokilia is fine leaving the discussions about the brooch to others. Living in the mountains, a narrow bridge over a steep drop doesn't bother her much. But she does recognize the need to ensure the bridges are strong. "I can't imagine who would maintain a bridge out here. So no telling the condition. Perhaps some of us smaller folks could go first with a rope tied around us as a safety." She stops a moment, trying to estimate how far across the span might be. "We could even secure a line across once the first goes, to make it even better for the later folks."
She pulls out the 50-foot rope that she has from her pack.
Rabbit Sebrica, Sorcerer || Skarai, Monk || Lokilia Vaelphin, Druid || Liivi Orav, Barbarian || Vanizi, Warlock || Britari / Halila Talgeta / Jesa Gumovi || Neital Rhessil, Wizard
Iromae Quinaea, Cleric || Roxana Raincrest, Rogue || Meira Dheran, Rogue || Qirynna Thadri, Wizard || Crisaryn Melkial, Sorcerer