The shopkeep takes the map and looks it over, one eye roaming the page while the blind one remains fixed. She points to a spot south of the village surrounded by the images of dead trees. "Oldtown's gonna be right around here." She watches as many of you count out your coins and seems to be taking a mental tally of the discounts to which you've agreed. "Oh! Good, good! I'll fix ye up with yer goods right away." She considers Kesh's words concerning the fey and raises the brow of her good eye at the Dragonborn, "It ain't fey ya wanna hurt so much as the blasted Jae that haunt the wood and stone round abouts. Folk think they're the same, but sumthin ain't quite right about em. Their tricky as can be and if they want ya to see sumthin that ain't there...well, I'm afraid there ain't much help I can give ye for that. I will say though that I'd heard they do have a weakness. Some of em play with light and shadow, but the Jae never like bright light much. Most say that's why they moved in here all those years ago...shadow of the mountains and the woods and all. They ain't like other fey. I'd heard they's kicked outta the Courts, but what do I know? Just a shopkeep in a stopover village, heh."

She turns her focus towards Geren and tilts her head to the side as she undergoes a fit of scratching at her thick bun of hair. "I ain't said I need nobody to find me sister, did I? I need you to pick up sumthin I was intendin' on gettin' to her is all. If ya see her, though, tell her Auntie Woodswallow says hello. Like I said, you'll know the package when ye see it. I'm afraid I can't tell ye more than that."

Quote from EmileTherese >>

Joy listens thoughtfully, certainly interested but not wanting to agree to anything too quickly. "Oldtown sounds like quite the dangerous place, but it might be a good area to get some idea of the Jaekin and their abilities. Can you mark its location on our map please, Auntie? In case we do decide to take you up on your offer." She pauses, tilting her head. "Oh, I remember the constable said she used live in Oldtown before it was overrun. What can you tell us about the history of that place?"

"To answer yer questions about Oldtown, it was the original settlement here in this valley. Mostly woodsmen back then carvin' out a place. Once they started quarrying stone from the mountains to build with, things went south. Most think it ain't just the Jae that don't let folks leave the Cragsmoot...it's the mountains themselves. A madness struck Oldtown turnin' the people against themselves. The streets ran red in Oldtown, and those who survived abandoned it. Ravenswood died around the ruins creating The Blight. Nothin' grows in the Blight and the earth is fouled. Ye'll wanna stay to the west of Oldtown as much as possible. It weren't til Jaekin boomed that settlers returned to the valley, and Oldtown remains a ruined tomb of a town that killed itself."

Auntie Woodswallow seems almost sad as she relates the tale of Oldtown. She stares of into the near distance as she reminisces and when she finishes speaking she offers a weak smile with a sorrowful look in her eyes.

Joy listens intently to Auntie Woodswallow's story, her cheery expression becoming more somber as she absorbs the gravity of the tale and observes the mournful look in her eye. After a moment, she reaches out to place a gentle hand on the old woman's arm.

"Thank you for sharing that with us. It sounds like Oldtown holds a lot of pain...I promise we'll tread carefully and respect its memory. If there's anything else you think we should know, anything at all, we're here to listen."

Joy offers a reassuring smile, hoping to ease the sorrow she sees in Auntie Woodswallow's expression.

"Oh, but...where does your sister live, then? If the last adventurers went through Oldtown trying to get to her..." She wonders aloud, bright eyes regarding Auntie with curiosity.

Persuasion 30 (25 with Shae's help+5 from Emissary of Peace), Insight 16 (thanks to Shae's help)

Shae listens carefully to Auntie Woodswallow's story, her sharp mind catching the subtle shift in the shopkeeper's request. The old woman had initially mentioned the package was meant for her sister, but now it seems she wants it back instead. Rather than confront her directly, Shae decides to play along with Joy's question, hoping to gather more information without raising suspicion.

Nodding in agreement with Joy, Shae adds, “Yes, it would be helpful to know where your sister lives, Auntie. If we’re to ensure the package reaches her safely, especially considering the dangers we might face in Oldtown, it’s important we know exactly where to find her. We wouldn’t want to risk getting lost or delivering it to the wrong place.”

Her tone is straightforward, as if she’s simply assuming that their task is still to deliver the package to the sister, rather than bringing it back to Auntie Woodswallow herself. By doing this, Shae hopes to coax more details from the shopkeeper - perhaps why the package is now supposed to return to her, or what might have changed since the last group attempted the delivery - all the while, trying to help Joy to get a read on Auntie.

The Alchemist merely walks away, grumbling in response. Damn. No special item. The detail about light is... interesting, but speculation. Besides, that woman is as much prone to fanciful ideas as much as the other villagers, likely as a result of the court seeming to be most active at night. He is curious to test the validity of such an idea, but only after proper planning is achieved. Regardless, he stands by the door for the others to finish their chatter. All the while, he mumbles and plots. He also takes the time to eye his crossbow. He'd bought it before making this trek, so he only has a minute understanding of its upkeep. Still... he has ideas to "improve" its performance. Ideas he'd like to test before leaving. 

The woman offers a genuine smile at Joy. Something strikes her as genuine and caring about this group and she seems persuaded to divulge further information. "My sister lives in the Blight, I'm afraid. No need to worry yourselves with that, child. If you could simply return the package to me safe and sound, that would be sufficient. When I'd sent the package, she was making a trek to Oldtown. She's pretty involved in studyin' the old ways and has a bit of an obsession with those old ruins. Thank ye for doin' this for me. I'm afraid these bones couldn't take makin' that trip to such a forgotten place any more." The shopkeeper begins fiddling with various vials and other odd trinkets behind the counter. She cuts her eyes at each of you, "I do hope you've found all you need at Auntie Woodswallow's Mercantile; and should you honor our bargain, I think the compass will be irreplaceable if yer plannin' on that trek into the Cragsmoot."

Your party wraps up their dealing with the shopkeeper, drops your gold and takes your goods. You're still unsure what this deal you've made may have in store but feel confident you've not agreed to anything further than you'd intended. You exit Auntie Woodswallow's and convene back on the street outside. A light misting of rain has begun and the night is growing darker by the minute it seems.

Now you need only determine what your next course of action for this night may be...

The Alchemist is the first to speak up. "Kesh must prepare for the trek at hand. He has... inscriptions to trace. Whatever one does now, he needs to retire to his work eventually." He's itching to fall back to his room. There is work to be done, before something else happens that he does not expect. 

And yet... with a hiss, he resignedly adds "But, if there is something you wish to accomplish before he does so, he is here to aid, if possible." He would rather be alive to spend his reward, and prepared allies takes that likelihood much farther. 

Geren rolls the dice in his hand without moving his fingers, flexing his palm to move them around.

"I've got a small talent for magic, in this case it's pointed me towards a possible contact."

He stretches, cracking his back.

"They're in the main lumberyard. East of this place. At the very least it's worth following up on if the rest of you don't mind."

"Oh, that's what you were doing," Joy observes as Geren speaks, eyes following the curious dice as she seems to get distracted wondering about them, "Hm...what god guides them...Tymora, maybe...? Ah--But of course I'll go too! I want to see what this contact has to say, and we need to look out for each other...All of us, right?"

Shae watches the group as they talk, her sharp eyes noticing Geren's dice and the way he seems confident in the direction they've pointed him. She isn't particularly worried about immediate dangers—her curiosity is what drives her more than anything. "Sounds like a plan," she says, her voice calm and steady. "I'd like to see what this contact has to share. Information is power, and the more we know, the better prepared we'll be for what’s ahead." She gives a small nod, signaling her readiness to follow Geren. "Let’s head to the lumberyard."

Despite the warnings of the mayor and his constable, the party ventures eastward from Jaekin down a worn path. The only respite from the dark woods overhanging the trail is the shelter they provide from the misting rain. The shadows grow long as you travel for ten minutes or so. The creaking of the branches around you couples with the scents of earth and moss. As well-traveled as the caravan trail is, you still feel utterly alone out here...and quite unnerved. Strange sounds emanate from the forest and an occasional gust of wind foretells a coming storm.

[Perception: 21]

Joy peers about the path and surroundings with wide eyes, unnerved by how seemingly little she can see even with her darkvision. Forests, even at night, typically feel calming if not homey to her, but the Ravenswood is different. She has always known that, in the back of her mind, but the sense of dread enters the forefront now. Clinging to her new amulet, she uses Divine Sense just in case.

Perception 18

 26

Quote from EmileTherese >>

Joy peers about the path and surroundings with wide eyes, unnerved by how seemingly little she can see even with her darkvision. Forests, even at night, typically feel calming if not homey to her, but the Ravenswood is different. She has always known that, in the back of her mind, but the sense of dread enters the forefront now. Clinging to her new amulet, she uses Divine Sense just in case.

Perception 18

Shae's eyes narrow as she scans the dark, twisting woods around them, her hand instinctively resting on the hilt of her weapon. The oppressive atmosphere of the Ravenswood is undeniable, and she can feel the tension creeping into her bones.

Perception: 18

Warily you all progress down the worn pathway, unnerved a bit by what feels like unseen eyes within the woods, within the darkness between the leaves. Suddenly you catch sight of a figure moving through the trees! The dark insectile satyr flanks the party from 60 feet away and faint alien chirpings can be heard above the other woodland noises...

Joy freezes in shock as she lays eyes on the otherworldly creature, profoundly unnerved by its insectoid features. "Th-that's not feline at all," she whisper-yells, her baser instincts telling her to run or destroy it, "B-but...we should try to talk to it first, yes...Right?" Fortunately, she has her Oath to help her resist giving in to the destructive tendencies without investigating further. She looks to the others for opinions.

Shae’s grip tightens on her weapon as her eyes lock onto the creature. The sight of its insectile form sends a shiver down her spine, but she forces herself to stay calm.

"Talking might be wise, but be ready for it to turn hostile," she replies in a low voice, her gaze flicking to Joy. "We don’t know what it is or what it wants. If it makes a move, we defend ourselves." She keeps her stance steady, prepared for whatever might come next.