You find the boats and borrow either 2, or one larger one. (it doesn't really matter at this moment in time unless you wish to do some fishing yourself). You make your way out to the lake and go towards their known fishing spot. Once there, quickly spot their boat by the shore. You could have walked there, however by taking boats you saved yourself an hour or two from your search. The rowboat bobs untethered in the water amid some small ice floes, not far from some eighty-foot-high cliffs that abut the shoreline. The mouths of four caves dot the snowy cliffside. One of these caves is at water level, and the others are elevated twenty to thirty feet above the frozen lake. The wind tearing through these icy caves sounds like moaning.
Etriel Darastrix scans the snowy cliffside intently with her green eyes... "In there..." she speaks, slowly "They must have been broughr in there, through one of the cave... The one at water level is the more likely, but not necessarily the safer - it might be the most guarded".
The foreign traveler turns to Cirim: "Maybe an inconspicuous animal could briefly enter each one of the cave. We could then decide wich entrance is the best".
To save some time: assuming that someone (be it a familiar or the party) approaches the boat and/or the caves, read the spoiler
Inside the boat, you can see four oars, four sets of fishing tackle, and a dozen empty bottles of ale. You can also see faint tracks on the ice leading from the boat to the southernmost cave (water level).
"Maybe there was a storm and they sought shelter. Or a warmer place to sleep off all that booze." Neldak looks at all the empty bottles. He'll wait to hear what the scout report is.
"Perhaps, Lord Neldak," Etriel Darastrix concedes "but I would still like Cirim's little friend to do us the favor of at least exploring the initial stretch of each of the caves..."
"...If it finds the missing simply sheltered in the cavern at water level, so much the better..." the eladrin huntress doesn't seem too convinced by this possibility "...but if not, it would certainly be preferable to have a clear idea of which of the caves represents the safest choice to begin the exploration".
"Sounds solid"she says to the elf, then to her owl "OK, go look in the caves, starting with the southern one, don't go in past where you can see and be careful, if anything see's you, come back immediately."
If we are within 100 feet of Sparks, Cirim will look through his eyes. If he is out of range, she will wait until he returns.
Moaning Wind. The howling wind that blows through the caves sounds like a moaning crone, which is bone-chilling enough to deter most would-be explorers. The wind blows out candles and other small flames but is otherwise harmless.
Ice Everywhere. Slippery ice covers every wall, ceiling, and floor (see “Slippery Ice” in the Dungeon Master’s Guide). Characters with crampons strapped to their boots can traverse the ice without impediment.
High Ceilings. The caves have 50-foot-high ceilings. The tunnels connecting the caves are 30 feet high.
Moonlight. Infrequent, naturally occurring breaks in the ceiling allow moonlight into the caves, causing areas of the complex to be dimly lit on clear nights. (Swift note: I'm going to assume this means during the day like now, you also get dim light everywhere)
You must climb icy cliffs to reach the three northernmost caves, which are above water level (north 2 by 30ft, bottom of the 3 by 20ft). No ability check is required to do so, given the abundant handholds and footholds on the cliffs.
Water used to flow out of the southernmost tunnel and feed into the lake. That water is now frozen solid, creating a floor of ice several feet thick. The fishers entered the cave complex by this route, as evidenced by tracks in the snow that clings to the ice. By the entrance.
The 20ft tall entrance is just a wolf den, with a large mean dire wolf currently there. It doesn't go any further.
The north tunnel has an offshoot cave with some stick figures in (otherwise seems empty), before curving round to a large empty cave with ice covered pillars. The other side of that cave links up to the second most northern tunnel, which also heads further into the cave.
The southern lake level tunnel of frozen river heads around a corner and reaches a 10ft tall sheet of ice where a waterfall used to be.
Etriel Darastrix briefly reflects on the information: "If the fishers have not returned, I think we should choose a different entrance than the one they took... because whoever prevented them from returning will probably expect someone else to come along the same path. I would suggest entering through the second most northern tunnel, which also heads further into the cave".
The eladrin huntress searches the other members of the expedition with her green eyes, implicitly inviting them to express their opinion, if they have different preferences...
"What if the caves aren't connected? Though I suppose it wouldn't hurt to try to find another way in if you think that was might be trapped." Neldak will go with what the group decides
Map of scouting (more can be scouted, but I left it based on what was explicitly mentioned:
U1: Where you are outside. U2: Wolf den U3: Cave painting room U4: Ice pillar cave U5: An icy bridge U6: An abandoned campsite. U7: The frozen waterfall
“That sounds like a good suggestion, Lady Cirim” Etriel Darastrix nods. “There may be clues as to who (or what) was camped there—or who (or what) forced them to abandon camp”.
You find the boats and borrow either 2, or one larger one. (it doesn't really matter at this moment in time unless you wish to do some fishing yourself). You make your way out to the lake and go towards their known fishing spot. Once there, quickly spot their boat by the shore. You could have walked there, however by taking boats you saved yourself an hour or two from your search. The rowboat bobs untethered in the water amid some small ice floes, not far from some eighty-foot-high cliffs that abut the shoreline. The mouths of four caves dot the snowy cliffside. One of these caves is at water level, and the others are elevated twenty to thirty feet above the frozen lake. The wind tearing through these icy caves sounds like moaning.
After joining more my signature got out of hand so I am now a proud member of the extended signature club!! :)
Etriel Darastrix scans the snowy cliffside intently with her green eyes... "In there..." she speaks, slowly "They must have been broughr in there, through one of the cave... The one at water level is the more likely, but not necessarily the safer - it might be the most guarded".
The foreign traveler turns to Cirim: "Maybe an inconspicuous animal could briefly enter each one of the cave. We could then decide wich entrance is the best".
To save some time: assuming that someone (be it a familiar or the party) approaches the boat and/or the caves, read the spoiler
Inside the boat, you can see four oars, four sets of fishing tackle, and a dozen empty bottles of ale. You can also see faint tracks on the ice leading from the boat to the southernmost cave (water level).
After joining more my signature got out of hand so I am now a proud member of the extended signature club!! :)
"Maybe there was a storm and they sought shelter. Or a warmer place to sleep off all that booze." Neldak looks at all the empty bottles. He'll wait to hear what the scout report is.
"Perhaps, Lord Neldak," Etriel Darastrix concedes "but I would still like Cirim's little friend to do us the favor of at least exploring the initial stretch of each of the caves..."
"...If it finds the missing simply sheltered in the cavern at water level, so much the better..." the eladrin huntress doesn't seem too convinced by this possibility "...but if not, it would certainly be preferable to have a clear idea of which of the caves represents the safest choice to begin the exploration".
"Sounds solid" she says to the elf, then to her owl "OK, go look in the caves, starting with the southern one, don't go in past where you can see and be careful, if anything see's you, come back immediately."
If we are within 100 feet of Sparks, Cirim will look through his eyes. If he is out of range, she will wait until he returns.
Danon says “Right, southern cave it is. Let’s have a look.” He starts to head that direction, crouched low and approaching quietly just in case.
Features of the Caves
The caves have the following recurring features:
Moaning Wind. The howling wind that blows through the caves sounds like a moaning crone, which is bone-chilling enough to deter most would-be explorers. The wind blows out candles and other small flames but is otherwise harmless.
Ice Everywhere. Slippery ice covers every wall, ceiling, and floor (see “Slippery Ice” in the Dungeon Master’s Guide). Characters with crampons strapped to their boots can traverse the ice without impediment.
High Ceilings. The caves have 50-foot-high ceilings. The tunnels connecting the caves are 30 feet high.
Moonlight. Infrequent, naturally occurring breaks in the ceiling allow moonlight into the caves, causing areas of the complex to be dimly lit on clear nights. (Swift note: I'm going to assume this means during the day like now, you also get dim light everywhere)
After joining more my signature got out of hand so I am now a proud member of the extended signature club!! :)
You must climb icy cliffs to reach the three northernmost caves, which are above water level (north 2 by 30ft, bottom of the 3 by 20ft). No ability check is required to do so, given the abundant handholds and footholds on the cliffs.
Water used to flow out of the southernmost tunnel and feed into the lake. That water is now frozen solid, creating a floor of ice several feet thick. The fishers entered the cave complex by this route, as evidenced by tracks in the snow that clings to the ice. By the entrance.
The 20ft tall entrance is just a wolf den, with a large mean dire wolf currently there. It doesn't go any further.
The north tunnel has an offshoot cave with some stick figures in (otherwise seems empty), before curving round to a large empty cave with ice covered pillars. The other side of that cave links up to the second most northern tunnel, which also heads further into the cave.
The southern lake level tunnel of frozen river heads around a corner and reaches a 10ft tall sheet of ice where a waterfall used to be.
After joining more my signature got out of hand so I am now a proud member of the extended signature club!! :)
Etriel Darastrix briefly reflects on the information: "If the fishers have not returned, I think we should choose a different entrance than the one they took... because whoever prevented them from returning will probably expect someone else to come along the same path. I would suggest entering through the second most northern tunnel, which also heads further into the cave".
The eladrin huntress searches the other members of the expedition with her green eyes, implicitly inviting them to express their opinion, if they have different preferences...
"What if the caves aren't connected? Though I suppose it wouldn't hurt to try to find another way in if you think that was might be trapped." Neldak will go with what the group decides
"I can have Sparks fly further in and scout the north caves a bit?"
Which is what I'll do, have Sparks enter the caves, flying up near the ceiling to get a deeper look inside.
"Good idea!" Etriel Darastrix agrees. She begins to approach... but before actually entering, she awaits the new report from the precious scout.
I'll get a map up tomorrow morning with the scouts report
After joining more my signature got out of hand so I am now a proud member of the extended signature club!! :)
Map of scouting (more can be scouted, but I left it based on what was explicitly mentioned:
U1: Where you are outside.
U2: Wolf den
U3: Cave painting room
U4: Ice pillar cave
U5: An icy bridge
U6: An abandoned campsite.
U7: The frozen waterfall
After joining more my signature got out of hand so I am now a proud member of the extended signature club!! :)
"Shall we go check out the abandoned camp first?"
“That sounds like a good suggestion, Lady Cirim” Etriel Darastrix nods. “There may be clues as to who (or what) was camped there—or who (or what) forced them to abandon camp”.
"That's a good idea." Neldak will follow the others to the abandoned camp.
The bridge is particularly icy. Crossing the bridge safely requires a successful DC 10 Dexterity check.
After joining more my signature got out of hand so I am now a proud member of the extended signature club!! :)
Cirim can give everyone guidance, one at at time, then she'll go last.