Dragon of Icespire Peak ***CLOSED***

DETECT THOUGHTS:

1- his true intentions towards the town and also concerning her group

• (Wester has no ill intent for the town of Phandalin, but is too overcome by his fear of dragons to be of much use either. His shame because of this manifests as outward anger towards pretty much everyone.)

2- if he's been betraying Phandalin citizens's interests, harboring any ill-will towards anyone in particular or jeopardizing their safety on purpose in any way (and if so, why)

• (He has not been betraying the town in any way, he's just an irritable old coot with low self-esteem and a dragon complex.)

3- how much money he's stashed away, what he plans to do with it, and where it's to be found.

• (He has about 4,000 gold pieces worth of stock shares at the Miner's Exchange and mining claims near Phandalin. His liquid assets is only about 200 gold pieces which is kept in a safe in the Townmaster's Hall, which is the building next to his house that has the job sign out front.)

Finally satisfied by her little inquest, Tabesha'l takes her leave of the townmaster and makes her way towards the door.

" Thou hast been most kind, Master Wester, and I do hope we did not press on thy valuable time. Do rest assured that I shall be back before very long. Until then, keep thyself safe and remain in thy house until the white wyrm is gone." 

She gives him a little curtsy as she unbolts the door, her eyes hardening somewhat: " And I pray thee to show more courtesy to me and my companions on our next encounter. As thou canst see, we are somewhat resourceful types. Namârie for now... !"

** getting back to the Inn and the others as soon as she's able to get out. **

Vaxis enters the inn and takes a seat in the corner. He refuses any drink offered to him, and instead prays for forgiveness for his earlier outburst, citing Bahamut's mercy unto others, and prays that the evil influence of the dragon spirit be purged safely from his body.

With the party reassembled, Toblen Stonehill approaches their table with some fresh bread and several mugs of fresh apple cider. "You'll be needin' some full stomachs fer the road," says the cheerful human barkeep, "Conybery is a ways from here...round-a-bout sixty miles, I gather. Head north out o' town until you hit the Triboar Trail, then just follow it northeast and you'll run right into the Conybery ruins. Kalazorn's ranch is another fives miles beyond. That part of the Triboar is hemmed in pretty close by the Neverwinter Wood to the north and the Sword mountains to the south...prime territory for orcs, goblins, ye might even see a displacer beast...or not, heh."

Handing out the provisions, (OOC: which satisfies the party's required daily intake) Toblen continues to speak: "Ye would be doing me a great kindness if'n ye brought Big Al back alive from them orc savages...he's my second cousin on me mother's side. A hero among a family of common folk...looked up to him quite a bit as a youngster. One time when I was about 10 or 11, he come back from the road and handed me an orc's eyeball wrapped up in a bloody handkerchief...told me he'd been the one to tear out Gruumsh One-Eye's...one eye. O' course that was a tall tale, but it gave us kids a jolt! Truth is, Big Al Kalazorn's been mopping up the Sword Coast with orc carcasses for years...damn horde's had his number fer a while now."

"The Shrine of Savras is up that way near Conybery too. Interesting place if'n ye find the time to visit. Legend has it that the wealth of Conybery is hidden in plain sight at the shrine, but no one's ever been able to figure out what it is. Whatever ye do up there, be careful...without Big Al to keep things peaceful, who knows what fell monsters have moved in..."

Vaxis looks thoughtful for a moment.

"Perhaps we should take a look at this shrine....after we deal with these orcs. I bear no ill will with them personally, for they are ferocious opponents...until they cause innocents to suffer, then their lives are having forfeit. I would like to leave with the haste, as they likely won't last too much longer. I shall get enough rations to last us for a while, I do not wish to waste any more time than we have to."

(Will purchase 10 days of rations before leaving, already factored into sheet.)

Connak looks to Vaxis, and questions him, "You agree that orcs are brutal and ferocious, even deadly,  by nature.  Yet you would not forfeit their lives until they've killed innocents, which their 'culture' has done again and again in the history of Faerun.  It takes the predictable loss of a life before you would act?"

Vaxis' head vane quivers uncomfortably. He understands Connak's point, but doesn't want a philosophical debate.

"All creatures can change. I cannot pass judgement on those that have done no wrong. One act of kindness can cause a whole nation of tyranny to fall. The dragonborn tribes and the orcs are not...hmm...how you say....tavern buddies, but neither are we having hearts of hate towards them, is all. However, these orcs have crossed the line, and shall be dealt with accordingly."

Connak shrugs, "Ok.  If you are face to face with an orc, I will not kill it until it kills you.  So you can try to convert it with kindness."

Looking at the others, "Are we ready to go?"

"I am ready to go...although I would take it as a kindness if you would allow me to live. I trust you have had very bad experiences with orcs, and I will not dig up old wounds, until you are ready. But I will fight-and die if necessary-by your side, friend Connak."

The party departs Phandalin along the road north to the Triboar Trail, where they turn east towards Conybery. The journey of 60 miles, will take the party two full days of travel and half of a third day.

The party's travel to Conybery is uneventful. Each character has consumed two rations (please deduct from your inventories.)

Quote from Aradona >>

"I am ready to go...although I would take it as a kindness if you would allow me to live. I trust you have had very bad experiences with orcs, and I will not dig up old wounds, until you are ready. But I will fight-and die if necessary-by your side, friend Connak."

 As Connak prepares his pack, he replies, "Well, I will do so, friend Vaxis.  However, if there is an orc in my face, please kill it before it has a chance to kill me.  I would much rather live than be avenged.  If you don't mind."

(Rations deducted.)

Connak will take point, approximately 30 feet ahead of the party and scout ahead, as stealthily as possible.

Stealth: 19

Perception: 8

Quote from Kerrec >>

Quote from Aradona >>

"I am ready to go...although I would take it as a kindness if you would allow me to live. I trust you have had very bad experiences with orcs, and I will not dig up old wounds, until you are ready. But I will fight-and die if necessary-by your side, friend Connak."

 As Connak prepares his pack, he replies, "Well, I will do so, friend Vaxis.  However, if there is an orc in my face, please kill it before it has a chance to kill me.  I would much rather live than be avenged.  If you don't mind."

  Vaxis chuckles.

"Of course. Our battle will be ones the bards sing of in legend, and you shall live to a ripe old age, if I have anything to say about it."

During the walk, Vaxis offers prayers to Bahamut, beseeching him for safe travels and swift justice to their enemies.

LOCAL TIME - 12:00

The town of Conyberry was sacked by barbarians years ago and now lies in ruins, but was once home to a population of just over 150 farming families, mostly of human descent. The ruins of the town are nestled into the southeastern tip of the Neverwinter Wood and the party notices the stone foundations of about a dozen house-sized buildings poking up through the tall grass as they pass by. A dirt road extending south of the town leads to the presumably abandoned shrine dedicated to Savras, mentioned by Toblen Stonehill. Another older trail leads northwest into the Neverwinter Wood. The Triboar Trail upon which the party is travelling, runs right through the abandoned town. Five miles beyond, in a small valley, lies Big Al Kalazorn's Butterskull Ranch.

SOME POSSIBLE OPTIONS TO CONSIDER:

• Intelligence (History) check to see what additional information or lore they recall about the Conyberry ruins
• Intelligence (Nature) check to predict the weather over the next 24 hours 
• Wisdom (Survival) check to see what creatures may have passed through this area and how long ago
• Strike camp in Conyberry for tonight and proceed to Butterskull Ranch in the morning
• Proceed to Butterskull Ranch under stealth for tactical recon of the area
• Proceed to Butterskull Ranch with weapons out, singing war songs and shouting battle cries
• Follow one of the other trails to see where it leads

Wisdom (Survival) check to see what creatures may have passed through this area and how long ago: 20

Barric takes off his pack and stretches.

"If we are running into a village overrun by orcs, I would prefer to do it in daylight. I, for one, cannot see in the dark, and we will be no use to Big Al or any other survivors if we are dead. I think we should make camp and proceed in the morning."

Connak notices the tracks of a large body of orcs, he estimates about forty, moving along the Triboar Trail in the same direction as the party. Once inside Conybery, the tracks seem to diverge with half continuing on in the direction of Butterskull Ranch and the other half veering southward along the trail that exits the town to the southeast towards the shrine of Savras. Connak also notices the tracks of a couple of larger creatures, perhaps hill giants, ogres or half-ogres that also follow the southeast trail towards the shrine.

The orc tracks are well over a tenday old. The giantkin tracks are a little fresher, perhaps 7-8 days old.

Connak also notices the tracks of several very large rodents, larger even than giant rats. These tracks indicate the group of creatures came up the trail heading away from the shrine of Savras, then continued on the trail leading into the Neverwinter Wood. These tracks are at least a tenday old, and also contain traces of blood that would suggest several members of this group were badly injured.

Connak shows the party the tracks, and explains how old or new they are, and what they mean.

“We should still head to the farm, right?”

With no dissenting opinions to Barric's recommendation, the party makes camp for the night in the ruins of Conyberry.

The party settles in for the night and is uninterrupted except by the lull of tree frogs and the softly pulsing iridescence of lightning bugs. (OOC: each character should consume 1 ration. Alternatively, you may make a Wisdom (Survival) check to try to gather wild foods or trap small game in the Neverwinter Wood that borders the northwest portion of the town ruins.

The next morning, sun breaks over Sword Mountains at 7am.