Storm King's Thunder

16 @ 100gp  value each

The gemcutter gladly gives Flint a small silk bag full of standard cut diamonds, worth 100 gp each. He offers a customerary blessing of Moradin as Flint departs.

———

The young clerk at the Lionshield Coster shrugs apologetically. “My manager isn’t here to authorize a discount, I’m sorry...but I can sign you up for a membership if you like! Just need your name, current living place, and seal or signature here. You’re then entered for a drawing on the first of every month, and if your name is selected, you win the preselected prize!” The female human smiles.

Back aboard the airship, the navigator is plotting a course that will take you up and over the the Spine of the World. “The mountain range is unpopulated,” she explains, “which means flying further from prying eyes.”

Quote from Awaypturwpn >>

Back aboard the airship, the navigator is plotting a course that will take you up and over the the Spine of the World. “The mountain range is unpopulated,” she explains, “which means flying further from prying eyes.”

 "Sounds good to me," replies Ink. 

He takes this opportunity to show Don and, once he's gotten his air legs, Matrix around the ship and how the onboard weapons function.

"We should also set up watches," Ink suggests. 

"Good idea Ink, ah'll  stand th' first watch."

Setting a course for Raven Rock, the navigator tests the wind and declares that she’ll have you there by dawn tomorrow.

The western slopes of the Spine of the World peer out from behind heavy clouds as you fly above them. Guided by Harshnag’s map, the cultists know the way to go in order to find this sacred Uthgardt site.  

// I have marked each spirit mound on the map in roll20 so that you have a reference for how far apart each one is. Let me know if you want to take care of anything prior to arrival at Raven Rock, and hit that long rest button if you need it. //

Don takes in the airship with casual interest as though he has seen one every day. "Nice ship."

He passes out everyones potions. 

Flying through calm but bone-chilling skies at night, the sun dawns orange on the icy slopes of the Spine of the World. Before you, less than a mile away, is quite a sight: a series of graduated plateaus, dotted with standing stones and small mounds, all covered in snow. Upon the highest plateau perches a 100-foot-tall stone, carved in the likeness of a great raven. The stone raven faces west, away from you.

"Don't land, we can climb down the rope ladder. I'm not sure what we should expect, but if we come back running, bring her down so that we can manage a quick exit," Ink suggests.

He turns to address the party.

"So, we are relic hunting. Chances are that the tribes we visit will not be happy with our goal and actions. I'd prefer that we remove the artifacts peaceably, if combat breaks out - let's try to keep injuries minimal and fatalities, if possible to none. From a practical standpoint, these relics are likely to have some latent magical aura, so if someone is capable of detecting such things, prepare to do so. Any excavation equipment on board, let's take it with us in case we have to go digging for the relic."

Ink, being prepared the best he can already, asks the captain if there's a spyglass aboard they could use to see if any of the local tribe are about. He also sends Quill to the skies and tells her," Observe and report."

"Sounds like a good plan. When you say not happy, I assume you mean will try to part us from our heads. If there is an opportunity we could always steal it. Cause a bit of a distraction and Matrix and I could sneak in and liberate the relic. Wouldn't be the first time."

Don approaches Ink during the trip. "Can I ask you how you picked your familiar? I know the ritual, but am not sure what type to choose."

Quote from jr_el_leon >>

Ink, being prepared the best he can already, asks the captain if there's a spyglass aboard they could use to see if any of the local tribe are about.

 Delsephine unhooks a brass tube from her belt. "Careful with that, it's expensive," she says. 

Quill flies alongside the ship for some time, scanning ahead as you quickly close the distance. 

Looking through the spyglass or through Quill's eyesight, you will see eight giant ravens circling lazily, hundreds of feet in the air above the mound. They have surely seen you as well, but they take no notice as you approach.

After having her crew prepare the ladders for descent, the captain Delsephine gives orders to her crew, "Watch those ravens. They aren't hostile, but they could wreak havoc if they decided to.

"Oh, and I'll need my spyglass before you disembark! Just in case you get yourself killed," she says nonchalantly to Ink.

(The cultists will lower the ladders wherever you like. Map is below)

// away, would you describe the small (50') island thing? //

"Oh yeah, that was fun. I enjoyed the part where you couldn't pick the lock on that unlocked door. Sounds like a plan Ink, would rather avoid killing people personally. Usually worth more alive."

Matrix will decend the latter until he is just under 30 feet from the ground before jumping off and hero landing (using slow fall) "oh, thank Bahamut solid ground" he whispers to himself before looking around and going stealth mode

Perception 9

Stealth 11

Quote from DarthAvarice >>

// away, would you describe the small (50') island thing? //

 Southwest of the raven rock in a lower plateau is a wolf-shaped depression. At the heart of this depression is a mound, with what appears to be a stone slab atop it. You are free to explore further if you wish. 

Quote from Gimpster >>

Matrix will decend the latter until he is just under 30 feet from the ground before jumping off and hero landing (using slow fall) "oh, thank Bahamut solid ground" he whispers to himself before looking around and going stealth mode

 (Just need to know where you’re at so as to best describe your surroundings)

"That  slab looks promisin', but if we're  landin' among it we may not get a chance ta  explain arselves  ta  whoever lives 'ere. Ah'm  guessing those mounds are huts."

// There’s one way to find out! //

Quote from Hardcopi >>

Don approaches Ink during the trip. "Can I ask you how you picked your familiar? I know the ritual, but am not sure what type to choose."

"Honestly," Ink replies, "I have a cousin who lives... out west... wtih whom I'd exchange letters with. She told me of her pet owl, apparently a jade artifact of her father's, and she seemed so enamored with it that I, too, wanted an owl friend of my own. Learning how to call Quill was one of the first spells I learned. It was not until later that I learned I could call different spirit animals. Each has its benefits - you should try various out to see what works best with you."

Quote from DarthAvarice >>

"That  slab looks promisin', but if we're  landin' among it we may not get a chance ta  explain arselves  ta  whoever lives 'ere. Ah'm  guessing those mounds are huts."

Ink, using the spyglass, examines the mounds Flint was describing specifically and explains what he sees out loud.

"I think I'm with Flint on this. We can land a bit southwest of that wolf shaped mound. I'm sure we can scamper up to that mound and then further up to the raven's plateau," Ink states. 

He hands the spyglass back to Delsephine, telling her, "Sound plan on your part - let's hope your concern is unfounded... If you have any digging equipment on board, I think we will need use of it."

Once everyone is set, Ink will be last down the rope ladder using the excuse that being the last to go will allow him and Quill survey the area during everyone's decent. Although he quipped to one of the cultists, "... I also don't want either of those two falling on me," pointing to Flint and Crownsguard, continuing, "they are much heavier than they look."

The wolf-shaped depression is surrounded by four huge, identical stones that tower into the sky, each 50 feet tall, making their tops about level with the deck of the airship.

Matrix notices that the four stones that surround the Raven Rock up above are also identical to this closer set. He also notices that the smaller mounds that dot these plateaus in multitude are not uniform in size, but they are all silent, and all lack windows or doors. 

As you descend the rope ladders off the sides of the ship, you notice that the ground here is covered in both fresh snow and old snow, to a depth of at least two or three feet. 

The stone slab at the heart of the wolf here appears to be a raised altar with phases of the moon carved into it. 

No creatures seem to be here to meet you or oppose you. The giant ravens in the sky continue to ignore you.