Candlekeep Mysteries Group 2

Orvok gives the mule a gentle nudge to start its movement, and leads the way out of Candlekeep’s main gate and onward to Maerin… ‘When we arrive, I’ll heal those of you who develop saddle sores…’ he says, (barely) suppressing a grin.

(While more used to the giant mountain goats that dwarves favour, Orvok’s military experience gives him a high degree of familiarity with riding…)

Hino purrs in response to Orvok’s offer

‘Let’s be going then, shall we?’

"Yes, lead they way!  It's been a while since riding" she muses, Isa mounts up and will follow in line.

Emporious grudgingly mounts his own burro as he addresses Hino's remark, "I shall do my best to accommodate Ms. Hino."
Not entirely unfamiliar with mounted travel Emporious proceeds uncomfortably but adequately to follow Orvok out of the keep. Archimedes circles over head keeping the group insight. Every so often Emporious offers Isa the reins so that she may lead him along while he falls into a trance allowing him to see what lies ahead through the eyes of the owl.

Sketched on the back of the last page is a rough map of the village’s location, with directions from the closest mountain town, called Maerin. (There isn't a map for this, I checked.) Vermeillon lies nestled in the snowy mountain peaks north of Maerin. After a short journey, you arrive. The village is eerily quiet. Plants and wildlife have overtaken the crumbling houses. Leafless vines climb rotting walls, birds and other small creatures nest in the exposed rafters, and gnarled trees protrude from the fallen roofs of a few buildings. The overcast sky adds an air of oppression to the scene, seeming to envelop the village.

Take a look at the map. Points of interest are noted.

As they ride along, Isa is more than happy to help Emporious out with holding the reigns when needed.

The journey to Vermeillon was relatively short compared to the long walk to Candlekeep from Altus.  Upon entering the village area it's obvious that the town has been abandoned for a while.  Isa gazes at the buildings taking in the destruction that overgrown plants can cause. "It might be best if we find a place where we can tie our mules/donkeys/horses/ponies." she suggests. "Maybe near one of these first buildings here."

Once they find a suitable location (maybe close to that first tree on the right as they enter town), Isa dismounts "That wasn't so bad now was it?" she says eyeing both Emporious and Hino.  Isa scans the area quickly just to see if there is anything unusual to be seen.

Investigation: 12

Perception: 21

Barbär, enjoying the horse ride compared to walking, taps out his pipe on his gauntlets' bracer hearing the group talk about stopping for a bit. (What time does it appear to be?)

May be best to camp in the open. Id rather not have my back to the woods around here. Never know what may come out. In fact, until we establish a safe spot, id keep your eyes open.

Babasol scans the area for signs of foot traffic leading off from any main trails, or other travelers. Perception 13

No signs of foot traffic leading off from any main trails can be seen.

This entire place looks dejected and abandoned. It's very quiet.

Dismounting, Hino heaves a sigh of relief.  Having successfully tamed the wild beast (at least she thinks all beasts are wild...never really having met a tame one before), she none the less is excited to dismount and stretch her aching joints.

"Good idea, Master Barbär...how about you and I scope out this 'village' to see what may be laying in wait to surprise us?  Maybe a quick jaunt around the outside of the buildings first, and then we scope them out from the inside?"

Hino's sensors go on full alert, in search mode, to hopefully sense someone/something before they attempt to surprise the group (Perception: 6).

Orvok takes a moment to commune with Clangeddin, casting Detect Evil and Good, then joins the others in a house by house search…

Perception: 14 / Investigation: 15

Any detection spells do not pick up anything at the moment. Just a ruined village. Choose a location.

(Start on the west side, so V1?)

Not wanting to miss out on any of the 'fun', Isa tags along to where V1 is.

Barbär ushers Hino to go first, politely, and follows up after the group making their way

V1 - THE WAND AND THE HAMMER

A thick layer of dust covers the interior of this building. A forge sits dormant in the far corner, a blacksmith’s anvil and an empty quenching trough beside it. On the opposite side of the room are two workbenches with stools.

DC 13 Intelligence (Investigation) check: ?!?!?!
DC 18 Intelligence (Investigation) check: ?!?!?!

Hino gladly goes in first, but seeing that it’s a smithy, grows bored quickly.

Investigation: 9

Emporious grumbles a bit as he dismounts next to Isa.  "Unpleasant but at least it was a short trip." He replies.  Sending Archimedes soaring off, he again uses his psychic connection to see through the eyes of the owl. The owl flys both low and high. Silently flitting past windows and over roof tops of the nearest buildings. He watches vicariously as the rest approach and enter V1. 

Perception: 17 (OCC: Just in case I can see something more from the air.)

Isa being mostly unfamiliar with any kind of blacksmithing is very intrigued by the place and takes a close look around.  "This is very interesting" she states as she moves through the building looking at the old forge  and workbenches.

Investigation: 12

OOC: you need two intelligence checks or will investigation work since it's virtually the same?  Here they are if you do.

Intelligence: 8

Intelligence: 13

There is a false panel in the corner of the floor. It hides a steel shield with platinum filigree in the shape of winding serpents (50 gp), two matching shortswords with platinum filigree on the hilt and pommel in a similar serpent motif (25 gp each), and a stack of ten iron bars, each weighing 10 pounds (1 gp each).

You also find a thin platinum ring of swimming in the dust under a workbench, where it fell and was forgotten.

“Hey, come check this out guys... look what I found under the floorboards!” She says excitedly as she points to the small treasure. 

“What do we have here?” She muses as she reaches under a workbench and picks up the thin platinum ring. “Looks like someone left in a hurry and dropped you”