The smell of food and the sound of people draw Hamish towards the blacksmith.  A half elf in gray clerical robes enters the blacksmith.  He has copper skin and brown hair only a few shades darker.  He isn't as tall as many humans standing about 5'8".  

He stands in the midst of the group already in the area.  He takes a deep breath and begins reciting an obviously rehearsed speech.  As he speaks, it is clear that he is going through the motions and has the air of someone used to rejection.

"Excuse me, my name is Hamish Morgella.  I am a cleric of Kelemvor.  I have been commanded to leave my monastery and go into the world to honor my lord through my words and deeds.  Is there any here that needs assistance from one of Lord Kelemvor's children?

"Cleric of Kelemvor, eh?" Demetrios repeats in thought, looking over the half-elf before them. "A child of the Lord of the Dead looking to honor him by words and deeds... I can understand that." He nods to himself and extends a hand towards Hamish. "Demetrios Zalaoras, Paladin of Torm. Pleasure to meet you."

Assuming Hamish takes up the paladin in the hand shake offer (though, if not, the taller gentleman respects the decision with his hand falling back to his side), he gives him a charming smile. "We might need some assistance, if my friends don't mind another hand...?" He glances over the others, then returns his gaze back to the half elf. "What can you do?"

Hamish is at first startled that he is not immediately rejected again.  He visibly perks up and stands a bit taller.  Hamish takes the paladin's hand. 

It is a pleasure to meet one of Torm.  I have had the honor to assist and comfort some of your brethren in their final moments.  You are from a line of very loyal and righteous servants. I cannot think of any adherents of your sect that were not impressive and honorable.  It is truly nice to meet you.

As for what I do, I seek to provide comfort to people in their time of death.  Kelemvor teaches that those who revere the gods according to the rites of their religion have done their proper service and will be offered the afterlife they seek.  I am also compelled to forestall or prevent untimely deaths whenever possible.  Lastly, I mean to put an end to the scourge of the undead by sending those abominations back to the hells they came from.  If you would have me travel with you, I would do all I can to keep you alive.  If death should come to any of you, as it comes for us all, I will offer comfort and beseech Kelemvor to guide you to your reward.

KD steps forward. A short, well-armored woman with dreadlocks and alert, fast-moving eyes. "I haven't met one of Kelemvor's chosen. Heard some stories from an uncle of mine about a doomguide, a paladin of Kelemvor, who was a bright spot of happy sunshine. Annoyed the crap out of everyone else at the chapterhouse. You seem easy to talk to. Forestalling untimely deaths... that seems useful to have around. How are you on werereats?" she says, cupping one elbow in a hand and holding her chin in the other hand, annotating in her head. 

A small metal monkey wearing a cracked mold for a fez and holding an umbrella skeleton in one hand tries to ape this evaluating pose. It comes up to her waist, Lily's shoulder, and Demetrios' thigh.

'Ho, ho! Yes, yes! One who walks the ridge between this one and the next sounds like exactly the kind of companion we could use!'

Onu cranks the charm up to 10, eager to convince a cleric to join them on this leg of the journey.  He's been worried about bites and curses and things that go bump in the dark...

"Look, I'll be honest with you.  I haven't been gone from the monastery for long and have not run into any Wererats.  That being said, I can do more than just heal and comfort.  I can make enemies easier to hit but I can also deal some damage myself.  I have a Mace but, honestly, I'm not very good with it.  I'm better with magic.  You seem like good people.  I'd like to help you.  If Wererats are hurting people, I will help end them."

"Magic is what is needed," joined the conversation red-haired halfling girl. "Or so we've been told. Your help might be really needed in thereof the danger is as big as they say. Do you have all you needed with you?" She suddenly slapped herself on the forehead. "Oh! And there is something I need, I mean, I forgot. In the Inn. I will be right back!" And before anyone could say anything, she disappeared in the direction of the Stonehill Inn.

It took a bit more time than one would consider "right back" but eventually she returned with an uncharacteristically serious and a bit lost face expression. "I... I am not going with you." She looked truly sad. "I am very sorry. The news came from home, I have to return. There are a few people heading in the same direction, I will have to go now to join." Lilly dropped her backpack on the ground and began to frantically search it. She produced a pretty wand, looked at it, and packed it back with the stubborn "my!" expression, continuing the search until finally triumphantly demonstrated three scrolls. "Here. I would not need it but it might be good for you." She gave all three scrolls to Fae. "This one shoots magic darts, that one can put some baddies to sleep, and that makes fire come from your hands. Put it to good use!" She stepped back, looked at everyone, sighed, suddenly returned again to hag Demetrios, and finally ran away, turning only once to wave everyone final goodbye. A few moments later only small footprints in the road's dust reminded them of Lilly's existence.

KD reaches out toward Lilly, then stops, and brings her hand back to her face, and says nothing for a while, watching the joyful, welcoming halfling hostess-turned-warrior disappear. She looks at Onu. "Was it me again?" Hal takes off his hat and works it in his metal fingers, peering at Lilly, then KD, then Lilly.

Hamish looks on, concerned, as Lilly hurries off.  "It sounds like she needs help.  Shouldn't we go after her?"

Onu pats KDs shoulder ‘Sometimes people leave our lives quicker than we hoped - but Lily. Well Lily is leaving us better off than when she found us and we can’t really ask for anything more’

There were no words. The moment she was handed the scrolls, Fae was convinced her presence was a curse. Swallowing that pill, Fae pulls up her hood and excuses herself. She’d be outside for when the group was ready to proceed. 

Hamish looks around at the group awkwardly.  "What now?" 

KD shrugs. “Well, the mine needs to start up again, and the wererats are in the way. Shall we get going? Maybe Lilly can join us some other time.” She prepares to leave, Hal gathering their things and after they exit and say a final goodbye and thanks to the smith, she checks in with Fae and Nova, offering to help navigate the way (she always knows which way is north).

Lilly's leave took the paladin aback, though after her small final interaction with him, his look softened as they watched her away, returning the wave goodbye. They had a short time together, but the departing stung him a bit. However, KD's words kept him hopeful. Maybe she would join them another time.

Demetrios clears his throat, trying to get his focus back on their new quest. "Yes, lets get going, shall we? Daylight is burning."

'Yes, lets' set about - no sense in waiting.' Onu nods decisively, twirls his cane and sets off on the path.

Having been rounded up and pointed down the high road, Nova kept herself quiet, and distracted, by stuffing her face with melted cheese dipped bread. Northeast, 15 miles. Freeing a hand by holding her snack piece in her mouth, she twists and turns her wrist before resting it palm up. With a little wiggle of her fingers a sensory effect manifests in her palm. A little cloud. Fae was right back at the tavern, it was going to be a rainy day.

With Nova leading the way, KD would keep her on track with the help of Fae's update to their maps. The sky overhead was overcast and as predicted, it'd begin to drizzle about a mile in to the march. While they continued northwest, skirting the mountains Don-Jon would fill the silence with his booming voice. He'd be full of bluster going on to tell stories of his great exploits when he has worked as a gold prospector, miner, fur trader, privateer, and whaler. He even ran a trading post on the outskirts of Neverwinter for a few seasons.

After about ten miles of Don-Jon's tales a low ridge rises to your right, beyond which you see the Sword Mountains scrape the gray sky. It was raining steadily at this point, but closer in, something is strewn across the rocky ground ninety feet ahead.

“Well, ain’t that something,” says Don-Jon, pointing at what appear to be six dead orcs.

Fae figured the group was about 5 miles out from the mine.

Demetrios welcomed Don-Jon's tales, listening intently (especially when he spoke about his trading post on the outskirts of his hometown) all while keeping an eye out on the road ahead. The talk made the journey more lively, and even made the time go by faster, in his eyes anyway.

Though when he points out the dead orc's, his attention heightens further. 

(OOC: Using divine sense as they get closer to the corpses.)

 If there was nothing of note, he would gingerly approach the corpses to inspect their wounds to see what it was that did them in.

(OOC: I'm not entirely sure what it would fall under, like Investigation, or even Medicine? So I'm gonna roll a flat 20 and our lovely dm can decide what to use here <3)
1

KD sends Hal ahead of the group to scout and draw out anything in the underbrush.

While Demetrio checks the bodies, Onu scouts ahead with Hal, looking for any signs of an ambush or enemies in the area.

Survival (?) 5 with Help from Hal?

Hamish examines the bodies of the Orcs to see if he can figure out how long they've been dead and how they were killed.  Medicine Check 18